The Pirate's Princess

by Bethany Wicker

  Thames came up to my table when people started to clear out and offered me his arm. Too late to back out now. Whispers followed us all the way out of the castle. This would probably be the gossip of Siren’s Call for a while much to my distaste.

  Thames didn’t speak until we reached the enchanted garden, which looked even more spectacular at night. “How are you settling in?”

  I sighed. Here came the small talk which brought out the awkwardness in me. “I’m making do. It's uh… it’s a lot different here than anywhere else I’ve lived. It’s a little strange to adapt to.”

  “Have you killed your first human yet?”

  Oh, right… the siren version of small talk. “No, that’s something I don’t really want to do if it can be avoided.”

  “A siren who doesn’t want to kill a human?”

  “I don’t know if you’ve heard, but I am also part-human.”

  “I have, but there shouldn’t be much in you since your mom was only half-human.”

  “Doesn’t matter how much humanity is within me. I still don’t want to kill. I don’t understand why sirens like to kill humans anyway. I don’t see the point of it. We don’t eat them.”

  “We do it because it’s expected of us. It's also very invigorating watching someone take their last breath.”

  “That’s a terrible and disgusting thing to say. I’m assuming you’ve killed humans before?”

  “Several times. It’s something my father and I like to do together. It’s the only way we know how to bond.”

  “I see…” I frowned. “Look there’s something I need to tell you.”

  “Of course, what is it?” Thames leaned closer to me as if we were about to share a secret.

  I hesitated. “It’s probably going to make you hate me.”

  “Nothing you can say will make me hate you. You're my princess and my future queen. People may talk, but nothing’s going to change that fact.”

  “Well, this might because, you see, I’m already dating someone.”

  “Really, who? I hadn’t heard that.”

  “My dad doesn’t like to talk about it because my boyfriend is human.”

  “Your boyfriend is human? That's… odd.” Thames stared at me awkwardly and I could tell he didn’t know how he was supposed to react to that bit of news.

  “His name is Steel and he opened my eyes to how beautiful the world can be. He's not the most proper or put together guy out there, but I wouldn’t change a thing about him.”

  “That sounds like love to me. Sirens don’t usually have a lot of love to hand out, so it’s surprising to see you talk about it so openly.”

  “I guess that’s the human in me.”

  “More than likely. Would you like to sit down?” He pointed to a bench on the side of the pool.

  “You mean you still want to spend time with me even after I told you I like a human?”

  Thames shrugged. “I don’t see the problem. You like who you like and sometimes we can’t control that.”

  “And you say I’m weird. You don’t act like a siren at all.”

  He chuckled. “No, I guess I don’t. Maybe it’s because I’m still young, but keep in mind I love to kill me a human every now and then. That’s definitely a siren trait.”

  “Do you think I have a chance of changing that when I become queen?”

  “No, not at all. You can’t change something like that. As much as you want to see the good in humans, I don’t see the point of it. Sirens kill humans and humans kill sirens. You becoming queen isn’t going to magically change the way others think.”

  “How old are you, Thames?”

  “I’m only fifty.”

  “Fifty? You look like you're the same age as me and you talk as if you’re older.”

  “What can I say? I’m a strange person. It’s why I wanted to befriend you. Besides, it also gets my father off my back.”

  “You mean your dad wants you to spend time with me?”

  “He wants me to court you, but I’m not interested. I’m saying this to clear the air, not to be rude so don’t take it personal. I’m only fifty and want to enjoy my life for at least another hundred years or so before settling down to have children.”

  “I can understand that. So, does this mean you’re my first siren friend?”

  “Do you want me to be your first siren friend?”

  “I could use one—at least that’s what I’ve been told.”

  “Then, yes, you’ve got one now.”

  “I’m sorry I was evasive before. To be honest, I wouldn’t be here now if Eleanor wouldn’t have intervened.”

