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 hair, tangled and damp, 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 second, she thought he might pity her. But then, 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."
Before she could comprehend what was happening, he was yanking the cloak from her shoulders. Desperation surged as she reached for the cloak, but his grip was unyielding. Her fingers scraped against the fabric; it was out of her reach. Her heart raced frantically. The cloak was the only link she had left, drifting 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.
***
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 echoed 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."
Then, without another glance, he shut the cabin door behind him.The pirates, already drunk on their rum, clinked bottles together, their raucous laughter filling the air. One of them slurred, "The Captain's too stiff. What's the harm in a little fun?"
The pirates' laughter rang out, slurred and cruel. One of them 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 thought she would hit the cold timber, there was a sudden lurch as the barrels she had kicked toppled, causing the whole stack to come crashing down around her. In a dizzying whirl, she tumbled backward, her body shooting toward the open door.
And then she collided with a wooden crate, sending it sprawling and slamming into the pirate in front. The pirate, caught off-guard, lost his balance and tumbled over the crate, falling with a loud thud onto the deck.
The 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 slipping slightly on the wet, slippery wood, but she didn't stop. With no clear direction, she raced toward the edge, the salty sea breeze stinging her face.
And then, just as luck would have it—she reached the edge of the ship and, with one final slip, fell off. Then suddenly, a pair of hands gripped her, and she dangled from the side.
"You're not going anywhere," said the Captain, Long Yan.
She felt his grip tighten, as he was pulling her up, a strange tension filled the air. A low rumble vibrated through the ship, followed by a horrifying cracking sound. His head snapped to the side.
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, swallowed by the waves.
Her heart was hammering as the icy water enveloped her. For a moment, she lost all sense of direction, the world above swallowed 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. The rhythmic sound of water lapping echoed in the darkness around her. She felt weightless, sitting on a warm, bouncy surface. She lay back, laughing with relief. She would not be able to swim anymore with these human legs, but no matter—she was no longer aboard the pirate ship.
There was a scent of saltwater and seaweed, and the gentle rocking of the creature beneath her brought an unexpected sense of peace. At last! Another friend of the sea. She nestled against the whale's tongue, closing her eyes, soothed by its steady rhythm.
***
Far beneath the surface, the King of the Merfolk watched through the 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, it made it harder to find her. He hadn't anticipated her capture by those wretched pirates to be before aid came.
Then Ling Yue appeared, her massive whale form rose from the depths to protect his daughter, and he 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. The colossal beast's tentacles rose, crushing the pirate ship violently. The vessel splintered, its sails ripped, and the pirates screamed in terror as the Kraken dragged them beneath the waves.
The King watched the wreckage unfold, satisfied that justice had been executed. 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.