The Summer Siren

Astrid

I'm not sure what was going on, but I know that I'm tired of being dragged places. Erik dragged me into the water and Ace just dragged me across this town, flailing after him looking like a fool while I tried to keep my footing. I thought I was in the clear when we got on my boat and got down the water way a little bit, but of course Erik had to be on the ship with us. I sigh and turn around, sick of their shit and whatever little feud they have going on here, "I'm not doing this shit again."

I point my finger at Erik, "You won't be trying to kidnap me again."

I turn and point my finger at Ace, "You won't be taking me captive again."

I push Ace out of the control room, and closer to Erik on the deck so I can see both of them, "From this point out, we're going to work as a team and you guys aren't going to be enemies anymore."

Ace raises his hands to try and show innocence, "No dear, we're not enemies. Just simply rivals."

I roll my eyes, "As if that's much of a difference. No more rivalry. I'm sick of the fighting and I've been around you guys for a couple of days so I can't imagine how your fucking crews feel."

Erik shrugs his shoulders, "I don't know about Ace's men because they are weak, but my men think of like a game. Like they are hunting little rabbits."

"Now wait a minute," Ace points a finger at Erik and starts walking towards him.

"ENOUGH!" I scream, and they both stop in their tracks and just stare at me, mouths open, "I said no more fighting, no more enemies, and no more rivalry. For some reason you guys took a liking to me, but I swear on all that is holy I will jump ship right now and swim until I find a town that isn't infected with your damn crews."

By the time I'm done my voice has made its way back up to a tone that can only be described as 'mom getting onto her kids for the seventeenth time because they won't listen'. They are still staring at me and only move when I collapse on my stool behind me in the control room.

I take a deep breath and let it out before I start talking again, "From this moment on, you are not captains of your ships. You are crew members of mine and that's how it's going to be until I can figure out how to get out of this godforsaken world and back to my own. Do you both understand?"

They nod their head, still just staring at me like the sky has cracked open and a lightning bolt stuck where I stood. I rolled my eyes at their inability to comprehend anything at the moment and went back to the controls. We were coming out of the canal, but I wasn't quite done shopping in town so once we reached the ocean, I took my boat, and I take a sharp left where I had seen another canal when we were pulling into this one. I take off down that canal and when I pull into the marina, I realize that it's right in the middle of the market and I couldn't help but think what a great idea it was.

I pull up to an empty spot at the deck and look at Ace, "Start tying the boat down."

I step outside the control center to go downstairs, and Erik finally speaks up, "What are we supposed to tell our crews? While we are on your ship, that is."

I think about it for a minute, "I don't care. They could follow us, and I can have a grand fleet at my disposal. They could go home to the families that I know they have. It's up to you and whatever you want to tell them."

I can hear the men moving around upstairs, I guess Erik was helping Ace tie the boat down. Either that, or he was following him around getting on his nerves. I didn't hear any yelling so I went to my bedroom and contemplated laying on the bed and taking a nap but ultimately decided that some retail therapy would be more fun. I wanted to change my clothes, though, it was pretty hot when we were out earlier, and I was wearing a pair of cargo pants that one of Ace's men lent me. I liked the tank-top enough, but I had soaked it in sweat when Ace made me run to the boat. I pull out a pair of biker shorts and a long T-shirt, tucking a corner of the T-shirt in.

I pull on a pair of socks and grab my running shoes, just in case Ace decides that we need to run a marathon again. Looking in the mirror, that hangs on the backside of my closet door, I decided that I liked what I seen. I grab a claw clip out of my basket and knot my hair up. Walking back up the stairs, I see that we're all tied up and the men are standing at the control center waiting for me. "Alright let's go. I want to go shopping and you guys need to tell your men what they need to do," I say, grabbing what cash I had when Ace stops me.

"That money will do you no good here. I will have my men bring you some from the ship's treasury," he said, pushing my hand so I could set the money down.

I hesitate, unsure of what to say, "Oh, thank you. I guess I'm cool with that."

Erik jumps in, "I can have my men bring you some money too. You probably don't want to spend Erik's dirty money anyways."

I roll my eyes, "I don't give a fuck about what money I use and whether it's dirty or not. I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm not exactly from here and don't have anything for this world."

Erik takes a step back at my abrupt rudeness, "Yes, ma'am."

We disembark and we're instantly surrounded by Ace and Erik's men. There's a chorus of 'Are you okay?' and various other versions of that. I did hear one ask if he needed to kill me. Both men looked in the direction it came from and said no. Ace turns to the man standing closest to him, "Go get money out of our treasury on the ship and bring it to me immediately."

Erik turns to the man standing next to him and says, "Go with him and bring the money from our treasury."

The two men took off running and Ace turned to his men, "Erik and I, are joining Captain Astrid's crew for the time being. I know most of you don't have families, but if you do, go join them until otherwise heard. If not, you'll be following behind and we will be apart of her fleet until otherwise. Understood?"

I didn't think that the market couldn't get any louder but when his men yelled, "Aye, Captain" I flinched at the noise.

"Tell the rest of the men," Ace says, turning around to Erik who then turns to his men and gives them almost the same speech.

"We've been at sea for several months. From this moment, you are granted leave until otherwise notified. It has been honorable men, go see your families."

I physically recoiled and put my hands over my ears when Erik's crew yelled, "Yes sir!"

"If you would like to join us as part of Captain Astrid's fleet, then you must be willing to work with Ace's crew. If you're unable to do so, then please take leave and go home for a little while. I'm sure the village could use your help." Erik finishes off.

I prepare for another loud response from the men and I'm glad I did because not even a second after I covered my ears, I was being blasted with 100 men yelling at their captain. "Tell the rest of the men and tell Gunnar to find me as soon as he can," Erik finishes.

I watch as all the men disperse back into the market, some in a hurry, and some walking like nothing happened and I watch them, waiting for Ace and Erik to turn to me. I would be lying if I said I didn't want them to tell me where to go, but I knew that they weren't going to do that. If that's what I wanted, then I would have to ask. Unfortunately, I didn't want to ask so I just stood there while they stared at their men walk away.

I cleared my throat, "So what now?"

They turned around and grinned at me, which was slightly unsettling in itself. Then Ace held his hands out and said, "It's time to go shopping."