Gladys swam beneath the ocean waves, curiously watching a ship sail aimlessly. She had seen the old woman's body sink to the ocean floor. Heart-wrenching wails muffled by the water echoed in her ears. Why was a human, a pirate!, so upset over this woman's death? Yet, despite her animosity toward humans in general, Gladys didn't feel right leaving this woman's body to drift at sea to be eaten by whatever sea creature came by first. Gladys buried the woman in the sand, leaving a small sea flower crown at the burial site beneath the docks.

Shortly after the burial, the ship had sailed off. However, no one followed the lone ship. So, Gladys followed them. Call it a gut feeling, but she felt drawn to the ship, more specifically the people on the ship. First, the young man she saw at the docks. He looked at her with awe and wonder instead of malice and hatred. That alone was enough to garner her attention. The other one, Michael, was a different story.

Agonizing pain. Blood. Screaming.

Gladys shook her head. No, now was not the time to think about that. Her hand subconsciously touched the scar on her face. Right now, she had an orb to find. The mystical hum came back louder the closer she got to the ship.

"Why would you want me to come closer to the ship?" Gladys murmured, questioning the divine powers calling out to her. It didn't make sense. No cargo ship would have the orb. That would be too easy. Perhaps it was who was on the ship? Gladys didn't know for sure. Part of her didn't want to know. She could handle this mission on her own.

The humming grew louder. "Okay, okay, I'm following the ship," Gladys groaned, swimming faster. Staying beneath the shadow of the ship, the siren opened her bag to pull out her map. She was a few miles from the shores of Icilia. Surfacing now would be risky with all the guild ships and lookouts around.

Her brows furrowed, thoughts racing through her mind. The humming had dulled, settling in the back of her mind, but still there. This ship and these two young men were important to her mission somehow. Working with humans was one thing. Working with pirates was another. Sirens and pirates weren't supposed to work together. They are enemies.

"I won't work with pirates," Gladys snapped angrily, tail twitching. The humming turned stern. "No, I won't," Gladys determined, shoving the map back in her bag. "Not happening." The humming grew to a loud boom before going completely silent.

"I'm never working with pirates," Gladys hissed, swimming deeper and deeper.

—

"Here," Michael handed Jaxon a tangerine. The younger pirate had stayed in the crew's bunk room since they left Icilia a few days prior. He hadn't left the bunk. He wasn't eating. He wasn't sleeping. Michael wasn't faring much better, but he had to be strong for Jaxon. "Come on. You need to eat and you need vitamin C."

Jaxon didn't bother to roll over and look at Michael. He curled up tighter and glared at the wood in front of him. The hammock swung slightly from his minor movement. "Go away," he croaked, throat raw from crying. He roughly dried his eyes. "Please, just go."

Michael sighed heavily, leaving the tangerine on the small table beside the hammock. "You need to eat something, Jaxon." His footsteps thumped against the hardwood, and when he reached the door, he glanced over his shoulder. "It wasn't your fault," he murmured, stepping out of the room and closing the door. "It's not my fault, either," he whispered to himself.

Maria had died protecting both of them. Her death ensured their survival in the moment. Her death. Michael's throat tightened up, tears welled in his eyes. He covered his mouth with his hand to muffle his cries. He slid against the door until he was on the floor. Michael hugged his knees and cried. His hands dug into his hair and pulled.

The pain did nothing to ground him. The physical pain couldn't compare to the overwhelming emotional pain both he and Jaxon were experiencing. Michael didn't think a bullet could hurt more than this. He pulled harder, wincing as a sob erupted from his throat. His body shook, tears slipping down his face. It wasn't fair. Maria should be alive. Michael and Jaxon should be out having fun adventures.

Michael leaned forward and pushed up with his arms. Walking down the hall and up the stairs to the main deck, Michael leaned against the railing, letting the breeze wash over him. His tears fell into the ocean below, causing small circles and ripples. He wetly laughed at the situation he found himself in.

"Quit cryin', lad. No use in cryin' o'er little ol' me." Michael could imagine Maria telling him. "Go out and be free now. Sail the seas and forge yer path." Maria wouldn't want him to be sad. Yet, why was it so hard to move on? His fist slammed against the wood. Sebastian was going to pay for this. For everything. Michael would make sure of it. He slammed his fist again, the wood cracking.

"You're going to get splinters or break the railing if you keep that up." A tangerine was placed on the railing next to his fist. 'Huh?' Michael looked over in surprise. Sullen eyes stared at Michael. He could see tear stains on Jaxon's cheeks. "You look horrible." Jaxon's voice was drained and tired.

Michael shrugged half-heartedly. "So do you," he mumbled, taking a deep breath to compose himself. He had to stay strong for Jaxon. He needed to be strong enough to avenge Maria. His eyes wandered from Jaxon to the tangerine. "Did you eat?" he asked.

"I had a tangerine," Jaxon shrugged. "And some of the dried meat." He leaned his back against the railing. He twirled Michael's tricorn hat in his hand and handed it over to him. "I..." His throat choked up and he swallowed thickly. "I'm sor–"

"Don't," Michael took the hat from Jaxon and held up his hand. Jaxon closed his mouth, brows furrowing. "It's not worth it. She's not coming back." His throat tightened, more tears welled in Michaels eyes. He took a shuddering breath. "It's up to us to avenge her and to decide what we do next."

Jaxon worried as Michael dangerously narrowed his eyes. "Avenge? C'mon, Michael. Revenge isn't what you do," he pointed out.

"Well it is now!" Michael snapped, eyes flashing dangerously. Jaxon flinched back with wide eyes. A sense of unease washed over him. Michael had always looked out for Jaxon, and he never used violence at first. Violence was always saved as the last option. Sebastian really messed with Michael's head. Of course he did, Jaxon sighed. Sebastian killed one of the two most important people in Michael's life.

Jaxon clenched his fist and took deep breaths. Sebastian took Maria away from them because Jaxon was too weak to fight back. "What's the plan?"