From The Flames Is Rebirth (The Forever Pirates) #4

004

Hongjoong 

We made it to the siren caves, barely with enough food to make it. I wasn't sure exactly how this was supposed to go. It wasn't like they particularly had a supply of food either, but the town close to the caves seemed mainly untouched by the outside storm. Maybe protected by the same magic that protected these caves, or maybe the hurricane that we needed to cross to get here did enough deterring of the outside storm. 

I was the one who decided to approach first, I had been in here before and the two previous times were due to Seonghwa and MM. I wasn't sure if I could get past the barrier that seemed to keep everything unwanted, out. I pushed my hand up against the invisible barrier, expecting resistance like I had when I tried to go back in to get Seonghwa out. But instead, my hand glided right through. 

Of course I thought about checking it out first to see if it would even be safe enough to bring my crew, but I didn't know how long I'd be gone compared to the outside world and I preferred for us all to stay together. So, we entered the cave system as a crew. 

I recognized one almost immediately, curiosity getting the better of them as they wanted to see their visitors, and upon seeing me, well, she was confused. 

And she, quickly morphed into him as he pushed himself out of the water. I swallowed uncomfortably, feeling the longing I had for Seonghwa. Seeing him here, well, it was enough to put me on edge. 

Last time I had seen her, she had shown herself to me as MM. Obviously since the curse had been broken, I didn't have MM here anymore. 

"What is this about?" He asked, folding his arms worriedly. 

Some of the crew were swayed by whatever they saw, struggling to stay in control of themselves. "Ye don't know t'e storm t'at be happenin' out in t'e world. We need shelter." I said. 

Another siren stayed in the water, and I never thought to ask myself...would I see two Seonghwa's if she got out as well? 

"Where's Seonghwa?" She asked, her eyes darting towards me and the rest of the crew. "I owe him, not you." 

"Ye all owe me, I'm t'e only reason why t'e witch I came wit' last time didn't make yer species go extinct when ye were first created." I said, "And...I don't know. He went off." 

"He not lying." Seonghwa's copy said, looking towards the other girl. "We owe Seonghwa and apparently we owe you too, but we require food if you want to stay here." Seonghwa stared at Yeosang, his head tilting to the side. "Does your crew know what you and your mate do behind closed doors?" 

I didn't care about what he meant, I quickly stepped in front of his view of Yeosang. "Ye don't look at him, ye don't refer t' him, and ye sure as fuck don't speak t' him. He be part of me crew." 

"You don't know, do you?" He mused. "Jongho knows enough about sirens, but you don't. You don't know that he and Jongho-" 

And then Seonghwa was thrown into the water by Yeosang, Sang tackled Seonghwa, seeing something completely different I'm sure. Or maybe he just saw who she was in general, because their tricks didn't work on him. And as Seonghwa fell into the water, it was no longer Seonghwa, but the same woman it had been prior and Sang ripped her apart as she fought for her life. 

The other siren, still in the water, watched it without much care. As much as they had a pack mentality, they didn't particularly care about their kind. The water pooled red, and Yeosang, not changing his appearance even if his bottom half had changed, dove up to the surface.