Chapter 21: Gift

Crystal

My body ached, and it burned

I watched in horror when Captain Bayou, Max, and Belle started to fight with the Hunters. I leaned against the tree, holding my chest, trying to breath.

It had been like that for three days since I had discovered that I was Captain Bayou wife, I mean witch. I didn’t know anymore, but I belonged to him, that’s all I knew of. The sensation was stronger than ever before.

I moved my head, to see Max hitting his sword with another one. Captain Bayou did the same with William.

“Shoot and fire!” William the head leader screamed at one of his comrades. I lifted my hand and another spark appeared around it.

Did this happen to him, it hurts. I grasped my shirt, buckling down, only to feel a hand on my shoulder. I lifted my gaze and horror flashed in my eyes when William gave me a toothless smirk.

“He’llo there wench, you’re coming with me.” He almost grabbed my waist.

“No, don’t touch me!” I screamed, watching as the electricity came out of me, causing his body to fly away and land violently against one of the trees with a thud.

“Love,” I heard my nickname. I lifted my gaze to see Captain Bayou coming next to me, taking hold of my arm.

“Did he touch you?” he asked worriedly. I took notice of his breathing hard, and the blood flowing down his right side. My heart clenched at the sight.

“No, we need to leave, I’m not feeling well, I feel like I’m dying.” I told him, he nodded, turning to face the others.

“We need to retreat now!” Belle knocked someone unconscious using her elbow.

“Not until that bastard tells us where my sister is,” she growls. I turned to see Max coming up with Belle.

“Don’t worry, we will find her,” He assured her placing his hand on her shoulder. I groaned, turning to face William.

“Where’s the girl?” I asked. William stood up and wiped his mouth.

“Oi, you wench,” he hissed through his lips. Captain Bayou held me, so I wouldn’t buckle down.

“Don’t Oi me, please just tell us, I need to rest,” I begged, stretching my hand out, wanting to leave, wanting to protect, and my eyes widened when a pistol appeared from nowhere in my hands.

“How in the world?” I asked, confused looking at the pistol as though it was a strange object.

“How did I do that?” I glanced at Captain Bayou, and he just chuckled.

“Magic, you have my powers, my witch, remember?” Then he turned his gaze upon William.

“Now be a good boy and tell us, where is the girl?” he asks him.

“Like that freak will scare me,” William growled out. I moved my pistol in a circular motion.

“This freak is not in the mood, don’t tempt me.” I lied, it hurt being called a freak, but I was used to it, so I pushed my emotions down. The man kept staring at me then he turned his gaze on Belle.

“Fine, she is in a ship, far away from here, heading south, is all you are getting from me.” William respond, but spit out his blood at the progress.

“Damn woman, the hell did you do to me?” he growled, limping away while he took hold of his stomach. The others stood there looking confused.

“Don’t stand there come. We will meet again, and next time, I want that woman to fight me.”

He pointed at me. With that, they left. I dropped the pistol on the floor and my body collapsed.

“Crystal,” Belle shouted, coming to my aid. I opened my eyes, only to groan in pain, the burning sensation seared into me once again.

I felt a big hand on my forehead.

“She’s burning up. She needs a cold bath,”

“What’s happening to her?” Belle asked, feeling Captain Bayou lift me up in his arms. I leaned my head onto his warm chest.

“It happened to me before, when I received the powers for the first time, it will take a few days to get used to it....” his words are cut off when everything around me goes dark.

I stood on top of a mill, watching the dandelions dance with the soft spring breeze. I can feel the soft breeze move my summer light blue dress, as my hair is loose.

“Where am I?” I asked, feeling strange,

Is this a dream? I heard a small child’s laughter behind me. I turned to see a small child, a male child. His hair was dark and wild. His eyes were black, and his face was pale. He wore short pants and a baggy green shirt, with straw sandals.

“Hello there,” I smiled at the child. He glanced up at me and tilted his head to the side.

“Who are you?” he had an accent, a cute little accent. I smiled, and bent on my knees, wrapping my arms around them.

“My name is Crystal, and what is yours?” the child went quiet, but then he pointed into my eyes.

“You have green eyes, they are pretty, you’re very cute.” His words caused me to blush. I cleared my throat.

“Err, thank you,” I rubbed my head, only to notice that my hands were very much smaller than normal.

“I’m ten years old, how old are you?”

