Chapter Seven Pirate Lock Part Two

 Sea Serpent Sea

Bash looked at her, Gurter and Steel's room. She looked at the pendants with a triangle at the end. She noticed that none of them had holes at the top and seemed to be sealed to the chain by magic. She also noticed that several of the pieces fit together, like pieces of a puzzle. Maybe they were pieces of a puzzle. Maybe it led to more treasure or the final piece of treasure at the end.

She then looked at Steel and Gurter.

"What do you think you will do after this is done?" She asked.

Gurter and Steel looked at them, slightly confused.

"I'll be staying. Can't see myself going back to what I was doing, nor can I see myself doing anything else than what I'm doing now. What about you Gurter?"

She looked down and looked aside.

"I want to go with Bash and Chashathrophogh. After all, I can't see myself staying here. No, I think I will go with you and your uncle. After all, I know that it'll be dangerous but at least you will have someone to help you carry your load." She said.

Bash looked down.

Yeah that would be good. Although…

"Alright, but I think that is something me and my uncle should discuss." She said, sliding out of her hammock. 

They all walked to the deck to see just how empty the ship was. They were down to nine now. She knew once her,  Chashathrophogh, Cerpheres and Gurter left it would be emptier. She looked at Kia and Kir speaking among each other. She was about to walk up to them when Captain Gerald walked in front of her.

"Ye go' a good aim?"

"Obviously."

"Good 'cause we'll be en'erin' Sea Serpen' Sea. So we'll be needin' ye 'n' ye uncle 'n' all the people we can te ge' through this'n."

"Yes Sir."

She was about to get into action when she heard the cry of the first sea serpent. She saw its head rise from the water. She then flicked her hand out and sent a small ball of fire at it. Yet it ducked. She then ran beneath the deck and took her bow and arrow. She then took one for all hands on deck. She then noticed Chashathrophogh and Cerpheres in the library.

"Come on you two."

They then put their books away and ran to the deck. They then ran back on board the ship. There Bash loaded her bow and fired at the first sea serpent that rose its head above the waves. She used magic to enhance the strength and speed of the arrow and it hit, causing a small and thin hole into the skull. Its head fell and three more rose above the waves. She fired one along with Cerpheres and Chashathrophogh. She then used her magic to enhance the speed and strength of her and their arrows and they too fell beneath the waves. She then spotted four and then repeated the act. Then the more fell beneath the waves and she sent a ball of fire at the last. 

She then noticed that they were getting closer and closer, soon they felt something bash against the right side of the hull of the ship. She then ran to it to see that there was a sea serpent there. She then willed the sea serpent away from the ship. Yet as it was forced away she could feel that there it was pushing back against it. So she forced it away harder. She could see the sea serpent being pushed further and further away. She then felt another jerk and her head hit the edge. 

She quickly got to her feet, only to be staring into the eyes of the sea serpent. Quickly she sent a blast into its eyes. It then roared out in pain and as it opened its mouth to her she sent another fireball right into its mouth. Setting the head completely alight. She then willed the fire to increase until the throat was on fire. It roared and roared as she willed the fire to become hotter and hotter. Then she fell aside as there was another jerk to the side. 

She flipped onto her feet and looked to her side. There she saw three more above the ship. Their mouths open as their necks arched back. She knew that they were about to pounce. She sent the fireballs at them into their mouths before they could do anything. She then willed the fire to spread and get hotter and hotter until their heads were eclipsed by fire. They then swayed their heads side to die like a pendulum. 

Then Chashathrophogh used his magic to push them back as their heads became nothing but a skull. He then loaded his arrow and fired at one and then set the arrow alight and willed the arrow to force itself through the skull and it fell back. He then sent another to another and then repeated this act. He then willed one to die but this did not work and he sent a ball of black fire to one and this caused its head to quickly combust. He then willed the head to move to another sea serpent and that too quickly combusted.

They felt another knock on the ship. He then ran to the back and up the stairs and spotted another sliding at the back. He then willed the water to become hotter and hotter. He then continued to raise the temperature of the water to boiling point. Soon the area serpent stopped and swam out of the boiling water and the moment the head was up he fired, striking it down dead.

He then looked around and spotted a sea serpent aiming itself towards Bash and he died a ball of black fire at it and pushed away causing it to collide against the sea serpent behind. This set both of them completely alight. 

He then looked down at the sea, as he noticed another sea serpent rose beneath the waves, he spotted Cerpheres fire a small shard of ice at it and it was followed by another and the sea serpent was forced back. He continued to send more and more at it until the scales beneath the jaw was non-existent and he finally hit the brain and the sea serpent sank beneath the waves. He was smiling aggressively as he licked his lips.

Cerpheres could sense that someone was looking at him. He looked up to see, to his delight, it was Chashathrophogh. His smile widened as he gave him a wink, knowing it would annoy him. He let out a chuckle as he saw him curl his lip. 

That boy needs to loosen up!

He then looked for more sea serpents and found one. It almost blasted out of the ocean and he willed it to stop and fixed it in place. He then forced its head to move further and further back. He then continued until its head was slowly ripped off and both near and body sank beneath the waves.

He then spotted another and shot an arrow into its skull and then willed the head to combust quickly which caused the head to explode and the rest of the body flung back and into under waves. He then spotted another one shot its head up. Quickly he flicked out several more shards of ice to the head before it even reached above the sails.

Then they flew up above the waves and Cerpheres jumped up and caught a rope and swing and looked down to see a large head beneath the ship, lifting it above the waves. He then sent two shards of ice into one eye and then two into the other. It opened its mouth in pain before he fired five small balls of fire into the back of its throat. It coughed and the ship was soon back into the ocean.

He then landed back on the ship to see a sea serpents head the size of the whole ship. It rose higher and higher revealing a large and thick body the length of a castle. He then looked back to see that the other sea serpents looked up and dived away.

He then turned around and ran to Chashathrophogh and Bash and grabbed them by their hands.

"Alright, fire as many arrows at the neck as you can." He said.

"Alright." 

They loaded their bows and the three of them fired shot after shot at it. They noticed that they might as well have been throwing needles into it as they were tiny compared to the rest of the body. Yet Cerpheres smirked.

"Now, use your magic on the arrows to set on fire as fast as you can." 

They moved as he touched the violin to his chin and the moment he started playing they willed the arrows top set on fire as fast as they could and BANG! There was a large chunk blown out from the sea serpent. They then willed the fire to spread as fast as it could. Then Chashathrophogh willed the fire to become black and the fire spread faster. It climbed higher and higher up the sea serpent and soon reached the head. Then they focused their will to force the sea serpent back and it flung back into the water where it died.

Then they were out of Sea Serpent Sea and they collapsed.

"Next time, enhance our magic from the start." Both uncle and niece said before passing out.

He looked at them and smiled, preditorieally. He licked his lips as he appeared like a sleepy drunk again. He steadied his breath as Phydoc rushed to attend to their injuries. He looked at all the crew except Cerpheres, who had none.

Island Of Trials

They circled the island that morning, looking for a good place to doc then find a way to get onto the island. The ship was dwarfed in front of the high cliffs the size of mountains. Yet there seemed to be only one way in and that was a cave the size of a small mountain. So Captain Gerald steered the ship inside. That led to a wide river that could hold an entire fleet of large ships and  still have enough room for an army of dragons quite easily.

Bash and Gurter sat on the edge with Kia and Steel. They looked down to see that the water was completely clear. They could see broken shipwrecks made up of rotten wood of all types, covered in coral and seaweed of many colours. They could see the fish swimming underneath, some different shades of blue,  purple, red and some were black, white, silver and gold! 

"That's beautiful!" Whispered Gurter.

"Why don't you look up?" Steel asked.

They looked up to see the roof was covered in crystals that were glowing white like millions of stars. They had not seen such a beautiful display. Then they looked across as they sailed in further and further into the cave, they saw mushrooms growing at the edge of the cave and they too were glowing a beautiful shade of turquoise. They settled to increase as they sailed further and further in and soon they were covering it! Bash looked at Gurter, who was deeply entranced by the strange beauty.

