Part One
The harsh wind whipped Bucky's hair into his face as he fought with the helm. This was probably one of the worst storms he had ever been in during all his years at sea, and because he was captain, if they died, it would be his fault.
Lightning streaked through the sky, and he saw something off the starboard side, in the water. He squinted, but with the rain and wind and spray, he couldn't tell…
"Steve! Starboard side! What is it?!"
His first mate moved to the side, almost falling several times. "Sirens!" The fear in his voice was unmistakable. "At least ten!"
Bucky's eyes widened, and he tried to steer the ship to port, but then lightning struck much too close to the ship for comfort. "Steve! Give the order to load muskets and shoot at anything moving in the water!"
"Aye Captain!"
He watched as best he could as Steve informed their crew. The deck was a flurry of activity as the order was followed.
The sea grew rougher. They tried to bind up the sails. One of the crew fell from the mast and was lost to the sea.
Bucky turned the wheel back over to Sam and ran down the stairs, throwing his hat and coat into his cabin before joining Steve on the main deck just as a wave crashed over them.
The sirens were closer now, piercing eyes gleaming in the darkness. He shot at one, then started climbing the masts. It rained harder. His hair and clothes were plastered to his skin by the time he reached the sail and started trying to pull the heavy canvas up.
Voices seemed to start to ripple through the air, and he and all those on the mast stopped for a moment and looked around, trying to find the source. One of his crewmembers dove off the mast into the dark water suddenly.
Bucky jolted. "No!"
But he hit anyways, and one of the sirens dipped under the water. A flash of scales took the crewmember away.
Bucky's mouth dropped open before his shoulders drooped. He and the rest of the crew that was on the mast, having been shocked back to reality by the one jumping, tied up the sail and returned to the deck.
The singing grew louder.
He covered his ears. "Cover your ears! Whatever you do, don't listen to it!"
Most obeyed, but a few jumped into the water. The sirens claimed those that did.
"No!"
Suddenly all he could think of was his father's death, eight years before. He had been aboard the Black Heart, his father's ship, as a cabin boy, when sirens struck and drug his father from the side of the ship into the depths while he could only watch.
The sirens sang louder. He kept his ears covered.
Suddenly all the sirens disappeared, and the sea began to calm. Bucky uncovered his ears as Steve walked up to him.
"What happened?"
"I don't know."
Bucky looked over the side of the ship. Everything was clear and calm…he looked at the sky. It was almost night… He turned back to his ship and frowned at the damage. Members of the crew were already trying to fix things up, but they needed repairs badly.
He turned to Steve. "How long do you think it'll take?"
His friend frowned. "We have to get to port. After that…I don't know off the top of my head."
"We can't make it to port with this much damage. I don't want to risk losing this ship."
"Then what do you suggest we do?"
"We'll have to stay here…"
"Captain! There's a beach there!" One of the crewmen pointed, and Bucky looked.
"Then we'll land there."
Sam guided the ship as close as he could get it, and they dropped anchor.
Liron watched, hidden in the rocks as the ship dropped lifeboats and the pirates rowed to the beach.
Her eyes landed on the man that she could only assume to be the captain, judging by the actions of the others. He looked…well, the only word she could think of was how some of her pod-sisters described some of their catches; delicious. She wanted a closer look. Maybe…maybe she'd keep this one for a while, like a few of her pod-sisters did with their favourites that did not drown. It might be nice to have a pet again…but her last one was an eel, not a Legged, so…
The captain helped his crew with building odd little shelters into which they went and did not come back out of as the sky continued to darken. Liron stayed still and silent.
The captain stood on the beach, and put a hand on the shoulder of one of the others. Their words were too quiet for her to make out, but the taller one, not the captain, pointed toward the rocks near where she hid. The captain looked, and the moonlight showed a frown on his handsome face as he spoke. The other one nodded and replied.
They spoke a little longer, and then the other one disappeared into one of the odd shelters, and the captain grabbed his sword and thunder-rods before climbing into one of the lifeboats and rowing back toward the ship.
