Creeeeak. The door to the brig opened, and the chill of the air grew heavier with each step the Captain took. His aura filled the room, and she couldn't help but stiffen. Her eyes flickered up, meeting his intense gaze, and her breath caught in her throat.
He stood there, still and silent. Her tangled and damp hair hung loosely around her face. The cloak she had pulled around her shoulders felt like a fragile barrier between her and the harsh reality she was now facing. It was the last thing she had left of the life she once knew. It seemed more significant to him than her life.
For a brief moment, she thought he might pity her. But he swiftly grabbed the cloak by the edge. "Where did you get this?" His fingers wrapped around the fabric.
"This does not belong to a creature like you." He snarled, studying the fabric.
Before she could respond, he yanked the cloak from her shoulders. Desperation surged as she reached for it, but his grip was unyielding. Her fingers scraped the fabric. It was out of her reach. Her heart raced frantically. The cloak was the only link she had left to her past. It drifted further away with each failed attempt.
"No!" she cried out desperately. She scrambled forward, reaching for the fabric that now seemed like a distant memory, but his grip was ironclad. He held the cloak out of reach, inspecting it with a dark gleam in his eyes.
The oppressive silence made her feel even more vulnerable as she wrapped her arms around herself. His gaze shifted from the cloak, then back to her, a sinister smile on his lips.
"It seems you've got more secrets than I thought," he murmured.
He draped the cloak around his arm with disdain. "This will be useful."
She froze, her heart hammering in her chest. She didn't know what to say. The cloak was torn from her like everything else had been ripped away from her. She had nothing left.
He turned and slammed the bars shut behind him, without a second glance. His heavy footsteps clattered on the timber deck, eerily fading as his intense aura lingered in the brig.
***
As the cold air in the brig seemed to freeze, Shui Yi rubbed her hands against her arms, trying to stay warm as her teeth chattered. She noticed a dirty old sack in the corner and covered herself. Her chest ached, but the voice of the Captain resounded through the brig.
"I don't care what happens to her," he said, his tone cold and dismissive. "Just make sure she's alive by morning."
He slammed the cabin door behind him. The pirates, drunk on rum, clinked bottles together in a cacophonous merriment. One of them slurred, "The Captain's too stiff. What's the harm in a little fun?"
Another staggered toward Shui Yi, his eyes wild with intoxicated interest. The others followed, their movements erratic, swaying with the ship's rocking. Their jarring steps grew louder as they closed in, like a storm gathering.
The drunken pirate unlocked the brig and dragged her out. She stumbled, her legs weak beneath her. She accidentally kicked a stack of barrels in a frantic attempt to steady herself, but it only made things worse. With a helpless gasp, her legs gave way entirely. Just as she was about to hit the cold timber, the barrels she had kicked suddenly lurched, toppling the entire stack around her. In a dizzying whirl, she tumbled backward, her body shooting toward the open door.
She collided with a wooden crate, sending it sprawling and smashing into the pirate in front. Caught off-guard, he lost his balance and tumbled over the crate, falling with a loud thud onto the deck.
The mermaid princess lay there, winded and dizzy, before quickly scrambling to her feet. The pirates' laughter had momentarily ceased, replaced by grumbling curses and confusion. Taking the opportunity, she bolted. Her feet slipped slightly on the wet wood, but she didn't stop. With no clear direction, she raced toward the edge, the salty sea breeze stinging her face.
Just as luck would have it—she reached the edge of the ship and, with one final slip, fell off. Suddenly, a pair of hands grabbed her, and she dangled from the side.
"You're not going anywhere," said the Captain, Long Yan.
She felt his grip tighten as he pulled her up; a perilous tension filled the air. A low rumble vibrated through the ship, followed by a horrifying cracking sound. His head snapped to the side.
Gigantic orange-red tentacles emerged from the water, crashing against the sides of the ship, splintering the wood and shaking the vessel. The pirates' shouts of alarm filled the air as they scrambled to react to the sudden attack. Long Yan turned away from her. She used that moment of chaos to pry herself from his grip. Her legs propelled her into the open sea, where the waves swallowed her.
Her heart was hammering as the icy water enveloped her. For a moment, she lost all sense of direction, the world above consumed by the abyss. The cold pierced through her skin like pins and needles. She gasped, the ocean claimed her, dragging her deeper into its dark embrace.
***
Shui Yi's eyes fluttered open to pitch-black darkness. She let out a groan as she massaged her tired legs. A warm breeze blew against her back. The rhythmic sound of water lapping echoed around her. She felt weightless, sitting on a warm, bouncy surface. She lay back, laughing with relief. She wouldn't be able to swim anymore with these human legs, but no matter—she was no longer aboard that horrible pirate ship.
The scent of saltwater and seaweed, along with the gentle rocking of the creature beneath her, brought an unexpected comfort. At long last! Another friend of the sea. She nestled against the whale's tongue, closing her eyes, lulled to sleep by its familiar rhythm.
***
Deep beneath the surface, in the throne room of the Oceanic Palace, the King of the Merfolk watched through a shimmering, rippling portal with unwavering intensity. His heart ached with every fleeting glimpse of his daughter's torment. For days now, he'd been keeping track of her, ever since he had sent her away to the mortal realm. It was a punishment he had never fully accepted.
He had sent a dolphin to aid her. His jaw clenched as he watched the pirates take her away. This made it harder to find her. He hadn't anticipated her capture by those wretched pirates to be before aid came.
Ling Yue finally appeared. Her massive whale form rose from the depths to protect his daughter. The King could no longer contain his rage.
"No one harms my daughter and lives," he growled, whispering an ancient incantation.
With a surge of power, the Kraken emerged from the abyss. Its tentacles furled around the pirate ship, crushing it violently. The vessel splintered, its sails torn, and the pirates screamed as the legendary sea beast dragged them to their graves buried in the deep blue.
The King watched the wreckage unfold, satisfied that justice had been served. With a flick of his wrist, he dismissed the portal, taking a moment to compose himself before turning his attention back to matters of his court.