---Cain's POV---

The seas were eerily calm. After all the commotion for the past few days, it would've made sense if a storm was out. But the skies were calm, the waves none existent, sea lapping softly at the hull of the ship.

It only managed to give me an ominous feeling, as if something was just waiting to go wrong. Archer was manning the wheel for the moment, barking commands at the crew overhead as Orion and I were in my quarters.

My eyes flicked to the side, watching Orion's dull expression as he sighed wistfully while gazing at the sea. The looming merfolk threat made him wary to dive into the water, even if he desperately wanted to.

And it wasn't like I could offer him any protection either! It was maddening to sit on my hands, unable to do anything to help and provide for him. My eyes flitted to his hands and wrists, both visibly irritated and flaky.

Orion needed the ocean to survive. And those bastards were counting on that fact.

We still gave Orion buckets of salt water that we hoisted up but it wasn't enough. You couldn't replace a dip in the ocean with a mere swallow of water, hoping he'd be okay.

And he was. You could tell that Orion was troubled and longing to stretch his legs, so to speak. He was surviving but I wanted him to live, to enjoy his life. And it was frustrating that I couldn't give him what he wanted.

Especially because in a way, I understood how he felt. If we were stuck on sea for quite a while, a man just longed to be back on dry land... though the opposite could be said as well... Once a seafarer, always a seafarer.

A knock on the door made us both look up, where one of the crew stood warily at the cracked door. "Uhm, Captn, there's no sign of them so far. We're still keeping a look out for them but..." I scowled when he didn't continue and pushed up, making him flinch slightly.

"But..."

Archer appeared behind the man and scowled as well, much to my surprise. Archer was one of the very few men on my crew who was always in a happy mood. Now however, he seemed frustrated and troubled while he motioned with his jaw towards the window behind us.

There was nothing special to see out there but I frowned, wondering why Archer was down in my quarters... and who the fuck was manning the wheel?

"The rudders have been disabled. I noticed a few moments ago that it takes a great deal of effort to turn the wheel and the ship's response is delayed."

My heart clenched together as I shoved up, glaring at the harmless sea. "I... Is that... bad?" Orion asked hesitantly, waiting for an explanation before Archer sighed and brushed through his short hair.

"On short terms, not really. We're not under attack or anything besides those blasted fish, but if heavy weather sets in, we'll need all the maneuverability we can get. Even if there's no storm in sight, the possibility of encountering a rogue wave is troublesome enough without losing the use of a rudder."

I shivered at the mention of a rogue wave; many men called it the tales of fishwives, meant to scare young men from succumbing to the ocean's call and become a sailor in any shape or form. But some knew that rogue waves were a very real, uncommon perhaps, but dangerous threat.

Very few who encountered a rogue wave lived to tell the tale and it made sense. If the stories were right, those whom encountered and lived through a rogue wave estimated the sea to lash out with a monstrous wave of over a hundred feet tall.

The massive force and destruction that such a wave could bring could easily topple over the largest of ships but the idea of encountering one without a rudder to steer the boat out of harms way, to steer into the wave instead of having it crash into the side...

I shuddered, dreading to think of the possibility. The only one who'd survive that encounter would be Orion, and that is if he wasn't harmed by flying debris as the ship was torn apart, or if he wasn't smacked against the ocean floor from the brutal force of the waves.

"I can.." Orion paused, eyes flitting back and forth, "I could check to see what's wrong..."

Even Archer scowled as I growled out a vehement "Absolutely not! Are you out of your mind?! Those things are out there, more likely than not they're the ones who blocked the rudders to begin with. I can't have you jumping in the ocean to-"

"Who then? One of the crew? If its true that its due to the merfolk, whoever you send down there will be torn apart if they so much as dip a toe in the water." Orion protested, glaring and crossing his arms in front of his chest, gills flaring in anger.

He huffed out a breath while pointing at the ocean view through the window. "At least I have a fighting chance. I can swim faster than you humans can in the first place, I can go in and out if they're nearby."

He... he had a damned good point. I sighed in frustration, scowling at the sea, not liking this one bit. "Are you sure you can avoid them?" Orion hesitated, tapping his fingers against his arm as his gills flared open, seemingly trying to detect a scent.

