Chapter Nine
Basil Jenks
C aptain Voss’s quarters are cramped but orderly, every inch reflecting her disciplined nature. I sit across from her, feeling Cordelia’s presence beside me. Voss regards us with a serene yet intense gaze, her fingers forming a steeple beneath her chin as we await the camera setup.
“Whenever you’re ready, Captain.” The Cruise Director positions himself behind the tripod to prepare for the broadcast to the crew.
Captain Voss stands at the head of the table, her presence commanding and somber. “We must be vigilant. This threat, whatever it is, is growing.”
The room falls silent, tension coiling like a live wire. I scan the faces around me—crew members, officers—each wears a mask of concern and confusion. Cordelia glances my way, her expression unreadable but her eyes lock onto mine for a split second.
“Increased security measures are now in place. No crew member goes anywhere alone. Report anything suspicious immediately.”
Whispers spread through the room as the crew absorbs her message. She’s an effective leader, providing enough details to address concerns without sensationalizing the situation, helping to ease the fears everyone is experiencing.
I lean back in my chair, watching and analyzing. A young deckhand nervously twists his cap in his hands, his gaze darting around the room. An engineer I recognize as Marco is exceptionally composed, too calm, given the circumstances.
Who is hiding secrets here? The unanswered questions gnaw at me, blending with my concern for the missing crew.
As the meeting wraps up, Captain Voss catches my eye. “Mr. Jenks, a word?” she gestures toward a small sitting room, a part of her quarters adjacent to the Bridge.
I follow her, aware of Cordelia watching our every move. “What do you think?” Voss asks once we’re alone.
“I’m not sure yet. There are more questions than answers.”
She nods thoughtfully. “Stay close to Cordelia. She trusts you.”
“Does she?” I glance back at Cordelia who’s speaking with Zara.
Before Captain Voss can respond, Cordelia strides over and grabs my arm firmly but discreetly. “We need to talk.”
“I’m glad you’ve joined us, Chief Engineer.” Captain Voss nods to the chair next to her and Cordelia takes the hint and slides into it, attention firmly on her leader.
“Have either of you heard of Victor Ardan?”
Cordelia and I exchange glances, the name clearly ringing a bell for her. I clear my throat and lean forward, sensing this conversation is about to get heavy. “I’ve recently heard of him. Ardan is making a bid to get control of Mystic Cruise Line. My team is digging into his background, but I don’t know much about him. Yet.”
Voss takes a moment, her gaze measuring each of us in turn. “Victor Ardan is a business mogul. He’s powerful with broad interests. He has a shadowy past well known and universally disliked in this part of the world.”
I lean forward to catch every nuance in her expression. “And you think he’s responsible for the sabotage?”
“I believe he’s conducting experiments to harness... unique properties of the archipelago and has a nefarious reason for wanting this ship and the others in the Mystic Cruises fleet.”
I frown, my mind racing to connect the dots. “Experiments? What kind of experiments?”
Captain Voss hesitates, her eyes flicking to Cordelia, whose eyes narrow, clearly uncomfortable with this discussion. “The waters of the Enchanted Inside Passage have properties not found anywhere else. They hold power, ancient and potent power. Ardan wants to harness it.”
She’s hiding something. The thought nags at me. Her answers are too measured, too cautious.
“He’s looking for ways to exploit the unique elements of these waters. But that’s not the whole story. He’s ruthless, driven by a desire for control and power. He’s willing to go to any lengths to achieve his goals.”
“What unique elements, exactly, is he after?” Voss is holding back and I’m certain my scowl telegraphs unhappiness with her prevarication.
Voss draws a deep breath, choosing her words carefully. “There are properties in these waters that are... extraordinary. They offer immense power to those who know how to harness them. But Ardan’s interest is not in the mystical. He sees economic potential, through exploiting the supernatural, and that’s his goal.”
Cordelia’s shoulders relax slightly, though her eyes remain wary. Whatever the captain is holding back, Cordelia wants the secret kept.