They soon found a good place to doc. It was a long dock that instead of being made of wood, was in fact made of purple dragon scales making it look like it was made of purple metal. It was wide enough to dock their ship along with four others and was long enough for anyone on board the ship to walk out and have plenty of room to walk around quite easily. They soon docked.

They threw down the plank and Captain Gerald ran down, followed by Cerpheres, Chashathrophogh, Bash, Kia, Kir Gurter, Steel and Phydoc. They walked to the stone land, where they were greeted by a wooden door. It was narrow, and had no keyholes or doorknobs. In the top was writing engraved into the top.

I an the next in line,

Once the one before does fall, 

His land becomes mine,

And I will answer leaders call

Thus no longer being what I was

And that past to my boys it does

"Wha' does this'n mean?"

"Well that matters entirely on what the answer is next in line for. The second and third line is clearly about an inheritance but this leads to someone no longer being the answer and it is something that can only be inherited by a male and not a female."

"So like a succession of sorts?" Kia muttered.

"But the fort line mentions a leader's call. Like a captain or something?" Kir muttered after.

"A Prince!" Gurter explained.

Then the door opened. They all looked at her slightly stunned as they walked on. She smiled proudly as she did. Chashathrophogh also smiled, shocked at her guessing it. Yet as she noticed this her field went red and she looked aside. He rolled his eyes as he let out a chuckle.

They came to the shore of a large lake and they looked at the map for directions. They quickly knew where, on the other side of the lake they should go. Yet upon seeing that there were no boats they had to walk on the lilac stone path. It took them three days to walk across to the location, which was where a set of double doors, bearly notable due to the overgrowth that surrounded them. They  noticed that there were no keyholes of doorknobs,  just like all of the other doors.

"Well, now wha'?"

"I don't know." Kir said.

"Go back?" Kia suggested, jokingly.

Then, to everyone's surprise, Captain Gerald punched him!

"We're no' goin' back we can' go back!"

"Fine,  fine! It was a joke! Why is it so important to you anyway? I mean is it totally worth it? Almost all the crew is gone!"

Captain Gerald looked down and then looked up at them. He seemed to calm down as he let out a long and shaky breath.

"I' 'll 'elp me understand someone."

"Who, my dear Captain?" Cerpheres purred.

He shook his head and gestured for them to drop it. He gave him a playful shrug as they looked at the double doors alongside Back and Chashathrophogh. They looked at the rim of the did and noticed something. They tried to use their magic to will the doors to open, but that did nothing. So they then turned to the overgrowth and with their magic tour the plant life away from the doorframe.

This revealed a set of black roses going all around the edge in different stages of blooming with the single one at the top in complete bloom. Yet over them were dandelions also in different stages of bloom with the full one at the top. Which were all connected by a single stem. They then noticed that there was a piece of gold in the overgrowth above the door. They ripped the plant life of that revealing a golden plaque in the shape of an open scroll. With words engraved into it.

Do My Weeds Make My Roses Bloom

No, I guess not!

They looked at each other. Then returned to the picture. Bash placed her hand on the dandelion stem. She rubbed it and noticed that it came loose. So she pulled and she noticed that it could come off and so she pulled. Soon the rest of the dandelions were pulled off the doorframe and the doors swung open.

They then walled in to see that they looked into a pair of large blue catlike eyes attached to a creature with sea green scales. With his talons on a pile of treasure.

"It's a dragon!" Kia exclaimed.

"Wait?" Bash and Chashathrophogh said, putting their hand on his shoulder.

"Why?"

"It's a wyvern."

"Will you two quit doing that?" Kia asked. "Seriously! You two are just as bad as Jeff 'n' Jax!"

"Urm, what's a wyvern?" Gurter asked.

"It's a smaller cousin of the dragon. It has only two legs and has the psyche of an animal." They said quickly.

"And is there anything about killing it?"

Chashathrophogh and Bash rolled their eyes as they noticed that it was about to attack. Chashathrophogh grabbed Bash and Bash granted Gurter they pulled each other out of the way. As the rest of them dived out of the way, narrowly missing the fire. They then team in and then it breathed another blast of fire and they ducked. Bash then loaded her arrow and fired at the mouth as he opened it for another blast but the arrow turned to ash before it reached anywhere near the mouth. 

Then the creature breathed another blast of fire and this time it set Steel and Kia alight! They screamed as their bodies became consumed by the flames. Bash tried to put it out but the wyvern blasted another wave of fire at them, forcing them to dodge. She tried again, but there was another wave of fire. The two collapsed as they were helplessly dodging the flames. By that time they knew it was already too late, they were already dead.

Then,  knowing that her arrows were not going to help her, she went to draw her sword. Then Cerpheres placed a hand on hers. She looked up, questioningly.

"Use your magic!"

"What! We don't have time for this!"

"Prick your finger and let a stop of your blood fall onto the arrow. Then will the arrow to kill the wyvern."

She looked to the side to see it about to send fire to them. She tried to get out of the way, but Cerpheres stopped her. She pulled away as she huffed. She pulled out an arrow and slit her index and placed her blood on the arrow. She then gathered all her magic and drove it into the arrow, soon she was looking at a purple metal arrow and then she spotted the sparks at the back of it's throat. She then fired. It then hit the throat. It was driven back slightly and then it started to cough and cough,  soon smoke rose from its mouth and nostrils. She also could see fire sparking in the back of its throat as it did. She willed it to become a fire she also willed it to become hotter and hotter. Meanwhile Cerpheres willed the fire to spread. Then Chashathrophogh and Gurter waited as its head rose higher and higher. They then drew their swords and rushed in and slit the belly of the beast. Soon all of its organs spurted out on the ground and it fell down, dead.

Then a woman appeared holding a scroll. She wore a silver white dress and had long black hair and deep green eyes

"Are you the one known as Captain Gerald?" She asked.

"Aye. Ye?"

"Eve." She said as she showed him the scroll in her hand. "This is a picture of the one you work to kill. However,  you can only have it if you use this." 

She showed him a knife made of crystal.

"To kill the rest of your crew."

He looked up at them with hunger in his eyes. He was about to reach out to it but he refrained. He looked back at his crew and then at the corpses of Kia and Steel and shook his head.

"Nah. I won' mi crew's mi life. If they're te die then so will I!"

She bowed her head.

"So be it." She said,  giving him a key with a wheel for a head. 

Sure then plopped and Phydoc rushed to her as the scroll vanished. He checked her pulse. He loomed up and shook his head. He nodded as he put a hand on him.

"Don' blame yeself."

 They soon found another door that led to more treasure! 

Yet as Kir looked at the map he then looked up.

"Wha'?"

"There's another way out." He said.

"Wha'?"

"Here!" He said pointing to a piece of text.

🖤Look for the moon

Look for the sun

Find the lagoon

You'll have fun🖤

They all looked around the cave and soon found a set of gold doors with the doorknobs in the shape of dragons in flight. Above them was a silver half moon and a crimson sun. Captain Gerald gripped both handles and the dragon wings closed and the doors opened to reveal a narrow docking arrows with seven boats. To their right they could see their ship in the distance.

"Chash! Here!" Cerpheres purred, giving him the box.

"Captain, may I borrow that key?"

"Sure!" 

He opened it and it opened up to another pendant.

"Now,  I think i's time te ge' all this on board don' ye!"

Megalodon

Chashathrophogh had twisted the box and he heard a click he then spotted three knobs flick out he looked at their ends where he saw the symbols of the heart, club, spaid and the diamond. He pressed in the heart symbol and the lid opened. Inside was another pendent. He looked at the ones that he had collected and noticed that they fit together almost like a jigsaw.

"Good boy!"

Chashathrophogh punched him as he jumped.

"'Boy'? I'm thirty two, I will have you know!"

He chuckled almost as if he was seeking something cute.

