Chapter 20: Surrounded

Bayou

Three days had passed since the incident. I didn’t know how to feel, we had missed our only chance to go to the king and to get Crystal back home.

“Are you alright?” Max asks me while he places his hand on my shoulder. I shrug at him, looking straight ahead.

“Peachy dad, just peachy,” I answered him. I heard Max sigh, while he lets go of my shoulder, falling back in his tracks.

We kept walking down the forest path and time to time we would cross paths with some civilians.

Max would either avoid Belle and talk to Crystal or me. Belle would talk to Crystal or me.

Crystal, on the other hand, hasn’t spoken to me even after she had hugged me. She cried, for the both of us. I didn’t want her to be tied to me. Now she was on a time limit same as me. I wanted to send her back and break the curse myself, so she would never know about it. She won’t be in this dilemma that I put her in, well, known about it, at least she would have lived peacefully.

Her tears felt like the tears that I haven’t shed in so long. Why does it comfort me?

“Belle, how much longer? We are running out off water and some other supplies,” I heard Crystal break the silence. I turned, only to see Crystal lean against the tree, heaving.

“Love?” I moved toward her, she waved her hand. Again, that same spark appeared from her hands.

“It burns,” she protested, slouching down. The color in her face flushed out, she’s whiter than snow at this point.

My eyes narrowed, remembering that’s how I felt when I first received those powers. Belle rushed to her side, and held her hand, only to flinch away.

“She’s burning up, Capt, what is happening to her?” She asked worriedly.

“Damn it, I have forgotten about this detail, I thought it wouldn’t happen to her.” I grunted, without hesitating, I place my arm under her legs and her back lifting her in my arms. She groaned in protest.

“Max I need you to...” my words were cut off when I heard a click. Belle groaned and Max’s stance turned rigid. I looked around to see that we were surrounded, by cloaked men. In front of us stood a thick man with short brown hair, his eyes were bitty black, and a thunder scar ran down from his chin to his throat. He wore a dark cloak and a dark laughter echoed around us.

“Well, well what has the damn cat has dragged in?” his voice was thick and had a slight crack.

I held Crystal closer, a mixture of pleasure and panic mixing into one. The pleasure that I would be fighting, but worried, that Crystal was in no condition to be fighting.

“A bloodthirsty pirate, that’s what!” I answered him, causing the man to give me an amused look.

“Place me down.” Crystal moaned.

“Let’s see if you aren’t all talk Pirate,” The cloaked man said, while I let Crystal down and took out my sword and pointed it straight at him.

“State your position?” Max asked. Belle stood next to him, holding her own sword out. Crystal shook her head when another shock of electricity passed through her body.

“We are Under Hunters, it’s been a long time, Captain Belle,” he tells Belle. That makes Belle laughs and she takes off her cloak, dropping it on the ground.

“Oh, you will regret the day you stole my sister.” Her voice turned tight. The man gave another laugh, lifting his head up.

“That wench? Oh, what a nice piece of meat she is. You are too late, we already sold her off to the king.” I heard Crystal gasp out. Belle’s body went rigid, but no emotions passed her features, she only held her sword tightly. Max gave her a fast glance.

“Oi, now I remember you, I have seen your wanted posters, you are Captain Bayou,” he asked of me when he gave me a second look.

“Surprised by how devilish handsome I look? Don’t blame ya mate, I give that effect to everyone. And who do I have the pleasure of meeting?” I asked in a mocking manner. The man’s dark eyes landed on Crystal and something passed his eyes.

“William and I’m the head of the Under Hunters, now I’ll just ask politely, give me the girl and we all can have a happy ending.” a laughter passed my lips.

So he’s the man Belle mentioned a few days ago. Good.

“Ne, I can’t do that, you see, she’s my woman and if you want her, you have to get through my own dead body.”

“Oh is she? I think I can arrange your death.” the man growled out, running toward us. I whirled my sword using my wrist, and smirked.

“This is why I love being a pirate.”