Because in this next scene the prince takes Moira and Naia to the market. The cousins are both being exposed to human culture for the first time and vying for the hand of the prince. It’s a struggle that Naia wins and while she gets some time alone with the prince, Moira faces Captain Hook who ambushes her, trying to kill a siren.
This is what I mean about being too mean to my protagonist. Naia gets to have a romantic moment with a hunk and I’m going to have to run for my life.
It will also be the next time I see James so I can tell him about my hunch of us living in the story and try to figure out a plan with him. I wonder how the scene will play out since James wouldn’t be trying to kill me.
But I want to be ready just in case.
I remember how much time I spent looking for clotheslines or another ship, but only the Jolly Roger was available in the end. As if the plot was pushing me forward, forcing me to meet James. In this world of the predestined, how much of my will is really my own and how much is determined by the plot? Pushed by the plot. Forced by the plot.
I curl my hand into a fist, wishing I could just say that I’m sick but the fact of the matter is that I need to go out to that market today. I need to find James and figure out how much he knows. Even though that’s my own personal goal, it’s still doing exactly what the plot wants.
There is a knock at the door and Frederick pokes his head into the door. He smiles, a flash of light against his sun-kissed skin. I feel my heart stutter. He looks like he belongs on the cover of a magazine. The military regalia he is wearing speak not just of his station but also accent his shoulders as the material stretches across them.
I raise my hand, fanning myself slightly as he begins talking.
“I was wondering if I could request the pleasure of your company this afternoon?”
He has an Australian accent which might not make that much sense since no one else I’ve met here has an accent like that, but it just makes him sound that much hotter.
There’s something about an accent.
Naia stops twirling in her gauze skirts and instead lowers her lashes, suddenly shy. I push to my feet and hurry to his side, grabbing his arm before he can protest. I note that Frederick had his eyes fixated on Naia since he came in, so I try to move into his vision and block her from view.
One of the more enjoyable ways I change the ending is by making sure that the prince doesn’t fall for Naia. If he falls in love with me instead then Moira gets her happy ending. She doesn’t fall for Hook, and then she doesn’t die by his hand. When that happens, I hopefully get sent home, but not before I kiss me a prince.
Which is something I’ve always wanted to do.
I’m not sure how I’m going to woo a prince, while keeping him away from his fated love, and arrange a rendezvous with my producer. All while avoiding any pirates who may try to kill me because hey, pirates double as siren killers in this world.
I guess it’s all done one step at a time.
Now that step two is complete and I have legs, I have to figure the next part of my plan.
Step three, find James and figure out how helpful he will be. Step four, get a prince to kiss me. Step five, go home?
Preferably without dying or becoming the villain of this tale.
Yeah, shouldn’t be too hard, should it?
