Siren's Kiss

17: This Tyro Captain

A touch of siren enchantment did the trick, and soon, Ladyqueen, her first mate Barny, and the proud Hawk King, "The Dread," followed Princess Coraline and Sage into the siren fleet. The majestic ship, Coral Serenade, boasted an interior adorned with shimmering shells and intricate carvings of sea creatures, showcasing the life under the sea and the palace in Thalassara, known to many as the Elysium Reef. The pirates gazed in awe and anxiety as they traversed the inside, disguised as sirens with the little help of Sage's magic.

"You know my magic won't last," said Sage. "And it won't work on your father either!"

Coraline, probably the calmest person in the group, put a finger to her lips. "Be quiet! We'll be fine as long as we don't encounter any of the siren commanders."

Both Purity and Hawk stiffened at the mention of the siren commanders, Triton and Merror. Although these two weren't exactly the best of "friends" and often butted heads over their views, they wouldn't hesitate to set aside their differences to protect King Cyraeni and his bloodline. Purity and Hawk knew they could fight, but winning was another matter.

As they reached the captain's quarters, around five guards stood in front, clad in gleaming armor. The taller one approached the sailors dragging cleaning materials and fresh linens.

"Housekeeping," Coraline smiled, her male sailor disguise still convincing.

The guard frowned. "I thought you weren't due until late afternoon? Never mind, go ahead and be quick about it."

Sage threw the guard a glare. "This is the King's room; we need to clean it meticulously! Don't rush us."

"Yeah, yeah...whatever. Get inside!"

As they passed by, the guards kept their eyes on the pirates, making Ladyqueen feel beads of sweat trickle down her forehead. Sensing the uneasiness, Coraline pulled her close and handed her a bunch of linens to hold. "You're in charge of the bed," she whispered.

When the door closed behind them, they all let go of the breath they had been holding. Ladyqueen threw the linens onto the couch nearby. "Where be it?" she demanded.

"How impatient!" Coraline exclaimed, but she quickly produced a small key and unlocked a tall cabinet beside the bed. How and when she had acquired the key was a mystery Purity didn't wish to unravel. She had long accepted that this young siren was a force to be reckoned with.

When Coraline pulled open both doors, they were greeted with rows upon rows of shelves bearing dozens of treasures the king had gathered during his travels across the Seven Seas. The eyes of the three pirates sparkled at the sight of these treasures, but when Purity reached out to touch one of the items, Coraline waved her away. "Don't."

Purity was shocked to meet a girl who wasn't afraid of her. Back in her world, she wasn't only known as one of the Deadly Trio, she was also infamous for her womanizing---a trait that put a scowl on both Drake and Hawk's faces. Although the women were more than willing to share a bed with her, they weren't too keen on stoking her temper. They all feared her displeasure and would rather stay on her good side. "Aye, where be the ship then?" she hissed, eyeing Coraline sternly.

But the princess ignored her glare. "Father put triggers on these collections. If anyone touches them, it will set off an alarm and bring the guards here."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Hawk asked, his patience wearing thin. Initially, he had considered accepting King Cyraeni's proposal, even warning the king that making a deal with pirates would be a terrible mistake. But the king was undeterred, determined to get him on his side to search for Drake. Hawk kept telling himself he wanted to betray Drake, but whenever an opportunity arose, he couldn't bring this plan to fruition and so he never succeeded.