"I...I'm not entirely... sure." He cringed before quickly continuing as he saw my angered expression, "But what choice do we have? Either you send me down there with at least a chance of survival, or you chuck your men at them in the hopes that they'll be too bloated after the feast you provide em with."

My fist rammed against the wooden wall as rage webbed through my body. Fuck! I hate being so helpless! And I hate that Orion was right.

I glared at him, crouching so we were at eye level. "You dive in after we make sure they're not around us. The second you spot anything, sense anything wrong, hell, even feel uncomfortable, you get your tail back on the boat that very instant. I will jump after you if I have to." I growled, holding a hand up to snuff out his protest, "Do I make myself clear?"

Orion huffed, gills fluttering as he spat, "Crystal." Pushing off the bed, he made to walk past me before I snagged his wrist, gaining a glare in return. "...Be careful. Please."

His eyes softened, a smile on his lips as he nodded. "I'll try."

The rest of the crew backed away as soon as Orion walked out, eying him warily before they seemed to understand the situation. Some were still fearful of the Siren, but most held a glimmer of respect in their eyes, as they too knew that Orion was sacrificing himself in a way to keep us safe.

No he's not. He's not sacrificing anything because he'll be back before I even know it.

I shot a look at the barrel man, who was still scouting the surroundings before he signed the all clear. Not that we'd be able to see them if they were too deep anyways, but at least Orion would have a chance to hop back on the boat if that were the case.

Orion dove into the water without hesitation and this time I was close enough to see his transformation as soon as he hit the water. Tendrils of tissue wove between his legs before they snapped together and Orion seemed to writhe in agony for a moment before he dove out of sight.

Silence swept over the crew as we all waited for him to resurface or leap on the boat. The only thing I could hear was the breathing of the men, my own heart pounding in my ears and the waves lapping at the boat.

A groan of protesting wood resounded before the wheel rolled easily, gaining cheers amongst the crew and a soft laugh from me. Saved, at long last. At least now we wouldn't have to fear for our lives with the next incoming storm.

Yet... there was no sign of Orion. Fear bit at my heart as I felt the hairs at the back of my neck rise, eyes flitting back and forth in the hopes of catching a glimpse of him.

"There!" Some of the crew pointed at rapid movement under water before it churned violently, a pair of fins flashing as they disappeared once more. My heart skipped and raced this time as I grabbed one of the sharp pike poles, ready to dive under in an attempt to give Orion a chance.

Suddenly the surface exploded and Orion leaped out, clawing at the banister. I could clearly see the whites of his eyes, the fear in them as his claws scraped across the wood as he attempted to heave himself onboard.

And anger exploded through my body as over his shoulder, a pair of eyes smirked at me, teeth sunken into Orion's shoulder for a heartbeat longer before the Merman released him, just in time to avoid the bullet that scraped past his skull.

I bolted forwards and yanked Orion over the edge while the Merman smirked, licking the blood from his jagged teeth with a hint of delight in his eyes. Eyes that were dipping over my body before trailing behind me, where Orion was laying on the deck, shoulder bleeding profusely as several clear rows of the Merman's teeth had torn through his flesh.

All the merman did was bare his teeth in a terrifying grin and chuckled hoarsely. His claws dug in the wooden banisters, Orion's scraped almost childlike compared to the deep grooves he left behind. "Wear my Mark proudly... You are mine."

A gunshot echoed and the merman hissed, clawed fingers digging into his own shoulders before tossing the bullet on the deck. He disregarded whomever shot him and shot Orion another look with a bloodied smile on his lips.

On instinct, I jabbed the pike pole towards its heard, making it let go of the banister with one hand to easily snag the pole, splintering the wood in his hold. He made a move towards me but had to dive into the water, as more guns aimed at his body and prepared to send him to a watery grave.

"H-he was...waiting... right u-underneath...the b-boat." Orion stuttered, teeth chattering together as he trembled in pain, eyes damp with tears. I hissed and pulled him in my arms, barking orders at Archer to head to shallow waters and one of the nearby islands so we could get someone to stitch Orion up and care for his wounds.

I knew enough to perform basic stitches now, but I hoped someone else could redo them later so he wouldn't have to wear horrific scars from his encounter. Staring at the bite, I shivered, feeling as if my poor angel had been marked by the Devil Himself.