Chapter 28: Please

Crystal

I kept struggling against his grasp, his hands kept getting tighter and tighter in my hair.

“Let go, let go.” I begged, with all my might, but it was no use. The king didn’t utter a word until he stopped and swung me to face him. I gasped out, noticing his eyes were pitch black, and a strange dark aura surrounded him.

“Don’t struggle too much dear,” his voice was not the king, but out of this world. He finally let go of my hair.

“Now, that the pirate is dead, I’ll deal with you, let’s see what is your biggest fear.” He waved his hand in front of me. My eyes narrowed, and I turned my head,

No, he’s not dead or not I would be too. I can feel it, he’s alive.

“Interesting, your biggest fear is being forced, that is not the one you love,” a dark laughter passed the king, and he stood up.

“Not only will I make you mine, I will show you, your second biggest fear.” He waved his hand, and my eyes widened to see Mama, Papa and Alex standing there, looking at me with sadness.

“Mama, Papa.” I stretched my arm out, but the king turned his gaze back to me.

“What a lovely family reunion, too bad it won’t last, it does break my dark heart.” He took a hold of my arm and lifted me up, my heart stopped at his words.

“What are you planning to do.” My voice shakes. A dark smile passed his lips.

“Take you here in front of them, then kill you and your family.”

“No,” he took a hold of my neck and tightened his grip, causing me to choke. He then started to rip my shirt, breaking some buttons off.

“No, please,” I had tears running down my cheek, I felt paralyzed with fear, I couldn’t do anything. He lowered himself to place his lips on mine.

“No, No.”

“Don’t struggle too much, I promise it won’t hurt much.” He chuckled and my eyes widened.

“Bayou!” I screamed out, without thinking a pulse ran through my body, and that same electricity from before sparked out, causing the king’s body to fly away, just like William had done, hitting a tree.

“Damn it, what the hell was that?” He hissed, as he stood up. I move away, turning to see my family fading away.

They were fake. Oh, thank God. I breathed out in relief. I was about to move again, but the king grasped my arm spinning me around,

“You still will be mine,” he growled out, swinging me so hard that I hit the base of a tree, causing me to grunt in pain.

“NO!” I moved away, only to trip on my own feet, falling hard on the ground. My body was already aching and it started to shake violently.

“No escaping me wench,” he smirked, grasping my ankle and beginning to drag me away.

Max, Belle, and Bayou please anyone help me. I prayed, pulling myself out, but then I remembered, I remembered what Bayou showed me, that I had magic, and I could summon anything.

“I want to protect myself.” I told myself, and a sword appeared in my hand.

“Please let it work.” I moved and swung my sword and sliced right through the king’s hand, only to go through it like smoke.

“That won’t work,” he chuckled, pulling me deeper into the forest. My heart thumped harder.

Nothing works, on him.

Then I remembered that Bayou mentioned something about teleporting, but I didn’t know how to do so.

He finally stopped and turned toward me. I looked up and then he lowered himself down to me.

“Now, let’s finish what I was about to start.” He moved closer to me, and I turned my body trying to move away from him.

“Stop moving you wench.” He gripped my shoulder, moving me to face him.

“Go to hell,” I shouted, making him laugh.

“Sorry, I can’t do that right now.”

“Bayou! Help me!” I screamed, again, God heard my desperate call, a sword came out of nowhere, piercing right through the king’s chest. He looks down and I can see his dark eyes look amused.

“That tickles,” he chuckled.

“Too bad, I was aiming for your damn heart.” I heard a familiar voice. I turned, only to see Max glaring at the shadow and Belle next to him.

“Crystal!” Belle ran toward me and bent to grasp my shoulder. I didn’t hug her or anything, I just let her help me as she took me away.

“Are you okay? He didn’t do anything to you?” Belle asked concerned. I shook my head, trying too hard to keep my calm. My body was shaking, though.

“You can see him?” I asked, my voice is mellow.

“Aye, I can,”

“Then how do we get rid of it?”

