Black Hearted

Part 52

Mark didn't question it, he just slipped the amulet around his neck and bolted for the prisoner's belongings chest. Gather their weapons, he tossed Nate his stuff and raced up the steps. Racing up the fog covered steps, he saw the merfolk laying on their sides like they were falling asleep. The fog was everywhere. Pulling out his red head band from his pocket, he wrapped it around his mouth and nose. He was sure the amulet would protect him, but he wanted to be safe. Walking over to the merfolk, he bent down to shake them, but they didn't wake up. Thunder rumbled loudly overhead, before the sound of heavy rain started battering the upper deck. From the stairs, Nate staggered up the steps, telling Mark seriously. "Get the Elder!" Mark nodded, pulling out his pistol and sword as he bolted for the stairs. Running up into the heavy rain, he saw a mass of storm clouds had moved in. Running to the cabin, he opened the door to see the Elder and Devan slumped over the desk. Jogging up to the old woman, he pressed a finger to her neck.

She was alive but sleeping like the others. Nate staggered into the doorway, before he fell to his knees. Mark ran back to him, shouting out over the rain. "They're all asleep! What do we do?!" Nate clung to Mark, telling him through strained breaths. "I got this..." Mark helped Nate to his feet, following him as he moved out into the rain to point his sword at the main mast. Nate's sword lit up, then the runes began to glow on the ship. The ship started absorbing rainwater before pulsing with a bright light that misted the ship, clearing the thick eerie fog from the deck. Some of the merfolk on the deck sat up with confused looks. Nate lowered his sword, toppling to his knees as he panted out. "Mark... hurry..." Mark patted Nate's shoulder, running back into the cabin. Sliding across the wet wood, he yelled out to the old woman and Devan. "ALL HANDS ON DECK! WE'VE GOT COMPANY!" The Elder shot to her feet, yelling back terrified. "Sean?! Where is he?!" Mark gave her a grim look, before uttering out. "They've got him. But we have a bigger problem-"

He didn't finish, because Devan rose up to state out angrily. "They came for his paramour." Mark raised an eyebrow, muttering out a little disappointed. "How did you...?" The Elder summoned a trident made of water, answering defensively. "Because right now... Nate is the only one that can find him. Where is Nate?" Mark pointed toward Nate on the deck. Devan rushed past them, his voice bellowing commandingly over the storm. "TO ARMS! Protect the ship!" The merfolk on the top deck quickly collected their tridents. Devan started dividing people out, shouting out. "You lot, stay on the ship! You, take your lot into the water! Don't let them tear the boards out from under us! Stay together!" The Elder rushed to Nate, telling him in a firm voice. "Nate? Are you alright?" Nate shook his head, reaching up to clutch his neck as he whined out in pain. "No... I can feel him... It's feeding off him..." The Elder dropped to a knee, touching the side of his face as she asked him seriously. "Nate, listen to me... Is this your first time pairing with a merfolk?"

Nate nodded, but couldn't seem to answer. Mark watched him ball up on the deck, crying out into the wood. Mark placed a hand on Nate's back, shouting to the Elder. "What does that have to do with anything?!" The Elder looked up as she stated back quickly. "Trust me. It matters." The Elder grabbed Nate's wrist, prying it away from his neck as she shouted to him. "Nate, listen to me. I know you're in pain... but it's not yours. You're fine. I know it's hard... but I really need you to separate his pain from yours." A haunting song began to ring out over the dark water, causing the Elder to look up with a terrified look. Nate lifted his head slowly, his eyes a blazing purple as he told Mark in a weak voice. "They're here." Mark moved to the edge of the ship, staring out at the water. The water was calm one minute, then formed into light rushing waves. A few merfolk in the water, began to hiss loudly at the waves. Then from the waves, forms burst forth to tackle merfolk into the depths with high pitched screeches.

A few lunged from the water so fast that they cleared the height and width of the ship! Mark ducked as one lunched straight for him, the grey skinned Siren's sharp nails clipped his shoulder. Touching him was enough to cause it flop hard against the deck, where it hissed and began crawling for him with its sharp teeth bared. Mark locked eyes with it, raising his pistol to shot it between the eyes. The bullet jerked the Siren's head back, its body melting into water that sloshed over the deck. Mark shot to his feet, watching as more Sirens began launching over the ship to snatch merfolk into the water. Or they slammed into them to pin them against the deck and rip their throats out. The air became filled with inhuman screeching, hissing, and rumbling of thunder. Devan spun his trident around, using the lightening from the storm to target Sirens on the ship. Lashing Siren's hard enough to turn them into puddles of water before they killed more of his men. The Elder looked as if she wanted to help Devan, but she stayed kneeled by Nate.