Cursed by a Siren’s Kiss (A Dark Little Mermaid Retelling)

24. The Ancient Man

Chapter 24

The Ancient Man

The Siren

K ipp stood next to me as the ship cut through choppy waves, the sails billowing in the wind at our backs as we made our way through the sea. The crew kept a wary eye on me, their mistrust blatant behind every glance that slipped my way. The stains had nearly been scrubbed away from the attack, and the bodies had long since been disposed of to the hungry seas. I’d been below deck bandaging Kipp when they’d raided Captain Martin’s ship. I’d learned later that there’d been no slaves aboard, and when I’d asked what would have happened to them if there’d been some, a strange look fell over Kipp’s face before he blinked it away, telling me they’d have rescued them to leave at the next port. I’d found the response odd but reassuring, and something within me warmed a bit at the admission.

“So, you have us heading to the middle of nowhere,” Kipp broke the silence between us. “I’m assuming it’s not actually nowhere that we are heading…”

The sea sprayed us with its salty dampness, and I pushed my wet hair behind my ears. I couldn’t look at him without wanting to wrap myself around him, my lustful nature no longer quieted by my playful tease days ago. “We are heading to the mysterious island of Proteus. Answers will be found there.”

Glancing over my shoulder to where his crew worked endlessly, Patton stood at the helm and Camilla stood not far from him, her piercing gaze at my back like hot coals I just couldn’t seem to shake.

“So, are we almost there, siren?” Camilla asked, challenge held in her tone.

I met her gaze defiantly, my chin tipping upward as my teeth sharpened on their own. “We are close,” I replied, not bothering to hide my irritation as my words came from behind my clenched jaw. “Prepare yourselves for what lies ahead. It won’t be easy.”

“Leave her be, Camilla,” Kipp warned.

“Aye, Captain,” she said, holding my gaze as she spoke. My lip curled. She’d make an excellent siren, and I couldn’t help but respect her. Though she agreed with her captain, it was clear in her tone and gaze that she would do whatever the hell she wanted to.

Before I could reply, an otherness came over me, sending warmth down my spine as the hair on my arms stood on end. A full-blooded god or goddess must be near, and my breath hitched as I spun, searching the open sea for what I knew would appear any moment now. The crew could feel it too, as the shanty on the wind died down and only hushed words could be heard between them as they felt the odd buzz within the air.

The air shimmered briefly and then the island of Proteus loomed in the distance, shrouded in mist and mystery. Rocky cliffs jutted out on almost all sides but one, a small lone bay that I knew Proteus guarded heavily, and I smiled for an entirely different reason.

Kipp left my side, his fingers drifting across my arm and lifting goosebumps with his touch as he left me to guide his crew and ship into the alcove ahead. With the sails lowered and the anchor dropped, Kipp called several of his crew to the portside of his ship, waving me over to join them. Six members of his crew watched me approach, and as I came to a stop next to Kipp, he spoke.

“We don’t know what to expect on this island. We can all feel the power radiating off of it, and so I’m only taking a few of you to land. With these smaller numbers, we can move subtly and find what it is that Lia is searching for.”

I crossed my arms over my chest as the smaller boat hanging off the portside was readied. “Kipp, you need to reconsider,” I replied, ignoring the widened stares of his chosen crew. “It will be safer if only you and I go ashore. I cannot guarantee their safety if they come with us.”

Camilla scoffed. “Like hell are we letting you saunter off with our captain alone. Besides…” She pulled her blade from its scabbard, twisting it in front of her as she ran her finger along its sharpened point. “We don’t exactly need your protection.”

Squaring my shoulders, I faced her. “It didn’t look that way when that slaver ship boarded us. How many men did we lose that morning before I stepped in to save your asses?”

“Enough!” Kipp held up a hand. “I have made my decision. They’re coming. I don’t know what that island holds for us, and so I’m bringing backup in case anything nefarious happens.”

I waved a hand as I turned from them all. My hands fisted on the railing before I swung myself over it and landed in the boat. The others climbed in around me, wedging me in between several bodies. Camilla sat across from me, glaring at me the entire way as they worked to row as toward land. The closer we pushed toward the island, the more I felt Proteus’ magic pulling me forward. There was something else there, something that felt like family.

As the boat slid onto the beach, my heart thudded in my chest. I wanted to turn around and leave, that power, that family bond that felt like home, it scared me. Could Poseidon be here? Was he the family I sensed ashore? If he was here, he’d kill me for being weak enough to be bound by a pirate, and he’d kill all of Kipp’s crew just for the fun of it.

My boots sank deep into the soft, powdery sand, forcing me to pause and catch my breath. Kipp glanced sideways at me, concern etched in the lines around his dark eyes as he watched me. His brows knitted together as he said, “This had better not be a trap, Talia,” his voice hot in my ear, unheard by his crew.

I took a deep breath, releasing the shuddering breath as my gaze swept the island. “It’s just been a long time since I’ve been here.”

A magnificent waterfall cascaded down the rocks into the landscape below at our right. The roar of the rushing water echoed through the air, a symphony of nature’s true power. Ahead of us on the small beach, a solitary path led up an incline and disappeared into the dense forest on either side. Towering cliffs loomed above, their sheer faces unclimbable and foreboding. The sea at our backs lapped at the shore, a constant steady beat that helped me control my racing heart as dread consumed me at the thought of walking into Poseidon’s clutches too soon. I could sense a full-blooded god here, one powerful and unaffected by the barriers placed on myself and Proteus, our powers bound by this realm. It could only mean that the god on this island was an Olympian.

