“And after that…” Julius concluded. “I never looked back, never went near a pirate ship and began to work as a contractor. Figured I owed the world something after what I did. There you go, that’s the truth of it all…”

  Julius was slumped into his chair. Beaten and exhausted from the tale. It took a toll on him to retell it in such detail to his family, Carter and… Selena. He had never told them nor anyone of his life with Dandelion. And what happened that day. And the truth of his parents’ deaths- no, their murders.

  It was hitting the full evening now. No one spoke at the table.

  Kelly had forgotten the tea she had brewed and poured out for everyone. She was holding onto hers, but the tea has grown lukewarm in her hands. She was just staring her nephew with tears in her eyes.

  Patsy was equalled distraught, seated by her mother-in-law and holding her arm.

  Carter had begun to smoke a cigarette and took long drags of the smoke during the tale, staring into nothing.

  Selena had turned her chair and looked at Julius face-on with a different expression. Her eyes were watery. There was no longer a justified anger aimed at Julius. But a pity and a sorrow for the pain he was suffering.

  It was Maximus who responded. He had listened to Julius’ story with silent eyes and a grim expression. With every factor and every word, he nodded once or twice and never interrupted. When Julius was done, Maximus took a long drink of his own tea before slowly rising to his feet. He slowly walked towards Julius.

  “Stand up.” He said to him.

  Julius lifted his head. “What?”

  “Stand up.” His uncle said again.

  Julius rubbed his face and stood up to face his uncle. When he left, he was a thin nineteen year old who was shorter than his uncle. Now he was twenty-five, muscles toned and grown from his travels and having gained several inches, reaching a little higher to Maximus’ height.

  The two men faced eachother before Maximus quickly lifted his arms and took Julius in with a deep and tight embrace.

  Everyone stared.

  Julius’ eyes went wide and his arms hung by his side as his uncle held him close.

  “I had hoped…” Maximus said. “I hoped that you’d come back. That you’d be safe. I am glad you are. I am so very glad.”

  He gripped his nephew close to him. “And I am so very proud of you. Well done.”

  Julius gave a weak sob and pushed his face into his uncle’s shoulder. He brought up his arms and held his uncle close.

  Kelly put a hand over her mouth and smiled. “Finally.” She said quietly.

  A few precious seconds passed before Julius released his grip and Maximus, sensing his nephew’s silent request, opened his arms. Julius stepped back, sniffed hard and wiped his eyes.

  “Sorry…” he said hoarsely. “I- I need some air.”

  He turned and left the house to stand outside. The rest stayed where they were.

  In the cold night, Julius stood on the edge of the Hunter, hands leaning on the ship’s edge. He traced his fingers along the wooden and alloyed iron layers. He looked out towards the stars and the dark blue clouds that glowed against the stark white light of the moon.

  Up in the air, and above the usual cloud cover, the moon’s light shone just as brightly as the sun’s. The world around him was bathed in a cold blue light.

  In the far distance, Julius could see a flock of black gulls flying in a easterly direction. Wisps of electricity crackled in the wake of their flight path as they spun around the clouds. Lines of white and blue crackles of light traced their journey before fading into the air.

  In the air, he could hear the whooping calls of sky-whales. Possibly the same pod he had seen this morning. This morning, before all of the madness happened. God.

  He turned and sat down on one of the four cannons that the Hunter had. It was a contractor’s ship. Made for fast movements against the larger vessels. So less cannons was a sensible move.

  Julius’ mind thought about Dandelion.

  What was he doing? How did he earn the name Skinner? He had heard rumours, but they were brutal and so far beyond the nation of what he believed Dandelion would be capable of. But he recalled the wild look in his eyes when he was on top of the woman he was attacking…

  Julius shuddered in the night.

  He had no idea what Dandelion was capable of. Truly. And that man was in his home. With his aunt and cousin in the same room. Did he think of doing something that monstrous to them? Julius clenched his jaw.

  Carter was right. He should have killed him when he had the chance. He should have.

  “Evening.”

  Julius looked over and saw his uncle standing on the entryway. He walked over, looking over the ship as he did. He stood by Julius and sighed deeply, looking over the horizon.

  Both men said nothing as they watched the gulls in flight. More black gulls had gathered into a massive flock, spinning in a forming dark cloud of moving pieces of life.

  Julius looked up at his uncle. Maximus stood there, one hand in his pocket and one hand holding the rigging that connected mast to ship. He was a silent statue. A stalwart of goodness, hardship and hard work. He was so focused on his commitment to righteousness, he did not hesitate banishing his only nephew - the only connection to his dead brother - from his family forever. And made to never contact him.

  Julius had initially hated his uncle for that. Hated him for being so stubborn and cruel to his needs. But as Julius grew up and wised up, he grew to understand how foolish he was and how fair his uncle is. His uncle had taken him in when his world shattered, and did so without hesitation. He gave him a family and a home to grow in.

