The Sound of a Siren's Call

61.) Pirate's Cove and Ransoms

Each coin in my fingers was another step toward Castor. I let the coin stay in my palm for just a moment. I was close to Castor. I could feel it. I knew it.

My mother and I had never ben close, but she felt more aloof than usual. Not that I cared. I didn't meet with her to have some amazing reconnection. Maybe she could sense that. I didn't really care.

Castor was all that mattered now. Castor and Juniper. The two of them were who I needed to reconnect with.

I felt breath on my back. I turned around.

"How much more do you need?"

"Not much."

My mother nodded, then turned, her tail flicking lazily. She swam to the other side of the cave, with a beauty that men would die for. A beauty that men had died for.

When she came back, she had a cloth bag with her. She pressed it into my hands.

"Is this enough?"

The bag was heavy in my hands, not submerged enough into the waters for the water to carry it. It was all I could do not nod.

"Good. It's not like I need it."

Her head dipped under the water again. I put the bag onto the stone shelf at the edge of the cave. It was enough. I could pay Castor's ransom. I could leave.

I looked at the glint of red below the waves. I felt a bit of warmth toward my mother. It was fleeting, but it was there.

I reached for my bag, tucking my mother's donation into it. I had done it. I'd done it! Castor was mine now. I took a deep breath, and dipped below the waves myself.

The sea seemed so beautiful when I was leaving it. I floated lazily, looking for the Red Revenge. I saw it soon enough. I resurfaced and waved to the boat. There was my father, waving back. I took a deep breath. I was close.

Soon enough I was on the deck.

"I have the money."

"Good. Fearsoan is waiting for you."

"Where is he?"

"Pirate's cove."

I nodded. I'd only been there once in my life. I would go there again if that's where Juniper and Castor would.

"Well, off I go then."

"And you're coming back?"

"Of course."

"Take the dingy."

"I'm a siren. I can just swim there."

"Pirates are sailors at heart. We don't take kindly to sirens."

"You took kindly to mom."

"She wasn't a siren then. And that's different."

"Fine, I'll row there. Happy?"

"Very."

Ψψψ

I stared up at the night sky. It was a beautiful in a haunting sort of way. The sea was calm in every direction. I was alone with the water and my bags of money. I closed my eyes, letting the smell of salt was over me.

My hands ached. I was exhausted. I pulled my paddles in. It was all I could do to curl up, hoping I didn't drift too far in my sleep.

When I woke, the sun was rising again. I grabbed my paddles again. I hoped the siren in me was strong enough to know where I was. I closed my eyes again and pulled the wood toward me. I needed to get to my friends. I would get to my friends, blisters be damned.