Where pirates are fighting against sirens and mermaids but no one except a few has no idea what's waiting for them next.

No one's POV:

The moon was absent behind a big cloud in a straight line above what seemed to be a huge dark rock.

The Tearful Cave

The ship Reapers was gliding in the waters silently in night's embrace for more than half an hour. The whole crew was alerted and excited, ready for the possible upcoming encounter they were going to face on their way. Captain had warned them before that it wasn't impossible sirens might come to them.

"And if they come, worry not lads. They won't be trying singing for long."

"I wonder how are ya gonna solve this issue first if it happens smartass..." Geno thought when he remembered that and clenched shoulders with his opposite hands, making an x with his arms in front of him.

Despite with the help of some magic he could see a little better in the dark, it was making him nervous. It was reminding him of the dreams in the void he was seeing 14 years now. Even if he was between people, he was feeling unsafe and threatened. The fact also he was between the pirates was making him worse.

But one more factor
was ruining his mood

The destination. He was going where in his dreams deep inside, he knew there was danger. He was going where his 'destiny' was saying to go. And there was no guaranteed coming back after it. The ending was frightening him. He had no idea what to expect and that was the worst. He wasn't feeling prepared. Ready.

"I feel like mom wanted to help me realise what to do before... the void swallow her in the dream. *sigh* What am I supposed to do exactly mom? What were you trying telling me to do before going for the cave?"

He felt a soft touch on his shoulder, interrupting his worried thoughts. Geno flinched and looked at who touched him. Priest's irises were lightly glowing in the dark, with cobalt blue meanders swirling in them. His face was clear with the light his irises were giving. Somehow, Geno felt more relaxed seeing him close.

He placed his hand above Alter's and clenched it gently looking ahead.

"Everything will be ok." He heard his tall friend whispering. Geno didn't say anything. But soon the priest continued. "I think Captain is kinda convinced too that something will go wrong. Ramirez saw him a tiny bit agitated when he ordered to lift the anchor." Geno looked at him with raised eyebrow.

"Really?"

"Yeah. He also does something else... odd. A little while ago saw him in fact."

"What is he doing? What didja see him doing?"

"While holding the helm with one hand, with the other he seemed to... count something."

"Count?" Geno asked confused even more. Alter nodded.

"He was looking left and right while counting. He was whispering from what I understood numbers." He whispered looking ahead again. "We'll see probably later..."

"Guys you see it?!" Dave yelled in the dark. "The damn cave again! We're coming for your relatives and gold fishstick!" He continued turning his head to Geno, who looked at him annoyed.

"Wait till 'my relatives' taste ya-!"

*BARK* *BARK* *BARK*

Geno's words got cut by Ramirez's sudden barking. Everyone turned his attention to him. Doctor had his hands pressed on the gunwale, looking down and ahead at... what with so much focus and anger? And what was he snarling at sometimes, except barking?

"They're coming..." Alter whispered and Geno saw his irises dissappearing. He could hardly see him looking carefully around on guard.

Hear my voice beneath the sea~
Sleeping now so peacefully~

Geno heard many female beautiful voices singing a melody, but rather threatening in the situation and the dark he was now. They were getting louder with every second passing and approaching. Ramirez had stop barking and only snarling but very weakly. No doubt, sirens.

At the bottom of the sea~
Sleep for all eternity~

All pirates had freeze in place like statues, most of them smiling like idiots. No sound was coming out of them and the song of the sirens had prevailed. Only Alter and Geno himself seemed sane.

Sailors live so restlessly~

Geno turned around abruptly hearing voices very close to him. He saw in the dark heads peeking from the gunwale and quickly stood closer to Alter. From them the voices were coming.

Come with me sleep peacefully~
Listen to this siren's song~
Worry not for now nothing's wrong~

"Alter what do we do?!" Geno shout-whispered to the priest.

"Just wait for the right moment..." He heard him replying.

Geno kept looking around him. He could barely see heads peeked from around the gunwale, singing• sharp teeth glowing in the dark thanks to stars weak light. But what made his soul almost stop was a loud thud behind him, as something heavy had fallen to the wooden floor. He turned and looked.

Let my voice lead you this way~
I will not lead you astray~

A dark figure with long tail was crawling towards him slowly and singing. He took a step back.

