The Pirate's Princess

by Bethany Wicker

  “She wanted you to grow with a kind heart instead of the bloodthirsty one of a siren.”

  “And this is a good place for me to jump in,” Eleanor interrupted. “As per your father’s request, I will be the one to teach you the etiquette and manners of a siren. We will do that during the afternoons, starting tomorrow. For today, I will stick to the legends we believe in because they involve you. Feel free to stop me if you have any questions, okay?”

  It was clear she was waiting for a response, so I nodded my head.

  She cleared her throat. “Did you know sirens once had tails like mermaids?”

  “What? We did?” I never heard that one before.

  “We sure did. The only difference was that we were able to switch between tails and legs, while mermaids were stuck with their tails. Mermaids are jealous creatures and they grew to despise the fact that we could switch between forms. Their hate forced their hands and the mermaids stole Poseidon’s necklace from us.”

  “A necklace?” I cut in with a skeptical look.

  “This wasn’t an ordinary necklace. If worn by the siren king or queen, it gave us infinite power and the speed of our tails. Without it, we were forced to live with human legs. Poseidon didn’t want to choose sides between mermaids and sirens and King Triton isn’t the easiest person to reason with. So, unable to take our anger out on the mermaids, we turned to killing more humans. It is an empowering sensation after all.”

  “Why didn’t we just steal the necklace back?”

  “Because they hid it, and we have no idea where. According to Poseidon, he left us a clue, but it wouldn’t be discovered until the Fated Princess came into her power. Someone with his blood. Someone like you. You are the only one who can find our necklace and return us to our full strength. Then, we won’t have to hide away in this bubble and can finally get our revenge against the mermaids.”

  “So, basically, you want me to play a part in starting a war between mermaids and sirens?”

  “It’s more than just that.” Dad leaned forward with an intense expression. “It’s returning what’s rightfully ours. Don’t you see? Everything happens as it’s meant to be. If I wouldn’t have lived in seclusion with you and your mother, then you may not have had the opportunity to grow into your power.”

  “Sirens are deadly enough. Why would they need more power?” I crossed my arms and glanced between Dad and Eleanor.

  “We didn’t have as much hate in our hearts when we had our powers. We weren’t always so cruel. Do you know why sirens were forbidden to mate with humans?” Eleanor asked.

  “I didn't think there was a reason. I thought it was just because they hated humans,” I replied.

  “Well, that’s one reason, but the main one is that sirens feared mating with humans would prevent the Fated Princess from being born. Instead, the opposite happened and they’ll accept that fact with time.”

  “What makes you think I’m the Fated Princess? I’m just Sera. The abomination who’s part-human and part-siren but belongs with neither.”

  “You’re wrong. You belong to both races. The main reason we know you’re the Fated Princess because of your ability to speak to the Kraken,” Dad said.

  “You mean, you can’t speak to it? Even though you’re a siren king?” I asked.

  “No.” He chuckled. “It would probably eat me if I tried.”

  “I don’t want to be the Fated Princess. The sirens killed my mom—your wife—and I can’t just forgive them for that. I’m not like you, Dad.”

  “They didn’t do it out of spite like you may think.” Eleanor frowned. “They did it to save their loved ones by bringing the king back. Our barrier was weakening and a mermaid attack was imminent.”

  “They couldn’t just ask him nicely?”

  She shook her head. “Sirens are superstitious and believed that the king being with you and your mother was preventing the rise of the Fated Princess.”

  “Well, they were obviously wrong about that one.”

  “Sirens are not oracles. We can only live with the information we are given and try to repent for the mistakes we make.”

  “That sounds wise and all, but it doesn’t bring my mother back.”

  “My dear, nothing will bring your mother back. There’s no reason to live in that past because, for the sake of us all, you must move forward. You must find that necklace. The mermaids need King Triton’s trident and we need our necklace.”

  “Why are the mermaids still trying to attack sirens? They stole the necklace and left you without tails. Mission complete.”

  “Because they want the humans to themselves. They don’t want to compete with us because we’re better at luring humans into the water than they are thanks to our singing. Like I said, they’re jealous creatures.”

  Something in her tone led me to believe that she wasn’t telling me the whole story.

  “Sera,” Dad said my name so softly that I almost didn’t hear him. “I miss your mom too. She was the love of my life and there will never be another person that can fill her place. Even though she isn’t here, I know she wouldn’t want you to live with hate and the need for vengeance in your heart. She wouldn’t want you to avenge her and you know that. She would want you to do better. Rise above them and show them there’s a better way.”

  The room fell silent and the only sound was Eleanor’s chewing. My thoughts went to Mom as I recalled her sweet voice that barely ever raised to a yell. She was kind, gentle, and hated the way people in the world had turned out. She always dreamed of a better future where the amount of hate in people’s hearts was at a minimum.

  As much as I didn’t like to admit it, Dad was right. Mom wouldn’t want me to hold a grudge. She’d want me to be better, and I would be for her. In her memory, I would help establish peace between mermaids, sirens, humans, and any other creature that wanted to join us.