"Alright, I will entertain you! How old are you?"

"Not telling!" He sang childishly.

He then pressed his lips together in a playful smile.

"So how old is Drew, or Bash as she would prefer to me known?"

"Fourteen, no fifteen." He shrugged.

"Ahhh! Still just a child! Although I must admit, I thought she was older." He purred slowly.

Then he started to glare at him.

"You knew perfectly well what her age is. Why ask me?"

"I was just curious, that's all!"

Chashathrophogh rolled his eyes.

"About what?"

"How much you knew about her, that's all!"

He let out a frustrated huff.

"No. There's something else."

"Oh but I do like idle chit chat!"

"Well I don't!"

"Not buying it? Then I might as well cut to the chase, tell me you are the famous bastard killer Chashathrophogh Dragonfreecurse are you not?"

"I am." He said, with a dangerous tone.

He raised his hand.

"Then tell me why have you not killed her yet? I mean-"

Chashathrophogh dived at him and trapped his hand around his throat. He pulled out a knife and pointed it at his throat under the side of his hand. His cheeks became red.

"Tell me, do you think I have forgotten what you made my neice do? Do you think that I would not kill you if you continue with your behaviour? I am, like you said, the bastard killer Chashathrophogh Dragonfreecurse after all!"

He chuckled again.

"Sooo it is true! You can't kill her…do you want to?"

"Not now."

His eyes widened.

"But at first?"

"Yes."

"I know what that's like. Tell me would you mind if I killed her?"

He drew the blade in closer.

"Lay one finger and I will not stop until you are dead!" He shouted.

He chuckled again.

"What don't you? After all, I too am a royal bastard. So why don't you do it right here and now?" He asked.

He leaned in closer.

"Go on. Hey it over with. You know you want to."

"Chash'! Cerph'! Ge' ye be'inds up 'ere!"

"We'll be on one way!" He called before returning to Cerpheres. 

He leaned in closer to him and he looked at him in his eyes.

"We will continue this later and I will say, once this is all over and once we are on the road, don't follow us. Don't even go near us and if I even hear a whisper that you are near, I will not hesitate to hunt you down and kill you! After all, you are good help at the moment, but when this is over you will have long since outlived your purpose. Well, you can quite imagine what I will do!"

He licked his lips.

"I'm sure I'm going to look forward to it!"

Disgusted, he pushed him back as he let go and left. This left Cerpheres alone, his cheeks were red as he touched the spot where Chashathrophogh had held his knife to and smiled. He looked as if he was a sleepy drunk again. He licked his lips and let out a sigh.

I wish you had cut me. It would have been much more interesting…especially the look on your face.

He placed his hand to his face and started laughing. The dopamine was realised causing him to become incapable of stopping himself from laughing.

"Oh! You two are very, very interesting indeed!" He declared, laughing more and more.

"Oh! Captain Gerald!" He moaned. 

Though you have been interesting I'm afraid your ship has long since sailed and your greatness has long since been thrown overboard. So as soon as your crew are all dead, I'll personally close your book! After all, I have two new books to read. So I guess it's time to help them!

Meanwhile on the decks Bash and Chashathrophogh arrived. Bash looked at him.

"Are you alright?" Both her and Gurter asked.

"Yes, Bash!"

"What?"

"Don't ever be alone with Cerpheres. And don't let him do anything to you either!"

"Alright, I won't?" She said, confused.

That was when she saw the large fin of a shark. To their amazement it was the size of a sail on a single sailboat. It was let black with three cuts in the side.

Then both Bash and Chashathrophogh felt someone flop on them putting his arms around them. They let out an annoyed groan. Before they both looked at each other and ducked then took a step back and he turned around. Bash noticed that he looked slightly ill.

"What is it this time?" He purred. 

The three of them hit him.

Then Bash looked back and noticed the fin was gone. Then she heard a thunderous crash and ran out and looked behind the ship. To her horror she saw a set of large jaws with long and thick teeth the size of the ship and the mouth looked as large as a large water cave.

"That wasn't very nice!"

He, seeing that there was no response, looked back to see what she was looking at. He too became pale.

"Ooh that does not look good." He said, his voice nonchalant.

They glared at him like a parent would at a child being foolish.

"What? We have magic! We could do something like turn the water to ice or boil it!"

Their faces dropped.

"Oh"

Bash then looked up at it, to her relief, none of the ship had entered its mouth. So she closed her eyes and willed the shark to be pushed back. As she was dining this Chashathrophogh sent a blast of fire into its mouth and then another one, forcing it to close. The shark was jerked back and it then swam down. Bash released her grip and then they ran to the edge, to get a better look, but knew that this would not give her the full picture that she needed. 

So she climbed up the shrouds, knowing that she was right in her thinking, the other two followed. They then soon flipped over to the crows nest and looked down only to see the row of teeth surrounding the ship! She soon willed the mouth back and drove it further and further down, until the teeth were back far enough for her to feel comfortable, yet she knew that she had not the time to waist. 

She closed her eyes and forced the water to become colder and colder. Then she opened them to see the row of teeth had returned and she willed it to go back again. She then dropped the temperature of the water again, making it become colder and colder. She opened them to see that the jaws had returned and so she drove it back again and made the temperature colder and colder. 

Yet she could feel the strain. She knew that they needed more power in order to do this. She then looked over to Cerpheres. He shrugged and started to play. She and Chashathrophogh felt the surge. He looked at her and then back they then made the water become colder and colder much faster and soon they saw the mouth and they forced it back. This time it fell faster.

They then could see the ice crystals in the ocean. They then fired the ice shards at it again and again and again, yet this barely did anything. They might as well be giving it a flesh wound! So they pushed all the ice and drove out up into the skull, yet that was still not enough! They drove stake of ice after stake of ice at it again and again. Even though it did damage the inner mouth, it was still not enough.

Then Bash formed several stakes of ice and Chashathrophogh food the same. She then forced the current to spin around and around again and again. He then did the same and soon the stakes of ice were spinning faster and faster and then she looked at her uncle and they released the stakes of ice and they all stabbed all around the mouth. They then did this again and again. Until blood arose from the water.

Yet they did not dare stop until the chunks of grey matter appeared. Then they waited and waited and waited. An hour passed and upon seeing no more teeth and any more signs of the megalodon Bash and Chashathrophogh collapsed when Cerpheres stopped playing. 

He let out a moan as he flopped down resting a hand on one knee and letting the other fall as he panted, steading his breath. His face looked as if it had been burnt by the sun as he leaned his head back.

"That was marvellous!"

Shark Bone Island

They soon saw the hill of shark bones first. Then they soon spotted that it was not a hill but a mountain of shark bones. They looked down to see several great white sharks swimming underneath. They could see that there were several bones of eaten sharks floating to the surface and joined the landmass. They could see that underneath the water were piles upon piles of shark bones underneath the sea, some were covered in coral and other types of rock. Then they spotted that the corpse of the melodeon that they had killed was already part of the landmass!

It must be either the current or magic or both. Both Chashathrophogh and Bash thought at the same time.

Captain Gerald circled the islands and could see no place that he trusted himself to doc at.

"Yo! Ye three! Could ye user ye magic te ge' a good place te doc a'!"

They looked back and Cerpheres smiled as they looked at the bones. They willed the bones on the outside to be drawn to one point in the shape of a line. Then once the ribs were in place of an arch Bash and Cerpheres put a row of shark skulls underneath the ribs for extra support. Chashathrophogh then took the initiative to will coral to grow underneath and willed the choral to become stronger than usual so that the doc would be sturdy to walk on.

They soon docked at the location and walked off the boat.

"I haf te say tha' is welldone!"

"Thank you captain!" Cerpheres purred, giving him the map.

Captain Gerald looked at the map and then at the makeshift doc and then around the island. His eyes widened as there seemed to be a baffled look on his face. He then frowned as he looked at the map and then back at the island again. He did this repeatedly.

"What is it, Captain?" Purred Cerpheres.

"The map! I's-i's changed!"