Liron dipped under the water just far enough so the captain couldn't see her and followed.
The little boat bumped into the ship, near where Liron hid beneath it, planning how to get him without killing him. He climbed up into the ship; she watched, swishing her tail a little.
The captain disappeared into his cabin, and returned with a necklace hanging from his neck against the strip of chest shown by his unlaced shirt. Liron continued to watch him.
He set the things he had gathered from around the ship down and rested his hands on the railing, looking out over the water, the breeze blowing his hair back.
Liron floated just below the surface, looking up at him. The moon rose, and the way the light hit his face caused her heart to skip a few beats. The other pod-sisters spoke of that happening, and what it meant. It was settled. She was going to get him.
His head turned down, and she let herself sink a little deeper…he was looking right at her. He leaned over the rail. She looked up at him, keeping as still as possible. The longer she gazed upon him, the surer she became that she wanted to keep him.
Suddenly he jolted and grabbed a thunder-rod. She sunk lower rapidly. He pointed it right at her; she stayed as still as possible. He fired twice.
One of his bullets grazed her arm, clouding the dark water with red, and she hissed in pain and swam away.
Bucky shot a few more times at the retreating shimmer of scales, then gathered up the stuff he had and got back into the lifeboat and returned to shore.
He put the things with the rest of the supplies, then woke up the Steve for the next shift and went to bed.
The next morning, he awoke to an ear-splitting scream…almost like that of a woman.
"Captain!" The crewman on watch called him over from where he was standing by the rocks.
Bucky ran over, and stopped at the sight of a siren…younger than he expected…pinned to the sand by his crewman's sword in her fin.
She looked up at him, eyes full of fear and pain as the water grew steadily redder.
He looked her over. Smooth, scaly blue tail now looking a little purple-ish from the blood in the water, slim, muscular torso from a lifetime of movement, webbed fingers gripping at the rocks frantically as her chest heaved with the force of her breaths. Her face was fair, if a little angular, her hair like the pale gold in his ship's hold flowing to the place where skin turned to scales, hiding most of her from sight. Then his eyes met hers, and his breath stopped for a moment. They were electric, stunning blue like the clearest deepest waters. …such a beautiful thing.
She struggled more and cried out when the crewman twisted his sword in her fin. The water reddened darker.
"Stop. Let her go."
The crewman looked at him, confusion written on his weather-beaten face. "What for? It's just a siren…one of the ones from last night, I'd bet."
"She's just a child. She'll be of no harm to us." Yeah, he knew from the glimpses of flesh he could see beneath her hair that she was definitely not a child, but she did look young. "If she was planning to harm us, she would have done so already. Let her go."
The crewman twisted his sword one more time, making the siren cry out again before yanking it out harshly. The siren curled into a little ball.
The crewman looked at Bucky. "Even the young ones are death."
Bucky grabbed his arm as he walked away. "Just remember sailor, in every bad thing there is always a good one."
He scoffed. "Not with those monsters. Don't be fooled by the pretty body. She's death incarnate. And whatever you do, don't let her kiss anyone. Once a human is kissed by a siren, he's hers forever."
"Watch your tongue sailor, or I'll cut it outta ya." He pushed him off, and the crewman gave him a look before heading to the rest of the crew. He looked back at the siren.
She curled up tighter, trying to stem the bleeding with her hands and trying to hide from him at the same time. There was a band of seaweed bound tight around her upper arm, almost like a bandage.
"It's alright, just go on and swim. It'll stop with the help of the salt in the water." He didn't mention the seaweed, thinking it was a kind of bracelet.
She looked up, and her eyes met his again, trapping him whether she knew she was doing it or not. Bucky's eyes widened a little. Her teeth, sharper than a human's but whiter than the seafoam, captured her lower lip, and slowly she uncurled.
He swallowed hard. "Stop."
Her voice was soft, and the most beautiful thing he'd ever heard. "I'm not doing anything."
Bucky's heart fluttered in his chest, but when he blinked the spell was broken. "Go away and never come back. And if you do, I won't stop any of them from harming you." He glared a little before turning and leaving.
