Maya's POV
I didn't know what to think or even what to feel. When I woke up, everyone seemed to have passed out on the grass, and the fire had died long ago.
I had to shake them; like really hard to get anyone even to react. With groans and grunts, they slowly returned to the world of the living, but then everything changed into chaos. Eir was gone.
At first, I panicked, thinking this had to mean that whatever they were doing to her last night had gone wrong. But Tew swears she came back, that she was fine, and also fell asleep after. And now everything was just wrong. Chaos and desperation. Eir was nowhere, and Toke was gone.
"He can't just leave here! Not having to drag her after him!"
I could help it, but the anxiety raging inside my body vibrated with each word as I almost shouted in Tew's face.
"Maya, breathe. We will find her, believe me! We will get her back. He can't just vanish into thin air!"
"NO? Then where are they? Don't you remember what he tried to do to her? What if he hurt her?"
"Okay, Maya, This is Arcane. He will take you back on the ship and go find something to eat. In the meantime, we will check the next island. A little boat is missing, and there is no way he can cross the open ocean with that little thing."
His voice was so calm and commanding, but he didn't fool me! I saw he was as stressed as me, maybe even as angry. God, I hope they bring Toke back alive; I will make sure he will regret his decision for the rest of his life!
I had no interest in food, but if there is one thing I've learned about these barbarians, it is that they take their meals very seriously! And there was no use in denying it, especially the way my stomach growled as Arcane placed a plate of warm stew and bread on the table and handed me a spoon.
We ate in silence, even if it filled up my stomach and, for some reason, forced me to calm down. But it didn't prevent my thought, and the first thing that haunted me was the fear of Eir never coming back. What am I supposed to do in this world? I hate it, and without her, the only friend I ever had..
I stopped myself; I won't go down that road because she is coming back!
Together we will rush through this world like a hurricane nobody has seen before. Make a riot in this male-dominated world; kick them down a couple of notches!
A little irritated, I looked up at this Arcane dude. He was not one of the barbarians, but those other people. The people that actually helped Toke and were supposed to take them both away. And then what? Hide them? I squinted my eyes at him. Like everyone else on this godforsaken planet, he looked like he lived in a gym. Abs and muscles were bulging and shifting beneath his dark skin. But he didn't fool me; I was never the one that cared for looks or got impressed by pumped-up body parts.
"Where did you plan to take her?"
He looked up from his food with an arched brow,
"What?"
"Eir? When Toke asked for your help, what did you plan to do with her?"
I didn't mean to sound this poisonous, but I couldn't help it. I didn't know him; for all I knew, they were still helping Toke. I mean, he had to have some help?
"Home, we were going home."
"And then what? Lock her up? Tie her to a tree?"
"Now, listen here, little girl. I didn't know she was unwilling! We were told they needed help! We offered to meet them and a place in our pack. That's it!"
"Oh really? And you didn't pick up on the fact that she was unwilling before dragging her ass on this ship? "
"It is not that easy! Of course, we did! But Toke is an old friend of Hades, and he wanted to believe him. He really did; he talked to him, and asked him to reconsider. It is not like she pretended she didn't want to kick his nuts or set him on fire just by looking at him. But he also lied to us, and we are here. Are we not?"
I rolled my eyes as he plastered a beaming smile on his face as he stretched his arms out. He was gesturing to the little kitchen.
"Yeah, sure. So, what now? What do we do?"
"We wait."
Arcane had to be the most irritating guy I had ever met.
No, don't go off the ship. No swimming. Scowling at me like I planned to swim away from the ship the moment I hit the water. I mean, I had planned to swim back to the beach, but he didn't know that! Why are we going here? What are you doing with that? Why, what, and where?
Eventually, I sat down in the middle of the deck with my back turned to him. Closing my eyes and letting the sun warm up my face. I knew he sat down behind me, clearing his throat every now and then, but I had no interest in talking to him.
"They found a cabin"
And all of a sudden, I found him interesting. Spinning around and looking at him, filled with expectations.
"Yes? And?"
I asked when he didn't say anything more. He just grinned. Leaned back on his hands and lifted his face to the sun.
"Arcane! Come one!"
"Oh, so you do know my name! "
"Tell me!"
What is this? A game?
He snickered, and I gritted my teeth. Idiot.
"Why? What do I get?"
Dumbfounded, I stared back at him, and it took me a couple of seconds to snap out of it.
"What about this? I will try not to sneak into your room at night and suffocate you with your own stinking socks?"
I sneered at him, clenching my fists.
Leaning his head back, he busted out laughing, and I began to think he was missing some vital component in that empty head of his. Or is his mind just drifting?
"Oh, I don't know. I think that sounds interesting; I like you to try that!"
My jaw almost hit the floor as the burn in my cheeks spread as wildfire when I caught up. Quickly I shut my mouth and glared at him. What the hell is wrong with this guy? Cheesy pick-up lines? Now? He defiantly needs new antennas!
His eyes followed me while wiggling his eyebrows when I stood up. Grabbed both my shoes and threw them at him.
"What is wrong with you? Tell me! Did they find her? Is she all right?
I didn't really realize how upset I was before I shouted at him and hurled my shoes as hard as I could, aiming for his grinning face. Tears spilled over, and everything just boiled over. I needed more to throw! Angry, frustrated. Helpless and left alone in a world filled with idiots and dick heads!
Rushing over to the wooden bench by the rail, I grabbed everything I could get my hands and hurled in his direction.
"How hard is it!"
"Just fucking answer!"
"I don't want to be here! I never wanted to be here! This place sucks! You suck! What the hell am I supposed to do here if she disappears? Answer that, you prick! Asshat! Meany!"
I continued yelling while throwing at him, and I had already given up trying to hold my tears back. I had enough. First, that Viking pack, so that cruel man claiming I belonged to him like I was a piece of furniture he wanted to add to his house! Then these people, I freaking left with a bunch of savage wild men on a massive ship all alone. I am an idiot! I just need her to come back; I need Eir to tell me all this will be all right! That we can tuck away all the cocks pissing around.
My swearing sucks; it always did, but it doesn't mean I ever gave up trying.
Even when he got up and started walking up to me, dodging fishing equipment, rocks, and I don't know what. I just threw everything my fingers touched as I started walking back to keep the distance between us.
"Idiot! Dog-man! Furry-thing! Bigfoot wannabe!"
He lifted his hands, and I flinched, shutting my mouth and closing my eyes. Waiting for the hit. But it never came. Hesitant, I opened my eyes, and to my surprise, he looked hurt. His hands were hanging at his sides, and now I felt terrible too. I was looking down, staring at the splintered dark wood making the deck.
"They found Toke unconscious. She was not there, but she had been. That we know. And I'm sorry"
I had started to mutter sorry before he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into him in a hug. His arms felt massive around me like I could disappear here if I just let myself. I stood stiff and awkward in his embrace before I buckled. Taking in his words, understanding what they meant, she wasn't there. So I melted into his comforting hug, and I cried. Why can't everything just work out? I am so tired of this, so sick of it all. I just want to sleep; I just want to go home. I sobbed when that thought hit me because I no longer had anywhere to call home.
"It is okay. She had been there. Not long ago, no blood, and that is good! Okay? No blood, no body, and no signs of struggle."
He continued, his massive hand stroking over my head and down my hair. I knew he tried soothing me and did his best. And I let him, even if the fact that this was the same Arcane that had been walking on my heels all day was hard to believe. I decided just to accept it.