Siren's Kiss

48: Walls and Shadows

A collective gasp filled the air as the truth sank in. Every eye was now on Drake, who stood there, momentarily stunned and speechless. If trusting in one of these gods had bothered him before, the idea of being one of them made him despise his origins and curse his parents. How dare this woman from the island spew such nonsense?

"You're a mad lass!"

Despite the clear anger on Drake's face, Hawk couldn't resist chiming in, "Blimey, mate. We used to joke about you being a superhero, and now it's actually happening."

"Wait a minute," Jo cut in, scratching the back of his head, still trying to wrap his mind around the fact that his captain might be a demigod. "Ye don't reckon our captain's about to sprout wings an' turn into a dragon-like that there God Kali, do ye?"

Lyra smirked; her eyes still locked on Drake. "We're about to find out..."

Drake's crew, the Crimson Corsairs, stood there with their jaws practically on the floor. Unable to keep quiet, Rowan stepped up. "Hey, look at the bright side. If you turn into some giant serpent, you could just swallow that thing out there and digest it later. You'd be doing us all a favor."

Drake narrowed his eyes at Rowan. "If I turn into a giant serpent, you're the first one I'm comin' after! I'm not connected to that there god, an' the thought o' it be repulsive. I've ne'er felt any connection like that-not in me dreams, not since I been a kid-"

"Are you certain?"

Lyra's question threw him off, forcing him to pause and stare at her. "I'm certain," he insisted.

She shook her head slowly. "No, you're not. Remember when your father's ship went down? Why do you think you were the only one who survived? Think, Drake. Remember. It wasn't the Azure Kraken that attacked your father that day. It was the thing outside...if the Kraken hadn't appeared, you'd have perished too."

"So, you're sayin' I owe me life to another foul beast created by yer so-called gods?"

"No. I'm telling you; you owe your life to Ciel. He's your fated mate; it's his duty to protect you."

Drake's gaze hardened. "What be ye gettin' at?"

"Remember, Drake. If I tell you everything, it could change the outcome. You need to remember on your own and embrace who you really are."

Drake groaned in frustration and turned to his crew. "Jo, stay in plain sight with Ori. Vic, Griff, you're with me. Gus, ye look after the wounded. Commander, Hawk, Purity, ye comin'?"

There was a pause as everyone considered the threat waiting above. "Uh...I think I'll just stay here and, uh, reconnoiter," Hawk said, hesitating.

"I'm going with you..."

The familiar voice made Drake's eyes widen. He turned to see Ciel, conscious but still pale. At least being near the statue had helped. However, knowing Ciel as he did, Drake knew he had bigger problems to face.

"Ye can't come with me," Drake countered immediately. "That there thin' out there affects yer siren magic, an' you'll be no use to me unconscious. The templar commander, Hawk, Purity, an' me crew be enough to-"

He didn't finish. All four pounced on him like wild animals.

"The hell with that!" Hawk grumbled. "I'm not goin' anywhere! We're safe here."

Purity rolled her eyes. "Then stay 'ere until the end o' days, ye cowardly, shameless-"

Rowan cut in, "As much as I'd like to help, I have to admit I know my limits. But yeah, I'm not leaving this fort for anything."