Chapter 41
Dylan
I had woken up in the middle of the forest, my chest compressed and my breath taken away. Disoriented, I'd had a hard time getting my bearings. That is, until I found Naia. Once I felt her arms around my neck, I could finally breathe normally. I was still anxious because we were on an unknown island and couldn't find our friends, but at least I was by her side. Part of me wondered where my boat had gone, and even if it was whole. After all, we were alive and well, and I had hope that my ship had survived the cyclone.
Hand in hand with Naia, we began our exploration of the island. However, we did not come across any living souls. It was very strange! We should have at least met one of the crew. Where were my men? I was seriously starting to worry. Perhaps they were all on the ship? I was afraid to imagine another situation, that something worse had happened to them.
After the beach, we entered the rainforest, exactly where I had woken up earlier in the day. Then, a city appeared in the distance. The road gave way to cobblestones, the trees to huge buildings. Everything was made of grandeur here. I had the impression that the buildings could touch the sky. We walked through the little village, and arrived at a temple. It too was huge and magnificent. It was made of marble and proudly displayed its columns and statues. It was a splendid combination! In front of the building was a fountain with a statue of a man in a chariot, held by horses. Correction, they had wings! So they were pegasus. It could only be Poseidon in this case, sitting in the chariot. So we were in the right place. We were visiting the island of the gods.
Looking at the statue, Naia froze. Probably out of admiration. Everything here was divine! Divine and magical. A sort of vibration could be felt in the air.
“Can we get out of here?" the young woman asked suddenly.
“Why?”
“I don't feel well and then we should go and find the others, shouldn't we?”
“Yes, yes, of course," I said worriedly.
Was it the magic that affected her? Or was it something else? I had no idea, so I guided her out of here, and we continued our exploration of the island. Aside from the city, there was nothing here that showed the life of the gods. It was both strange and understandable. After all, the gods lived in their world, not so much on ours. If they really wanted to live on Earth, they wouldn't have chosen to settle on a small island, but on the entire planet.
After a while, I saw a body of water and beyond it stood... Oh my God, I couldn't believe it! Was it really my boat that I saw sailing on the waves on the horizon? Yes, it was. I rushed to the beach and found my crew just boarding.
“Morgan," I said, taking my best friend in my arms.
“Damn, it's good to see you, Dylan. We all thought you went down in the maelstrom. Same goes for Naia.”
“She's with me. We've been looking for you everywhere.”
“So are we, but in the water," he explained.
“I'm glad we found each other," I said.
After hugging the young man again, I went to greet the rest of the crew. Everyone was fine, which made me feel better. They were my family and I had been afraid of what might have happened to them. But luckily they were all safe.
“What's next on the agenda, Captain?" said Ondine, who was not losing sight of our objective.
“The treasure!" I cried.
And they all echoed my cheer. It was good to see that. We were all united towards a common goal and this is how we were going to achieve it.
“Dylan," Naia said quietly. “There's a man over there.”
Pointing in the direction, I glanced around. In the distance a figure could be seen. It looked bad. Was it one of us? Was it a god? With my hand on my sword, I approached the man step by step. He was limping, but he kept moving toward us. Then what I saw stunned me. It could not be. He had been dead for years. What was he doing on this island? How could he be here before me?
“Father? Is that you?”
Chapter 42
Naia
I'd been feeling strange ever since I saw the statue of Poseidon in the fountain. I had thought it was because of its aura and the magic surrounding it, but I had been wrong. I hadn't realized it until I saw it. At first I hadn't realized it was him because how could he have followed me here? I had protected myself. I had found refuge and protection with the pirates. How had he found me?
But when I'd come closer, along with Dylan, I'd been able to make out his form and recognized him. I'd even held back a hiccup of surprise. Still, I couldn't hold back the one that came out of my mouth as Dylan spoke his questions. It didn't make sense. Dylan couldn't be that scumbag's son. Okay, the young man hadn't had exemplary parents, but still. Dylan's father and my pursuer couldn't be the same person, it wasn't possible. Because if not, that meant Blackbeard was his father.
“What?" I said, shocked. “What do you mean?"
“My dear son, my dear Naia, I have missed you," said Blackbeard in a hoarse voice.
