Crown Of Chaos

Chapter 23

SKYES POV
She's smiling again.
We were sitting on the upper deck, enjoying eggs and bacon on toast instead of having it in the dining room.
The wind is tussling her black hair, which I still have trouble getting used to.
She has discarded all her fancy clothes and has changed into a comfortable long-sleeve top and baggy thin pants.
"Ok, I spy with my little eye, something beginning with S." She says between mouthfuls of her sandwich
I raise an eyebrow. "Well, thats easy, isn't it? The sea."
She gives me a look, and I shrug.
"It's not that obvious."
I give her a couple more guesses before finally giving up.
"Ok, fine, what is it?" I sigh after many nopes and "your not even close."
She pointed to one of the sailors who was smoking out of a sea horse-shaped pipe.
"That sea horse pipe."
I simply gape at her, "How the heck was I supposed to see that?" I exclaimed.
El rolled her eyes.
"I don't know, maybe with your eyes?"
I laugh. I was glad she was back to her normal self.
It was so distressing seeing her all panicked this morning.
I knew she still had nightmares, but I didn't know it was that bad-
"So yeah, I'm super nervous."
I whip my head to her.
"Huh?"
She huffs.
"You weren't listening, were you?"
I press my lips into a thin line. "Sorry no, but repeat yourself."
She rolled her eyes for what seemed like the 100th time today.
"As. I. Was. Saying ," she began.
"I feel super nervous about the whole mission. One wrong move, and Declan could literally rip me to shreds."
I pause and think about her statement.
She was right; the guy was insanely strong according to the rumors in the Solvanian streets. His powers gave him an advantage, and since the riot from 7 years ago, no one has dared to challenge him.
Although he was considered one of the most powerful humans on earth, they were still the Winterlanians. Many people of Winterland's society were born with special abilities and powers. No one dared to interfere with or challenge their land.
Solvadon, our country, is an ally of the Winterlanian King. When things go tough, we support one another by sending men from our kingdom to trade with their people and supply aid in natural disasters.
Even after forming an alliance with the Winterlanians, our country remained one of the weakest amongst the four nations.
The greatest nations on the ladder are Winterland , Atlantis, Valoria, and finally our country, Solvadon.
I believe that Edward is outraged by the fact that his country is the weakest one on the planet, so he's trying to fix it by sending El, a powerless girl, to Valoira to make a way for him to slip in and steal Declan's crown.
Till this day, no one knew how Declan was capable of possessing these powers. He was only able to use them after he became king; it was a confusing situation and difficult to understand.
It seemed totally unfair.
I turn to look at El; although she was strong and very skilled in martial arts and physical combat, she was still weaker compared to him and had a disadvantage.
There was only one thing that she could use to lower Declan's guard.
"You don't need to be strong." I say quietly.
"What was that?"
I turn to face her, my arm leaning again against the brim of the ship's wall.
"I said you don't need to be strong to take him down."
She frowns.
"What I'm trying to say is that you need to charm him; use your flirting skills. Leave him thinking of you when you aren't there."
My words came out quiet and rushed. As much as I wanted her to succeed in the mission, I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable with the whole idea of her flirting and being with another guy.
El sighs and turns to face the sea. "That's the thing, Skye." She says.
"I don't know how to flirt."
I stare at her before bursting into laughter.
She scowls as she turns her gaze back to the sea.
"Are you serious?" I choke out.
I purse her lips and nod her head slowly.
"Yup. Don't know how."
I smile, "You don't need to know how to flirt; it just comes naturally in the moment, I guess."
El suddenly turns to face me. "Can I practice on you?"
I raise my eyebrows, shocked that such words would leave her mouth.
"W-what do you mean?"
She looks away awkwardly. "I mean."
She then turns her gaze back to me and starts inching closer.
She steps in front of me, trapping me against the ship's wall and herself.
Her hands were folded behind her back, her eyes big and doe-eyed as she gazed at me.
"Can I practice on you?" She repeats.
Her eyes flick between mine, and my heart starts to beat fastly in my chest.
