Captain Darcy, was a man straight out of the books (or the wanted posters). Long flowing black hair to compliment Rose’s bright reddish brown, gold and jewels that gleaned just as brightly as hers. He was even one of the only people I’d seen, men included, to match her height and build. They were perfect together.

I was unfocused, bitter, in the following days we sailed together alongside his ship, the Black Lagoon. I was healing fast, but I was still stuck resting until my injuries healed completely, and had no work to distract me from the two hang off each other.

“Word is they got their start on the same ship as youths.” Mateo supplied as he handed me a steaming bowl of stew.

“Mhm.” I answered, trying not to lash out at him. It wasn’t his fault.

He must have sensed my sour mood because he decided to change the subject. “Have you heard the stories about these waters?” He asked suddenly.

I shook my head.

“They say there are sea monsters here. Giant sea creatures out for blood.”

There was a long stretch of silence where we stared at each other straight faced before he couldn’t help but crack a smile and I followed suit.

“Come on, not even you are that superstitious.” I laughed, shoving him lightly.

“Maybe not, but I didn’t make it up, I heard it from some bloke, it could be true for all we know!” he laughed back.

“Well if you heard it from some bloke then it must be.” I said.

That night I woke with a start to the sounds of shouting in the middle of the night. I sat bolt upright, grabbing Mateo by the wrist as he ran out of the barracks with the rest of the crowd. “What’s going on?”

Mateo tried to respond but the sound was swallowed up by a thunderous roar.

My question was answered regardless.

Mateo stopped me as I made my way for the door.

“Your shoulder.”

“I’m fine.”

I ran out onto the deck with the rest of the crew to be met with the sight of a massive octopus-like tentacles ensnaring the ships. There seemed to be no end to them as even more fought with the people onboard.

People were fighting and dying all around me. Men slashing at the tentacles as the creature dragged more and more into the sea.

Dashing forward, I slashed through a sea foam green tentacle which sprayed me with sickly lime green blood. My sword arm still hurt, but it was manageable.

Weaving through the massive tentacles thrashing around the deck, I tried to get to the heart of the fighting.

A man screamed as a tentacle pulled him overboard and in my momentary distraction, one almost got me too.

There was a bang and the appendage recoiled in pain. I looked back to see Mateo, pistol drawn.

I nodded back to him and we headed further into the fray, me taking out the arms closest to us, him covering me with his pistol’s range.

Stolen novel; please report.

Closer to the heart of the battle, captains Rose and Darcy were fighting back to back in perfect sync, bantering all the way like they must have done in their youth.

I couldn’t feel jealous, not with so much at stake.

Suddenly the creature grabbed Captain Darcy, hoisting him into the air.

As he valiantly thrashed against his binds, a massive, bulbous head arose above the water.

It’s many black eyes zeroed in on Captain Darcy as the tentacles parted to reveal an open, razor sharp beak.

Blinded by rage, Captain Rose charged at the thing, but was grabbed as well.

I couldn’t let either ship lose her captain. And I couldn’t lose her.

Dashing forward, I slashed at the tentacle holding Rose while Mateo shot the one holding Darcy from somewhere behind me and both captains fell to the deck.

The beast roared and lunged closer.

I ducked under the tentacle that attempted to sweep me overboard and slid across the deck closer to the creature, sword drawn, and pierced its slimy flesh.

Using the sword still driven into its face as leverage, I pulled myself up and drove the dagger in my boot right into one of the creature’s eyes.

Really it could have been anyone who dealt the blow. There were brave men all over the deck. But somehow it ended up being me.

It let out a horrible shriek.

There was a flash of bright, sparkling light. I squeezed my eyes shut as I fell to the deck.

I opened them when I felt myself gingerly being lifted up before arms flew around to hold me tightly.

“Oh, bless you miss, you saved me!”

I opened my eyes to see a pair of bright yellow eyes, nearly obscured by darkness blown pupils, sparkling back at me in the moonlight above a flat nose and a pair of full lips on a face framed by a mane of tentacles that floated and flowed like they were under water.

We both noticed we were staring and she released me hastily, which is when I noticed the nature of her body. The same sea foam green color as her face adorned the rest of her skin, which was covered in strange swirling patterns . Her chest was bare and in place of legs were eight tentacles holding her up on the deck so we could be eye to eye.

“My apologies,” she said “where are my manners? My name is-“ she made a series of lilting chirps.

“Could you…repeat that?” I asked.

“You know what, you can just call me Pearl.” she smiled sweetly. “I’ve lost track of how long I’ve been under that curse…I thought I’d never be myself again.”

I found myself lost in the strange creature’s beauty, so much so that it took a moment for her words to sink in. Was that monster…her?

I heard the captains’ boots behind me, snapping me out of my trance. Pearl let out a squeak and hid in my chest, deepening my blush.

“What the FUCK was that?!” said Rose.

Rose gripped Pearl by the arm as she yelped in alarm and I felt a surge of something like protectiveness as I mourned the loss of contact.

“I do not know who or what you are,” said Rose “but I do not take kindly to attacks on MY men.”

Pearl glanced around the ship, taking in the carnage around her, then looked back at Rose “I-I’m sorry.” she said “I don’t know what came over me. I never meant to hurt anyone, I just…It’s like it wasn’t me.” tears began welling up in her eyes.

Rose’s gaze softened

Darcy strode over to her. “Whatever we just experienced, I don’t think this… girl was to blame.”

Rose released Pearl and she used her freed arm to wipe her tears.

“That said…” said Darcy. “What are we going to to about all this.”

Rose glanced from Darcy back to Pearl, who was now holding onto me as if for dear life.

I looked back at her hopefully.

She met my eyes before her focus moved to the woman in my arms. Something seemed to click. “We can figure it out later.” she said “For now, I think we can afford another tagalong.”

Then she did something that surprised me. She looked back at me with a smile. “ And I think we can afford to let Abigail bond with her new…’friend’” with a wink, she lead Darcy away, leaving me and Pearl to ourselves.