Hunting Souls: Taking Flight (2)

Aida-21

**For now it's going to be in Aida's POV since Caleb is unconscious :) sorry if this seems rushed. Anyways on with the story :) **

"Caleb," I gasped and looked at his crumpled figure in the sand.

"He... I thought he was dead," Jewel gasped and took a step towards him.

"Don't touch them," a sinister voice called from above us.

"Grimes?" I said confused.

"Aww yes, Alanna. How good to see you. You as well Jewel."

"Colonel, what are you doing here?"

"Don't you see? I'm here to invest all of the Ring's powers into one! When Caleb had first mentioned that you had found the Ring of Shadows I said I had wanted nothing to do with it. That had all been a lie. In reality I needed that energy along with the others to use to recreate what was once a Pirates world for the taking."

"You don't have all the Ring's though."

"Aye my dear but I do. Your mom, Pyra, Saraphina and you are all here! That would make it possible to combine them and use them for my own doing!"

"You won't be able to combine them," I challenged and looked at Caleb again.

"I have my ways. I have to admit though, it was entertaining seeing you defeat my Kragon. Not that you won't pay for that, but in good time you will. Sampson, let's show our guests what's in store for them. Shall we?"

Chains sprang up and pulled all of us down as we yanked and pulled in a frenzy.

"Struggle all you want, it won't do you any good," Grimes smiled with his gold teeth. "Sampson, be a good son and take those Rings away from these ladies."

"Son! He was your son!" I cried.

"Colonel why!" Patch yelled as Blackheart came to my mother first and yanked her Ring off her necklace.

"Oh don't worry Patch about why. Think about the future! With all of these creatures gone, we can start again. A new life for Pirates that was envisioned centuries ago! All by your dad," he said looking at me.

"That's not true, my dad made those Rings to keep the elements balanced!"

"If you say so," Sampson said grabbing Saraphina's Ring and coming towards me.

I tried to pull back as he slid his grimy hands along my neck and unlatched my necklace. "It's a shame you weren't a full Pirate," he said winking and went back towards his dad.

"Now I shall combine all of these into this," he said holding a coal looking band and crashing the others onto a piece of stone.

The clanging sound made the walls reverberate and caused my ears to start ringing. I flinched at each note and looked at everyone to see what we should do.

"Jewel," I whispered and looked behind me to see her.

"What,"

"Grab this bobby pin and try to pick the lock."

"Okay," she leaned forward and began picking the lock to her best ability.

There was a flash of light as one of the Rings broke and began to swirl in the air.

"Hurry!" I whispered and felt my locks falling off slowly.

I crept over slowly as they watched in amazement of the liquid. If I can break Pyra out of the water she can disintegrate one of them at least. But what do I use...

I found a sharp rock and began smashing it into the glass.

"What are you doing!" Blackheart yelled and came racing towards me as I smashed the glass and watched Pyra fall out of the water.

She looked up in confusion, "wha,"

"Pyra fry him!" I yelled.

She shot out flames and encased Sampson in heat as he screamed.

Grimes looked at me in anger but continued to crash the other few Rings.

"Pyra we need to get those Rings before he breaks them."

"Leave that to me," she said and heated up all of the shackles so everyone was freed.

"Grimes, drop the Rings now," I said clenching my fists.

"Can't do that sweetheart," he said and broke another Ring into pieces.

I jumped on his back and got him in a choke-hold as the other grabbed the Rings and started working on fixing them.

"Let me go!"

"No!" I yelled and squeezed harder on his neck.

"Alanna," Jewel said as I realized his face was turning blue.

I let go and watched as he began suffocating more and began crawling away from us in the sand.

"I.. I'm not doing that,"

"Your Ring is," Jewel said as we watched him and Sampson suffocate to death.

"How..." I looked at Patch.

"It reads off your emotions Princess."

"I just killed them.." I said looking at their bodies.

"Aida we need to get Caleb to a doctor, let's go and we'll discuss this later," Patch said gently taking my elbow.

I nodded and sat on Stygian as everyone else loaded up onto the others. My mother parted the waters as we rose out of them slowly before closing them again.

"We'll meet you there," she told Saraphina as she and her army raced into the water.

Pyra sat alongside me watching the water fade as we rose higher into the sky.

"Are you okay?" I asked not really sure what else to say.

"I am now Princess, thank you." She smiled gently and took my hand. "I know it's hard to comprehend killing someone, but when it's for someone you love.. It's different. You saved him Alanna, don't ever think anything else."

"Yes your Highness," I replied and felt slightly better knowing that I had indeed saved Caleb's life.