Trust me as we reach the side~

He suddenly felt someone holding and lifting him in the air. He gasped until he heard Alter's deep voice hushing him. He immediately wrapped his arms around his neck while looking as more and more sirens were getting in the ship and crawling on the deck.

Jumping out where men have died~

These last lyrics made him shiver. He was pressing himself so close to Alter you could say they would fuse if he kept doing that. But Geno wouldn't stop trying to get stuck on Alter because now the sirens he saw from his side while they were all still singing, they were staring at him with evil smiles and even more evil eyes.

Hear my voice beneath the sea~
Sleeping now so peacefully~
At the bottom of the sea~
Sleep for all eternity~

Now at least 10 sirens had circled him and Alter• not stopping singing and smiling. The incredible was that while they were only 2 steps away from Alter's feet, Geno could feel the priest having the chill and apathy of the saints, this calm he was!

Let the ocean fill your lungs~
Struggle not, soon peace will come~

One of the sirens actually raised her hand trying to reach Geno. But the very next moment the small skeleton felt Alter's arms protectively wrapping around him more, he felt his one hand to the back of his skull. His other arm was holding him like a little child.

Taking in your final breath~

The siren that raised her hand crawled back a little and hissed at Alter. But the priest was unflinching, not showing the slightest fear.

"Tch tch tch." He only did slowly shaking his head left and right and his irises turned blue.

Sink down to the ocean's depths~

Surprised, Geno realised that the sirens closer to him and Alter didn't sang the last lyric. The other sirens that weren't close to him and instead playing with the pirates, were still singing however.

I wish I could always be~
In the ocean's arms you-

*BAM*

A gunshot accompanied with the screech of the siren that dared to raise her hand towards Geno stopped all sirens from singing. They all looked at their dead sister shocked, while the other pirates were snapping out of the magic of their song. Geno shocked too, tried to find who on earth shot her while everyone was hypnotised.

Obviously not Alter, he didn't have weapons and he was holding him. But soon Geno found out who did it. And couldn't be more surprised. Behind Alter he saw a bluish-gray iris in the dark. The light it gave, made Geno able to see... Captain Reaper holding a gun and blowing the smoke from it with apathy.

"How the f*ck did he-?!"

What happened next
turned the ship to hell

The sirens started screeching unholy. From below the ship more screeches and hisses were heard and the very next moment the sound of something climbing the ship made Geno realise, more sirens and possibly mermaids were coming. One of the sirens closer to Geno said something he couldn't understand.

But whatever it was, she was pointing at the Captain and looking at him with rage.

"Ο ΧΆΡΟΣΣΣ!" She said the word with a whistling voice and black saliva was coming out of her mouth.

"Wow, I'm glad to hear how loved am I still to your kind, especially from the last visit I payed ya dirty fishes!" Captain Reaper said sarcastically with a big smile.

"FIRE NOW!" Ramirez suddenly barked. Geno didn't know why but hearing the word fire like that, he felt a shiver running down his spine.

"DIE SON OF CQ!" Suddenly before he could react any further he saw the figure of a siren jumping in the air.

Towards him and Alter

With her hands armed with sharp claws ready to scratch. Him

She moved her hand. The very next moment Alter turned his back to her, Geno lost the siren from his view, he could only hear and... the sound of claws scratching bones made him shiver.

"OH, NOT F*CKING NOW!" Ramirez barked again angrily.

"Alter!" Geno yelled as priest's arms opened and let him fall. He turned and saw him holding his face that was lowered. His iris dissappeared. Everyone's attention turned to look at them. The siren that scratched him, once she landed, started laughing manically hitting her tail on the floor. The other sirens and mermaids around copied her.

"HA HA! THAT WEAK SERVANT IS PROTECTING YOU?! A PRIEST!" She yelled still laughing. "TOO BAD HE'S SO PATHETIC, ABOUT TO GO DOWN WITH JUST A SCRA-!"

The next thing that happened would bring Geno to get terrified again

Blood started suddenly jumping out of siren's face, nonstopping, like jet. The injure it was coming out from, looked like deep scratches. Just like how she did to Alter and it was supposed to be lethal for him! She started screaming and hissing her living out of her lungs (or gills should i rather say?) in pain and covering her face while crawling back.

"I'm not an ordinary priest..." Alter said calmly and took his hand from his face, stained with his blood. He was more serious but... he didn't seem to be in pain at all!