"Humm?"

He showed them the map. They looked down at it and noticed that their doc was on the map! On top of that, they noticed that there were several more additions on the island since they had decoded it!

"Wait! The map's enchanted!?" Gurter and Kir exclaimed.

"That makes sense." Bash and Chashathrophogh said in unison.

"Explain!" Captain Gerald, Gurter and Kir also said in unison.

"Well, this island is made up of shark bones right?" Bash pointed out.

"Yes and?" Phydoc asked.

"Who that means that, because there are a great deal of sharks in these waters that would mean that the island would also grow and continually change." Chashathrophogh explained.

"So because of this I am-we are certain that the Prince Captain would have accounted for that! So he would have placed an enchantment that would ensure that the map would always be identical to the island and would change according to the changes of the island." Bash finished off.

"Oh!" Gurter said.

"Ye know wha'!"

"What Captain?"

"I miss Jeff 'n' Jax."

Chashathrophogh rolled his eyes.

"Can we get a move on? After all, none of us want to go in and come back to see that our ship is lodged in with more additional shark bones do we?"

"Ahh! Good poin'! C'mon le's go!"

"Soo, Captain, why is it so important for you to find all these pieces of treasure?" He purred.

They all looked at Cerpheres who shrugged nonchalantly.

"What! I'm sure you're just as interested!" He sang.

Kir, Gurter and Phydoc all looked as if they were about to kill him.

"'M sure ye righ' after all tha's 'appened I think I do owe ye lo' tha'! Well 'cause i'll 'elp me understand the one tha' is prophesied te kill me."

"And that is?" Purted Cerpheres.

"The Prince Captain 'imself!"

"What! No! He couldn't! He just couldn't!" Gurter and Kir exclaimed, shaking their heads.

"Well tha's wha' 'e said!"

"Who said?" Kir asked, suspiciously.

"This rising sorcerer! 'E's bin known te be accurate when 'e does i' 'though 'e can' control i'."

"His name?" Bash and Chashathrophogh asked.

"Gajellidor Darcrogh."

"And that scorceror, what does he look like?" Chashathrophogh asked.

"Dunno never saw 'is face. Only tha' 'e 'ad long black 'air 'n' 'is pale chin!"

Bash remembered the sorcerer that cursed both her and Chashathrophogh. 

Didn't he have long black hair and a pale face?

"And what did he sound like?" She asked.

"Well 'i high pitched, ye' also deep…almost like a snake. Ye' there was an authori'y abou' i' tha' I never 'eard before." He explained, almost like he fell into some type of trance. "'E told me tha' I'll understand the one tha'll kill me by goin' on this quest."

"No wonder you were so pushy at the start!"

"So is that why you had him force Bash to kill Verety?"

"What! You have Verety killed!" Kir exclaimed.

"Yes 'n' I'm sorry for tha'! I just needed 'em te take me seriously."

"How about we deal with this once we all have collected the Pieces Of Eight?" Bash suggested. "If we don't then chances are we all will make a costly mistake."

"Good thinkin' girl! We will 'n' after this ye all c'n decide were ye go."

"Alright. So where are we?"

"'Ere!" The Captain declared.

"And the treasure?"

"Underneath."

They all crouched down and pulled at one of the shark bones. Then other shark bones fell into the hole. They moved more and Irish shark bones fell in. Theo pulled out one and more fell in. Yet Kir frowned and pulled out shark bone after shark bone, yet more and more fell in! This annoyed him and then he pulled at it more and more and more fell in. He then punched down, his fist bled slightly as he leery or an annoyed roar.

"There must be some trick to this!" He snapped.

He looked up to see Cerpheres, Chashathrophogh and Bash, digging just like the rest of them. This annoyed him. Sheet all they were surprised to have magic!

"Why don't you two use your magic? One of you holds back the bones and the rest get these bones out who'll you!"

"Oh, alright!" 

Bash willed the bones to be held back as Chashathrophogh and Cerpheres willed the bones to be pulled up, revealing fifteen crests made of shark bones. Them Chashathrophogh willed the chests to rise up and on the top of the shark bones. Then he spotted a small chest at the bottom and he pulled it up. There he saw a keyhole. He then closed his eyes and willed it to open, revealing another triangle on a pendant made of shark bones.

"Alrigh' why don' ye use magic te ge' 'em on the ship?"

"Come on! Why should we, I mean we all could carry one?" 

"'Cause i's faster."

"But it's so much more satisfying carrying them by hand!"

"Don' care!"

"Where's your sense of adventure?"

"Cerph' do as I say."

"Alright!"

They all looked at the fifteen chests. They picked five and they willed them to rise up and they floated above the bones. Bash found it difficult on both keeping the chests up and walking onwards. She forced her mind to focus on the chests, but she felt slightly distracted. Yet she did all that she could to keep going. Both she and Chashathrophogh could feel the heat, making them sweat and dulling their minds. Yet they focused on keeping their chests afloat. Then they could see that their tired age full minds caused them to focus in and out. They continued to walk on. Yet they could feel the strain of using their magic for far too long, yet they forced themselves to push on as their eyelids started to drop.

"Are you alright Chashathrophogh?" Gurter asked.

"Yes. I will live."

"Aww! Not getting tired already?" Cooed Cerpheres.

"No!"

They continued as Bash felt her body shaking as they finally reached the doc. She could feel weak as she stepped onto it; she knew that she was about to collapse.

"Captain, someone take these chests." She gasped as her mind started spinning.

"Why, you're obviously doing so well!" Kir snapped sarcastically.

"No. No I'm-"

She collapsed and Gurter and Kir both grabbed her.

"It's alright. I will carry her. The rest of you can carry her load." Cerpheres purred.

They soon were on board and waited until Bash woke up before they left.

"What happened? Why didn't I last as long as I knew I should have?"

"There was a spell on that island, see." Cerpheres explained. "It drains people of something that takes a toll on one's tolerance."

"Oh."

Den Of Kraken

Bash and Chashathrophogh were both on deck. After reading that they were found to be entering kraken waters, they felt uneasy. Their minds went over what happened when they had only one to deal with yet now they were to fight multiple! They did not know how they were going to do it as there were many of the crew back then and now there were only seven. How could they possibly survive this? After all, nothing that they had ever done would compare to this. The only thing that they could hear was the sound of the calm of the sea and the sound of their dread filled hearts! The only levity they had was that this was the last of the dangerous waters that they were in.

"Do you want to stay?" Bash asked, slightly idly.

"You know we can't. We need to kill that Dark Lord, remember?"

She nodded.

"Wonder why he did it and who he was?"

"I am quite certain that once we find him we will get our answers."

"How will we even find him?"

"We will!" Chashathrophogh sang.

"There a spell we can use?"

"Maybe?"

"And why don't we use it?"

"I don't-"

Then Cerpheres flung himself at them and draped his arms around them.

"What're we talking about?" He purred.

They both spun and fig their first into his abdomen. He grunted as he clutched it and fell to his knees. His cheeks became slightly red.

"That was uncalled for." He purred.

"No it wasn't."

He smiled as he sighed.

"Still what are we talking about? It looked quite serious!"

"Never mind. What do you want?"

"Well-" he said as he let out a long breath in order to calm himself. "I thought of a plan for taking down those kraken."

"Oh? And what is it?" 

He folded his arms and pouted.

"I'm not telling! Well not unless you apologise and let me come with you! Well, once this little quest is all over with." He sang, challenging them with his eyes.

"No! We will manage."

"Then the doom of the rest of the crew will be on you, Chash'!"

"What?"

His smile became wider.

"Oh, well we will be having more than one."

"I know."

"And you must do your absolute best to make sure none get on the ship. Then again remember how you were able to handle just one? So the logical outcome is that you all drown and her ripped apart and eaten by kraken. And you wouldn't want that would you?"

"And what do you mean by 'you'?" He asked, suspiciously.

"Maybe I'll tell you someday! But that all depends on if you survive." 

He then shrugged.

