The Pirate's Princess

by Bethany Wicker

  “Do you have an inkling of who’s betrayed me?”

  “I do, but as a god it is not my place to interfere. I only wanted to see you and let you know that you were more than what you think. With my blood, you have the powers of a demigod. You are stronger and wiser than you know. It's only a matter of learning to tap into these abilities. For that, you must rely on your father, so he can help you unlock them as he did before.”

  “My father is a demigod too?”

  “No, your human blood mixed with my blood and formed the powers of a demigod within you. Your siren blood has nothing to do with it, which means your dad was incapable of developing the powers of a demigod.”

  “So, my mortal blood does make me stronger?”

  “In a way, yes, although other gods would say otherwise. Mortal blood increases the amount of possibilities. It gives you the chance to be more.”

  “Thanks for clearing that up because this is going to be difficult to explain to everyone. Did you talk to my father like this when he owned the necklace?”

  “No, that was only reserved for you because you are the Fated Princess. That title simply means that you’re a demigod of chance and change. You will have more power than even your father and your ancestors.”

  “That’s pretty hard to believe, so I’m going to have to take your word for it.”

  “I certainly wouldn’t lie to you if that’s what you’re implying.” His eyebrows knitted together.

  “I don’t think you are. It's just hard to believe that a god would be interested in me and not playing some type of trick.”

  “I do enjoy playing tricks on mortals, but not on my blood. It may not be the same for the other gods, but my blood means something to me. It isn’t something I give away for fun. I think about every move I make. I’m a planner not a doer.”

  “I don’t know where I’m supposed to be yet. I’m still trying to learn to be myself off of an island. I’m seeing things I’ve never seen before, like a mermaid for example. I met a real mermaid and she’s not so bad.”

  “Many things that you think are myth are actually real. Just because you haven’t seen it, doesn’t mean they’re not out there. All you have to do is believe and you’ll be amazed at how open your eyes will become.”

  “I still can’t believe I’m talking to Poseidon.”

  “There aren’t many who get this opportunity so take heed of my words. You were born for greatness if you allow it to come to you.”

  The white room began to fade and altered back into the cavern. It was hard to see in the dark cave at first after being in such a bright place. Once my eyes adjusted, I felt for the necklace and sighed with relief when it was still around my neck.

  What should I do now? Should I go straight back to Siren’s call and face my dad’s anger or should I hang out with Steel and sail on the water for a little longer? Will the siren’s give me some freedom now that we have this necklace? Poseidon said that there were so many different paths to take, but I only wish I knew which one took me in the right direction towards peace. Either way it was time to face the road ahead, no matter where it led me.

  I swam back through the tunnel and found the leader of the cannibals waiting for me. I hated that I forgot his name and voiced that thought.

  “My name is Heiji and I am forever in your debt, Daughter of Poseidon.” He bowed his head.

  “Where is everyone?” I asked after looking around and only seeing Heiji.

  “They have all moved on to eternity. I am next, but must pass on a message to you before I leave this planet forever. There is one among you who will betray you as I’m sure you’ve heard. This is something not to take lightly and to know that it will happen soon. Keep your eyes and ears open. You can beat this person if you try. Just remember, not everything is done nicely.”

  After he said those words his body began to fade, slowly turning into dust, and blew away with the breeze. I took a deep breath as I contemplated on what the next move would be. I trekked back to the ocean at a slower pace than I left, so I wouldn’t trip over as many things this time. I was so relieved to see Steel’s ship waiting for me. My heart thundered with anticipation of whatever was coming next. For now, all I needed to do was see Steel one more time before I did anything else.

  Serena was waiting for me under the ship and she gave me a full-toothed smile. “Did you find it? The necklace?”

  I gestured to the pendant hanging from my neck. “I sure did. Now, time to work on restoring peace.”

  “Can I see it?”

