Authors Note 25.08.20 :This Chapter has received some light editing. I hope you all enjoy reading! I have also just changed the format of POVs and Chapter headings slightly so that it's more aligned with the current story.
Your votes and feedback, as always, is greatly appreciated ❤️
Much love,
Daisy 

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* Chapter Edited again 10.01.21
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Chapter Two | Letters

CIRCE

My birthday arrived with a morning that began like any other day. As I woke, I stretched out long under the covers, a feeling of anticipation building in my stomach. A slow smile stretched across my face, followed by a wide yawn.

Today was the day I would see my Father.

I was always guaranteed an evening with him on my birthday, a time where I could actually have him to myself- without my my step families interruptions. Although my relationship with Father was strained, I still loved him dearly. And I knew, despite his shortcomings, he loved me also.

Happily I threw off the covers and padded across the smooth wooden boards, gasping a little at the cold that hit my bare toes. I crouched down and unlocked the bolt that secured the trapdoor on the floor of my room, lifting it open and grinning when I saw what had been left on the top step of ladder that led from my room to the staircase that spiraled round and round the inside of the turret.

A beautiful crystal vase held two exquisite red roses, with long stems as straight as rulers and I lifted them up to my face, breathing in the heady smell. Such a beautiful perfume.
I noticed the thick envelope that the vase had obviously been covering and I picked it up, feeling excited again when I saw that it was fat and lumpy.

Closing the trapdoor once again with a thump, I moved over to my piano, settling onto the comfortable stool and placing the beautiful vase on the top of the piano, loving the contrast with the polished black ebony.

Carefully I slit the envelope open with one finger, removing the gold wrapped package inside and taking out the card. It was simple gold with a beautifully drawn picture of one red rose on the front. I smiled, Father had always chosen a theme for my birthdays.

Smiling I read the carefully calligraphic script written with a thick black pen.

Dearest Circe,

I apologise for being unable to gift this to you in person, but I do hope your morning is beautiful regardless.

As I have told you each year since your birth, it is a Fathers duty to offer his daughter a piece of wisdom, so this year, I wish for you to always remember that having an open mind in difficult situations can save your life.
If no harm has come to you, and you are in a position to gain knowledge, take it. Take it and learn, my love.

My gift will come to you with breakfast. I shall see you tonight. Never forget, I love you very much.

Your Father,
Jacob

P.S.
A package from your Mother is enclosed. I was instructed to deliver it to you on this day.

My eyes wandered over the post script, reading the words twice over. My Mother? Slowly, I placed his letter to the side, my gaze drifting to stare at the unassuming parcel that was still sitting, unopened.
Hesitantly, I picked it up. The parcel was slightly heavy, and I could hear something sliding inside when I tilted it.

With anticipation curling hot in my gut, I carefully picked at the edges, tearing the thin paper open at one end. Lifting the package, something heavy slid through my grasp and I snatched at the thin gold chain before it could hit the floor, the chain tightening with a jerk.

It was a pendant and I turned it over in my palm, sucking in a breath at the beautiful gemstone set in the middle, surrounded by intricate gold detailing that looked like woven spiderwebs. The edge was framed with thicker webs of gold  to support the delicate strands flaring out from the center of the jewel.

The gem itself was the most brilliant blue I had ever seen. Piercing aqua sparkled in the middle, fading to a soft deeper shade around the edges. It sparkled as if it was in the sun, the flickering light shining off its many surfaces giving it the appearance of disturbed water, shining and dancing. It reflected of the walls of the room, spinning orbs of light danced around me, pooling down onto the floor and spinning round my feet.

Without hesitation, I fastened the pendant securely round my neck, tucking it away into my bodice. Something told me this was a jewel I should keep close to me- but at the same time, I had an odd feeling of possession when I looked at it. I didn't want to share it with anyone else.

Looking downwards, I spied a small piece of paper that had slipped out of the wrapping with the pendant. It lay unassuming on the floor and I swooped over to pick it up, opening it curiously.
The paper was stiff and yellow and a could see black botches marking the smooth surface, from where the ink had leaked. It had obviously been written some time ago.

Dearest Daughter,

I froze. The writing was in a different style to my Fathers- more cursive and flared. I sank into my bed as I continued reading, my heart in my throat.

If your Father has complied with my request, you should be receiving this on your 17th birthday. Happy Birthday beautiful Circe, and  what I must offer to you first is an apology.
I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you, to watch you grow into the stunning young woman that I'm sure you are today. I know it must have been hard for you, to not have a Mother, and I'm sorry for that too. The words that I have enclosed in this letter, could never be enough to express my regret.

The pendant that you are holding right now is something that has been handed down for generations. I ask that you guard it with your life. It is of immeasurable value and for your hands only. I hope that you will keep it safe.

