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PHYSIENTS WILL ALWAYS OFFER BEST NOVELS || LATEST MOVIES || LIVE STREAMING ALL TIME
GARDEN OF POISON
Life in Hawkshead (Chapter 159)
"Felipe!" The village elder called a young man carrying an axe over his shoulders. "This is Dante. Show him where the south side borders the trees we cut for timber. The land there needs to be levelled and ploughed for cultivation, so that's a lot of work," he said the last line to Dante. "Are you sure he doesn't need any help?"
Mr. Flores gave a firm nod. "Dante says he's a farmer and believes he will be able to manage it just fine by himself."
When the young villager approached them, the elder said, "If you need anything, don't be shy or hesitate to ask the village folks for assistance. They will be more than willing to help. You will like your stay here."
"Dante will only be here for a few weeks as he needs to return home," Mr. Flores mentioned.
"Is that so? I was hoping you would become a permanent part of our village," the village elder stated before he continued. "As beautiful as Hawkshead is with the wonderful people who call it home, it is a little unsafe now as most of our sons left in search of family members who were taken away from us. Like my Gabriel."
"Anna told me that he should be here in about a week," Mr. Flores responded, causing the village elder's eyebrows to lift in surprise.
"They have met? What a coincidence," the village elder murmured, then inquired, "What about Stella? Did he find her?"
Mr. Flores responded with a shake of his head, "I am sorry, Carlos."
"Those wretched pirates and the ones who stole our daughters from us," Carlos expressed with evident disdain towards the culprits. He said, "I curse those who harmed our daughters, and I am glad that at least Anna survived and made it back, unlike others, who have been lost for years. Do you know about this, Dante?"
"The people who hurt your daughters have been killed and disgraced," Dante informed them, receiving a nod from the village elder. "King William was murdered, and the woman named Noor was sent to her grave."
A heavy silence fell between them before Carlos spoke. "You don't truly know what pain is until you have lost your child and felt powerless to protect them. I hope those responsible suffered at the end and will never rest in peace." Sighing, he switched the subject by saying, "Hugh, do you remember when Marianne and Gabriel were just kids? We thought they would end up together someday. Even though they were little, she always trailed behind and looked up to him."
Mr. Flores smiled at the bittersweet memory and said, "I remember it."
Given his eldest daughter's mild nature, Hugh had thought that she would be a good match for the village elder's son. Gabriel had matured into a decent man, and he wondered how he was, as they hadn't seen him since he left Hawkshead.
"I cannot wait for him to return; it has been so long," remarked the village elder.
The young man named Felipe patted Dante's back and said, "Let me show you the south side. But first, let us get you the tools that you'll need."
Dante offered a respectful bow to Anastasia's father and the village elder before walking away with Felipe. He wasn't particularly happy with what he had done to Gabriel, knowing his past jealousy, possessiveness, and insecurity had consumed him, leading him to inflict more pain on an already wounded individual.
As he walked towards a shed to gather the tools needed for ploughing land, Dante's thoughts drifted to Marianne, who was one of the fallen victims of the palace's brutality. But at the same time, even his own family hadn't escaped the suffering inflicted by the palace.
One could change the future they are headed towards, but no one could change the time that has departed and shifted into the past.
"This is the land here. The water is over there, and if you need cattle, we will need to speak to the one who owns them," the young man informed Dante once they arrived at the southern edge.
"That won't be necessary; I will take care of the rest," Dante responded, observing Felipe step closer to him and place a hand on his biceps. Upon receiving a look from him, the man cleared his throat and said,
"You look really strong. I didn't know farming could give you the kind of body you've got." Felipe looked at the man's tall frame and broad shoulders, unlike his own lean build.
"Inherited it from my family," Dante answered, and the young man nodded.
"I will see you later, then. If you lose your way, all you need to do is follow the river or scream. Either method should work." Felipe grinned before leaving Dante by himself.
Dante picked up the pickaxe and walked towards the designated field when, suddenly, Migdre appeared before him.
