Chapter 17: Losing His "Pride"
As Nadeira watched the princes step in, she noticed that something was off about them. Their eyes looked darker, their moves seemed slower like they were exhausted or after a long battle.
"Step away from her," Caspian ordered.
The Baron tried to speak, but Nyxmaris flicked his hand. Water rushed from nowhere, wrapping around the Baron's throat.
He gagged, choked…Nadeira watched how quickly his face turned into a freshly harvested tomato.
"You dare touch her?" Orrisian growled.
The Baron clawed at his neck, eyes bulged like they were going to explode any second.
Nadeira stepped back. She wanted him hurt, but something about the princes made her feel weird about herself too.
However, the princes weren't calm…they looked wild.
Caspian shoved the Baron down. "You think you can own women? Children?"
The Baron gasped when the water loosened for a second. "I–I am the Baron! You cannot—"
Nyxmaris waved his hand again. The water surged into the Baron's mouth, filling it. He kicked, clawing the floor.
Nadeira lowered her eyebrows, but she said nothing. She wanted him to suffer.
Orrisian knelt beside the man. "Taste the sea you mocked."
"Aaaghh buahaaa!" The Baron screamed into the water, bubbles bursting from his lips.
Caspian's fist slammed into his face. Blood startes spraying like rain.
Nadeira flinched. She had never seen Caspian hit like that before. His knuckles split. His eyes looked like the rage of an animal instead of the sea Prince.
"Stop pretending you're a man," Caspian hissed. "You're filth."
The Baron coughed when the water dropped. "Please…"
Nyxmaris cut him off. The water dragged him up and slammed him against the wall.
Nadeira whispered, "Something's wrong with them…"
But none of the princes looked at her. They only looked at the Baron.
"Did you enjoy touching her?" Orrisian asked. His smile was guilty-strict. "Shall we cut the same hands off?"
The Baron sobbed, shaking his head.
Caspian spat on him. "You don't deserve hands. Or breath."
The water wrapped around his head again, drowning him slowly. His body jerked, heels scrapped against the floor.
"Stop!" Nadeira shouted suddenly. "Let me."
The three princes stopped whatever they were doing, and all turned to her at the same time.
Nyxmaris tilted his head. "You?"
She nodded. Her voice trembled, but she forced it out. "He touched me. It should be me."
Orrisian smirked. "Bold."
Caspian stepped aside, but his jaw was tighter than any forced to close gates. "Do what you want."
The Baron gasped for air, coughing, drool spilling from his lips. "Mercy-"
Nadeira's lip curled. "Did you give mercy to those children? To their mothers? When you stole them and forced them into labour inside your house?"
He shook his head violently. "Please-"
She grabbed the dagger from Caspian's belt. Her hand trembled, but her anger was hotter than her desire for peace.
The Baron scrambled back. "No! Please-"
Nadeira kicked him in the chest. He collapsed on the floor.
She pointed the blade down. "You don't deserve this part of you. Not after what you've done to so many women…"
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaghhhhhhhhh!" The Baron's scream pierced the air.
The princes did not stop her. They watched and quite enjoyed their mate slaughtering the other man's pride.
Her hand came down fast, and the blade cut immediately too.
Blood pooled like an abandoned river for so many years. The Baron shrieked, curling into himself.
This was for every single woman he hurt, touched without their permission, or 'broke.'
Nadeira's chest inhaled and exhaled air heavily. Her hand shook, but her face stayed as hard as a rock. "Now you can never hurt another woman."
The room went silent, but the Baron continued sobbing.
Orrisian chuckled for way longer than he should've. "Poetic."
Nyxmaris muttered, "Not enough."
Caspian didn't speak. His fists were still clenched, his face had this weird expression…something Nadeira couldn't understand.
Finally, Nadeira dropped the dagger. Her inside felt like it was going to stop gurgling like a hungry dog ready to have ita meat, but she lifted her chin. "It's done."
The Baron writhed, his cries echoing through the mansion.
The princes stepped forward again. Water rose, swirling.
Nadeira held up her hand. "No. He's broken already. Let him live like this."
Orrisian frowned. "Why spare him?"
"Because death is an escape," Nadeira replied. Her voice was hoarse. "I want him to remember every day what I took from him."
The princes exchanged glances.
Nyxmaris grinned faintly. "She's crueler than we thought."
Caspian finally spoke. "She's right."
The Baron wailed on the ground. His blood spread, staining the floor.
Nadeira looked at the princes again. Their eyes seemed so unsettled, too eager for more pain. But for now, they were on her side.
She whispered, "Take me away from here."
Caspian nodded and lifted her gently.
The Baron's screams followed them out.
One was out…a few more left to get rid of…