He sat next to Steve.
"Why did you let her go, Bucky?"
He shrugged. "She's just a young thing. She'll know now not to mess with humans after what Miles did. I don't think she's a threat."
"Did you see how she was looking at you?"
"It's to be expected of a young siren. During a certain point in their lives, they try to find a mate. Otherwise, they're either too young or they want food."
"How do you know this?"
"You know how."
His friend inclined his head and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. Bucky stayed still, remembering when his father taught him about sirens and their dangers.
Steve rubbed his shoulder. "How did you sleep last night?"
"I slept fine. You?"
"Yeah."
Bucky nodded. "Good." He looked out to sea. "We should start repairing the ship."
They both stood.
"You men come to the ship to help repair. The rest of you stay here and guard the supplies."
They did as told. Bucky glanced over where the siren had been. The water was still red, but she was not there. He shook his head a little and went with the men to make what repairs they could.
The ship wasn't in nearly as bad shape as it had seemed in the darkness, and was about halfway done by the time night fell.
Bucky wiped his forehead. "Alright, we're done for the day. You guys go ahead and go back; I need a little time to be alone."
They nodded, and Steve squeezed Bucky's shoulder before leaving. Bucky smiled weakly and watched them go, then sat down heavily with his back to the stairs to the forecastle deck. He closed his eyes, mind wandering…and all he could think about was that blasted siren. What would his father say?! He wished he was there; he wouldn't have gotten into this mess.
He slammed his fist into the wood. "Damned mind!"
He leaned forward and buried his head in his hands, then it jerked up and he ran to the side at the sound of a splash. Perhaps…perhaps it was the siren? Bucky stayed there, waiting to see if she would come back. He knew he shouldn't be doing this, but…he couldn't help but feel drawn to her. Bucky leaned out over the railing, his shirt gaping open.
The siren's head and shoulders surfaced, her face tilted toward him.
"What are you doing here? You could get killed."
She sounded a little irritated, though her voice still drew him in whether she was doing it on purpose or not. "I didn't know anyone was here. I just wanted to look at the ship."
He relaxed a little. "Oh…well, stay out of sight of them."
"May I come up?"
He rubbed the back of his neck. "Sure."
She smiled dazzlingly and started scaling the side of the ship, her tail hanging limply.
"Don't you have legs?"
"I can…when I want." A little twist of her tone as her completely bare torso appeared over the rail left the meaning of her sentence pretty obvious.
Bucky looked at her, stepping back. She heaved her tail over the railing, the deep blue scales shimmering in the moonlight.
He swallowed hard and shook his head, trying to keep his mind from wandering. "If you're going to look around, then do so with legs. Otherwise get off."
"As you wish." Her tail shifted and changed to a pair of long, toned legs covered in patches of blue scales. Everything was uncovered, but she didn't seem to care.
The siren stood, surprisingly sure on her feet, and started wandering around the deck, giving him a perfect view in the process. Bucky's mouth went dry as he watched her, and even though he tried as much as he could to look away, his eyes kept straying back to her.
Liron wandered into the cabin beneath the forecastle deck. Mostly everything was warm-toned, reds and browns with some silver and gold. This wasn't the first ship she had been on, but the last one was…a long time ago.
She found a big black coat and had with a deep crimson feather, and put them on, using the window as a mirror with a melodious giggle. Something dropped from the pocket, and she picked it up with a tilt of her head.
It was a necklace; a black pearl in a silver shell, hung on a chain of the same. Liron held it up to the light, examining it. It was real alright, and one of the rarest kinds.
She ran her fingers over it as she took off the coat and hat, seeing how it looked under the webbing, then held it up to her chest as if she was wearing it. She gazed at it more, then bit her lip and put it back in the coat pocket. As pretty as the necklace was, it felt…off, somehow, like it would be almost disrespectful for her to wear it.
Paper brushed her fingers, and she pulled it out with a soft hum of curiosity. It was an old envelope with a single word on it in flowing script. 'Bucky'. What's a bucky? Oh…probably a name. My pirate's name? She opened it, and frowned instantly as she read the letter inside.
