The Siren Princess

by Lichelle Slater

  James nodded. “What was the worst part for you?”

  “I think the worst part of being stuck on an island was being alone.”

  “For you, I imagine that was extremely difficult,” James threw in.

  I narrowed my eyes. “Why do you say that?”

  “Because you never stop talking.” James’s lips spread into a big grin.

  I gasped.

  Sky laughed, and even Gerard broke a smile.

  I scowled at Sky and jabbed my finger in his ribs. “Don’t be rude.”

  “He’s right.” Sky shrugged. “Don’t take it personal. You know it too.”

  “No more kisses for you.” I pulled out from under his arm and pushed him away when he tried again. “Where are we headed?” I asked James.

  James’s lips teased a smile. “We’re heading to Delphi.”

  “I’d like to go on shore with you when we arrive.” I spooned the last of my stew into my mouth.

  “We will see,” he replied. He got to his feet. “Odette, I need a word with you.” He motioned for me to follow.

  I cleaned up my bowl before I followed James to the upper deck.

  James went to the helm and relieved the sailor so he could get his dinner.

  “What did you want to talk about?” I asked.

  James kept his eyes on the stairs where the sailor disappeared, then lifted his gaze to the sea. “Sky told me you believe you changed into a siren.”

  I flexed my jaw, my hands fiddled with the bottom of my shirt.

  “What makes you believe you became a siren?” James looked sideways at me.

  “I don’t believe it. It really happened. But I’m not telling you unless you tell me how you lost your hand.” I folded my arms to stop myself from picking.

  He inhaled through his nose and looked over at me. “All right.”

  I nodded. “I was in the rowboat, got hit by a storm, and the waves threw me into the sea. I had no choice than to transform or I was going to drown.”

  “You act as if this isn’t the first time it’s happened.”

  “Because it’s not,” I blurted before I could stop myself. Of course I had to let slip to James of all people. I turned away.

  But my outburst really got his attention.

  James glanced around again, and I realized it wasn’t only to make sure we were alone. It was as if he were afraid someone else could overhear us in spite of the drinking song being bellowed from the belly of the ship.

  “I thought it was a hallucination the first time,” I muttered.

  “Tell me more,” James urged, his voice low.

  “I got . . .” I sighed and folded my arms. “Why does it matter?”

  “Because it’s very important.” His brown eyes locked on me, intense with sincere earnestness.

  “I got pulled into the sea by a siren a few days ago. When I sailed with Captain Avery and we were returning to port. I thought the siren was going to kill me. And then, when I ran out of breath . . . The siren let go.” I bit my lip and closed the gap between myself and James. “You can’t tell my mother. Because if you do and she finds out I’m a freak . . .”

  He shook his head. “How do you know you transformed?”

  “Because I could breathe.”

  James’s eyes took on a glint, one I knew to be joyous, though his smile only lingered on the edges of his lips. “Go on.”

  “There’s not much else to tell. When I looked down, my fingers were webbed, just like the siren, and I had gills. To top it off, I swam to the surface so fast, I couldn’t believe it.” I shook my head. “I know it sounds crazy.”

  “And what happened in the storm? When you did it again?”

  I shrugged a shoulder. “I knew I was going to drown. But I wasn’t going to let that happen, and . . . sort of just did it.”

  This time, James’s smile spread. “I’ll be damned.”

  “What does it mean?”

  “It means you’re crazy.” He straightened and returned his attention forward.

  eight

  “That’s rude.” I frowned. “And uncalled for.”

  “I was teasing,” he replied, and his grin showed it.

  I put my hands on my hips. “How did you lose your hand?”

  James’s teasing smile faltered, and he looked at me. It was almost as if it hurt him that I’d asked. He cleared his throat and faced forward. “I’ll tell you another time.”

  “James—”

  “It’s Captain.”

  I flexed my jaw. “Well then.” I glared. “You had your father sleep with my mother to arrange this. You only became captain because your father can’t keep it in his pants.”

  “That’s disrespectful, Odette,” he snapped.

  “But true! You don’t even deny it. And you agreed to tell me. What sort of captain are you if you go against an arrangement as easy as that?”

  “That’s enough.”

  Anger started to boil in my chest. “You didn’t earn this ship. You didn’t earn the title of captain.” I glowered. “You’re just as despicable as your father.” I turned on my heel.

  “Odette!” he yelled.

  I stopped dead in my tracks and looked over my shoulder at him. On the inside, his shout had startled me. I’d always pushed his buttons without him reacting much, but there he stood, anger and hurt in his gaze.

  “You will learn to call me captain and show me respect while you are on board my ship. You clearly don’t know what I’ve done to earn this ship, and yes, I have earned the right to be called captain. It is not my fault you don’t remember. Get a mop and swab the deck.”

  “Pardon me?” I blinked.

  “You heard me. You won’t be allowed to sleep tonight until every inch is spotless.”

  “It’s a new ship, and I’ve barely slept in—”

  “Do it. Now.” His voice was calm but had the sharp edge of a sword and the burn of anger.

  This was the lightest punishment he probably could have given me.

