Siren's Kiss

72: Bleeding the Leech Part Four

Cannons lit up the horizon—

The pirates were firing back now, explosions ripping through the brig of the warship. Barnabas, or "Barny" as he was known, Purity's first mate, and the other crew members nearly lost their footing as the ship rocked under the force of the blasts.

Coraline shrieked, teetering on the edge of the deck. Sage lunged to grab her, but she slipped, nearly falling overboard, only to be caught by a strong arm wrapping around her waist. She looked up to find Purity's worried gaze hovering just inches from her own.

"Ye all right there, lass?" Purity asked, her voice laced with concern.

"Of course, I'm bloody all right! Have you forgotten that I'm a siren?" Coraline shot back, pulling herself upright and pushing Purity away from her.

Purity merely smirked, undeterred. "Wouldn't want a lovely fish to get fried in the ocean, now would we? Ye're me responsibility, so ye best stay close and follow me—"

Another loud blast rang out as both ships exchanged fire, the chaos of battle unfolding at the edge of the mainland. "Damnation," Hawk cursed, nearly dropping the bottle from his grip. His ship bobbed like a miniature toy within, a mere speck in the tumultuous scene.

Suddenly, metal hooks were launched across the gap, securing the ships together. Templar Knights swung across, swords and guns drawn, as pirates clashed with soldiers in a frenzied melee.

For a brief moment, Commander Rowan Nicolaus stood on the deck, torn between the absurdity of fighting alongside pirates and against his own kind. But when one of the Templar Knights charged at him, sword raised and intent on assassination, Rowan reacted instinctively. With a swift motion, he lashed out, slicing the knight's throat and leaving him sprawled on the deck.

Other knights quickly drew their weapons, but Commander Rowan moved like lightning. He seized two knives meant for cutting ropes and flung them with deadly precision. One struck a knight in the heart; the other found its mark through an eye. In the chaos, his own comrades failed to recognize him, adding a layer of surrealism to the violent clash.

"What be goin' on here?" Captain Purity demanded, her voice cutting through the chaos as she snapped the neck of a knight before he could fire his weapon. "Been stripped o' yer rank or somethin'? Why can't they recognize ye?"

Rowan shouted, "I have no frigging idea!" He snatched a gun from one of the knights and fired a shot into the sky. "Stop! Don't you recognize me? I am Commander Rowan of the Highest Order of the Templar Knights! Ceasefire and halt your attack!"

Yet it was all in vain. Like marionettes, the knights attacked them relentlessly, giving no one the chance to strategize or retreat. Hawk stepped onto the railing, dark energy coursing through his veins. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned all the guns from the fallen bodies around them, and they hovered in midair, firing rapidly at the intruders. The pirates and Rowan took down their attackers with brutal efficiency, but no matter how many they killed, the knights kept coming. Worse still, the bodies sprawled across the deck began to rise once again, resuming their assault as if they were merely waiting for their moment to strike.

"They ain't stoppin'!" Captain Purity yelled, frustration lacing her voice as she ducked under a sword swing.

"They're not dying either," Captain Hawk replied, glancing over at Commander Rowan, who stood wide-eyed at the chaos unfolding around them. In a surge of impatience, Hawk strode up to him, grabbing the Templar Commander by the collar. "What sorcery is this!?"

"Hawk!" Purity interjected, rushing to their side. "Now ain't the time to argue with the commander!"

Rowan pushed Hawk's hand away, breaking free of his grip. In terms of physical strength, they were nearly equal, but the commander's resolve faltered under the pressure of the unexpected battle. "If there's anyone using sorcery here, it's you. The Templars never engaged in such practices! I'm in the dark here just as much as you are."