"Master Dante, I finally found you!"
Dante quickly looked around to make sure no one was there before he turned to look at his imp and questioned, "Where have you been? I had the others searching for you."
The imp appeared on the verge of tears and uttered, "Archdemon Raylen locked me in his trunk, saying bon voyage! Do you know who the girl is??"
Dante hummed in response, "Yes. Raylen wanted to make sure I didn't end her life."
"He was helping you?" the imp asked, blinking away its tears and turning into a young boy to avoid scaring anyone.
"He was helping himself," Dante replied, continuing, "Anastasia was led to Versailles by none other than Raylen, to prevent me from taking more lives than the bloodbath I had already caused. Although Anastasia, as the fae, wasn't initially aware of our shared history or our past connection, she eventually fell in love with me, and out of compassion, she decided to curse all of us. Have you ever wondered why each of us was cursed differently?"
"Earthlings are hard to comprehend, Master," the imp murmured, holding its hands in front of its chest.
"I was cursed so that I could understand the life of an earthling. Magnus was cursed to be trapped inside the coffin due to his bad influence on people. And Raylen didn't expect to be cursed and sent back to Hell," Dante said in a thoughtful tone, as he had only pieced it together the previous day. "In his case, it was a compromise. Not wanting to return to Hell, he made the choice to relinquish most of his abilities, which were sealed away in the demon's lair, allowing him to remain in the living realm."
The imp gave it some thought, then nervously fiddled with its fingers as it inquired, "Master, if I may ask, why didn't Archdemon Magnus attack earlier if he was not locked away in the coffin?"
"Because the curses became intertwined in some manner, and once the Blackthorn rose began to bloom and come to life, it initiated the process of lifting the curses on the others and restoring the abilities that belonged to them," Dante explained before he pulled out something from his shirt, handing a letter to the imp. "Give this to my grandmother."
Migdre took the letter and caught sight of the pickaxe in its master's hand. It asked, "Master, are you burying bodies here?"
A faint smile appeared on Dante's lips. "No. Not this time, that is. Make sure to assist my family with whatever they require. I will summon you if I need you," Dante remarked, and the imp nodded in understanding.
"Migdre is always at your service, Master!"
"Go see whether things have become complicated in Hell," Dante ordered, and the imp eagerly nodded once more.
"Do you think Archdemon Magnus will be cast into oblivion by the Devil, Master?" Migdre inquired. "Is that what might complicate matters, as his position will need to be filled?"
Dante fixed his gaze on his imp, who blinked at him while feeling self-conscious. He remarked, "There will be a need to fill Magnus's position, but I am guessing Viktor is questioning something." When the creature looked at him in curiosity, he didn't say a word but only held a serious expression.
"Go on," Dante said, dismissing the imp, who disappeared in a swirl of smoke.
Dante extended his hand forward, and a translucent grey flask materialised in his palm. Little green orbs continually shifted within it.
Even though Magnus failed to create a second hell in this realm, the souls he had sacrificed were now trapped within this flask. While he couldn't save the inhabitants of Nightworth, he had saved their souls for his own gain, intending to use them as leverage when the opportune moment arrived, all the while preventing Viktor from claiming them.
With the sun overhead, Dante began to loosen the soil. He not only enjoyed the task, but it also brought back memories of the past. His thoughts went to his family, where he was glad about the way things had unfolded, even though the journey to get there hadn't been a bed of roses but filled with thorns.
"Dante!" Anastasia called from a distance, making her way to where he was. "Felipe said I would find you here," she said with a smile.
In his life, there were people whom Dante cared for and loved. And fate had led him to meet Anastasia once more, this time with the intention of capturing her heart, even though their initial interactions were bumpy, from his pointing his dagger at her neck to his determination to protect her.
"Where is your father?" Dante asked, seeing her holding the front of her skirt as she walked, allowing him to see the anklets he had gifted her.
"He's talking to Gabriel's father. I thought I would see how you were doing and make sure you weren't feeling isolated," Anastasia said as she came to stand before him.