'Dear Bucky, as you know, I just turned 19, and yet I don't feel any different. You know how I love to ramble about what all has happened while you are gone, and say stupid or 'silly things' as you put it. But, this letter is not to ramble or to really say anything to lighten your spirits. Something has happened. Something…really life changing.'
Liron's frown deepened. Something was wrong with whoever wrote that letter; she could feel it.
'To start off, ever since father died, I was sad and actually quite scared. But then you came along and you brought joy back into this lonely house of ours; and even some colour with the gifts you have given us. How I wish each and every day you could just come back and maybe stay home, but I know how you love the sea and to explore, just like Father, but you actually care. Unfortunately, the last time you were here is not like how it is now. Mother's been busy, trying to take on a job for the governor's wife and daughter, and I am always cooped up in the house. Charles died. It seemed like only yesterday he was just a puppy.
'And you're gone and now…now Harry is gone…our courtship ended and I feel as if no-one has a care in the world. Everyone has left me.'
There were some tear-stains on the parchment, smudging the words.
'He took everything away. I ran, but that was my mistake. Bucky, I'm dying. My heart is shattered and I just wish you were here so very badly. But it's not your fault that you're not. So don't think it is when you read the last part of this. I know you said I was strong, but I'm not.'
Liron bit her lip again. Sirens could not cry from sorrow, but…
'Bucky, I love you, you're the only thing that I absolutely love and can hold onto that little bit of hope that you love me too. I'm very sorry of what I'm about to do. By the time you get this, Mother will be in black and alone, and I will finally be home and feel safe, and I will finally get to see Father for the first time, but I will watch over you as you live your life without me, as hard as I know that will be. Also, take this. I don't have any use for it anymore, but hopefully you will, or at least remember me by it. Goodbye Bucky ~ Your sister, Becca.'
Liron bit her lip harder.
'P.S. – I also haven't told you this, but I've been having dreams. But these dreams have been occurring more and more and I believe it will be of use to you. I have a feeling they will occur outside my nighttime mind. One day, you will go through a terrible storm. After you land on a beach, you will find a siren. Now I know what you think of sirens, but please listen. This one is different; she will be glorious in your eyes, she is harmless to you and only wish for you. Don't fight her, but don't push her. I've told you this before and I'll tell you again. In every bad thing, there is always a good one. Please be kind to her. She has hair like pale gold and eyes like the clearest deepest ocean.'
Liron's heart stopped, and she dropped the letter, falling to the floor as her tail returned in her shock.
He walked in. "What are you-" He froze.
She looked up at him, and her voice was very soft. "I am sorry."
"You read it?!" He dropped to one knee and grabbed the letter.
"I am sorry."
He…Bucky…held the letter for a moment, before shoving it back into his coat that she had been wearing and put it on himself. "Get. Out."
Her tail turned back to legs, and she stood.
"Go on! Get!" He started to run after her.
Liron tried to run, but she stumbled and fell, hitting the deck hard. Strong, warm, calloused hands took hold of her arms and drug her over to the railing. She didn't fight him, but simply tried to get to her feet. Something on the deck caught on her calf and she cried out in pain as it left a deep gash, blood spurting out onto the wood.
He threw her over the rail and drew his thunder-rod.
She crashed into the water, shifting painfully as the surf around her started to turn red. He shot at her.
"Leave me alone!"
She dove down as deep as she could, knowing the blood trailing behind her may attract sharks. She didn't much care anymore. If the man that she could sense was supposed to be her lifemate woud rather kill her over a letter, then… She swam deeper and deeper, ignoring the growing pain and weakness from loss of blood.
Bucky started to cry. He sunk down to the deck, shoulders shaking, and shouted at the sky.
"Why Becca, why?!"
There was no answer. He buried his head in his hands, sobbing.
A soft wind arose, playing with his hair. Suddenly the scent of blood was harsh and sharp and so very obvious. Bucky's head rose.
"Oh no."