  “That’s okay. I can understand why you would want to avoid me if you already have a boyfriend. I may have come off a little strong, but you don’t have to worry about that anymore.”

  I quirked an eyebrow. “Am I not good looking enough by siren standards?”

  Thames cheeks turned red and he cleared his throat. “Oh, it’s nothing like that. You’re better looking than most of the sirens here, but I have no desire to be king either. My father wants me to rule, but that’s for his own selfish purposes. He doesn’t really care what I have to say about it either.”

  “That sounds terrible.”

  “That’s the siren way. Remember that. Everyone looks out for themselves. As queen, you need to make sure you have eyes everywhere. They may not be able to harm you, but that doesn’t mean they won’t try.”

  “Eleanor said something like that too. That’s why I worry about Steel. You won’t tell anyone about him, will you?”

  He shook his head. “If someone hears about it, it won’t be from me. A human mate isn’t the best choice though for that reason. They would constantly be in danger.”

  “I really can’t make the sirens accept him?”

  “Your father wasn’t able to make them accept your mom. Sirens are born killers. We’re monsters living in humanoid skin. Don’t mistake that as possessing human qualities like compassion. If you think a siren’s voice is powerful, then keep in mind that our bite is much worse than our bark.”

  “That’s… not encouraging… at all.”

  “No, it isn’t, but it’s the truth. As your friend, that’s the type of stuff you can expect from me.”

  I laughed. “That’s exactly what I need.”

  I glanced up at the stars and felt my shoulders relax. Tonight was going far better than I ever could’ve imagined and it was a relief. Eleanor was right. It felt good having a friend, especially one who knew the ins and outs of siren life.

  “As my friend and speaker of truth, how about you share with me why we can see the stars from under the water?”

  “That’s an easy one. It’s because of the king. He holds more magic than the average siren and created this for us.”

  “Okay, how about a harder question then. If sirens don’t want anything in common with humans, why do they choose to live in an air bubble that’s similar to a human island?”

  “Sirens like to bathe in sunlight, so King Delmer—your dad—had this built so we could do it safely. After his necklace was stolen, I was told that this bubble became a way to protect us from the mermaids. I don’t know what you know about them, but mermaids can’t leave the water. If their tail becomes too dry, they die.”

  “That’s why they can’t enter Siren’s Call.”

  “Correct.”

  “But my dad said King Triton helped him build this garden. How could he do that if he had to stay in the water?”

  “It started off in the water, but King Delmer saw the potential it had to be more than just an underwater castle with a pretty garden. There’s enough of the water to go around, so he thought of something we didn’t have. The sun and the stars.”

  “What was it like before the necklace was stolen? I was told we used to have tails.”

  “I was born not too long after it was taken, so I’m not certain. All I’ve ever known is a life without the necklace. My dad likes to talk about how strong we were bef
ore, but I feel pretty powerful without it too.”

  “That’s what I was saying. I can only imagine what more power would feel like. I’m not so sure it’s a good thing to bring back.”

  “We wouldn’t have to worry about the mermaids attacking us. That would be a benefit.”

  “Are they really that much of a problem?”

  “Yes. I see them every now and then as they test the strength of our barrier. They’re waiting for the moment it comes down and without the necklace, I was told it eventually will.”

  If the mermaids were actively trying to find a weakness, then it was true that I needed to find the necklace. It would be better sooner rather than later no matter what Eleanor thought. What if the barrier went down before I could reclaim the necklace? What would that mean for everyone else? It made me wonder how strong and conniving the mermaids were. I assumed they would be sweet, but everything I’d heard warned me otherwise. Even though mermaids were considered to be evil, I still couldn’t shake myself of the feeling that there was more to the story than I was getting.

  “So, what is there to do around here?” I asked to change the subject to a lighter one.

  “Not much to be honest,” he replied. “The highlight of my day is when I finally get to go human hunting, but I know you don’t want to do that. Maybe you should pick up a hobby, like collecting shells.”