  Julius repaid that love by spitting on it and stamping it into the ground. He was a terrible boy. And he was a terrible man later onwards. His stupidity and carelessness and obsessive need to be free… He carried that foolishness into his life… and with Selena.

  Julius looked down and then looked back to the beautiful horizon that was his second home.

  “I’m sorry.” He said at last.

  Maximus looked down.

  Julius continued. “I- I am so sorry. I was horrible to you. I was horrible to Aunt Kelly. I was ungrateful and stupid and scared… I should have never left this place. Choosing Dandelion over you was the dumbest mistake of my life. I should have contacted you and made things up. I wasted so much time…”

  He hung his head and stared at the floor.

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  “We missed you, Julius.” Maximus said at last. “The week you left, your aunt was beside herself with grief. She demanded me to find you, to pay the best contractors we could afford to track you down. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. You said what you said and meant it at the time. I had no choice but to stay away, because I made a promise with you. I intended to keep it.”

  “I understand.”

  “But as the years went on? I felt my resolve waver. I truly missed you as much as Aunt Kelly did. With your father and mother dying, I was broken by it. When you left, it was as if I lost my brother and sister-in-law twice over. From that day, we prayed that we wouldn’t see your name in the obituaries posted in New Malta. We prayed not see your name amongst the convicted in the trials that be broadcasted over the communicators. We just wanted you home.”

  Julius looked up at his uncle. “You mean… I could have come home and you’d welcome me back? After what I said and did?”

  “Yes.”

  Julius bit his lips and grabbed his uncle’s arm. “That’s good to know. You’re a better person than I ever could be.”

  “It’s never too late to change for the better, son.” Maximus patted his nephew’s hand. He looked over his shoulder. “Tell me, who’s Selena to you?”

  Julius sighed wearily. “Oh… she’s my… was my girlfriend.”

  “What happened?”

  “I fucked up.”

  “Aha.”

  “I had a bad argument with her. Same stupid shit that drove me away from here. I slept with someone else and she got very mad. Everything she said is the least I deserve.”

  “That’s a pity.”

  “You know what the worst part of it was? I justified it. I justified the act because I didn’t think she cared about me that much and I was too free to be nailed down to anyone anymore. I think Dandelion really fucked me up.”

  “True. But you saying these things now, that is a very good sign. Maybe take a moment to slow down and come to terms with your life.”

  “I waste so much time, uncle. I wish I could go back.”

  Maximus smiled softly and acted his nephew on the shoulder. “You still have time. Sleep well and tomorrow, you and I can fix up Augustus’ old bike for you to borrow. Alright?”

  “Alright.”

  Maximus walked back to the gangplank and Julius heard him say, “All yours.”

  Julius looked towards his uncle and saw Selena passing him by. She was dressed in a thick duvet cloak and carrying two large mugs of steaming, dark liquid.

  Maximus gave him a knowing look before nodded a goodnight to them and leaving the boat.

  “Hello.” Selena said. She handed him one of the mugs. “Hot chocolate?”

  “Oh. Thanks.” Julius smiled and took it with both hands. It was hot to the touch, but the cold winds paved a welcome balance against it. He felt comfortable now. He took a sip and the sweetness of the chocolate and the thickness of the fatty milk gently flowed down his gullet. He smiled again. The taste brought him back to his childhood. His mother used to make good hot chocolate like this.

  “May I?” Selena asked, pointing at the cannon facing his own.

  Julius nodded.

  Selena settled down on it and drew her legs in close and wrapped the duvet around to stay warm. “Why are you out here like this?” She asked. “You’ll catch a cold.”

  “It calms me.”

  “Fair enough, I get it.” She sipped her drink. She watched him quietly.

  He looked her way. “What?”

  “What?”

  “What? What are you looking at?”

  “You.”

  “Okay. Liking what you see?”

  “As if.” She snorted. “Definitely not.”

  She looked away to make that point clear. But Julius couldn’t help but see the small grin on her face. He stared at her now, watching her neck and her blues eyes reflecting the moonlight. He didn’t notice how bright her eyes got in the dark before. Why hadn’t he? Was he really that self-absorbed? And she still looked just as radiant as ever.

  She looked back to him. “Okay. Now you’re staring.”

  “Sorry, old habits.”

  “Old habits, huh?”

  The pair drank in silent reflection. Julius studied her expression.

  “How much did you overhear from my uncle and me?” He asked her. “Uncle kept looking that way. So he knew.”

  Selena sighed quickly. “I heard enough. I heard what you said about what you did.”

  “Yeah.” Julius suddenly winced and rubbed his shoulder.

  Selena watched him do that and guilt rolled over her eyes. “I’m sorry too. For that.” She pointed at the shoulder.

