The Island of Shattered Dreams, Part 1
An adventure in the world of The Ace of Redwater Bay
I’ve always loved flying. Even when I struggled to learn the interactions between control yoke and rudder pedals. Even when I had to fight tooth and nail for my very survival against the aces of the Masir Sultanate or the Khaganate maniacs. I loved every minute of it. The feeling of controlling a marvelous machine, using it as an extension of my will, pushing the boundaries of what man was meant to do.
The day I had to fly a cargo plane filled with a motley team of unsavory types and a ridiculous amount of equipment to some godforsaken island of the archipelago was the first time I ever hated flying. It probably had to do with the fact that I’d been coerced into doing it by my former fiancée. That I also saw the whole exercise as a pointless waste of time didn’t help either.
But I’ve jumped ahead a bit. Let’s back up to the night I saw her again. Serena Blackwood bowed as she finished singing an old tune that I used to love. It was the kind of song that either gave you hope or made you despair, depending on where you stood at any given moment in your life. As she stood back up, she caught my dumbfounded expression and, clearly pleased that her performance had the desired effect, smirked before she turned and went backstage. Memories and questions flooded my mind, each competing for attention.
Essie’s voice cut through the chatter as she put her hands on my arm and whispered, “Are you okay?”
I swallowed before I spoke, not taking my eyes away from the stage. “Truthfully?” I said. “No.”
Serena had at one time, before my discharge from the Aubrein Sovereignty Air Force, been my betrothed. Being the oldest son of a proud family of soldiers turned farmers, I had known her as a girl thanks to our families’ interactions at various social functions. Her family sat a rung or two higher on the social ladder; high enough to tell us apart, but not so high as to preclude mingling with the likes of us. Young mischief turned into complicated feelings in our teenaged years. Then I went into the air force and wasn’t sure I’d ever see her again.
After a few tours in faraway lands, I had earned my way into the ranks of the officers and returned home. To my surprise and delight, Serena was still unwed and still had feelings for me when I visited her just as I still had them for her. She was everything I ever wanted in a woman and more. She was smart, clever, and cunning. She had a way with words that put everyone else to shame. She easily navigated the world of politicians and laborers alike. Had she been given the opportunity, I have now doubt she would have made a most powerful queen. We fell madly in love with each other. One could not find a happier couple in all of Aubrein. Then, I was once again called away, this time to deal with the Khans. Though a shorter deployment than previous ones, it felt longer now that I had someone waiting for me back home. The months felt like years.
I practically raced off the train to meet her when I returned. But something had changed. The girl I once knew was there, but not as exuberant and full of life as she had once been. I never knew what had changed that.
Regardless, she was still the Serena I remembered, and, after a couple of years of courtship, I mustered up the funds for a ring and the courage to ask her to marry me. She immediately said yes, but her demeanor wasn’t what I had expected. Instead of elation, she delivered her affirmation as though it was a foregone conclusion, like it was just another question I had asked her. I loved her and she loved me, of that I had no doubt, but there was always something unspoken. It was though some shadow lurked in the corner of her mind, one that she wouldn’t bring out into the light. I never pried, never pushed. It hadn’t seemed like my place to question it, but maybe I should have. Perhaps it would have saved a lot of people and a lot of trouble in the long run.
Then came the debacle involving the Hänsler project and its subsequent fallout. The final nail in the coffin for my personal and family life came on a rainy day when she told me she could no longer be my fiancée. She delivered this news in person in the same matter-of-fact way she had first accepted my proposal. I accused her of being heartless and uncaring. To my surprise she started to cry before she angrily told me to leave. And then I never saw her again until that night in La Sirène d’Or as she sang a song we used to dance to.
“Let’s sit down,” said Essie, urging me toward the table.
I followed her, still mired in my thoughts.
“She is quite the singer, no?” said Félix Ortega.
I glanced at Essie, and she gave me a worried look. I cleared my throat and squared my shoulders. I couldn’t let a woman from my past ruin a wonderful evening with the one I wanted in my future. “Indeed,” I said to Félix. “How long has she been at the club?”
“Apparently, she arrived in the city a few weeks ago. The previous singer suddenly fell ill, and Serena took her place.”
That sounded more than a little suspicious. I shot Essie a wary look. She seemed to catch my hint and nodded ever so slightly.
“Really? How fortuitous.” I said.
“For her and the club. But I hope that she will not be the only focus of tonight’s entertainment. Please, I am dying to hear tales of your adventures.”
For the next hour, I regaled the shipping magnate with my exploits during the air force and culminated with the events surrounding the Ersobeth.
The big man sat back wide-eyed smoking his big cigar as I finished. “Truly a remarkable life, young man. Ah, to be young again. I used to be a pilot as well, you know.”
“Do you still fly?” I asked.
“Alas, no,” he replied, sounding regretful. “I turned out to be a better businessman than pilot and my duties leave little room for flights of fancy. A desk is the only thing I pilot these days.” He chuckled and then leaned forward. “But every now and then I watch as the planes fly past my window and wish I could once again take to the skies.”
