---Cain's POV---

Without any reason, I suddenly jolted awake. Blinking rapidly against the sudden jolt of my body, I slowly pushed myself up off the bed and looked around. The room was still the same, Orion still curled to the far side of the bed, soft and even breaths leaving his lips.

He had been less of a hassle after he had taken a dip in the water and hadn't minded sharing the bed. That or he felt guilty as he claimed, from having me sleep in one of the chairs at the table.

A soft smirk curled my lips as I twisted in the bed and looked at the Siren. The moonlight gently reached through the window, casting an unearthly glow on his cheeks. I frowned slightly, wondering what had awoken me.

Standing up, I silently put my boots on before pausing, closing my eyes and listening to the silent night sounds.

That was the issue though; even though most of the crew was asleep down in the brig, a select few were on guard duty, one manning the crow's nest to keep an eye on our surroundings. The soft creaking of sails in the wind and the sloshing of the waves was comforting but still.

I slowly pushed open the door of my cabin, looking up before scowling as I saw nobody peaking out of the crows' nest. Which meant that whoever was on duty had fallen asleep or wasn't in the nest to begin with.

Walking up the stairs, I took a look at our surroundings before frowning, spotting a ship in the distance. It wasn't too close yet but any sound we'd make would carry far in this silent night. Archer nodded with a tired frown before motioning to the nest.

"Been a while since I saw him poke his head out, called out to him a few times. Could be that Brecken is drunk off his ass again." Archer clicked his tongue before looking over his shoulder at the ship that was slowly but surely approaching at a steady speed.

"No flags out. I'm betting a bag of gold that those aren't fishers or merchants." I replied, making Archer cackle as I took out the scopes. "Keep her going steady Archer, don't want them to know we spotted them."

"Aye Captain." He replied as I looked through the scopes and smirked grimly. Oh, I knew that ship all right, last time I saw her, I had been forced to jump off and accept my watery grave. That is, until Orion took pity on me.

The Duchess was slowly sailing towards us, Vernon probably anticipating an easy haul if he could ambush us. No doubt he heard what had happened to his friends who had mutinied on my ship, or he simply recognized my vessel and thought my crew would be helpless without their captain.

A cruel smirk appeared as I cracked my neck. "Wake up the crew Asher, let them know its time to stretch our legs."

He chuckled while I took over the wheel, making a show of slowly walking to the Crew's quarters while whistling a soft and jolly tune. Anyone watching from Vernon's ship would simply assume that there was a change of crew and Archer was going off to bed.

Instead, I heard the muffled voices down below and the excitement rapidly arising as my men prepared themselves to board the Duchess. No doubt Vernon would be cocky enough to try and capture us alive, so he wouldn't dare shoot at the ship and sink it.

If he wanted us dead, he would've done so the second he spotted us.

"Crew's ready Cap' Tn." Archer said as he walked up the steps, awaiting orders. I glanced back at Vernon's ship, which was sailing much faster than before, probably anticipating an easy interception. I chuckled.

"Prepare the cannons at Portside. On my signal, lower the starboard anchor." I commanded, watching the few men who ventured up top to laugh and smirk. "Aye Captain, preparing the ship for a club haul." They replied, rushing to do as told.

I had used the tactic a few times before and it had worked every single time with minimal damage to the ship, yet maximal surprise for our opponents. Knowing how your opponents thought and anticipate how they'd respond to sudden surprises was something that Archer and I excelled in.

Due to the weight of the anchor, the second it snagged behind something, it would pull at the ship, causing it to turn around its hull. Now, Club hauling wasn't done with the massive battle ships but this las would do just fine.

Vernon had probably alerted his crew to remain on deck, so they wouldn't be able to respond to our maneuver with cannon fire; their cannons weren't even prepared yet.

The wind picked up slowly, blowing head strong and I smirked; if we turned around, the wind would catch our sails and give us a boost when we turned, so we'd be able to sink those bastards to a watery grave.

"Cannons ready, Jonah and Brecken are standing at the anchor and all awaiting orders." Archer replied, taking his place beside me. He glanced at me from the corner of his eyes before looking back ahead. "I took the liberty to wake Orion and let him know of the situation, rather than have him tumble out on deck mid club-haul, Cap' Tn."

A growl slipped from my chest in annoyance of Archer waking up Orion in the first place, but it needed to be done. Truth was that Orion needed to stay in my quarters until the fight passed. Vernon wouldn't think twice of using Orion against me or simply killing him because he could.

"Now."

Archer shouted at the men, whom instantly clung to anything nearby as Jonah and Brecken dropped the anchor. It took a few second before the wood groaned, the wheel rattling in my hands before I released it, allowing the ship to turn along with the anchor that pulled at it.

The waves splashed over the deck, almost giving the impression we were going to sink as the ship tilted at a dangerous angle. But I knew she'd handle it; it was only after a certain point that she'd admit defeat and roll over, submerging us in a watery grave.

