My Collection of Birthday Not-So-Short Stories

The Blood of Grace Part 2 (Final Part!)

Within 2 hours, I had completely forgotten our bonding conversation when disaster struck. As soon as we emerged from my Quarters, Leo, who was still in the crow’s nest, yelled out to me, “Captain! Ship ahead!” He threw me binoculars, and as soon as I found the ship, I whispered “Damn!” Under my breath. I handed the binoculars to the curious Raine, thinking “This has to be happening now!?!?!”

            Now, you may be wondering what kind of horrible disaster would rattle me, who’s always as cool as a cucumber. (okay, not really, but just play along with me here) WELL! I believe you should remember “That Buccaneer”, saying she was only about 2 or 3 pages ago. That’s right. She’s here. (Told you she was important!)

            To be more specific, “That Buccaneer” is Captain Dagger, youngest Buccaneer Captain to ever sail the seas. She’s also my arch-rival. (And as such, I’ll let you in on a little secret: Her real name is Delilah, but she despises that name as much as she despises me, and let me tell you that’s a LOT of hate.) And yes, she’s a Buccaneer, a human and a hunter of us that travels by sea.

            When I saw the black flag with a crown and two swords crossed over it, like knights guarding a king, I knew it could be none other ship but the “War and Peace” although if you ask me, I see nothing peaceful about them.

            I turned toward the rest of the Magics on deck and screamed, “Hey! Listen up!” But everyone was still working. I knew that without my bell, my voice was useless. Raine looked at me, pulled out a revolver from her belt of many things (including potions, grenades, knives, and a glorious delicacy from your dimension, Reader: “Duct Tape”) and fired it in the air while yelling loudly, “ALL MAGICAL CREATURES, LISTEN UP UNLESS YOU WANT YOUR HEAD BLASTED OFF!!!!” The shot still echoed in the sky and in my ears.

            Well, that sure got everyone‘s attention. Leo and Emmet back-sassed her as one, “But it would go right through our heads, Raine! Why should we care?” They smiled widely, the annoying bastards.

            “You both shut up, before I put your souls into something that can get obliterated by a cannonball. Hmm?” She called out. That shut them up, mostly because they knew she would do exactly that.

            I cleared my throat and continued, not bothering to thank Raine because I wanted to get the crew ready for a battle, and “thanking” people wasn’t exactly my best trait. “The War and Peace has been spotted. Now get all your gear ready, get into position, and… what?” Raine was poking at my arm. She whispered something in my ear to repeat, then I looked back at my crew and yelled out her message, “And don’t die! You all know the rest!” I waited, as they talked amongst themselves instead of getting ready. My competitive side flickered on like a light bulb, and I yelled out, “Now get going!”

            Suddenly, they all broke up fast, scrambling to get to where they’re stationed during a battle. I could hear cannons being loaded from the lower levels and the smell of the opened powder being emptied into pistols. Claws were being shown, and as I rushed into my quarters to gather my short-sword and bow and arrows I could hear the jeers and cheers of an upcoming battle. Adrenaline began to rush through my veins, pumping me up with power. I hid a dagger in my boot, just in case, and rushed back out. Clouds began to gather, shielding the sun from our eyes. The water no longer sparkled. Instead, a hostile wind blew our sails, nice and powerful. I took the Wheel and steered us in the direction of War and Peace. And of Dagger.

            I looked around, making sure everyone was in the proper place. Raine ran next to me, panting and saying, “I’ve checked. All cannons are loaded and ready to fire at your command. Here’s the emblem.” She handed me an enchanted blue jewel tied to a silver chain necklace and framed with gold. There was a twin, a green jewel with similar properties, which Emmet held down below, manning the cannons. It could communicate my voice through my jewel to his, allowing them to hear my every command. I loved how being a Captain came with so many perks.