"Fine! I guess that you'll never know my dirty little secret." He sang.

Then just as he was about to say something, a long and thick tentacle burst out of the water with a ship in it and crushed down as the crew of the ship screamed and were swallowed in a break the size of a longboat. Then their situation sank in. They both looked at Cerpheres.

"Alright,  you can come with us!" They said, in a high pitched voice.

"And?" He purred.

"Sorry!"

"Alright." He sang as he drew them in close.

"That's genius!"

Chashathrophogh sighed.

"Saying it is one thing, but pulling it off is another altogether."

"Well then ladies, let's do this!"

They looked at the first tentacle and ran to the edge of the ship. They looked up and then down to have a look at the size of the first kraken. Bash and Chashathrophogh worsened their eyes and looked back at Cerpheres with paper white faces.

"Are you sure we can pull this off?"

"With my help, we should be!" 

Chashathrophogh nodded. Cerpheres smirked as he touched his violin to his cheek. He then started playing. At first he started with a slow tune and soon they could feel the surge of their magic rising within them. It became stronger and stronger and soon they were feeling power that they have never felt before. Suddenly they were afraid that they would not be able to control or contain it!

Bash closed her eyes and willed the water to turn to ice and Chashathrophogh willed the ice stakes to spin and shot then towards the eye. This forced it to close the eye and turn around and they repeated the action again. This blinded the first. This, to their surprise, was easier than the first time they did this.

Yet just as they thought that they could celebrate, Bash looked up to see the tentacle above them. Thern the tentacle flung towards her. Quickly she willed the tentacle away from her. Then it flew back so far and so fast that it was ripped off the kraken! Then, when the tentacle splashed it divided the waves. Yet the waves rose so high that it caused a small tsunami as it was so large and tall. Before they could do any harm, she willed the waves to flatten.

She then turned her attention back to the kraken then willed more ice stakes for Chashathrophogh to fire, yet she suddenly had an idea to cause more damage. She then willed the ice to have rows of spiral spikes. Then he spun them and propelled them forward and they spun faster and took out chunks out of the kraken. Yet he spotted that they were still intact and willed them to go deeper and deeper. Soon they killed their first kraken.

Then he willed the chunks of flesh and only the flesh to be pulled up and dropped them on the deck.

"Wha're ye doin' tha' for?"

"Food." He said. "Me and Cerpheres noticed that we were running out."

"Oh." He said as he clapped his hands together. "Looks like we're gonna 'ave a feast!"

"Well there's no time to relax. Cerpheres!" 

Cerpheres nodded as his cheeks became red.

"Oh, sorry."

He then contained playing. They then felt the surge and retrimmed to the next kraken. Bash then created more and more ice straddles work spikes on and he spun and drove them into the eyes of that kraken. Yet then Bash felt something hit her from behind. Then she was wrapped in a tentacle. She saw a large hook on the edge of the sucker. She could feel the power of each muscle as it started to crush her. She willed the tentacle to be ripped and she fell. She then slowed as age landed. She looked up and noticed Cerpheres, his face even more red as he smirked with a relieved look on his face.

Yet despite wanting to thank him she knew that they did not have the time. So she ignored this and continued on.

"Chashathrophogh, you focus on that! I'll focus on the tentacles!" She called.

"Right. Be careful, dear niece."

"Will do! Dear uncle."

Cerpheres smirked.

She then looked up and summoned an ice bow and arrow she then fired and as the arrow flew she willed the head to become wider and wider until it hit, slicing the tentacle clean off. She then noticed smoothest and repeated the action again and again. Then she felt several violent waves sway the ship side to side like a pendulum. Yet they still had to commune on.

Yet this gave Chashathrophogh an idea. He then willed the waves to sway side to side, becoming more and more faster and violent as he sat the crater getting closer and closer to the bottom of the ship. It was all too clear what it wanted as the moment its tentacles rose, Bash sliced them off. He then willed large shards of ice to form as he forced the water to be driven into the body of the kraken. He did this faster and faster, making it harder and harder and more and more violently. Soon the creature could not keep up. Then the creature was ripped apart and there were more chunks on deck.

They then moved onto the next one and Bash then had an idea. She then let her bow drop and she willed the head of the next kraken to become hotter and hotter. Then the tentacles rose above the  waves and they were about to strike her again. She was about to attend to it when Kir appeared and sliced the tentacle with his curved sword. He then saw another coming to them.

"Gurter! You protect Chash'!"

"'Chashathrophogh'!"

"I don't care, your name's too long! Anyway, I will protect Bash, Captain-"

"'M steerin'!"

"Oh."

Then she returned and then focused back on boiling the kraken head and then the tentacles fell. Yet she could feel a slight strain, yet she could not afford to give in. She then looked down and then spotted another two, one on the other. She then gathered all the magic that she could and created a long and wide drill and then drove it down and fast and as far as she could taking both out. She continued to feel the strain increase as she noticed the tentacle fly towards her. Only for Kir to slash away at it. He then gave her the get-back-to-work look and she nodded.

Then she caught a glance at Cerpheres, whose face was as reef as a tomato and he looked drained in the face and eyes of a drunken sailor. He looked ill.

"Are you alright?"

He noticed her.

"Y-y-yes!" He gasped like he was trapped and trying to free himself from some prison.

Must be affecting him too… Think that I should get Phydoic to look at him later.

Then she looked in a moment of slight dissipation at the next one rose. She then looked pleadingly at the Captain.

"Don' worry we're ge'in ou' o' 'ere soon!"

Thank goodness!

She then saw the tentacles rise. She, starting to pant, created an ice bow as did Chashathrophogh. They formed an arrow with a cone head, like a drill and fired. This caused it to spin as it flew in the air and tour into the flesh as it hit. Seeing this they formed another arrow and they fired arrow after arrow at each one as they rose from the deep. They continued to do this as they rowed closer and closer. Then the strain became impossible to ignore.

They had to get this one over worn as quickly as they could. Bash took a glance at Cerpheres, who looked more raised and ill. Even he was panting now. She hoped that he could last a little while longer but she could not quite tell. 

She then looked down right in the kraken's eye! She then looked at Chashathrophogh and then,  knowing that they needed a clean shot, closed her eyes. She focused all the remaining magic onto the kraken and then started to make it lift. It rose higher and higher out of the area. Its tentacles thrashed violently in the air, yet she knew that it was not high enough.

"Now! Get it!" She shouted in a shaky voice.

Chashathrophogh then gathered all his magic and threw a fireball at its eye. He fired fireball after fireball at it again and again. Then Gurter looked at the others and she took Kir and ran below the decks. She saw Phydoc and grabbed him. They ran to the lower decks, where there were several cannons.

"Quick load each one!"

Then they all grabbed a ball each and they threw them in and saw the part of the body, where tentacles and the rest of the body met and lit the top and the cannonballs fired. They did this again and again and again. This caused tentacle after tentacle to drop. They noticed that there was blood falling from the top. They looked up and noticed that the eyeball was on fire and the kraken was shaking.

Bash must be getting weaker.

Then she dropped the kraken and they loaded three cannonballs each and fired. This caused the kraken to stop moving as they fired three more and repealed this action again and again until they were sure that the kraken was dead. 

She ran back on the deck to see the three of them were out like a candle. Quickly Phydoc checked them all over and then carried them to the physician's quarters. There he waited as Bash regained consciousness.

"Are you alright?" He asked, seeing how pale she was.

"Yes…my body won't move."

"That's alright. Your body has been pushed to its limit, that's all."

Her eyes slid to the other two, who had not regained consciousness.

"Are they alright?" She asked.

"Yes."

"And  how are they?"

"Just as exhausted as you are, but they'll be alright."

"Could you recheck Cerpheres? I noticed he looked slightly ill during the fight."

He nodded.

"Alright."

He then checked his pulse and then opened his eyes and brought a flame to it. Seeing that there was nothing wrong he checked his temperature and turned his head slightly. He then placed the back of his hand to his nostrils and monitored the rhythm of his breathing. This was normal. Then his eyes slid to his hands. He then cupped one of them and checked that pulse.