But not today...

I laughed, holding onto the banister as the ship straightened itself, the wind billowing in our backs and our target straight ahead and turning to avoid collision.

"To the depths."

Archer smirked before roaring "FIRE!" Our ears rang with the cannon fire, the crew cheering and roaring in delight when most of the shots hit. "Aim for the mast boys, let's ground those fuckers and show em who's boss!" Archer added, standing beside me and watching Vernon's ship take massive damage.

A small group already stood alongside the banister, hooks ready to fling at Vernon's boat so we could haul him closer in a deadly embrace.

Still, he wouldn't give in easily and already his crew was flooding out on the deck, knowing that they had no way to return fire with the cannons. Instead they were preparing their pistols and guns to shoot at us.

"Take cover!"

The crew hit the deck as if they practiced this countless times before. Well, in theory they have and they knew an instant response was needed if they wanted to save their hides. The men were taking potshots, keeping Vernon's rats under pressure as they fired aimlessly, wasting ammo and precious time.

Time that they soon were running out of.

More shots rang, the scent of gunpowder stinging in our noses before one of my crew yelped. I scowled, looking around and noticing the men scrambling for better cover, as some of Vernon's rats had climbed the ratlines and were taking aim at a higher vantage point.

"Shit." Archer hissed, taking aim at one of the men and firing, smirking as the man yelped in pain and fell into the ocean. "Any more ideas Cap' Tn?" He ducked as a bullet skimmed over the railing, digging down in the wood.

I scowled and fired a shot at the culprit, having the satisfaction of seeing the man ragdoll down the ropes, falling on top of his mates. "Not at the moment." Turning to reload my gun, I stilled at the sudden silence that rang out.

At least, the guns and shouts of the men had stopped as a haunting melody softly lured us in. It was hauntingly beautiful and soothing, like a lovers' embrace at night. My eyelids shivered before I staggered, slowly turning around.

Orion 's bare feet tapped softly against the deck, his pale skin glowing as the moon slowly gave way to the sun. His blue eyes were focused on Vernon's crew as they all stared at the Siren with glassy eyes.

Goosebumps rang over my flesh, listening as Orion sang without words, slowly but surely approaching the wooden banisters. My crew gave him a wide birth, like commoners would treat a king.

Shivers rang over my body, I could even hear Archer's stuttered breaths as Orion sang without words, commanding everyone's attention with ease.

I forced myself on my legs, feeling oddly...deafened. Even though I could clearly hear, as Orion's song rose in power, causing guns to clatter to the deck harmlessly. I almost felt as if I was underwater, the deafening silence pressing against my ears. Only now, it was Orion's song, the song of a true Angel of Death, that foretold a certain end.

My eyes were riveted on Orion as he sang breathlessly, his gills flaring along his neck as his song lured us all in. By gods, he's gorgeous...

After a second, Vernon's crew slowly staggered, tripping on their feet as they moved in a haze. Even my own crew were standing, though they seemed not as heavily influenced as Vernon's, probably because Orion wasn't aiming his attention at them.

When Orion's song ended to a steady hum, Vernon's crew had tied themselves up and shackled themselves together, the last man free still standing there with a goofy smile and heavy lidded eyes. Orion tilted his head and as in trance, the man walked forwards, holding his wrists bared with a smile.

It didn't take too long for Orion to bind the man, guiding him to the rest of his crew before he sighed deeply, the hums rumbling to an eerie halt. Several of my crew shook themselves, like dogs trying to get rid of filth and I felt chilled to the bone.

If Orion had used his song, he could quite easily force us all to draw our blades over our own throats. And we would do it willingly, with a smile on his face.

Orion turned, tilting his head slightly as he gazed at me. It seemed like he waited on what to do and I frowned before shivering, knowing Vernon and his rats deserved their fate. Especially since my treasure had felt forced to sing and in doing so, lure any merfolk in the area closer to him.

"Tie ropes along the banisters and throw them overboard. Several of these men are bleeding..."

He realized what I meant and frowned but nodded, a few of my crew hopping aboard to aid him. Vernon's men seemed confused, especially when we jumped back on my ship and rose the anchor.

Their confusion didn't last long though; their stunned shouts and pleas to not be marooned quickly turned into fearful cries when the first merfolk started feasting on the bodies in the water.

I couldn't stop the cool shiver that rushed down my spine, holding Orion close to me as he looked back at Vernon's ship. If any other vessel would encounter it later on, they wouldn't fine a trace of the crew.

Just a lonely vessel, seemingly abandoned.

Orion sighed and closed his eyes, resting his head on my shoulder. The cries of fear behind us turned into cries of pain and soon haunting silence. Everyone glanced back at Orion, shivering and feeling the influence of his song in our veins.

An Angel of Death had spoken. And the demons of the Sea had headed his call.