The Pirate Prince of the Ice Sea (Book 1 of The Legend Of Kaleania)

Chapter 22

"You're Hotaru," I said.

"You got that right, prince." she said, through clenched teeth.

"Why did you declare war even though you said that you're not enslaving pirates?" I asked, getting up and having my swords ready.

"Because I was luring you into a trap and you and your measly little pirate crew fell for it," she explained. I heard the fighting stop and I could tell that everyone was glaring at us in confusion. Anger started swelling up inside me, urging my body to kill the person in front of me. So the war and the slavery was a stinkin' trap, just to lure me and my crew to her?

I saw her eyes signal some of her men to restrain me. They did with their strong arms wrapping around mine while two of them took my swords out my hands. "What exactly are you planning, witch?"

"That's not a nice word to say to your elder, prince," she walked up to me and started touching my face. I turned away but her hand made me face her. "Since this war is a fraud, will you surrender to me and my crew or will you watch your girlfriend die and see your beloved ship sink to the bottom of the sea?" Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Yashomi pull her towards him and held a knife at her neck. And then a cannon came rolling out, aimed at the deck of the Black Diamond.

"Two things," I said. "First, let the men go of me," Nekian nodded, allowing them to unwrap their arms and stepped away. "Thank you. And second, do you really think that I would surrender to you? I never run away from anything or give in to anyone."

"You're such a brave boy," she said. "Willing to sacrifice you're own life for those you hold dear. But, I'm not going to kill you. I need you for my plan. So what's it going to be? Surrender or watch her and your ship die?" I suddenly got an idea. If I was to do neither, then I wouldn't have to surrender or watch my ship and Kara die. But am I going to pull it off?

I smirked. "I choose neither," I round house kicked the men that were on each side of me and grabbed my swords. I then went up to Yashomi and jabbed my sword into his side, allowing him to let go of Kara as he dropped dead. Suddenly, Nekian's crew surrounded us with her in the middle.

"You've made the wrong choice, prince," she said. She pulled out her two swords and it seemed to me that she wanted to fight. "Now, only one of us will get out of this dual alive."

"I totally agree and I know that I will be the one to win," I said, taking my swords from the two men that took them. I glared at Nekian into her eyes and I noticed that her pupils were like a snake's and the color was violet. What kind of human is she? I asked myself. I never seen a person with eyes of a snake before and never heard of these kind of people in stories or legends. What happens if she isn't human at all?

The dual began with both of us being in our comfortable positions. Nekian started with her first move with her running at lightning speed, going for a slice with both of her swords. I intercepted it with one of mine and pushed it away so I could strike with my other one, which I was able to slash at her side with no trouble but she spun as she blocked and stroke. I gritted my teeth, allowing anger to take over my body as I did my best not to have an open space where she could strike.

We were at it for a couple of hours. I started feeling fatigue and had a thought that I won't be able to defeat her. But I won't let her do it. "I can see that you're tired prince," she said, still slashing with me dodging. "How about I put you to sleep forever."

"I'd love to but it would ruin my future plans," I said, out of breath.

"As if you don't have any," she seethed. Before I saw it coming, she used the back of her sword to punch my jaw that made me fall onto the ground. I struggled to keep up but Nekian sat on top of me, just like the way she did in my dream. Or I think it was more if a nightmare.

She switched her swords with a dagger and held it above me, ready to plunge it into my body. I dropped my swords slowly and pulled out my dagger where it was hanging at my side. I closed my eyes, waiting for her to drive the weapon into my heart.

A couple seconds later, I felt something dripping onto me. It felt like thick liquid. But I didn't know what it was so I opened my eyes to find that Nekian's eyes seemed to be losing color. I looked at my dagger and to my surprise it was stabbed into her chest.

I forced it out and she landed next to me as she whispered in my ear, "You're a lot like your father, Airon." And with that, she stopped breathing.

I still was lying down, shocked in what I just did. I just killed Hotaru Nekian, the most feared pirate on the Ice Sea. Now, she was lying on top of me, not moving. I immediately shook it off and pushed her off of me.

Kara came over to me with Kuala as they helped me up. "How are you, Airon?" she asked.

"A little shocked but fine," I said. I picked up my swords and my dagger and placed them in their scabbards.

"Great," said a voice. "Now that Hotaru Nekian is out of existence and you're not dead, it's time to go, Arak." I turned to find Kan with his soldiers on board the ship.