C1, PT. 1 (Patreon)

Jasmine lay stretched out on the couch, chin pillowed on her stacked hands as she read. The thirteen-year-old was oblivious to the glorious summer day beyond the library windows. Nothing could distract her from the story unfolding on the page.

Suddenly, she gasped and sat up, so she was cross-legged with the book on her lap. A few minutes later, she perched on the arm rest. As the story reached its climax, she got to her feet and feverishly flipped through the last pages. When she realized there were no more words, she slammed the book shut, closed her eyes, and bellowed, “Thea!”

She listened for a response and when she didn’t get one, she leapt off the couch, and ran out of the library as if it were on fire. For a split second, she debated searching the upstairs bedrooms for the housekeeper, but decided to go with her gut.

“Thea!” she exclaimed as she skidded to a stop on the opposite side of the kitchen island.

Thea didn’t look up from the ingredients she was adding to a mixing bowl. “Finished another book, miss?”

“Yes!”

“Didn’t you finish one yesterday?”

“Two,” Jasmine said distractedly as she paced. “Those were good, but this. This was…” She twisted her fist in her shirt as emotion rose to choke her. “This book had it all. Adventure, mystery, action, high stakes, romance…” She let out a gusty sigh that made Thea’s brows arch. “I could die happy right this second.”

Thea shook her head, used to Jasmine’s dramatic antics after reading an exciting tale. “What was this one about?”

The girl’s wistful expression vanished as she straightened and braced her hands on the island. “The book’s called Uncharted Waters. It’s about this girl named Naida who lives by the ocean. Her mother died during childbirth, so it’s just her and her father, who’s a fisherman. He would leave for weeks, even months at a time, but when he fails to return from his fishing trip, she sets out on a quest to find him. She meets all these characters along the way. One is a man named Amir. She saves his life when she overhears that his partner is planning to slit his throat.” She ignored the way Thea’s eyes flared with disapproval and continued, “Since he’s in her debt, he offers to help track down the ship her father was on.”

“Could you pass the spatula?” Thea asked.

“They go on all these adventures. They battle pirates, explore uninhabited islands, and he teaches her how to fight with a sword.” Jasmine fetched the spatula and did a slash, parry, and thrust before she surrendered it. “Gosh, it was so real, I could feel the sea breeze on my face and smell the tang of the ocean.”

Thea slid a tray in front of her with sliced pita bread and vegetables. “Eat.”

Jasmine smothered the pita bread with Tzatziki sauce and felt her fictional world recede a little as she registered how hungry she was. She couldn’t remember the last meal she had. When she was immersed in a book, she didn’t need water, food, or sleep.

“I wish Dad owned ships instead of buildings,” she said absently.

“Don’t let him catch you saying that, miss.”

Jasmine sighed. “I know. But ships are so cool! You can transport cargo, live on them, and be on the ocean with nothing around for miles.”

“I spent a lot of time on boats in Greece,” Thea said. “One day, you should visit my homeland.”

Jasmine brightened. “Yes! I want to visit Delos, where Artemis and Apollo were born. The Parthenon, temple of Poseidon, Olympia…”

Thea eyed her warily. “You didn’t tell your father about those Greek myth books I gave you, did you?”

Jasmine grinned. “Of course not. He would have freaked.”

“Yes, he would.” Thea gave her a curious look. “Aren’t you supposed to be studying?”

“I am,” Jasmine said with studied nonchalance.

“Are you? You’ve done nothing but inhale fantasy books for two weeks straight.”

“They’re Spanish, German, and French translations,” Jasmine said smugly.

Thea tried to look stern, but failed miserably. “You know that’s not what your father meant.”

“This is the only way I can sneak in fantasy books,” she said with a pleading note in her voice.

Thea shook her head and continued chopping. “What happened next in this book you read, miss?”

“Oh!” Jasmine tried to remember where she left off. “Eventually, Amir and Naida discover the ship her father was working on sank, but several men survived. They visit the island where the survivors were taken. From the moment they step onto the island, she notices that Amir is getting a lot of attention, and everyone seems to know him. Can you guess why?” Jasmine bounced on her toes, so giddy she couldn’t contain herself. When Thea shook her head, she shouted, “He was a prince!”

“Is that so?”

