Page 31 of Enchanted By a Pirate
"Heeere!"
The next moment, a huge shadow broke through the canopy and slowly approached the ground. Shortly afterward, it brushed Anna's hands, which she had stretched toward the sky.
"Anemone? Is that you?"
"Yes."
"Climb onto my hand!"
Not needing to be told twice, she quickly climbed onto the giant's warm palm and he carefully lifted her until she broke through the treetops and found herself under the sky that sparkled with stars.
"Finally, I tracked you down. I was so worried about you." The giant stood at the edge of the forest and slowly pulled his hand toward his face. Anna balanced herself so she wouldn't fall and laughed at the huge shadow.
"Toni, I'm so glad you're here. How did you find me?"
"I saw Margerite return without you. Apparently, she felt guilty about leaving you behind, so she pointed me in the direction that I had to take. I set off immediately and have been calling for you for over an hour. Why didn't you hear me before?"
Because I was hidden in a cave with the pirate captain?
Should she tell Anton about the meeting? She hesitated as a loud yawn escaped her throat. She was so exhausted that she could fall asleep on the spot. "I'm tired from walking so far. Can we talk tomorrow?"
"It's okay, little Anemone, I'll take care of you." Here he was. Her protector in the dark. How wonderful it was to have Anton as a friend…
As she wandered into dreamland, she felt the giant spread his handkerchief over her. And even before he sat down on the meadow to get some rest for the night, she was fast asleep.
The first rays of sunlight wandered across her cheek. She stretched and gave a good, long yawn. It only took a moment for her to realize where she'd spent the night. Anton was still snoring loudly, and it was a miracle that Anna hadn't woken up long ago.
Grinning, she sat up and scanned the area. They were at the edge of the forest where the fairy dust source was located. Was the captain still there? Why did she immediately think of him? And why was her heart beating so fast again?
She cleared her throat to drive away the memories of him and combed her fingers through her strawberry-blonde hair, but her thoughts kept returning to their encounter. Back then, she'd taken the fairy dust to him for safekeeping. She'd forgotten to ask if there was any left.
If what he said was true, then she wasn't the one at fault, but rather the one who could incriminate whoever was responsible. What was it that she had discovered? Who had she met back then?
"Anemone?” The drowsy giant stretched out and yawned so vigorously that a strong wind swept through the forest. She gradually came to understand just how powerful a giant's breath and the resulting wind were. "As before, you wake up with the first rays of sunshine. I'm surprised you don't immediately fall asleep when night falls. It was really funny back then." He chuckled.
Was that why, despite her fears, she had almost fallen asleep in the forest yesterday before finding safe shelter? Were the behavioral characteristics of a fairy actually awakening in her?
He nudged her with his finger, interrupting her musings. "Did you find the source without Margerite's help?"
She nodded, and his large mouth widened into a radiant smile.
"That's huge. Your memories are coming back."
"Well, I don't have any real memories, but I still found the way. I think that's a good sign." Her thoughts returned to the captain and she quickly lowered her gaze so that Anton wouldn't notice her telltale red cheeks. But the giant didn't miss anything.
"What is it? Are you sad? Wait, why are your cheeks as red as a tomato?" He snorted. "You saw him!"
Shocked, she glanced up. "How did you know?"
"You've never been able to hide anything from me. What did he do to you? How did you escape him?"
A smile crossed her lips when she imagined his face: the square jaw, the dark eyes, the strong cheekbones, the scar across his cheek, the short black hair that he ran his hands through, and the wicked grin on his face. "He let me go."
Anton's eyes widened. "What? I don't believe you. After everything he did to…"
"Why are you so certain he was the one who erased my memories and took me to the other world?"
The giant's massive shoulders slumped. "Because you wanted to go see him and shortly afterward, you disappeared forever."
