"Even the broken mirror never fails to do it's job."

                                                    -Anonymous

Your eyes were narrowed in concentration as your gaze scanned the mirror up and down, hand instinctively resting on the hilt of your dagger as you took a step towards the reflective glass.

You'd been at sea for a few hours now, helping around the ship and planning your next moves. Bluebeard sailed ahead of you on his own vessel New World. The two of you agreed that, if he needed to reach you, he'd send a carrier pigeon with his message strapped to it's leg. He also 'lent' you Thomas to use for whatever purpose you'd manage to find for the young cripple.

You couldn't help but feel like he'd sent the boy as a spy for him to make sure you were actually intending on upholding your end of the bargain.

You had to give him credit, that was a rather smart move on his end. So much for him being just another sea captain.

During all the hustle of getting the ship on track and hammering our the final details, you hadn't had much time to yourself, which meant that you didn't have too much time to talk to Jungkook and you had no doubt that the young siren was heavily confused about what exactly was going on.

Which was how you came to find yourself standing in front of the mirror where he first appeared to you, the door locked behind you to keep the men out.

You honestly had no idea how the whole "appearing in front of you" thing worked, but you needed to try to communicate with the siren. He was the ace of your sleeve, your secret weapon in case both men betrayed you.

"Jungkook," You called, lightly tapping on the glass. "Are you in there?"

You were greeted with silence, nothing but your reflection staring back at you.

You ran a hand through your hair, huffing out as you tapped a little harder.

"Hello?" You said, "Siren boy? Pedophile?"

"I still don't know what that means."

You jumped back slightly, a huff of air leaving your lungs as you moved your gaze to stare at the newly-appeared man in front of you.

His blue eyes stared you down curiously.

"You summoned me, mate?"

You rolled your eyes, shaking your head.

"Don't call me that." You scolded. "I'm not your mate."

The black-haired man pointed towards your ring finger, brows shooting up in amusement.

"According to that, you are."

Your eyes narrowed.

"Let's not forget whose fault it is that we even have these things, hm?" You said lowly. "I've got some questions that I need answered. If you ever expect me to trust you, you'll answer them truthfully.'

Jungkook nodded his head, staring at you.

"I've already told you, I cannot lie.-"

"Right." You interjected. "Because I can believe you so easily after you almost busted my eardrums."

He sighed.

"What do you wish to know?"

You paused, taking in his look before moving to sit on the bed, staring up at his form in the reflective glass of the mirror.

"We are sailing to find a music box." You stated, watching as his eyes widened, "A music box that you and your brothers formed together...What is this music box capable of?"

Jungkook hesitated, his eyes darting to the ground swiftly.

"The Box of Mist." He mumbled, "How did you find out about that box?"

You shrugged your shoulders, drinking in his nervous reaction.

"That's what it's called then," You acknowledged. "I heard tales of it. Answer the question."

"Unspeakable horrors." He gritted, reluctant to even speak about it. "In the wrong hands, it will bring death and ruin. Sailing towards it is foolish."

You inhaled.

"Is that why it's surrounded by monsters?" You asked. "To be kept safe from 'the wrong hands'?"

Jungkook nodded his head.

"My brothers and I hid it away for a reason." He said, eyes raising to meet yours. "Man is not wise enough to understand it's power. They soiled the seas and killed one another for the power of that box. My brothers gave their lives to hide it away."

You were slightly taken aback by that comment. His brothers were dead? Interesting.

"So you were angry with man?" You asked. "Is that why The Great Loss happened?"

"The Great Loss?' He repeated, brows furrowing, "Whatever you know of that event has been fed to you by men. Lying men who would rather make us the enemy than admit their wrongs."

You leaned closer.

"Then tell me." You pushed. "Tell me what really happened to all those people."

Jungkook hesitated, clenching his jaw before finally opening his mouth in explanation.

"When you give a precious gift--when you are forced to take it back, there will be war and with war, casualties."

You sat patiently, waiting for him to continue.

"The humans wouldn't relinquish the power we'd given them," He continued. "They were polluting the sea and killing creatures for their own benefit...When we tried to retake the box, they attacked my brothers and I."

He raised his hands, staring at his palms.

