Kingdom of Salt Read online

  At which point I noticed the bracelet was slipping off my wrist.

  “Shit!” The clasp had come undone.

  Instinctively I lunged forward, desperately trying to grab it as it slid towards the sea below. My fingers grazed the end of it as it fell.

  At the same moment, the cruise liner hit another big wave and tilted up. Caught by surprise, I was flung over the railing headfirst, the angle of the ship throwing me clean into the water. I didn’t even have time to scream.

  Both the bracelet and I sank below the surface at almost exactly the same moment. I caught one glimpse of the lights of the cruise liner far above me, and then the sea closed over my head.

  It was like being in a whirlpool. The water around me was being churned violently by the passing of the ship, whipping me round like a ragdoll.

  It was pitch black and I couldn’t see anything. Salt stung my eyes and I flailed blindly, terrified I was going to be pulled into the propellers.

  I kicked out in a panic, thrashing wildly to get away from the undertow. But the swirl of water implacably forced me down, and within seconds I was exhausted.

  My lungs started to burn, and I knew I had to get air. My terror grew as I fought to swim to the surface. My limbs were lead weights, and I wasn’t even sure which way was up.

  All at once, a great fatigue stole over me. I tried to keep swimming, but it was hard. So hard. My heartbeat slowed.

  Sorry, Mama, I thought, as my vision darkened. At least I’ll see you soon.

  My legs stopped kicking. I hung in the water knowing that any second now, I would have to take a breath. It was almost peaceful, knowing it was over. My only regret was leaving daddy alone.

  I didn’t see what happened next. I only felt it.

  Someone grasped my waist and pulled me close. My hands were trapped against a hard chest. Fingers tangled in my hair and tilted my head as the last bubble of oxygen left my body. I caught a flash of green eyes, and then a mouth closed over my own.

  Lips moved against me, cool but firm.

  I must be dreaming, I thought. I was having some kind of near-death hallucination.

  And then air was rushing into my lungs.

  I took a deep, glorious breath, and passed out.

  Chapter Three

  Something tickled my face and I brushed it off, eyes still closed.

  “Go ‘way. Sleeping.”

  It was warm, and I was lying on my back. The curtains must be open, I thought drowsily. The light seemed very bright behind my eyelids.

  Something prodded my cheek again.

  “Stop it!”

  I made a grab, and shrieked. Something had fiercely pinched my finger. My eyes flew open as a small blue crab dropped to the sand and scuttled away.

  “What the…?”

  I was lying on a beach straight out of a brochure. The sun was shining in a deep blue sky, and turquoise waves lapped gently against a silver-white shore. I cast around wildly, looking for someone to explain what the hell was going on, but I seemed to be alone.

  My hand flew to check my silver pendant. It was still there. But the bracelet, the beautiful bracelet from Josh, was gone.

  It all came rushing back. I’d nearly drowned. Shit, I was drowning, And then I’d woken up here. On land. But how?

  I realised I must have been lying here for some time – my shirt was crusty with salt, but it was dry. Getting to my feet, I shaded my eyes and looked out to sea, hoping to see the cruise ship.

  There was no sign of any vessel at all, much less the liner.

  I turned in a full circle. Behind me was green forest, tall palm trees fringing the beach. It looked deserted. There were no buildings or people, at least not that I could see.

  I cupped my hands to my mouth.

  “Hello! Is anyone there? Anyone?”

  A lone red and blue parrot flew out of a tree, squawking indignantly. I listened, but there was nothing else. No people, no traffic.

  Hazily, I tried to piece together what had happened. I’d felt sick, gone onto deck, and fallen into the sea. Then I… what? Got washed up here? Maybe that’s what happened. I lost consciousness, but somehow got swept ashore by the tide.

  I bit my lip. What was I forgetting?

  I heard a splash and gazed out to sea again, wondering when my friends would realise I was missing. Probably not for a while. They’d assume I was hungover and let me sleep in. They wouldn’t knock on my door till after lunch.