"Don't worry, he's alrigh-"

Suddenly his eyes widened as he drew the hand in closer. Then his eyes became even wider in shock. He looked over to Bash who had slipped back into unconsciousness. He shook his head as he looked at the other hand. Then he rushed out of the room, his heart racing. He ran down the corridor and up to the storage room, where he spotted the maps of the islands that carried the parts of the Pieces Of Eight. He looked at the maps and spotted what he was looking for. It was a fingerprint of the one who drew the map. The fingerprints matched.

He then turned and dropped the map. His face became pale as his heart beat faster. There at the door was none other than Cerpheres. He had a slender dagger balanced upon the tip of his finger. The tip between his teeth. He licked the tip as he eyed him up like a predator about to thou with his prey. 

He put a false smile on his lips.

"Cerpheres!" He said, his voice a higher pitch than he should have used. 

"I see that you are well." He said, trying his best to appear calm.

He rested his hand in a dagger so he wouldn't see it as he walked on.

"What are you doing here?" He purred as he started trapping the tip to his lower lip.

"I was getting some supplies. Cari-I mean Bash thought that you looked a little ill so I thought I would get something just to be sure. However, as I can see, I can see that you're just fine." He explained as he took another step closer to him.

I just need to get Cerpheres out of the way and get through the door. Once that is done get to the Captain! He thought as he raced under the doorway. Then Cerpheres caught him before he could take another step. He looked at him, the corners of his mouth curled up in a smile. His eyes were confident, as both men knew the predator had his prey. 

He then licked his lips.

"You seem scared."

He noticed that he was shaking all over. He used anger to snap himself out of his fear and stop himself from shaking. He threw the blade to his throat. Cerpheres nonchalantly caught it and his smile widened to that of a wolf, about to devour his prey.

"That wasn't very nice, physician. What's wrong?"

Cerpheres groped his throat and spun and pinned him against the wall with such force he dropped the knife.

"Th-th-the C-C-Captain…"

"Won't hear a thing. Not one scream! After all, I've put them all to sleep. Even if I let you go, you won't be able to wake them!" He purred, leaning in as he tightened his grip.

Licking his lips he outstretched his hand and the knife was in his hands. He then dug the knife deep into his gut.

He let out a grunt.

"You know, I have been dying to kill something for a long time." He gasped as he pulled it out and then stuck it back in.

"You know, I thought releasing Captain Herlock would give Captain Gerald the good old spark but no. Yet-yet I thought that the water nymphs but no."

He pulled it out and back in. Phydoc tried to cry out but with Cerpheres's hand on his throat caused him to croak. He was helpless as he stabbed him again and again. He then let him go and stabbed him as he dropped. He let out a scream as all that was keeping him up was the dagger. He then pulled out and he dropped and he clutched his stomach.

He started coughing up blood as his body shook uncontrollably as his blood poured out of him. He tried to get up and punch him but he knew that his stomach would not be able to take it. He could feel himself becoming colder and colder as sweat coated him. He tried to get through the door but his hand pulled him back and he was pinned into the ground.

Cerpheres pushed him onto the decking and sat on his back. He tried to push himself up but his arms were far too weak. Yet he pushed and pushed but it was completely useless. He was helpless to see his arms flop. He felt tears of frustration form in his eyes. Then Cerpheres drove the dagger into his back and twisted, he screamed out as he stabbed him again and again. Then he screamed up blood and foam as his tears poured from his eyes like the blood from stomach.

"No! This-this won't do either! N-no! You're not great! I need to kill someone great! I-I-I must do it! It-it must be Captain Gerald! I must kill Capitulation Gerald!" He moaned as he drove it back into him again and again. 

Then Phydoc stopped, the light died in his eyes as he knew that he was not going to get out of this. He was going to die and there was nothing that he could do to stop it. All he could do was let Cerpheres have his way with him. Then he stopped and looked down. He licked his lips. He then grabbed him by his head.

"Good boy!" He purred, slitting his throat. 

He let out a sigh as he felt himself calm down.

"There, that did it." He panted.

He rose to his feet and used magic to clean the blood of him and then clicked his fingers. The body and all the blood disappeared. He then walked back to the bed they were using. His eyes rested upon Chashathrophogh and Bash. His smile changed. It looked less malicious and more sweet and pleasant. He then kissed them both on the cheeks before slipping back into his bed, where he closed his eyes and slept.

Island Of Coral

When they woke the next morning none knew what happened, not even Chashathrophogh. With the body and blood cleaned up without a drop to be seen on either the place where Phydoc was killed or on his murderer, who could know? Nor would anyone suspect or even question it. Yet they did notice his absence despite how busy they were.

When they all walked onto the deck they could see the island. It was an island made up of nothing but coral foundations. The coral was made up of every colour under the sun. With fields on the flattest arias and other plant life of all different colours wrapped around it. She could see a group of butterflies of all colours flapping around with birds also of all colours. Then they saw the group of houses and huts with stones and tiles made of the coral the same the island was made of.

"What a beautiful island!" Gasped Gurter.

"Yes it is…" Bash agreed.

They soon, for no reason other than the excitement of finally finishing this quest, giggled like children. Then they both breathed in deep as they soon could smell roses and honey. Thinking that they were smelling things they sniffed in some more noticing that they were not, they sniffed in more. Wanting to enjoy it more they sniffed and sniffed.

"You're not coming down with anything are you?" Chashathrophogh asked.

"No, it's just there's a nice smell. Come on, sniff up!" Gurter exclaimed.

"What are you-" 

He soon caught a wif and knew what they were talking about.

"Oh!"

"What's wong?" Cerpheres purred. "I hope I don't need to get Phydoc, do I?"

"No. Is just I can smell roses and honey that's all. Speaking of which, did he give you a check up? You looked ill in the fight against the kraken and I fell back asleep before he told me he would."

He smiled, seemingly grateful.

"He did, and don't worry it's nothing."

"But you looked ill."

"I guess I was feeling exhausted! So that might have been it."

"Oh. Well don't push it in the future."

He let out a chuckle.

"I won't!"

"Hey ye lo' 'ere now!" Shouted Captain Gerald.

They all looked at him as his eyes were starting to become red.

"What is it?" Cerpheres purred.

"A le'a."

"And what does it say?" Kir asked.

"I-I-I c-c-can'!" He said, tears started to fall.

Cerpheres frowned.

"Why, what does it say?" Purred Cerpheres.

"'Ere ye-ye be'er off r-re-readin' i'!"

He looked down, his eyes widened in shock as he looked up. He too started to tear up.

"Here,  you're better off reading this." He told him, trying to keep his voice calm.

Bash frowned and reached out her hand and placed it on his arm, helping him sit down. Gurter also held his hand. Cerpheres placed a hand on his shoulder.

"'To my dear crew, you know how much you mean to me but over the course of my time here you have been the only family I never had. You gave me all that I never had before, as you know, I'm an orphan and I was given over to a cruel alchemist. With you, I was able to enjoy life and I loved spending my time with you. I am forever grateful and happy to have served you as your physician. Yet I cannot ignore current events and they have admittedly gotten to me. I tried to keep my spirits up but as of late even that has been a challenge. I feel as if I am haunted by those that I have been unable to save, yet I did not know how to open up about these things. You can blame the alchemist for that. So I am sorry, I could not open up to you about these matters. I also knew that it was a matter of time until I too would succumb to the call of the grim rapper. So I drugged all of you, I am sorry about that, long enough to join my family to Jones Lock below. If you are reading this then that means that I am dead. It was a pleasure Phydoc Satiantor.'" He read as he looked up.

Captain Gerald looked down as tears came to his eyes. Shame was written on his old and tired face.

"I never knew bu' I shudder! I'm-I'm 'is Captain so I shudder known!"

Cerpheres smiled a sweet and sad smile as he placed a hand on his shoulder. He then stripped it as Gurter hugged him.