"... I've been through a lot of pain and adventures. A scratch won't take me down that easily, particularly you or your sisters scratches. Ya should be more careful who you're attacking next time..." He said and showed his right arm. The sirens around him immediately turned pale and crawled back a little seeing his symbol.

"Oh sh*t." One of them said.

"... But I guess there won't be next time for you."

"HE'S SIREN BLESSED!" Another siren hissed.

"IS THIS HOW THE SIREN'S SYMBOL WORKS IF SIRENS OR MERMAIDS HIT HIM DIRECTLY?!" Geno thought and shivered realising what power Alter was given. By his mom.

"If it wasn't the symbol I would have actually died this deep the scratch is. Sorry, but for as long as my wound is gonna heal, you're going to be in a lot of pain. While dying..." Alter turned to look at Captain Reaper with his hands behind his back. Geno shivered again seeing how deep the scratch was on his face. It had slashed both his eyesockets and passing a tiny bit from the right of his mouth too.

"KILL THEM ALL!" Captain shouted immediately very angry. The reply from pirates side was them screaming and roaring. Together, sounds from magic summon, swords swinging, whips cracking in the air and a pirate's yelling, "KILL THESE F*CKERS!"

Then,

"FOR THE CREEEW! HAAAAAAAAA!"

Sirens and mermaids, that had and still were climbing up to the ship, as response hissed aggressively. Alter crossed himself sighing. The battle had began.

Obviously Geno had to fight too, defend himself, especially when many sirens and mermaids were going for him. Because in the village he grew up he had a lot of physical strength, he preferred fists and kicking. He hadn't practice well with most of his magic, he hadn't find it necessary.

Ok, sometimes he would throw bones or use telekinesis to throw away any enemy close to him for defence and if necessary. Also teleporting. And while Geno was fighting, he got the chance to observe how the others were too. It was quite impressive how big the variety of battle styles and weapon choices was.

At the same time in some cases, it was creepy. But specific pirates caught mostly his attention.

Markus had on one hand a cutlass, slashing any enemy coming very close to him. The other hand was holding a magic whip, his soul weapon. The cracking sound that was coming out of it everytime he hit it down was making something Geno hadn't see the first time he saw Markus using whips.

Blue and cyan waves were appearing with every crack, hitting any moving mermaid and causing damage. In simpler use, Markus would just wrap a whip around a siren or mermaid's neck and strangle to death before throwing the corpse out of the ship. If he couldn't prevent on time use the whip or his cutlass, he would kick them at their stomach or head.

Despite looking like a softie, Michael wasn't fighting with hesitation against sirens and mermaids. His soul trait was... actually bravery so his soul weapon was magic gloves. He wasn't using them however to defend himself most of times. In fact he seemed to work as defence and support for the other pirates.

If he was seeing a pirate in difficulty to face many sirens and mermaids, Michael would rush and punch on their head the surprised creatures away, even yeet them out of the ship, with his eyes glowing fiercely orange. That way he was giving enough time for the pirates to take a breath and prepare faster for the next move.

Sometimes his gloves would make spikes, dealing more lethal damage to the sirens and mermaids.

As Geno also saw, Dave and Ramirez had common way of fighting, with their claws. They weren't the only ones. Many monsters with more carnivore animal nature were using their sharp claws, bare fists and even kicking. Dave seemed to fight mostly alone without a partner to help him.

Another very violent thing he would do except scratching, was bite off enemies heads, tear them apart laughing excited and viciously.

Ramirez wouldn't always scratch, sometimes he would classically punch and kick too. Close to him, Aldo was facing the enemies with small knives and surprisingly, flexibility Geno doubted if the beaver had, this skinny he was. He had seen him doing backflips to avoid enemies that were coming for him.

But he would never stay away from Ramirez more than 5m and for long. In fact sometimes they would stay back to back while fighting and defend each other. Another move Aldo had, was slapping the living out of the enemy with his wide tail.

Geno saw the snake monster of the ship using his long body as weapon. His incredible flexibility was allowing him slip between the enemies, wrap around up to at least 4 and strangle them to death, breaking also their bones. Some other times, he would bite with his sharp fangs. Starting from the head and shoving it all in his mouth.

A pirate that looked like a bull, except he was standing on his back feet, was using a double axe to chop the sirens or mermaids heads. Other times, he would even use his pointy horns to nail the enemies. Geno never understood what on earth monster he was, but he knew for a fact he wasn't common bull.

