Ruthless Winds and Raging Seas

Chapter 8

The ship arrived at Mermaid Heel in the wee hours of the morning, it was still dark out and the sun had not yet risen. They left Erza and Lucy on the ship and took a life boat out on to the cove. Poor Gray was as white as a ghost and trembling with fear. He hated being this close to the water.

"You okay?" Gajeel asked noticing the look of sheer terror on Gray's face.

"Me? Oh I'm fine. Really fine. But um...Why did I have come? Why couldn't I stay behind and guard the ship? Not that I mind being out here of course."

"Gray you're not afraid are you?" Natsu said with a mischievous grin.

"Me? Afraid? Don't be silly! Wha...Wha...What is there to be afraid of?"

"Maybe the water?"

"For the last time I'm not afraid of the water."

"Prove it. Jump in."

"Bad idea." Gajeel said. "These are merfolk infested waters, if you dare swim in this part of the sea you'll be dragged to a watery grave. I don't like this, maybe we should head back."

"Oh no Gajeel don't tell me you're scared too."

"I'm not scared, I'm smart. You've never met a mermaid, you don't know what they're like."

"Are they that dangerous?" Gray said.

"Yes. I once knew a man who got a little too close one of them, thought she was going to give him a kiss."

"What happened to him?"

"She ate him."

The other three pirates flinched. Suddenly they heard the sound of something splashing around the water. They all became completely stiff and didn't move an inch until they saw something rise up from the surface. It looked like an attractive woman with long, straight black hair however the lower half of her body did not have legs. Instead it had a gold fish tail.

"Lord save me." Gray whispered in a prayer.

She moved toward the boat. Gajeel quickly stood up and pulled out a sword.

"Don't you'll scare her off!" Natsu said.

"Right! And good riddance!" Gajeel said.

Natsu and Laxus forced him to sit down back in the boat. Laxus then made his way toward the mermaid.

"Can you talk?" He asked her.

"Yes." She replied. "I am Kagura."

"You're beautiful." He said.

She giggled and gave him a flirty smile.

"What are you men doing here? Have you lost something?"

"Scram you sea harpy!" Gajeel snapped.

"Are you forgetting that we need one of these creatures?" Natsu whispered to Gajeel.

"What's the point if she kills one of us?"

"I must say." The mermaid Kagura said to Laxus. "Out of all the humans I've seen you are the most handsome."

"Really?" He said leaning in closer.

"Laxus snap out of it!" Gajeel said.

But she was already working her charm on him. Kagura pulled Laxus close to her and made it seem as though she was going to kiss him. But just before their lips could touch her appearance began change. Her attractive woman facade faded and was replaced by a hideous creature with scales on her face, gills on her neck, fangs and claws appeared, she was monsterous. She grabbed Laxus and pulled him into the sea, trying to drown him only to be cut across the cheek by Gajeel who pulled Laxus back up.