A Pirate's Song

Chapter 2

"Who the devils are you!" Sparrow hissed, his fingers clenching the diamond blade and holding it to the creature's neck.

The merman merely blinked, his pink eyes heavily lashed with white, glittering with confusion, "I am called Orion." Sparrow narrowed his gaze on the creature, glancing him from top to bottom. White blonde hair grew from his skull, the thin ponytail resting on his pale shoulder, the tips barely brushing the water which reached to the merman's waist. Just where his skin blended with the pink scales, a color he rarely saw.

He looked a ghost.

An attractive ghost, Sparrow thought for a few moments before shaking the thought away. He could only frowned as he retreated back to his side of the tub. The creature seemed too delicate to attack him, the faint trace of muscles shifting beneath the merman's pale skin.

"How did you get here?" Sparrow murmured after a few moments, his eyes narrowed on the strange creature.

Orion merely smiled, tucking a strand of white blonde hair behind his pointed ear, the pink webbing outline the lobe, "I was in the ship you attacked. I had been captured by the captain when I was watching the fire display," Orion murmured, his pink orbs glistening, "I've always loved the fireworks. Colors that light up the sky with a thousand gems." A soft sigh left his pouty lips, "But that bastard saw me before I could hide." Sparrow said nothing, watching the merman rest his back against the marble tub and prop his pink tail on the edge, the glittering scales snagging the pirate's attention. "When your men raided the ship I made myself look like a statue." The merman giggled, "The cabin boys thought it would be funny if I was an ornament for your bathtub. Lucky for me, the water was clean and warm." Sparrow huffed through his nostrils, the blade dangling haphazardly between his fingertip, ready to strike should Orion make a move against him.

"Lucky for you, eh? Who's to say I won't sell you? Or worse, keep you with me inside a closed cage?" He said, his lips twisting into a smirk. Orion tilted his head, a smile gracing his pretty pink lips, something Sparrow seemed to have a hard time to peel his eyes away from. It did irritate him, not because he was bothered by finding a man attactive, but because the creature before him bought painful memories of his days as a cabin boy.

"You won't sell me. I know you Sparrow, friend of Andrea Dawson," Orion said, causing Sparrow's eyes to fly open in surprise, "Andrea tells me you're a sweet lad."

Sparrow felt his heart twist inside his chest at the name, "You know Andrea Dawson?"

Orion rolled his eyes, his fins flicking in the light, "She is married to my brother."

If he had been drinking, he would've spewed the precious rum into the merman's face, instead, his lips fell open in shock, "You're Ansem's brother?" It was literally impossible. Ansem had been dark haired and olives toned, with muscles that even a man would envy. Yet, the merman that sat before him was the complete opposite with rather ghostly appearance.

The merman only sighed, "Yes we are, contrary to popular belief."

Sparrow snorted in disbelief before his harsh features soften, "How is Andrea? It's been so long since I've last spoken to her."

Perhaps what I saw years before was simply a mirage, Sparrow thought, his mind carrying him to time where he had seen the small family.

Orion merely tilted his head, "She married Ansem and had child. A girl that would probably be the heir to the throne should Ansem and Andrea never have a boy child." The merman let his fingers twirl around his white hair, "But she happy nonetheless, time to time they wonder about you."

Sparrow blinked, "Me?"

Orion nodded, "Andrea loved you as the child she always wanted and Ansem speaks of you and your ability to control others by merely singing a melody." The pirate could feel his heart speed up inside his chest at Orion's sudden interest. Unable to now longer be inside the tub, he rose, grabbing the nearest sheet and wrapping it around his waist. "It's quite the rare gift, you know," the merman murmured, his pink eyes sliding towards the human. "A gift only the mermaids have." Sparrow stiffened. He wasn't liking the tone Orion had suddenly taken. Probing and close discrimination, a combination he wasn't very fond and for some strange reason it made his heart twist in betrayal. Why? He barely knew the creature.

"I think it's time for you to leave while I'm merciful," Sparrow murmured through clenched teeth, his eyes glaring at a particular spot in the wooden floorboards.

"No." Sparrow was stunned. Why didn't the creature want to leave? Most of Orion's kind fought to find their freedom and should they see no escape, they would kill themselves before being sold as artifacts to other humans. He glanced at I the merman, the creature's slender fingers gripping the edge of the tub, "Before I was captured I was on a mission," Orion spoke softly, "I was searching for a particular artifact that the gods left for the First Siren."

Sparrow frowned, crossing his arms over his toned chest, "What of it?"

Orion bit his lower plump lip, sending a tingling sensation to his neither region, "There is danger that lurks around my kingdom but the artifact will chase away any dangers that threaten my people."

Danger? Sparrow thought, what could be so dangerous that Orion was willingly to seek help of a human pirate? And what of Andrea and Ansem? Where they safe?

"What kind of artifact is this?" Sparrow spoke after a few moments. Orion squirmed under his gaze. Gone was the cocky demeanor, replaced by one who was rather insecure.

Something Sparrow found rather adorable.

"I can't say till you're swear to you will help me on my quest," Orion said, pursing his lips, "I want to know if I can trust you." Sparrow smirked, his steps slow and deliberate as he neared the merman.

He lowered his face to his, blue orbs clashing against pink ones, the faint speck of silver glinting in the candlelight, "How do you know that I won't betray you at the last moment? How do you know I won't tell my men to bound you and cage you into a glass box?"

Orion merely blinked, "Because you're a man of your word. Andrea told me so."

For a fraction of a moment Sparrow wondered how it would feel to have Orion's lips pressed against his own, "Fine," he said, shoving away from Orion's alluring gaze, "I will help you but you will be staying here in my cabin."