Turbulence shook Olivia awake around seven thirty.

Her first thought was, oh god, I can't be late again. Then she smiled at the realization that she no longer had to worry about school.

Her clothes laid in a heap on the floor next to the bed. She didn't remember much of last night. Just kissing James and falling asleep next to him. She wasn't sure if anything had happened in between. No, she would have remembered, wouldn't she?

She heard footsteps above her as she stepped into her pants and pulled her combat boots on. So everyone else was already awake. Off to a great start. Throwing on the rest of her clothes, she rushed out of James' room.

The yelling began a moment after she stepped into the tilting hallway. The Fina dipped low on the right side, sending several pairs of shoes lined up to the left sliding to the right. Olivia clutched the wooden rail attached to the wall, inching her way to the steps leading to the deck.

The smell of salt and something like smoke hit her as she opened the door. She closed it behind her, shouts filling her ears. What was happening?

That shadow. It hadn't been there before.

Olivia looked up in awe at what she had failed to notice: the shadow, the bloody monster. It resembled the dark beast of an enemy that followed her all her life, looked like fate frowning.

The two ships side by side resembled a rabbit drawing up to full height beside a grizzly bear. In the shade of the other ship, the Fina looked like a toy.

El Encantador, the gold lettering on the side read. The words were etched onto the sleek ebony wood of the ship in a firm, royal font. The flags, redder than pomegranate seeds, seeped across the sky like an open wound.

She understood the yelling now. The shouts of contempt from The Fina's crew were echoed by that of The Encantador. She couldn't see The Encantador's crew because their deck was so high, but she heard shouts raining down from it in both Spanish and English.

Olivia caught sight of James on the other side of the deck, waving his sword at the other ship. One part of her wanted to run up and join him in his offense. The other part of her wanted to retreat back below deck and not come out again until the shadow passed.

But this was exciting if not incredibly frightening.

While she'd managed to make friends with the crew of The Fina, she didn't know if they would protect her. She didn't know how to use a sword. She had no method of defense, except to hope that James wanted her alive.

She looked up to find him running toward her, mouth still set in a ferocious scowl.

"Get back down!" He hissed. "Before they see you!"

"I can take care of myself." She planted her hands on her hips, glaring at him although she knew he was right. Sure, back home she wasn't afraid to punch a guy in the face if need be. But here? This was a whole different ballgame.

James looked behind him before pushing her below deck. He followed without closing the hatch. His mouth pressed to her ear, James whispered, "Look, I'm not doubting you, Olivia. It's just that The Encantador  . . . they'll go after you first. And I really don't want your blood on my hands."

With that, he closed the hatch and ran back to the deck.