Abyssal Reverie

Chapter 9: Drag Me Under

"Drag me under again; Deep in to your love"

The ship was entranced in chaos. Screaming, fighting, sounds crashing from all over as they push and pull items from one side of the ship to another. I had barley made it back onto the top deck, dressed in my usual pants, tunic, boots, and empty scabbard. I managed to messily braid my hair to keep it out of my face.

The life that was breathed into the sleeping crew was a half life, each one moving at half their usual speed as they slowly awoke from the deep slumber that once held them. I made my way across the deck to where Vessel still stood, arms crossed. His body rigid, stern even. The black paint once covering every inch of his skin beginning to fade. I knew that whatever we had found was exactly what he was looking for.

As I watched Vessel command the crew around him I noticed how tense his disciples were. Each of them hovering around him, doing whatever he asked of them. III's eyes were filled with concern, even as he diligently took down the spot on the map where we were to begin our search. There was a twinge of fear in the air, it billowed around us like an unspoken promise. "Set her down here." Vessel gestured to the open space directly in front of him. A large crate that took several men to carry. Her? Did Vessel just say her? "Open it." The crew did as he said, pulling the crossbars keeping the crate shut one at a time. Large metal Rods were released, clanging to the deck loudly, causing my ears to ring.

As soon as there was a clear line of site into the box, I couldn't believe what my eyes were seeing. It WAS a women. But, She had a tail. It was fairly long, small fins jutted out of where her hips were supposed to be. The Tail was grey, dark spots covering it from top to bottom. Her skin was a sickly almost green grey color. Her long Fiery red hair trailed down her shoulders, covering what was most certainly her breasts. She met my eyes, letting out a loud screech.

"Now now, Calypso." Vessel made his way over to where she sat in the box. "That isn't the way to get what we want. Now is it?" A crew member sauntered over to Vessel, a large barrel of fish in hand. "Are you Hungry?" He pulled a thick, silver toned fish from the water, the tail swishing viciously in the air around it. Calypso screeched again, my head spinning from the sound. She reached out a long talloned hand, her nails thick and black, snatching the fish from Vessels hand. Her teeth were sharp; almost too sharp, as she ripped through the flesh of the fish almost instantaneously. It just giving out under the weight of her bite. Her eyes were dark black orbs, staring unknowingly off into the abyss. Her hair was wild, different pieces braided, others cut short as though they had been caught by something.

"I'm ready to cash in our little bargain, what do you say?" He was kneeling in front her now- eyes to mask, the grin on his face was sickening. The churning that had finally left my stomach back in its rightful place.

"Vesssle." Calypso's voice came out in a hiss. "I ssshould have know it wasss you." Her face contorted into an evil smile. Blood from the fish dripping down her cheeks casting little droplets onto her chest.

"How delightful to see you as well." He threw a blanket over her mostly naked body. "Do what I ask and I will let you swim off into the sunset, debt paid. Understand?" Her cold, soul less eyes watched him as he sank a hand into the barrel pulling another fish out. He tossed it to her; her agility shocking as she whipped it out of the air.

"Asss you wissshhhh." She ripped the flesh from the fish, tearing deeper and deeper until blood squirted from the open wound, Her face covered in the sticky red substance. "What mussst I do?" She oened her gaping maw wide and stuffed what remained of the fish deep inside her throat.

"Start by chewing with your mouth closed." He stood from where he crouched eye to eye with the beast. The crew laughed, almost sounding like a chortle. "Then, when you've eaten your fill. We will descend into the tomb that lies deep beneath the surface and find the tome that was left here." The creature screeched once more, her already feral eyes widening.