Uncharted Waters

Selena walked back in a trance. Even as she shoved back the source of knowledge back, the fact that this world was from a book made it all feel just a little bit less real.

Bryn of course noticed the shift in Selena's mood immediately. Asking her if she felt alright and then if she had perhaps regained her memories.

And if that wasn't a good excuse as any. Selena agreed with a thin smile. Because Selena now remembered so many things. Carefully going over the story she knew and turning over every detail of the world. Anything that could help her.

She tried thinking over the source not too much. Eliot knew snippets of the story due to her friendship with Lucy. But also, who knew what they talked about when they went behind Selena's back. Fury shot through her again, and she did nothing to try and quell it. Anything better than the icy cold of betrayal and grief.

But unlike Eliot who only knew some parts, probably those concerning the character based on him, Selena knew everything. Things that never even made it into the finished story, concepts they only ever talked about. All the twists and turns. 

Eliot definitely was going to use the information he had in order to get to treasures and exploit people. The fact that he was setting of immediately already meant that he knew where to go in order to find Lucienne early or was perhaps even planning on picking up other important characters. He was on his sure way to avoid most of the challenges and troubles, getting that fairytale ending.

No way that Selena was just letting that happen. So she just had to create more! 

There was a brief moment of grief as Selena spend her hard earned money intended for a notebook and other research supplies. But that didn't matter right now.

No, as Selena sat down on the small flimsy boat with a nervously stoic Herbert on his fishing boat close by, determination burned. Nothing else mattered right now. Eliot wouldn't get that happy ending after what he did to her. She would get her revenge, and she exactly knew how.

“...off we go then.” The low voice snapped Selena back into the moment.

With a bit of money and a fretting Bryn, Herbert was kind enough to guide her after he returned from fishing. It was already late, but Selena couldn't wait anymore. She needed to set out now before it was too late. And so Herbert guided her. Further and further out into the sea. An intense silence, only the washing of waves.

Her arms burned after a while of rowing, but she ignored it. When the shore was no longer visible, Herbert came to a stop. Dark eyes carefully watching Selena, with such a serious expression that she stopped as well.

“...this is it then.”

Fog already began obscuring their vision.

“I won't go any further. And my advice to you is that you shouldn't as well.” The man so uncharacteristically serious in comparison to their intense fish conversations. Selena smiled crookedly at the warning. 

“Thank you for bringing me here.” Was all she said, before she started rowing towards where the fog got stronger.

Herbert lingered, before he shouted just as Selena vision got obscured. “Are you sure about this? Maybe we should go back together lass.”

“Don't worry about me. I have a plan! Tell Bryn that I’ll be back by tomorrow.” Sending one last smile.

There was no turning back now.

Deeper and deeper she went. Waves getting wilder and air colder. The sky dark, with no stars visible.

These were the uncharted waters no one dared to venture into. Where lost souls went to their demise.

Whispers and rumours of sea monsters beyond imagination. Anyone entering would be lucky to get out again, even more with an intact mind. Even those who just venture too close may see something they shouldn't.

Selena took a breath, gripping the rowing oars ignoring the burning and continued on. Fog obscuring her whole vision now, with no idea how to get back. But in order to get her revenge, she needed to do this.

The book written by Lucy was a standard treasure hunt romance triangle story.

The main character was a princess named Lucienne. Since she was the only heir to the Neva'ra Kingdom , she was pressured to marry and becomes the reigning queen. However, she has a magical compass passed on to her by her late mother. It was her only dream, to see where that needle led, since it certainly wasn't north. So she runs away one night out to sea. 

Joining a pirate ship in desperation, with the unruly Captain Kaelor being very interested in the compass and her.

And so they set off. Facing sea creatures and all kind of different challenges. 

On their foot, the royal navy tasked with bringing the princess home. The dedicated Helios their leader.

But there was an even bigger threat that followed them throughout the whole book, causing all to work together in the end.

More than any other tale, the most wide spread is the ghost ship that haunted the uncharted sea. Many who venture too close to the fog tell of a shadowy apparition with torn sails. An unmanned ship smoothly flickering in and out of view. 

It is said that if you see it, it's already too late. Once you capture its attention, it will hunt you to the end of the seas.

In story Lucienne and her companions have to face it several times. A looming threat that follows them throughout the whole book, always close on their trail. Haunting and hunting them.

The very same ship Selena was looking for right now. Because what better way was there to bring even more troubles to Eliot, or Helios now she supposed, than help the biggest threat?

Selena took a low shaky breath, inhaling the cold air and exhaling slowly, trying to shake the feeling of salt burning in her throat. Eyes flitting around for any sign. One step after the other. Even if the flame of revenge was the only things keeping her warm right now, she should be careful, lest she got burned.

Even driven in her revenge she shouldn't be stupid enough to just blindly spill information and expect it to work out. But she took another, more steady breath as she kept on rowing. Selena was certain in her plan.

She would offer a deal that the captain of the ghost ship could not decline.

For the main villain is a cursed pirate doomed to fare the sea forever as nothing but an apparition. Name taken away, destined to be no one. Lonely on the unmanned ship he was bound to.

A man loosing his mind, desperate to break the curse upon him. Long having lost hope, and with just a glimmer of it ready to do anything.

And Selena knew the way to break it and free him. Knew things about him Eliot probably didn't. Drafts Lucy never included.

In the book the main character catches his attention and makes him obsessed. She becomes his desperate salvation. Kidnapping her, where she then gets freed by her love interests. Continuing to haunt them until the end of the book, causing further challenges until his bitter end. 

And causing challenges for Eliot is exactly what Selena wants. He probably by now has already planned on how to evade most, but the hauntings of the ghost ship wasn't something he could do easily deal with. Especially if Selena did her best to keep the ship's owner sane until the end.

There, finally. A massive ship flickers into view, where it surely wasn't there before. Elegant, but dark wood rough with scars of battle. Sails ripped. Shape vague with the fog all around, making it seem almost transparent.

Selena's fingers were white now from her strong grip. Slowly, slowly she rowed closer. 

The deck was completely empty. No signs of life. 

Arriving at the side of the ship, Selena comes to a stop. Staring up. And then, she stands up and begins climbing.

Determination glimmering in her silver eyes. With her knowledge, there's no way he’d turn her down. 

Not with how desperate he was.