I scoff and rip my gaze off her. My ears were already beginning to feel hot.
"Absolutely, not." I scoff.
But in the corner of my eye, I can still see her staring at me; it felt like her eyes were drilling holes into my face.
"El, what are you doing?" I say as I gently push her away.
I exhale a breath as she stumbles back slightly, bursting with laughter.
"That was good, wasn't it?"
I look at her, forcing myself to form a blank expression on my face.
"No, that was garbage." I say as I grab her plate and start walking towards the kitchen, desperate to get away from her before she realised that her "technique" actually did work on me.
"Keep practicing though," I call over my shoulder.
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RUBYS POV
That night, I lay in bed feeling worried about the events that were going to take place tomorrow.
Tomorrow we will arrive in Valoria. Despite how nervous I was, I couldn't help but feel excited to see my home country. To see my old house and dwell in the place I grew up in.
Maybe I'll get to visit Pa's grave if he is ever buried.
I swallow at the memory of him.
I missed him so much. Every time I thought about him, I felt like a string was wrapped around my heart, growing tighter with each thought and memory of him.
Thinking about my parents was a painful experience.
So I think of them as little as possible.
I flip onto my back and face the ceiling, boring my eyes into the darkness that seemed to swallow me whole.
At least I had Skye here to accompany me through this trip.
Without him, I wouldn't know what state I would be in.
Skye keeps me sane; he is a light in my life, shoving away all the darkness and guiding me to a safe place.
I giggle when I recall our moment on the upper deck and how his ears turned bright red when I fixed my gaze on him.
He was literally hilarious.
As the minutes go on and the hours tick by, I finally close my eyes and drift off into sleep.
And this time I do not dream, and I do not stir.
I finally sleep like a baby.
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The next morning I awoke to the sounds of boots thumping on the wooden floor above me.
There is a knock at my door, and I hastily grab my dressing gown and wrap it around me before opening it.
A grinning Skye stands before me. His black uniform hurriedly pulled on and his black cap tilted on his head.
"We're here," she exclaims as he grabs my shoulders and attempts to shake me awake.
I yawn. Before raising my arms and stretching.
Gosh, I was tired.
Skye's eyebrows crease with worry. "Did you sleep well last night?" He asks.
I nod "like a baby."
I then look him over.
"Geez, Skye, you can't be my bodyguard if you look like this." I sigh as I straighten his shirt and fix his cap.
Skye smirks. "Attempting to make me look good, El?"
I give him a look.
I knew what he was doing. He was trying to ease my nerves on the first day of being back in Valoria.
"But seriously, since when did I become your bodyguard?" He frowns.
I shrug. "How else am I going to keep you around me during my stay in the palace?"
He nodded his head in understanding, "That's smart."
I wave him off.
"I'm going to get dressed; can you find me a maid to assist me?"
Skye nods. "I'll be waiting for you near the exit of the ship."
I nod in reply and close the door.
It wasn't long before a young goblin maid came in and helped me dress for the day.
I pulled on a fancy white and blue gown, which matched my eyes.
The gown was decorated with lacy frills and flowery patterns all over the skirt and bodice. The skirt of the gown swept the floor as I walked, and I couldn't help but wonder how ladies ever keep their dresses from getting dirty.
I then change into matching white pearly heels before I sit on top of my bed and let the maid style my hair.
The goblin braided my hair into an elegant bun above my hair, leaving two wavy strands resting against my face at the front.
I chewed my lip as she planted the Tiara on my head and almost winced as the combs literally dug into my skull.
"You look beautiful, your grace," the maid spoke as she stepped back to admire me.
I returned a smile, "Thank you."
The maid then exits the room, and I quickly place my hand under my pillow, where I had hidden my knife on the first day I came here.
I examine the beautiful blade in my hands as I turn it over. The emerald gems glistening in the lights.
I swallow as Edward's words repeat themselves in my head.
"Make sure to get him in his heart." Was what he said.
I then grab a small bag and place my knife in it before exiting the room.
Don't you worry, Edward. I'll get him right where you want me to get him.