When Jim woke up the sun was high in the sky, and the open front door let in a eastern breeze. He rubbed his eyes with his fingertips.
“What happened?” he groaned. Brief flashes of a stormy beach and a naked girl assaulted his brain and he shook his head.
Must’ve been a dream. He opened his eyes. Max sat next to him on the couch, which had been soaked by the access water from his clothes. He groaned.OK, not a dream. Then where is the redheaded nymph?
“Ariel?” he called, his voice cracking from sleep. No answer.
Then again, I shouldn’t expect one.
“Ariel!” Nothing. No yelling crab, no footsteps.
Jim sat up on the couch. “She can’t have left. The stupid girl is clearly not from around here. And why would she leave without–” then he noticed the wheelchair posed by his good leg. Slowly scooting himself from the couch to the wheelchair, he went in search of his ward.
“Every room has been ransacked,” he said, gaping at the open kitchen cabinets. He couldn’t be sure what was stolen, since the villa had been fully stocked with food and other necessities when he arrived, but when he found she had taken some of his clothes, that cinched it.
“I was so blind,” he growled. “She probably isn’t even mute, but she played me like a fool and I danced right into her hands.” He slammed his fists against the armrests of his chair and Max whined.
For the next hour, he wheeled in circles, trying to think of what, if any, action he should take. I can’t exactly track them down, not in my condition, he mused. I supposed I could go to the police? My friendship with the prince might actually count for something. But I can’t say for sure what was stolen besides my clothes, and I don’t want to go back to the palace, anyway. He ran a hand through his bangs.By the skies. That was my favorite shirt, too. A picture of Ariel wearing his clothes came to mind. At least she took pants this time. Wait, what am I thinking?
He had to admit, even though he was furious, the thief’s performance impressed him. He had known something was off about her, but he had never questioned her intentions until it was too late.
It was those damned blue eyes, and that hair that seemed to go for miles. And her tiny hands– who would suspect such hands of thievery?
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