--- Orion's POV---

The sea was rowdier today; dark grey skies chased off the white clouds in the distance, waves crashing roughly against the hull. Forks of lightning flashed in the distance, causing the men to draw up their shoulders warily.

Already they were up in the mast, unfolding sails as they hoped to outrun the storm. I already knew we would; the wind was slightly warm, not filled with the bitter damp cold of an approaching storm.

Instead of telling them so, I simply gazed at the churning surface of the water with a wistful sigh. My eyes closed as the waves rushed up, the spray doing wonders on my skin. I could sense eyes on me and blinked to the right, yet Cain wasn't at all ashamed at being caught looking.

He simply had that content glint in his eyes, belying the stern expression on his face as he ordered his men around. I could tell he was happy I stuck around, even though I didn't have much choice, with the merfolk lurking in the depths.

I knew they were still there, a few stragglers that remained and hoped I was caught off guard. I desperately wished to be able to jump into the water and swim. But I wasn't foolish enough to jump right into their jaws.

Instead I stood here, staring wistfully at the water and hoped they'd be bored soon enough. Seeing how one of them was starving, they should leave soon enough if they didn't wish to perish.

Then again, the idea of having the juiciest flesh they could ever have, right within their reach... I shivered and brushed over my arms, averting my gaze from the sea. The pirates were rowdy and loud, working around the ship and sometimes even busting in song.

I blinked in wonder, glancing at Cain, who smirked and shook his head at my stunned look. "Sailing is tough work, especially for pirates as we work around the clock and hardly head for land. The lads sing to lighten the mood and lower the workload as they jump in pace." He explained calmly as I observed his men.

And just as he said, the men heaved and pulled at the ropes of the sails completely in tune to the song. They were smirking, belting out the lyrics of the dubious and sometimes insinuating songs.

"I...I knew that much... I just thought..." I didn't continue and Cain smirked, baring his white teeth in an amused grin. "You thought only honest working sailors used them songs?" I nodded, feeling my cheeks heat slightly before the pirates started on another song full of innuendos, making me wonder if they were actually singing about a ship...or a woman.

At one point I was sure they were actually referring to a woman but when the lyrics changed, it made it sound as if they were talking about the ship itself. I glanced in confusion at Cain and blushed even more as he was smirking darkly.

Plus, the lewd grins on the men's faces when they sang of storing cargo down the front or down the back made me shiver and look back to the sea.

Perhaps they sing of both, mentioning the ship on one moment while they think of the woman.

I jolted when Cain's voice rumbled behind me, only to blink rapidly and follow his gaze as he shouted at the crow's-nest, "Any Merfolk still chasing us?" Unconsciously I leaned forwards, hands clenching the wooden banister as the barrel-man looked around, one foot on the nest and the other on the ropes to lean over as far as he could.

"All clear Cap' Tn! Not a fin to be seen!"

Happiness bubbled in my chest as I glanced hopefully at Cain, who simply nodded with his stern expression. From what I've seen so far, he rarely ever smiled genuinely, either smirked or kept his stern expression.

But that glint in his eyes showed that he too was happy that I wasn't being tracked anymore, though sadness fought with that happiness. Still, my skin ached, clothes coarse and shaving the fragile skin.

The rest of the crew was watching curiously before backing away as I bolted down the deck, hearing their surprised exclamations and Cain's roaring command to leave me be. I grinned as the shirt fluttered behind me, pants tearing the second I jumped, tail forming before finally!

My gills quivered as I inhaled deeply, tingling delicately before the dull ache left them with each soothing pass of the water. I quickly checked my surroundings to make sure there was nothing around. The barrel-man was right; the only thing nearby was a group of massive jellyfish, slowly pulsating in the current as they dragged their dangerous stingers behind them.

I grinned, pumping my tail to pick up speed, feeling the water pull at my dorsal fin. Glancing back, I felt a sudden thump in my chest, almost as if I missed a step. Cain's ship was still sailing in the distance and in that moment I realized I could easily escape.

Cain wouldn't be able to follow me, especially if I went deep enough. Sure he probably had the barrel-man up in his crow's-nest, having an eye out for me, but human eyesight was horrible.

I knew that if I went deeper than the shallows humans preferred, they wouldn't be able to see me. Escaping these pirates would be ridiculously easy. Yet, as I prepared myself to do just so, I hesitated.

Besides my kidnapping, they didn't give me any reason to flee them. Sure Cain's men had knocked me out, even though that was clearly against his wishes, and even Archer had subtly threatened to take my seawater away if I dared escape...

But in the several days that I remained in Cain's quarters, he had never lashed out and beaten me. He had given me what I needed, even removed the shackles that would've made it more difficult to escape...

And now he had given me back my freedom, knowing that he had no way of finding me again if I bolted. That and he actively protected me against the Merfolk. It would've been so much easier for him if he had flung me overboard when they attacked.

I would've been utterly helpless, forced to jump towards their tails like a seal trying to avoid a big white. If it was just a single one of them, I could possible confuse them that way. But with an entire pod, I had no chance.

They would've ripped me apart and eaten me alive. Of course they'd toy with me first, wound me so they could track me down, make me flee from them so they could practice on trapping a Siren.

But the second they'd grow bored or their hunger becomes too much, they'd maim me so I wouldn't be able to swim, left to their devices as they'd feast on my body.

I shivered before heading back to Cain's ship. This was honestly the first time that I willingly picked land over the sea.

I must be going crazy.

Cain's smirk flashed before my eyes and I shivered, shaking my head to myself. The human had nothing to do with my decision, I was just making sure I was safe and not swimming into a trap.

Honestly.

A small sounds from the depths made me speed up, glancing down before frowning, feeling my stomach clench together in fear.

Three sets of eyes were watching attentively as I sped back to the boat. The Mermen lazily pumped their tails as they moved out of their ambush to follow me. I shivered and rushed myself even faster, feeling elated to get out of the ocean.

I grinned as I saw Cain leaning over the edge of the banister, his eyes piercing through the water in an attempt to find me. The water muffled his curse and he was trying to back away before I flung out of the water, tackling him on the boat.

The men cursed and drew their swords before pausing when they realized it was me. They started chuckling and I'm certain it was quite a sight, as Cain was lying spread eagle on the deck while most of my body rested on his stomach, tail curling off to the side.

Its not everyday they saw someone else floor their Pirate Captain in a single blow and manage to pin them down as well.

A smirk curled my own lips at Cain's stunned expression before he managed to push himself up on his lower arms. "And to what pleasure do I owe that kind of greeting?" He drawled lazily while I slid off of his stomach so he could get up.

"Getting you away from that banister, to be honest." He snorted before stilling, both of us turning at the venomous hiss that sounded off of the ship. "Apparently they were lying in ambush too deep for the barrel-man to spot them."

Cain's expression cooled before he stood up, scowling at the merman that was clawing its way up the banister. His arms didn't even quiver as its tail flicked out of the water behind him, claws digging into the wood as it eyed all aboard the ship before flicking his eyes to me.

The male was not at all starved like the female that lunged on board a few days ago. He was lean, muscular and eying me as if I was the most delectable morsel he'd ever laid eyes upon.

He made a show of baring his sharp teeth, tongue flicking over the edges before he pushed himself off of the ship, narrowly avoiding getting shot by one of the crew.

I shivered and hung my head, feeling disgusted and knowing that I wouldn't be safe in the near or far future.

I guess this ship will be the safest place I can be.