Chapter 5

The next morning, I couldn’t help myself but rush over to the bank, checking my safety deposit box. Inside, the gold ring that Nixie had given me was there. I held it in my hand, my heart skipping a beat at the thought of her. “Please… Nixie… you have to find me… just as you promised you would.”

***

That evening, I was obligated to go to a socialite party I had signed myself up for. I regretted it now, wishing I could sit on my porch with a drink and look out at the ocean. Sighing, I put on a dashing black suit and matching tie. I checked myself out in the mirror, running my fingers through my wavy black hair. Over the years, my face had not changed one bit. I still had the same chiseled jawline, semi-crooked nose, and hollowed cheeks. I ran my fingers over my well-kept facial hair. Would Nixie even recognize me if she saw me? I felt I looked the same, but at the same time, my reflection in the mirror, staring back at me, looked so alien. Wearing modern clothes, I didn’t resemble the pirate I had once been.

Pushing these thoughts to the side, I left the house, getting into my Porsche. I started the engine, making my way to the function hall, situated near the hub of London. As I drove past Westminster, I could see Big Ben and the London Eye. Happy couples were walking around, holding hands and smiling. It only made me grimace. Their happiness seemed unfair. Why should they be happy when I wasn’t? A bout of depression wrapped tightly around me, making it hard to breathe. My fingers tightened on the wheel and my foot grew heavier on the accelerator until I was almost doubling the speed limit, weaving my way through traffic. Finally, as I spotted a parking space, I maneuvered into it with ease.

As I stepped inside, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the function was quite nice. The decorations were well-placed and the music was appropriate. I made my way over to the bar, ready to get myself a drink. I sat down, waiting for the bartender. “I’ll have some rum,” I told him, easing back in my seat. As I did, a beautiful girl sat down next to me. Her hair was a gray color that seemed to stem from her roots. It was almost unnatural. I examined it closely, trying to figure out whether it was dyed. Her eyes were a radiant shade of blue and her small face was framed by a pair of thin-rimmed glasses.

“Um… excuse me.” I cleared my throat, hoping to get her attention. When she looked at me straight on, I nearly gasped. I could hardly believe it. My heart skipped a beat. It was her. I nearly took her into my arms and rejoiced, but the look of confusion on her face brought me back to reality. Maybe it wasn’t her…

“Yes?” She asked, cocking her head to the side.

“I just couldn’t help but introduce myself to a beautiful woman like yourself. I’m Slade Blackstone.” I pronounced my name carefully, watching for any sign of recognition, but she just smiled politely, her cheeks growing pink at my compliment.

“I’m Nixie Highwater.” I froze in place. Nixie. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She said, holding out her delicate hand. For a moment, I didn’t know what to do. I was now so certain it was her that I found myself at a standstill. Finally, as things started to get awkward, I shook her hand, jolts of electricity running through my spine as if Zeus had just hurled one of his lightning bolts at me. There was no doubt that it was her. But why couldn’t she recognize me? “What brings you here?” She asked, taking a sip of her colorful fruity drink.

“Oh well… I own a few shops. Jewelry shops.” I stumbled over my words, still caught in the holds of her gaze.

“Oh, that’s really cool. I’m actually an environmentalist and marine biologist, affiliated with the Smooth Sailing Foundation. Are you familiar with them?” I shook my head and she continued. “Well, we’re a business that harvests red coral from protected reefs so we can cultivate them and repopulate the decimated areas around the Caribbean.”

The word Caribbean was like a bullet through my soul. I kept staring at her, hoping she would remember her past, but she seemed oblivious to what she once was. “You know, I used to know a little nymph whose job it was to protect those reefs.” I joked, thinking it would spark her memory, but all she did was glare at me, thinking I was using the word nymph in the derogatory sense.

“You see, that really isn’t something you should joke about. People should care about the reefs, no matter what their sexual preferences are. Corals are very important to the ocean’s delicate ecosystem.” She looked at me, taking a sip before continuing. It looked like she had enough stamina to lecture me through the night. It wasn’t like I minded all that much. Just being around her again made me feel whole once more. “Anyway, so my parents are scuba divers and they do research on the subject all the time. They tell me that the reefs are very beautiful and I want to ensure that my children and grandchildren can enjoy clean water, biodiversity, and the taste of fish for their entire life on Earth.” She then narrowed her eyes in my direction. “You said you were a jewelry shop owner, right? You aren’t one of those despicable people who make jewelry with red coral, are you?”

All of a sudden, I felt extremely guilty. I thought about the pile of red coral on my workbench and how I planned to turn it into a beautiful necklace fit for the Queen of England. “I used to… but after hearing your passionate speech, I would never think to do so again. I promise to dissolve that part of my business in order to keep the oceans healthy. I hope you can forgive me for my ignorance.” I said, letting an air of humility fill my voice. I bowed my head as if I were addressing royalty, a grin painted on my face which she couldn’t see. She was much too flabbergasted to either accept or refute my plea for forgiveness.