"Those humans," He paused. "The ones that they say we stole...They wanted to forget-They wanted to become one with the sea. Women who had lost their babies or husbands...they wanted to forget their life...and so, we let them. Man say that we stole half of humanity, but that is only foolish nonsense. Humanity came to us for refuge...But, as time went by, the humans we'd turned began to long for the land again...so, I gave them a way to trade places with a willing human....one who was as heartbroken as they once were when they begged for the sea."

"So, that's why sirens can only mark heartbroken people?" You pondered aloud, watching as Jungkook nodded.

"Over time, some sirens forgot they were human and began to truly despise man," He sighed. "We call those mermaids as they have lost their song...maybe they had forgotten it, or became more of a noise...but, they lost it none the less...and with loosing their song, they lost their humanity."

"These mermaids," You started. "Will they be waiting for us en route to the box?"

He nodded his head.

"They will appear beautiful to the human eye, so be wary of the men as they will be the first target. Mermaids may have lost their songs, but their words still have the power of persuasion. They will go to any lengths to see that you all die."

You tilted your chin upwards, standing to your feet.

"And what of you?" You asked. "Can you protect us from these monsters?"

He paused, chewing his lip in thought.

"I will protect my mate." He stated. "No one else."

A small smile pulled on your lips.

"No sympathy for mankind, huh?'

He stared at you.

"No."

You hummed, toying with your blade.

"I only want this mark off of me." You explained. "I do not intend to let the box fall into anyone's hands other than my own...and for a brief period of time...In order to do that, I need these men alive, at least until we get to the island."

He furrowed his brows, watching as you walked towards your desk, sitting down and shoving the blade into the wood before propping your feet up.

"And," You hummed. "I'll need you close at all times in case I need to make a quick get away."

The siren's brows shot up at that.

"You think these men will betray you?"

You nodded your head, watching the light reflect off the blade.

"I'm counting on it." You deadpanned. "Which is why I'm telling you all of this. If things go south and these men try to take me hostage or use me in anyway, then I'll have to kill them."

His eyes widened at your words, hands resting on the glass of the mirror.

"Kill them?' He repeated, " I thought you only needed me for an escape."

"An escape from the danger surrounding the Isle." You explained, twisting the handle and causing light to dance against the blade. "These men don't care for my safety, only about using me to get what they want."

He watched as you raised your left hand, showing off the mark on your ring finger.

"This mark forces you to care about my safety." You smirked. "Which means, if I am in danger, you are as well. A forced loyalty of some sorts."

He sent you a hard look.

"So, you intend to use me as your slave?" He gritted. "Is that all that mark means to you?"

"I intend to use you as insurance." You corrected. "Please don't try to sound so religious. We both know that you'd have been happy to see me submit like a slave. By putting this mark on me, you ensured that we'd be bound together for all time whether I liked it or not-"

"I already told you that was an accident!" He yelled. "I didn't know what I was doing-":

"Accident or not," You stood to your feet, pulling the blade from the wood and approaching the mirror. "You and I are bound together now. If you hate it so much, then shut up and help me get that stupid box."

His nostrils flared at he stared at you through the glass, jaw clenching as your unwavering, blue gaze bore through him as though you knew everything he was thinking.

"Was this your plan?' He asked. "You hate the mark, yet you are more than happy to use it against me...just like the Silent One."

You chuckled at that.

"I'm turning a bad thing into something good." You stated. "Since I've been here, all you men have tried to do is push me around and try to force me to accept my consequences. Well, I'm done accepting and I'm done being treated like a captive. If I am meant to be alone in this world, then so be it. I will be alone...But, I will always be winning."

He glared at you through the glass.

"Do you hate me? Good." You said, taking in his heated look. "Because now I can be sure that we both want this mark off desperately. I've made you a promise that none of these men will have that box and I intend to keep it. You get me there, and I will free the both of us and you can continue to hate me for the rest of your days."

"It won't be easy," He said, removing his hands from the glass. "There are things within the sea that even I cannot control. You will be on your own for some of this."

You smiled, walking back towards your desk and staring at the map Jimin had drawn.

"Well then," You smiled, glancing back at him,

"Bring on the monsters."

A/N,

Does this count as a double update? Eh I don't know.

I'm seriously loving Y/n's character right now. SO. MUCH. DEVELOPMENT.

I love you all.

I adore you all.

I purple you all.

I'm all the way out.

(Teehee. That's what he said.👀👆)

-Max