“Maybe one day you will,” said Essie.
Félix frowned. “Perhaps.” He fixed his gaze on me. “Connor, you might have guessed that this invitation was not just a social call.”
“I might have,” I said, leaning back.
“Mac is a good man, and he knows how to run his business. Alas, he is content with…how should I put it? A smaller vision for the future.”
“And your vision is a grander one, I take it?”
He took his cigar in hand as he waved it, making circle of smoke in the air. “Indeed! The hub here in Port Sauval has proven fruitful and we are poised to extend our reach onto the global scale. Opportunities abound, Connor, and I think you would fit very well within our organization.”
“I’m flattered, but you don’t really know me that well. What makes you so sure?”
After a long drag on his cigar, he said, “I have a kind of sixth sense about people. I think you are one that could help us reach that next stage.”
“Careful, Félix,” said a new voice. Serena sauntered to the edge of the table and fixed her eyes and her smile on me. “This one is too clean for you. One slip, and he’ll tear your whole world down around you.”
I braced myself and said with a tight jaw, “Serena. You’re looking well.”
Serena’s smile widened and for a split second, I got the impression of a shark that had just spotted prey. Her eyes glittered under the dim lights of La Sirène d’Or. Her sleek black dress hugged her curves like a second skin while her dark hair cascaded over one shoulder in deliberate waves. She was the very of club’s namesake: a siren, beautiful, alluring, and dangerous. I could feel tension in the air as thick as the smoke from Félix’s cigar.
“Connor Duncan,” she purred, her voice laced with mock sweetness. “Still playing the hero, I see. And who’s this little mouse?” She tilted her head toward Essie, appraising her with a predatory gaze. “Darling, you look like you’ve wandered in from a convent. Have you even kissed him yet?”
Essie’s cheeks flushed, but she held her ground. She gripped my arm and her nails dug in just enough to keep me in place. “Better a convent than a brothel,” she shot back, her voice steady despite the edge. “At least I don’t have to sing for my supper or whatever else you’re peddling.”
Oh crap.
Serena laughed, a low, throaty sound that drew attention from nearby tables. “Ooh, feisty. I like that. But careful, sweetheart. Connor here has a type. He loves women who fawn over him. Once he’s used you up, he’ll leave you twisting in the wind. He acts like an angel, but there’s a devil in him. You’ll see it if you stick around long enough.”
I clenched my jaw. “That’s enough, Serena. We’re here for a pleasant evening. No need for any of this.”
She ignored me, her eyes still locked on Essie. “Tell me, does he still bore everyone with those silly escapades? The handsome ace pilot who always saves the day? Did he ever tell you about the real mess he made? The one that got him discharged and left his family a pariah in Aubrein?”
Essie’s eyes narrowed. “Unlike some people, he doesn’t hide behind smoke and mirrors. What are you hiding, Serena? A broken heart, or a broken moral compass?”
Serena’s smirk faltered for a half-second, replaced by a flash of real anger. She leaned in close, and her perfume wafted over the table. It was a mixture of jasmine, sandalwood, and something sharp. “You have no idea who I am or what I’ve been through, little girl. I know how to make a man’s heart race without ever lifting a finger. I can shake the foundations of an empire with a look.” She grinned once more. “Connor knows exactly what I can do. And he knows I’d do anything to get what I want. Right now, I want to see if you’re as tough as you pretend.”
Essie stood up abruptly, showing the table as she did. “Tough enough to take out trash like you.”
The air crackled with impending chaos. Félix shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his wide eyes darting between the three of us. Patrons nearby had gone quiet, sensing the storm brewing. Serena’s hand twitched as if she might reach for something. Sparks were about to fly.
“Stop,” I said firmly, rising to my feet and placing myself between them. My voice was low but commanding. “You went too far. Essie, let’s go. We’re leaving.”
Essie hesitated, her breath coming in short bursts, but she nodded. Serena stepped back, her expression a mask of triumphant amusement. “Run along, then. Remember this, girlie, next time you go to kiss him: old flames don’t die easy.”
Before Essie could fire back, I took her hand and led her through the crowd. I heard Félix mumble something about catching up later, but I ignored him. Cool night air hit us as we stepped out of the club. The streets were alive with the hum of the city. People were still trying to get into the club despite the late hour.
We walked in silence for a block, the tension easing with each step. Essie finally pulled her hand away and wrapped her arms around herself. “Who was that woman, really? She acts like she owns you.”
I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair. “It’s complicated. I honestly never thought I’d see her again. I certainly didn’t expect her to show up here and stir up trouble.”
“She seemed to enjoy it. Those jabs about me and about you. It’s like she was testing us.”
“She probably was. That’s Serena. Always calculating angles, though I’ve never seen her this bitter before. I shouldn’t be surprised, I guess.” I hailed a cab, and we climbed in. The driver grunted a destination query, and I gave him Essie’s address.
