Pirate Fantasy Flash Fiction: The Wicked Cat (Magic)

The 28th entry in the Pirate Fantasy Flash Fiction series The Wicked Cat and I am starting to resolve some things here and there. This one will be a nice little magical battle (I’m sure the subtitle wasn’t a tip off) and something surprising might happen at the end of this piece. Not a guarantee, just saying. Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy and please offer any feedback if you feel so inclined.

Brynn adjusted Myrilda’s weight on her body as she dragged her across the damaged cobblestone pathway. Myrilda whimpered when she tried to move, her face draining of color when she saw her ankle turning purple and swelling larger with every step they took. Brynn growled and shook her companion as they neared an alcove. “You have to pay attention to me now, do you hear me? You can’t let this injury distract you.”

“I don’t know if I can move without you, Brynn. It might be better to leave me here and find a way out. You have to hide me somewhere—”

“If I leave you somewhere, there is a good chance one of those bastards are going to find you. Even if you hide, that doesn’t mean the cannonballs wouldn’t hit you either. No, we threw our lots in together on this. We are going to see it all the way through. It looks as though Fodd and Natt disappeared down this little alleyway, we can use the shadows for makeshift cover.”

The two women stumbled toward the alleyway. They nearly lost their footing when another cannonball rocked the grounds and caused another chunk of the castle ruins to fall over the cliff and splash into the bay. They managed to find a stable archway through the chaos and stumbled down the alcove toward another clearing.

Their faces were awash in deep purples and bright blues as the hairs stood on the back of their necks. The electricity coursed through the air and more than one magical explosion caused someone to cry in pain. The smell of drenched cat fur and smoldering human flesh caused Myrilda to retch and groan as she started to swoon. Brynn found a stable area to lean her swooning companion. As Myrilda slid down the wall and covered her face in disgust, Brynn withdrew a pistol from her makeshift sash and spun the cutlass in her hand.

“Wait, don’t go. We need to find a way out here, not get in the middle of a mage battle.” Myrilda said.

“We have no choice. It’s the right thing to do and the only other way out of here is toward the bay, follow the beach along the cliffs until we find that Crysilia cave again. If we manage to survive the bombardment, we won’t last long in a dark cave filled with poisonous bugs.” Brynn replied.

Myrilda groaned and shook her head, but Brynn ignored her as she approached the entrance. Each step cast different light on her frame until she reached the clearing. She turned her head and saw Unne standing on the ground with Walter attached to her waist, chanting in a corrupt language that made her heart tingle and taste copper in her mouth. Fodd threw a small bright blue ball at Unne, who blocked with a swift motion of her arm. The ball dissipated and splashed the walls with a mix of water and magical energy,

Unne snapped her fingers as Walter jumped forward as though he were a dog on a chain. He screamed, allowing a large stream of purple light to shoot from his mouth. Fodd rolled away as the beam missed him by a hair’s breadth. He whipped his right over his head to bring a curved water wall to block the beam as he threw another glimmering blue ball at Unne. The blind mage smacked the ball away with a casual swat and shook her head as Walter spoke for her. “You are pathetic, brother. You should have stayed by my side instead of trying to find justice on your own.”

“You should know I would never turn my back on the Nimerians, no matter how poor they treat us. They are our fellow citizens, even if they are ignorant on what we do. It is you who lost her way. Joining the mindless hive of Hyril was shocking for everyone, cursing your nephew after you rose to Apostatio Prime broke my heart.” Fodd said.

“You should be grateful I only turned him into a cat. He can resume his shape when he garners more control over his form. He can lead a normal life as a human. My kindness was extended to him, but I will not be as kind to you. Now, you will—”

A gunshot cut Walter’s words off as the lead shot buried deep into his skull. His body jerked and he fell forward, taking Unne along with him. Unne placed her hand on the chain attaching her to the corpse and let the dark purple energy melt the links until she was free. Before she could turn to see where the gunshot came from, Natt roared in defiance and pounced on his aunt. She grabbed him by the forelegs and spun her body as the magical energy assisted her throw. The cat’s body sailed across the clearing and slammed hard against a crumbling wall. Natt whimpered and blacked out. Fodd screamed in anger and threw multiple shimmering balls at his sister.

She snapped her fingers and melted through the ground as a large purple vortex swallowed her whole. The magical balls hit against the ground as the vortex disappeared, leaving a stunned Fodd behind. He lifted his head and glared at the woman walking his direction. “You are the last person I would expect to help me, though your assistance was not required.”

Brynn walked over to Walter and knelt in front of his dead body. She blanched when she saw the gash in his skull that seeped dark purple energy along with gore and bits of brain. “I had to save my man from a horrible fate. Helping you was a side benefit.”

“We are not leaving anywhere. I am going to find my sister and bring her to justice. I care not what you do with your safety.”

Brynn turned her head and glared at the sea mage before her gaze shifted toward Natt. She smiled and started to chuckle as she shook her head. “I think your son might have a different opinion on letting go of old hatred.”

Fodd turned to see Natt nuzzling Myrilda’s left hand as her right attended to the burns on his legs by applying makeshift wraps torn from her blouse. He grumbled to himself as he raced toward his son, leaving Brynn alone with her fallen crew member. She patted him on the shoulder and sighed, “I am sorry. I didn’t mean for you to suffer this fate. I can only hope the Eight are kind and grant prompt access to paradise.”