Velura

Chapter 1 Ciel

The moonlight guided me back toward my ship, two buckets of fresh water swinging from my hands. We had landed on an island, not marked on any map, but full of life. The night was alive with the sounds of frogs and insects, all hidden beneath the dense foliage. The scent of salt lingered in the air as I walked, quietly, carefully. As I neared the shoreline, a flame came into view farther down to my right, away from the ship. I set the buckets at my feet and stepped toward it, moving slowly and quietly, making sure I kept behind it. I had instructed my men to keep the ship dark in case we had company.

My hunch was correct—this island was inhabited. But by who? It felt untouched by the outside world: serene, peaceful, and full of life. As I crept closer to the light, I began to make out the silhouette of a woman. Her hair cascaded down her back like waves, glowing in the torchlight with tones of brown that reminded me of cinnamon and chocolate. I was directly behind her now.

"Staking us out?"

She stumbled back into my chest, before she turned quickly to face me. The flame illuminated her face. She looked at me not with fear—but with wonder. Her eyes were unlike anything I'd ever seen: one green like the forest floor, the other a deep, rich brown. I had to admit, she was breathtaking. Long, dark lashes cast shadows over her cheeks, and her lips parted slightly, like she was trying to come up with a way to communicate.

"Hello." Her voice, like honey, caught me by surprise. The last thing I expected was for her to speak our language.
We just stared at each other for a moment, the wind shaking the trees around us. A yell rang out in the distance.

"Captain!"
I pressed my lips together. Best I handle this alone.

"I'll be right there, Reed! Ready for departure!" I leaned down, bringing myself to her eye level.

"Hello. Sorry for startling you. My crew and I found your island, but I have no intention of putting it on any map. You and your people deserve to stay hidden from the world."

She didn't correct me. Just looked away. That told me enough.

She nodded slowly, then looked over at the ship, lost in thought. She swallowed hard and looked back at me.

"Could I go with you?" Her words came suddenly, unexpected. She bent down and picked up a bag from the ground.

"I can tend your wounds and speak multiple languages," she added.

I looked down at my shoulder. Bandages covered my chest, blood seeping through from a wound. Our medic was out of commission—and, honestly, not very good. Her offer, though, seemed genuine. I looked back at her. She was dressed in thin fabrics, her legs and stomach exposed to the cool air. I took off my coat and handed it to her.

"You want to leave all of this? The world—the sea—is cruel."
Her eyes glowed with determination. She handed the torch to me and wrapped my coat around her shoulders.

"I'm sure. There's cruelty and danger everywhere. Even here."

Her words struck a chord. She was right. We couldn't escape the harsh realities of the world, no matter where we went.

"We'll tell my crew you were stranded. That's the story we'll go with. No one else was here—just you." She nodded in understanding. The last thing I wanted was to involve innocent people in something they didn't ask for. This island must be full of riches and rare herbs.

"You had a bag with you. Where were you going?"
She bit her cheek. "I was going to try to leave somehow. I asked the island for a way out... and I guess this is it. It saved you so you could save me."