"Don't blame yourself my dear Captain." He purred.

"He's right, you're not a god, so how could you have known he was going to do that?" Said Kir.

"So please, don't blame yourself. It's not your fault." Cerpheres coed.

"Ye righ'. Le's jus' ge' this over with. We'll mourn for 'em, all o' 'em la'er. 'N' thank ye Cerph'! Ye've always bin a good crewma'e even though ye creepy."

He let out a chuckle.

"Don't thank me. The crew should always do that for their captain."

He then leaned in and smiled excitedly and his eyes were filled with charisma.

"So let's finish this, in the name of the fallen!"

He sniffed.

"Yeah, yeah ye righ' le's!"

With their minds clear they all climbed into the boat and paddled to the island. They arrived at a beach that was made up of coral stones instead of sand. They pulled the boat up and onto the shore. They then walked to a lilac field.

"Cerph' could ye lead this 'n'."

He smiled deviously.

"Okay!"

"'N' don' make me regre' i'!"

"I won't!" He sang.

He then took out the last map.

"Ahh! Well we need to climb the Coral Cliff which is in front of us."

They nodded as they looked at the rocky surface. They chose their path and started climbing. As they grabbed each edge they first tested each one before putting their weight onto it. As they pulled themselves up, they were even more careful not to cut themselves. 

They then pulled themselves up higher and yet Gurter cut her fingers. Kir then outstretched his hand to help her up and she took it. She was able to get higher than him and she helped him up.

Chashathrophogh found himself looking all around for a place to reach out before Cerpheres outstretched his hand. Not wanting to take it he found a very sharp ledge and went to take it but he cut his fingers and then looked back at his hand and begrudgingly took it. He pulled him up. 

Yet as they climbed Captain Gerald felt his muscles start to ache. He was sweating heavier too. Old age had definitely caught up to him. After this, he would go to Piréshiland to spend his days in rum. Yes, that was what he would do. Maybe spend a good penny on some fine women as he enjoyed all his spoils. Let the others be led by Chashathrophogh or Bash; he could tell that either of them would make for a fine captain.

Then Bash noticed that she too was getting sweaty and with the smooth edges she started to slip. Yet she was able to get to the next and one after that and the one after that. Yet her fingers made the surface ever more slippery. So she found herself having to go faster and faster, yet she felt the coral cutting into her. Still she gritted her teeth and carried on and then with both the sweat and the blood it became impossible to hold on. Then she reached out and slipped. She then fell and Cerpheres outstretched his hand and she flew to him.

"There you go!"

"Thank you!"

"You're welcome!"

He then threw her onto his back and they were able to climb onto the blue green field above. She slipped off and he held her hands and she felt a toothsome itching coming from her hands. When she looked down she noticed all her wounds were sealing up. She looked up at him astonished,nyet he smirked as he placed his finger to his lips and winked.

Then Cerpheres waited for them all to finish getting up and then returned to the map. 

The rest looked up to see a set of double doors that were made of two large shells with many different colours. With bold colours at the bottom and fanning out and fading as they reached the top. They were wedged within the coral and had no doorknob or discernable opening point.

Bash looked around the edges of the coral and on the ground and spotted a flat aria in the coral. Upon a close look she spotted that there was an edge and a gap between the flat area and the coral on top. She then willed the coral to move out of the way and it revealed a coral orange box. When she opened the box she saw words engraved into the bottom. Yet the words were old and she could not understand them.

"What is it?" Kir asked.

"A box with ancient writing engraved." She said, passing it to him.

"Give me that!" Chashathrophogh snapped as he snatched it out of his hands.

"You know what language that is?" Purred Cerpheres.

"I do. Most Questers do. It's an old firm of dark elvish, but it translates to;

"One is predator,

One is a queen or king,

One has beautiful hair,

One has a beautiful body,

One is missing the hair, 

On the female,

What is one?"

He then placed the box in the bag as the others frowned. They traced the words. Analysing what they all meant.

As they did the words glowed and then faded. Then the four sides of the box and the lid lit up. They had to squint to see what was going on and soon the light faded and on the right side was a man on the left side was a wolf on the front was a dragon behind was a snake and on the lid was a lion.

"What's this?" Purred Cerpheres.

"Animals and we have to pick the one that the rifle describes." Chashathrophogh explained.

"Well let's go over the riddle. 'One is a predator.' This could describe all of them. 'One is a Queen or king'." Bash started.

"The word is sorigtor, which is a gender neutral term for true ruler." Chashathrophogh said.

She nodded.

"Right, well that rules out the snake. As the snake is no true ruler. Now the next is 'one has beautiful hair'. Which rules out the dragon. 'One has a beautiful body' again could mean any of them. 'One is missing hair on the female' this rules out the wolf. Yet even though men have beards and shave them off, so do some women who pluck those odd strands and both men and women have the same type of hair, women tend to shave off the hair on their bodies, so that also rules out the man. So the only candidate is the lion." Kir said.

"Are you sure?" Asked Gurter.

"Yes."

So Chashathrophogh placed his hand on the lion and light came from inside and two shells appeared with a coral screw behind. They then logged up at the shells and noticed there were two holes in them. He picked them out and gave the box to Gurter before sliding them in the hole and screwed them in and then pulled. This led to the room ahead. 

Then a conspiracy of ravens and a murder of crows flew out.

They then turned back to the room and walked in. Then a flash of light rose up and flooded the room. The next moment, before they could even know what was going on, Bash and Gurter felt a pair of cuffs around their wrists. They let out a yell as they were pulled to the wall and then their backs slammed against the wall. Then the cuffs pulled their arms back and fixed them to the wall.

"Bash!"

"Gurter!"

That was when Chashathrophogh frowned as he felt something in his hand. His eyes lowered as the light faded to reveal there was a dagger in his hand. The blade was made of silver and the handle was made of coral red coral. He was momentarily confused, yes he had a sneaking suspicion of what was going on.

"What's going on?" Kir asked.

Cerpheres looked down at the box and picked it up. He frowned as he opened it. He then pulled out a scroll.

"What's this?" He purred.

He then handed it to Chashathrophogh. He looked down and his eyes widened in shock as he looked up at the two. Soon anger entered his eyes.

"No." He said as he looked at Bash.

"What? What does it say and why is my half sister and your niece pinned to that wall?"

"I have to kill one of them."

"What? Give me that!"

To his shock he saw that it was written in their native language.

🖤To Continue, 

A Woman Of Virgin

Must Die 🖤

🖤The One Who They Love

The Most Must Do It 🖤

They all looked at Chashathrophogh. Then they looked at the girls. He looked at blade and then at Bash and then at Gurter. Bash opened her mouth to speak but the found never left her lips. Them Gurter also opened her mouth yet she too was silenced. 

So none of us can say anything. Which means the one that set this up must have not wanted us to be able to sway the decision.

Feeling frustrated Bash closed her eyes and focused all her magic and will to break the cuffs open but morning budged. She tried to do this again and again but nothing worked. She then tried to focus on the chains but that too seemed to not work. Then Chashathrophogh did the same but with just as little results. They tried to do it at the same time yet nothing worked. It was all too clear that magic would not save them.

They then struggled against the cuffs but they became tighter and tighter around their wrists. Yet they continued anyway, hoping that if they continued that at least they would be able to live, however they knew that that would have to go on without their hands for the rest of their lives. Yet then they heard a crunch, they screamed out in pain and still no sound came from them. The pain flared up like a flame and they could no longer feel their hands. They stopped as they felt their bodies go limp.

Knowing that there were no other options, Chashathrophogh looked at the two again.

"Borevers! Or Chashathrophogh, whatever your name is. If you kill my half-sister I swear that I will kill you right here and now!"

He let out a sigh out of pity as he smiled.

"Well best of fortune be with you. After all, you will need it!"

His face became pale white.

"What?"

"Chash' don' they're the last o' me crew! I-I can' lose anymore! Please don'!"

