Lady of the Sea

Ch 29

The sudden lurch of the ship as it began to move sent a wave of dread through Marina. The reality of her situation hit her—she was on board her father's ship, and they were setting sail. Despite the questions burning inside her about her past, it was clear from what she had overheard that her father wasn't pleased to see her. She needed to escape before it was too late.

Marina hurried to one of the small windows in the captain's quarters, pushing it open with trembling hands. The cool sea breeze rushed in, bringing with it the smell of salt and freedom. Below, the water churned against the hull of the ship. If she jumped now, she might still make it to shore. But it was a long drop, and the waves looked unforgiving. Marina hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest.

Turning back into the room, she frantically searched for anything that could help her descend safely. Her eyes landed on a pile of rags in the corner. Desperation fueling her actions, she began tying them together, fashioning a makeshift rope. She worked quickly, her hands shaking as she knotted the fabric. Every second counted.

Just as she was securing the final knot, the door creaked open behind her. Marina froze, her breath catching in her throat. Slowly, she turned to face the doorway, her heart sinking as she met the cold, calculating eyes of her father.

Henry Morgan stood in the doorway, his presence filling the room with an ominous weight. His expression was unreadable, but there was no warmth in his gaze, no trace of the father she had hoped to find. He was every bit the feared pirate captain she had heard stories about—ruthless, cunning, and dangerous.

For a moment, the room was deathly silent, the tension so thick it was suffocating. Marina's mind raced, searching for something to say, some way to defuse the situation, but words failed her. All she could do was stand there, clutching the makeshift rope in her hands, waiting for him to make the first move.

Marina stood frozen as Henry Morgan stepped further into the room, his eyes narrowing as he took her in. There was no mistaking the recognition that flashed in his gaze—a mix of shock, anger, and something darker. He was a man who had faced countless adversaries, but seeing her seemed to unearth old wounds.

"You," he muttered, his voice laced with disdain. "You're the spitting image of her."

Marina's heart raced, confusion and fear battling for dominance. "You recognize me?"

"How could I not?" Henry spat, his lip curling in contempt. "You look exactly like your mother."

At the mention of her mother, Marina felt a pang in her chest. "My mother... What happened to her?"

Henry's eyes darkened, and his voice grew cold. "She died because of you."

The accusation struck Marina like a physical blow. "What?"

"She was never meant to birth a child, especially not one from a human," Henry continued, his tone dripping with venom. "Your mother was a mermaid, a creature of the sea. And you—" He pointed at her with disgust, "—you were the reason she died."

Marina's breath caught in her throat, the revelation hitting her hard. A mermaid? Her mother? It suddenly made sense—the connection she felt to the sea, the strange looks she would get when she was near water. But there was no comfort in this discovery, not with the way her father was looking at her.

"I loved her," Henry said, his voice trembling with a mix of rage and sorrow. "She was the only person who ever meant anything to me. And you... you took her from me."

Tears welled up in Marina's eyes, but she blinked them back, refusing to show weakness. "I didn't choose to be born," she whispered, her voice breaking.