Satine’s POV
We followed the anxious couple down the corridor, noticing how calm everyone was. Had no one noticed the iceberg we had hit?
Before I could voice anything, Lovejoy appeared in front of Jack and Rose, wearing an expression that reminded me of Warner, the Duke's bodyguard. He looked satisfied about something, and that sent shivers down my spine.
"We've been looking for you, Miss," he said, ushering them into the room. He smoothly slipped a necklace—was it a sapphire? Or a blue diamond?—into Jack's pocket. I opened my mouth to shout an accusation, but the door was slammed shut.
"Did you see that?" I whirled around to face a bemused Christian. He smiled sadly at my outrage and grasped my wrists in his hands.
"Yes, love, but there's nothing we can do." I opened my mouth to protest, but he shushed me, placing his ear against the door. I followed suit after picking up Aureole, whom I had dropped to the floor.
"Something serious has happened," Rose was saying, her voice grave.
"That's right," a man said, clearing his throat. Already, he reminded me inexplicably of the Duke, and I wondered if he was a man to succumb to a jealous rage. "Two things dear to me have disappeared this evening. Now that one is back…" There was a pregnant pause, and I came to the realization that the man speaking was Cal. So, he lost Rose—not that he really cared about her, from what Rose had told us—but what was the other dear thing? Was it the necklace slipped into Jack's pocket? "… I have a pretty good idea of where to find the other," he said finally. "Search him," he ordered. No! They couldn't search Jack! He was innocent! I fumbled uselessly with the doorknob, wanting to warn Rose that it was all a lie, and that she mustn't believe Cal, but the door was locked.
"Coat off, mate," a man said. There was the sound off a jacket sliding off of someone's arms, and of a body being patted down and pockets searched.
"This is horseshit," Jack said, anger simmering beneath the surface of his voice.
"Cal, you can't be serious! We're in the middle of an emergency, and you…" She stopped mid-sentence with an audible gasp of disbelief.
"Is this it?" a man asked someone. What was he referring to? What was the big deal about the necklace?
"That's it," Cal confirmed.
"Right, then. Don't make a fuss," the first man said. I heard the sound of clinking metal and I understood. They were handcuffing him!
"Don't you believe it, Rose! Don't!" Jack shouted, his tone desperate. I started to bang on the door, shouting out swear words. Christian tried to restrain me, but I ignored his touch. Eyeing me warily, he took the kitten off of my shoulder and cuddled it.
"He couldn't have," Rose said uncertainly.
"That's because he didn't!" I shouted, kicking out at the door.
Lovejoy opened the door savagely, and I backed away, protecting my stomach with my arms.
"What do you want, Miss?" he snarled, glaring at me. Behind him, Cal and Rose were arguing over Jack's innocence, with Jack watching helplessly.
"You put the necklace in Jack's pocket! I saw you!" I said bravely, pointing my finger at him.
"It's not even his pocket! This jacket was reported stolen this afternoon," someone said, examining the coat label.
"But he slipped the necklace in there! I saw him!" I looked at Jack and Rose, hoping that Rose would believe me. But she looked lost and confused, and at that moment, I hated her. I hated her for ever doubting the honesty of a man who loved her with his whole heart, and would never steal anything from her.
Before I could say anything, I was dragged out of the room with Jack, and someone slipped handcuffs on my slender wrists.
"What? No! You can't do this! Christian!" I shouted, my voice mingling with Jack's. I was dragged down the long hallway, Christian staring at me, appalled, horrified, and desperate. "Christian!" I shouted again. He simply stood there, and I suddenly doubted him. Would he come back for me? Would he?
The answer burst through my doubts, a shining ray of hope. Yes, he would. He always would. Even when he thought I didn't love him, he still came back to me. He would find a way to get me back, no matter the cost.
*****
I was handcuffed with Jack to a pipe in the Master-at-Arms office, and he watched us, Lovejoy leaning back in a chair casually.
"You're despicable!" I spat at Lovejoy. He merely grinned lazily, pointing a gun at my stomach. My face paled and I shrank as far away from him as the pipe allowed, fear for my unborn baby overpowering my hate.
"You're needed, sir." A crewman entered the office and handed a note to the Master-at-Arms. He nodded, and then looked at Lovejoy.
"Go on. I'll keep an eye on them." The Master-at-Arms nodded and tossed the keys to the handcuffs into a nearby drawer. He handed a spare set to Lovejoy, who tossed them in the air and caught them again before repeating the action.
It was going to be a long night.
The water was rising ominously, and I knew the fear of impending death once again. I could see it covering our porthole, inch by inch, the black water consuming the Titanic.
"You know…I do believe this ship may sink." Lovejoy said this as casually as if it were normal conversation. He rose, pocketed the key and gun, and crossed the small room to Jack. "I've been asked to give you this small token of our appreciation." He punched Jack in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. "Compliments of Mr. Caledon Hockley." He looked at me, considering, and unlocked me. I stood there, shocked, as he left the room, locking it behind him.
My freedom meant nothing if I was locked in the room. I gazed at the floor, noticing the water that has crept in.
Where were Christian and Rose?
The water had risen even higher now, almost to my waist. I was shivering uncontrollably, my vision fading to black before I snapped back to reality. I'd never been this cold, not even when I was sick with consumption.
I coughed slightly, a wet, hoarse cough that did nothing to satisfy the itch burning my throat. I coughed again, harder, and Jack made a motion as if to cross the room, but was held back by his cuffs.
"Are you all right?" he asked me. I nodded and crossed the room to a certain drawer, suddenly remembering something. I opened it and pulled out a silver key.
"Aha!" I crowed, coughing again. I waded across the room and unlocked Jack's cuffs before succumbing to another hoarse cough.
"Thanks…are you sure you're all right?" Jack repeated, massaging his wrists. I didn't answer. There was no need to, not when the evidence was staring me in the face. There was a splash of red on my palm, a rust red that I hadn't seen for several years.
"No," I mouthed. "No."