After that night, Pauline avoided talking to me. Somewhere the day after, as my hangover head was fighting not to empty my stomach on the waist for everyone to see, her attitude changed completely. She seemed nervous as she scurried from one side of the ship to the other. Finally, she found a spot that seemed to please her, next to Conway Dickens overlooking his crew. She didn't look at me once. Her eyes were constantly focused on the horizon, her fingers fidgeting with every tassel of her ornate waist band. Dickens threw her an amused glance every once in a while. It didn't escape my sight when he took her small hand in his to prevent her from tearing her oriental waistband to ruins.

It made me focus on my work again. I wondered if I had crossed the line that night, though she didn't give me any clue on the moment self. Besides, I couldn't quite fathom why I would be attracted to her. Well, the rational part of my mind did. After weeks alone at sea, one might find warmth into a woman's embrace. However, it was clear that woman should not be Paulina.

The crew noticed the change of behavior as well, as they were not only demanded by Dickens but often Pauline didn't even take the bother to converse with Dickens before screaming another order at the top of her lungs. She looked tired, but her eyes were anything but. Dickens couldn't help but grin when his little Princess shouted and commanded his crew around the Serena. Yes, the crew couldn't do anything else than to accept this turn of events. They worked long and hard, as the waters around them seemed to adapt to Paulina's nervous behavior. Often waves suddenly crashed against the sides, a sudden rainstorm broke loose or the wind was barely held captive in the sails of the Serena. But by the end of each passing day, Paulina seemed satisfied.

Finally one day, the sun had decided to shine through. Everyone was busy again. A loud discussion on the back of the waist caught everyone's attention. Dickens and Lopez, the cook, were in a heated argument, their words carried away by the wind that was steadily increasing. At the top, Paulina looked down at the display of anger.

« Captain, we're almost out of food. We need to ransom, there's only potatoes and rum left for two days. » the big Lopez explained, obviously they had been having this discussion before. Captain Dickens rolled his eyes, but a change of posture above him caught his attention. My gaze diverted to what he saw. Paulina looked pleased, holding two fingers in the air, barely notable for anyone following the discussion. « Two days is all we need. » Captain Dickens said and turned around, closing the argument and pushing everyone back to their tasks. Lopez grunted loudly before returning to his kitchen.

The tension remained hanging around our ship until the sun was covered with dark clouds around noon. I was helping Castor and Lock as they needed some extra hands to adjust the sails. It mostly meant for me to knot as they bended the sail. Suddenly sharp edged rocks doomed in front of us. I cast a look around but nobody seemed to mind. After a life at sea, you probably got used to these things. Paulina shouted another order, followed by one of the most odd she had uttered the last days. « Prepare the nets. » This was enough for the other crew members to look at the jagged rocks in front of us and back to Paulina.

« You heard! » Dickens instructed and immediately a few men went downstairs to return with big nets. Absolom was standing behind me as we both watched the men secure the nets to the waist and wait for new orders. « If she's planning on fishing in those waters, she's going to ruin our nets, that's for sure. » Absolom said and he pulled closer towards Lock and Castor who were both wearing dark faces. Lock especially seemed to be in a foul mood. When Absolom asked, he huffed, grunted and left immediately for his hammock. If Dickens would know, I was sure Lock would no longer accompany us. Luckily for him, Dickens seemed to grow madder and madder as we continued our way straight towards those hellish rocks.

« What's his problem? » I heard Absolom whisper to Castor, who only shrugged. « You know how he gets around Devil's Depths. » Immediately my eyes flew open.

« Devil's Depths? »

Castor smiled grimly. « Yeah, normally we sail around, the bigger the route the better. But apparently not today. »

« You don't want to know why? » I ushered, because I wasn't entirely sure I was willing to enter a place called Devil's Depths.

Castor shrugged before leaving us alone. « We'll figure out soon enough. »

It seemed that this was the attitude everyone held. However, curiously, nobody seemed afraid for they all believed their Ocean Fevered Captain was still a trustable sailor. Captain Dickens took over the steering. In his hands the Serena seemed to come to live. Without an effort he led her through the rocks. Unease fell upon us as the wind howled, high tones echoing against the surface of the rocks who grew bigger and bigger around the ship, casting dark shadows upon us. Paulina had traded her spot next to Dickens for one in the front of the ship. Her hair was coiling around her, being played with by the wind. Curse words escaped her lips as the wind picked up, a sudden stream underneath the ship making the wood scratch along the jagged rocks beside us. The crew held his breath. « Dump the nets! » Paulina yelled, her voice steady and carried over the wind. « Go! Go! Go! » She screamed, pushing nets into the water herself. The crew came alive, listening to her instructions as some remained occupied with the commands Dickens was throwing them. I remained somewhere in the middle of the coordinated chaos. And then I suddenly heard a woman's voice. Immediately I looked at Paulina who was now screaming at the top of her lungs, the men in front of her looking slightly dazed.

