Black Hearted

Part 40

Mark removed his flintlock pistol from his holster, making his way up to the stairs to stand by the helm. Nate followed him up, turning around at the top of the stairs to remove his small spyglass from his long black coat. The crew filed up on deck with their weapons drawn as Nate told him casually. "Brigantine. The square sails hanging off the sides of the mainmast give it away. Can't make out the name... but she's stupid..." Mark rested his free hand on the railing, retorting coolly. "Or just that confidant that she can take us." Nate lowered his spyglass, glancing around the distant and empty horizon surrounding the ship, before saying anxiously. "Could be... but she could have easily snuck up on us from behind. Why come at us from the front?" Mark tapped the end of his pistol to his temple, answering bluntly. "To get into our head. To scare us. Don't be scared, Nate." Nate huffed sarcastically, casually retorting. "I'm not scared. It's their funeral. I just don't want another one of them to sneak up on our ass." A man from the lower deck, called up to Mark boldly. "Captain, should we roll out the cannons sir?!"

Mark glanced at Nate, asking coolly. "Well, Nate? Ya going to show them." Nate removed his sword from its sheath, stating out proudly. "With pleasure." Mark addressed the crew quickly, ordering aloud. "Men to your stations and prepare to board!" The crew looked confused, until Nate raised his sword to point out across the desk toward the port side cannons. The runes carved along the cannons lit up and they rolled forward into position on their own. Nate pointed the blade to the front swivel guns, watching the runes light up before aiming them in the hunter's direction. Nate laid his sword back on his shoulder with a grin, telling the crew wickedly. "Don't worry about the ship. I got her. She came for a fight and she's going to get one." Mark watched the sails rotate on their own to catch the wind, before asking Nate seriously. "Last night... I know you discovered something about Sean. What was it?" Nate turned his head in his direction, saying neutrally. "Now's not the time for that." Mark turned cold eyes on him, sternly ordering. "Nathan. Tell me. What do you know?"

Nate's grip on his sword hilt tightened, before he told him discreetly. "Let's just say that you have no idea the value of what you stole." Mark raised an eyebrow, coaxing Nate to bluntly answer in the most serious tone he had ever heard from him. "Let me put it to you this way. I'm the Atlantean. You're the Captain of men. He's the Prince." Mark rolled his eyes, stating out. "I know that. Didn't he tell you that crap too?" Nate turned his eyes back to the horizon, answering calmly. "No, Mark. I'm not talking about the prince of the Northern merfolk. I mean, THE prince." Mark's blood turned to ice. Nate flashed Mark his smuggest grin, uttering out under his breath. "Ya, you captured the future of Atlantis. Congratulations. And it's calling him home." Mark stepped closer to Nate, discreetly asking over his shoulder. "Do you think he knows?" Nate kept his eyes ahead as he shook his head, replying. "Not a chance. It's why his father probably kept him out of the water. To keep him safe. Kept him from hearing the call of Atlantis and announcing to other merfolk who he really is."

Mark shrugged, stating out. "Why would that be bad?" Nate turned to face Mark, replying darkly. "Because Mark, the heir of Atlantis is what the Sirens are trying to hunt down. Without the heir, Atlantis will NEVER come back." Mark didn't look convinced as he muttered out. "You can run an Atlantean ship just fine. Surely someone can work Atlantis." Nate gestured to his ship, scolding him a bit shortly. "This ship was designed to work for my family. Atlantis was built to work only for the heir. A direct descendant of Poseidon himself. An Atlantean that can harness the power of it without being torn apart. I don't know many merfolk that can do that." Mark shook his head, moving back to the rail as he mumbled out. "You're wrong. You're stronger than he is." Nate inched closer to Mark, sternly replying. "For now. My father was an 'appointed king.' That means that my power is only as strong as the focus I put into my weapon and the charge it has from moonlight. Mark... He bewitched me! Once below deck and then again with you in the illusion. That has NEVER happened to me. I've only ever seen Sirens with that kind of power."