  What time was it now, anyway? My waterproof Rolex showed it was just after 9am. So, maybe three or four hours before the alarm was raised.

  Anxiety gnawed at me. The liner would be miles away by then. My stomach growled, and I realised I was hungry. And thirsty. I licked my dry lips. What was I going to do?

  I heard another splash and looked up sharply, shielding my eyes from the glare. There was someone swimming in the water far beyond the breakers.

  “Hey! Hey you!” I screamed, waving my arms. The figure paused. “Yes, you in the sea! Help me! I need help!”

  The shape vanished below the surface.

  “No! Wait! Come back! You son of a bitch, come back!” Desperately, I scanned the ocean but there was no sign of the swimmer.

  Maybe I’d imagined it. Maybe I was delirious from dehydration, or brain-damaged from lack of oxygen.

  A young man burst from the waves barely twenty feet away. My jaw dropped. He was bare-chested and perfectly sculpted, from his high cheekbones to his well-defined abs.

  He wore some kind of tight-fitting trousers in an iridescent material that I’d never seen before, but which looked like it cost a fortune. And trust me, I was an expert in fabrics.

  There was a knife sheathed at one hip, and a cloth bag hanging at the other from a thick strap slung across his body.

  His dark hair was sleek against his head, except for one lock that curled rebelliously. And his skin was pale, paler than I would have expected for someone who obviously spent a lot of time swimming in the Caribbean.

  He stared at me broodingly for a moment. I realised my mouth was still open and cleared my throat.

  “Er, hi?”

  He didn’t answer, but strode out of the waves towards me. I took a step back as he stopped in front of me, his near-nakedness unnerving. I flushed as I realised I was staring at his V-shaped obliques. I lifted my gaze. And saw his eyes.

  Emerald bright, fringed by dark lashes. A memory surfaced.

  “You! It was you! You were in the water with me!”

  He cocked his head, but didn’t answer. I studied him, trying to gauge his age. He didn’t look much older than me, but he held himself with a confidence that made him seem more mature. I tried again.

  “Did you bring me here? Did you save me?”

  Nothing. Maybe he didn’t speak English. I did what any Westerner does when faced with a foreigner. I enunciated very loudly and carefully.

  “WHAT’S YOUR NAME? WHERE ARE WE?” He stared at me silently, and I faltered. “Do you at least have a phone or something?”

  He turned away abruptly and walked up the beach. I stood with my mouth open for a second, then chased after him.

  “Hey! There’s no need to be rude! I’m talking to you, Fish-boy. Where’s the nearest town?”

  He completely ignored me. I put on a spurt of speed and ran round in front of him, forcing him to stop.

  “Look, dickhead. Thanks for saving me and all, but you can’t just walk off.”

  Daddy’s voice rang in my head. Always take charge, never show indecision. I drew myself up and adopted my most imperious expression. “I need to get back to my friends. Is there a bar or something? Somewhere with wifi? I demand you take me to it now.”

  His lip curled but I pressed on.

  “If it’s a reward you’re after, that’s no problem. My father has money. Lots of money. So just take me somewhere civilised and I’ll see to it you get some cash.” Enough for some clothes, at least, I thought to myself, trying not to stare at his abs again.

/>   He looked me up and down as if he couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing. Hoisting his bag to a more comfortable position, he strode round me.

  “Are you deaf? Come back! Stop ignoring me!”

  I was so irritated I actually stamped my foot, something I hadn’t done since I was six years old. He carried on walking.

  I swore under my breath. If Fish-boy thought I was running after him, he was sadly mistaken. There were bound to be other people here. I just had to find them.

  I flipped my middle finger at his receding back, and set off in the opposite direction.

  It took me forty minutes to discover we were on an island. A pretty small one at that, and completely deserted. Forty minutes to walk round its entirety and realise there were no homes, no hotels, no bars, not even a beach hut.

  Which meant Fish-boy and I were the only people here.

  Great.

  I was going to have to plead with him to help me. He must have a boat somewhere, or else how had he got here?

