---Cain's POV---

I could tell that Orion was getting quite irritated with being locked up indoors but I knew I couldn't just let him outside. At least not yet. If he had been a human things would've been easier, as he'd never risk jumping off of the boat in the middle of the ocean.

That would be insanity... for a human. But as Orion had revealed and shown in the first few moments that I laid eyes on him, he was a Siren and thus could easily survive, even thrive, jumping into the ocean.

And I wasn't about to lose my treasure to the vast waves of the ocean and risk never seeing him again.

So I sat at the table, looking over my charts while keeping an eye on Orion. The lad was strewn out across the bed, legs propped up against the wall and head nearly dangling off of the bedframe.

I chuckled to myself, as he reminded me of my sister when she had been sulking. And the confused glare he shot my way was eerily similar. I shook my head at his inquisitive look, mapping out our next journey as he released a deep sigh.

"A question, if I may?" Orion asked, clearing his dry throat. "Aye?" I stated when he remained quiet before pushing himself up.

"Why are you a pirate?" His genuine curiosity made me look up before turning around in the seat, resting my arms on the back of it. "It's a long story darling." I teased, smirking as Orion gave me a droll look, eyes flashing with slight annoyance.

"I have the time, don't I?" He countered, making me grin before I agreed, moving the chair over and humming thoughtfully. "Honestly, it started when I was a young lad. I don't know if you have heard any mention of slaves?" I inquired, watching as Orion's nose curled cutely in disgust.

His eyes burned with anger as he crossed his arms and leaned against the cabin walls. "I have bumped into a few slavers and slave owners, sadly enough. Only a very few of them were decent people."

I inclined my head," Those slaves were very lucky then. As far as I know, my family had been the third, maybe fourth generation born into slavery. We were in service of the local cotton farmers, rich white folk." I informed, making Orion nod as his brows furrowed.

No doubt he had heard some harrowing tales or even seen what happened on those farms. Not every owner was polite to their slaves. Hell, it was a rarity that slaves were treated decently in the first place.

Rubbing my hands together, I slowly continued, "We were born and raised slaves, always taught to keep your head down, abide by the masters' will and law, and everything will be alright." I snorted at that, feeling anger burn in my chest at the memories of that bitter past.

"I had always been jealous of the ships we could see in the distance. The freedom to go where ever you want to, no rules or boundaries set, just a single goal... It sounded amazing." I breathed, watching as Orion's expression softened slightly, a look of understanding slipping in his eyes.

Leaning forwards in my seat, I moved my shirt out of the way to reveal the brand, burned in my skin at a young age to declare me property. "Our master was getting older, going to hand his business down to his children. While they were still traveling over, he had ordered all of us to prepare for his family's arrival."

Shaking my head and gritting my teeth, I continued "It was then that he stumbled into my sister, a young maiden of what, fifteen perhaps. She was busy folding the linen and cleaning the young master's quarters before he decided it was within his rights to defile her."

An angry hiss slipped from Orion's lips, the sound drawn out and coming from deep in his throat. I chuckled, nodding at him in respect. "That was his last mistake. Mother was in the kitchen nearby, preparing the meals when she heard her cries and acted on instinct. Before the master even knew what was happening, she had come up to him and used the same butchering knife she used in the kitchen to slid his throat."

Orion observed me for a while, his shoulders tensing as he sighed. "Rebellion against the masters is never encountered with anything but mass genocide." I nodded, remembering all too well what I've seen that day.

"Sadly enough, you're right. The family arrived and the townsfolk were already lynching us left and right. By the time that the Son had arrived, I had already been strapped to the post for hours."

Sighing once more, I pushed back in my seat, glaring at the wall. "Long story short, I watched my mother being publicly humiliated, dragged behind the horses across the street and executed for laying her hand on her Master. My... my sister with a noose around her head and swaying in the wind for 'seducing' her master. I was lucky that the Son's wife took interest in me."

I scoffed at the memory before smirking, "First opportunity I had, I killed the bastard, took off and never looked back. Stowed away on a boat and had Lady fortune smile down on me, for it was a pirate ship."