  Julius shook his head. “I had it coming.”

  The image of Selena’s tear-stricken face as she leapt at him with the scissors and driving them into his shoulder flashed in his mind like lightning. He had just told her what he did after she had apologised for losing her temper with him.

  Yeah, he was a classy man for that one.

  Selena frowned. “Julius. It was terrible… And I was very hurt and very angry. And even though you did what you did… it didn’t give me the right too attack you like that. How long has that been hurting?”

  Julius looked at her confused. Her expression was searching. Investigative. Concerned. Emotions he did not expect to see on her for a long time. It made him suspicious.

  “Why are you being so nice to me?” He asked her. “All day you’ve been giving me the dead-eyed look threatening to cut off my balls, throw me over the side or shoot me if I didn’t pay you back for your broken equipment.”

  Selena rubbed the sides of her mug. “So?”

  “So, now you’re bringing hot chocolate and talking niceties with me. What’s the catch here?”

  “There’s no catch… it’s just…” Selena rubbed the side of the mug. “After hearing what you did… and seeing you around your family… I never saw that side of you when we met. You kept that away from me. And I knew you were hiding something from me. I thought you were cheating on me. And I pushed you and pushed you to settle down. You kept saying later.”

  “You wanted security. I wasn’t able to give that. I know.”

  “Not just security, Julius.” Selena said. “I wanted trust. You didn’t have any for me and I felt it. I felt pushed out every step. That pissed me off so much.”

  “So why did you stay with me all that time? You had the right to dump me.”

  “Because I-…” Selena couldn’t finish the words. Julius waited for her to finish, but she change the subject. She sighed and then she sniffed away a tear. She smiled. “Hey, you still remember how we met?”

  Julius gave her a skewed expression and laughed. “Of course. Three years ago, I was flying back from New Malta Market. Then I see a trail of smoke. I pull my bike around and see a busted bike on its side and a soot-covered girl working on the engine. And struggling.”

  Selena pouted. “Only because the soot-covered girl got screwed by the mech-head who sold it to her.”

  “Then I came down and offered her a hand with the bike.”

  Selena smiled. “And then a drink.”

  Julius raised an eyebrow at her. “More than one drink.”

  Selena rolled her eyes. “Several drinks.”

  “And after that?”

  Selena nodded with resignation. “And stupid decisions were made.”

  “Fun stupid decisions. And from what I saw, you enjoyed it quite a bit.”

  “Oh shut up!” She kicked out at him. He laughed as she began to flail her boot at him, but she couldn’t fully reach his shin. She snarled in a cutesy way. She stood up, gave Julius a gentle kick on his feet and then dropped back down, this time next to him on the same cannon.

  Julius felt his heart beat pick up speed. He hadn’t been so close to her before today. He could smell her hair. It was clean and perfumed.

  The pair of them sat there in silence.

  “I’m sorry for what happened to you, Julius.” She finally spoke out. “If I knew, I wouldn’t have been so pushy with you about marriage and settling down and all of that… And leading to… you doing that… You had issues. And I had issues, issues for days!”

  Julius drank his hot chocolate and smiled sadly. “God, I really screwed things up with you… We weren’t ready for a relationship, were we?”

  “No. Not a chance in hell. But we made it fun for a while.”

  “We certainly did.”

  Selena looked at Julius. She put down her already empty mug, reached and took a hold of his hand. Julius slightly flinched at the sudden human contact and turned to look at her.

  Her face was filled with pain, regret, longing, sorrow, understanding, care and the remaining embers of resentment. But there was no anger in those eyes anymore. No rage. No hatred.

  She squeezed his hand. He squeezed it back.

  “You’re gonna go after him.” She stated, not asked. “Killing him is the only way.”

  “It is. As long as he’s out there, you’re all in danger.”

  Selena cackled and playfully slapped his arm. “Oh please, I can handle myself.”

  “I suppose you can. Which reminds me to ask; how the hell are you a contractor? I thought you were going into logistics?”

  Selena flicked her hair. “Well, life has a way of changing your choices without you realising it.”

  “Agreed.” Julius downed his hot chocolate in three gulps. He made a face and roll his shoulder.

  “What is it?” Selena asked with her famous frown. “Again?”

  “No.” Julius replied with a deepening smile. “It’s not hurting right now.” He grinned as he turned his eyes to Selena. “That’s good sign, right-”

  Selena leant forward and planted a quick and gentle kiss on his lips.

  Julius froze. Selena pulled back with an inscrutable expression.

  “Why?” Was all he could muster against the thudding heartbeat in his chest.

  “You were honest. You apologised. And you let me in. Sleep well, Julius.” She said this with a nod and blushing cheeks before turning away and practically running for the house.

  Julius remained there on the cannon and didn’t move for the next hour. He was too stunned to even think of moving.