"Tonight we feast!"
[HURRAH!!]
They held a huge banquet on the ship for whatever reason. The dining hall was big and I got to see everyone on the ship, everyone was laughing and eating very good. It reminds me of the times I had dinner with mama and papa.
"You should eat more, you barely touched your food." Ilias said
"I guess I don't really have an appetite."
Ilias puts a slice of pork chop on my plate
"Still you should eat, it's not best to sleep on an empty stomach."
I looked down at my plate
"Hmm, I don't really eat pig. Thank you but I'll just eat the vegetables instead."
"Oh I apologize, I didn't know."
"It's okay. I appreciate the gesture."
I look down a few tables over to see Luka and Lilac.
"It doesn't seem like Lilac is eating well, is she alright?" I asked Ilias
"Lilac has trouble eating food, since she can't really taste it, she doesn't like eating much."
"Oh...Who would do such a cruel thing to someone so young..?"
"People who aren't even human." Ilias replied.
***
An hour has passed and many people are asleep drunk off booze. Luka already left with Lilac for the night and I'm getting a little bit sleepy.
"Are you tired? Would you like to go to bed now?"
I look at Ilias, thinking of sharing a bed with him freaks me out. I don't even know the man.
"About that, I don't think it's suitable for a man and a woman who don't really know each other to share a bed.." I awkwardly said.
Ilias faced me and sat there silently for a bit.
"Why..would we share a bed?" Ilias asked
Confused, I said "Well early you said that I'd be sleeping in your quarters."
"Well, yes but I said that because I thought you would be uncomfortable with the others since you wouldn't understand each other."
"When I said you'd sleep in my quarters, I didn't mean we'd sleep in the same bed. You'll be the only one in the bed."
"Oh well I'm glad thats cleared up. But where will you be staying?" I said
"I'll of course be in my room too.
"What?" I said
I don't think Ill understand how this man's head works.
***
Later on we went to his room.
"There's a change of clothes and toothbrush for you in the bathroom over there." Ilias said
"Thank you."
I went inside the bathroom and changed my clothes. His bathroom was different than the other one I was in. His bathroom was covered in white, with silver lining everywhere, it was somewhat magical.
I went near the sink to brush my teeth. When I finished, I looked in the mirror and just stared at myself for a while.
I let the water run so the sink would fill up. After turning off the water I gazed at it, wondering if I would glow again. Wondering if that person would show up.
"Hello..?"
This feels so stupid, maybe I was hallucinating earlier because of the stress I was feeling. But I still continue on.
"Are you there? Or were you just a figment of my imagination?"
I still don't get a reply, I might also be going crazy.
Before I turn away to leave the bathroom, I hear it.
Nilufer..?
I whip my head back and rush over to the sink. This time it's not my own reflection but a girl who looks around my age.
"Who are you.?"
"Someone of the past..."
"What does that even mean?"
"You'll know soon. All in due time"
"What..?"
[KNOCK KNOCK]
"Nilufer? Are you alright in there?" Ilias said
"Oh, yes I'll be out in a second!" I said surprised
Looking into the sink again she's not there anymore.
I felt a bit frustrated not getting my questions answered. But the way she spoke means I'll see her again. What I need to focus on is finding clues so I can find my parents.
I slowly made my way out the bathroom. The room lights have become dim. Ilias was next to the bathroom door, leaning on the wall.
My whole time here, I've only really smelt the scent of fish and the sea. But Ilias smelt different, he had a sweet and rich smell. A smell similar to the expensive cologne papa owned, the ones he wouldn't let me touch.
His smell is intoxicating, it almost puts me in a trance.
"You have a nice scent, do you wear cologne?"
He slowly turns his head towards me. His broad shoulders seem to flex more when he crosses his arms like that. His strong jaw brings out his features, while his sharp nose draws my attention.
But his lips, those lips of his seem so soft.. I wonder if they're as soft as they look..
"No."
!!
His deep voice snapped me out of whatever hypnotic state I was in.
Embarrassed I quickly made my way past him. I sit on the bed, all red-faced while recalling my embarrassing thoughts.
Ilias walked back to his desk that was across the bed.
It was already very late and I sat there wondering where he'd be sleeping, as there was only one bed in the room.
He took off the cloth covering his eyes and started working on the stack of papers on his desk.
I felt bad knowing that I was the reason he wore the cloth in the first place.
I layed back on the bed and stared up at the ceiling, opening my mouth to speak.
"Ilias..?" I mumbled out.
"Hm?" His voice vibrates smoothly
"Are you sure it's alright for me to sleep here? I'm sure I can find space with the other ladies on board, I won't really be talking to them much anyway."
He started tapping the tip of his quill on his desk repeatedly.
"Of course it's fine for you to be here. Do you still find me that uncomfortable?"
I pull the sheets over my shoulders, turning my body the opposite direction of his.
"It's not that, it's just that there's only one bed.. and I was wondering were you'd sleep." I awkwardly said.
His quill stops, everything goes quiet for a bit. I turn my head over to him. He has a slight smirk on his face. His looks are so enchanting, it's as if I was looking at a painting. It almost felt like he was tugging at my heart.
He started writing again.
"I'll be fine right at my desk, I still have a lot to do so I won't be getting much sleep tonight."
"I see." I replied.
As I was getting ready to close my eyes to fall asleep, the radio on a table near Ilias, that was playing soft instrumental music suddenly changed. It sounded like some advertisement but as it came near a end, my heart dropped. My eyes shook uncontrollably.
I got out of the bed and ran towards the radio. I turned it up as much as I could, to hear hear his voice. The voice of the man who was in my house that night.
I felt like throwing up in the moment, my right hand which was still on the radio began shaking a lot, out of my control.
It was the voice of the very evil man from that night, hearing him laugh made me sick to my core. Here he was laughing while I am trying to stop myself from tearing up.
While still in confusion, despair and so much anger, an arm came over my shoulder. A hand places on mine and turns off the radio. I look up to see Ilias looming over me. I stare into his eyes.
How can such scary eyes look like that of beautiful obsidian? My tears fall and my sight slowly goes dark as I close my eyes.
"Sleep.." Ilias says with a whisper.
I think to myself how comfortable I feel while my warm tears still run down my cold face.
I'm tired.