Her words brought a smile to Dante's lips, and he responded, "Thank you for thinking about me, but I don't think your father is going to appreciate you spending time alone with me."
"He will get used to it. At least that is what Mama told me," Anastasia replied, leaning forward and pecking his lips. Her mouth stretched into a grin. "I want to show you the places where I spent my childhood. Mary and I would find new spots and occasionally hide just for fun." The smile on her lips softened at the thought of her sister.
"Come here, my little rabbit," he said, dropping the pickaxe and opening his arms wide. As Anastasia approached him, she missed her footing on the ground he had loosened, causing her heart to leap into her throat for the briefest moment before he swiftly caught her. "Careful."
Anastasia sheepishly smiled before slipping into his arms, her hands wrapping around his waist. She said,
"Mama told me to give Papa some time, that he'd eventually come to accept you." She only hoped her parents wouldn't be disappointed once the entire truth came out. "But, so far, it has gone well, hasn't it? We will be sleeping in the same house."
"An arrangement that pleases me. Even though it has been only a few minutes since we last saw each other, I still miss you," Dante hummed contentedly, as he enjoyed having her by his side. "Your family is loving and generous, and I hope to let them know that I will look after you well. Better than anyone else ever could."
Dante knew that Anastasia's return to Hawkshead wasn't easy for her, and her sister's absence left a void that she struggled to reconcile with, despite her exacting revenge by taking Noor's life. He mused as he held her close.
He was sad for losing Maxwell, and just as his grandmother had pointed out, his ego, self-esteem, and emotions were as delicate as a fragile teacup. His deceased brother had been haunted by Marianne's ghost, a torment orchestrated by Magnus, and though it seemed like love, the question remained: was his brother truly in love with her, or was his anguish a result of losing someone he couldn't have?
Because it wasn't the first time he had witnessed his brother shattered by heartbreak. It had occurred previously when Stella had died, leaving Maxwell in a state of melancholy before he had eventually picked himself up and recovered. Just that this time, the lingering ghost didn't allow him to forget and move on.
"Are you okay?" Anastasia asked, gently stroking Dante's back. She pulled away and said, "You have been extremely quiet."
Dante caressed her face and responded, "Haven't I always been quiet?"
Anastasia contemplated his words briefly before she said, "Not with me." She could sense there was something on his mind. She felt his hand beneath her chin, tilting her face upwards before he pressed his lips to hers. The kiss lingered for a moment, as if not ready to let her go, yet at the same time, pulling away. She heard him whisper against her lips,
"Your father is looking for you. You should go before he comes here."
"I will bring you lunch later," Anastasia promised him with a smile.
"Just like a farmer's wife would," Dante teased her as he watched her leave. Within seconds, Anastasia met her father, who looked behind her to see if Dante was there.
"Your mother said you weren't in the house, and I guessed I would find you here," her father said, suggesting, "Walk with me, Anna."
Anastasia walked beside her father, noticing that they weren't walking in the direction leading back to the village. Instead, her father guided her in the opposite direction, and when they had walked for a good twenty minutes, she finally asked, "Where are we going, Papa?"
"There is something I would like to show you, something that belongs to our kind."
Anastasia followed her father, the path winding through thicker clusters of trees as if to conceal it from both light and the prying eyes of evil. A faint mist hovered in the atmosphere here, and she asked her father,
"Papa, why is it that I am the only one who possesses the ability to use magic?" Considering her parents and her sister lacked such abilities.
"That is a tale of times long past, Anna," her father began, now walking ahead of her as if to protect her from any potential harm, even though he had no abilities himself. He pushed a branch of a tree that obstructed their way, allowing her to pass before letting go of it. He continued, "It was a long, long time ago, when forest fairies were abundant on this part of the land. However, when the earthlings discovered our existence, our kind was mistaken for witches, resulting in their swift deaths. I am genuinely surprised Dante took it so well."
