The salty aftersmell of days at sea finally dissapears when I let myself sink into the chair across the desk from a familiar ally. His shabby shack is filled to the brim with curiosities. Dried heads hang from the ceiling like festive banners, and severed fingers of clients who didn't fulfill their part of the bargain fill the wall behind the man I am asking for help once again. I have cheated and schemed a great deal in my life, but never shall I try to outsmart a being so powerful as Frank. The other walls are stacked with bookcases that have been filled with ancient tomes, scrolls and items from societies that no longer exist. Paintings of legends and skeletal remains of majestic and frightening beasts decorate every inch of this humble abode. All this history accumulated in one place has always made me feel small and insignificant and sometimes I wonder what it would be like to wield the power he holds.
"I hope you understand Captain..." Frank's unwashed and dirt stained face is fixed on the chest filled with gold right in front of him. "...that the service you wish to be granted by me comes at a greater price than mere materialistic objects or golden coin"

Frank "The Bank" Bowers also known as thé Magician. It is not my first time dealing with him, nor will it be my last. Frank's exterior is rough and looks like that of a seafarers corpse that has been left in the blazing sun for decades. His skin has darkened and dried out like a strip of bacon left too long in the skillet. His teeth are as black as the darkest night, his eyes are bloodshot and the scar-like tattoos on his face make him look so very grim. And even though he looks like he shouldn't be alive Frank has lived, and continues to live, through centuries. He's seen kings and queens rise and fall, empires build up and destroyed, history unfolded in front of his very eyes and yet he remains in the shadows. Always watching, never meddling.
It is no secret that he has been part of this world longer than any of us and therefore understands it better than any could throughout their entire lifetime. Magic is a powerful mistress that he seems to have tamed but not yet controlled. Nonetheless he's proven to be a valuable ally and friend. Aquiring his services is not something any individual can simply do, he only appears to those most desperate. And boy am I desperate.

"I'll bring you the head of a mermaid as payment. The gold is to cover the costs of the ship and crew you will provide." I calmly state.
Frank lifts his head so his eyes meet mine. A genuine smile creeps over his old and dried up face.
"That is an ambitious and possibly deadly venture Price. As a friend I would hate to loose you so early." He pauses for a moment, lost in his own thought. "But, as a collector I simply can not refuse. It has been a while since I had the head of mermaid in my posession. They are so rare to find these days."
"You can thank the Prescotts for that."
Frank pours me a cup of hot tea from a porcelain set depicting a war that was waged long ago. It's a new mix that was gifted to him by a mysterious asian pirate queen of great renown. The spices tingle my every tastebud and I sink into my chair, feeling more comfortable and at ease now that our deal has been struck and my stomach filled with exotic goods.
"So I've heard. Their blatant disrespect for the creatures of myth deeply sadden me. Though I find peace in knowing their time on this earth is finite and running out quickly." He chuckles lightly while we both reminisce about the inevitable demise of the Prescotts.

We go over our final agreement as he flicks his wrist and a scroll appears in his hand. The wax seal is severed by his grotesquely long fingernail, he could slice someone's throat with those if he wanted to. As he reads out the terms of agreement I can't help but wonder again if there is another way. Alas, I come to similar conclusions no matter how many scenarios I think of. Prescott Manor is an impenetrable fortress with guards and mercenaries that could recognize me in a heartbeat. If I want to successfully infiltrate and therefore kidnap Dorian's daughter I must be unrecognizable. The plan is simple.
I find and kill a mermaid, bring their head back to Frank. He'll be able to cast a powerful spell that will permanently change my appearance until I return to him with a forbidden fruit from the misty islands. With my new look I'll infiltrate the Prescott estate and win the trust of Dorian's lost daughter as her new martial and swordfighting arts mentor. Then, I must somehow convince her to leave with me to be rejoined with her birthfather and then I'll get my ship and crew back, hopefully in one piece. Most important of all, I would be able to see Rachel once more. As I sign the contract, I wish I could skip all the way to the end of the plan. However, for now I will focus on winning the trust of the Prescotts and the new addition to their family, Maxine Caulfield. Though first, I must aquire the head of a mermaid.