The Fallen Stars

Chapter 3 María

I block the hit from Colon's sword with a groan. He might be twice my size, but I'm the queen... I'm unstoppable.
"Oh, come on, Colon! You can do better than that!" I say a little out of breath. My voice echoes into the night.
We're on the beach of Isla Maldita... with no light, except the full moon.
Waves crashing to get to the shore. Night animals, crying in the woods.
And sword crashing against sword.

We both step a few steps away from each other... daring each other to come charging.
"You bitch have no power to defeat me." He says laughing wickedly. His voice is so gruff... it makes me want to cut his voice out every time.
I'm quite surprised with myself for lasting so long without killing him.
He is such a pian in the arse.

"Oh really?" I ask, acting scared. "I thought it was reversed." I say challenging him.
He's in rage by that, then he comes charging.
He swings a few blows, but i block them each time. Yes, he's strong, but I'm faster and clever.
When he's about to swing another hit, i charge towards him, giving a nice deep cut into his leg... he falls down to his knees, screaming from the pain. I quickly stab him in the stomach so he won't move. His grey torn shirt is instantly stained with a scarlet.
"What did you say again about you not being defeatable?" I ask, laughing darkly.
"There... will... be... an enemy... that... will... dafeat you." He says, taking deep breaths in between words. "If only that was true." I say, smiling victoriously at him.
I twist my sward in him, he grunts... the light leaving his eyes. I pull out my sword. He falls to the ground. Lifeless.

I look at him for any signs of faking it... no movement, he's dead. I grab my handkerchief from my jacket's inside pocket. To clean the blood from my sward.

Why did i kill him? Well... he didn't like being ordered around by some girl, even though she is the daughter of Casimiro Ladron.

Colon was part of my father's crew, but my father gave him to me... for one of his strange reasons. He always has a strange way of teaching.

But it did me good, look at me now... I'm the queen.
I smile at the thought.
I'm so close.
I look across the ocean... Isla Nunca Más is small from the distance, but the moon shines, so i can see the black silhouette of the island.
"You will be mine." I whisper into the night.
As i walk back to Capa Pirata.
I think back to my younger days...

***

"Mama! Look what i found!" I said giggling, running towards her...
My mother was so beautiful that she was basically a queen. She was my queen.
With her thick, wavy dark brown hair hanging loose around her small round face. Her skin was a beautiful tan... and a smile that was sweeter than sugar. She always looked so beautiful in a simple baby blue coloured dress that had puff sleeves, and it dragged on the ground, so she always had to pick it up every time she walked. She looked even more beautiful and graceful pregnant with my sibling.

"Oh, what is it, my sweet heart?" She asked. Sitting on the grass next to me.
"Look." I comanded, still giggling, showing her a beautiful bright daisy.
Her face went into awe...
She cupped my small little hand that held the flower with both of her hands.
"Oh, my goodness... my darling, it's beautiful." She said, smiling at me, big deep dimples showing.
"Not as beautiful as you, Mama!" I said, smiling just as wide.

She looked at me a look that said i was being too modest but still adorable.
"Nothing is as beautiful as you, my princess." She says, putting her arms around me and pulling me closer.
Her belly stopped me from getting too close. She put her forehead against mine.
She breathed in.
"Please stay like this, my darling. Stay like this daisy... sweet and bright." She whispered to me softly.

***
Sorry, Mama. Just like the daisy... the sweetness turned into bitterness. And the brightness faded to darkness.
I swallow away the pain from her memory.
I shake my head.
"I can't be thinking of that wicked creature." I sneer to myself.