Each coin in my fingers was another step toward Castor. I let the coin stay in my palm for just a moment. I was close to Castor. I could feel it. I knew it.

My mother and I had never ben close, but she felt more aloof than usual. Not that I cared. I didn't meet with her to have some amazing reconnection. Maybe she could sense that. I didn't really care.

Castor was all that mattered now. Castor and Juniper. The two of them were who I needed to reconnect with.

I felt breath on my back. I turned around.

"How much more do you need?"

"Not much."

My mother nodded, then turned, her tail flicking lazily. She swam to the other side of the cave, with a beauty that men would die for. A beauty that men had died for.

When she came back, she had a cloth bag with her. She pressed it into my hands.

"Is this enough?"

The bag was heavy in my hands, not submerged enough into the waters for the water to carry it. It was all I could do not nod.

"Good. It's not like I need it."

Her head dipped under the water again. I put the bag onto the stone shelf at the edge of the cave. It was enough. I could pay Castor's ransom. I could leave.

I looked at the glint of red below the waves. I felt a bit of warmth toward my mother. It was fleeting, but it was there.

I reached for my bag, tucking my mother's donation into it. I had done it. I'd done it! Castor was mine now. I took a deep breath, and dipped below the waves myself.

The sea seemed so beautiful when I was leaving it. I floated lazily, looking for the Red Revenge. I saw it soon enough. I resurfaced and waved to the boat. There was my father, waving back. I took a deep breath. I was close.

Soon enough I was on the deck.

"I have the money."

"Good. Fearsoan is waiting for you."

"Where is he?"

"Pirate's cove."

I nodded. I'd only been there once in my life. I would go there again if that's where Juniper and Castor would.

"Well, off I go then."

"And you're coming back?"

"Of course."

"Take the dingy."

"I'm a siren. I can just swim there."

"Pirates are sailors at heart. We don't take kindly to sirens."

"You took kindly to mom."

"She wasn't a siren then. And that's different."

"Fine, I'll row there. Happy?"

"Very."

Ψψψ

I stared up at the night sky. It was a beautiful in a haunting sort of way. The sea was calm in every direction. I was alone with the water and my bags of money. I closed my eyes, letting the smell of salt was over me.

My hands ached. I was exhausted. I pulled my paddles in. It was all I could do to curl up, hoping I didn't drift too far in my sleep.

When I woke, the sun was rising again. I grabbed my paddles again. I hoped the siren in me was strong enough to know where I was. I closed my eyes again and pulled the wood toward me. I needed to get to my friends. I would get to my friends, blisters be damned.

Ψψψ

Pirate's cove was beautiful island. It looked perfectly harmless if you didn't know who took refuge there. And if you didn't recognize the ships waiting on the shores.

I rowed in, hoping no one saw me. I slung the bag over my shoulder, trudging toward Fearsoan's ship. The gangplank was done and the smell of rum was strong. Men were strewn around the deck.

I'd caught them when they were off guard.

The knife in my belt gave me comfort as I walked up the plank. I tried not to look the men in the eye as I passed. I looked the upper deck. There was my captain. I walked up the stairs.

His lips moved and his beard shook. I pointed to my ear. He wasn't deterred.

I'm Deaf, captain.

He stopped.

"Oh, you're here for the ransom."

"Yes."

He stuck his hand out. "Pay up."

"You show me my man first."

"Ah, just like your father. We'll compromise, eh? You give me some, and then I show you your boyfriend."

"Okay." I pulled my bag off my shoulder, gripping the strap with all the force I could muster.

I gave him my mother's bag. He grabbed it, his hands trebling as greed light up his eyes.

Then his mouth was moving again, distorted by some yelling. I put the bag back over my shoulder. I turned to watch for Castor.

It didn't take long. Our eyes met, and I turned back around to Fearsoan.

"The money, sweetie."

I took my bag out and dumped it on the ground.

"You really are spitting image of Porter."

I nodded, and turned to go down the stairs. The man holding Castor pushed him into me. He stumbled, and I had to catch him.

His face was inches from mine, where I couldn't avoid taking him in. He had a black eye. It was an ugly purple color, swollen to the point he had to squint at me.

I grabbed his arm, pulling him with me as I moved toward the entryway of the ship.

When we were on dry land again, I got my knife out. He presented his bound hands to me. He rubbed his wrists, red and chafed.

"Where is Juniper?"

"I don't know."

"Well, we have to find her."

"I know."

He sat where his ransom once had.

"Well, where are we off to?"

"Anywhere but here."

He looked downright miserable. I nodded, taking the oars. We'd make good time when if we took turns rowing and sleeping.

I pulled us out, until we were on the open sea.

"I'm going to circle the island. Call out for Juniper, okay?"

He nodded.

My arms were tired as I did our lap of the island. There was no Juniper to be found. Castor looked worried.

"She's fine, Castor."

"How do you know?"

"No one would risk war with the sirens. She's probably fine."

"Are there any other islands near here?"

"One. It's totally uninhabitable, though."

"Go there."

I nodded, taking a deep breath. I'd never row again after this trip. I was sure of it. I'd get my own ship and I'd invest in good sails. I'd have backup sails on hand at all time. If I had nothing else, I'd have the wind as my friend.

I looked over at Castor. He didn't seem to be lost in thought in the same was I was. I cleared my throat. He looked over at me.

"Don't go there, okay?"

The look in his eye told me I could take a break from rowing for more than a brief phrase.

"If she's hurt because of me, I couldn't live with myself."

"She wouldn't be hurt because of you. You didn't hurt her."

"I should've been more careful. I..."

"Couldn't have done anything differently."

"Arriana, I don't deserve her."

"So?"

"What do you mean?"

"No one deserves her, but she likes you. If you make her happy, that's all that matters."

"Easy for you to say."

"What does that mean?"

"You didn't have that with Ryan. You're both so... I don't know. Headstrong. Rough."

"I'm a pirate, Castor."

"I know."

"She's okay. I'd bet anything on it. But when this conversation is done, you're rowing."

"Okay. I can row."

I nodded. "Good. I'm going to take a nap, I think."

"Thanks for getting me."

"I miss you guys, you know."

"I know. I missed you too."

"See? Look at us, getting on."

He nodded. He didn't seem to be in a mood for cheering up, but I wouldn't have been either. I passed him the oars. He began to row, pulling the little dingy through the sea.

I laid down on the bench, ready for a little nap. Hopefully, Juniper would be on the other side of it. I could only hope.

I opened my eye. Castor was staring straight ahead, not looking at anything in particularly. If hoping were enough to find Juniper, he had it covered. With that, I closed my eyes, and let sleep find me.