“Twenty-three.” the boy blinked at me, then a laughter escaped his lips.

“You don’t like an old lady, you are a kid like me,” he laughed harder, wrapping his arms around his stomach. I blinked, then felt offended by his words.

“Oi, I’m not old, okay, I’m seven years old.” My eyes grew, my voice changed, it sounded like a child’s voice. He stopped his laughing and rubbed the back of his neck.

“Seven years old, see, don’t act like an adult.” I nodded, not understanding anything.

“You won’t tell me your name?” he shook his head, and he stretched his hand out.

“Here, for you. I saw you over here, and I thought I should give it to you. Take it as a gift.” I looked down, he opened his palm. A simple dandelion flower. My heart skipped a beat.

“Why are you giving this to me?” I asked. His cheeks flared up, and he lowered his head.

“I saw you and I thought it was the right thing to do. Papa told me to always treat a lady with respect, no matter what.” I licked my lips and took the flower.

“Thank you.” I smiled, holding the flower up to my chest. The child nodded and looked down shyly.

“You want to play with me?” he asked.

“Why?”

“I don’t have any friends. The other kids don’t like me because of my parents...”

“Crystal it’s time to come, we are leaving.” I heard my mother call out. My eyes widened and I turned to my right. She stood there, holding a younger Alex in hand. Alex was up to my mother’s stomach, his dark hair swayed with the wind, but a dark expression passed his eyes when they landed on the boy.

Mama? Alex? I was about to run towards them, but the boy took a hold of my arm.

“Will you come back and be my friend?” He sounded desperate. I turned, without thinking, I took out my red tie from my hair and place it on his hand.

“Keep this as a gift, is my favorite tie, so you better not lose it. I’ll be your friend. I don’t have friends either. Will you promise to wait for me? I will, I promise to wait for you.” I smiled at him. His black eyes smiled with his own, and he leaned forward to kiss my cheek. My cheeks flared up, and my heart literally jumped. I turned around, running towards my mother, but everything started to fade away.

“Thank you, Crystal. I promise to always wait for you,”

“No Mama!” I yelled, bolting up from my dream,

“Calm down dear,” I heard a soft female voice. I turned to see Belle placing her book down gently as she turned to face me.

“What happen?” I asked, rubbing my eyes. My body felt heavy, the strong sensation to use the bathroom hit me and my stomach growled.

“You went unconscious,” she told me.

“For how long?” I asked, she bends and helps me get up since I couldn’t move well.

“About a week already.” My whole body went still.

“What? A week? Why so long?” I asked confused. The cabin door swung open, to reveal Max.

Max glanced at me then at Belle, something crossed his eyes that I couldn’t pinpoint it, but behind him the sky looked pitch black.

“Is something wrong?” Belle asked, turning to face him.

“Another storm,” he stated.

“Again? This is the third storm in two days,” Belle groaned. I moved my hand to grasp her arm.

“What do you mean, the third storm in two days?” She shook her head.

“There’s been two storms already while you slept. We are heading south, trying to find my sister, but we need to stop, we lost too much cargo, the ship isn’t holding up too well,” she explained. I bit my lower lip.

“What should I do?” I asked Max. Max raised his left brow, but he shook his head.

“Nothing, you stay here with Belle, we have enough men to help,” he explained. I tilted my head.

“I need to use the bathroom before I can do anything, and eat something.” Both went quiet but then nodded. Belle came close and wrapped an arm around my waist for support.

“You’re too weak to walk, let’s get you stronger, so you can fight along with Captain Bayou,” she said, smiling at me tenderly. I looked into her eyes, then my cheeks flared up, and I covered my face with my hair.

“You say that, like I want to be next to him. I just don’t want anyone to die.” I told her. A simple giggle passed her lips and she turned to face Max.

“We’ll be out to help soon.” Max looked like he was ready to argue, but Belle reached out and placed her hand on his. I glanced, and I took notice, it was a brief second, Max’s eyes softened, but he shook it off.

Does he like her?

“Don’t argue with a lady, just go.” Max sighed, and nodded, before turning to head out. I cleared my throat to gather his attention.

“We will be fine, don’t worry too much,” I assured him. He nods once again and heads out. I slowly went out, to look out at the cloudy sky and my heartfelt unease.

Why do I feel the same way from the other time when I saw the storm over the other island? This storm isn’t right and I don’t like it.

I just hope I’m wrong and it’s just a normal storm.