“You know my dad?" asked Dylan.
“I didn't think he was your father," I replied, keeping my eyes fixed on my tormentor.
I could feel Dylan stirring beside me. He was thinking about what all this could mean. But I had already figured it out.
“Don't tell me that my father is the HE you're trying to escape from?" he said suddenly.
I did not need to answer. He knew it by looking at my face. I was so focused on his father, on all his actions, that he only had to look at me to understand.
“But why?”
“Because your father's dead and he's looking to come back to the world of the living. He died ten years ago, didn't he?”
He nodded, surprised by my words.
“That's when he started chasing me. To get my blood.”
“Your blood?" said Dylan, incredulous.
“You're so stupid, son. She was right under your nose the whole time and you didn't even realize it. She's a…”
“That's enough,” I cut him off.
I didn't want Dylan to know my secret like that. It was mine to tell, but not like that. I wanted the two of us to be together, for me to have time to explain myself, for him to have time to understand. I couldn't announce it like that. So I did what I should have done a long time ago, the only thing I had never done in front of my tormentor because I had only run away. I attacked!
Chapter 43
Dylan
I didn't understand anything anymore. My father was dead, so how could he come back? I knew Naia had her secrets, but how on earth did my father know things about her that even I didn't know? There was too much I didn't understand. The only thing I had assimilated was the fact that my father was the girl's tormentor, just as he had been mine. Even in death, my father did not change.
It was then that Naia drew her sword and charged my father. I was so shocked by what I had just learned that I didn't react at first. I let her do it, not suspecting for a second that she had never attacked a pirate as strong as my father. He was Blackbeard, after all, the most fearsome of pirates. Still, she was doing well. She attacked, parried, threw a few more kicks, only my father was a great fighter. He hit her in the shoulder. She screamed in pain and it woke me up suddenly.
I took my weapon and threw myself into the fray. I had the advantage, for it was he who had trained me to fight. So I knew all his boots and tricks. And then I had learned a few secret feints. I let the hatred for my father wash over me, for it made me stronger, more fearless. It also made me more vulnerable.
But that was what I wanted him to think. He'd always thought I was beneath him. It was high time I proved him wrong. Because I was no longer that little boy who let his father beat him. I was no longer the one who did and said nothing in the face of this injustice. No, I had grown up. I had become stronger. And he was going to pay for everything he had done to me.
I threw myself at his left flank, but he easily countered me. Except that he had left an opening. With my elbow, I struck him in the face, which made him retreat. Then I allowed my anger to take control and I lowered all my strength on his sword. Blow after blow, he lost his spirit and ended up on the ground. Suddenly, I disarmed him and delivered the final blow. However, nothing happened. I had aimed at his chest and saw my weapon sink into his flesh. I withdrew my sword, surprised.
“Ahahah, think about it boy. I'm already dead, so you can't kill me again," said my father.
He stood up as if nothing had happened and his laughter echoed around me. Damn it! How are we going to get rid of him if he couldn't die?
Chapter 44
Naia
Perhaps I had been foolish to want to fight Dylan's father at all costs. He was, after all, a formidable pirate, and he knew how to defend himself. And I'd been no match for him. He'd hit me in the shoulder, and not just a little. The latter made me suffer a lot and I felt as if he had hit a deep muscle. That was why I hadn't been able to help Dylan when he'd gone after him. Not that he'd needed it, anyway. He'd handled it like a boss, right up until the final blow, which had ultimately had no effect. Well yes, his father had been dead for over ten years, nothing could get to him. Except maybe one thing!
I'd figured out what Dylan was looking for as soon as I saw the statue in Gods Village. And that was our only chance against the undead. Because this wasn't like the last time with the zombies. One, because Dylan's old man looked nothing like them. Two, because zombies were ancient monsters, and the pirate, while also monstrous in his actions, had died and been favored by someone to be reborn in his ghost form.
I took Dylan's arm and led him with me to where I knew the treasure was buried. After all, it had called to me. So had everything that belonged to Poseidon.
“What are you doing?" said the young man.
“I'm saving you," I replied. “We need the treasure to face him. And I know where it is.”
