The Sound of a Siren's Call

56.) A Letter in the Dark

Despite the captain's reassurances to the contrary, I didn't feel very safe in the captain's quarters. I still hadn't worked out how to negotiate anything that I wanted. He'd likely figure it for me. That was what he was known for.

"Captain Fersoan." He looked at me. I had set down the cup he'd offered me. "Thanks for the drink."

"Of course. First-class brandy. You are still one of us, after all."

I sat back on the couch, looking sideways at Castor. He was standing between a man and a woman, both wearing the Serpent of the East's green and black flag somewhere on their person. Their muscles rippled as they moved. The brandy might have been intended to put me at ease, but they were not.

"I'm a little young to drink."

"Porter always was a stickler. He won't know."

I didn't touch the cup. The first sip had burned. At any rate, I needed to have my wits about me. I couldn't afford a stupid move, with or without Fersoan's help. Fersoan shifted.

"Alright. I know this isn't ideal, but I do believe we can benefit from each other."

"How?"

"You get me something I want and I get something you want."

"Yeah, and what would you give me?"

"Whatever you want. We give you back to your father. We give him the slip. We could set you up far, far away from him."

"And if I don't give you what you want?"

Ferson pointed to my glass. "You going to drink that?"

I shook my head. He grabbed it and chugged it. I looked at my hands.

"We don't need to talk about unpleasant things."

I nodded. He shifted.

"Or hypotheticals. You'll give me something I want. We've been looking out for ship routes. We have a raid that a siren could be helpful in. Two would be even better. You could convince your father to up the ransom."

"So you want money."

"Buckets of it."

I nodded.

"And how much to get my friends somewhere safe? Without you giving them up immediately."

"Now we're talking." Fersoan stood and walked to a desk in the corner of the room.

I glanced at Castor. He was watching. He was behind me. I doubted he could see the signs well, if at all. He looked stressed enough if that was the case.

Captain Fersoan handed me an envelope. "Think on it." His signs were big, lazy.

I tucked the envelope in my pocket, nodding. "And you'll let Castor go."

"For the time being."

Fersoan's mouth moved, the spit hitting my hand. I pulled back. He laughed.

I turned to Castor. The woman shoved him toward me. I caught his arm. He was sweaty, he reeked of it.

"Follow me." The woman gestured, pointing to the door.

It was all Castor or I could do to follow, grudging steps taking us below deck. We kept going lower, the smell getting worse and worse. Castor met my eyes as we kept descending.

We got to a trap door. There could only be one level left. The bottom. It'd likely be limited in dry ground and very easy to keep us in.

"I thought the captain said he'd let us go."

"You know us. At least you did." The woman's face was hostile, her lips pursed, her eyebrows pinched together.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I met you when you were a child. A half siren, you're a miracle walking. It's a shame the miracles get wasted."

The woman reached to her side. I could see the holt of a gun catching the muted light that made it down as far as we were.

"Maybe we got off on the wrong foot. Arriana Porter at your service."

"Magdelin Ferson at yours."

I looked at her. "Wife?"

"Daughter. We don't do wives here."

"My mistake."

Her hand was on the gun. Her thumb was caressing it. I had to do something.

She pulled it from the holster, some dull green fabric from her shirt flapping behind her. Her lips moved. She was speaking. They'd only been using sign for me. Castor lifted his hands over his head. I followed suit.

Her lips made all the shapes I knew, but she had an accent. I couldn't make sense of it.

Castor opened the trap door. I let out a gag. To this day, that hold is the worst smell I've ever come across. Magdelin pushed me toward the door. I wasn't stupid enough to try to reason with that command.

I took ahold of the ladder, letting it shake and twist under me. Magdelin and Castor's faces looked down at me. My feet hit water. My boots were made to keep the water out, but it was still cold all the same.

I couldn't see. I felt Castor next to me. His body was against mine. His hand found mine. Magdelin closed the door. I couldn't make out Castor's shape. His hand was warm in mine. I squeezed it.

I guess they'd thought of us planning.

Castor was pulling me. Pulling me back toward the ladder. There was a little more light. I could see the rungs. I felt for the paper, the paper of the captain's deal.

I held it in one hand, let Castor pull me with the other. He was yelling. That was his plan. I sighed. It was more than mine.

After what I felt was long enough, I tapped Castor's shoulder. I held up the envelope.

I can't read it, I said, my throat sore. I didn't know if he heard or if he got what I meant. He started climbing the ladder.

He reached down a hand. He must've heard. I passed the letter up to him. He held it to the light.

He reached down a hand to me. I clamored up. We didn't fit on the ladder. In all actuality, we'd probably break it.

I looked at the letter. It was fancy handwriting, I'd give Fersoan that.

The letter said:

Porter,

I had to get you in the door. Your father will be here soon. One of our boys will see to it you're alive to meet him.

-Friend of your father's

Castor just gave me the note back. Of course, it'd been a lie. Wasn't everything.

I climbed down the ladder. Castor stayed where he was. He stayed like that until the boy came to do his duty. And true to Fersoan's promise, we were still alive.