꧁༺ 𝓑𝓵𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝓫𝓵𝓾𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓰𝓸𝓵𝓭 ༻꧂

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 3

Below deck, Chris, the captain of the ship, was feasting and drinking with his fellow crewmates. Whilst music was playing, men clunked their tankards together in joyous, laughing and cheering, telling stories only pirates could make up.

Chris was talking to his quartermaster, Jill, his arm wrapped around her neck in close proximity to her, when he saw Leon, his good friend, come down the wooden steps. Leon signalled him up seemingly urgent. Of course, Chris couldn't just ignore his friend. He excused himself and began to head up to top deck.

As he stepped up onto the deck, he was yanked over to his cabin, thrown inside. It took him a second to recover, and once he did, he recognised the fact that there was a person - very unfamiliar - sitting on his chair. Leon stood next to him, his hands placed on his hips, looking this person in their eyes. Chris raised an eyebrow.

"Who in the name of the dead sea is that?" He grumbled, not happy with the fact that a stranger had straggled onto his ship.

"His name's (y/n)," Leon replied firmly, "and he's a siren."

"A what now?"

"A siren."

"A siren prince." You corrected. Chris stared blankly at you.

"A siren prince." He repeated.

"A siren prince." You confirmed.

He just stood there, contemplating. He didn't fully believe that you were a siren, as you had no tail, no fin, or any defining features that would dub you a siren, let alone a prince. You looked like any normal commoner he'd see selling fruits at a local market in a small town.

He made a few faces, thinking hard on about how he should react to this information. He then turned to Leon.

"I need to talk to you." He said bluntly. "Alone."

And so Chris dragged Leon outside the cabin, making sure the door was shut before he grabbed both of Leon's shoulders and gave him a wary look.

"Why," Chris started, "oh, why is there a siren on my ship."

"Caught him in the fishing nets," Leon answered, "and I was gonna sell him when we got back, but he bribed me with working on the ship."

"And why would I want a siren working on my ship?"

"Dunno. Apparently he has no way home, though. I'll let it pass."

"I won't." Chris growled. "This isn't your ship to command, Leon. You aren't captain, I am. Remember that. And if I say no siren on the ship, no siren on the ship."

"Well what are we supposed to do with him? He can't go home."

"He can figure that out for himself."

"Clearly he can't if he's still on this ship."

"What?"

"You don't think he would've left as soon as he had the chance if he knew how to get back home?" Leon said. Chris paused, his words caught in the back of his throat. He had to admit, Leon did have a point. You would've left at the first chance you got, and most likely taken Leon back down with you to eat.

"Still," he protested, "I don't want that siren to attack any of my crew."

"He won't. According to (y/n), us humans are too dirty and downright stupid to satisfy their advanced taste."

"But-" Chris didn't finish his sentence. He thought about what you'd told him - which, in his opinion, he found extremely insulting as he was not dirty or downright stupid - and it gave him some relief. He supposed it meant you wouldn't eat anyone, since you thought so lowly of them.

Though it did trouble him that you were a potential threat to everyone aboard, including his beloved Jill, he gave in and agreed to letting you have your keep there on the ship, but only until they reached the shore. From there, he'd have no interest of letting you tag along with them.

The two walked back inside, where you were fiddling with all sorts of knickknacks Chris kept in the captain's cabin. Chris frowned as he watched you hold a precious gem that he very much treasured.

You noticed the pair standing, watching you intently. The captain didn't look to pleased with you, and you were confused as to why. The glare he was giving you did not seem in the slightest welcoming.

"Put that back." He said coldly. His voice sent shivers down your spine - he spooked you with his unforgiving tone. You placed the gem back in the box you found it in, careful not to ruin anything and upset him more.

The captain sighed and approached you. He stood at least four feet taller than you, making you feel even more intimidated by the large man.

"I will let you stay," he said, pressing one of his large fingers onto your chest, "but just know, as soon as we get off at port, you're on your own. And I swear, if I see you try anything funny, anything at all, I'll shove you in a barrel with the rest of the fish and you'll stay there until you start rotting."

You gulped. Stepping back, you accidentally bumped into the cabinet behind you were some of his many treasures lay, the one where you'd found the gem. Thankfully, nothing fell, but he narrowed his eyes at you. You swore you heard the man growl like a dog ready to bark.

Chris stomped away, slamming the door on the way out of the cabin. All the while, Leon had his arms crossed, calmly observing the happenings in front of him as if this was just a normal every day occurrence. He kept his eyes on you. Your reactions, the way you moved; it was all so enhancing to him, like a mildly interesting play.

"Don't mind him," Leon reassured, "he has a temper. He's not a bad guy at heart. He'll get used to you eventually, he always does." He smiled. This time, it was genuine. You could feel your heart fluttering again, and yet another new feeling of blood rushing up to your cheeks.

You returned the smile, the butterflies forming in your stomach making you flustered and soft. He was definitely getting to you, but for some reason, you didn't mind. Maybe it was because you were, perhaps, falling in love with him.

No, that's silly. You thought to yourself. You can't be in love with him. It's impossible. He's a human, a cocky pirate, and non-royal all in one. You would never fall in love with someone as petty as he...

Wouldn't you?

You shook off the feeling, putting those thoughts aside. You couldn't stop staring at his face, though. His looks were just too perfect. The way his lips parted slightly when he made that cocky grin, the way his hair was slightly over one eye so you could still see it, the way his muscles tensed as he laughed; it was all so enhancing to you, like a memorable sight you'd love to see.

"Come," he said at last, "I'll show you to the others."

"The others?"

"You know, the rest of my crew."

"Oh, yes. The crew."

"Come on." He put out his hand for you to take - a kind gesture you'd usually make to someone who's new, or maybe shy. Your heart skipped a beat, flattered by his kindness. It was almost too kind, but you didn't care to take that into detail.

Hesitantly, you slid your hand into his. The feeling of his calloused palms felt calming against your soft fingers. Your hands intertwined with his, and he pulled you forward, moving the same hand that held yours instead around to your waist, keeping you close to him. His smile morphed into a smirk as he looked down at you trapped next to him.

The butterflies in your stomach increased. He was being smooth with his actions, very dissimilar in contrast to how he acted towards you before. It was very suspicious of him, but you paid no mind to it, as his way of moving with you had you feeling as though he'd never had any ill will towards you in the first place.

You could feel yourself heating up, only focussing on him when he guided you towards the staircase that lead below deck. Who would've thought that a human could just as easily enchant a siren as well as they do a man?