Chapter 18: His Wife

Crystal

“This is where the under hunters are staying at?” I asked, remembering that I heard the conversation of Capt. Bayou and Belle earlier. I didn’t mean to ease drop, but before I saw them hug, they drop their voices and sadly I couldn’t hear the rest. Yet again, I don’t know why I felt uncomfortable seeing them hug. It shouldn’t bother me at all.

We stepped on the dock of the island. The docks looked like a town, it was already dark, and many people walked down. The whole place was filled with large houses, and oil lamps, instead of torches. The night is colder, and Belle stood next to me. The guys wore thick leather jackets to keep them warm.

“Yes, you must be careful, never trust anyone.” Belle warns me.

“Just like the other island, it gave me bad vibes,” I whispered to her.

“Not all places are like that,” she assured me.

I rubbed my arms as I watched as Captain Bayou placed a thick cloak around Belle’s shoulders. I lowered my head.

He likes to flirt with anyone.

“Here, don’t catch a cold.” I heard Max say, placing a dark cloak on me. I looked up, and suddenly blushed at his kindness.

“Thank you.“I timidly said, but he shrugged, then his eyes landed on Belle.

“Where do we go?” he asked her. Belle turned and pointed to her right.

“The Under Hunters like to camp in the forests, and the head honcho is one of the worse of its kind. So Crystal...” she turned toward me.

“Yes?” I asked.

“Don’t ever meet him alone, he will try anything to get under your skirt even by force.” My heart stopped at her words.

Doesn’t anyone I keep meeting?

Captain Bayou came next to me, and I felt his hand brush against mine, I looked up, but he wasn’t looking down at me, he was looking where Belle was pointing.

“What is his name?”

“William Servenhigher.” I moved my hand, and looked down, feeling my heart beat hard, not sure if it was from the new information or because he had brushed his hand against mine.

I wonder why am I being like this? I know her sister is in trouble, and I won’t abandon Belle until we save her sister, but what about me? Will he keep his promise? Well, he was trying to send me back, but Belle changed our plans. Yet, for some odd reason, I feel like Capt. Bayou seem to hesitate a lot to me in trusting him. His silver eyes narrow a lot at the mention. Well, he did say he can betray me, and I was a fool told him we cross that bridge when it was time to cross it. I must be an idiot.

“Stop it, Crystal, you’re over thinking it,” I silently scolded myself.

“Let’s go we need to make camp before it gets darker,” Max explained, moving down the dock. Belle faced me and placed her hand on my shoulder.

“Another thing.” she sighed, looking up at Captain Bayou.

“Yes?”

She suddenly shook her head.

“Nothing, let’s go.” she change her mind.

After that, she followed Max. I rubbed my forehead.

“You alright there, love?” Captain Bayou asked. I lifted my gaze and shook my head.

“My head hurts,” I told him. He didn’t say anything but walked next to me. I looked down at the ground.

“Sorry, your trip is longer than we expected. I didn’t know there was a map,” he whispered to me.

“I thought the island came every five years or something.” Remembering earlier that he told me as such.

“It does, but apparently is not tonight. Let’s concentrate on saving her sister and getting the map if you want to return home.” I nodded at his words.

“Let’s save her sister first.” Captain Bayou smirks at me, then he reached out and rubbed my head, causing me to tilt down, and my face to turn hot.

“Aye, let’s do that first,” he smirked, going down the dock, and I rubbed my head.

Why did he do that?

.......

It had been a whole day. We made camp not far from the docks or far from the forest. I rested as much as I could, but all I could think of was Belle’s sister, and how scared she must feel.

We walked down the forest, each step getting us closer to our main goal. I didn’t feel so good. My eyes were burning already, and my body felt off. I’m sure is not the time of the month, since I finished it two weeks earlier.

“Crystal are you okay?” Belle took notice of my situation. I lifted my gaze and smiled at her.

“Fine, just tired, that’s all.” I lied. She didn’t look like she believed me.

“Captain Bayou seems to care about you a lot.” She started.

That caught my attention.

“We met a week ago. He’s still a stranger to me, the same as well for everyone. Where are your crew-mates?” I asked since we were going along.

“Sometimes it takes even one day to care about someone. I send them to gather new supply and to meet us up north, it’s going to be a stressful battle,” she told me.

“Oh, what about this Under Hunters, what do they do?” I asked her. Her lips thinned out.

“They hunt pirates, as well as thieves. I was visiting my mother, back home, when they showed up and rampaged my village. Not only they kidnap my sister, but the other girls around.”

My heart stopped at her story.

“I will keep praying.”

I moved and grasped her hand to give her encouragement. She smiled back, then at Captain Bayou.

“That means a lot. Also, don’t let his flirty tongue get to you, he really is a good guy. Trust him. Believe me, when I say, he cares about you a lot,” she encouraged me.

I lowered my head, covering my face with my hair.

“He is just using me to get to the king, and apparently I’m his witch, whatever that means,” I told her. A laugh escaped her lips and she patted my shoulder.

“He hasn’t explained it to you?” I shook my head.

“That bloody pirate is too humble and Max is an idiot for not explaining it.” I blinked surprised by her words.

“Do you know what it means?”

“Aye, I do, little one.”

She gently reached out and brushed my hair away from my face. My face heated up from embarrassment.

“You must be the same age as my sister.”

Her voice turned sad. I looked up at her dark eyes.

“We will find her, don’t worry, but please explain what is the Witch’s Pirate?” Belle leaned forward and whispered into my ear.

“You two bonded, he chose you to give his powers too. He can’t hold his powers so he has to find his soul-mate to give it to. You will receive his powers within a time period of six days, and when that happens, you two are bonded forever, until he dies or the curse is broken. In other words, technically, you are his wife.”

My eyes widened, and I took a step back.

“WHAT?” I screamed, causing the guys to stop and turn to face us.

“Aye, little one, it’s true you two don’t have to do anything. It’s when the heart chooses. He never had anyone to claim as his witch until he met you. Congratulations,” she giggled.