Anastasia's eyes met her father's, who was waiting for her to spill the dirt. She answered, "When I told him, he was already aware of my nature."
Mr. Flores's eyebrows furrowed, and he said, "Is that so? Hmm." He continued, "The people of Hawkshead remain oblivious. And though many wanderers have explored this area, they have only ended up getting lost and never finding this place."
Anastasia couldn't see anything for a moment as the fog thickened, but then the mist dissipated, almost as if she had entered an entirely different realm. She didn't know if it was the fog or the faint light filtering through the dense foliage of the thick trees that was the source of the greenish glow surrounding the area. Small, green, luminous orbs floated like miniature lanterns in the air, casting an enchanting ambience that elated her mood.
"What are these?" Anastasia asked in awe, raising her hand to touch them.
"Light fairies. Harmless things that will lead you during times of darkness if you call upon them. They are mostly the departed fairies who found their home and refuge here," Anastasia heard her father explain while she stared at the luminescent entities that emitted a soft mewing sound as they danced through the air. He continued,
"There was a time when even a fairy who formed a family with an earthling could give birth to fairies. But their abilities were often fragmented. In order to make them stronger, over time, generations were occasionally skipped before a new fairy was born. The last fairy in our family was your maternal great-grandfather."
As they walked further, Anastasia observed a cluster of butterflies taking flight, resembling a flock of birds. They were of different colours, and when sunlight graced their wings, a rainbow of colours scattered in all directions.
Anastasia contemplated how this place stood in stark contrast to Versailles, albeit only for a brief moment. She remembered someone telling her that the kingdom hadn't always been engulfed by sand before it was cursed. Before she cursed it.
Anastasia noticed a light fairy accompanying her, and it moved past her as if to guide her towards a particular location. She followed it until she caught sight of something strange. It was a grove of trees planted close to each other, their branches extending towards each other in parallel to connect overhead and form a canopy of foliage. Far ahead of her stood a door embedded within the bark of one of the trees.
"What is that?" Anastasia asked her father, her gaze fixed on what appeared to be a secret passage.
"That's the passage of time," Mr. Flores replied, coming to stand beside her. He continued, "It allows you to travel through moments and observe, but not change anything."
Anastasia turned to her father and asked, "Any moment in time?"
"Any moment that has transpired while you were present. Think of it as recalling a vivid memory," he answered.
On the fourth evening, Anastasia and Dante sat on one of the platforms encircling a tree, watching the people around them, while remaining within sight of her father. She asked,
"Did you hear from your family?"
Dante gave her a nod in response. "They are doing well. Victor's illness is gone, and he is now awake."
"That's a relief," Anastasia replied, while surrounded by the peaceful atmosphere.
Upon discovering that Noor had gone as far as to poison her son, they came to realise that Lady Lucretia had been poisoned as well, and not over a matter of weeks or months, but rather over the course of years, with negligible doses that went unnoticed by everyone.
"Your brother likes to talk in his sleep," Dante revealed to her, as he and Tomas shared a room.
"I am sorry about that. Maybe Tomas and I should share the room so that you can have a room for yourself," Anastasia proposed. But she doubted it would make much difference, as his ears were sensitive to perceiving the slightest sound within the house.
"No, that's fine. I quite enjoy his imaginative mind," Dante responded, gazing into her brown eyes and noticing filaments of green appearing in them. How interesting, he thought to himself. He continued, "Furthermore, having a room to myself would disappoint your father, and we don't want that."
What Dante said was true, Anastasia thought to herself. So far, her father had indeed been watching Dante closely, yet he couldn't find any faults in him. After all, her man was used to the scrutiny of shrewd eyes within the palace. Lady Lucretia and the Mother Queen had instilled in him strong family values, which he treasured to this day.
Anastasia said, "I should head home and help with the dinner." She saw him staring at her and asked, "What is it?"
"Nothing. I was just thinking about how simple life is in this place and how I could definitely get used to—"
Suddenly, the tower bell rang out, its loud toll alerting them as it echoed. Anastasia and Dante frowned and heard one of the village men shout, "ATTACK! TAKE SHELTER!"