  But he’d pay for his rudeness, I thought savagely. I’d make sure he didn’t get a single penny from daddy.

  I walked back to where I’d started and scanned the beach in both directions, planning what I’d say. Hell, I’d even flirt a little if I needed to. I was good at getting people to do what I wanted.

  Just one problem.

  There was no sign of him.

  I searched for the stranger for the rest of the day, even pushing my way through the vegetation ringing the beach and cursing the mosquitos landing on my bare legs. But he was gone.

  As the sun went down, I sat under a palm tree at the edge of the forest. I was tired, hungry and thirsty. I hadn’t found any fresh water on the island.

  I felt a stab of fear. If I didn’t find something to drink tomorrow, I’d be in trouble.

  Tears pricked at my eyes.

  Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t cry.

  Mitras don’t give up, daddy always said. It was our mantra. I wiped my eyes angrily, trying to pull myself together.

  Josh would have realised hours ago that I wasn’t in my cabin. Everyone was searching for me right now. It was just a matter of time before they found me. Josh would never give up.

  I leaned against the tree trunk and waited for morning.

  Chapter Four

  I woke with a start when something thudded heavily next to me. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and examined it curiously.

  It was a greenish object, about the size and shape of a rugby ball. Where had that come from?

  I got up and looked round, my eyes eventually travelling up the trunk of the palm tree I’d been sitting under. Clusters of the same objects dangled near the top, like gigantic berries. I put my hands on my hips.

  “Huh. Look at that. Are they some kind of fruit?”

  Something grabbed me from behind and yanked me backwards. I landed on my butt with an indignant yelp. Fish-boy stood over me, looking annoyed.

  “What the f…?”

  The next second, two more of the green objects slammed into the sand where I’d been standing. I eyed the dents they made.

  Hm. Maybe not such a smart place to sleep.

  The stranger pointed expressively at the palm tree and shook his finger at me.

  “Okay, okay, I get it,” I said crossly. “But how am I supposed to know these trees are death traps? Anywhere, where’ve you been? I’ve been out here alone all night.”

  I struggled to my feet and brushed the sand off my shorts.

  “Look, I’m hungry and thirsty. I need food and water. Do you have any or not?”

  He glared at me for a moment, then picked up one of the things that had fallen from the palm tree and thrust it at me. I blinked at it.

  “What the hell am I supposed to do with that?”

  He shook it impatiently and I heard the distinct sound of liquid sloshing around inside. My mouth cramped with the need to drink. Hastily, I grabbed it.

  It was heavier than it looked and I wondered how you got it open. There didn’t seem to be any obvious entry points. I tried to gouge it apart, then hit it tentatively against the ground. But the outside was tough and fibrous and didn’t yield.

  “Is there a ring pull on this thing?”

  I looked up to catch the stranger watching, his lips twitching in amusement.

  Irritated, I threw it at him and he caught it one-handed.

  “If you’re so clever, you open it!” I folded my arms expectantly.

  Casually, he held it by one end and slammed it onto a nearby rock. Lines split the object from top to bottom. Shoving his fingers into the cracks, the stranger yanked the fibrous coating off to reveal something brown and hairy inside.

  My eyes widened as I finally recognised it for what it was.

  “A coconut! Cool!”

  He drew his knife from a sheath at his hip, the handle made out of some kind of polished stone. It looked pretty sharp, I thought uneasily.

  I took a step back, but he ignored me completely, slamming the blunt edge of the blade onto the coconut which obediently cracked in two. Bright white flesh shone inside.

  He held one half out and eagerly I grabbed it, bringing it to my lips. Cool scented liquid poured into my parched throat. I closed my eyes, groaning in ecstasy.

  When I opened them, he was watching me gravely. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.

  “You don’t talk much, do you?”

  He cocked his head to one side. Realisation hit.

  “Hang on. You can’t talk, can you?”

  He shrugged.

  “But you’re not deaf or anything? You understand me?”

  He nodded.

