It was the fourth morning of their voyage, Alanna stirred awake to find Aimil's eyes on her with a warm smile. A warm feeling bloomed in her chest, she still got flustered around him. All this was new to her still but it felt right, deep in her gut she knew it was meant to be and she had no incentive to fight it. She knew they'd only met a few days before but their connection spanned out across millennia. Aimil stared into Alanna's eyes wondering what she was thinking. He could take a peek if he really wanted to but he also wanted to give her the privacy she deserved and he much preferred it when she'd tell him what she was thinking, if only just to hear her voice speaking to him. "Are you alright?" He asked still smiling. Alanna nodded, his husky morning voice did things to her insides that made her cheeks flush. "You?" She finally rasped, trying to find her voice. "I'm perfect," he answered looking at her with an intensity that made her heart jump. Just a few more days left on the ship, she didn't want to leave, she wanted her voyage with him to last forever, save for the malicious ghosts. He'd been in her dreams the previous night too, he always seemed to be in all her dreams lately. As for Aimil, he'd never slept so well as he did with her in his arms. Alanna moved to sit up and slid off the bed suddenly needing to relieve herself. "I need to use the privy chamber," she said walking towards the door. "I'll come with you," Aimil answered getting off the bed and walking towards her. He didn't want to let her out of his sight, not if he could help it. Once they got back to the cabin with their bath water, they left the buckets of water behind the stall and sat by their table to have sandwiches. When they were done, Aimil took Alanna's hand and walked back to her bed. "Lay down with me for a little while longer," his said in his deep husky voice laying down and taking Alanna with him. She curled up beside him and he wrapped his arms around her, nestling his head into her neck. Alanna couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like to bathe with him. She hadn't stopped wondering since their swim the night before the previous day. She chided herself for her wayward thoughts as she felt her face flush. Aimil smiled against her neck as if he could sense what she was thinking.

After a while, Alanna got up, grabbing a bundle of clothes from her satchel and disappeared behind the stall to take a bath. Aimil could hear the water splash from behind the stall and he found himself thinking of what it would be like to take a bath with Alanna, to feel her supple skin underneath his palms as he washed her, to feel her bare skin on his. His loins stirred at the thought to the point of a painful discomfort. He got up and started preparing for his bath, striping down to his braies and grabbing a change of clothes from his satchel as he folded and packed the clothes he'd worn the night before in one of his satchels. He tried to shake his thoughts of Alanna to no avail as he sat on his bed waiting for her to finish so he could take his bath.

He must've been lost in his own thoughts because the next thing he knew Alanna was standing beside her bed, packing a bundle of neatly folded garments into her satchel. He shook his head as if to rearrange his thoughts and grabbed the bundle of clothes he'd set beside him and got up to go take his bath, his eyes fixed on his feet and the wooden floor beneath them. Alanna couldn't help but steal glances at Aimil as he moved, fully noticing just how chiseled his tall muscular form was in the light of day. The bulky bulge underneath his braies was hard to miss as he stood and disappeared behind the stall for his bath. Alanna's face was flush as her wayward thoughts got the best of her. Goddess! She wondered what it would feel like to run her hands over his bare skin, feeling the prominent muscles of his chest, his abdomen and his glorious back. Her mouth felt like a desert as she wondered what his plump lips would feel on hers, his tongue in her mouth. She reprimanded herself shaking her head and grabbing one of the water-skins Orin had packed in with the food he gave her. All she needed was water, she told herself, and probably some more food. It was her custom now to wait for him before she left their cabin for the day and soon enough, he emerged fully dressed to find her seated on her usual chair, reed pen in hand, scribbling on one of her scrolls.

Alanna and Aimil locked up and walked out onto the deck as they'd now made habit of doing, finding a cozy spot and sitting together, taking in the sun and enjoying the cool breeze. Today it was more cloudy than usual and even though the sun shone bright, the clouds carried a promise of rain at some point in the day. "What are we going to do about Domino?" Alanna asked staring out into the cloudy horizon in the distance. "We'll have to face him, I'm sure he'll turn up again and when he does, as Claire said, you'll know what to do, and so will I," Aimil answered with a calmness that concealed his concern. Alanna took a deep breath trying to calm herself, she needed to trust herself more, the answers inside her would come up when she needed them just as Claire had said. Just then, Claire popped up beside her and Alanna nearly jumped out of her skin, startled from the sea of thoughts she'd been lost in. "Deary! How are you?" Her voice echoed in Alanna's head chuckling lightly at her expression. "Oh, um, I'm alright," Alanna stuttered as she gathered her bearings, trying to hide her worry. Aimil looked over to Alanna's side when she spoke, giving Claire a nod with a slight smile on his face. "Oh dear, what did I miss?" Claire asked, a wave of concern taking over her face at Alanna and Aimil's demeanor. "Nothing much, just wondering what we're going to do about Domino now that he's after me," Alanna answered telepathically this time. "You'll know what to do when the time comes, sweetheart, try not to worry yourself to death," Claire reassured her. "As a matter of fact, I have a few friends I want you to meet, they'll help you," she added cheerfully. "Wait, I thought you were supposed to move on once Emilia knew about her heritage," Alanna sounded telepathically her brows furrowed in confusion. "I still have some unfinished business, I couldn't very well leave my longtime friend with that predatory scoundrel, now could I?" Emilia's voice echoed back, her brow raised with a warm smile on her translucent face. Alanna smiled back, grateful that she wouldn't have to deal with this alone. Her encounter with Domino had unnerved her deeply.

