Chapter 48: Chapter 48

I shoved Nate away from me as I rolled and jumped back. The princes and the others were now looking at me.

“Get her!” Ace ordered as the princes all charged at me. Well, all of them after Ren gave my sleeping familiar to the chief.

I don’t know how my body became so light, but I was able to avoid all of their moves and advances. I undid the belt from my dress and wrapped it over Nate’s eyes as I threw him over to Ren. Ace tried to grab me but I blocked him with my hand and side stepped so I could stand behind him. He turned back with a jab that I narrowly dodged.

I paused, then pointed an accusing finger at him. “Hey! That looked like you really meant to hurt me.” I commented as I compared him to how the other two were moving. Ren and Nate prioritize to capture me but I think PRINCE Ace wants to knock me down. Permanently, I suppose.

“What Else?” Came his reply. “Maybe if you stop moving then I won’t have to hit you.” He snarled and threw a kick, which I avoided by leaning back.

“But it is not me!” I complained as I dodged another attack from him. “It’s the evil spirit. It’s taking control over my body!”

“That is bullshi*t and you know it. You are a f*cking tamer. You are supposed to control the spirit. They can only control you only when you allow them to. And you are clearly allowing it!!”

‘...’

“Um..Nope. Not true.” I denied as I drew a semi circle below him to trip him. Ace jumped and managed to avoid my attacks.

‘And here I thought you are easy to control and that I am powerful to command a working tamer...’

‘Evil spirit? Shut up.’

“Lies!” He yelled and charged at me again. I stopped moving for a few seconds to bait him before jumping to the other side, making him crash into Ren and Natge who were sneaking at me from the other side.

I saw the princes forming a pile on the ground and laughed at their pathetic form.

“PRINCE Ace, are you sure that it is her attacking us and not the evil spirit? I mean I can’t believe that we would be bested by her to be honest.”

“HEY!” I yelled in protest and hurled a rock at Ren.

“If you two would actually take it seriously then that puny bird brain over there won’t be able to lift a finger at us!”

“Really? I bested you earlier when these two are down. Are you sure about that?” I pointed out.”

Silence.

“It’s the evil spirit.” He suddenly said and gave us all a look to emphasize his words. “The evil spirit is controlling her body.” He concluded with a sure nod. I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him.

“You know, even though she’s being possessed, I just can’t help but admire how she rocks my words right now. I like what I see.” Nate grinned and winked at me.

‘Ugh!’ The evil spirit and I both thought at the same time as we shuddered in disgust. ‘That guy’s words are so horrifying that it hurts my ears!’

‘I know!’ I thought back. ‘Even though I live with them for a long time, I still get the shivers when that guy tries to flirt! Ugh!’

I rubbed my arms and shivered in disgust.

Ace’s eyes widened and he looked at Nate as if he had a bright idea. “Flirt with her.” Ace with a dark and regretful look on his face as he got back to his feet.

“What?” Nate looked at Ace with wide eyes while Ren expressed his disapproval with a look at the elf PRINCE.

“Just do it! And mutt, stop glaring and attack!” As soon as the words left Ace’s mouth, he charged again and, this time, I ran and threw a clay pot at him.

Nate suddenly appeared behind me and whispered in my ear. “You lost, baby girl?”

I gasped and ran as far away as I could from him. “You need to wash that mouth of yours with holy water!” I hissed and let out a panic yelp when Ren almost caught me.

I saw Nate trying to advance again and I pointed at the spot behind him and said. “Hey look! A pretty lady!”

“Baby girl, with you, the search is over. You are the only pretty lady in my eyes.” It was so horrible that even Ren covered his ears while PRINCE Ace grimaced.

I shook my head at him as my shoulders instantly drew themselves closer to my neck in disgust. “Stop that” The evil spirit and I screamed.

‘Shut him up! For centuries I have never heard of such cheezy lines enough to make me feel cold!’ The evil spirit shivered.

Someone managed to tackle me to the ground while I was distracted. “I got her!” Ren yelled as Ace quickly got onto his feet and knocked me out with a hit to my neck.

I swear, if Ren wasn’t looking, Ace might have decided to break my neck then.

*****

When I woke up, I saw that we were back in Ingka’s hut and my hands were behind me and to post.

I looked up and saw that the princes were talking to both Ingka and the chief. I shook my head to force myself to hear their conversation. “What are we supposed to do now? Rose is possessed and the only one who seems to have control over spirits is Rose.”