At least five sharks were circling in the water not too far from the ship, draw by the siren's blood. A small whirlpool started in the centre of the ring of sharks, then reversed, spitting up a pale figure onto the beach, right next to his crew's camp.
When he arrived back, the crew was gathered around the siren, though several feet away. She was deathly pale, and still pleading from both the horrid gash in her tail and several other wounds. It was entirely possible she wasn't breathing, but several crewmen had their pistols out and cocked anyways.
Bucky pointed down one of them. "Don't. She's not going to hurt anybody."
"She's a siren, Captain."
Her tail twitched a little, and they all aimed.
"Stand down! That's an order!"
They obeyed hesitantly.
The siren breathed raggedly, her eyes opening to slits. They landed on him, and her voice was quiet and a little strained. "Leaving me for the sharks or to bleed out not enough for you?" She coughed weakly, blood dripping slowly from her mouth. "Had to make sure I was dead?"
Bucky frowned and looked at his men. "You're dismissed, but I need you." He pointed at Steve.
The siren coughed again and closed her eyes, wheezing a little. "Don't need backup. I'm not going anywhere. Not gonna struggle."
The men returned to the camp, and he and Steve got down to help her. She just laid there. Bucky scooped up some salt water and poured it over her wounds. She flinched weakly, but otherwise didn't react.
He turned to Steve. "Can you do anything?"
He shook his head. "I don't know much about siren biology. It's never been needed."
"Can you try?"
Steve nodded and put his hands on where he guessed her ribs to be, feeling around gently. "Bind the gash on her tail."
Bucky pulled off his shirt and tore it, wrapping it tightly around her wound.
The siren hissed a little when Steve pressed in a certain place, and she coughed again, more blood dripping from between her lips.
"Steve, please hurry."
"I'm trying… she has at least three broken ribs."
"Jsst…jsst shoot me…hurtsss…" The siren's hand twitched toward Steve's leg, near where his pistol was holstered.
He moved. "Now stop, you're going to be fine."
Her eyes opened a little. "Why'd'oo care?" She swallowed, then licked her lips, staining them red with blood. "On th' ship you'd shoot me w'th'out thought."
Bucky frowned. "I'm sorry. I just…got upset. You read something that meant very much to me and it was all I had of…of Becca."
The siren's eyes moved to look at him. "I 'pologized. Twice. 'N nnyway, wasn' tlkn' 'bout that."
"I know, and I'm sorry for getting upset."
"W-was tlkin' 'bout...'ny other time."
He frowned. "I'm sorry."
"Not. 'M siren. You shoot us."
"We don't shoot if they aren't harmful."
She snorted, the coughed hard, her body shaking violently.
"What's happening?" Bucky looked at Steve.
He frowned deeply, then wrapped an arm beneath the siren's shoulders and moved her to a sitting position. Her coughs subsided, but she looked a little paler. She wiped her mouth, smearing her hand-webbing with red.
"Is that better?"
Liron nodded a little to the blond Legged's question, then stiffened when the captain started to wring out salt water onto her wounds. She held very still as he wiped off the blood surprisingly gently and bound them with strips of his shirt.
She happened to glance at him, and froze. He was so close…if she wasn't afraid for her life she could just lean a little and claim him with a kiss…it would be so easy. She looked away.
The blond spoke again. "You'll be sore for a while and might not feel like moving, but I think you'll be fine."
She nodded a little.
The captain spoke. "You can go when you want, then."
Liron looked at him, and their eyes met. Suddenly she couldn't move at all; his eyes held her captive. He frowned, and she bit her lip, oddly scared again. His eyes left hers, and she could breathe again.
"Can you move?"
"I think so."
"Do you want to go home?"
"I can't swim that far right now, I know that."
He rubbed his neck. "You can stay here, I guess. But don't try anything."
"If I do, you or any of your crew will just shoot me." Yeah, she was a little bitter, but mostly just tired.
His frown deepened, and he stood. She couldn't help but flinch, then looked up at him.
"You can stay until you're better. Then you can leave."