Orion nodded, smiling despite himself. "And now you're the captain." I smiled at his cute expression, almost seeming proud that he figured it out. A lazy grin stretched my lips as I relaxed and sat back, suddenly feeling curious myself.

"So, what about you?"

"Me?" Orion blinked as if not understanding before frowning. "What about me?" He said in a dismissive tone, though my eyes instantly dropped to his throat when he swallowed convulsively.

Hmmm....

"Let's strike a deal... you tell me a bit 'bout yourself and I'll get yourself some salt water, seeing as you're a bit... thirsty." Pressing my fingers together, I watched as he seemed to think about it, my stomach fluttering as I had already guessed his response.

"No way."

I shrugged, standing up and ignoring how Orion scrambled back with a suppressed hiss, as if expecting to be struck down for his refusal. "Suit yourself." I simply replied, moving my chair back to my charts to continue working for a bit.

Silence filled the cabin save for the rushing of the sea, the background chatter of the men outside and the occasional seagull. I scribbled down our current location, calculating where to go and how far the ocean would take us today before pausing when I heard Orion clear his throat.

"Wh...what do you wanna know?"

Hiding my smile, I turned around once more to watch him closely. "Well, tell me more of what you are... all I heard of was stories, myth and you've already said those weren't true."

---Orion's POV---

Cain was staring at me with nothing but genuine curiosity as I tried to figure out where to start. He knew I was a siren yes, but nothing more than that and I in turn knew little of the stories they told of my species.

"It would help if I'd knew what was being said about me...us... so I can confirm or deny it." I finally stuttered, making Cain lean back with a pensive expression. "I see...Well of course it's been told that Sirens use their voices to lure boats onto the rocks. None of the crew to ever be seen again."

I scoffed in annoyance, because there were so many lies in that. "We don't sing to lure anyone or anything. The only reason we ever sang to humans was to try and guide them away from Mer territories."

"Hold up." Cain said, holding his hand in the air as his eyes gleamed with interest. "So the singing part is true?" I nodded, smiling when he chuckled, "I'll ask more later but do go on. Why sing to guide us away?"

Rolling my eyes, I flopped on the bed more comfortably and sighed. "It's the Merfolk who are the ones that devour humans. They're silent killers and hunt in packs. Whenever I go near their territories, I will pass as quickly and quietly as possible or bolt the other way."

A shiver ran over my spine, as I had only seen a Mermaid fleetingly in the distance. The look she had sent me had been more than enough to give me nightmares for years to come.

"The merfolk have fixed territories they patrol and guard fiercely compared to us. We just travel from place to place. Sadly enough, some Merfolk will disband into traveling packs, which makes the seas even more dangerous."

Cain nodded before frowning slightly. "Not that I'm ... ungrateful, but why didn't you escape with your song?"

I paused at that, feeling my stomach quiver at the thought. He was right after all. I could easily start to sing and break their will before they could unsheathe their swords. But...

"Merfolk have excellent hearing. If there is any pack in the area, they will come for me and they will hunt me down. The only time I've met and escaped a Mermaid was simply because it was already feasting on a shipwrecked crew."

I shivered once more, rubbing over my arms. Those cold blue eyes as she had stared at me from a distance, ignoring the sailor that was flailing in her arms, drowning and screaming. It didn't even seem affected by the fingernails that were clawing at its face, only annoyed before it had reached around to squeeze the sailor's throat, an explosion of blood sallying the water as the human's head slowly fell to the dark abyss.

Her tail had cut through the blood swiftly, eyes darkening as her hunger demanded her to feed before she tore into the twitching carcass, a few of her brethren and sisters darting towards the surface to sink their claws into their own meal.

And I had used the cover of that blood cloud to flee for my life, knowing that if these merfolk were still ravenous after their meal, they would pursue me. Especially their females, whom were renowned for pursuing their prey to death, even if they weren't hungry.

"That and... I...I've never killed someone. Singing now would lead to your death...by my hand, or theirs."

Cain didn't question whom I referred to, as he could easily guess. I just hoped that me staying on the ship would keep my scent away from those vicious predators. Because I didn't dare imagine what they would do in an attempt to drag me off of the ship and devour me alive.