My beautiful Circe, the world is wider than anything you could have imagined. I hope that you will one day venture out to see it for yourself.  If you do, please heed my advice:

Your own power is far stronger than what you think. And, if you ever happen upon any during your travels, remember never to trust a Pirate.

Yours always,
Evangeline

For a while I simply sat there, re-Reading her words over again hungrily, revelling in the fact that these were her words- that her hand had held the pen that wrote them, that she had been real.

After some time, I began to analyse her message, piece by piece. I couldn't help but feel like this was some kind of puzzle. Like she was trying to tell me something. But then perhaps I saw what I wanted to see.

The warning about Pirates was the part I was least confused over. My Father had always warned me against them.

"They are Masters," he had once explained to my fascinated ten year old self. "They are Masters in the art of lying, deceiving and manipulating gullible people in order to achieve their own ends." His voice had turned bitter towards the end and he had looked away.

Father's contempt for Pirates had only ever been outweighed by the tinge of sadness in his eyes whenever he had issued these warnings to me. I had often wondered if, in his past, something had occurred for him to warm me against them so specifically.  Now, rereading my Mothers words, I wondered if the same was true for her as well.

The rest of the letter seemed innocent enough but I couldn't help but feel there was definitely something that she had not told me. Once message was clear though, the necklace was not merely a trinket to be flashed about, it had to be protected.

Carefully I folded my letters and tucked them under my pillow, just as a rap sounded on the trap door, making me jump.

Upon opening the trap door, I breathed a sigh of relief. It was just the maid. She tottered up the slated ladder, balancing a tray in one hand and holding a kettle in the other. I relieved her of the tray, setting it down on my bed, smiling gently at her when she murmured her thanks, her face flushed pink.

"Your very welcome." I said, turning back to the tray.

"Shall I go prepare your bath Miss?"

"Yes thank-you," I said gratefully, wrapping my mouth around a forkful of pancake. I closed my eyes in bliss. Just the right amount of honey. Yum.

*   

The morning passed rather slowly. 

After my bath, I had been dressed in a light blue day gown that was apparently part of the gift from Father. It had been shipped from one of the larger cities, and was - according to the note attached - 'the latest in fashion.' 

The dress was gorgeous, but the corset was ridiculous. It had taken me sometime to adjust to the tightness, but apparently I was required to wear it for the day to get used to it before the ball tonight - a grand event that was being held to celebrate my birthday. 

Although the dress was lovely, I thought it a little plain to wear to a ball, but knowing my Father, he would have something planned so I did not ask questions. 

Once the maid had left to continue with her other chores, I flung the french windows open to evaluate the day. 

The curtains billowed outwards in the slight breeze, the sky was a cornflower blue, fish scale clouds settling on the edge of the horizon. I breathed in deeply, stepping outside and leaning up against the railing looking down over the city.

After the Pirate attack, everything had been restored to double its previous splendor. The houses were rebuilt, bigger and stronger than before, the thatched roofs replaced with tin and iron. The sea sparkled in the cove, just like the jewel nestled safely at my chest, and the harbor was bustling with activity, people scurrying to and fro from the ships.

I pushed myself up on the railing, dangling my feet over the side in the most un-lady like manner and settled back comfortably, content with merely observing the goings on down below.  The courtyard of the castle was always busy, the large wooden gates wide open to allow bustling trade to come through and be sorted.

Soliders were present amoungst the crowds, and some of the face's were more familiar than others, waving up at me when they spied me on my perch. 

Suddenly a call echoed up and I looked down, meeting the eyes of a young solider with familiar golden curls. He had stopped beneath my balcony, and was saluting me mockingly, a cheeky grin on his face.

"Well if it isn't the Belle of tonight's ball. Too impatient to wait until tonight, huh? You just have to get your flirt on now don't you."

I stuck my tongue out at him childishly. "Your just jealous Nathaniel, because the only one who notices your pathetic attempts at flirting is Florence," I said, referring to my beast of a younger step-sister, "And your flirting isn't even directed at her!"

I laughed as Nathaniel grimaced. "I guess I deserved that," he said ruefully.

"You did," I smiled.

His cheeky grin waltzed back onto his tanned face. "Is your dance card full yet?" 

"Maybe, maybe not."

"Because if it's not, I would like to request the first and the last dance from you." He proclaimed, his grin stretching wider.

"Oh would you just. "I said scathingly, lifting an eyebrow.

"Yes," he said, his voice firm, "And also all the dances in-between."

I laughed again. "What happened to the girl you were seeing, won't she be jealous?" 