_________
GARDEN OF POISON
Attack of pirates!(Chapter 160)
"ATTACK BY THE PIRATES! PIRATE SHIP HAS BEEN SIGHTED; THEY ARE HEADING TO THE VILLAGE!" bellowed one of the tower watchmen at the top of his lungs, his voice rising over the resounding clang of the bell.
"Run!"
Anastasia watched as the villagers hastily scrambled and fled, heading straight to their houses for refuge. The sound of doors and windows being securely closed and firmly banging shut echoed through the air.
"Damn these pirates again!" The village elder's voice was laced with anger as he cursed them, exclaiming, "Always coming here and stealing our possessions and tearing apart our families. We tried to oppose them, but it was futile and resulted in the loss of many lives. You both should take shelter."
"Jacinthia!" A woman's distressed cry pierced the air as her eyes darted left and right, searching for her young daughter. "Carlos, Jacinthia isn't here!"
"Where did you last see her?!" The village elder became worried. At the same time, Mr. Flores joined them where they were as the village gradually descended into an eerie silence, broken only by the continuous toll of the bell, which eventually ceased.
"S—she was probably in the meadow. It is near the bay," said the woman.
"I will go look for Jacinthia," Anastasia volunteered, causing the nearby men who were still lingering outside and yet to seek shelter in their houses to raise their eyebrows. She turned to look at Dante, and he said,
"I will go see the pirates, then."
One of the village men looked flabbergasted at the willingness of these young individuals to stand up against the pirates. He said, "You have no idea how ruthless these pirates are! Do you intend to get caught and used by others again?"
"Benson, be careful with your words; that's my daughter you are talking about," Mr. Flores warned the man, who was slightly older than him.
Benson's expression darkened as he said, "Just because no one said anything about it doesn't mean it hasn't happened. Girls and women are the ones who get abducted, surely not with the intent of making them their daughters, but—"
"Looks like you have little regard for your own life," Dante remarked, shooting a piercing glare at the man. "For your own sake, it would be wise for you not to finish that sentence. Anastasia is purer than the spring water found in the mountains."
Mr. Flores was taken aback by Dante's words, noticing how he staunchly stood up for his daughter without care for whom he was crossing.
But Benson didn't heed Dante's words, his ego wounded by the fact that a young man like Dante was attempting to lecture him, and he retorted, "You think I will be scared of you just because you have some muscles? I am telling you for your own good that it is better that you don't get involved and think you can take on the pirates."
The village elder agreed with Benson, saying, "Dante, they are wicked and vicious. And there are far too many for you or any of us to face them alone. These are the same pirates who took Stella, Anna, and Mary from here."
"Then it is all the more reason to meet them," Dante said in a nonchalant tone.
"Shit, they are here!" Benson commented as the pirates appeared in their view. At first, five figures emerged, and then their numbers grew to ten, twenty, and beyond.
Dante turned to look at Anastasia and said, "Be careful."
Anastasia smiled, glad to know that he trusted her decision. Sensing her father's eyes on her, she turned to meet his gaze and reassured him, "Please stay here, Papa. I will be fine."
Mr. Flores hesitated, not wanting to leave his daughter's side, worried she would be taken away from him once more. However, her earnest 'please' had conveyed her insistence that he stay, almost as if she wanted him to be where Dante was, and it made him frown.
Before long, she set out to find the little girl and get to her before she could be caught by one of the pirates, who spread out around the village like swarming insects.
Dante walked towards the pirates, positioning himself between them and the village men. His eyes settled on the leader, whose beard was intricately braided from his chin downwards and whose rugged face bore many scars. Amusement flickered across the face of the pirate leader, and he asked with a gruff tone,
"Carlos, have you decided to sacrifice this man due to your own desperation or because you think we are in need of men?" His words drew laughter from those behind him.
The village elder discreetly instructed his own men, "Fetch the weapons quickly!"