“She can fight it if she wants to. But I don’t even think that she is capable or willing enough to do it.” Ace pointed out.

“Are you guys talking about me?” I called out.

All heads turned towards me. Ace suddenly picked up an apple from the table and placed it over my mouth.

“That will keep you from interrupting.” He says as he went back with the others.

“This is still unbelievable.” The chief says with a shake of his head. “I still can’t believe that we used to live on the surface.”

“Believe me, brother. That’s what I first thought when I learned of the truth.” Ingka says.

My eyes started to wander back and forth among them as I pulled my knees closer and started biting into the apple. My knees supported the fruit so it wouldn’t fall while I eat.

Delicious!

“In any case, our first priority is to cleanse the goddes - I mean - the princess.” The chief was now looking at Ingka while I was finally able to bite through my apple. I used my knees and pushed the apple back in my mouth and started eating the other side of it.

This conversation looked too serious. Lucky for me that I have a snack.

‘Girl, this isn’t the time to-’

‘Shh! I am listening.’

Ingka rubbed his hand over his chin as if he was in deep thought. “If I am going to be honest with you three, I don’t know how to purify her. But maybe the nymphs can.” He said. “I know of a spring that they are guarding. Though it is just a legend. I never dared to set foot on that island. I merely look out for it.”

I screamed upon hearing his words. “Please! Don’t tell me it is the fountain of youth again! I don’t want to become a child once more!” No! Anything but turning into a child! I I don’t want to be babied by the princes again! I swear if they ever have kids they would spoil them rotten! “I’ll be good! I’ll be good!” I promised them.

Ace angrily marched towards me and grabbed the apple core before glaring. “You weren’t supposed to eat that, you idiot!”

“I was hungry! And it was time for Breakfast.” I reasoned and with a more pleading look, I said. “Can I have another one?”

Ace looked back at Ingka. “Where can we find these nymphs?”

“No!!” I screamed again.

“Yes!” Nate says with a twinkle in his eyes.

‘Girl, what are you talking about? If you are a child then it would be easier for you to control them!’

‘Shut up!’

“No, princess. It is not the fountain of youth. It is the Spring of purification.” He then looked at the princess. “There is another island to the East of here. You can take the ship that is docked there. That is, if my brother allows it.” He looked tentatively at the chief, who looked like he was about to pass out right now.

“If what you all say is true then I have no right to refuse if it is for the well being of our princess. So, of course. You may take the ship and save our princess.”

“But the princess says no.” I said. “So don’t do it.” I swear I said the words with much authority that I have. But sadly, they just ignored me.

“The entrance is at the back of the cave. It leads to the other side where you can safely travel on foot and head towards the docking area.” Ingka says, completely ignoring my orders.

I rolled my eyes at their rudeness. “Great. What use is being a princess if you guys would simply ignore my orders.” I muttered.

“How far exactly is this island? I mean, will it take us days of travel?” Nate asked.

“Not that long. Just a few hours from here. That is why I stationed my place here. To guard the only entrance from the place.”

“And because of that, you seem suspicious.” I pointed out, earning a few annoyed looks from Nate and Ace.

“Let’s go then. The sooner we leave, the sooner we get there.” Ace headed towards me and pulled me up to my feet. Then he looked at Ren. “You grab her familiar. I’ll keep an eye on this idiot.”

“Here. I am not sure if this will help, but just bring it along with you just in case.” I let out a gasp as the chief handed us the chalice. It was here! The chalice is here and within my reach again!

“MINE!” I screamed and lunged for it. If it wasn’t for a certain annoying PRINCE holding me back, I would have gotten to it.

“Prince Nathaniel. You will be in charge of holding the chalice. And keep it away from her. As of the moment, I am not sure who is in control.” I rolled my eyes at PRINCE Ace’s words as we followed Ingka out of his hut.

“This way, your highnesses.” The old fart says as he starts to head towards the back of the waterfall, where we had to press our backs to the wall just to avoid getting wet from the water.

“I knew it. This is one of those cliche fantasy settings where there’s a hidden cave behind a waterfall.” I scoffed. “Go figure!” I grinned and looked at the princes, who said nothing and simply focused on following Ingka until we were out of the cave.

As we got out, we found ourselves surrounded in front of a huge lake and a ship of some sort was docked a few feet in front of us. “Just take that ship and sail straight.”