  My thoughts also went to the siren children. I would be doing this for them too, so they would have the chance to live in a brighter time.

  “Well, if I’m going to do this, I should do it right. What sort of perks come along with being princess?”

  Both Dad and Eleanor laughed at my comment and it broke the tension that was beginning to form. Dad’s eyes brightened at my acceptance.

  “Well, you can boss others around, request anything you desire, be served the finest foods, and have the comfiest bed in the castle. So, it’s pretty much the spoiled life until the end of your time,” Dad answered.

  I whistled. “Completely different than island life.”

  “The complete opposite.”

  I wish Mom could be here. That was what I wanted to say, but I bit my tongue to keep those words from slipping out. I would work on accepting that she wasn’t coming back so I could focus on now. It was difficult to even think about a “now” without her, but I was strong. I could do this. For Mom.

  “I think that’s enough for today,” Eleanor said. “You have a long day tomorrow so enjoy tonight and enjoy tomorrow morning. Come afternoon, you’ll be with me. We’ll meet in this private dining room for lunch. It’s the perfect place to start.”

  “Okay, I’ll be here.” I smiled. “Eleanor? Do you think you could give Dad and me a few moments alone?”

  “Of course. I wanted to take a dip in the pool anyway. See you tomorrow.”

  I nodded and waited for her to leave to talk. “Dad, I have a small request if I’m going to do this. I want to know if Steel and his crew made it to Tortuga safely. I need that peace of mind before I can continue.”

  Dad shook his head. “You shouldn’t concern yourself with those pirates. Your place is here, so your heart should be too.”

  “I hate to break it to you, but a piece of my heart is with them. Always. You said I belong in both places. Now is the time to prove it. Have someone check on them for me without harming them since you probably won’t let me go.”

  Dad sighed and mulled it over. “Okay. I’ll get someone on it as long as you promise me you’l
l really give this a try.”

  “I promise.”

  “All right. Do you want a tour of the castle? The garden behind it is beautiful. You usually have to reserve it if you want a place to sit, but not us.” Dad winked.

  “I’d love a tour from you.”

  “Let me get Eon to check on your pirate friends. I won’t be long, so do you mind waiting for me here?”

  “Not at all.” I beamed at him, satisfied that I was going to hear news about Steel soon.

  I wondered when I would be able to see him again. Did he even miss me? He must have his hands full with finding a new ship. As I sat waiting for my dad to return, I started thinking about names that Steel might call his new vessel. It kept me entertained and distracted from my mixed feelings, which was exactly what I needed.

  Chapter Four

  “What would you like to see first?” Dad asked once he returned.

  “I guess the back of the castle since you have me so intrigued about it,” I replied.

  “The enchanted pool it is then. I’m relieved to see that you haven’t changed a bit even with everything that’s happened.”

  “What do you mean by that?” I felt like a completely different person than the one who’d grown up secluded on an island. I’d been through too much to go back to being her.

  We exited the castle and Dad waited until nobody was around to reply. “I simply mean that you’re still kind and gentle like your mother and impatient and demanding like your old man. These are traits that will help you be a great leader.”

  “I thought great leaders were supposed to be patient.”

  “Who told you that one? Things would never get done around here if I had to rely on patience. Sirens aren’t the most punctual creatures.”

  “Well, that’s a good thing for me to know.”

  “Eleanor will go over similar things with you tomorrow. For now, let’s put that kind of talk to the side and enjoy each other’s company. I haven’t had the chance to tell you how proud I am of you either.”

  “For what?” All these compliments made me wonder what else was going on.

  “You found a way to make it on your own. Even managed to befriend pirates. They typically hate sirens the most.”

  “Well, lucky for me, Steel is superstitious and fears the wrath of Poseidon.”

  “Steel? That’s the one who holds a piece of your heart?”

  My cheeks burned. “Well, mostly him, but the rest of the crew hold pieces too. They’re not as cruel as stories make them appear.”

  “I’ll have to take your word for it. Can’t say I’ve had the chance to meet a pirate yet.” He paused to move in front of me. “Okay, close your eyes and don’t open them until I tell you to.”

  I giggled as I closed my eyes. “Dad, this is what you used to do when you gave me gifts.”

  “I want to see your face when you see the garden for the first time. That’s all.”

  He placed his hands on my shoulders from behind and guided me forward. A few minutes later, he told me to open my eyes. I had to blink a couple of times at the beautiful, serene sight in front of me. There were all different types of flowers and they all seemed to glow as if they’d been bathed in sunlight. A fountain sat in the middle spouting clear blue water into a circular pool that surrounded it. Sirens lounged in the water and appeared to be at complete peace.

  “What is this?” I asked, making sure my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me.

  “This is a magical pool that helps regenerate our strength if ever we feel weakened. Some also believe it holds the answers you seek in your heart by opening your mind and showing you a clearer path.”

  “Do you think it can help me with becoming the princess I’m supposed to be?”

  “I think you already are that person, but it wouldn’t hurt. I also think it’s important for you to know that King Triton helped me build it.”

  “He did? I thought you guys were enemies.”

