Chapter One
βThe moment we locked eyes, I felt it deep inside of me, youβre my missing pieceβ - Missing Piece | John Michael Howell
I'm getting ready for my knitting class, which I recently started last week. My class consists of elderly women and a few girls my age. I love just spending time with a bunch of women who are pros, and who are just starting as well. I also teach a cooking class in the only restaurant in my village. The owners love when I teach there. I teach my knitting class at the local small library.
I put on my yellow dress with tiny blue flowers. I slip my comfortable shoes and grab my crossbody bag with all my knitting equipment. "Mom? Dad? Kitty?" I called as I walked to the kitchen. "Hey, honey, are you going to class?" Mom asked, coming out of her room, drying her hair with a dark blue towel. "Yeah, I am. I may be back later, I also have my cooking class," I replied. "Okay, be safe, honey, and make sure-" she started to say, but I finished, "make sure you look out for pirates." I rolled my eyes. "I'm just looking out for you, dear," Mom smiled softly. "I know, Mom, you have to tell Kitty, she loves to talk to strangers," I tell her. "Yes, I know," she shakes her head and throws the towel into her bathroom. "Where is Kitty anyway?" I asked. Her shoes aren't in her usual cubby near the front door, and her bag isn't here either. "She had to babysit a friend's dog for the weekend, don't worry, Dad is there with her," Mom replied. "Oh, that makes sense," I replied as Mom put on the coffee. "That girl is going to be trouble when she's older." I tell her, "She's too trusting with everyone." I added. "Yes, I know she can make friends with anyone if they're nice to her." Mom said, pulling mugs out and pouring coffee into each.
I took my coffee to go and began my walk. The library isn't too far away from my house. My village is called Tulip Dragon. The legend states that a dragon died a very long time ago, before this was a village this was a beautiful tulip field. So many colors blended together. The dragon crash landed into the field and died. Many humans tried to save this dragon, but it was too late. She laid an egg after her death, when it hatched, they named her Tulip after her mother. She grew up strong and powerful. She was the savior of this land. One day, the Military came in and tried to kill the dragon for her powerful scales, she was a magnificent red and deep plum color. They shined like fire. She also had magical powers, she grew flowers everywhere she went and she could heal anything with just a single touch of her scales. Everyone trusted her, once the Military succeded the land wasn't the same again. All her tulips she once planted, burned to the ground to ash. Everyone was devistated as you can imagine. They mourned this stunning, friendly Dragon. It took them years and years to grieve. They held a fierce grudge towards the Military and still do to this day. The elders always tell this legend, it gives me chills every time.
The little library was packed today. I wasn't aware anything big happening today, I would've gotten an email about it. I hope my room isn't booked today. I walk in the doors and the icy air sends my skin into goosebumps. I love the library air, it always makes me feel safe. "Ah! Stella!" the librarian smiled her sweet smile that most librarians seem to have. "Hello, is my room still avilable today?" I asked her. "Yes, we have a funraiser today so it may be a little cramped today." she tells me. "No worries, thanks for the head up!" I smiled and made my way upstairs. My room is to the first door to the left. I walk in and only one girl was waiting for me. "Hey, Stella am I early?" Michelle asked me. "No, I thought I was late." I joked setting up. "I heard today that the Military is coming to visit today, aparantly there are a pirate crew coming by today and they are vicious." Michelle tells me. "Really? I hope they catch them, I hate pirates." I stated. "I know me too, they give me the creeps, hopefully we are done before they come so we can get home safe." Michelle tells me shivering. "I will make it quick, I think you are the only person coming today, do you want to continue to knit or just talk about the pirate crew?" I asked her. "I think I have it down for now, I'm curious why you don't like pirates so much," she pushes her long black hair to one shoulder.
Where do I begin with this? I explain to her that my grandmother was a pirate once upon a time, then one of her own crew members killed her out of anger, he wanted to marry my mother. Grandmother told him no way in hell that she would marry a pirate and live her life. She wanted to break the cycle with my mother. My mother watched the pirate slice her neck, my mother was only twenty. When they stopped at the next island, she packed all her belongings and some of my Grandmother's things and left the pirate life. With her heart filled with sorrow and her mind filled with hate, she bumped into my father at a local Inn. She fell in love with him instantly and so did he. He was the owner of the said Inn. They got married as soon as she was pregnant with me.
Grandmother's pirate crew found her, they did horrible things to my Dad, beaten almost to death. The now leader was the pirate who was in love with my mother. He was so furious when he found out about them. he saw my Mother's prutruting pregnant stomach he was so jealous, he wanted to kill my dad and take my mother with him so he could be my dad. I'm glad that she fought him off and went to my Dad. My mother was in tears as she seen her lover almost dead. My mother screamed and screamed as the pirate pulled her off of him and dragged her into the bedroom. "You're sick!" she yelled hoarsly. The pirate just smirked.
Mother protectively placed her hands on her stomach and glared at him. "That child must be mine!" he bellows. She kicked him off and ran out the door. She tried to look for help, no one wanted to intervine with the pirates. Millitary was notified, obviously and they took care of the pirates and my Dad to the infermary along with my Mother. My Dad survived obviously and my Mother had me early, full term technally. I was a full week early, my mother suffered some injuries from the pirates. Dad was in a coma for a few months, it was stressful but when he woke, he was so happy to finally see me.
Once my Dad left the infermary with a lot of physical therapy we all went home, happy as we can be as a family. Ever since then, my Mother is so intense about me leaving the house and not talking to anyone who isn't a local. Never trust the Military, no matter what. Yes, they saved their lives but they always take the pirates sides. They blame my parents for the attack. My mother tried to explain to them what happened, but they wouldn't have it.
After my story, Michelle just stared at me mouth wide open and eyes bugged out. "Yeah, intense," I tell her. "Yeah, whoa I had no idea, I'm so sorry," Michelle replies wiping her eyes. "I never really tell anybody about my parents." I sniffle; I wasn't aware I was also crying. Michelle pulls me into a well-deserved hug. "I would like to knit now, if that's okay I need something to focus on." She jokes. I simply nod and I taught her all I know about knitting. My fingers worked faster than my brain can process. The one thing that I love about knitting is my brain shuts off and I can just zone out.
It was about an hour later and Michelle told me she had to leave. We say goodbye but I stayed behind just to clean up and roam the library. "Have a good night, Stella," the librarian tells me. "Thank you, have a good night," I smiled walking out. The sky has turned dark and the spring air turned chilly. The stars were out shining. The moon was covered with clouds. I slug my crossbody closer to my body. You never know who's going to be out this late. We never know when pirates are going to arrive to this island. At night is scarier because they sneak around like they are looking for their next victim. They always are looking for supplies' one way or another. We always board up our homes and businesses for the night because of the nightly raids.
I was almost home maybe a block away when I ran into a body. I fell on my ass so hard my teeth rattled my brain. βMy lovely lady, I didn't see you there,β the man with a velvety voice came into view his blond hair is like the moon and his beautiful blue eyes are the stars. "I'm sorry; I didn't see you, it's dark," I blushed I'm so glad that it's dark, so he doesn't see my face. He smiled his boyish smile, "may I accompany you, lovely lady to her destination?" he asked me. Our hands were still interlocked, tiny sparks flicked between our touch. "Yes, please, thank you," I replied. I don't know this man but somehow, just by our small interaction I feel so safe with him.