  “Huh, that doesn’t sound like such a bad idea. You know, there are some pretty shells out there that I wouldn’t mind discovering.”

  He laughed. “I was joking, Sera.”

  “Yeah, but it kind of held some truth. I do need a hobby besides pining over a pirate or training.”

  “Wait, you didn’t say your human was a pirate. Isn’t that living a little dangerously?”

  “I don’t think so. Pirates obviously have a bad reputation, but Steel would never hurt me.”

  “If you say so. I’ve heard that they have no loyalty and kill other humans as a hobby.”

  “Well, they do, but I’m hoping to change that too.”

  Thames let out a whistle. “You have a busy agenda and some hard-to-reach goals.”

  “Say all you want, but I can’t wait to say ‘told you so’ when my tasks are complete.”

  “I hope you do prove me wrong. I don’t think you will, but I guess we’ll see.”

  “We sure will.”

  Thames and I talked for another hour. He asked me about my abilities to control the weather and to talk to the Kraken. I told him what I knew, even though it wasn’t very clarifying. Instead, it left him with the same questions as me. Why was I stronger and what else could I do?

  Chapter Seven

  Two weeks flew by and there hadn’t been any word about the whereabouts of Steel. Eon hadn’t returned since he left fourteen days ago, but Dad didn’t seem worried about his absence. Apparently, it was normal for him to be gone this long, but that didn’t lessen my impatience or my anxiety.

  I could now use my magic for a full three hours without growing weak or tired. Dad was correct when he said all I had to do was build my stamina up. Next to the Healing Pool was still my favorite place to practice. Once I finished using magic, a dip into the water returned my strength. It was the perfect setup.

  Sometimes, the other sirens would watch me with awe as I practiced. It bothered me initially, but with my magic feeling more and more natural, my nerves weren’t so bad. Thames would linger more than others, but his presence was comforting.

  Eleanor had stopped mentioning the idea of making friends. She was happy enough that I had one. Thames and I hung out whenever I wasn’t training and he would try to show me who I could and couldn’t trust.

  At the moment, I was standing at the edge of the barrier. I could see it shimmering as water pulsed against it. I’d just had a quiet breakfast with my father, but he had to end it abruptly for an urgent meeting. He wouldn’t tell me what was going on, but my lessons with Eleanor were canceled because she had to be present for the discussion.

  I was taught so much in the past two weeks of lessons with Eleanor. I learned how to walk with the air of a siren princess: head held high and teeth bared in a wicked smile. I also learned how to keep an emotionless mask on my face. I could hold my feelings together and they were easier to keep hidden from the siren world.

  Eleanor said the other sirens would use my emotions against me if they were written on my face. She’d even used Steel against me until I succeeded in not reacting to his name being said. Sirens were cold creatures and I needed to become one as well if I was expected to rule them.

  The glimmering barrier brought me back to the present. For once, there weren’t any guards around me. They were preoccupied elsewhere and that was perfectly fine with me. It was nice to finally be truly alone outside of the castle. I should feel guilty for taking advantage of it, but I didn’t. There was something that Dad wasn’t telling me and I needed to know what it was. Even if that meant finding out for myself.

  I poked my finger at the barrier to test its strength, but I was shocked when my finger went right through it. I could feel the wetness of the water on the other side and it was calling to me. After taking a few deep breaths of encouragement, I pushed my whole body forward. It didn’t meet any resistance as it passed right through and felt like I was walking under a waterfall.

  My gills kicked in as I swam away from Siren’s Call. It was only a few minutes later that the Kraken found me. The sudden appearance of his large form had me nearly jumping out of my skin.

  “You scared me,” I told him as I placed my hand over my pounding heart.

  “I was told by the gods that today would be the day,” his rough voice invaded my mind.

  “Care to enlighten me on what’s supposed to be happening today because I haven’t got a clue?”