  My head tilted in confusion. “You are seeing it. I was told no one else is supposed to touch it except those with Poseidon’s blood, so I think it’s better for you to stay away from it for now. Until we know for sure.”

  “No, I need to see it now.”

  I narrowed my eyes at her. “You can see it perfectly fine from where you are. I know this is the right necklace because I feel stronger than ever. I probably could even turn my legs into a tail if I tried.”

  Serena let out a snarl and her smile twisted into a sneer. “You will give me the necklace and you will do it now or else I will tear out your throat.”

  “Serena, what are you talking about? Why are you doing this?”

  “Did you really think I was your friend? I’m here to steal that necklace from your throat as a gift for King Triton, even if I have to rip it off your dead body.”

  “I don’t understand. Why would you want this necklace? Were you sent here to retrieve it by King Triton?"

  “Of course you don’t understand. I already told you how naïve you are. Poor naïve and innocent little Sera. I didn’t realize sirens were so pathetic.”

  My throat felt like it was closing and the pressure of tears began to build behind my eyes. “So, everything you’ve told has been a lie?”

  “Maybe… maybe not all of it. Either way, you and I can never be friends.”

  “What about all of that stuff you said about being alone and wanting a friend?”

  “I do feel alone a lot of the time, but what you fail to grasp is that mermaids love being alone. If we spend too much time with each other, we would just kill one another.”

  “Are your parents really dead or was that a lie too?”

  “That was true. I didn’t see the need to lie about them. If they’d been here, they probably would’ve eaten me as a baby.”

  “What about King Triton and my mom? Was that true?”

  “That wasn’t a lie. I figured you would want to hear why mermaids hate sirens and it’s also the reason I’m going to enjoy this.”

  Serena flashed her claws as she surged towards me with an animalistic screech. Her pupils were fully slitted. Her nails were only inches away when I threw up my hands and sent a pulse of power towards her. It pushed her away from me and she looked slightly disoriented when she stopped spinning.

  “Serena, please don’t do this. I’m hoping this is all some sick joke because I really think we could be friends.”

  “I want to do this,” she said as she lunged at me again. “We can never be friends.”

  I dove out of the way, but her tail caught me in the abdomen. It sent me spinning towards the ship and I banged my head into it with a loud thump. Blood swirled around me and stars flooded my vision for a few seconds. I reached up to touch the tender spot on my head.

  Serena didn’t give me time to recover as she slammed into me again. Her nails slid across my chest ripping my dress with it and narrowly missing the necklace. I kicked my leg out, but it didn’t slow her down. Serena kept striking me, and it was getting harder and harder to defend myself. I was feeling dizzier and dizzier with each blow.

  All of a sudden, a deafening roar broke out and Serena jerked away from me with wide eyes. A few seconds later, she was swallowed whole by the Kraken.

  “Thank you,” I managed to squeak out before falling unconscious.

  Chapter Eleven

  A cold rag brushed across my face and it stirred me up from my sl
umber. My blurry surroundings slowly came into focus and I saw Gregor leaning over me.

  He pulled away. “How are you feeling?”

  My muscles felt stiff as I sat up. “How did I get back on the ship? The last thing I remember was being in the water.”

  “Well, you can imagine our surprise when an enormous tentacle hovered over the ship and deposited you on the deck. At first, Steel wanted to attack the Kraken, but it sank back into the water and disappeared before he had the chance.”

  “The Kraken didn’t do this. It was Serena. She was the one who attacked me.”

  I ran my fingers along my chest. I expected to feel scratches, but found that my skin was smooth and wound free. I clutched onto the necklace that was still hanging from my neck and sent a silent “thank you” up to Poseidon.

  “Serena… who’s that again?”

  “The mermaid I met while searching for you all. I thought she was my friend, but she tried to steal this necklace from me. The Kraken ate her.”

  “Holy Hades, did he eat her in one bite or tear her into pieces?”

  “I don’t really see how that’s relevant, but he ate her whole.”

