The Mermaid-Cursed Pirate

Chapter 39

Recap:

"I'm sending your captain on an errand for me that should make up for your actions. But know this, girl: if you try anything, I will make you regret it. I am much more powerful than you, even with your full magic." Her jaw drops in surprise. "Don't think I wouldn't notice how much more magic I can feel from you. But it doesn't matter now. That cuff will hold you until your captain delivers my prize, or his time runs out. All you have to do is be a good girl and sit tight. Goodbye, dearie!" he sings, disappearing in a cloud of smoke.

I am no damsel in distress, she thinks to herself. The prospect of doing nothing and waiting to be rescued enraged her. She was going to get herself out. She would not stay in this cell.

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The next morning, Sirena woke up to hear someone outside her cell. She sits up, a sharp comment on the tip of her tongue for the Dark One, but she sees someone else there. It is the girl she met last time at the door to the castle. The "servant" doesn't notice the mermaid is awake and is sweeping the floor of the dungeon in silence.

"Hey," Sirena calls. The girl jumps in surprise and spins to face her.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to wake you,"

"You didn't," she assures with a smile. "What's your name?"

"Belle,"

"That's a lovely name. So what are you doing here, working for the Dark One?"

"It's part of the deal my father made. The Dark One helped him, but in exchange, I have to be his maid for the rest of my life."

"That's terrible!" Sirena replies.

"Yeah, but there isn't anything I can do. Luckily, I don't have to spend too much time with him. Although, he's not as bad as you would think. He lets me use his library whenever I want," she finishes with a grin.

"Even then, a cage with a library is still a cage. And it must get pretty lonely. I can't imagine that you get many visitors here,"

"It does. But I can't break the deal. He would come after me. And then this would be much worse." Her expression grows hard and her eyes darken.

"I'm sorry this is your fate, Belle. You don't deserve this."

"Thank you. And I'm sorry the Dark One has you captive. I don't think any necklace could be worth someone's life,"

"It isn't. All it does is show whether two people are soul mates that have true love. While it was important to me, I don't see why the Dark One cares so much for it. Though I suppose he's angrier that we stole from him at all, not what we stole." A moment of silence settles between the women until Sirena's grumbling stomach breaks it.

"When was the last time you ate?" Belle questions, a concerned look on her face.

"I don't know. Before the Dark One cast a sleeping spell over me. So at least a day, maybe more"

"Oh my gosh, you must be starving! I'll go get you some food," Belle grabs her broom and runs to the stairs. "I'll be right back, Sirena."

"Thanks, Belle. You are very kind," she answers, a smile on her face. Despite the darkness of the dungeon and her situation, she had found a friend.

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Meanwhile, Killian and Viviane were getting ready for their journey. The Dark One wanted Pan's hourglass, so that is what he would get. Viviane reminded the captain that mermaids could travel between realms but, given Viviane's minimal fighting expertise, she couldn't go alone. So Killian would be going with her.

"Now I know that you've done this before with Sirena, but it's different going between realms. It is twice as important for you to not let go. If you let go, you could drown and possibly end up in another realm and I might not be able to find you. Understand?"

"Got it, hold on tight or die. Now once we get there, you're going to want to hide somewhere Pan can't find you. I don't want you to go against the Lost Boys and Pan by yourself. But don't go too far either. Something tells me that we'll have to make a quick escape."

"You would be right, captain. Pan won't like us stealing from him any more than the Dark One did," she agrees with a dark look in her eyes. She shakes her head to clear it. "Are you ready, captain?"

"As ready as I'll ever be. We have to do this to get Sirena back. I can't lose her."

The mermaid waves her hand in front of Killian's face and a bubble appeared over his mouth and nose. A wave of nostalgia washes over him as he remembers how Sirena did the same when she showed him her secret cave. A bittersweet smile graces his face before he turns to Viviane and nods. The two jump off the plank into the sea.

Water surrounds Killian for a moment before Viviane starts swimming. The force of the water rushing past them is strong, but he keeps his grip around Viviane's waist. He opens his eyes as Viviane slows her pace. His jaw drops in awe as he takes in the underwater portals. He could see the enchanted forest, Neverland, and several other realms. The next thing he knew, they were speeding towards the portal to Neverland and he closes his eyes again. They surface at the entrance to Skull Rock.

Killian climbs out of the water and tries to shake off the water, but fails to get any drier.

"Allow me," Viviane calls from the water. She raises her hands and pulls all of the moisture off of the pirate into a ball in the air.

He looks down at his clothes in awe. "Thanks." He clears his throat. "Alright, find someplace safe to hide nearby and I'll take care of the hourglass,"

"How are you going to find me once you have it?"

He pauses, unsure. "I guess just stay close but deep underwater and I'll jump back into the sea and swim down until you see me. Just watch the surface, but stay low. The Lost Boys can't swim well enough to get to you if you stay deep enough."

"Okay, just be careful, captain. You said you can't lose Sirena, but she can't lose you either."

"I'll do my best, Viviane. But I can't fail. That isn't an option," he vows.

He walks into Skull Rock and starts climbing the stairs as Viviane swims down to the lagoon floor, hiding in some seaweed and coral. She stares at the water in front of Skull Rock anxiously.