As every story should start....
Once upon a time...
Lost at sea, a lonely pirate sailed the seas. It turned dark and stormy. The waves rocked against the ship. The pirate held the wheel with all his might. He kept the ship afloat as the storm raged through the night.
As the sun rose the next day, he spotted a small island. He was desperate to reach that bit of land. His sails were shredded. His mast was cracked. And, he was alone.
He prayed with all his heart. He made promises as one does when making their final pleas to survive. As his final plea was spoken, the ocean rose in the form of a giant man. Poseidon rose from the depths, raised his great arms and pushed the ship towards the shore. As the ship lurched forward the God kept pace along side the ship.
"Dreaded Pirate, i have heard of you. The bottom of my oceans are filed with ships you have destroyed."
The pirate replied. "Those I have destroyed have created far more carnage and destruction than I ever could."
"Mhm" the God murmured. "For that is why you are saved now, Little Man. You destroy those who harm others, and for that you will live."
The pirate thanked him profusely and the ship reached the shore. Poseidon nodded once to the pirate and slowly sank into the ocean...as all but his head remained, he spoke once more. "You will remain here for the rest of your days. Protect the people on this island as you have in the sea and you may be able to sail the seas again."
The pirate was cast off his ship with a giant gust of wind and the ship was pulled back into the ocean. As the ship sank, the pirate fell to the ground.
"Protect these people and i will return...in time." Poseidon than sank into the ocean with such finality that the pirate had no words. He rose on unsteady legs and turned to see what kind of island he had been brought to.
He saw movement in the palm trees. The leaves rustled and he heard voices. He called out. "Hello? Is someone there?" He saw something coming through the foliage but what it was, he could not say.
A woman with sea green hair stepped out from the trees. The weary pirate stood in awe of her beauty. She cautiously walked towards him. He held up his hands and said "I mean you no harm." She stopped a few paces before him, her head tilted to the side, and sang "where have you come from?" Her voice was soft and sweet to the pirates ears.
"The Master of the Seas brought me here to you, Fair Maiden. Why do you sing so?"
"I am cursed with the gift of song, by the very Master that cast you here." She sang.
He approached her, still with arms outstretched. "He sent me to protect you, to keep you safe from harm."
She smiled sweetly. "He must not be angry with me anymore." Her voice rang out.
"How could one such as you, anger the Gods?" He asked.
She shook her head and her smile seemed to droop. "No matter, come with me now." She held out her hand and he took it. Her skin was soft and smooth, unlike his own that were rough and full of calluses. His roughness did not seem to bother her but he was mindful of her dainty and delicate hand and kept his tough light so as not to scratch her.
He found himself entranced by her. An overwhelming urge to simply be near her. Not just as a man, but something more. He let her lead him to a hut tucked into the trees. Surrounding the hut was a row of sharp spikey bushes, almost blocking the hut completely from sight. Unless you were looking for it it would have disappeared into the glade.
She hummed softly and his heart seemed to beat to her tune. "Let me show you where you can rest. I am sure you are exhausted." Her voice lulled him into compliance and before he knew it, he was sitting on a soft bed.
The woman was kneeling by his side. She took off his boots, one by one. She slowly rubbed his feet and he sighed in relief. All this time she remained humming. He started to doze and sweet face wavered out of focus. He feel into a deep sleep.
When he woke, he was warm and well rested. He tried to stretch his arms and legs but he was unable to move. He opened his eyes in panic and found himself in a deep hole buried up to his neck in rich soil that smelled faintly...of blood.
He struggled to free himself. No matter how hard he tried he was unable to escape so he called out. "Woman! Where are you? What is this!?!"
She walked out from the hut, smiling again oh so sweetly. "You are awake early, yes you are." Her voice steadied his frantic heart.
Why did she affect him so? Also...why were his feet so cold? "What have you done to me?!"
She smiled "You are here to keep me safe."
The coldness in his feet slowly rose to his legs. "What have you done to me??"
"You are protecting me, just like the others." She gestured to the spiked bushes. "I am safe now that the circle is complete. I have waited a long time you see. My father was angry with me for some time...I was so lonely."
The pirate could no longer feel any part of him limbs. As she sang her story to him, he struggled to stay alert. He could only focus on the sound of her voice. She knelt down and kissed his forehead. "I will never be alone now. Thank you."
The pirate shuddered once and was no more.
The ocean rose the next night. Poseidon gazed down at his daughter and she waved at him from her hut. Her smile bright and full of joy. He smiled and descended back into his ocean.
A parent will do anything to keep their child safe.