  “That’s epic. I wish I would’ve seen that.”

  “There’s nothing epic about it. I trusted Serena and she betrayed me. Where’s Steel?”

  “He’s on the deck with the crew. He’s trying to plan our course but we weren’t sure what to do next since you were unconscious.”

  “I think I need to return to Siren's Call to see what should be done with the necklace. It feels like a weight on my shoulders now that it’s here.”

  “Why don’t you take it off?”

  “Because it’s safest around my neck.”

  “Well, do you think you’ll come back?”

  “That’ll have to be one of my rewards for finding the necklace. I’ll be back in no time. Off the top of my head, I don’t remember how to get to Siren's Call, but I have a feeling the Kraken will help me. Can you show me where Steel is? I haven’t learned the layout of the ship quite yet.”

  “Of course.” He helped me stand up. A wave of dizziness left me unsteady on my feet until it passed.

  We found Steel standing behind the captain’s wheel. With the sun setting behind him, he looked like a glimmering god that was even comparable to Poseidon. The wind blew his dark wavy hair in various directions and his grey eyes were bright as they reflected the light from the sea. He seemed distracted and didn’t notice as I approached him.

  Gregor left to go eat while I continued towards Steel. I ran my fingers up his arm and only then did he notice my presence. He jumped as if I’d pulled him out of a trance.

  “You scared me.” He chuckled. “I was zoned out for a minute. How are you feeling?”

  “I’m okay enough. What were you thinking about?” I asked.

  “I was debating about going on a pilly or not. I figured it would raise the men’s spirits. They seem down without the rest of the crew, but there’s nothing like gold, rum, and jewels to do the trick of bringing a smile to a pirate’s face.”

  “Well, if it’s something you really think you need to do, I hope you do it while I’m away at Siren's Call.”

  “You’re leaving again?”

  “I think it’s time to return this necklace to my dad. He'll know what to do with it. The necklace might bring danger to this ship if it remains here with me and I don’t want that.”

  A distressed look crossed Steel’s face. “How long will you be gone for? Are you coming back?”

  “I’m not sure how long I’ll be gone for, but they won’t be able to keep me away from you this time.”

  “I can’t believe you have to leave me again. A woman should be chasing after a pirate, not the other way around.”

  “Why does a pirate care for a siren anyway?”

  “Why does the siren care for a pirate?”

  “Touche.”

  He smiled, but it didn’t last. “When are you leaving?”

  “Right now, that way I can get all of this over with. The sooner I leave, the sooner I’ll be able to return. Hopefully, next time I come back, it will be with words of peace.”

  “I can’t talk you out of leaving, can I?”

  “Have you been able to talk me out of anything yet?”

  “If so, I don’t remember it off the top of my head.”

  “Exactly, now, kiss me like you’re going to miss me again.”

  Steel let go of the wheel to wrap his arms around my waist and pulled me to him. His lips pressed against mine and they moved in sync. We kissed until we were satisfied, and then it was time for me to go.

  “Wait, before you leave, I want you to take this knife.” He handed me a simple silver dagger.

  “What would I need a knife for? I have magic now.” I made my fingertips glow for emphasis.

  “Maybe so, but you never know what you might encounter in the water. This might come in handy when you least expect it.”

  “That’s true. It might’ve been good against a mermaid with the name Serena.”

  “Sera, keep in mind that you’re my girl, so that means you have to return to me.”

  “And you’re my pirate.” I kissed him one more time. “I promise I’ll come back as soon as I can.”

  I said goodbye to the crew and received some confused looks. I took a little longer saying goodbye to Bastian as I attempted to make him smile. It failed terribly and became awkward quickly.

  I dove into the water and almost felt relieved when my gills kicked in. Before finding this necklace, fresh air was the best source of oxygen. Now, I wasn’t so sure. The water felt more like home than ever before with this pendant hanging from my neck. I used the dagger Steel gave me to prick my finger. It became useful sooner than I thought. It didn’t take long for the Kraken to find me.

