Siren's Kiss

53: Of All That Has Passed Part Five

How could Drake explain that his father was actually challenging his future son-in-law? He fought the urge to cover his face with his hand as Ciel and Garrick engaged in a tense staring contest. Both were stubbornly unyielding, and Drake knew from experience that his fated mate was fiercely protective of his family, unwilling to back down from defending his parents.

"You don't know what he's like! And my grand—"

"Why be ye brawlin' with the siren prince, eh?" Drake cut in before Ciel got too carried away, reminding him that they were dealing with the past and there was no changing Garrick Stormare's mind.

"I ain't brawlin' with him, mate." Garrick said, bringing the bottle of rum with him as he head for the door. "He took one good squint at me and decided we be rivals."

Aurelius snorted. "He probably couldn't handle the fact that you're more handsome than he is."

Garrick chuckled at Aurelius's remark, and soon both of them were laughing, which only irritated Ciel further. "That's such a childish thing to say! You must have done something to provoke him. My fat—The siren prince is known for his benevolence and respectfulness. He wouldn't argue with just anyone, especially not with filthy pirates who only know how to plunder the Seven Seas!"

The way Ciel spoke made him forget that Garrick Stormare wasn't the only pirate in the room. Drake's face went ashen, while Garrick remained unfazed by Ciel's outburst. "If ye don't believe it, that's yer own choice. But that's how it went down."

"Lies."

Garrick's smile vanished. "Call me what ye will, but a liar I be not."

Without waiting for Ciel's response, Garrick threw open the door, slipped his pistol back into its holster, and stepped outside with a friendly smile. "Ah, Lucius, me young mate! How've ye been? That uniform be suitin' ye right well, aye?"

Though he was praising Lucius, a hint of mockery laced Garrick's words. This was the Garrick Stormare Drake knew well—never one to take things too seriously. Seeing his father in this light again was unexpected. Drake had always admired Garrick's calm and collected demeanor in the face of enemies, as if nothing in the world could ever faze him.

Seeing Lucius Shadowbane in this timeline stirred a wave of nostalgia for Drake. This version of Lucius was markedly different from the one Ciel and Drake knew in their present time. He was clearly younger than Garrick and Aurelius, yet he exuded an arrogance, a desire to be treated as an equal. Garrick and Aurelius's dismissive reactions to his threats made it clear they weren't taking him seriously, which was unusual. Drake remembered his father as someone who never underestimated anyone, regardless of their age or gender. The barefaced disrespect towards Lucius, even with the Templar Commander's uniform, was striking and hard to overlook.

"You think you can do whatever you want, don't you, pirate?" Lucius's face was flushed with anger and indignation. His gaze flickered briefly to the two reptiles inside before settling on Aurelius, who leaned casually against the open door with his arms crossed. "You're an embarrassment to our kind. When are you going to do something with your life, huh, uncle? Instead of shouting prophecies across the plaza, you're hanging around this nincompoop, doing God knows what!"

"'Uncle?'" Ciel muttered. "I didn't realize they were related."

Drake stepped in front of him, assessing the situation. He could see that while his father appeared relaxed, he wasn't backing down from a confrontation. This was shaping up to be a showdown between seasoned Templar Knights and a pirate just beginning his career.

"We best be leavin'," Drake suggested.

Ciel looked shocked. "I'm not leaving until I have all my answers."