Mark dropped the flap to glare at the merman he had held captive. So, that was what the merman was hiding. An amulet that could turn a merman from fish to human. Mark swiftly crossed to his desk and grabbed his pistol to cock it back. The merman he had tied down, told him with a smug smirk. "That holds only one shot... What good will that do you against the Gam?" Mark frowned, removing his cutlass from its sheath, snapping out. "I have all the advantage I need." Mark started to head for the flap, when someone stepped in. Mark quickly moved to the side of the flap, trying to stay out of the new merman's line of sight. The merman who entered stopped cold, looking down at the merman he had tied down with shock. The merman crouched down to a bow, asking quickly. "Prince Sean! You're alive! You're father will be so-" Sean let out a sharp cry as Mark grabbed the merman's mouth and slit his throat with his sword. Mark heard more movement toward the tent and withdrew his pistol again. 

As the next merman entered the tent, Mark pointed the gun at him and fired. The merman took the bullet between the eyes and fell back across the sand. Mark immediately started to reload as Sean told him franticly. "STOP IT!" Mark didn't listen to him, strolling out of the tent as two more mermen ran up to him. Mark fired his gun, the bullet sinking into one of the mermen's hearts. The second hesitated in shock, then glared at him before letting out an piercing screech that made Mark flinch and cover his ears. Mark fought the urge to retreat, moving forward to swing his blade quickly at the screeching merman. His blade slashed up the merman's chest and across his throat, silencing the merman. Mark didn't stop walking, he simply adjusted his blade in his hand and began reloading his pistol. The other mermen on the beach turned their heads in his direction with unnerved confusion. The grey tailed merman in the water tried to sing louder, thinking that was why he wasn't vexed by them. In response, Mark quickly aimed at him and fired another shot. The shot hit the merman's shoulder and he sank beneath the water to escape.

Another merman wielding a trident, ran up to engage him. Mark holstered his pistol and began to spar with him as his crew started to come out of their trances. They all started to take up arms and fight back as they took in their hostile surroundings. The merman sparring with Mark was a pretty good fighter, knocking Mark back with a powerful shove. Mark fell back across the sand, quickly rolling away out of habit as a the merman shot a bolt blue lightening from his trident. Mark's eyes lit up in complete shock. He hadn't expected that! The merman flashed him a dark smirk, then pointed his trident toward the water and swung it slowly like he was simply fanning the beach. The surface of the ocean started to mist and thicken into a heavy fog that drifted up the shore to shroud the beach. Mark was onto his game. They were going to turn the tides of this fight in their favor again. Choosing to fight on a playing field where they had the advantage. Mark couldn't let that happen!

Running up on the merman, before he was completely lost in the growing fog, Mark blocked the strike from the merman's trident.  Then while deflecting the blow, Mark quickly reached out to yank the merman's amulet off. The wet misty fog that continued to caress the merman's body became his undoing. The merman's dark blue tail coming back, causing him to collapse across the sand. Mark was too far gone in his blood rage to let the merman go. Before the merman could scramble back into the water, Mark plunged his blade into the merman's back. The other mermen glanced at each other and cut their losses. Allowing the rest of the crew to chase them back into the water. The crew fired shots into the water where they had heard, or saw them dive in. Mark yanked his sword from the merman's back, staring out at the thinning fog over the dark water. He didn't doubt that word about him not being effected by their voice would get around and they'd be back with a new plan.

They both had caught each other off guard... but next time would be very different. Turning on his heel, he shouted out to the crew. "Tyler! Do a head count at once! Then I want to start getting us back on the water!" Tyler trotted out to him from the cluster of remaining crew, yelling out. "Captain, we only have half the ship lathered in tar! Are you sure?" Mark sighed, gesturing Tyler closer, before whispering to him softly. "Plans have changed. We need to get as far from the lagoon as we can. We've only angered them. And as it turns out... We captured a prize that could be our very undoing." Tyler's eyes widened in horrified curiosity. So, Mark added even softer. "That merman we fished out happens to be royalty." Tyler gawked at the tent, then told Mark seriously. "I understand, Captain. I'll urge the upmost hast." Mark watched Tyler call out to the men to inform them of the change in plans. To which, a few groaned loudly in disappointment. Mark's eyes then darted to Felix who slowly walked up to him, saying in a hushed voice. "You think they will come back after a defeat like that?"

Mark nodded with the upmost certainty, answering sincerely. "Most definitely. Have you ever heard of Merfolk just giving up so easily? I guarantee, they will be back again before the night is over. And this time, they will be armed for battle. This was just a light brush with a silent sweeper crew. Meant to kill us quickly and quietly. The next wave will be the weathered warriors." Felix's face contorted in suspicion, asking him rather casually. "Mark... Where are you suddenly getting this information from? This isn't like you." Mark nervously glanced toward the dazed crew. He didn't like when Felix spoke to him so informally. Shooting a scowl at him, Mark refused to answer and stormed back into his tent. Upon entering the tent, Sean snapped out a him with disgust. "You heartless bastard! He was just-" Mark had heard enough, dropping to his knee to gag Sean once again. Just as he finished, Felix stepped into the tent, crossing his arms as he asked him. "Mark... Since when do you keep secrets from me?"

