Calypso's Curse ✓

17.

As I was swaying in my hammock, I heard the voices of men above me through the wooden planks. Absolom refused to talk to me and since his outburst on deck, I didn't dare to challenge him. Lock and Castor were already vast asleep, by the sound of their conjoined snoring. I was restless, I had promised to save her and I didn't know when another chance would take place until we reached the end of our quest. We didn't even know how much longer we would be at sea. I turned around, waiting for the sound of footsteps to fade.

I sat up, silently leaving the room behind me. The plan was simple but it could cost me my head. I made sure everyone had seen me in the room and I had even grabbed a bottle of rum to make it seem as if I was sleeping away a good drink. I knew Abby didn't approve for when he walked past, he huffed and gave my hammock a firm swing when he left for his night guard. I had to go downstairs hoping nobody would see me and release Marina.

To retrieve the keys I had to fool Lock. I hated to do so, and I knew if he would realize it, I'd lost another friend. But I had been passive for Marina's situation for too long. She had suffered because of me and now was the time I would return her to where she belonged. Lock would normally never lose sight of his keys, so it was hard to figure out which key belonged to the cell so I could leave the rest beside him. That was the initial plan, but he didn't loose them out of sight long enough for me to separate any of them.

So next we started a drinking game. When both Castor and Lock were slowly falling asleep, I had grabbed the entire key ring. It was now weighing heavy in the band of my trousers, a single ring often making me freeze. This was risky and dangerous, for if I were to be found, death would wait upon me. I don't think I had ever been this scared and sure of what to do at the same time. Without bumping into anyone, I made my way to the cellars and was relieved to find it still was unnecessary to have a guard watch over the mermaid.

« Sailor. » Marina gasped surprised. I hushed her by placing my finger over my lips. I held out the keys, the bunch swaying from my moves. Her eyes grew as big as silver plates as I rushed over and went to the lock. Key after key denied me acces until one fateful click resounded in the cellars around us. Marina looked up at me and my eyes locked with hers. This was the final moment. If I were to open this door, there was no turning back. The sound of boots above my head awoke me from the frozen hold. With a sway, the door fell on the inside of the cell. Marina started breathing heavy as I pulled her wet figure in my arms. « Just a few moments. » I whispered to her.

She was remarkably light as I carried her upstairs, still afraid of being caught. She was squirming against my chest trying to make herself comfortable but yet afraid of the consequences were we caught. She must've known I was risking my life for her. But I made her a promise and in this mess I had made upon the Serena, I needed to do at least one good thing, no matter how bad the aftermath. She gasped as the moon caressed her face for the first time in weeks. I could feel her heart thrumming underneath her skin, underneath her scales, as my hands tried to have a good hold on her. I needed to act quick. On deck, it was a matter of time for one would see me. If the mermaid was in my hands, it didn't look good for me.

We remained hidden in the shadows, until Absolom moved away to the back of the ship on his control post. I took a deep breath and made a leap. The edge of the ship was coming nearer, I could see the water beneath when somebody tackled me and I was thrown over the wooden planks, Marina wincing in pain as she made contact with the hard surface.

« Go! »

She squirmed towards the edge. She was so close, the water was splashing across her face. A sliver of silver crossed my eyes, before I heard her scream out in pain. I gasped at the figure who drew his sword into her tail and pinned the mermaid to the deck.

Marina looked at me, her eyes filled with tears of pain and fear. We had failed. However I couldn't think clearly for I was looking into barrel of the gun held by a furious pirate. Dickens face was contorted with anger as he was breathing heavy. His eyes were blazing, their pale blues cold and hard. He ignored the mermaid screaming in pain, as he left his sword stuck. His eyes didn't release me. My heart stopped beating and time seemed to stand still in these final moments.

« I've waited long enough to end you, kid. » Dickens sneered, his finger lingering over the tricker. If he would just shoot me, that would be enough, but he took his time which was so much worse. Fear made me frozen into place. He stepped closer, his finger twitching as if he were to pull the trigger.

« How I am enjoying this. »