"Hugh, what kind of trouble have you been brewing in your house to keep a man like this? He could be the reason we all get killed today," Benson demanded in a voice brimming with anger, striding away to the shed to fetch the axes and sickles.
Mr. Flores quietly watched Dante's back. He knew his daughter was safe due to her abilities, and she wasn't one to be overconfident, but if she had left the young man here, it meant he possessed at least some basic experience in fighting.
"They must have placed him here to scare us, Boss," one of the pirates snickered.
"And a pretty one at that!" A collective chuckle rippled through the ranks of the pirates.
"These young brats don't know when to quit!" One of the village men cursed their luck, including Dante, who stood not far from them. "He's going to get all of us killed."
"Gather the men to fight. I don't think the pirates will be leaving without a fight anymore," the village elder expressed with dread. Most of the young men had either left the village for work or were out trying to retrieve the missing.
The pirate leader stared at Dante, spitting disdainfully on the ground, before he questioned, "Why does it feel like I have seen you before, hm?"
Unlike the people from Hawkshead, Dante looked calm and unruffled. He stood at ease, prompting the pirate leader's eyes to narrow. He began to roll up his sleeves and replied, "Maybe you have, and if you were aware of who I was, you would be hightailing and running from this place by now."
"Empty threats don't work on us," one of the pirates retorted, charging towards Dante with the intention of causing him damage.
Dante possessed the ability to finish every single one of them in less than ten seconds, and despite having only recently fought Magnus and the Elder ministers, his thirst for combat remained unquenched. The moment the pirate swung his fist at him, he swiftly caught hold of the assailant's hand and deftly twisted it behind the man's back.
"AHH! LET GO OF MY HAND!" the pirate yelped, struggling to free himself. But Dante had him in tight grip, and the merest shift from the pirate threatened to dislocate his arm from his shoulder.
"I am thankful for the one good thing you did many years ago." Dante expressed his appreciation to the pirate leader. As twisted as it was, that event had brought Anastasia to him, but he harboured no fondness for the exploitation of the weak and vulnerable. "I will hasten the passage to Hell for all of you." With those words, he raised his own hand and struck the juncture between the pirate's neck and shoulder.
Dante threw the pirate to the ground, whose life fled from him in an instant, and he cracked his knuckles.
Annoyed by this young man's audacity, the pirate leader turned to his men and commanded, "Get him! I want him crippled!"
"Did the pirate die or fall unconscious?!" Benson asked, his eyes wide with astonishment. "Is Dante an assassin?"
"Who cares?" Mr. Flores replied, picking up one of the metal rods before advancing to fight with the pirates who continued to invade their village.
Gradually, the other village men found a little courage and began joining the fray one by one. Having battled demons not long before, this skirmish was a walk in the meadow for Dante, and he killed every opponent without using his demonic abilities. The more he fought, the more the villagers' admiration for him grew. The pirates launched brutal attacks, showing little concern for who got hurt in the process.
As the centre of the village bustled with activity, Anastasia continued her search for the little girl. She called the girl's name, "Jacinthia! Jacinthia, where are you?"
"Sister Anna! Hel—" The little girl's voice was abruptly stifled.
Anastasia frowned, and without hesitation, she veered to her right in the direction of where the voice had come from. She caught sight of a pirate carrying the girl over his shoulder, triggering a momentary flashback to the day when she and her sister had been carried away from the village in the same manner.
From where Anastasia stood, something slithered beneath the ground, moving quickly and catching the pirate off guard when the vines emerged from the earth and wrapped themselves around his feet.
"What the fuck is this?!" the pirate demanded, pulling out his dagger in an attempt to free himself. However, another vine snaked around his wrist, thwarting his efforts. In the end, he had no choice but to drop the girl to the ground.
However, it wasn't just a lone pirate present; three more appeared, converging to grab the little girl. Before they could execute their intentions, the vines intervened, tripping them and suspending them upside down from a tree, which startled the girl.