Mark stood up slowly, locking cold eyes on Felix as he growled out. "Don't you have work that you should be doing, Sailor?" Felix took a single defiant step closer to Mark, telling him in a calm fearless tone of voice. "My duty is navigation, Captain. So, until the ship is back in the water, or you need me to plot the next charter... I've got nothing to do except wait. You know that." Mark averted his eyes from Felix, but stood his ground. Clenching his jaw, he snarled out. "Then find something to do. Can't you see I'm busy!" Felix reached out to take Mark's chin in his hand, turning his face to look at him. When he reluctantly looked at him, Felix told him in a hushed voice. "Have I done something to upset you?" Mark grinded his teeth, then swatted Felix's hand off, snapping out. "Now is not the time. I've got bigger matters to deal with, than your hurt feelings." Felix scoffed sarcastically, snipping back dryly. "Feelings? Come on, Mark. We both know that feelings have nothing to do with our relationship."

Mark let out a reluctant sigh, backing up to lean his hips on his desk, before crossing his arms and asking him bluntly. "So? What do you want then, Felix?" Felix moved much closer to him, implying in a low whisper. "You saved my life today. The way I see it... I owe you." Felix's lips ghosted over his and Mark forced himself to look away, mumbling out. "You don't owe me anything." Felix removed Mark's hat, kissing his temple gingerly, before whispering suggestively to him. "That's not what the code demands. Just tell me when and where we can settle my debt." Mark's eyes drifted to Sean, who's eyes burned with firey judgement. Mark scowled, turning his attention back to Felix. He wasn't in the mood, but he reluctantly let Felix kiss him. His relationship with Felix was purely physical. A means to get himself off on a long stressful voyage. There was nothing deeper than that. Compared to the rest of the crew, Felix had the most free time and was available at all hours.

Felix deepened the kiss with him, but Mark was distracted. Mark's eyes were watching Sean. Sean had been watching them, until his cheeks turned a bright red and he looked away with embarrassment. Mark broke his kiss with Felix, smirking a little. The little prince shied away from a show of public affection? Were Merfolk that conservative? Or was he not as innocent as he appeared to be? He became curious if daddies little prince had a dirty little secret. Felix kissed the nape of his neck, but Mark was watching Sean more closely now. When Sean's eyes snuck a second uneasy glance at him, Mark caught him swallowing before he quickly looked away with a guilty look. An internal struggle maybe? He'd known a few pirates with that same hesitate resistance. Felix pushed Mark's black coat off his shoulders, when Tyler called out to him from beyond the flap of his tent. "Captain? Would you like your status report now or later?"

Mark tapped Felix's hips to stop him, straightening off his desk as he replied firmly. "Give me a moment." Felix let out a heavy sigh, watching him fix his clothes and put his hat back on. Although, as he started toward the flap, Felix grabbed his arm to ask hopefully. "Later then? Your cabin?" Mark licked his dry lips, trying to avoid answering. Felix didn't relent though, stepping closer to his side to whisper in his ear. "It's been awhile since our last time. You must be getting moody... Tell me I'm wrong?" Mark gave Felix an emotionless look, then moved away from him without a word. He wasn't going to admit anything. He didn't survive this long by indulging his every emotional desire. He survived by keeping people at a distance. Over the years, Felix had been trying to cross that line and it wasn't going to happen. His past was his own burden to bare. The less people knew about him, the better. He was the Salty Savage and he wasn't about to change that for anyone.

Stepping outside of the tent, Mark saw that the crew was hauling the ship back out into the open water with heavy ropes. Tyler didn't wait, he just immediately began to rely the status reports on the ships condition. After which, he told him how many men they had lost to the first wave of mermen. A total of six that were found drowned in the shallows. Mark kicked the sand in frustration. He couldn't believe his rotten luck today. The crew was tired, but were in agreement that staying on the island wasn't safe. He could at least be happy about that. Unfortunately, his crews distaste for Merfolk was on the rise... Which put his prisoner at a higher risk of being attacked. A risk that put the chances of him getting the information on the Sea Crown from him into single digits. He wouldn't be able to put him in the brig without someone trying to get to him. Shaking his head in disappointment, he told Tyler grimly. "Fine... Shackle him up in my cabin, until I can think of a way to calm the crew down."

Tyler gave him a quick bow in acknowledgement, but Mark was already thinking about Sean's heated stares that would be judging him mercilessly for the rest of this trip. It was going to be a long and exhausting year ahead of them. To Be Continued...