“I was hoping Amir was the son of an infamous pirate, but being a prince is cool, too,” Jasmine said with a shrug as she coated a carrot in the garlic yogurt sauce. “Amir fled the kingdom before he could be forced into marriage. It makes sense why so many helped them along the way—they recognized Amir and knew he would repay them generously once he took the throne.”

Thea slid a pyramid of chicken skewers in front of her, enough to feed a whole family. Thea’s stern finger point made it clear that she expected Jasmine to eat a few.

“I’m so glad one of the survivors was Naida’s father.” Jasmine’s eyes welled as she recalled the touching scene. “I was starting to think her father died, and she would be left with no family, but…” She waved her hand and continued, “The King was told about his son’s return. He makes a deal with Amir that if he takes his rightful place as king, he can marry whoever he chooses.” She pressed a hand over her fluttering heart. “Amir asks Naida to marry him. She has to choose between her simple, peaceful life with her father or one bound by duty and protocol.”

Thea’s busy hands paused. “What did she choose?”

Jasmine paused. Thea never asked questions. Most of the time, she couldn’t tell whether Thea was even listening. That didn’t stop her from regaling the housekeeper with every interesting tale she felt was worth sharing. Yesterday, she trailed after Thea and helped her dust and change bedsheets, so she could tell the housekeeper about her latest read before Thea shooed her away.

“Well, the Queen wasn’t happy to hear that her son wanted to marry a fisherman’s daughter. She told Naida that she would never be accepted by the public once they discovered her poor background. The Queen said she wasn’t suitable to rule at Amir’s side.”

She flushed with anger, just as she had when she read that horrible scene. Amir’s mom was a witch.

“The Queen wasn’t the only one who had something unkind to say. It made Naida realize how difficult this path would be and that this man, who she thought she had so much in common with, came from a completely different world. She isn’t sure she can live up to everyone’s expectations, so even though she loves Amir, she turns him down.”

Thea’s brows shot up in surprise. “And she goes home with her father?”

“I know!” Jasmine burst out. “I nearly threw the book across the room. There were so few pages left, I thought they might actually…” She took a deep breath and held up both hands. “A year passes. A whole year before he shows up, declaring he still loves her and is willing to give up the throne and live a simple life with her.” She did a happy twirl before she composed herself. “Isn’t that romantic, Thea?”

“And who will rule once his father dies?”

Another question. This had to be a record for Thea. “Thankfully, Naida was already planning to make the trek to see him. She decided he was worth the ridicule and challenges that would come. In the end, they decide to rule his kingdom together and live happily ever after.”

“That’s nice, dear.”

“It was glorious.” Jasmine’s face crumped as she slumped against the counter. “I want my own Amir.”

“I’m sure your father’s going to find the perfect man for you.”

“I want us to go on adventures and see the world.” She stared out at the still lake and wished it was a stormy, churning sea. “I want a man who’s willing to give up a kingdom for me.”

“I don’t know how many men your father knows who have kingdoms,” Thea teased. “How about a businessman?”

Jasmine’s disgusted look made Thea snicker.

“I want a prince!”

“There’s precious few of those, and do you really want the responsibilities that come with being a princess? You get so stressed when your father calls you into the city for parties, and you didn’t care for those dance lessons he made you take.”

“Thea! Stop ruining my fantasy!” Jasmine wailed.

“I’m just saying, miss. You of all people can guess what comes with that kind of life.”

She did know. Memorizing key political figures, learning the customs and languages of the region, endless social events, strict etiquette and protocol… She wrinkled her nose.

“Not a prince, then,” she said glumly. “But someone powerful and influential.”

“Like a businessman?” Thea supplied helpfully and ignored Jasmine’s glare. “A businessman could take time off for adventures,” Thea wheedled. “And your father wouldn’t consider a man who didn’t have as much power and influence as himself. What if this man’s willing to give up his company for you instead of a kingdom?”

It wasn’t nearly as romantic, but it would have to do. “Okay, but he has to love me to death.”

**This is a raw draft of Bitter Confessions. Please do not share or distribute.

I thought it would be fun to start off the book with a glimpse of a younger Jasmine and show her love of reading, relationship with Thea (who plays a key role in her life), and also her wants/needs/ideals and how that shapes her into the adult she is today.