Siren Caves

Chapter Five

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"W-What?" Cry blurted. His eyes had widened at what the King had just said, disbelief immediately filling him. What did he mean there was a possibility that Felix was alive?

"Again, I know it's weird," He said, "I just need to know where you were when he fell." He motioned towards a large map that was hanging on the wall. It showed the world with labels. Cry squinted, trying to read the labels. He felt a little embarrassed when he couldn't understand the label on the ocean between America and Europe.

Cry stood and walked over to it, looking over the other labels. Above the label on the ocean, there was a small circle. He again squinted at it, trying to understand what it said.

"U-Uhm– Sire, I can't ..." He hesitated and pointed at the label, turning around to face the man, "I can't read it." The King looked a little shocked at the news.

"Is it too small?" He asked, "I could lend you my glasses." Cry shook his head with an awkward chuckle. He felt his face grow warm. This was beyond embarrassing.

"N-No, I uh– can't read too well, your majesty," He stammered. The Kings shocked expression grew.

"Really? But your handwriting is so neat," He said as he stood up, walking over to him. Cry pursed his lips.

"I have Russ write my letters for me– a-and he reads the letters sent to me for me," Cry explained, "He's teaching me to do all of that myself though." He chuckled nervously as the King looked at the labels he was pointing at. He drew his hand away and looked at him.

"This label," The King pointed at the bigger one, "Says 'Atlantic Ocean,'" He pointed at the smaller one, "This one says 'Siren Caves.'"

"'Siren Caves?'" Cry echoed, "Isn't that an island rumored to have mermaids and other mythical creatures?" The King nodded and let out a sigh.

"Yes, now look at this map," The King walked past Cry to a smaller map that had ship routes. Cry only recognized it because he has to plan them before they leave the country. "The one in red ink is the route you took with Felix."

Cry nodded, looking at the other colors. He recognized Marks route in green ink.

"Now, where did you run into the storm that k– that took Felix?" The King asked. Cry noticed the stutter but didn't say anything about it. He knew the King was just correcting himself. Cry looked over at the red ink, trying to remember. He'd been so hysterical that he doesn't remember if he looked or not. He didn't know if he marked it, or if anyone else did.

That's what his crew did when someone fell off and didn't survive. This type of thing happened more often than he liked, so there was more than just one or two marks on his map in his room. Cry furrowed his brows lightly and focused near the middle of the route.

"There." He said, pointing between the words above the red line and the line itself. "Storms usually hit us there. We've lost another man there before." Could've saved the poor kid if the debris hadn't of snapped his neck. Cry's brow deepened.

The King nodded, "That's where Siren Island is near. Do you know the story behind the island?" He asked. Cry shook his head.

"Only a little. Just that mermaids supposedly live there." Cry replied, "But why is this island so significant? I don't see how Felix could have survived being p–" He paused, "Uhm– pulled underwater."