  “Grab onto my tentacle and hold on tight. I’ll take you where you need to be and you’ll understand everything once we get there.”

  “Well, I can’t really argue with a free ride.” I smiled weakly even though the uncertainty was hard to swallow.

  I latched onto the nearest tentacle and was surprised to discover it was smooth rather than slimy like I’d been expecting. I was learning very quickly not to believe stereotypes.

  The Kraken pushed forward and I wrapped my arms around him a little tighter. The water surged by us as the Kraken moved and it was difficult to keep my eyes open. The force of his speed was too much and I had to duck my head behind his tentacle.

  The ride didn’t last too long though and I found myself out of breath when he finally stopped in front of a large, sunken pirate ship. I recognized it immediately as Steel’s former vessel The Sea Nymph’s Revenge. It still looked just as intimidating at the bottom of the ocean as it did sailing atop it.

  As I neared it, I saw a shadow move to hide behind a piece of wood. A yellow eye was the only thing visible. The pupil was slitted and it was filled with murderous intent. I swallowed my fear and pressed forward. Nothing would dare to attack me with the Kraken hovering behind me. At least, that was what I was counting on.

  “You can come on out,” I tried. After a minute passed, I added, “I won’t hurt you. Why don’t you introduce yourself?”

  Purple hair floated up, followed by a long, striking face. It was a girl and she flashed her sharp teeth at me.

  “Siren,” she spit out disdainfully and her lip curled with disgust.

  “I usually go by Sera.” I smiled, but she didn’t leave her hiding place. “Are you a mermaid?”

  She cocked her head as she looked me up and down. “Haven’t you seen a mermaid before?”

  “No, I’ve lived on a secluded island most of my life. I never realized how sheltered I was until I was forced to leave it.”

  That piqued her attention and she came up a bit more. Now, I could see layers of seaweed were wrapped around her chest as a makeshift top.

  “Why would a siren live on an island?”

  “Because I also have a little bit of human in me.”r />
  “A human and a siren? I didn’t know that was possible.”

  “Well, I’m living proof that it is.”

  “That doesn’t change anything. Sirens are still evil and the sworn enemies of mermaids. I’m surprised you haven’t already tried to attack me.”

  I quirked an eyebrow at her. “Why would I? You’ve given me no reason to. Besides, I’m not really a fighter unless I have to be.”

  “I can’t trust a siren. You’re lying.”

  “I am not.”

  “King Triton said that’s what all sirens do. Lie, lie, and lie some more.”

  “My father would have me think the opposite. Mermaids are the ones who cause trouble and are filled with hate and jealousy.”

  “And who’s your father?” she sneered.

  “The siren king.”

  The mermaid gasped and vanished from view as she ducked back down behind the splintered wood.

  I groaned. “Will you come out already? I’m not here for a fight. I’m actually looking for something. Maybe you can help me.”

  “Why would I want to help a disgusting creature like you?”

  “Because I have the Kraken with me?” I tried to sound threatening, but it just came out as an uncertain question.

  Her eyes glanced over the top. “I don’t know how you wormed your way into his head, but I know the second I come out, I’ll be dead.”

  I looked to the Kraken who told me, “If I wanted her dead, she would be. I haven’t seen any sign to mark her as a true threat.”

  I turned back to the mermaid and said, “He doesn’t see you as a problem, so don’t make yourself one.”

  “That isn’t what I said,” the Kraken said, but I ignored him. I liked my version better.

  After a few more silent minutes, the mermaid finally decided to come all of the way out. My mouth dropped open at the beauty of her tail. Her purple scales glittered and the fins at the bottom were almost see-through. She flicked it and moved just a hair closer to me.

  “You really haven’t seen a mermaid before,” she said matter-of-factly. “I’m Serena.”

  “Your tail is absolutely gorgeous. Can I touch it?” I couldn’t help myself. This was too crazy. It felt like a childhood dream coming true.