꧁༺ 𝓑𝓵𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝓫𝓵𝓾𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓰𝓸𝓵𝓭 ༻꧂

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 9

As the night crept on, you silently slept in Leon's arms, your face buried in his chest, his arms weighted on you as he held you closely to him. It was colder that night, and the sheets weren't keeping you as warm as you'd hoped, so you'd climbed into bed with Leon, in which he did not object to the suggestion.

The waves gently crashed along the shorelines at the docks, the boats creaking as they rocked like a cradle rested on the water. The Nightingales sang their pretty songs, harmonising with the whistling wind that swayed the trees, shaking the branches.

All while you were calmly breathing against the man you'd found yourself falling for. You could hear his peaceful snoring, his chin on your scruffy hair. Tonight was one of the most tranquil and pleasant nights you'd ever slept, and it was on land. You never thought you'd enjoy being on land so much until you met these brilliant people.

It was the most tranquil and pleasant night, that was, until you heard something familiar, almost a scream. Your eyes fluttered open, and you lazily glanced around at the dark room. There was no one there, so you guessed the sound was just a figment of your imagination. But, as you drifted back to sleep, the noise came again.

You were awake now. The sound really did seem familiar, almost as if it was of someone you know. After a few cautious thoughts, you decided it was best to investigate it. Carefully, you moved Leon's large arms off of you, quietly slipping out of his warmth.

Thank Poseidon that he was a heavy sleeper, as the floorboards groaned each step you took. Closing the door behind you, you heard the scream again. This time, however, the scream was more recognisable, and your heart sank down to your feet.

"Mother?"

Swiftly running down the hallway, being as hushed as you could as you moved, your heart raced at impossible speeds. The shriek sounded again, sounding more pained and distressed than the the other times. Is she hurt? You thought. Is she hurting? What's happening?

Slamming open the door to the inn's bar, you searched desperately for your mother. But she wasn't there. The man at the counter abruptly awoke from his slumber, and wasn't happy to see the siren.

He shouted at you, but it went to deaf ears. Your mother's scream was louder now - she was outside - and the man heard it, too. Frightened, he shied away to underneath the counter, shivering as he did.

You ran to the front of the inn, bursting through the door and onto the street. She wasn't out front, but maybe somewhere else? You had no clue, but you followed the direction your sensitive ears heard it coming from. You called for her, but to no avail.

The screech sounded as if it was coming from the docks, you presumed internally. So, you headed towards the docks, frantically looking in every direction for your mother, who was still nowhere to be seen.

But, from a distance, behind the shed that held the gear used for fishing, was the ex-pirate Harlynn, blowing into ᛋᛁᚱᛖᚾ ᚲᚨᛚᛚᛖᚱ (Siren Caller), drawing you closer and closer into the prince's trap. The old man felt a pang of guilt as he listened, ear plugs in his ears, to the ear-piercing scream as you called out to nothing but the cold, unforgiving darkness.

He heard you call out to your mother, and he wished that it was. He wished that the whistle was your actual mother, hear to take you away back to your home. But alas, it was him, cruelly tricking you into falling for Liam's trap yet again.

"Mother?!" You yelled to the waters, your voice dripping with worry. "Please, answer me! Are you there?! Mother?!"

Little did you know, you were slowly approaching the fishing gear shed. You were unable to see what was behind you, as you were walking backwards, not seeing what was about to come for you. You were to focussed on the sounds of your mother, wherever she was. You were determined to find her, to see her face, even if it was too dark to see.

When you were at your lowest point, standing inches away from the shed, Harlynn creeped towards the desperate siren, his footsteps soundless. He raised the empty potato sack in his hands, lifting it over your head, ready to shove you inside-

-when he hesitated. He paused as you shed a tear in your eye. It made him realise how stupid he was being, how dumbly he was playing with his life. And even if you were a monster like in fables, you had feelings, and he'd hurt them.

No, he told himself, no, don't sympathise. You made your bed, now you have to lie in it. Letting out a short breath, louder than he'd intended, he pulled the sack over your head, scooping your body into the sack.

You kicked and yelled, screaming for freedom, but your attempts were muffled by the sack. The ex-pirate hauled you over his shoulder, carrying you away to his escape; a tall, old horse that had clearly been through many fights.

Tying are small rope around the opening, tightly securing a knot, he threw you on the back of the horse and mounted the steed. He whipped the reigns, the horse galloped off into the night, you lay in a sack, confused and scared.

---

Leon yawned. The morning light shone through the open window, the warm breeze caressing his face. He reached out for something next to him, but strangely, he only felt the cold, motionless sheets. Grumbling, he opened his eyes to find you no longer in his arms.

Weird. Maybe you'd already woken up? Possibly. He didn't think much of it. He stretched out, cracking a few tense muscles. He sighed, then breathed in the fresh air that flowed in through the window. There was the normal chatter and commotion of the city coming to life in the streets.

All seemed fine.

He swung out of bed, groaning. Something felt off, but he chose to ignore it for now. It was the early morning, and he wasn't looking for too much stress. He walked over to the small, humble dresser and pulled out a few spare clothes to dress himself with. As he put on the shaggy clothing, he heard a knock from the door.

"Leon?" Came the muffled voice of Quin, a woman who Leon viewed as a sister. "Can I come in?"

"Uh- yeah, Quin, you can." He stuttered back, buttoning up his pants.

Quin opened the door and peaked her head inside the small room. Once the cost was clear, she walked in and stood in the centre of the room, concern etched across her face. She fiddled with her thumbs shyly before speaking.

"Leon," she began slowly, "have you seen (y/n)? Chris has looked for him everywhere, and he just can't find. We were wondering if maybe you'd seen where he went, or maybe if he told you?"

Leon could feel his heart sink. They couldn't find you? Had you gone missing, or worse, had Harlynn managed to kill you? Did he hide your corpse somewhere? All these troubling thoughts fogged his mind,  his breathing getting heavier, his eyebrows furrowing.

"No? I-I thought he was already up and down with you." He explained.

Quin simply shook her head. "No. In fact, we haven't seen him all morning. It's like he's vanished."

"Vanished?" Leon panicked. This wasn't good. Not just a week ago were you poisoned, and now you were suddenly gone? It didn't make any sense at all! One minute you were there, adorably sleeping wrapped up in his arms, seeking his warmth and protection. The next, you're completely gone in the blink of an eye for an unknown reason and nobody knows why!

He could only think of one person who'd do this, and it was Harlynn. If anyone wanted you dead, it was him. The ex-pirate was a scandal, a fraud, a criminal minded imbecile. Leon clenched his fists.

"I bet I know what happened." Leon grumbled.

"What?"

"It was Harlynn. He came for him, lead him out somehow, I just know it."

"Harlynn?" Quin sounded surprised. "But he is in the palace dungeons! All the criminals are! It couldn't possibly be him, could it?"

"That's the thing, he escaped. He escaped so he could finish the job. We need to tell the others, now. (y/n)'s could possibly be on the line!"