The Merman and the Prince

Chapter 4

We stumbled onto the deck, the oldest holding the young children close and I led the way with the twins on either arm. Blood pooled on the deck and I could see four other pirates dumping the bodies over the side while a fifth was securing the bonds on four slavers who had survived the attack. The captain was one, a cut on the side of his face bleeding freely. I looked for the giant man who had been by his side and saw a giant purple haired man tossing his limp body into the ocean, a giant whole in his chest. Sensing my gaze the man with the glasses smirked.

"The captain took that bastard out. Only a coward uses a whip on the weak. I saw the young man down there. His back is quite healed, happened a while ago did it?"

I stared up into his green eyes, my words unable to form a lie.

"Yes, after we were first captured."

The boy who had helped in treating the wounded boy stepped forward, the lies spilling from his lips easily as I slipped backwards, into the safety of the group and they gathered around me. I felt a prickle on the back of my neck and looked up to see the pirate captain was staring at me again. I felt my cheeks flush and looked away. I wasn't used to being the centre of attention and his gaze felt like it was gazing into the depths of my soul and reaching into the deepest parts of my mind.

"What are you going to do with them?"

The captain turned around and called out to two of his crew who were helping the purple haired pirate clear the bodies.

"Daiki, Ryota come here."

The first was pale skinned with fair hair and yellow eyes. The other man was his complete opposite. Dark of skin and with blue-black hair and eyes to match. They were both grinning and the younger children shuffled away and I couldn't help but want to do the same. They were predatory grins, the dark skinned one looked frightening, his grin like that of a mad mans. He held out his hand and in it rested two daggers, the blonde did the same. Akashi stepped forward and indicated the blades and then the people tied up.

"This is where I offer you your freedom and your revenge. These men took you from your homes, hurt you and in some cases hurt your loved ones as well. They are animals, and as such I give you the right to slaughter them."

Eyes widened and many people shook their heads while a few had thoughtful looks.

"You can't expect us to kill people! We aren't murderers, we aren't pirates!"

The boy who had spoken first shouted out and the girl by his side nodded in agreement but I could see the doubt on a few faces.

"And what is going to happen to us?"

The heterochromatic eyes zoomed back in on me but this time I held his gaze, willing my cheeks to stop burning.

"If you wish it you will be returned to your homes, or we can drop you off at any place you wish."

My eye brow shot up in surprise and I could see the same looks on the others.

"Just like that? You aren't going to try and sell us off like they wanted to?"

I regretted the words the moment I said them. The odd eyes seemed to flame in anger as he glared at me and then back to the slavers before he spat on the deck in front of them.

"I detest slavers and would never stoop to their level. You can jump ship here if you want but know that the nearest island is hundreds of miles away."

I bit my lip and stared at the slavers, the captain was glaring at us as if daring us to take make a move.

"You should do it Kuroko. Kill them."