My fingers tap out impatience against my knee as I look back and forth between the two women aligned opposite. How do these women expect me to be useful if they hide the full extent of the stakes?
“Why would he target specific crew members?”
Voss looks away for a moment, as if weighing her words. “I can only speculate. Certain crew members... they’re attuned to the power here. Disrupting them disrupts the balance.”
“Attuned?” I glance at Cordelia whose wide-eyed gaze is suddenly intensely focused on the captain.
“Yes.” Voss confirms, her tone softening slightly. “Like Cordelia.”
Cordelia’s jaw tightens, and her eyes flicker with an emotion I can’t quite place. Her fingers curl into fists at her sides, knuckles whitening as she draws in a sharp breath. Her gaze darts to the floor, then back to meet mine, as if she’s searching for the right words but can’t find them. Her lips part, but no sound escapes, and a shadow of regret clouds her expression.
Her body leans slightly towards Voss, a silent plea for the captain to stop talking, to not reveal whatever it is that Cordelia is desperately trying to keep hidden. I see the conflict in her eyes—a mix of fear and longing, as if she wants to tell me something but is held back. The intensity of her emotion is tangible, and it strikes a chord deep within me, stirring a protective instinct I didn’t realize I had.
Voss and Cordelia share an intense gaze and the captain nods. Turning back to me, she continues, “I have received confirmation Ardan has an underwater facility where he conducts research. I fear my crewmen have been taken to become subjects in his experiments.”
“And you knew this?” My voice comes out sharper than intended.
“I suspected. But I couldn’t act without risking everything.”
What is she holding back? There’s a tightness in my chest, a sense of urgency growing with every half-truth she feeds me.
“Is this all you have to share? Is there more?”
Voss’s gaze hardens. “This is as much as I can share, Mr. Jenks. We will remain vigilant and protect our ship and its passengers while we gather more information. It is my hope you will provide insights we do not have.”
I exhale deeply and stand, pacing the limited space of the room before turning my attention back to Captain Voss. “Why do you continue to feed me half-truths and vague responses? I want to assist, and I will. But what’s the point of sharing any information if you don’t place your trust in me?”
“I believe Ardan underestimates the strength and tenacity of those who protect these waters. Should you become the owner of our ship, Mr. Jenks, you become one of those protectors. For this reason, I will give you every latitude and every bit of information I am allowed.”
Cordelia nods, her determination reflecting the captain’s. “We carry the trust of many and must honor the promises we’ve made, Basil.”
It has become obvious to me acquiring this ship is more than a business deal; it comes with a battle for higher stakes. I just wish I knew exactly how much larger the stakes are.
“I will do what I can to keep the Mystic Cruise Line from being acquired by Victor Ardan and help locate your missing crew.”
Captain Voss gives us a firm nod and rises, giving us our cue to leave. “Be careful. Ardan isn’t someone to be underestimated.”
In the corridor, I reach for Cordelia’s arm, my fingers inadvertently brushing against the curve of her hip. A jolt of electricity surges through me, and I struggle to maintain my composure. Our eyes lock, and I’m struck by the raw emotion I see reflected in her gaze. She’s affected too. Her breath catches slightly as we stand frozen in this moment of unspoken tension.
I swallow hard, forcing myself to focus on the task at hand. “You said we need to talk?” The words come out more gruffly than I intended, my voice rough with suppressed desire. I clear my throat to regain control of the situation and my wayward emotions. “Before the captain briefed us, you mentioned something important. What is it?”
My grip on her arm tightens slightly, a mix of urgency and residual attraction making my touch firmer than necessary. I silently curse my lack of restraint, but I can’t let go of her yet. The warmth of her skin beneath my fingers is intoxicating, and I fight the urge to pull her closer.
“Not here.” She pulls out of my grip slightly and slides her arm to grasp my hand as she leads me away.
“My place.”
These are the only words spoken she leads me to her cabin. It’s situated all the way aft, an odd choice for a senior officer, but perhaps it gives her faster access to the ECR than would a cabin all the way forward near the bridge, as are the captain and the rest of the senior staff officers’ cabins.