  As I got the bucket and lowered it into the water, I understood I had crossed a line. Had he been Captain Avery, I never would have spoken to him in such a way. It was completely within his right to do what he was doing. I was a crew member who had stepped out of line.

  I didn’t say another word of objection. I didn’t even slap the mop around or risk doing a crappy job. My aching muscles protested as I moved the mop back and forth. The drinking song below grated on my nerves. Within a few minutes, my legs began to tremble from weakness, but I wasn’t about to stop.

  I heard footsteps before James said, “Odette, you can be done.”

  “I haven’t finished,” I replied, bitterness in my voice.

  He exhaled through his nose. “You need rest.”

  “I haven’t finished,” I repeated, putting an emphasis on each consonant.

  James reached out and put his hand over mine, stopping the mop. “Odette.”

  I finally lifted my eyes.

  His expression was soft. His brown eyes looked like an apologetic puppy. “Go get some sleep. You can barely stand.”

  “You gave me an order, Captain.”

  James stared at me, then let go and straightened. “Why must you be so stubborn?”

  “I wouldn’t want you to think I’m disrespecting you by not finishing your command.”

  “Blimey, Odette!”

  I flinched.

  He ran his hand through his black hair. “I’m trying to apologize,” he said through gritted teeth. “Go below deck and get some rest. You can finish in the morning if you’re so set on following orders.”

  I dug my thumbnail into the wood of the mop and nodded softly.

  James lingered.

  I thought he wanted to add something, but he turned and walked away, muttering a c
urse under his breath. I knew I was stubborn. My mother had raised me to be such. One of my biggest flaws was never knowing when to stop. I knew it. But it still hurt that he hated me so much. What did I ever do to him?

  “Jame . . . Captain, wait.” I dropped the mop and walked after him, reaching him quickly.

  He turned and faced me.

  “I’m sorry. You’re right. You are the captain, and I should respect that.”

  He nodded to me.

  “I . . . didn’t thank you for saving me either. Not properly. If you hadn’t come, I would have been forced to try and swim for the land. Or would have died.” I wrung my hands. I needed to stay on his good side.

  “You’re welcome.”

  “I um . . . I guess I’ll see you in the morning,” I added awkwardly. When he stayed silent, I turned away and headed for the stairs.

  “You know, Sky isn’t loyal to you.”

  I turned.

  James held his hat in his hands and picked at dust that didn’t exist.

  “What do you mean?” I pressed.

  He lifted his gaze to me. “You’re attached to him. But he’s using you, mate.” He flashed a half-grin, I dared say it was apologetic. “You’re better off as friends, not lovers.”

  My lips tightened. “Oh? And why do you say that?”

  “Think about it. You saw him on my ship, didn’t you? When you left with Captain Josiah?”

  “I know he’s friendly. A bit of a flirt,” I admitted.

  “A bit?” He hinted with his brows.

  “I believe you are jealous, Captain Hook. Because he has someone who cares about him, and you don’t.”

  James laughed. “He does, does he? Someone loyal in spite of it all? You grew up with him, the same as me, and you know what he’s like.” He stepped forward and took my hand. “Just like you know what I’m like.” His brows softened.

  My heart raced at his touch. Heat crept up my face.

  He turned away.

  I tightened my grip on his hand before he could leave. “Who is it that you like?”

  “My ship, of course.” He winked.

  “James.”

  He shrugged and pulled his hand from mine.

  I was suddenly overwhelmed by a rush of emotions. Embarrassment, desire, and suspicion. Before thinking, I impulsively snatched his hat. “Tell me who.”

  James stared at me, brows pinched in confusion. “What are you doing?”

  “Tell me who!”

  “Odette.” He relaxed his stance and held his hands out to his sides. “What do you want from me?”

  “To know. Come on.” I grinned. “You can tell me. We’re alone up here!”

  “Give me my hat.” He reached for it.

  “Nah uh.” I ran from him, to the edge of the ship. “Is it Sarah Beth?”

  He blanched. “Sarah? No.”

  “Lucy?”

  He rolled his eyes. “Give me my hat.” He stepped close to me, close enough I could smell him, and he reached around me for his hat.

  I yanked it away, but my arm struck the railing, and I accidentally dropped the hat. The wind caught it, and is spiraled over the edge.

  That had not been my intention.

  I gasped in horror and clamped a hand on my mouth.

  James stared at me in shock. “You little . . . sea urchin! That’s my captain’s hat!”

  I knew I would be furious if someone threw my captain’s hat overboard. In honesty, I hadn’t expected the wind to catch it. I just wanted to tease him by tossing it to the deck.

  “I didn’t mean to!” I exclaimed.

  James pointed with his hook and it caught a glint of the moonlight. “You’re going in after it.”

  “No, I’m not! It’s night! The ocean is treacherous at night! And the waves have already carried it too far away. I’ll buy you a new one when we dock.”

  He seized my arm and pointed toward the water.

  “Hey!” I protested, trying to dig my heels in. “I’m not going in! James, ah!”

  He shoved me against the railing. “One.”

  “You’re being ridiculous! It’s only a hat!”

