I didn’t sleep very well that night. Verdi’s eyes haunted my dreams, as well as my thoughts when I awoke. I could almost feel his breath on my face again, as he whispered suggestive words into my ears. Ironically, when morning came I was asleep, and Asni was towering over me when I opened my eyes. A bucket of fresh sea water was threateningly standing on the ground next to her.

“Just for how long have you been talking with Verdi? You do not get to sleep all morning like you undoubtedly did in your old home.”

“I do not think you know quite enough about my old home to assume that,” I groaned. She ignored my remark.

“I suggest you get dressed, for you need to serve breakfast. After we have done that, I will have to show you the deck of the ship.”

Her voice sounded as if she regretted that, but when I looked up to see her face, she seemed almost glad. What a strange girl Asni was.

I still served breakfast very awkwardly, but surprisingly less bad than last night. But perhaps that was due to a certain gentleman’s absence.

After breakfast, we brought all the plates, cups and cutlery to the kitchen. Boris looked at Asni as she laid it all out.

“Are you still set on doing the performance tonight?”

Asni sighed and swiped her braids away dramatically.

“I do believe we have talked about this.”

“I do believe you have talked about this.”

Was it just my imagination or was Boris suddenly kneading the dough rather intently.

“Upon my honour, what is the matter with you.”

She put down the last cups rather loud. Stephen flinched.

“I could ask you the same thing.”

“Are you performing tonight?” I asked, in an attempt to calm the situation.

“Yes, she is,” said Boris while Asni was just opening her painted mouth to answer me herself.

“I am quite capable of responding to her, you know,” she said vexed.

“I am to perform a southern dance tonight. We are celebrating the fact we are almost at the Island. In fact, we are arriving to-morrow.”

My heart skipped a beat after hearing that news. I had not forgotten about what I had heard down in the hold. This could mean a certain death, according to the rumours. Although it had yet to be confirmed by the decoys and servants. It goes without saying I had mixed emotions about the celebrations which would apparently take place this evening. It felt treacherous to my former companions in the hold. Yet I didn’t know much about my own chances of survival. Verdi had told me he would help me, but I didn’t fully trust him yet. If I were to die because of the island I was to arrive at to-morrow, I would be damned if I didn’t celebrate this evening.

“I don’t understand why you feel the need to perform,” sneered Boris.

“I do it for beauty and joy,” said Asni, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

“Beauty and joy, I think you mean admiration and compliments.”

“Well, those are quite enjoyable as well,” Asni said, shrugging.

“So you admit it!”

She snorted.

“I do, indeed. And I do not understand what you find so disagreeable about it.”

After saying that, she put her hands on her waist and walked away, her embroidered skirts swayed as she walked. As she stepped out the door she turned around and looked at me.

“Well, hurry up!”

I looked at Boris, my eyes silently blaming him for Asni’s outburst. While walking out the door, I heard Stephen argue with Boris.

“What is wrong with that, anyway? Her father taught her.”

Which was followed by a few low grumbles.

I followed Asni to the other side of the dining room, where a small staircase to the captain’s cabin was revealed. A desk with scattered maps, compasses and inkpots stood in the far back of the room. Portraits of women, swimming in the waves of the sea and dragging men with them, were put against the wall. There was no one inside the room except for us.

“Did you know that Lionel is also the captain of this ship? This was once a ship owned by the navy. On a very stormy day, he stumbled upon Bone Island. ”

I thought of the love in Lionel’s eyes as he had spoken of the siren queen.

“Verdi was also on board of the ship.”

“He worked for the navy?”

Asni smiled.

“Not exactly, they caught him.”

“Caught him? Caught him doing what?”

Asni’s red mouth grinned, revealing her white teeth. I was startled to see one of her teeth was also made out of gold.

“He might tell you.”

After saying this she laughed and walked out the cabin. I followed quickly behind her. We were greeted by a lot of clamour on the deck of the ship. It was of the utmost importance to watch your step, because sailors were running around in all directions, which could cause accidents. I nearly walked into the guards positioned on the outside of the cabin. Asni dodged the men as if she had done it all her life, which was perhaps true, considering her heritage.

Lionel was talking to one of the guards.

“They should be able to hold on for one more evening,” he concluded. The guard nodded and walked past his comrades, inside the cabin. I presumed he was heading to the hold.

“Asni! I am so glad to see you. I am in a dire need for celebrations. These sailors are taking all of my energy. I need to explain every little detail to them, and even then they more than not fail to understand me. It is so very mysterious.”

“I can imagine,” she said, glancing sideways at me. I frowned at her.

“Have you gotten used to your new position a bit,” inquired mister Lionel politely. I could see now that he was raised to be a proper gentleman.

“I am currently trying my hardest to adjust.”

“Are you?” Asni said. I could never quite understand whether she was teasing me or just being downright disagreeable.

“I am glad to hear it,” mister Lionel said while staring in the distance. I looked with him, and saw the small outlines of something that appeared to be a large, pointed rock.

“It is Bone Island,” Asni whispered. They both sighed, and I soon noticed that the sailors followed their example. Asni noticed my startled expression and quickly regained composure.

“Well, Jane, you have seen the deck. And we do have a little time for lunch, so I suggest we set off.”

“Off? To where exactly?”

The corner of her mouth went down, and she sighed.

“I do believe the gods and goddesses sent you down to be as my ultimate test.”

“I think you are confusing me with Boris,” I said teasingly.

Asni’s eyes arrowed, and her mouth smiled wickedly.

“Perhaps. We are to go to my chamber. You cannot go to the celebrations as you look now. But I fear I do not own corsets.”

Before I knew it, I had been dragged down to the serving chambers. However, Asni’s was a great deal larger than mine, and I suspect any of the servant’s rooms. I do believe her closet was at least half the size of my quarters. When she opened her closet doors, my mouth dropped open. The jewels of Verdi, and a lot more, were stalled at the top of the cupboard, and underneath, the skirts and bodices almost burst from the fossilized wood that contained them.

She pulled out two wide skirts and a bodice, which were a ravel of deep purple and saffron. To my shame, I discovered them to be as revealing as the clothes she usually wore. Asni shrugged when she saw the shock on my face.

“Melissa’s size does not at all fit with yours, and I forbid you from wearing your serving clothes, or your old, dirty dress. Besides, you do not have much meat on your bones, so I do think it will not look that ridiculous.”

She took the clothes and put them in front of me. She took my dark brown hair between her graceful fingers, which were covered in rings. The many bracelets around her wrists jingled.

“You do not tape your hair anymore. Is it because of what Verdi told you?”

I blushed.

“He pulled it out himself, and I am not able to put it back.”

She giggled.

“Did your maid do that for you?”

I looked at her angrily.

“Oh Jane, you leave me no choice, then. I shall have to sacrifice myself for the benefit of your appearance.”

My eyes grew larger as she winked at me.

“You are actually quite nice,” I muttered.

“Oh please, do not tell me you only just came to this conclusion.”

Asni was being all presumptuous again, so I decided to change the subject.

“Why is Boris so angry about your performance tonight?”

“Because Boris has not quite learnt how to mind his own business.”

“Is he worried about you?”

She scoffed.

“Perhaps he is, but there is absolutely nothing to be worried about. Especially now that you are here.”

I did not quite like the sound of that statement.

She smirked.

“You do not think I am going to dance all by myself now. I bet you have learned quite a few tiresome dances at the balls you attended.”

Just why was she always right?