The location of her cabin, low all the way aft at the back of the ship, affords her a small, secluded deck. The sky stretches out above us, a canvas of stars shimmering against the velvety blackness. I realize I had lost track of time and didn’t realize it is still night. But dawn is not long away. The air is crisp, carrying the faint scent of salt and an occasional waft of windblown misty spray.
“There’s a whole world hidden beneath the waves, Basil.” Her voice is barely above a whisper. “A world that’s now in danger.”
“Tell me about it.” I lean against the railing, encouraging her to continue. My fingers graze the cold metal, grounding me in this surreal moment.
Cordelia steps closer, her eyes reflecting the starlight. “I meant it when I said there are things I can’t tell you. But I can say more than the captain. This ocean is a sanctuary. It holds old magic, power long forgotten elsewhere in this world, but alive here. Victor Ardan intends to exploit this magic for his gain.”
My mind races, piecing together fragments of the bizarre occurrences I’ve experienced since boarding this ship. “Magic. The psychic flashes I’ve been having... they started when I got here.”
She nods, her expression grave. “It’s connected. The magic here is awakening something in you. I don’t know if it’s the ship, the place, or both. But you are seeing or aware of… elements… you should not know about or even suspect.”
A shiver runs down my spine—not from fear but from a strange sense of belonging. “I’ve seen things... visions of you transforming.”
Her gaze softens as she reaches out, placing a hand on mine. Her touch sends a current through me, electric and undeniable. “I wanted to tell you sooner, but I didn’t know how you’d react.”
“I can’t pretend to understand it all. But I want to help.”
Cordelia’s eyes search mine, and for a moment, we’re suspended in time—two souls caught between worlds. Her fingers tighten around mine as if anchoring us both to this reality.
“We need to trust each other.”
“I trust you.” My reply is instant and without hesitation.
Her lips part in surprise before curving into a soft smile. The space between us diminishes as we draw closer, our breaths mingling in the cool night air.
Just as our lips are about to meet, a haunting melody drifts from the ocean below—a song both beautiful and eerie. It weaves through the air like an enchantment, pulling us back from the brink of intimacy.
Cordelia stiffens, her eyes darting toward the source of the sound. “That song... it’s a warning.”
A warning or an invitation?
The song haunts the night air, wrapping itself around my senses like a velvet shroud. I lean against the deck railing, mesmerized by the melody. Cordelia is beside me, her face pale in the moonlight.
“It’s beautiful... and terrifying.” Unable to tear my eyes away from the water below, I ask, “Is this what’s been calling to the crew?”
She nods, her expression grave. “It’s the sirens. Their song lures people to the sea. It’s part of their nature.”
I want to follow that song. Why do I want to follow that song? The thought flits through my mind, insistent and unyielding.
“The sirens are ancient.” Cordelia continues, her voice barely registers above the haunting tune. “They sense magic and use it to draw people in.”
I feel the pull, a magnetic force tugging at my soul. My feet inch closer to the edge, and I grip the railing tight, fighting against the urge.
“Don’t listen to it.” Cordelia steps close to me. Her hand brushes mine, sending a jolt of electricity through me. “They’ll drag you under.”
“I understand now.” My voice sounds distant to my ears. “We need to go to them.”
Cordelia’s eyes widen in alarm as she realizes what I’m about to do. She reaches out, grabbing the back of my jacket, pulling me back.
“Basil, no!” Her voice is a desperate plea.
But it’s too late. The song crescendos, filling my mind with its enchanting promise. I push her back and she stumbles against a chair as I climb onto the railing, poised to leap into the mysterious depths below.
Cordelia lunges for me, catching hold of my pants leg and ankle, but I barely feel it. My gaze is locked on the water, where shadows move and shimmer beneath the surface.
“I have to go.” My whisper is hoarse, raw with an aching longing.
In that moment, the ship, the danger, even Cordelia, fades away. I know only the call of the sirens and the need to be engulfed within the dark waters beckoning me home.
I teeter on the brink of oblivion, ready to plunge into whatever fate awaits below…
And I leap.