  Dad chuckled. “We used to be best friends once upon a time. But as you would expect from a merman, Triton’s heart is fickle. Once he saw that I possessed more power than him, he stopped looking to me as a friend and started viewing me as a rival. When his mermaids stole my necklace while I was sleeping, Triton was happy. He wouldn’t see reason. Instead, he believes it was what the sirens deserved.”

  “That’s terrible. Do you think he’ll ever go back to wanting to be friends again?”

  “I wish, but he hasn’t yet. I do miss our fun memories. We used to create all sorts of magical places together.”

  “Dad… how old are you? Really?”

  “A few hundred years.”

  “What?” I choked on my own spit and coughed. “I didn’t realize you were that old.”

  “I know I’ve told you before that sirens age differently.”

  “Yeah, but still… hearing the actual number is on a whole different level.”

  “I’m not sure how aging will work for you since you’re part-human, but those with royal blood usually live longer than the average siren. Maybe they will cancel each other out and you’ll just age like a normal siren.”

  I didn’t know what to think about that because the one prominent concern was that Steel would probably die before me. It was a strange thing to consider.

  “If you’re a few hundred, how old is Eleanor?”

  “A lot older than me, but I’m still considered young. You’re welcome to swim in this pool as well as any of the others around the castle any time you’d like. What part of the castle do you want to see next?”

  I smiled at him, even though my mind was stuck on a certain captain. “Wherever you want to show me.”

  ***

  I was currently waiting for Eleanor in the dining room. Dad and I had already finished eating when she’d sent word she was going to be late.

  Yesterday, I’d spent the whole day with my dad. I could barely recall the tour of the castle though because my brain was preoccupied. It was starting to feel like mush and I was worried I wasn’t going to retain anything Eleanor had to say today.

  The door creaked open and I stood as Eleanor walked in. She had a big smile on her face, as if she wasn’t an hour late. Her white hair was down today and went all the way to her waist. It was beautiful and she looked more like a siren with it flying free.

  “Ah, perfect time for your first lesson,” Eleanor said and I raised my eyebrows at her. “The first thing you must remember is that as princess, you stand for nobody. Instead, we stand for you. Please, sit back down.”

  My cheeks heated as I sat in my chair. “I was only trying to be polite.”

  “Siren princesses don’t have to be polite.”

  “But what if I want to be?”

  “Then, you’d be the first one ever and probably the least liked.”

  “Nobody would like me for trying to be nice?”

  “No, because it’s a sign of weakness and the other sirens would eat you alive.”

  “Except they can’t. Dad told me that no other siren can harm me.”

  “That’s true, but it doesn’t mean that they have to like you.”

  “They already don’t like me.”

  “Why should they when all you’re doing is pining over a pirate who isn’t going to live much longer?”

  I bristled at that. “What do you mean by that? Did you do something to Steel?”

  “No, your captain is safe. Yesterday, I forgot to tell you that sirens are vengeful and vicious creatures. We may not be jealous like mermaids, but we tend to hold grudges longer than them.”

  “Are you implying that someone would threaten Steel?”

  “I’m saying that if you aren’t respected, then the others will make your life a living hell. It doesn’t matter who else they have to hurt in the process.”

  “Couldn’t I just punish those who would go against me?”

  “You could, but it wouldn’t stop anything. Instead, it would only bring more anger upon you.”

  I blew ou
t a loud breath. “I’m assuming that’s why you’re here then. To teach me how to make them respect me.”

  “Precisely. The first tip is to not show them your weaknesses. Don’t be polite by standing when others enter. In fact, don’t try to be polite ever. Sirens want their leaders to be strong and impassive with an emphasis on impassive.”

  I chewed on my lip. “Do you think they’ll go after Steel?”

  “I doubt it, but it’s a possibility. If you make someone angry enough and they can’t hurt you, then they’ll go for the next best thing. Just remember to keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”

  “But I don’t even have any friends here.”

  “Maybe you should go make some. You’re going to need friends while you’re here, but that’s a talk for another time. First, I want to make sure you know about Poseidon.”

  “Well, I know he’s the reason sirens and mermaids have magic.”

  “Did you know you have Poseidon’s blood flowing through you?”

  “I heard that but I thought all sirens did.”

  “Only the original ones do—the ones with royal blood.”

  “So, you mean my dad and I?”

  “Yes, which is why he’s the king and you’re our future queen. Without you, the royal blood would end and we would be left with no magic at all. Without magic, we would cease to exist.”

  “Couldn’t my father just have more children?” I hated the thought of something like that happening, but it was a valid question.

  “He could, but it wouldn’t matter since the powers were already transferred to you. It may not be my place to say, but you actually have two sisters and a brother. They don’t live here because none were born with Poseidon’s gift.”

  “My dad was with another woman before my mom?”

  Eleanor cleared her throat and shifted her eyes awkwardly. “Well, not out of love. Your father had a duty to reproduce to keep the line going in case something happened to him, but the babies weren’t the heirs. Your mother was the only woman he actually loved, which is why he left with her. It makes sense that you were the one who developed the powers of a queen because you were born from love.”