Black Hearted

Part 6

Mark observed the crew as they erected tents for the night. The hot pitch they'd applied to the ship needed to dry and then they'd have to tilt the ship again to do the other side tomorrow. The crew was winding down from their busy day, but Mark was on edge. The island was pretty small. What little forest that was here was too sparse for anything to hide in. However, with all the busted ship wreaks around the island, Mark was uneasy. Moving to the edge of the shore, he let the water lap over the soles of his thick black knee high boots. His eyes were focused hard on the surface of the water. The sun was setting and sending the world into a dark blue haze that would soon fade to a black sky. The heat of the day long gone. If an ambush was waiting... This was the time to do it. Mark caught movement on the glassy surface a few yards out and pulled his flintlock pistol from his belt. A small dark shape broke the surface of the water very slowly. Mark pulled back the cock on his pistol, taking aim at the shape. 

His suspicion was confirmed when he pulled the trigger and the shape sank quickly back beneath the surface. A large tail breaking the surface shortly after, before vanishing in the water with a soft splash. Mark lowered his smoking pistol with a scowl. Tyler rushed up beside him, asking a bit startled. "Captain? What did you see?" Mark kept his eyes on the water, while telling Tyler seriously. "Get our best snipers on the first watch tonight. I'm pretty sure they knew we'd be washing up here." Tyler stepped out into the water to scan the horizon too, asking in a low voice. "You think they'd venture this far from the lagoon?" Mark holstered his pistol, replying bluntly. "We killed quite a few of them. Merfolk are social creatures. I don't think. I know they'll be looking to get their pint of blood from every man here. Inform the men. I want all weapons ready. Just in case. No man should sleep too deeply tonight." Tyler turned to face him, asking wearily. "Are you sure of this, Captain?"

Mark lifted his chin, his eyes narrowing on Tyler for doubting him. Pointing to the nearest cluster of busted ship wreaks, he stated firmly to Tyler. "You see them? I counted over thirty ships that I can see clearly. There is probably more beneath the water that never made it this far. Don't you think it is interesting that none of those ships have any trace of cargo? Do you see any sign of their crews around here? Open your eyes Tyler and get the men ready for a fight." Tyler lowered his eyes to the sand, raising his hands in surrender as he carefully retorted. "I get that you're on edge about being on land. All I'm saying is that we don't know anything for certain. Some other ships could have come by to pick up those crews. We have no reason to believe that mermaids can even walk on land. We should be perfectly safe on land." Mark shook his head in disappointment, beckoning with a finger for Tyler to follow him.

Walking up the beach toward the thinned woods. He stopped at the same spot he had sat under earlier in the heat of the day. While standing in the shade and keeping an eye on the merman to protect him from the abuse of the crew, he had discovered something. Tyler stopped next to him, shrugging at the sight of nothing. Mark shuffled his feet for a second, making sure the rest of the crew was distracted, then looked up. Tyler looked up too and let out a loud gasp of horror. Mark quickly rushed forward to cover Tyler's mouth, growling out close to his face in a sharp commanding tone. "Not a word! And think about this... A few hours ago you didn't even know there were mermen! Now get the fucking men ready like I ordered, Tyler! Or for every man lost, I'll lash you myself!" Tyler nodded franticly and quickly backed away to head back to the crew with a drained face. As Tyler fled, Mark glanced back up again. Hidden in the lush foliage of the trees and hanging from woven kelp rope were the weathered and decayed skeletons of men.

Mark lowered his eyes back to the watery horizon. They would probably wait until they least expected it. Waiting for them to fall asleep, then sweep through the camp silently to slit their throats. Nothing in the journal mentioned that Merfolk could walk on land... but the journal did mention how Merfolk used woven kelp rope to tame the Hippocampus creatures. Creatures that were considered to be the children of their deity Poseidon and appeared as half horse and half fish. Allowing them to ride through the strongest currents and waves of the ocean without any difficulty. Making his way back to his large tent, Ethan jogged up to him, asking in a chipper voice. "Captain? Shall I bring you your supper now?" Mark gave his cook a brief nod, then slipped into his tent. The merman lifted his head to look at him with wide eyes, before relaxing again. Mark couldn't blame him. The crew weren't very big fans of Merfolk after today. They had lost a total of six fine sailors to this cause. So, a few of the crew had their eyes set on their own pound of flesh for the loss of their friends.