A lone figure stood just short of the path’s entrance, and I suddenly felt at ease as a smile broke across my face. An old, stooped figure, the ancient man of the sea with his full glamor in place as we approached. His gaze shifted to me, and a flash of understanding flickered behind his hard eyes.

“Who dares to breach my island?” he said, his voice wobbly and weak.

Snickers went through the small group at our backs and mutters of ‘we can take him’ left a few as they shifted their stances, readying for a fight I knew they’d never win. Kipp stood rigid beside me, his hand clamped around my arm as if he, too, felt the power that emanated from the man.

“Hush,” he called out to his crew, his darkened eyes not shifting from the old man. “This man is not what he seems.”

My fingers wrapped around Kipp’s hold of my upper arm. “Let me go to him,” I said to him, my eyes not straying from Proteus.

Kipp chuckled. “Not a chance.”

“Do you want answers? Or do you want you and your crew dead within minutes?” I asked, jerking my arm from his hold as I stepped forward.

“Hello, Lia,” Proteus called, using my nickname in the face of all these strangers as I approached. He hadn’t moved a step as we slowly crossed the sandy beach.

“Hello, my friend,” I called over the distance as I took a few more tentative steps. “Is there…” I glanced over my shoulder to where Kipp and the others still stood. They followed me, but at a few paces slower than I. Turning, I gave Proteus my full attention. “Is there anyone here that I should fear?” I asked, hoping he understood my meaning.

His thin wrinkled lips twitched at the corners as his gaze glittered. “Depends on what you consider fear.” His tone was playful. He nodded his chin to those at my back. “Is there anyone on my island that I should fear?”

“My companions are searching for something. They are trying to break a curse,” I replied, not answering his question fully. Kipp hissed a warning at my back, but I ignored it.

Proteus’ eyes glimmered even more. “And are you here looking to break a curse as well, my friend?” he asked, his clasped fingers waggling with excitement over the long stick on which he leaned.

I nodded, widening my gaze so that he could see within my mind. Words couldn’t be spoken beneath the sea, but through the mind, we could share a great deal more than simple prose.

“Well then,” he said, his voice changed and deepened as he saw all I’d endured since being thrown in a whirlpool from Atlantis. Mind links were quite invasive, something I wouldn’t do with anyone other than my oldest friend, Proteus, but it meant he saw everything. Even the thoughts most private.

Several gasps lifted into the air at my back as Proteus’ form changed from the ancient, crooked old man into his true form. As the cloud of transformation dropped from him, he stood in his beautiful glory, young and handsome, in a way that almost hurt to lay your eyes upon. His perfection one that only the gods could keep. I laughed at the crews’ response, remembering how I’d had to pick my jaw up myself the first time I’d witnessed the change.

“Tell me, friend,” he said, stepping forward. “Why have you brought so many mortals with you?” His eyes shifted, barely perceptible but I caught it as he glanced into the forest. “Shall Dionysus’ dryads eat them?”

“Dionysus is here?” That explained the familial essence I felt as we’d approached the island. I breathed a sigh of relief as I watched Dionysus appear through the trees as if summoned by the mere mention of his name.

He stepped toward me, his voice low enough that only I heard as he said, “Cousin!”

I’d never met Dionysus. I’d never met any of my godly relatives, having always resided in the depths of the ocean. They rarely left Olympus let alone visited Atlantis deep beneath the seas.

Dionysus stood a hair above the average height of a man. His dark curly hair fell in loose ringlets around his face, giving him a carefree and youthful appearance. He had a pillowed middle suggesting he had a love for good food and relaxation rather than strenuous exercise. Yet, the easygoing nature of his body didn’t detract from the appeal of his broad shoulders and sure stance. When he smiled, warmth radiated from his dimpled cheeks, revealing a mischievous streak that I couldn’t help but find endearing. I liked him instantly, which was rare of me.

I tilted my chin down and to the side, a sign of respect as I said, “Dionysus.”

The rest of the crew stood at my back, and shock rippled through each of them as they heard me identify the god before us. Every one of them, aside from Kipp, lowered themselves to their knees as they realized they stood in the presence of a god. Kipp, either stupid or brave or possibly both, simply glared at the gods, unmoved by their celestial ties. He came to a stop next to me, our arms brushing softly as Proteus and Dionysus regarded us both with amusement.

“Please,” Dionysus said, waving his hands toward the bowed crew. “None of that. Stand. Would anyone care for some wine? I do so hate drinking alone.” He turned, his steps carrying him lazily along the path as he made his way through the forest.

Kipp’s crew followed Dionysus, but Kipp remained at my side as Proteus stepped closer to me, ignoring Kipp completely. He took up my hands within his own, kissing the smooth skin as he smiled at me.

“I thought you’d come sooner, little minnow,” Proteus said affectionately. His blue gaze glittered with mischief, and I rolled my eyes. I could feel the darkness growing within Kipp, and Proteus was playing with fire.

“I was…” I trailed off. Proteus knew why I had been delayed; he’d seen it all in the mind link. “I got held up helping them.”

Proteus just smirked. “And you’ve always been so helpful to mortals.” He let my hands fall from his grasp as he turned his attention toward Kipp. “Calm down, little Thanatos. We’re just friends.”

Kipp didn’t speak, his body just trembled with barely constrained rage as he breathed. I placed a hand on his arm, and his body relaxed. I turned toward Proteus, sending a message along the mind link. I’ve been stowed away on this ship for weeks, Proteus. I need someone to sink my teeth into if you know what I mean.

Proteus eyed us both. Why have you waited weeks to sate those needs? Seems to me you have a perfectly capable specimen at your side.

I gave a perceptible shake of my head. He’s not an option.

Proteus just smiled, waving us forward. “Come,” he said, turning his back to us both. “We should follow them or there won’t be any wine left.”