Turning Tide

We walked in rhythm toward the bonfire gathering, where the distant flames cast a warm, flickering glow. The crunch of pebbles beneath our feet and the soft rustling of wind through the trees lent an unexpected calm to the night. It felt surreal, almost as if this quiet was meant to soothe the weight of the last few days. For once, I felt at peace, right here beside Sebastian.



Just then, Sebastian slowed his pace, his steps falling into silence, and he turned toward me. His eyes caught mine, and I couldn’t help but feel as if he was about to say something important.



“Would you be willing to join my crew if I were to ask you?” His tone was even, though I sensed a hint of something in his gaze—a vulnerability I wasn’t used to seeing.



I paused, my thoughts racing. The idea of being part of his world, his crew, carried its appeal. But the thought also unsettled me; there was so much about that life I wasn’t sure I wanted to see up close. In this role, I felt I had some control, some protection. To be his partner, even professionally, would mean stepping into the public eye, facing whatever that world demanded.



I answered carefully, “I’m… I’m not entirely sure, Sebastian. It’s not that I wouldn’t want to help, but being public… that’s something I’d have to think about.”

He smiled at me, his eyes softening. “I get it. I’m only saying this because it may happen… or it may not.” He gave a small shrug. “This meeting tonight… well, it may help decide.”

His words confused me. I’d thought tonight was a casual gathering—a celebration of his recovery. Nothing official or serious. I opened my mouth to ask what he meant, but he shook his head gently, as if to reassure me.



“Don’t worry,” he said simply, and we continued walking.



The bonfire grew closer, and I could hear the lively chatter and laughter of the others. As we entered, the warmth of the fire washed over us, and everyone’s attention shifted in our direction. Greetings filled the air, and we settled down amidst the group. Almost immediately, El Rado raised his glass, leading a toast to Sebastian’s health and leadership, his eyes gleaming with pride.



“To Sebastian,” he declared, “our brother and leader. May his recovery be swift and his strength never falter.”



The group echoed the toast, and the warmth of camaraderie spread through the circle. We shared a meal, trading stories, laughs, and memories. Raven and Mamba, in particular, took every opportunity to tease Sebastian, sharing embarrassing stories from his youth that had everyone in stitches, including me. For a while, I let myself forget my questions, relaxing into the rare joy of the moment.



Then, suddenly, the laughter faded, and the atmosphere shifted. The fire crackled in the silence, its flames casting shadows across the faces around me. Everyone was quiet, and there was a weight in the air that hadn’t been there before.

El Rado turned toward Sebastian, his expression serious, and gestured for him to step aside. The two moved off to a corner, their conversation quiet but intense.



Raven, noticing the shift, glanced around the circle, her gaze settling on me. She got up, brushing off her hands, and came to sit beside me. There was a new warmth in her smile, a brightness I hadn’t often seen in her.



“I’m glad you were the first to see him change,” she said, her tone soft yet sincere, her eyes gleaming with the light of the fire.

“Oh, well…” I glanced down, a bit flustered. “It’s a change for everyone, really. I think it’ll be good for all of us.”



Raven nodded, still smiling. “Yes, truly. But this change will benefit you the most, Ariella. It’s a change that will bring you closer to him, and bring you closer to his world.”

Her words stirred something deep inside me—a realization that, perhaps, I’d already been inching closer to Sebastian’s world. And tonight only confirmed that closeness. As Raven and I continued talking, my gaze drifted to where Sebastian stood with El Rado. He looked different now, the warmth in his expression replaced by a hard, almost cold seriousness. I sensed that whatever was happening between him and El Rado, it was no trivial matter.



When they finally returned, Sebastian’s face was a mask of calm control, but there was a tension in his eyes that sent a chill through me. El Rado followed close behind, and though he tried to conceal it, there was a sadness in his face, a heavy weight of regret that he couldn’t hide.



Sebastian took a breath, glancing around the circle before addressing us all. “I know tonight was supposed to be a simple gathering,” he began, his voice steady, “but there’s something I need to share with all of you.” His gaze met each of ours, one by one, and finally settled on me.



“I’ll be back on duty soon,” he said, and I saw a spark of determination flash across his face. “But… there’s some bad news. We’ve lost another one of our warehouses.”

A heavy silence settled over the group, and I saw the shock and disappointment reflected in everyone’s eyes. Gone were the lighthearted smiles and laughter—each face grew serious, absorbing the gravity of what Sebastian had just said.



Though I wasn’t fully sure what this meant, the weight of it was unmistakable.



Raven, always quick to act, stood and spoke up first. “I’ll go to the docks with Mamba and Behemoth to investigate. We’ll see what we can find.”



Evander nodded, his jaw set with determination. “I’ll talk to the dealer, see if he knows anything about what’s happening.”



Sebastian raised a hand, his voice calm but resolute. “Thank you. We’ll need to take our time and find out where the problem is coming from. This has gone on long enough, and it’s only getting worse. We can’t afford to let it spiral any further.”



As I sat there, watching them, I could feel the tension in the air—a tension that was completely at odds with the celebration we’d been having only moments before. It felt surreal, this sudden shift from lighthearted camaraderie to a mission-oriented focus. And even though I’d been drawn into Sebastian’s world recently, I still couldn’t fully grasp the depth of what was happening around me.



My gaze drifted from one face to the next, each one resolute and determined. There was a fire in their eyes, a purpose that went beyond mere loyalty. It was something fierce, something I realized I still didn’t fully understand.