“What happens if we don’t sail straight?” I smirked when I saw Ingka looking troubled at my question. Ace finally had it that he finally hit me on the head.

“Will you shut up!?”

The evil spirit was not happy at the gesture that it resurfaced for a brief moment to hiss at him before vanishing.

“We can take it from here, Ingka. Thank you.” Nate says to him.

“Then I wish for your safety on this journey.” Ingka bowed only last time before heading back in the cave.

“Can I drive?” I asked excitedly.

Ace glared at me again and looked like he was about to hit me once more, but Ren moved in front of him with a glare. “Can’t you watch over her without hitting her?”

“I merely nudge her.”

“Doesn’t look like that to me.” Ren said menacingly at Ace that I had to gulp as I feared for him.

‘This is perfect!’ The evil spirit said in my mind. ‘Make them fight. And then escape!’

“Ouch. My head hurts! Oh dear me!” I let out a dramatic gasp and started to slump back. Ace caught me with a raised brow.

“Get up if you don’t want me to throw you into the lake.” He said in a deadpanned tone as he pushed me back up.

“Why don’t I watch her instead?” Ren was still looking at Ace. Meanwhile, I caught a hint of the blade of Ace’s bow that I moved closer towards him.

Maybe I can cut my rope with it.

“You can if she is herself. But as of the moment, I do not trust you.”

“Alright! I’ll be back there and ready the ship. You two fix...whatever it is that you two are bickering about.” He sighed as he left the two in a hurry.

I felt the tip of the blade and inched the rope closer until it was now behind the rope. “Well I do not trust you either. In fact, my wolf doesn't trust you.”

“What kind of sh*t are you feeding your wolf now that it doesn’t trust me. May I remind you that I have been doing most of the work since we got here?”

“It’s warning me for a different reason and even though I don’t believe it at first, I feel like I can see it now.” Ren says while narrowing his eyes at Ace.

“What the hell are you-”

At that moment, I pulled my hands and the sharp blade of Ace’s bow instantly cut through the ropes with one pull. “I’M FREE!” I screamed and wasted no time as I tripped a surprised PRINCE Ace by swiping by foot under him.

I headed towards Ren, grabbed my sleeping familiar and pushed him as well.

“Nathaniel!” Ace screamed in warning as soon as he saw me heading towards the vampire, who still had his back turned from me. Too late. I managed to grab the excess rope from my wrist and messily used it to loop his hand over his face and grabbed the chalice from his free hand.

I felt the spirit taking over for a bit and as it used its strength to push the ship further into the water before I hoped on.

“THE SHIP HAS SAILED!” I screamed to no one in particular as I grabbed what seemed to be a paddle and started rowing by myself.

“GET BACK HERE!” I heard them screaming at me but I chose to ignore them.

“It has sailed but I am alone in it because I am a strong and independent woman who - wait. Scratch that. I AM COMING FOR YOU PRINCE FRED!” I grinned as I started imagining Fred and I doing a Titanic scene. Fred and Rose. Oh boy! “Here is our ship and I am sailing towards yo-” Just as I started my monologue, I felt a thud on the ship. And then another. And another one again.

I turned around to see that the princes were able to jump in on the ship as well. I gave them all a disapproving look as they were not welcome in my ship!

“Geez. You guys are ruining my ship! How dare you!” I complained in anger that I already felt the evil spirit resurfacing again as it readied itself to attack.

“You are not sailing anywhere alone!” Ace yelled as he and the princes charged at me.

“Then I will sink this ship!” As I yelled out the words, I could also hear the evil spirit talking. WIth one free hand, I raised it in the air and punched the ground. I did not even think things through or even thought about how strong the evil spirit’s strength was, because as my fist connected with the ship’s ground, not only did it puncture a hole but it also split the ship in half.

“Oops.” I managed to say before we all fell in the water.

“Great. Our only means of getting to that island is now gone!” Ace glared at me as I placed my sleeping familiar on a broken piece of wood to keep him floating.

“Um...is it me? Does it feel like there’s a current?” Nate asked.

At his words, we started to become aware of our surroundings and saw that we were indeed being pulled by the water. I saw the princes looking at something behind me with pale faces. I looked back and followed their gaze.

“Well, I guess we all finally got the answer as to why we should sail straight.” I said and let out a nervous laugh as we headed towards the whirlpool.