chapter 𝐭𝐞𝐧.

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ᵗʰᵃˡᵃˢˢᵒᵖʰⁱˡᵉ




🪼⋆.ೃ࿔*:・

[ castle whiterock ]




𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐢𝐫. You could hear it from the confines of you and Maisie's courters. 

The guards of the entry lowered the netting fence, and the Inevitable floated through the stone archway, Captain Crow at the front, holding his lance. 

"Crow's done it! He's got the Bluster!" a boy exclaimed from the river's pathway. Many of Whiterock's citizens had come out to see the commotion, gasping in shock when they found the Inevitable with the infamous Red Bluster in tow.

From inside your room, you strained viciously as you pulled the door, even propping your foot up against it. Behind you, Maisie was working at the window hatch, though both of them were sealed shut. You groaned, banging your fist on the door in annoyance. 

Outside, Jacob walked towards the stairway which led up to the front deck. He looked back to the doorway, which you were ferociously banging against with a solemn look on his handsome face. He glanced away, continuing up the stairs. At the top, he looked out ahead, finding the golden peaks and green structure of Castle Whiterock.  

"The whole world will know what we've done, me boy," Crow voiced as Jacob walked closer. The captain turned back to him, "This ship, your ship, will live on. Nothing can stop it."

Blue popped up from the water, behind the ship, glancing around with a croak. His eyes zeroed back onto the Inevitable, and he dove down back into the water, swimming ahead. He then leaped up, landing with a flop and roll on the outer boards. 

You spun around with a gasp as I heard the sudden snap and creak of the window. You were stunned to find Blue, the hatch in his mouth. He spit it out and began sputtering happily when he saw you both. 

"Blue!" Maisie giggled as she dashed forward, hugging him close. 

You stepped forward, placing a hand on his head as you rubbed it affectionately, before smirking down at Maisie, "Let's see a cat do that."

"Open the gate!" a villager shouted, and you both stuck your heads out the window.

"We're already here," you mumbled, and as Maisie moved to go back inside, she gasped, focusing on the Whiterock emblem above the gate. She lurched back inside, immediately grabbing her book and opening the front page. And there it was. The royal emblem. Maisie's eyes widened, and she took another book from the shelf, looking at the back cover. The insignia again. "Maisie, what are you doing?"

Wordlessly, she grabbed another book, flipping to the first page and pointing at the symbol. Your eyes widened, as you glanced down at all the books, finding the emblem of the royals. "It was them!" she whispered.

"This entire time..." you murmured. You shared a nod with her, before you leaped out the window. Maisie jumped out behind you with her bag, and she grabbed your hand, linking your fingers as you stared at Red, who was still sleeping. 

"Oh, girl," she mumbled. Maisie soon started on the thick rope, that connected Red to the ship, and you followed close behind, glancing back every now and then to see if anyone saw you. Luckily, the entire crew was at the front. "Don't worry, Red. W-We'll get you out of here."

Red's eyelids lazily opened as her and the Inevitable travelled through the golden gates. 

Landing with a rough grunt, you stabilized yourself by holding onto one of the ropes. You and Maisie went to pull out your knives, but you hissed when you remembered that Crow had taken them from you after you were put in with Maisie. 

"It's all you, Maisie," you sighed, and she determinately nodded, sticking her tongue out in focus as she began slicing. You could only be the lookout.

The Inevitable entered the royal dock, and the entire kingdom had gathered around the surrounding paths. The king and queen walked out, confused scowls on their pale faces. "What is all this? Why is everyone..." the queen gasped, seeing the Red Bluster. 

"He's done it! He's got the Red Bluster!" a villager man shouted, and the crowd cheered in excitement. 

"That'll do, Ms. Merino," Crow said. 

"You heard the captain! Drop anchor," she ordered. The ship soon came to a stop, and Red drifted in the water.

The royals shared a tense look, before the queen slapped on a fake smile. "Captain Crow. Well, it looks like we have our winner."

"When I last visited Whiterock," he started loudly, "You told me that the days of hunters were over. But the imperator was no match for the beast." He looked away, patting and nodding at Jacob with a smile, before walking off. He stepped onto Red, holding the lance over his shoulder. "All of your wealth and power, all of this is nothing compared to a hunter's fury!" I curled closer to Maisie, hoping to shield her as she slightly whimpered, barely cutting through the rope. "And it's the Inevitable what will lead the way into the Dregmorr and beyond...Until the bones of every one of them beasts lie at the bottom of the sea!"

He raised the spear, ready to drive it through Red-

"Captain!" He came to a halt, turning to find Jacob. Crow turned, facing him. 

"Jacob," he warned. "Get back on the ship."

"I can't let you do it," he stated.

"You dishonor me boy," Crow said, shaking his head. "As you dishonor all them hunters what come before. All them what died heroes."

"Aye, they were heroes," Jacob agreed with a soft tone. "But you can be a hero and still be wrong." Crow growled, tightening his grasp on the lance, the wood straining under his grip.  "Now give me the lance."

The captain scowled, dropping the spear and reaching into his coat, unsheathing his sword. "I thought of you as a son." Jacob frantically glanced between Crow and the sword, quickly pulling his sword out as well. "But I don't know you." Crow exclaimed in fury as he leaped forward, and Jacob held the blade up, holding him back. He dodged the Captain's swift attempts, the two grunting. "I gave you everything! I gave you life!" He caught Jacob off-guard and kicked him in the stomach. He flew back with a groan, landing on Red's lower back. "You've laid down your lance, and think it's made you strong? You've turned your back on your own kind!"

"Jacob!"

Crow spun around, finding you at the side, eyes wide with terror. Jacob looked up, moaning in pain, "Y/N... Get out of here!"

But you didn't listen, instead running over to him. You slid on your knees, hands going to his cheeks, and he slowly got up on his knees. One of his hands cradled your arm close as you kept your hold on his face. 

"Oh, how touching," Crow chuckled dryly. We both turned to look at him, your glares burning with rage. "You know, I always knew you'd be a good fit for him, my dear Y/N." He then turned his glare onto Jacob. "Is it worth it? Becoming weak at the hands of love?"

He reared the sword down, but Jacob shifted it back, standing back up. Crow suddenly speared forward, and the blade sliced at Jacob's arm. As he looked back up in shock, Crow punched him. The force was too much, and you watched with a strangled gasp as Jacob fell into the water below. 

"Jacob!" Fen and Old Nick yelled out, the crew watching with wide and shocked eyes. Crow let out a shaky breath, sheathing his sword back. He sent you a warning glare, before turning away. 

You looked down at the water, and you didn't have to think. You leapt into the air, coning your hands together as you dove into the depths for Jacob.

𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙤𝙥𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙚 ; the sea beastWhere stories live. Discover now