The ride was short, the city lights blurring past the windows. Essie stared out, her profile illuminated in flashes. I wanted to say more but words failed me. When we pulled up to her townhouse, I paid the fare and walked her to the door as rain began to fall.
“Essie, I’m sorry,” I said, turning to face her under the porch light. “Tonight was supposed to be wonderful. Not...what it turned into.”
She looked up at me, her eyes searching mine. “It’s not your fault. But Connor, if she’s back in your life—”
“She isn’t,” I interrupted gently. “And certainly not like that.” I paused, weighing my next words, knowing what it might mean. I leaned in, lowering my voice as I said, “‘The moon does not rise for the night, but for the tide.’”
Essie’s eyes widened, surprise etching her features. She opened her mouth to respond, but I shook my head. “Just...be careful. Please.” I kissed her on the forehead. “Goodnight.”
I left her there, puzzled and perhaps a bit alarmed, and caught another cab back to my apartment. The rain became a downpour. I trudged up the stairs soaking wet as my mind replayed the evening’s chaos. I unlocked the door, stepped inside, and froze.
Serena lounged on my worn armchair. She had a glass of my whiskey in her hand. The room smelled of her perfume, overriding the faint scent of engine oil and old books. A rain-soaked umbrella leaned against the chair. She set the glass down and stood, her expression softer than in the club.
“You have some nerve. How did you get in here?” I demanded, slamming the door behind me.
She held up a small lockpick set with a wry smile. “One picks up little tricks from all sorts of places.” She dropped the smile. “Connor, I...I’m sorry. For the club. I didn’t mean to escalate things like that. And for...everything else.”
“Everything else?” I crossed my arms. “You mean breaking off our engagement or stealing the power crystal from my desk?”
She winced, genuine regret in her eyes. “I shouldn’t have taken it from you, but I had to get your attention.”
“Well, mission damn accomplished,” I snapped. “You could have just said, ‘Hi.’ That would have sufficed!”
She stepped closer, her voice dropping. “I need your help. There’s a scientist missing on one of the fringe islands in the archipelago. I need to retrieve him.”
Her request caught me off-guard. “Wait, what?” I laughed bitterly, not quite believing what I was hearing. “After everything that’s happened—” I worked to compose myself. My next words were deliberate and restrained. “You show up suddenly after breaking things off, ruin a nice evening, and then have the gall to ask for help?”
“You think this is easy for me?” she fired back. “I’m asking the man who destroyed my family for help. I wouldn’t ask if you weren’t the best pilot I know. And I need the best for this mission.”
“Mission?” I considered that for a moment. “Just what exactly have you gotten yourself into? Whose mission is this?”
“I won’t tell you anything unless you accept.”
“In that case, my answer is no.”
She hesitated and then hardened her expression. “Then I will make sure the world collapses around your family. I can link them to Project Hänsler.”
“They had nothing to do with it,” I growled.
“But the right people can be made to think so. Your family’s reputation, your grandfather’s legacy. I can make it happen,” she snapped her fingers, “like that.”
The threat hit like a gut punch. There were enough people in the Aubrein government who despised me that her threat had weight. Did she have ties to them? Would she really act on this? She was certainly capable. “You wouldn’t.”
Her eyes turned cold. “Try me. I have nothing left to lose, Connor. But you do. Do this for me, and I’ll leave them alone. As a show of good faith, I’ll even return your precious power crystal if you accept. Besides, you owe this to me.”
I paced the room trying to keep my frustration from boiling over. Finally, I stopped and asked, “Where exactly is this island?”
“It’s in the Lost Isles.”
I blinked at that. The Lost Isles were a long distance directly west of the Brightwater Islands across a vast stretch of open water and lay near the edge of an active power storm. Flying there was dangerous even when conditions were ideal.
“Are you insane?” I said. “That’s a suicide mission.”
“Which is why this mission needs you. Why…I need you.”
Her face was still hard, but her eyes seemed pleading. I couldn’t tell right then if she was genuine or play-acting. Either way, her threat was real.
“Fine,” I growled, stopping in front of her. “I’ll help. But this is it. After this, we’re done and you’re out of my life forever.”
She nodded and wiped something from her eyes. “Thank you.” She seemed to compose herself, reached into her purse, and handed me a card as she said, “Meet me at this location just before dawn.” She collected her umbrella, moved toward the door, and then paused to brush a hand against my arm. “For what it’s worth, I never stopped caring.”
Then she slipped out of the apartment, her umbrella glistening with raindrops as she disappeared into the night.
I sank into the chair she’d vacated, the whiskey glass still warm from her touch. The rain became a patter against the window, a steady rhythm that reminded me of the ebbing and flowing of the tide. Frustration gnawed at me. I was angry with Serena for what she had done, angry with myself for agreeing to her demands, and angry at the situations and decisions that had brought my life to this point. After I was discharged, I thought I knew the bottom of the abyss. I was wrong. It had merely brought me to the edge. This mission would drag me to the bottom. Somehow, I sensed it then.
I sagged into the chair and stared at the ceiling, wondering if I’d just signed my own death warrant.
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