"Get us down! What are these damn things?!" one of them shouted as they struggled to regain their footing, while shocked.
Anastasia quickly reached the girl and asked, "Are you alright, Jacinthia?"
Frightened, the girl nodded and hesitantly questioned, "What are those things?"
"That…" Anastasia gave it a thought before replying. "Vines that can move and sometimes get hungry," she explained with a smile, feeling the girl hug her for protection.
"Hungry?" The little girl turned to Anastasia before looking in the direction where the three pirates hung from the tree.
"This one is for the past," Anastasia whispered. Soon, three chompers appeared right below the suspended pirates.
"Fucking shit! What the hell is that?!" one of them exclaimed, and this time, instead of trying to free themselves, they attempted to scramble up the vine and climb onto the tree.
"Stealing young girls from their homes, and yet you don't seem to think it is wrong for the mere gain of a handful of coins and temporary pleasure," Anastasia addressed them, her voice steady and composed. "My pets are hungry, having not had anything to eat for a few days."
The chomper snapped its teeth, read to shred and consume the humans. One of the pirates quickly interjected, "We won't do it again! No more piracy!"
"Yes! Yes!" chorused the other two pirates, while the fourth one finally managed to free himself, flinging a dagger at Anastasia.
Anastasia moved aside to dodge the blade, locking her gaze on the man who scowled back at her. The man charged towards her, skillfully evading the vines by jumping and hopping around them. However, he missed his step when a bee suddenly appeared directly before his face.
Two more bees materialised, swiftly followed by an entire swarm. The sight of the approaching insects prompted the pirate to pivot and run as fast as he could. Anastasia shielded the girl's face so that she wouldn't witness what was about to unfold, and soon after, the bees descended upon the man, causing him to scream his lungs out until he collapsed onto the ground.
"I am not with these people! I am a recently recruited member!" shouted one of the hanging pirates, desperate to avoid sharing the same fate as the one who just died.
"I have no guarantee whether you will or will not continue with this line of work," Anastasia replied to the pirate.
"Give me a chance to prove it! Just one chance! I beg you, spare my life!" the individual pleaded earnestly.
Anastasia observed them closely, her attention drawn to the scars marring their skin, which didn't look fresh. As the chompers closed their jaws, a wave of relief washed over the pirates. She turned around and heard another pirate ask, "Are you not going to let us down? I mean, after these—"
When the vines loosened their hold around their legs, the men felt their hearts leap into their throats, while at the same time, the chompers receded back into the ground.
"From now on, you will safeguard this village, and if you so much as think of committing another crime, you will meet the same fate as your comrade," Anastasia warned the men, who remained seated on the ground. "Do you understand?"
"Yes!" The men, their faces etched with wariness, responded out of fear of being eaten alive by a plant or attacked by this formidable woman.
Anastasia began to walk back, holding the little girl's hand, and when she noticed the men still sitting there looking stumped, she asked, "Why aren't you following me? We must return to the village."
Meanwhile, at the centre of the village, a fierce battle raged on between the pirates and the villagers.
Dante drove his elbow right into a pirate's stomach before clocking the man's face. From the corner of his eyes, he detected a shift in the pirate leader's expression, and he realised this earthling had demon blood coursing through his veins.
The pirate leader's fingers transformed into claws, and he grabbed the village elder's throat, ready to choke him to death. His stance and appearance sent a shiver through the villagers, causing them to stumble backwards. A hush fell over the scene again, and the villagers exchanged anxious glances amongst themselves while the remaining pirates erupted into laughter.
"We don't take more than what's due, but you dumb people wanted to fight. Acting so tough when you are nothing but weaklings!" The pirate leader derided the timid villagers, his laughter ringing at their expense. "Watch what I do next, because all of you will be dying this way today."
