Soul Of Calypso

Scarlett's POV
The sun had just begun to rise, casting a golden glow over the estate. It was a calm Sunday morning, and as I sat at the breakfast table, a strange restlessness churned inside me. I glanced over at Charlotte, who sat across from me, talking about pirates with a distant look in her eyes.
"Pirates..." she mused, her voice quiet, almost to herself. "Who knows what they really look like? I always imagined them as rough men, with a thirst for gold and treasure."
I smiled at her playful tone, but something in her voice made my heart race. I had always been drawn to stories of adventure and hidden treasures. Pirates, with their secrets and rebellions against society, had always seemed like the kind of people who could change the world, or at least, their own lives. But that wasn't what had my attention right now.
My eyes kept flicking over to Lord Jake, who was seated not far from us. He was being polite, as always, but I knew-I knew-there was more to his glances than mere conversation. They weren't for Charlotte. They were for me.
It wasn't obvious, not to anyone else at least, but I could feel it. He looked at me, stealing small glances as if he was trying to figure me out. I could see through his charming smile and cold eyes. The way he was studying me-it made me uncomfortable, though I didn't show it.
Charlotte, though, was lost in her own world, talking animatedly about the pirate stories. She had no idea that Lord Jake's attention was diverted. But I did.
Charlotte had always been the better one. She was everything I could never be-smart, beautiful, poised. At eighteen, she was already showing signs of becoming the leader of our estate. People adored her, looked up to her. She was capable of anything she set her mind to.
I, on the other hand, was left in her shadow. I wasn't as charming or brilliant. I didn't have the same drive. Yet I couldn't help but feel that, somehow, my path had to be different from hers. There had to be something more for me.
But even as those thoughts swirled in my mind, I couldn't ignore the situation unfolding in front of me. I knew what was going on. Charlotte didn't see it, but I could.
Lord Jake and Charlotte were too friendly toward each other. There was an unspoken connection, a flirtation hidden beneath their words and actions. He was interested in her, and she was either oblivious to it or playing along. Either way, it bothered me.
I didn't like Lord Jake. There was something about him that made my stomach churn. He wasn't the right person for Charlotte. I had this gut feeling. Maybe it was because I knew she deserved someone better, someone who didn't look at her like he was trying to unlock some mystery or gain an advantage.
Still, Charlotte didn't understand. And when she and Lord Jake began exchanging small, meaningful glances, I couldn't stand it any longer. I knew she was about to sneak away with him to the garden-just the two of them, alone.
I didn't want to be the one to interrupt them, but I couldn't help myself. I cleared my throat loudly, drawing their attention.
"Oh," I said with a polite smile, standing up. "Excuse me for interrupting, but I think Scarlett and I need to have a word."
Charlotte gave me a quick look. There was no sign of annoyance in her eyes, just a gentle nod of agreement. She wasn't happy about my interruption, but she didn't argue either.
"I'll come with you," Charlotte said neutrally, her expression unreadable. She had nothing against me, but I could tell that she would have rather been elsewhere.
I led her outside, away from the house and toward the cliffs-our place when we needed time alone. We walked side by side in silence, the cool breeze ruffling our hair as the waves crashed against the rocks below.
Once we reached the cliff's edge, I turned to her, feeling the weight of the conversation I needed to have. Her hand was still in mine, and I didn't let go, as if I needed to keep her grounded.
"I didn't mean to drag you away from him," I said quietly, my voice barely audible over the wind. "But I didn't want you to get too involved with him. I know what's going on between you and Lord Jake."
Charlotte's gaze softened, though I could see the confusion in her eyes. "You don't trust him, do you?"
I nodded, feeling a sense of relief that she understood. "No, I don't. He's not the one for you, Charlotte. He's charming, but there's something off about him. I don't want him to hurt you."
Charlotte's expression remained neutral, but I could see her thinking. Her green eyes flickered with something-maybe understanding, maybe annoyance. "I know you're trying to protect me, Scarlett. But I'm not a child anymore. I know what I'm doing."
"I know," I whispered. "But you're the future of this estate. You're smart, capable. You're meant for so much more than Lord Jake."
Charlotte's smile faltered for a moment, her eyes distant. Then she turned to face the horizon, her voice quieter than before.
"Sometimes, Scarlett," she said, "we need more than just power and leadership. We need something else. Something real."
Her words hit me harder than I expected. I was speechless for a moment, trying to understand what she meant. "What do you mean?"
She shrugged, her gaze still fixed on the horizon. "What if the soul of Calypso is real? What if we could find it? What if we could change the world with just three wishes?"
The question hung in the air, and I couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement. Calypso-could it really be true? The thought of unlocking such power, of having the ability to change everything-it was both thrilling and terrifying.
But as I looked at my sister, I realized that maybe she was right. Maybe there was more to life than what I had been chasing. Maybe there was more to Charlotte than I had ever understood.
And maybe, just maybe, I wasn't the one who had all the answers.