Black Hearted

Part 71

The Battle Ballad crashed through the waves, spraying sea water up the sides of the bow. The crew rushed below deck, slipping on the wet wood as they quickly descended the steps. Over the creaking wood and surging water, Mark heard Wade yell to Bob by the stairs. "What about the Captain?!" Bob glanced up at him, before telling Wade. "He's in a mood. Best to just do what he says." Bob waited for Wade to go down, then shouted out. "Crew secure, Captain!" Mark smirked, calling out. "Good! Hold on!" Mark sheathed Nate's katana at his hip, then extended his hand out behind him. He had seen Sean do this... How hard could it be? Turning his hand over, he focused on raising the water beneath the ship. The ship listed as the wave lifted up the ship. Slowly raising his hand up to shoulder level, he brought his arm out in front of him as if he was throwing the water ahead of him. Below the crew yelped as the ship surged forward to race across the rolling wave. Keeping his eyes ahead, he maned the helm to keep the ship from drifting sideways.

Behind him the crew of the Sea Star let out loud shrieking calls of excitement as their ship rushed up to ride the wave he'd made. Mark was almost envious to see the Merfolk standing easily on the railings and shrouds of their ship. They manipulated the water to propel their ship faster and to keep it steady. At the helm, Hector gave him a small wave of approval, before calling out in a dark voice. "BRACE YOURSELVES! HERE THEY COME!" Mark looked ahead to see the churning waves that appeared to have creatures in it. As the ships drew close enough to bubbling sea form, figures burst from the water to attack the ships! Mark's eyes widened at these Sirens. The first few to launch over the front of the ships curled themselves up into tight balls and slammed themselves into the haul like large cannonballs. Their armored scales splintering the wood, seconds before they flopped out across the deck with loud hisses. Mark withdrew Nate's sword to point at a row of cannons.

The cannons flipped over to face across the deck. Exploding with white light as they shot balls of electricity across the wet deck. The Sirens burst into screams as the deck rippled with electricity. Forcing them to ball themselves back up and roll off the deck. Mark waited for the next group, when he heard the haunting laughter from the sides of the ship. Leaping from the water, all around the ship were sleek glittering Sirens with wings under their arms. Like flying fish, they leapt from the water to wave at him with menacing giggles. Mark swung the sword and the swivel cannons all took aim at the blind spots of the ship. The flying Sirens changed course by taking strictly to the air and going for the sails. Their claws shredded them with gleeful laughs, until Mark raised Nate's sword toward the sky. The sword clouded up the sky in storm clouds, sending a bolt of lightening to strike the masts. The masts lit up in white ripples, causing the flying Sirens to scream in fear and retreat to the water.

Mark started to lower the sword, when a strange arrow shattered against the blade. Jerking his head to look, he saw a Siren launching from the water to shoot arrows made of sea glass! He barely ducked another whizzing arrow, when the ship was set upon by them. Abandoning the helm, he dashed around to keep them from making him an easy target. One flying Siren, landed on the railing, her eyes narrowing on the stairs leading below. Like a snake, she slithered her way down toward it. Mark jumped the stairs leading down, impaling her between the shoulder blades as he landed on the deck. Standing back up, he kicked her body free of the stairs and cut the rope keeping the hatch open. It wouldn't lock his crew down there, but it would certainly make it harder for them to get to the crew. He turned to take up another fight, when he found himself staring into the eyes of a young woman. The woman's voice was calming as she started to sing in a slow gentle tone.

The longer he listened to her voice, they more it appeared to speak to him emotionally. It was like she was trying to guide him somewhere. His body relaxed and the ship seemed to go eerily still on the water. He started to hear the sound all around him and he turned in a slow haze to see other Sirens crawling over the side of the ship to join in on her song. Through a heavy fog, he could very faintly hear Hector yelling for people to cover their ears. Their song was so uplifting. It promised to take away his pain. To take him to a place that he belonged. A place he'd be safe and welcomed with loving arms. The sirens moved in closer to him, reaching out to touch him with gentle hands. He could sense a flicker of danger, but it was like a dim flame. So distant and getting farther away. He felt so calm, that without realizing it, he started to mimic their song back in a deeper tone of voice. His voice was so soft at first, but as their musical fog faded around him... his voice grew louder over theirs.