Book 4: A change In The Tide

Chapter Thirteen: Pirates Vs Mermaids.

Chapter Thirteen: Pirates Vs Mermaids.

****No one's P.O.V****

"I heard it said a kiss from a mermaid protects a sailor from drowning. And sometimes, the song of a mermaid will lead a ship away from the shoals." Derrick said as the men waited patiently for their prize upon the dark, foggy ocean water.

"Don't be a fool! Mermaids are all female, son. And lovely as a dream of heaven. But when it comes time to churn butter, so to speak, they snatch a sailor out of a boat or off the deck of a ship, have their way, then the sailors are pulled to the bottom, drowned and eaten." Ezekiel replied to Derrick.

"Or sometimes the other way around." Scum replied, gaining looks from the other men.

All the pirates in the long boat considered Scrum's outlook for a moment before the silence was interrupted by the gunner who was sitting at the front of the group, pointing a pistol at them.

"Sing." He demanded coldly.

"What?" Scrum replied unsure if he heard him correctly.

"They like to hear singing." The gunner answered, a bored tone, clearly done with the conversation.

Scrum glances towards the others and takes a deep breath before he started to sing a familiar tune, he once heard many years ago.

"My name it is Maria, a merchant's daughter fair- "

"Louder." The gunner ordered, cutting him off.

"And I have left my parents and three thousand pounds a year..."

Elsewhere, in the bay, Scrum's singing drifted over the inky, black water back to where the others were on shore. Jack was still holding Sophie's hand, knowing just how scared she was. She refused to let his hand go and with that knowledge known to him, he held onto hers tighter.

"Singing? Why are they singing?" Jack asked himself, not realising he spoke out loud.

"Aye, it's starting." Sophie answered in a quiet voice from beside him.

Jack looked at her and even in the dark, he could see the fear pooling in her eyes. He wanted nothing more than to hug or kiss her fears away. However, that would destroy everything they were working towards. He didn't have the heart nor strength to do that to her.

The pirates continued to sing into the long hours of the night and as they were doing so, Sophie was struggling to keep her own eyes open. Eventually, she lost the battle and her head slowly lowered onto Jack's shoulder.

Jack looked to his right and couldn't help but smile to himself, this simple act took him back to all the times the two of them would stay up at the wheel of the Pearl. Sophie would always fight to stay awake until she would fall asleep, and Jack would carry her to bed.

Jack never thought in his life he'd find a woman he'd settle down with, let alone a woman like Sophie. Since the day he met her back in Port Royal, as soon as their eyes met, his life had purpose. He finally found the treasure he's been searching for.

Blackbeard ordered for the quartermaster to keep watch while they rested. Mainly for Sophie's sake. There was no doubt about it that she was due any day now. And although he was a cruel man, Blackbeard understood this.

Blackbeard found a spot against a palm tree and laid against it as Angelica laid beside him. A few meters or so away from them, Jack picked Sophie up and laid her down gently in the sand. He sat down against a tree and lifted  her gently so she was lying in his lap.

In the longboat, all the pirates were slump in their seats, fighting sleep or already lost the battle. Scrum was now the only one singing the mermaid's song, his energy drained and low.