"Gondro, are you sure she will be fine?" I heard Jacob's voice.

Everything was a haze. "Yes, Captain. She should wake up any moment now." It was Gondro's voice.

"Are you sure you used less force than normal?" It was Jacob again.

"Yes, Captain. For the tenth time, it was just enough to knock out Miss Darling. Nothing fatal." It was Sandlot this time.

"Then why is she not waking up yet?" Jacob's voice again. Then I heard Paco's voice telling him to be patient.

Their voices were becoming louder and louder so I opened my eyes. I blinked as my eyes adjusted to the dim lights of the night. That was when I realized I was leaning on Jacob's shoulder. I groaned as I felt the back of my neck sore. I straightened out.

"Are you alright?" Jacob asked me.

I looked at him and stared for a very long time as my brain reminisced the events that just happened moments ago. Then, I glared at him.

"YOU!!! YOU… You killed Puma!" I raised my voice.

"I'm here Miss Darling. I'm alive," Puma called me. I turned to the voice and Puma smiled and waved at me.

I wrinkled my forehead. "But… Jacob shot you and Carla…"

"I am alright as well Miss Darling," Carla stepped to my eye's view and smiled shyly. "I apologize for deceiving you."

"What is going on? I saw what happened! There was blood! You threw them in the sea!" I said, my voice raising higher and higher.

It was becoming more and more obvious to me that everything was a deception. But, someone better explain something to me or I'll end up shooting someone! I looked back at Jacob and glared.

"It was the only believable way to save Carla without suffering any problematic consequences," Jacob began to explain.

I narrowed my eyes. I was livid. NO! I was beyond livid! I was FURIOUS and ENRAGED! They deceived me. "Nobody bothered to tell me about the plan?!" I asked with the voice that could freeze a fire.

Then, I heard a familiar chuckle. "That would be my fault," Monika answered.

"YOU'RE BACK?!" I yelled.

Monika laughed, "Yes. I have been back since last night. Darling, news travels fast for the gypsies. When we heard that you and Jacob were in trouble, we raced to go back to Labyrinth. But when we arrived, you were already asleep. That's when we know of Carla's dilemma. So, we devised this plan," she explained.

I scoffed, "YOU devised the plan?"

Monika nodded, "That would be correct since I am the one that was the most knowledgeable of the laws of Sirumaha and its loopholes. Am I not clever?" she chuckled.

I clenched my fist. Now, I am annoyed! I looked at all of them and reiterated, "AND NO ONE BOTHERED TO TELL ME OF THE PLAN?!"

Monika chuckled again, "That was also my doing."

"AND YOU ALL AGREED TO IT!? TO MAKE ME IGNORANT?!" I stood up and pointed at all of them.

"I told you, she would be livid," Puma responded.

Monika stood up as well and checked her nails nonchalantly, unaffected by my anger which made me rage more. "You see, Darling. You are the secret weapon in my plan."

I gave her a warning look. She just chuckled in response. "In case the Rai would be suspicious, your genuine emotions and reactions would be the perfect cover," she explained.

"Which I thought was a very good plan," Sandlot agreed.

Monika looked at him and smiled pleased, "Why thank you Sandlot."

Sandlot nodded and gave her a smile. His participation in the conversation made me recall his godlike speed.

"You struck me," I reminded Sandlot.

Sandlot turned to me with an apologetic face. "I am so sorry, Miss. I was just following orders."

I glared back at Jacob because he was the one that gave THE order. Jacob stood up as well and was about to step closer to me.

"Don't YOU dare come close!" I warned him, pointing my finger at him.

"I'm sorry. You can shoot me if you like," he said.

I crossed my arms and was waiting for his explanation. But, he just looked at me with an apologetic face. I felt so betrayed.

"Did it hurt?" Paco asked in a very sweet and caring voice.

I turned to him, "Nothing I couldn't handle. But, still… I could not believe that you all deceived me!"

"We'll make it up to you, Miss," Thaddaeus said. "I could show you the secrets of manning our sails, if that will make you happy."

"I could make you a very special meal," Neville added and smiled at me.

"I'll compose a song for you, Miss Darling!" Laurel cried out and that made me chuckle.

"I deeply and sincerely apologize for everything that we had to put you through so I could escape, Darling," Carla apologized in a very sincere voice. Her eyes almost to tears.

I looked at her and sighed. In the end, the deception was for a purpose. Everything was beginning to be alright but Jacob just had to ruin the moment.

"You did say to help her with whatever means necessary," Jacob reminded me.

"Yes, ma'am," he replied.

*****

After I calmed down, Paco told me that we were currently anchored by Amuris Bay. It was a smaller bay in comparison to others but it provided us the cover we needed. A number of gypsies who were trained as spies, including Hannahbelle, met up with our crew to provide us assistance. I was informed that they intercepted the treasures and secretly switched it with fakes. Jacob entrusted them to return the real ones to their respective owners.

Puma was talking loudly to some of the gypsies, boasting at how realistic his performance was during the deception. He then explained in detail how they fake the blood and how he assisted Carla when they were thrown in the sea. I rolled my eyes as I remembered how they hoodwinked me.

"Again, I'm sorry for keeping it from you," Paco said.

I frowned but nodded. Paco walked away to speak to some of the gypsies as well. I started walking back to Labyrinth but I stopped my tracks after I saw Jacob talking to Carla.

"You have my endless gratitude, Captain Jacob. Next time, I'll be the one helping you," I overheard her say.

Jacob smiled at her gently and for some reason that unnerved me. He caught a strand of her hair and tucked it behind her ear. I hissed. He did that to me and Monika, too! He is such a rake!

"Tsk.. tsk.. tsk… Eavesdropping is a very bad habit," I turned around and saw Monika. I rolled my eyes instantaneously. She chuckled. "You love him, don't you?"

"I don't know what you are talking about," I denied right away.

"Keep it up and you'll lose him," she warned. "It hurt, didn't it? Captain Jacob, almost marrying Carla?" she added then, giggled. I was about to respond but she started walking towards Jacob and Carla. "Carla! It's time to go," she called out. Carla decided to join the gypsies.

"Do not get abducted again," Jacob told her as she approached. In response, Monika looked at me before she planted a kiss on Jacob's cheek. I hissed. Jacob whispered something to her and she laughed flirtatiously. Then, both the ladies left to join the other gypsies.

Jacob looked at me. I was still mad at him for deceiving me… AND I was beyond irritated on how he acted with Carla and Monika. He began walking towards me so I warned, "Do NOT come near me!" He stopped and I left him there to board Labyrinth.