“We can’t, if he’s in the king’s control, then it won’t ever go away.” Belle sighed, holding me tighter. I shook my head when Max came up to me.

“Crystal, we lost you a while back, but we heard a scream and we follow it.” he explained. I nodded, and heard a laughter.

“Look at that, you two broke the spell, I’ll be back though, and next time I won’t miss.” I heard the King say. The fog finally lifted, and the shadow disappeared.

“Where’s Bayou?” Max asked, looking around.

“He.... He was stabbed or something by the shadow, over there last time I saw him.” I pointed to my right. Max nodded, and started walking down. I started to walk, but my legs were trembling. Belle grabbed me by my waist and held me tightly. My body ached, but I kept quiet.

“He must have shown you your biggest fear to leave you in this state. Thank God, that we heard you scream, for Captain Bayou,” she told me.

He’s hurt. my mind screamed, but no words came out. Finally reaching the town, we found Captain Bayou on the ground, with blood gushing down from his stomach.

“Bayou!” Max called out moving to his side. My body tensed at the scene. Max knelt at his side and wrapped his arm around his shoulder to sit him up.

“Oi, what happen?” Max asked me.

“He was fighting the king, I mean the shadow, I don’t know, next thing I knew he was hurt,” I explained. Bayou was unconscious, bleeding heavily on his stomach.

“We need to look for an inn or something, the ship won’t be ready for a few days,” Belle let go of me.

“I need to help Max, can you manage yourself?” she asked worriedly. I waved my hand.

“Yes, don’t worry, I’m okay,” I told her. Belle gave me a concerned look, but nodded, and went to the other side of Bayou holding him by the waist.

We couldn’t find an inn, everyone kept kicking us out. I think our clothes and our style made it obvious we were pirates including me.

We went back to the town, and I bit my lower lip, now getting desperate. Moving rapidly, I went down the same street that Bayou and I were earlier. I stood in front of the creepy house and knocked.

“Hello, is us again, can we please stay the night. My friend is injured. You’re our last hope, please.” I begged, knocking harder.

“This place gives me the shivers.” I heard Belle say, as soon they reach me. I ignored her and kept knocking.

“Please, you’re our last hope. My friend is injured, he can die,” my voice trembled. I felt a hand on my shoulder.

“Stop it Crystal, no one wants us here, but Bayou won’t hold it anymore. He’s losing too much blood. We need to stitch him up now.” I turned to see Max looking at Bayou. He was pale, almost like a ghost. My heart clenched.

I turned and kept on knocking.

“Please, anyone, have pity on us.” I could almost feel tears prick my eyes.

“Crystal is no use, let’s go find where we can put him at.” Belle’s voice was soft and full of sorrow. I shook my head.

“No, we don’t have anything for his wound. He got hurt because of that stupid shadow. In a way it’s my fault for not protecting him. I won’t let my friends die. If it was you or Max I would do the same. I won’t give up.” I kept on thumping hard.

“Can you stop hitting on my door so loudly, is damn annoying.” I heard a thick old woman’s voice echoed behind the door. Slowly the door opened, and I took a step back. A hunched woman with white long hair, freckles on her cheeks, a flat nose, and chubby around appeared.

She’s smaller than me.

“What is it?” her voice horsed out. I felt relief wash over me, I can practically cry about it.

“Our friend, he got attacked by the shadow and he’s very hurt, we need somewhere to stay. If you want to be paid, we can pay you, just please, everyone kept rejecting us.” I begged her. Max and Belle nodded at my words. The old woman’s bitty eyes scanned me, then turned to stare at my friends.

“I see, then come in,” she turned around and headed in.

“Belle, go rest, you have been holding him for a long time now,” I told her. She seemed to hesitate, but moved away. I placed Bayou’s arm around me and I flopped a bit forward since he weighed a lot.

“You’re too small to hold him Crystal.” She sounded concerned. I shook my head.

“No, let’s go,” I told them. Max gave Belle a strange look, but shook his head. Without another word, we entered the creepy house.