  “Okay. Well, thank you for this. I really needed it. But you don’t have to be so stand-offish, you know.”

  Solemnly, he handed me the other half of the coconut brimming with clear liquid. I took another swig, trying not to slurp it greedily.

  He turned away and I put a hand out.

  “Wait. Just wait a minute. Where are we? Are we the only ones here?”

  He nodded.

  “Does the island have a name? Does it belong to anyone?”

  He jerked his thumb at himself.

  “You? You own this island?”

  I couldn’t believe it. He didn’t look rich at all. Maybe he was some kind of eccentric billionaire?

  But then I remembered the island was tiny and had absolutely no facilities.

  He didn’t mean he owned the island. He meant it was deserted, and he’d found it.

  “How did you bring me here? Were you on a boat?”

  He made a swimming motion with his arms. I goggled in disbelief.

  “You swam me here? What are you, some kind of life-guard?” He gave me a puzzled look, and just at that moment, my stomach gurgled loudly. I blushed. “Um, do you have food?”

  He gestured at the coconut, and I frowned. What was I supposed to do with it? I’d drunk it all.

  He sighed, and took the shell out of my unresisting hands. Using his knife, he cut out a thick strip of white flesh and held it out.

  I tasted it gingerly. I’d never had fresh coconut before. Frankly, the only contact I’d ever had with it was as the flavouring in a Malibu cocktail.

  It was chewy and delicious.

  For a while there was no talking, just the sound of me munching. I stole a look as he worked his knife round the shell, frowning in concentration.

  He’d left his bag somewhere, and I could see the muscles playing in his back as he dug out more coconut. He was actually quite good-looking, when he wasn’t glowering at me.

  Up close, his skin seemed to gleam with a faint pearly sheen. I wondered where he was from. Definitely not from round here. Scandinavia, maybe. He had bone structure Nate would kill for.

  I let my eyes drift over his torso, and for the first time I noticed the scars on his chest. Faint silvery lines were etched vertically over his sternum, one on either side, each a few inches long.

  They looked li
ke old cuts which had healed over. Maybe he’d had surgery in the past, I thought.

  He drew the last of the coconut flesh out, and inspected the empty half shell. Abruptly he turned and walked back down the beach. I trotted after him, still munching. His bag was near the water, and he stowed the empty coconut shell inside.

  Hm. He collected coconut shells. Weird.

  Leaving his bag on the sand, he waded into the surf.

  “Wait! Where are you going?” He turned, frowning, as if he’d forgotten I was there. Then he jerked his chin impatiently towards the sea. I eyed the water nervously. “Um, you’re coming back, right?”

  His eyebrows shot up, as if surprised by the question, then he nodded slowly. He held up his hand, fingers splayed. Stay. Like I was a dog.

  I bit back my irritation. “Fine, Fish-boy. I’ll wait right here.”

  He took two more steps then dived below the waves. I waited for him to come up, but he didn’t.

  “He can sure hold his breath for a long time,” I muttered to myself.

  I sat down and dug my toes into the warm sand. Against all the odds, my pedicure was till perfect.

  That spa session seemed an aeon ago.

  I wondered how Josh and the others were. Whether they were out searching with the coastguard.

  I tried to ignore the little voice asking why no-one had found me yet.

  My fingers played with my necklace. Daddy would be frantic. He knew how nervous I was of the sea. I wished I could let him know I was alright.

  And I was alright, that was the miracle of it. I’d fallen off a boat in the dark, and I’d been saved by a handsome stranger.

  I frowned as I tried to remember exactly what had happened. He’d given me air under the water. Was that even possible? Didn’t you need to breathe in order to perform CPR on someone?

  Another memory came to me. My hands had been on his chest, trapped between our bodies. And I’d definitely felt his chest moving. He’d been breathing, I was sure of it. But… he couldn’t have been. Breathing underwater? I was remembering it wrong.

  I shook my head impatiently. I’d been oxygen deprived and delirious, on the point of drowning. No wonder I couldn’t make sense of anything.