Concern etched across Mr. Flores's features as he watched the village elder, who was his dear friend, and he couldn't bear the thought of standing idly by and doing nothing as he witnessed him lose his life. Just when the pirate leader tightened his grip on Carlos's neck, Mr. Flores heard someone snap their fingers beside him. The very next moment, the pirate leader exploded into a violent spray of blood, which stained the ground crimson and splattered onto the village elder, eliciting gasps of horror from Carlos and those nearby.
Shock filled the faces of everyone present, none comprehending what had just happened or whether the pirate leader's trick had catastrophically backfired on him. Hastily, the pirates fell back, bolting towards their ship as quickly as their feet could carry them.
"W—what…?"
Mr. Flores's neck stiffened, and he slowly swivelled to his right to catch sight of Dante standing in close proximity. His eyebrows furrowed, and when the young man turned to meet his suspicious gaze, he noticed the red hue of his eyes. It was him.
"Mama!" The little girl ran towards her mother, who enveloped her in a hug. The men redirected their attention towards the approaching pirates following behind Anastasia, and Dante watched her with curiosity before making his way towards them alongside the others.
"Catch those pirates!" one of the villagers cried.
Anastasia raised her hands and said, "It seems these men were forced into joining the crew and doing the pirates' bidding." She paused for a second, ensuring she had everyone's attention before continuing, "We had a little talk, and they are willing to guard the village from now on. They are ready to turn over a new leaf and become men who will protect rather than inflict harm."
It was obvious from the expression on the three pirates' faces that they looked terrified of something that the villagers couldn't fathom.
"Pirates don't change their skin! Treachery and thievery are embedded deeply within their very souls," someone from the rear called. The proclamation prompted those who had been hiding inside their houses to emerge.
Anastasia said, "They have acknowledged their wrongdoing, and everyone deserves a second chance. If they attempt to cause harm, they are aware that mercy won't be granted again. Everyone deserves a chance if they are willing to change for the better and prove themselves."
"What about all those times they've stolen our daughters from this village? How will you rectify that? Have you no feelings for your own sister who died?" Benson challenged her. "You are a fool to think—"
Dante seized Benson by his collar, his gaze intense as he glared down at him. "Clearly, you didn't understand me the first time when I told you not to disrespect her." He didn't take it too kindly when someone demeaned those he loved and held dear.
Benson cowered in fear as Dante loomed above him, and something in the way he looked at him scared the life out of him. He stuttered, "H—Hugh, do something!"
Mr. Flores seemed lost in contemplation before he addressed Dante, "Let the man go, son." Benson hastily adjusted his collar, and when he opened his mouth to speak again, he was abruptly interrupted. "If you think I am going to stand here and listen to you belittling my daughter, you have something else coming for you, Benson."
The village elder noticed something dangerous emitting from the young man who had recently arrived in the village. He was in awe after watching him fight the pirates with so much ease. He instructed, "Keep a watch on these three, and we will decide on what to do with them. Our priority is to get the remaining pirates before they escape and return with a greater problem in the future."
"Allow me to track them down, Carlos." Dante's tone shifted from threatening to polite. And although he sounded like he was asking permission, he promptly began to move in the direction the pirates had fled.
Anastasia said, "I will go with him in case he gets injured," and she ran after him.
"Wait! Did she forget she's a woman?!" one of the villagers asked. "Felipe, go with them if they need—"
"They will be fine by themselves. We should tend to everyone's wounds," Mr. Flores suggested before waving his hand and looking in the direction where his daughter and the young man had disappeared.
By the time the sun had set in Hawkshead, Dante and Anastasia had returned untouched and unscathed. Despite the pirate ship being anchored in the bay, the pirates were unable to get close enough to board it.
At the sight of Dante, the villagers erupted into cheers. "Dante, where did you learn to fight like that?" a young man asked with curiosity.
Anastasia knew this topic would come up, and a barrage of questions would soon pour in, and all they could do was take things one step at a time. She heard Dante answer,
"I took part in a few battles."
"No wonder!" someone else remarked.
Upon reaching the Flores's house, Anastasia heard her father say, "Dante Blackthorn. It appears we need to have a conversation. Follow me."
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