Instead of doing moo, he had hear the guy growling like beast! He seemed to partner up with a rat monster that had twirling moustaches. He was fighting with his small sword, avoiding with ease the enemies that were trying to grab him. He had very good skills for someone who was actually shorter than Geno himself.

literally (i believe) every reader who has seen chronicles of narnia:

my from another country bestie with my helper pi'rai'te be like:

(it's a personal matter only me, them and whoever they told, will get. they know that i'm talking about 'em. don't worry bestie i'll save ya *pat pat and hold ya bridal style*)

3 black-grey hyena monsters Geno assumed were siblings were cooperating but they didn't seem to face the enemies seriously. In fact they were constantly laughing loudly and crazily as if they were playing. They would target an enemy, the one sibling would sneak from behind and hold with his teeth enemy's tail.

While keeping as much motionless as possible the enemy, the other 2, avoiding enemy's sharp claws would rip off their arms, laughing even louder than the screams of pain the unlucky siren or mermaid would make. What was more gross was that the hyena siblings would lick the blood from their lips and teeth pleasurably.

Alter didn't seem to fight with much movements or passion but his avoiding skills were cool. His weapon was a simple tall wooden cane he would use to smack the enemy if they were too close. If you were thinking he was using only his left arm while the other was behind his back and he was unable at this moment using magic, it was cool.

But Captain was the most impressive. Magic sharp bones, telekinesis, teleportation, blasters even -away from other pirates not to hit them- that were giving strong sources of light for a moments, showing the rage on sirens, mermaids and pirates faces as they were fighting.

He seemed to use his magic so easily, without breaking a sweat! Even the simple non magic movements with his sword were fast, skillful and as if he was dancing. All these with a big determined smile. Geno had caught himself staring at him absent-minded from how awesome he was.

Which almost costed him. He felt someone tackling him and throwing him to the floor. The very next moment the horrible feeling of hands around his neck came to hunt him. He tried to use magic but he was already so dizzy he couldn't teleport, nor use telekinesis, bones, or magic at all.

"DIE SON OF CQ!" The mermaid above him hissed triumphantly.

"Let... go..." Geno said while his vision was getting even more hella blurry. He coughed trying to take mermaid's hands from his neck in vain. She was very strong for him.

"Foolish illegitimate prince! You thought that so easily you'll reach our cave? You didn't do the correct procedure! If you knew and doing it so, no danger would come for you! But too bad, you won't have second chance to do that. Hah! Wait until the magic storm comes, you all will collide with the rocks and drown to the depths! ALL HAIL QUEEN MOR-!"

The sound of blood splattering and mermaid gasping from pain, cutted her words. the grip around Geno's neck relaxed and still extremely dizzy he pushed away the dead mermaid, coughing aggressively.

"Get up!" He heard surprised a familiar deep voice. With his blurred vision Geno saw Captain Reaper's hand waiting for his, to help him get up. Despite that he felt the aura screeching at him, without a lot of thought he grabbed his glove-wore hand, immediately getting up.

He stumbled for a moment but Captain wrapped his arm around him to support him. Geno looked up to him. His expression seemed... worried and concerned as he was looking at him. In the mess and the battle occurring around them, their looks locked for moments.

"Bend!" Captain suddenly said looking somewhere behind him. Geno surprised, prevented to do so and the other swung the sword horizontally, slashing a male siren at his stomach that was about to attack Geno.

"Behind you!" Geno warned. Captain turned on time and nailed the sword at a siren's heart.

"Do ya know how to use sword?!" He asked after a while turning his attention to him.

"Ummm..." Geno did hesitating. Heck no, it was issue if he had ever drawn a sword in his life. Or touch.

"Ωχ. Θεέ μου..." Captain murmured clenching his teeth. Suddenly his left iris glowed and Geno felt his soul flying in the air. His feet left the floor abruptly and he yelped surprised. But he saw down Captain summoning some sharp bones and hitting a siren that would have attacked Geno.

Instead of getting him, she was greeted by Reaper's magic bones and died in seconds. The moment Geno was falling, Captain had finished the siren and his arms prepared, caught the smaller bridal style for a moment. Carefully he putted him down.