  “Two!” He wasn’t going to let me get away with this, and he wasn’t letting go. “Three.”

  That was my last warning. With all his strength, he dragged me over the edge. My weight did the rest of the work for him. Caught off-balance and with nothing to hold on to, I plummeted into the waves.

  I gasped when I surfaced.

  “Better swim fast so you can make it back to the ship!” James called from above.

  I wished I hadn’t been so impulsive. “You bilge rat! What if I die?” I yelled back as I treaded water and tried to keep my head above the waves.

  He raised his hands up to his sides in an innocent gesture. “Turn into a siren.”

  “Stupid yellow-bellied codfish!” I shouted at him. “Is this your stupid ploy to see if I turn?”

  James only waved back.

  “Well I’m not going to!” I grumbled curses under my breath and looked around the dark sea for “Hook’s” hat. I swam with the waves, hoping to find it still floating nearby. Even more, I hoped I could find it in the darkness.

  And if James left me behind, so help me, I would make sure to haunt him!

  I felt a deep-seated fear—and excitement—that there was an entire world in the ocean below to me.

  Panic began to speed up my heartbeat.

  Get the hat. Get back to the ship.

  I spotted James’s hat floating just a stroke away and my heart jumped. “There you are!”

  I finally reached it, grabbed the soft fabric, then put it on my head before turning to head back to the ship.

  But the current had carried me much further away than I thought possible, and the ship floated a good distance off. On the open sea, things always appeared much closer than possible, and my stomach dropped like a stone.

  “I hope you send someone to help, you ungrateful swine,” I muttered.

  I kept my eyes focused on the lamplight aglow in the captain’s quarters, rhythmically moved my arms, gulped in breaths, and yet my arms grew heavy, my lungs burned, and I didn’t feel any closer than when I’d started swimming. I was not going to turn into a siren to satisfy James’s idea to prove myself to him.

  But I didn’t look to be getting any nearer to the ship.

  That same anguishing fear I felt when the sirens dragged me under settled into my bones. My heart raced like I’d never felt it before. I’d felt the adrenaline of a good swordfight, had my share of injuries, but to be left behind like this . . . thrown overboard for a mistake that was supposed to be flirting, left for dead, left behind to be dragged into the ocean . . .

  Something brushed my foot, and I recoiled.

  My breath came in quick gasps and I searched the pitch-black water of night for the source of what had touched me. The thought of sharks flashed in my mind, and I plunged my hand into the water and drew my dagger. I took slow, stretched strokes, keeping my eyes on the water.

  It had to be my imagination.

  We were too far out into the ocean for sirens. Perhaps even sharks.

  But the ocean was full of sea monsters.

  I tried to swallow, but my mouth felt like I’d just eaten hardtack. Fear was beginning to override my sanity. My clothes were beginning to feel heavy. My body was becoming exhausted. No sailor, no matter how experienced, could swim against the waves of the ocean for a long period of time.

  I tore my gaze away from the black water to glance at the ship again. To my relief, it was headed back toward me.

  Apparently, James had some loyalty.

  Then again, he likely knew my mother would hang him if he returned without me.

  I tried to pick up my pace, but this time, there was a stroke from
my thigh to my foot.

  It wasn’t a shark.

  Sharks can’t stroke your leg.

  “You better hurry!” I shouted, trying not to move and not sink at the same time.

  I adjusted my grip on the dagger, no longer caring if I returned James’s hat to him or not. I just wanted to get out of the water.

  I would have believed the light touch wrapping around my right leg to be seaweed had I been in shallow water.

  When the grip tightened and squeezed, I sliced my dagger through the water, cutting at whatever grabbed me. Instantly, pain exploded into my right thigh, and I screamed in pain. I’d not only cut through whatever held on to me, I’d slashed my own leg. As whatever had held me began to fall away, a ripple of glowing purple dots spiraled down my leg and through the water, igniting tentacles and then a long florescent head with a triangle fin at the top.

  A kraken.

  A living, breathing, kraken.

  nine

  All dignity left me. I screamed as loud as possible and turned to swim, but the tentacle re-gripped my leg, this time squeezing so tightly I thought it would tear my leg right off. I hadn’t looked to see how far or near the ship was. I couldn’t look away from the monster about to eat me.

  The kraken dragged me under.

  Another slice of the dagger and the tentacle dropped. I broke the surface and screamed again. The light on its body flashed and rippled white and pink, and more tentacles reached for me. One seized my waist, another gripped my wrist, and a third pinned my legs tightly together.

  Helpless, I screamed a third time, now breathless with panic.

  A cannon exploded and struck the water just feet away. Splashing water blinded me, the shockwave took my breath, and before I could gasp, the squid yanked me under again.

  All went silent, save the muted sound of another cannon and another. Beyond the light of the squid, the cannonballs whizzed through the water.

  If I transformed now, I would lose my boots. If I didn’t, I would die.

  There was only one choice. I didn’t waste a moment before I transformed into my siren form so I could breathe. I couldn’t, however, escape.

  The nearer the kraken pulled me, the bigger I realized the creature was. It was probably as long as the ship. Maybe even longer.