  “That’s how you found me on The Sea Nymph’s Revenge, isn’t it?” I asked with my hands on my hips.

  “I must confess, it is,” he replied. “What have you called me for?”

  “I need you to take me to Siren's Call. I’m not sure where it is.”

  “Very well, you know what to do.”

  Instead of grabbing a tentacle behind the Kraken like usual, I held onto the one that was closest to his mouth.

  “Why are you still helping me?” I asked. “I found the necklace so mission complete, right?”

  “I’m helping you because it is Poseidon’s wish and I am curious to see where your fate lies.”

  “I know this may be a strange question, but do you possess feelings such as anger or happiness as a sea creature? Your voice is usually set at one tone and not swayed by emotion.”

  “I do not feel as you do. Instead, I grow bored very easily, which is why I don’t mind sticking around you. There's nothing boring surrounding you, like that mermaid for instance. I’m sorry for eating her if you did not want me to, but she didn’t taste very good if that makes it better.”

  “That was pretty intense, but I’m pretty sure you saved my life. Serena definitely would’ve killed me if you wouldn’t have shown up. How did you know I was in danger?”

  “I smelled your blood. I thought you were calling me on purpose, but was surprised to see you being attacked.”

  “Oh, right… my blood. Bet there was a lot of it with all of the damage Serena did to me.”

  “You healed pretty quickly. The water glowed around you after I ate Serena, and you fell unconscious.”

  “Glowing… that seems to be my signature thing.”

  The Kraken stopped swimming so suddenly that it nearly gave me whiplash.

  “What was that for?” I held my head, trying to get over the dizzy spell.

  “Something is amiss. I smell siren blood and a lot of it,” he replied.

  “Well, keep going then. We have to see what’s going on.”

  “I can’t get any closer to the blood. If I do, I will eat any siren within range, including you. I will lose control of myself and go into a frenzy. Yo
u must do this on your own. Your destination is straight-ahead. Just keep swimming.”

  I pushed myself away from him without another word and took off towards Siren's Call. The first sight upon reaching it was three dead mermaids floating lifelessly in the water. Their mouths were open in silent screams, and swirls of red clouded around them. My hand shot up to my mouth in shock. The barrier around Siren’s Call had vanished. There wasn’t an air pocket anymore and the grounds of Siren's Call had now become part of the ocean.

  Swimming around the mermaids gave me an eerie chill, but I continued forward. I needed to find my dad. I needed to make sure he was okay. The sirens I passed watched me with distraught expressions and their bodies were shaking with sobs. None of them would meet my eyes. A few more frantic minutes passed before I finally found my dad. His head was resting in Eleanor’s lap and her shoulders were quivering.

  I fell to my knees beside him. There was so much blood flowing out of his body and a sharpened rock protruded from his chest, near his heart. His skin was paler than normal. Too pale.

  “Eleanor, what happened to him?” I asked.

  “Oh Sera, everything just happened so suddenly that we barely had time to react. The barrier went down and any mermaid that was around it swam in for the kill,” she explained. “They went straight for your father. We tried to fend them off, but it was no use. There were too many. By the time our full power had returned to us, it was too late. The damage had been done.”

  “Is he… is he dead?”

  “Not yet.” my dad said weakly.

  The tears sprang free as I rested my head on his chest. “Dad, I’m so sorry I left without you. This is all my fault. I caused this because of my stupid impatience.”

  “No sweetie, this wasn’t because of you. This is because of a mistake I made so long ago and I’ve kept the truth from you all these years.”

  “I know what happened, Dad. A mermaid told me about what happened between Mom, you, and King Triton.”

  “That’s good. I don’t think I have enough breath in me to explain it myself. Your mother was so beautiful and perfect that I don’t regret a thing. I’m ready to go and meet her in the afterlife. I’ve been alive for far too long anyway.”