"Thanks?" Geno unconsciously and hesitantly murmured, feeling his cheeks slightly burning. Luckily it wasn't noticeable in the dark.

"Ya welcome but later!" Captain said smiling for a moment. But he quickly turned again serious. "Stay behind me!" He said holding his hand and pulling him back. For a moment Geno went to complain, but seeing what Captain was seeing he swallowed his tongue.

A bunch of sirens were slowly crawling, hissing, showing their sharp teeth and black saliva was running from their mouth.

"How much longer?!" Captain shouted looking carefully to all sirens and mermaids that were coming for him and Geno. To... who?

"Maybe about half minute- Hey!" Someone replied but the mess was too big for Geno to understand who talked.

"Give us the prince Captain Reaper and you won't suffer too much while we kill you all!" A mermaid said smiling evilly. Captain's response was first an arrogant laugh.

"Sorry fishes, but whatever destiny 'the prince' has, he can't go like that to your long claws..." He said and hit his foot to the floor as if he was about to dance flamenco. A circle of white, grey, cyan and blue light beneath him started coming and Geno looked down surprised.

"Also you can't kill me..." As he was saying that the light got brighter and Geno felt an even stronger deadly aura around Captain. He stepped back. Something started appearing at Reaper's left opened hand. At first it looked like a silver cane. But then it started turning a more cyan tone.

Captain hit the edge of the cane to the floor. Then something on top of the cane started forming inside white, grey, cyan and blue flames, something long and sharp. Eventually Geno saw the whole icon• a big skythe in Captain's hand.

The top of the blade seemed to have something like a wild predator's skull, kinda the same animal Captain had as clip for his cape. It was decorating the skythe making it look scarier as it's long pointy muzzle was covering the top of it.

(somethinglikethat)

Geno looked at it shocked. Captain Reaper chuckled again and held the skythe with both his hands finishing his last words with an echoing voice that sounded like it was coming from the depths of Tartarus:

IF

I'M

DEATH

HIMSELF

Swinging only one time the skythe horizontally, Geno saw all sirens and mermaids that were in front of him and Captain, getting cut into pieces. Heads, arms, tails, bodies, they separated in only seconds to pieces that scattered around the deck. Their blood splattered the floor. Geno looked away.

He couldn't bare looking at this. Too much blood with it's smell hitting his nose aggressively, so many limbs. He wrapped his arms around himself feeling his magic stomach spasming. Captain didn't seem pay attention to him immediately. He looked somewhere else.

"This game is taking too long! Are you ready now?!" He shouted to... who again?!

"Yes sir Reaper!"

"Then FIRE!"

"FINALLY! THEY'RE TOO MANY!!!" Dave roared annoyed somewhere to the back.

"JUST HOW MANY BABIES ARE THEY MAKING EVERYDAY AND THEY HAVE WHOLE F*CKING ARMIES?!?!?!" Ramirez barked annoyed.

"Ya better stay down 'prince'. Cause the atmosphere is gonna get too hot." Captain said and chuckled. Geno didn't know how many more surprises he would face, but the sure thing was that they wouldn't end soon.

A long tongue of blue fire passed 2m. away from him. Unconsciously, he left a very loud hiss, the iris in his left eyesocket turned thin like a snake's. In just seconds he felt the adrenaline running in his bones like crazy, his soul beating aggressively. His breath turned faster and he was shaking so much his bones where rattling like castanets.

And he kept hissing as the tongue of fire was turning to many tongues• splitting, flying around and attacking sirens and mermaids, which were crawling back and hissing loudly too. Some stubborn mermaids were actually trying to stay in the ship and keep attacking. But they had the cruellest luck if they were doing so.

The blue fire even if it was stroking them for just a tiny bit, it was lighting them up in just seconds! Then, screaming and hissing from pain, they were finally retreating like the others. If they weren't making it dive in the water fast they were becoming ashes and their souls were breaking.

The simple surprise and fear Geno felt first from all this, with the screams and hisses of pain and panic and the heat of the fire, started turning to a big panic attack, one he couldn't control in any way. He wanted so badly jump out of the ship just like the other sirens and mermaids as the fire was forcing them to.

But the voice that was telling him he couldn't leave without the necklace were bringing him strong headaches, even if he wasn't close to the gunwale. Geno fell on his knees shutting his eyesockets and ear holes with his hands. The glitched cloud had dissappeared exposing his melted eyesocket.