Chashathrophogh looked at him dead in the eyes.

"It's 'Chashathrophogh'! And you can get a new crew. Or too bad for you. I did warn you not to put any unwanted blood on my niece's hands."

Both Kir and Captain Gerald went as pale as paper. Meanwhile Cerpheres smirked as he looked there, completely stunned. He then threw the dagger at Gurter's head so that she would die quickly and as painlessly as she could.

"Why you!" Shouted Kir as he drew his sword.

He flicked it at him. Chashathrophogh ducked and flicked the glass side up and thrust the palm of his hand into his stomach. He flew back and he ran after him and Kir then drove his blade into Chashathrophogh's thigh as Chashathrophogh gripped him by his throat. He pulled it out and he gripped harder. He then went to stab him again but he caught the wrist and willed it to be set alight. Then he screamed out in pain and dropped the sword. He then kicked him again and again. This proved useless until he hit the man in between his legs.

He dropped him and Kir immediately punched him to the right, then to the left. He repeated this again and again and again. Yet as he did years welled up in his eyes as he delivered punch after punch. Then his arms started to shake as he broke down in tears. Then he punched him down. He could no longer punch as his body was shaking so much.

"How very pitiful." He said, as he stood.

He looked up.

"You really were no match for me."

"O-oh! A-and wh-what wa-was th-that?"

"Compensation." He said before punching him in the throat and kicking him away.

He flew again and hit the wall behind. He was about to drop when he felt Chashathrophogh's fist in his abbs. He looked up as he saw a black ball in hood hands. He felt his life start to flash before him as it started to fade. With the last of his power he punched the black ball and with a flash, he died.

Chashathrophogh was shaking as he limped to Captain Gerald. He opened his mouth in protest. Yet Chashathrophogh looked at him sternly.

"Finish the rest of the quest or their deaths world me in vain."

He looked down and nodded.

They then turned to the set of doors behind and when Gurter's blood crossed beneath them, they opened and Bash was freed from cuffs. She then climbed to her feet, ensuring that her hands did nothing as she did not want to deal any more damage. 

She looked at Cerpheres, who had a slight saddened look in his eyes as they walked through them.

The Last Piece

They were greeted by a corridor that they soon walked down. Cerpheres looked at Captain Gerald,  his cheeks were crimson and he looked at him like a predator eyeing up his prey. They made out to the end revealing a chamber the size of a small ship with high piles of coins made of all the precious metals and stones in that world. Yet in the centre was a square with a smaller square engraved in the centre.

That was when Captain Gerald's eyes lit up. He suddenly smiled like he had just remembered how to smile. He looked at the treasure worth such excitement that it was as if his ageing had been reversed. His son carried a child-like look upon his face.

"By the way Bash, Chash'." Cerpheres purred.

"'Chashathrophogh'! How many times do I have to remind you?"

He let out a sigh.

"'Bash and Chashathrophogh', then. My you have such a long name, why don't you let people call you Chash'?"

"Because only my friends can call me that."

"Oh, aren't we friends?"

"No."

"Well, could you give me all those pedants that you collected from all those boxes?"

"Sure, here."

"Here."

They then gave them to him and as they placed their hands on his, they felt something on their wrists. Yet they chose to ignore it as they walked in.

"By the way, Captain, what exactly was the prophecy that Gajellidor told you?" 

"Oh!" He said, taking off a concealed locket and giving it to him. "'Ere."

He smiled as he gave it to him.

The pieces of eight

Will lead you to fate

As Prince and Captain brings death's hand

With your blood being his lustful demand

He leaves you

For Royal two

One will make the other cry

As he finds he cannot die

The other will die twice

And will live thrice

He then smiled as he put the locket in his pocket. He looked up at him with a wide and aggressive smile. He licked his lips as he let out a loud and lyrical laugh that was bone chilling to hear. They all looked at him alarmed as both Bash and Chashathrophogh suddenly felt slightly shaky as their bodies started to twitch.

"Sounds interesting…" He purred, licking his lips.

His eyes surely became wild and his smile became wide with a nightmarish excitement on his face. Almost like he had been holding something inside that he could no longer contain. Then his hair suddenly turned from the colour of royal purple garnet to emerald, his eyes suddenly turned from emerald to amber.

"Speaking of which, you've become quite boring." He said, his voice changed. It was less whimsical and flirtatious and more deeper and aggressive and oily.

Upon seeing this Bash had a flash of what she had seen and read over the cause of the voyage and knew who he was. Who he really was. Her face became pale as she and her uncle lost feeling throughout their body.

"Captain Gerald, look out!" She shouted as both she and her uncle fell to the ground, completely paralyzed. 

"Too late for that, dear!"

Then he looked back to see Cerpheres went to slash him but he was able to block this with his own sword. All his senses were alight as he kicked the man back and raced to him and went to some him again but Cerpheres blocked it. He then grabbed the man's wrist and pulled him in and went to slice his throat. Cerpheres chuckled as leaned his head back and the sword passed over him. 

He then hit the other Captain in his teeth. This caused him to let go and Cerpheres then thrust his palm into the man's stomach. He started to fly back and Cerpheres chased after him and thrust his hand into his stomach again as he lost his momentum. He flew further and Cerpheres chased and thrust it in again. He then jumped and spun into a kick bringing him down onto the ground.

Captain Gerald coughed up blood as he landed. He heard a few cracks as well. He then saw the sword diving down and he dodged. He saw it rushing towards him and he jumped back. Pain inflamed his back as his legs started to wobble. Yet he had no time to focus on this as he saw the blade coming up from the right. He slid to the left and heard more cracking as he thrust his first into Cerpheres's wrist. 

Soon his sword dropped. Captain Gerald then stumbled in as he punched him in the face again and again and again, yet he seemed to draw no blood. Yet this did not stop him. He wanted to vent out his anger and frustration and so he kept on punching. He heard more cracks as he moved from left to right with his punches. Yet as he could no longer feel his back he continued to punch.

Then Cerpheres ducked and thrust both palms into his abdomen so hard that he was momentarily lifted off the ground. Then he heard a snap. The feeling in his legs was gone. He landed. He tried to get up but he could not. His legs were not budging. He tried to move then but he could not. Soon he placed his hand down and pulled and soon the pain in his back returned, but higher. He looked down and knew what had happened.

He fell back down. He was helpless to see Cerpheres climb upon him. The pain returned. Cerpheres locked his lips as his face became scarlet. He placed his hand around his neck and started squeezing. The remainder of his survival instincts kicked in and he went to punch. He flicked out his star and cut something in his arm. His right arm went limp, barely even touching him. He tried with the other. Only for the exact same thing to happen. 

He could only watch as the pounding in his head became worse and worse. His vision blurred as a tear fell from his eye. Then his lungs cried out. He could not fill them. His eyes bulged as his face became hot. Then it soon became cold. Cerpheres let out a moan. His life left. The last breath was released as Cerpheres let out a sigh. He then rose to his feet.

He then turned to the other two.

"Who are you?" Chashathrophogh asked.

He gave a puzzled look.

"Really? You couldn't figure it out? I must admit I'm disappointed in you, my dear, dear Chashathrophogh!" He said squatting in front of him.

He caught a whiff of a scent that he did not like. He then patted Bash's head.

"You figured it out first. Good for you!" He then stopped and his cheeks became red again.

"I am the Prince Captain. Prince Captain Cerpheres Lockheartsmith!" He declared, jumping up and he strutted towards the stone square.

"You see, I love great people. I really, really, do! I love to see them do great things." He said, pulling the pieces out of the lace that held them.

"The greater the better. Oh, yesss! In fact, I can tell that you two are great." He declared, putting them in place.

"You will be great to see and watch and when you grow…Oh I will treasure that day!" He said almost as if he was getting off on this speech.

"And I hate when someone disappoints me. It tells me that it is time to close their books. So, don't disappoint me!" He said, placing the last piece down.

Then there was a flash of light in the room and soon they vanished…