The Redhead of the Sea (Jack Sparrow x OC)

Chapter 48: Tears of a Mermaid

Artemis was sitting down, her back against a tree, her eyes were closed, and the bark supported her head. She seemed to be in some light sleep to anyone passing by, but she was far more aware than they had her capable of.

The distant sound of a bird's wings reached her ears, and she opened her eyes slowly, blinking a few times to focus on her surroundings. By instinct, her hand went to her neck where the necklace used to be and then she remembered what Jack showed her... well, what he showed to her crow.

A faint smile formed on her lips, his words echoing in her head and offering her some comfort in those dark times. It had not been long since Blackbeard executed his latest plan, one that Artemis had tried to put an end to but failed miserably, for, at the end of the day, she did not have any power over the mad pirate captain.

The plan? Well, to get Syrena's tears, of course, although it was the way it would happen that she argued against.

Much to her dismay, Blackbeard was not an idiot, and neither was Angelica. They had noticed how close Philip was with the mermaid, and Angelica dared to claim feelings had developed in those few days they had been on the road.

Truth or not, the Captain agreed that it was because mermaids were tough creatures, and getting a tear from them in any other way was almost impossible. And so, they faked Philip's death and made her watch as he got stabbed and then discarded not far away.

At the same time, Syrena was tied to a pole with only half her body in water, a sadistic way pirates tortured mermaids before letting them die from dehydration.

Now, she waited along with the rest of the crew for Philip to wake up from his 'death' and rush to her, unaware that he had been used in the worst way possible to harm the only creature he had started to harbour feelings for.

She was snapped from her thoughts when they heard the sound of steps against the moist ground and caught a glimpse of Philip rushing towards the moon pools and Syrena, oblivious to the hidden crew watching him.

Artemis parted her lips for a moment and dared to warn him, but it was too late.

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Philip fell on his knees, looking at the beautiful creature that had been tied up and left to die by a sadistic pirate. Tears threatened to escape his eyes, knowing that she got captured in the first place because of him.

"I'm sorry, Syrena." He apologised, daring to extend his hand to touch her cheek but hesitating, afraid of her reaction.

Syrena offered a weak smile at Philip, feeling a bubbling of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. She truly thought she had lost him, but she didn't, and above all, he did not leave her behind.

"You came for me", she pointed out, surprised by his actions but also very touched. "Why?" she dared to ask him in a whisper, afraid of his response.

"You are different, are you not? Do you know not of kindness? Compassion?"

His words, his warm hand against her cold cheek... all this made Syrena truly realise just how much this man impacted her. Without her will, tears started to gather in her eyes, but they were tears of joy.

Much to her misfortune, the two lovers realised the plan too late as the crew appeared out of nowhere. The zombified Quartermaster restrained Philip, pulling him away from his mermaid love.

At the same time, some crewmates grabbed Syrena so she could not fight them, while Scrum held a small vial to her cheek and successfully captured the tear.

"Tears of sorrow, never. Mermaids are too tough for that," Blackbeard called out, feeling triumphant as he grabbed the small vial in his hand. Tears of joy...they say these be the more potent, anyway."