He nodded and let himself be led in the direction of the small village. We could hear footsteps behind us. I didn't have to turn around to see who was following us. It was obvious enough. After all, he had wanted my blood for ten years so he could be fully reborn. But I wasn't going to let him approach me without a fight, with a weapon that would make a difference this time.
I started to run, with Dylan following a few steps behind. We needed to put as much space as possible between us and him, to give us time to get the treasure. Then, finally, we arrived at the square in front of the temple. I could feel the energy emanating from it. It was strong and powerful, a testimony to the magic possessed by the gods.
I approached the fountain, pulling the three stones from my pockets. The sun was shining brightly, illuminating a tiny space on the rope that held one of the pegasus. I placed the sunstone there. It was a perfect match. There were three pegasus, each with an empty spot. I placed the water tear on the middle winged horse and the moonstone on the last one. Then I waited.
At first I thought nothing was happening. However, I soon realized that the atmosphere was changing. It started with the sun. Its rays quickly faded, causing the temperature to drop. I turned towards it to find a moon covering it. We were witnessing an eclipse!
Suddenly, the water from the fountain began to overflow and fill the square. Before we knew it, Dylan and I were knee-deep in water and there was nothing we could do about it. The city was sinking and so were we! I could breathe underwater, but Dylan didn't have that ability. "That's okay," I said to myself. "I've already saved him once, I could do it again."
Then, the next moment, the village was engulfed. It was magnificent to see! It looked like we were in Atlantis. On the fountain, the three stones glistened in the water. Suddenly, the door to the temple opened. We swam in that direction and entered the sacred building. Once inside, the door closed and the water began to evaporate. Dylan coughed beside me. One side of me wanted to know how he was doing. But the other side was focused on what was sitting in the center of the room. For it was none other than Dylan's long awaited treasure. Huge and beautiful, was the trident of Poseidon, and it was calling me.
Chapter 45
Dylan
I had been amazed by the three stones when Naia had placed them in their place on the fountain. They had brought back their three elements at the same time and we had been treated to a magnificent lunar eclipse. Then it all went to hell when the city turned into the Atlantic. Luckily I hadn't sunk and everything had stopped when we'd passed the temple gates. I'd been so glad it was over. I had managed to get the water out of my throat. Then I could finally see the place.
God, it was beautiful! I had never seen a place like that. It was so grand! But that was not surprising from the gods. They liked to think big. Then I looked at the trident. At last I had succeeded. The treasure was there, right in front of me. Thousands of pirates had coveted it, but it was me and my band of pirates who had triumphed. I was so proud of us, of what we had accomplished. We were about to possess the most powerful weapon a pirate could have. For the trident commanded the seas and oceans. We would be the most powerful and feared pirates in all the land.
I approached the treasure with confidence. The trident was resplendent. It was all gold and topaz, emerald and aquamarine. It was as if in the gems, the waves moved and were alive. It exuded such extreme power that I wanted to grab it. I reached out to seize it but was held back.
“Don't touch it," Naia said, holding my arm back.
“Why?" I asked defensively.
“Only the descendants of Poseidon have the right to do so.”
“What? How do you know that?”
“I just know it.”
From the tone of her voice, I understood that it was useless to ask for explanations. But I didn't understand. How did she know? Couldn't she tell me?
“What would happen if I touched it? Would I die?”
“No, but your body is not fit to receive such power. You forget that the trident holds the powers of Poseidon. All these powers. Did you really think you could take it as you wished?”
“Uh, I haven't really thought about it,” I admit.
“Yes, clearly.”
“Why are you talking to me like that? Okay, so I made a mistake. So what?”
“Because you don't realize what that means!”
I was at a loss. What the hell was going on?
“And what does that mean?”
“You could have been seriously hurt. And I didn't want to tell you like this, but whatever. Just don't blame me. I never meant to hurt you, but I had to protect myself, that's why I didn't tell you," the young woman began, tears in her eyes.
Okay, now I was scared. I had never seen Naia in such a state. She was all messed up, and there was nothing I could do. I could only wait for her to finally tell me the truth. Nevertheless, she could not continue her speech because the door opened and my father entered.
“Well yes, son, you're finally gonna get it. You've never been good at getting to the bottom of people. And your dear Naia here, she is one of a kind. Because she is the daughter of the god of the sea. Because her father is Poseidon!”
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