The Little Merman

Chapter Twenty-Seven: "Lovely Lorelei"

Nathan couldn't believe it. She was alive? Did his dad know? He had so many questions that he was fit to burst. Lorelei scratched her nails across the stones that lined the side of the pond, hissing out at Hook. "Let him go, Hook!" Hook straightened up, stepping back out of her arms reach to put his blade to Nathan's throat. Nathan tensed in Smee's hold, when Hook told her darkly. "Oh, I plan to. One deep cut and he'll be free from all the worlds problems. Don't you want that?" She tried to climb out from the pond but reached the limit of her chain before pleading out desperately. "Hook! Don't! I'm sorry! I didn't know what you meant to him! I didn't know that-!" Hook lowered his sword to yell over her in anger. "That he'd punish us?! Really?! Because of YOU, I lost my family! Why would I let you keep yours?! Why should YOU be happy?!" Lorelei tugged on her chain, her voice breaking when she yelled back. "Do I look happy?! You've won, Hook! Please, let him go!"

Hook shook his head, telling her flatly. "It's not enough. People like you... Land or sea. You take and take. And are rewarded for it. Not this time. If I have to spend the rest of my life suffering. Then so shall you! You wanted to sink me... and now, I'm going to drag you down with me!" Lorelei reached out as far as she could, begging him as Hook put his sword back to Nathan's throat. "Kill me! Hook?! Look at me! You'll get no satisfaction from killing him! I hurt you! I told Poseidon about you and Ursel! I ruined your family! Not him!" Nathan looked into Hook's dark and emotionless eyes with his slightly frightened ones. Nathan didn't know what to do. He felt like he was in shock. Hook kept his sword to Nathan's throat but looked at Lorelei to say under his breath. "If it wasn't for Ursel's help... You never would have had this boy. I should take back the gift he gave you. Out of spite!" Lorelei took deep breaths as she panted out. "Hook... Please. I'll do anything... I'll pay any price..."

Behind Nathan, Smee softly interjected. "Captain... Maybe we should take some time and think about this." Hook whirled around on Smee, yelling out furiously. "For what purpose?! I have no use for either of them now! I have my prize! I'm home!" Smee pulled Nathan to the side slowly to put himself between him and the Captain. Gesturing the Captain closer, Smee whispered to him calmly. "That we do. We've won. So why rush? We hold all the cards in our favor. Maybe we should... go upstairs. Have some drinks. Get some rest." Hook began to tense in reluctance, when Smee added quickly. "I'm not saying we shouldn't kill them. I'm saying... Let's not kill them just yet. You've waited years for revenge. Should it not be savored? Why kill them so quickly? Think about the perfect way to kill them." Nathan both loved and hated this plan. Hook relaxed a little as he let Smee's words sink in. Smee smiled warmly, patting Hook's chest as he told him. "You end them too quickly and you won't be happy. We both know this... but maybe if we savored the victory of taking the castle today. And THEN held another victory later with their deaths. You might feel more... fulfilled, Captain?"

Hook turned to look away from all of them, hefting out deep sighs. He even started to pace a little, before telling Smee a lot calmer. "You're right, Smee. I can think of something more befitting to end them with. One victory at a time. It will give the men time to relax and get settled. Don't want to burn them out all in one day, do we?" Smee shook his head, giving Hook a small smile as he told him. "No, we do not, Captain. In fact, I think the men might enjoy a nice party to celebrate this occasion?" Hook nodded; he was already deep in thought. Sheathing his sword, Hook patted Smee on the shoulder with his hooked hand without looking at him. Smee bowed his head, releasing Nathan to let Hook take him. Hook took him by the arm with his good hand, yanking him toward the other side of the garden. Nathan tugged against his grip to look back at his mother. She was crying and reaching out for him. He wanted to reach back out for her, but with his tied hands it was impossible. Smee looked between the two of them with a torn look, hesitating to follow.

Nathan was almost shocked to see Smee take her hand in a comforting gesture. Prompting his mom to plead out to Smee in a soft desperate voice. "Smee, please?" Smee kissed the back of her hand, looking her in the eyes. Whatever he said without words, calmed his mother down. Hook opened the spiraling staircase, calling out over his shoulder. "Smee!" Smee jogged over quickly, answering promptly. "Coming, Captain." Heading up the steps, Hook grumbled out to Smee. "Keep up, man. Don't waste your charm on her. She's already caught." Nathan raised an eyebrow, staggering up the steps as he listened to Smee answer nicely. "I know that, Captain. But a little kindness goes a long way." Hook tugged Nathan to a stop for a second, snapping down at him. "You baited her, Smee. You think she won't drown you for doing such a thing to her and others of her kind?" Smee blushed a little, replying openly. "It's you they are afraid of, Captain. Not little ol' me. They are really fond of me."