Chapter 2: A Desperate Kill

A yawn escapes the ex princesses lips as her eyes are exposed to the sun slipping through the curtains. Her grey eyes open as she sits up, running a hand through her long hair. She looks around the room and stretches her arms and back.

Getting up from the bed she brushes her hair with her fingers as she looks in the mirror. She packs up her things and heads out of the inn to walk around town, looking for a place she can cut and dye her hair. Having never left the castles walls before, she marvels at the town around her.

After walking through the town for a while she finds a small barber shop and walks inside, admiring the art on the walls, and of the new scents that hit her nose.

“Good morning miss. How may I help you?” A boy around Taehyun’s age asks as he walks over to her.

“I’d like to get my haircut and dyed.” She replies with a soft smile. She looks around nervously but the boy seems kind.

“Right this way, miss.” He says and leads her to a chair. “Are you a pirate?” He asks as he’s looking at her outfit.

“No. I’m just a runaway.” She responds and sits down. She fiddles with the amulet as the boy starts to wash and cut her hair.

“I’m Soobin by the way.” He says with a smile.

“Kiyeon.” She responds and let’s him work.

After a few hours she looks at herself in the mirror with a smile. Her hair has been cut to her shoulders with an undercut. It’s dyed a dark red now. “Thank you so much Soobin-ah.” She says looking at him as she stands.

“Of course.” He says smiling back.

“I notice that you guys do ear piercings as well.” She says looking around the store.

“Yep.” He says. “Are you interested?” He asks.

The princess nods and he takes her to a different part of the store. She decides on getting three lobe piercings on each ear and two hoops on her upper left ear.

“You sure? These can hurt a lot.” Soobin says unsure.

“Don’t worry. I’ve dealt with more pain.” She assures him as she recalls the training accident she had last year.

Her and Taehyun were outside sword fighting when he accidentally left a long cut on her thigh. They both had to hide it from the king and queen. Over the years she's gotten other injuries and has grown a higher pain tolerance.

She looks into the mirror after her ears are done and she smiles. “Again, thank you.” She says looking at soobin and hands him a small pouch of gold pieces. He bows with a smile as he watches her leave.

After shopping in town for some food and selling some jewelry that she had taken from the castle she heads out of town along the roads.

“I should’ve stolen a horse.” She mutters to herself as she walks. She pulls out a map from her bag along with a compass. “At this rate I’ll get there in 5 months. On a ship it would take two, maybe even one.” She says, a sigh escaping her lips.

After a long day's journey she arrives at a small village ready to pass out and sleep. But she’s wary. It’s a bandit village. She gulps a bit and puts on a simple black face mask as she walks into the village. She notices looks and stares directed at her. She makes her way to the docks and sits down looking out at the water.

“Yeosang. Please be safe. I know the stone has stopped pulsing, but I’m worried.” She says softly into the wind.

“Well well well. Look what we have here boys. A little lost kitten.” She hears behind her as she quickly stands and turns to face a group of men. Or should she say, Pirates.

Placing a hand on the hilt of her sword she keeps her head tall. “What do you want?” She asks, trying to sound brave.

“Just cooperate and we won’t hurt ya.” One says. He appears to be the leader.

“Just leave me alone. I’m not in the mood.” She fires back and unsheaths her sword, It’s blade glinting in the moonlight.

The group of men laugh and pull out their own swords and approach her.

She backs up to the edge of the dock not wanting to fight but the leader takes the first swing. He misses thankfully and she kicks him off the edge of the dock. All her late night training kicks in as she fights swiftly and easily, barely breaking a sweat against the men.

She yells out in pain as she feels a blade slice through her left arm, leaving a deep wound. She switches hands and attacks swiftly but in a lot of pain.

Her sword gets knocked out of her hand and she’s forced to her knees with two swords at her throat.

“Yield bitch.” The leader says dripping wet and clutching a wound on his side, courtesy of the ex princess.

“Not a chance.” She says and quickly whips out her gun, shooting him in the chest. His companions look shocked and one of them hits her on the skull with the hilt of his sword.

She yells out in pain as the world goes dark around her.

‘Yeosang..’ is her last thought.

Yeosang is sitting in his room looking at the maps by candlelight when he notices a flickering light. He looks down at his chest where the stone is resting to see its light flickering.

Wide eyed he looks at it. “Kiyeon.” He says and rushes out of his room onto the main deck. He goes up to where the captain is.

“Hyung.” He says and shows him the flickering light.

Having known yeosangs story, Hongjoong nods. “You want to find her.” He says calmly, looking at the navigator.

“Yes. Please hyung.” He says almost begging.

Hongjoong has never seen Yeosang like this. The boy looked tired and as if he’s about to cry.

“Don’t worry. You have done so much for me and this crew it’s the least I can do for you.” Hongjoong assures him with a gentle smile.

Yeosang nods. “Thank you.” He says before heading back to his room. He pulls out a book about the stone and instructions on how to track the stone's sister half. By morning he is exhausted and has passed out at his desk.

“Yeosang?” A voice says as the door opens. Seonghwa smiles gently and picks up the smaller boy and carries him to his bed. That morning Hongjoong had told him what happened and knew that Yeosang would need the extra sleep.

He sets the sleeping boy down on his bed and pulls out a small vial of a silver liquid. He gently pours it into the boy's mouth. The potion will help Yeosang sleep well so when he wakes he will have enough energy.

Seonghwa smiles and leaves the room after sparing one more glance at the navigator. “Not having seen her for three years, he will still jump at the chance to rescue her.” He says softly to himself before heading back to his room.

A groan escapes the girls lips as she opens her eyes. A throbbing pain echoes in the back of her head as she struggles to sit up. She leans against a wall and looks around. She’s on a ship, In what appears to be a prison cell.

“Awake at last. Took you long enough.” A voice says from the other side of the bars. A man is standing there smirking at her. “You killed my first mate but your swordsmanship is incredible.” He says not taking his eyes off her.

“I’ll make you a deal. We won’t kill you if you work for us. You’ll be in this room most of the time and you’ll steal and kill for us. How’s that sound?” He suggests.

Kiyeon glares at him and doesn’t say a word.

“Or we could just beat you into submission. The choice is yours.” The captain says and snaps his fingers.

She watches as two men enter the room and unlock the cell.

“I’ll be back in a few hours. Maybe by then you’ll have changed your mind.” The captain says with a sneer before leaving.

“This will be fun.” One of the men says as they both look at her, evil glinting in their eyes.

After a few hours the two men leave the broken and bleeding girl on the cell floor. Her breaths come out ragged and shaky. Her shirt is gone, revealing bruises upon bruises on her skin. Tears fall from her eyes as she manages to sit up, leaning against the back wall.

Bad idea.

She hisses in pain as the fresh lashes on her back touch the wood. She leans forward in pain and wipes a bit of blood from her cheek.

“Have fun?” The captain's voice says as he walks back into the room. “Did you decide?” He asks.

She looks up at him and nods slowly.

“Good. However, to make sure you listen, our mage is gonna come in. After he's done with you, you won't be able to disobey any of my orders.” He says with a smirk. “We will be stopping by an island village in a few days to restock before we head to the Southern Kingdoms. You better be ready to steal some goods for us.” He says before walking out.

Tears fell from kiyeons eyes as sobs wracked her body. It appears that any chance of finding her brother is gone, even if they will be going to the southern kingdoms She’s trapped on this ship.

So much for freedom.