His smile remained in place as he squinted up at me through the sunlight, "Yes, but you see - tonight is not her birthday. And I happened to know, that the birthday girl infact despises dancing with random strangers. So rather than be handed off by your step-mother to suitors that we both know you won't ever marry, wouldn't you rather just give all your dances to me?"

"A very tempting offer, Sir," I replied mockingly, "But you see, if I accepted your proposal, you and I would start more rumors. And we don't want that now do we?"  

He grinned widely, "Don't we?"

I leaned over the railing and blew him a kiss. "See you tonight Romeo." I teased, winking at him as I turned away from him, moving back inside.

"I'll take that as a yes then?" He called after me hopefully. 

"Forrest!!" 

I jumped at the shout and scuttled inside, dissolving into laughter as I peeked back around the corner of the door to see Nathaniel's Senior Officer marching over to abmonish him. 

"I hope you have a bloody good reason for slacking off again, boy!" 

Nathaniel's answer was blunt and cheeky. "No reason, Sir!" 

I could practically see the blood in the Officer's face boiling. "If you don't have a good reason you insolent sod, then get back to work immediatly! And don't let me catch you slacking again!" 

"Yes Sir!" Nate replied, clicking his heels together and falling in line behind the Officer whose mustache was twitching frantically. Nate looked up at me and winked, and moved closer to the Officer, copying his movements with exaggerated ones of his own.

I ducked back behind the curtain exploding into fits of laughter at the sight of Nate twirling an imaginary mustache. Upon turning around however, I found that my room was not as empty as I had left it.

 I jumped in fright, and the girl behind me jumped as well before dissolving into laughter. And not the pleasent kind. 

"Florence, what are you doing in my room?" I said coolly, straightening and smoothing out my dress. 

My step-sister gathered herself, her lips pulling into a sneer. "Off with the fairies as usual are we?" She jibed snidely. 

"If it means getting away from you," I replied sweetly. 

Her lip curled further and she flicked her chocolate curls prettily over her shoulder. "Pathetic," she spat. 

"I'm aware that you are," my lips curved into a smile that didn't reach my eyes, "I am so pleased that you, in all of your ... capacity, were able to concentrate long enough to figure that out. How you must have struggled." My smile turned sympthatic. 

She blinked in quick sucession, unable to keep up. Just as she opened her mouth to retort, I cut her off. 

"What do you want Florence?" 

"I beg your pardon?" She flustered. 

I stared at her blankly. "Florence," I articulated slowly, "you are in my room. Why are you here. In my room. Invading my space. Breathing my air. Shall I continue?"

"Oh," she shook her head a little, like she was trying to shoo a fly, and gathered herself. "I'm here to remind you to back off Nathaniel tonight at the ball. He's mine."

I blinked dumbly. "I beg your pardon?" 

Florence flushed, a light pink dusting the tops of her cheeks. "He - he doesn't even like you," she continued, stumbling over her words slightly, "just because you're the eldest, don't think that makes you better than the rest of us." 

"Florence, when have I ever-"

The redness in her cheeks became more pronounced, her voice becoming higher and faster as she spoke. "Your own Father doesn't even love you. I heard him say so himself," she said nastily, "and I don't blame him. At least the rest of us didn't repell our Mother by merely exsisting." 

This time, it was I who flushed red at her words. The dig was harsh, even for Florence. She must have been really wound up today - no doubt because all of the attention was directed away from her for a change. But I could not bring myself to feel the least bit sympthatetic. Not when she had already grown up with so much.

"Get out." I said calmly.

I knew everything she was saying to be utterly ridiculous, but it still hurt. It hurt alot. Especially after the letter I had received today. My Mother hadn't wanted to leave. She even wrote it herself. Surely my Father knew this. He didn't blame me. He didn't.

"I'll leave whenever I want to." Florence sniffed, folding her arms across her chest.

I was in front of her in a second, our equal height allowing me to look straight into her eyes. 

"You invade my privacy when you know perfectly well you are not welcome in my quarters, you tell me to stay away from my best friend at my own ball, you insult me, and then you tell me stupid immature lies that are in no way true," I hissed venomously. "Get out of my sight, right now!"

The flush on her cheeks drained at the look in my eyes. "My Mother will hear about this," she whispered in outrage. 

I sighed in exasperation, "You have no reason to even be here Florence. Just leave and find someone else to order around." 

There was a moment of silence and then she turned on her heel, curls flouncing contemptuously. "You're terrible company anyway," she huffed. 

"I have never been more pleased to hear that," I retorted dryly, watching as the trapdoor shut with a bang behind her. 

Sighing heavily, I spun around in a circle before collapsing on my bed. If that was any indication of how the night was going to pan out, I wasn't sure if this ball was going to be worth attending after all. 

*