Read Online Once a Pirate (Mystical Realm Series Book 1) by Sarah Snyder - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Sarah Snyder
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cleared his throat. “I was hoping you would do me the honor of a dance?”
“Oh,” Anna exclaimed. Fearing spinning on the black tiles of the dance floor would worsen her buzz, Anna shook her head. “I couldn’t, Sir Marcus, maybe later. I think I need to get a breath of fresh air.”
Feeling she should be in more control of her faculties, Anna excused herself and pushed through one of the glass doors at her back. The cool night breeze was refreshing compared to the heat and odors of perfume and herbs in the ballroom. Taking a few steps to the edge of the large terrace, Anna leaned heavily on the railing around the half circle structure. While Anna didn’t mind meeting new peoples, it was a relief to find solitude and Anna sighed.
“At least the rains stopped for the evening,” Sir Marcus’s voice came from behind her.
“Oh,” Anna jumped around in shock, not expecting to have been followed.
“May I join you?” Sir Marcus asked the question, but was standing beside her before Anna could answer.
“Um, sure,” Anna mumbled unnecessarily before they descended into a deep, uncomfortable silence.
“Fresh air does seem to be a fair idea,” Sir Marcus broke the silence. “It is so loud in the ballroom, how can anyone hope to have a worthy conversation? Out here is much more intimate.”
A strange gleam entered Sir Marcus’s eyes, but in the lack of light and with her mind still slightly impaired, Anna wasn’t able to tell what it was. The man took Anna’s hands from the railing, clasping them in his own, white-gloved grasp. Anna suddenly wished for the loud crowd of the ball over the dark openness of the courtyard. She only hoped she had enough mental clarity to find a way out of her current situation without hurting the man’s feelings.
***
Jake pushed passed several people on the way to the royal ball, his presence going ignored as he knew it would. In a crowd this size, it was not uncommon to see a man dressed in black walking the castle grounds. He slipped easily through the gates and made his way to the west corner of the castle.
As he walked, the grounds grew dark and empty, the majority of guests keeping to the main areas of the castle. Jake welcomed the shadows, moving ever closer to the stone wall until he reached the tall tree at the corner of the west wing. He glanced around the yard, looking for any kind of movement which would warn of discovery. Finding no one paying him attention, Jake scaled the tree. The branches narrowed closer to the balcony, but they were still wide enough to support his weight. A short leap landed Jake right where he wanted to be.
The glass doors to the royal chambers were locked, forcing Jake to break the glass to enter. He remained on the balcony, concealed in shadow for several moments to ensure his deed wasn’t heard before continuing into the room. It took his eyes a moment to adjust to the dark interior and Jake slowly took in the layout.
The bedroom was large with a massive bed along the wall to his left. A dresser was pressed to the wall at his right, the mirror atop it hosting a film of dust so thick it would not reflect. A set of soft, cloth chairs rested beside him at the balcony doors, a short table between them. However, it was the cabinet across from him which held Jake’s interest.
The curio cabinet sat next to the door leading into the castle, its glass doors revealing the treasures inside. Jake saw his mother’s music box almost immediately, sitting in obscurity on the bottom shelf of the cabinet. He moved slowly toward it, opening the pane of glass separating him from his prize and claiming it reverently. Jake brushed dust from the rounded box before opening it, listening to the quiet music he went nearly two decades without hearing. He blamed the prickling in his eyes on a reaction to dust as he placed the box carefully into the satchel he held over his shoulder and across his chest.
Jake looked around the room once more, thinking of the
“Oh,” Anna exclaimed. Fearing spinning on the black tiles of the dance floor would worsen her buzz, Anna shook her head. “I couldn’t, Sir Marcus, maybe later. I think I need to get a breath of fresh air.”
Feeling she should be in more control of her faculties, Anna excused herself and pushed through one of the glass doors at her back. The cool night breeze was refreshing compared to the heat and odors of perfume and herbs in the ballroom. Taking a few steps to the edge of the large terrace, Anna leaned heavily on the railing around the half circle structure. While Anna didn’t mind meeting new peoples, it was a relief to find solitude and Anna sighed.
“At least the rains stopped for the evening,” Sir Marcus’s voice came from behind her.
“Oh,” Anna jumped around in shock, not expecting to have been followed.
“May I join you?” Sir Marcus asked the question, but was standing beside her before Anna could answer.
“Um, sure,” Anna mumbled unnecessarily before they descended into a deep, uncomfortable silence.
“Fresh air does seem to be a fair idea,” Sir Marcus broke the silence. “It is so loud in the ballroom, how can anyone hope to have a worthy conversation? Out here is much more intimate.”
A strange gleam entered Sir Marcus’s eyes, but in the lack of light and with her mind still slightly impaired, Anna wasn’t able to tell what it was. The man took Anna’s hands from the railing, clasping them in his own, white-gloved grasp. Anna suddenly wished for the loud crowd of the ball over the dark openness of the courtyard. She only hoped she had enough mental clarity to find a way out of her current situation without hurting the man’s feelings.
***
Jake pushed passed several people on the way to the royal ball, his presence going ignored as he knew it would. In a crowd this size, it was not uncommon to see a man dressed in black walking the castle grounds. He slipped easily through the gates and made his way to the west corner of the castle.
As he walked, the grounds grew dark and empty, the majority of guests keeping to the main areas of the castle. Jake welcomed the shadows, moving ever closer to the stone wall until he reached the tall tree at the corner of the west wing. He glanced around the yard, looking for any kind of movement which would warn of discovery. Finding no one paying him attention, Jake scaled the tree. The branches narrowed closer to the balcony, but they were still wide enough to support his weight. A short leap landed Jake right where he wanted to be.
The glass doors to the royal chambers were locked, forcing Jake to break the glass to enter. He remained on the balcony, concealed in shadow for several moments to ensure his deed wasn’t heard before continuing into the room. It took his eyes a moment to adjust to the dark interior and Jake slowly took in the layout.
The bedroom was large with a massive bed along the wall to his left. A dresser was pressed to the wall at his right, the mirror atop it hosting a film of dust so thick it would not reflect. A set of soft, cloth chairs rested beside him at the balcony doors, a short table between them. However, it was the cabinet across from him which held Jake’s interest.
The curio cabinet sat next to the door leading into the castle, its glass doors revealing the treasures inside. Jake saw his mother’s music box almost immediately, sitting in obscurity on the bottom shelf of the cabinet. He moved slowly toward it, opening the pane of glass separating him from his prize and claiming it reverently. Jake brushed dust from the rounded box before opening it, listening to the quiet music he went nearly two decades without hearing. He blamed the prickling in his eyes on a reaction to dust as he placed the box carefully into the satchel he held over his shoulder and across his chest.
Jake looked around the room once more, thinking of the
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