Leomaris found Alanna and Aimil seated on the deck and he stopped to check on them. Alanna asked him to join them briefly and he obliged. "Captain, what do you know about Domino?" Alanna asked. Leomaris' expression suddenly darkened and he was quiet for a bit looking at Alanna's serious face. "You've ran into him then?" He asked seriously and Alanna nodded in response. "He's a malicious creature, a predator that's been lurking on my ship for far too long, one I haven't had the gift or means to eviscerate yet," Leomaris answered gravely. "What's your gift if you don't mind me asking?" Alanna asked quietly. Leomaris smiled, "I work with the element of water, I can communicate with spirits of the waters and those who have passed as well," he said. "I would ask you about yours but Orin already filled me in, not to mention the spirits of the sea haven't shut up about you since we set sail," Leomaris added chuckling lowly. Alanna smiled at his answer. "You need to be careful around the ship especially at night, Domino is a persistent hunter, " Leomaris said his expression becoming serious again. "Why haven't I seen any ghosts in my cabin?" Alanna asked Leomaris, she'd been wondering about that since the other night. "Well, that would probably be because your cabin was built with sacred timbre engraved with enchantments to keep out unwelcome or harmful beings, human or otherwise. That's why I placed you there after Orin filled me in on who you were," Leomaris answered. That made a lot of sense to Alanna, her heart warming as she realized just how many steps Orin had taken to ensure her safety. "Thank you for your kindness Leomaris, I deeply appreciate it," Alanna said to the captain. "My pleasure, domina mea. I've got to get back to work, I'll see you later," Leomaris said standing up, tipping his hat to Alanna and nodding at Aimil before he left to resume his duties.

Emilia and Lorence were on their way to the galley when Emilia spotted Alanna and Aimil, engrossed in deep conversation, on the deck. "My favorite couple! How are you?" She greeted them cheerfully clapping her hands as she often did when she was excited. "We're quite alright, domina mea," Aimil answered, taking the lead this time. "How's your honeymoon?" Alanna followed. "Oh it's been magical!" Emilia answered with her hands clasped together and her eyes to the sky with a dreamy look on her face. "We were just going into the galley for lunch, would you like to join us?" She added. "Of course, we'd love to," Alanna answered making a move to get up and pulling Aimil along by his hand. As they sat down Emilia couldn't help but notice that whenever she saw Alanna, Aimil was always by her side, hand-in-hand, not to mention the way they looked at each other. If they weren't a couple already Emilia could hardly tell, she thought as she chuckled to herself. The four companions quickly fell into cheerful conversation and this time, Aimil and Lorence were just as involved as Alanna and Emilia. The afternoon went by quickly as they all chatted cheerfully, all thoughts of Domino forgotten momentarily. When they parted ways Alanna and Aimil went back to their spot on the deck, still chatting.

Claire appeared at Alanna's side after some time. "I hope I'm not interrupting," she started with a sly grin and a wink directed at Alanna before she continued, "I brought my friends as promised." More than a few translucent figures floated out in front of Alanna and Aimil as Claire introduced them one by one, including the old woman Alanna had seen the night of that dreadful encounter with Domino. Alanna counted at least fifteen of Claire's companions, that was definitely more than a few. "Oh dear! I forgot the children, I'll be right back," Claire said and disappeared in a hurry. A few moments later she reappeared with quite a number of children of different ages, introducing them to Alanna and Aimil. The children floated around Alanna in circles, giggling with excitement, dancing and playing with her hair. They asked her many questions and made sweet commentaries as they alternated between her and Aimil.

Aimil couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to have a family of his own with Alanna as he watched her interaction with the children, occasionally being brought to laughter. She'd be a wonderful mother, he mused to himself. As Alanna's laughter rang in his ears he snapped out of his reverie, silently chiding himself for getting ahead of himself. As sunset approached, Claire called to the children. "We usually make sure the children aren't out and about once nightfall comes. We like to keep them away from that scoundrel Domino and his minions," she explained to Alanna as her translucent friends helped gather the children and take them away into safety. "I'll be back later deary," Claire promised Alanna before she disappeared. Alanna had enjoyed spending time with Claire's translucent companions, especially she children. She wondered what it would be like to have children of her own, she imagined having her own family with Aimil. Would they be happy? She wondered. The chirping of the birds brought her back to reality. She could feel the sea calling to her as it had previously. The pull was irresistible and she wanted to jump in for a swim just then but she had to wait until the passengers were back in their cabins. She hoped to have a few minutes in the water before the rain came. "I want to come back for a swim when everyone else is settled," she whispered to Aimil who gave her a worried look. "I've lived in fear for more than enough years, I can't always run and hide every time there's a challenge," she told him seriously. "The sea is calling to me and I'm going to have some fun tonight, Domino or no Domino. If he comes after me I'll deal with him," she added, her tone firm and full of determination. "I'll come with you," Aimil said wrapping an arm around her shoulders. No way was he leaving her side, danger or no danger. They went back to their cabin, informing Sergius of their plans on the way so he could come fetch them when the passengers and the crew were somewhat settled. He'd look out for them sufficiently when it came to the passengers and the crew, they could handle the rest.