She slapped some across the face, receiving death glares but the harm was already done. I noticed the voice again, echoing all around me. She was singing, beautiful but the words were vague. It definitely wasn't Paulina. I turned around, closer to the edge and found myself longing for the woman whose voice was so enchanting. I was desperate for some loving arms to throw myself into, for hair to burry my face in, for a sweet scent to smell and the feeling of tender touches. Paulina rushed by, slapping and hitting men wherever she could but nobody bothered her attention. She stumbled against me, for a split second releasing me from the trance the woman's voice had put me into. I looked at her quizzically. She leaped all the way up to the Captain, who mumbled something to her, his face contorted with strength. He too was fighting the woman's calls. Paulina didn't hit him. She placed her hands on both sides of his face and pulled him closer to her and kissed him. She actually kissed him. I couldn't believe my eyes at this obvious display of both desperation and affection. Her eyes were closed, her lips mending those of the Captain. It seemed as if the shock woke him up, his eyes incredibly clear and he continued to run his ship as if the woman's voice wasn't even there.

The display in front of me was enough for me to willingly let myself slip into the intimacy of the voice around me. I forgot everything. I rested on the edge of the ship, vaguely noticing the figures following our steady course. One in particular moved closer and closer towards the surface, its movements resembling those of a dolphin. I held my breath as the water broke and the most beautiful face I had ever seen looked at me, seductive eyes glancing and shimmering. Somewhere behind me I heard a yell, a heart stopping scream but I couldn't avert my eyes from the creature underneath who was following our ship with grace and elegance. Finally I heard her voice, as her full lips parted and continued the song I hadn't realized she had quit. When I heard her, I knew that no one I had ever met could be as beautiful, as enchanting as she was. I couldn't even see the details of her being, just a shining light in the dark waters of the oceans. I stretched my hand, trying to capture hers. My balance was on the edge as she held out her hand as well. I wanted so bad to touch her, to hold her in my arms, to drown in her depths. An ear piercing shriek disrupted my thoughts as the woman in the water was pulled up by a giant net.

I looked to the side, immediately noticing Paulina who was pulling with all her might to get the angel of the ocean on the waist. I walked up to her, wanting to force her to release the woman she held captive in those nets. As soon as she turned around and threw me the scariest glare I had ever witnessed I was frozen in place. Her hair looked maniacal, knotted and thrown around in the wind. Her eyes were burning, the darks around her iris coiling and foaming as if there was a substance inside resembling the waves of the sea in a dark storm night. I didn't realize she was out of breath as the figure of the white angel of light crashed down on the waist. She was struggling, trying to escape. At the same time, it was as if the enchantment she held on me was broken.

In shock I looked at her. She was pale, her entire body resembling the color of the moon. She screamed and wailed receiving a kick from Paulina's boot. Immediately I flinched and reached closer, pulling Paulina away. I hadn't realized but the wind was laying down and around us the crew looked dazed and confused. Paulina pushed me away on her turn and returned towards the woman in front of her, who was now demanding attention from everyone aboard. Dickens clear voice seemed to make everyone return from confusion. « Check on everyone's presence and damage, retrieve the nets and prepare for shore. » Was his simple order, but enough for everyone to keep them occupied with their own thoughts as they absentmindedly followed instructions.

I still stood next to Paulina as she bend down, looking at the creature in front of her. It was an odd creature I saw now, no longer a mysterious woman swimming in the ocean. Her hair was so long it wavered around her, stuck to every part of her skin. Her skin was covered in glimmering droplets of water. Her bare chest was still panting, rising up and down too fast. Her eyes, silver of color, were burning with anger, releasing another scream into the air. However what I only noticed, one could barely ignore the fact, was that where the woman's leg ought to be, a long white tail was struggling with the net. It caught all my attention as I was mesmerized by the sight of it.

Paulina seemed so dark and dirty against the virgin pale complexion of the mermaid on deck. She pulled down and grabbed the mermaid's hair, whispering things in a language I could not understand. The mermaids eyes grew bigger with both fury and fear. She let out one more bone breaking scream before Pauline released her head. I had forgotten how ruthless Paulina was, or was it just the first time she actually showed what she was capable of? I couldn't remember, my head bursting with all that had happened. « Splash some water on that. » Paulina instructed and went inside without acknowledging me any further.

I hurried back to the mermaid with a bucket filled with water. In despair I threw it over her tail. She screamed shocked and shot me a glare. The fury in her eyes flickered before she let out a sigh and looked at me. « You need to free me. » She said, her voice melodious and thick. For a second I felt shivers cover my entire body, but a stern hand was placed on my shoulder and meant for me to return to reality. I looked up at Lock who was squinting his eyes towards the mythical creature in front of us, still captured in the net.

« We lost three men to these deceiving seductresses of the bottoms of hell. » He said, his teeth clenched and the words so forced I was afraid he might destroy the mermaid with just a look. He pulled me back a bit, enough for the mermaid not being able to reach me. She let out a frustrated scream but nobody gave her the attention she wanted except for Locke and I who were just looking at her from a distance. « You knew, right? That there were mermaids at Devil's Depths? That's why you left. »

Lock remained silent for a moment. « Mermaids are perhaps the most dangerous creatures the sea holds. They lie, they seduce, they... They are even worse than women. » Lock concluded. I grinned, thinking he was joking but he remained stoic. I noticed the cuffs he held in one hand. « Go inside, this isn't going to be pleasant. » Locke told me and if it weren't for his words than his face convinced me to listen to him. He was looking straight at the mermaid with a certain disgust displayed in his eyes. I didn't need any encouragement to leave him battling the present memory of a painful past.