Astrid was knocked out a few moments afterwards and Camicaze had her taken to the brig. She barked out commands to her crew and they disbanded, hastily getting back to their jobs before she had called them to watch. Now, she and Hiccup were effectively alone on the deck. He had given up and he now hung his head limply against his chest, his body gently swaying in the wind and the rolling of the ship.
She climbed the ladder onto the platform behind him and took up a hot iron, the tip red with heat and sizzling with every drop of rain and sea spray. She pressed it against Hiccup's back, the latest in a neat pattern of brands on his body. Wherever there was space for a brand, she would make room for two. It sizzled, steam rising from Hiccup's skin and she pulled it away to reveal a raised bit of flesh, bloodied and burnt. Hiccup was completely passive. He felt the pain but he couldn't pay it any mind.
Camicaze did her best to try and provoke him. She started to whip him, she called him names, she insulted him, she swore at him, she told him of Anka's deception. She told him of how she would dispose of Astrid. How she would parade Astrid around naked while the men threw stones at her and whipped her. How she would have Astrid tied up, bent over a wooden block and let the crew of all the ships line up for their way with her. How she'd let the men rape Astrid to death and then have the men continue to fuck her dead body long after she died. How she would cut up Astrid's body and then feed it to Hiccup raw, bit by bloody bit.
But he didn't respond. He didn't react. He was silent and still save for the swaying of his body in the wind. Camicaze slammed the iron back into the cauldron and stormed away, leaving Hiccup alone in his thoughts.
Hiccup didn't feel numb at all, he could feel every part of his body in full detail. He knew his muscles and tendons and every centimetre of his body but all of the sensations on them meant nothing. Not the sharp, stinging new burn on his back, not the salty sea air in his nose, not the rain gently pattering down on his body or the burning tears streaming down his cheeks. None of it meant anything to him.
Toothless' body was still there, collapsed in the same position as it was before. Nothing Hiccup could do would bring him back. Astrid would probably be the next to die. Hiccup thought numbly of how he would die himself. Camicaze would try to torture him but she knew nothing of that art. She would only kill him after a day. He remembered how the Head Interrogator at the League of Shadows was able to keep a man alive for 7 days with his body cut open and his organs laying splayed out in front of him as he died slowly, agonisingly. They didn't even ask the poor bastard any questions.
"I'm sorry about Toothless, Hiccup." Said a cold, ominous, deep voice in his ear. Hiccup knew the voice all to well. Hiccup's mouth didn't move but he talked to the figure nonetheless. It would be rude to ignore an old friend.
"No you're not." Hiccup said without saying, his words short and to the point. He couldn't muster anything else.
"No, I truly am. Because he is not a creature of flesh, he technically has no soul although his 'Core', as you call it, might say otherwise. I don't know where's he's gone and I can't bring him back." The voice said, true sincerity appearing in his voice, "He might not've been a man, but he was a good man."
"Don't pretend like you care. Why are you here?
"You're my friend Hiccup, you really are." He says with an odd chuckle. Hiccup managed to raise his head and saw the darkly robed figure standing in front of him, arms clasped together, his ghastly face looking back into his, "Life has always wanted to prove himself better than me. He's always wanted to show that he is more powerful than me. To this extent, he will do anything. He is arrogant, selfish and vain yet there is a gargantuan cult dedicated to worshipping him. He wants to have one final showdown, as if it will solve anything so he has picked his champion once again and the rules say I must pick mine. I think you know what that means."
"You want me back." Hiccup said with a choked out laugh, shaking his head, "I don't want to be that man anymore. I'm different."
"I know you are and the contract is different because of it." He opened a hand and with a flash of black smoke, a scroll hovered above his hand. He produced a pair of old spectacles and began to read, "I, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the II, submit myself as the representative champion for the party A, hereby named as Mr. Death. This contract remains binding until either the representative champion for Party B, hereby stated as Mr. Life, is killed in single combat or the representative champion for Party A is killed in single combat. After which, I submit any and all powers granted to me during the duration of this contract. I recognise that Mr. Death and Mr. Life are contractually forbidden from interfering with the duel and realise all dangers to life and limb if I do accept this contract. Signed," Death looked up at Hiccup and held the scroll up for Hiccup to read himself.
"I agree." Hiccup said after reading through the text. Death nodded solemnly and Hiccup felt an old sensation, something he hadn't felt in a while. A tearing pain ripped across his palm and a single droplet of blood fell from his hand and blossomed onto the paper below.
"The deal is signed." Death said. He snapped his fingers and the contract disappeared from his hand but he didn't disappear yet. That was unusual.
"You're still here?" Hiccup wondered aloud. Normally once the document was signed, Death would disappear along with his precious contract. Hiccup's shackles suddenly clacked open and he dropped to the deck with a loud thud. Hiccup quickly recovered and was on his feet instantly. He was on lookout for the guards that were bound to come to investigate the sound but heard nothing. All he could hear was the ship groaning and creaking, the waves hitting the sides and the spray flinging into the air.
"You've got to get off the ship Hiccup, while they're distracted." Death said, still floating above him, robe flapping in the wind. Hiccup nodded and made a quick dash for the side of the ship, leaping off into a graceful dive into troubled waters. He resurfaced and started to swim away, "Get back to the island, you're too weak to face her now."
"Why are you helping me?" Hiccup said, not opening his mouth.
"Technically, I'm not supposed to be butthe contract only forbids me from helping you during the duel." Death said boredly, his voice still clear over the sound of Hiccup's powerful strokes, "I write all the contracts remember? I know how to make a loophole."
"Good for you. So now what?"
"Go back to your island. Surely, a swim that long shouldn't trouble you."
"It would, if I get hypothermia."
"I've taken care of that. You have equipment there. Gear up and then go face her." Death said, looking down at Hiccup as he swam through the water quickly and efficiently, faster than most men, "You'll go through the ritual there."
"Right, I forgot about that. How badly did it hurt last time?"
"You'll remember soon enough."
Hey guys, its me again! I can't believe I actually submitted 3 chapters (and a half) in less than 6 months! Amazing isn't it? Hopefully, I can keep this up but don't get your hopes up. Especially when it comes to me doing work.
Anyways, I don't think I've mentioned much about myself these past few updates. I'm doing fine thank you all very much and I've managed to catch a few breaks at work. I've got myself a girlfriend and she's actually ok with me writing Fanfiction! So no one has to worry about me stopping yet.
I don't know what else to say. Talking about myself has always been hard for me.
Well, I just hope you guys enjoy the chapters I'm putting out. Thank you again and good day/night/morning/afternoon!