She nodded a little, and he rubbed the back of his neck, then walked off. She stayed where she was.
Bucky waited til he was out of sight before taking the note out again and reading it, tears stinging his eyes. The waves crashed soothingly on the sand. He dropped to his knees.
Something shiny washed up on the beach; a small metal box. He picked it up, confused, and flipped open the latch. Inside was a pendant, with a perfect white pearl in the shape of a heart resting inside a net of silver seaweed.
Bucky's eyes widened, and he lifted it carefully out of the box; it shone in the moonlight. The sturdy chain tangled in his fingers as he turned it over in his hand. He ran his finger over the pearl, then put the pendant back into the box and closed it.
A soft wind rose, and he looked out to sea. Gradually, it started to rain lightly. He looked up at the sky and sighed a little. It started to rain harder, and he got up and made his way back to the camp with the box.
The siren was not where he had left her, so he went to find Steve. "Where's she at?"
"Only place she'd be safe from the crew; your tent."
Bucky raised a brow. "My tent?"
Steve spread his hands in a show of helplessness. "I wasn't going to put her in mine."
Bucky groaned and rolled his eyes as he walked to his tent.
The siren was curled up on the ground, covered only by her hair, as far away from his mat as she could be, with legs instead of her tail.
He relaxed. "Hi."
She looked up. "Hi."
"How are you feeling?"
"…in pain."
He nodded and sat on his mat. "Do you know what this is?"
"Yes, but I also know I'm not welcome. I promise as soon as I can swim well enough to go home, you'll never have to see me again unless you seek me out." She turned back away from him, hiding her face from sight.
"No, I meant this." He held up the box.
The siren looked. "It's a metal box."
He opened it, and she turned around fully.
"Woah."
"Do you know what it is?"
"It's so pretty…"
"Hey!" His voice was sharp.
The siren jolted and instantly scrambled backward, as far away as she could get in the small tent, and curled up as small as physically possible.
He frowned. "What's wrong with you? I'm not going to hurt you. You're not answering my question."
"Well excuse me if I have reason to be afraid for my life around you." Her tone was a little harsh. "I'll have you know I never meant you any harm."
She turned away from him. "And no, I don't know what it is other than an uncommonly pretty necklace."
Bucky set the box down rather roughly. "You know, you just get right under my skin and it's hard not to get up! I never meant you any harm either but you got into my private things!"
"I'm a siren, you're a pirate, you would have meant me harm anyways. I've seen enough of my pod-sisters killed by your kind to know that is how it works."
He groaned and laid back on his mat. "If I meant you harm I wouldn't have stopped my men from killing you!" He blew out the lantern. "Now shut up and get to sleep."
She fell silent. He closed his eyes.
In the morning, Bucky awoke with the sun. He glanced over at the siren, and his heart almost stopped. She looked…some strange combination of peaceful, innocent, and so, so alluring…she was no longer curled up, but rather sprawled out, her hair fanning like a halo about her shoulders. He couldn't help his eyes tracking over her form slowly, but he didn't give in. No matter what; he wouldn't give in.
He left the tent. Oh good; the ship was still there.
Steve came over. "How is she? Still alive?"
"Yeah." He looked at his friend. "And I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Becca. I knew how much she meant to you."
Steve nodded. "I forgive you."
"Did you…want to read it?"
He ran a hand through his hair. "…please."
Bucky smiled sadly as he handed his friend the note. Steve took it carefully and sat down on the sand to read it. Bucky sat next to him.
When he was done, Steve wiped his eyes hurriedly and handed it back. Bucky's hand gripped his shoulder, and he sighed shakily.
"I'm sorry, Steve."
"It's not your fault."
"It actually is…I wasn't there for her when she needed me."
Steve hugged him. Bucky hugged back.
"You didn't know she needed help."
He looked at Bucky, who was frowning.
"At least…she's in a better place…" He took out a necklace; a shell with a black pearl. "She gave me this in the note." He held it out to Steve with a sigh. "I want you to have it."
Steve's eyes snapped to Bucky's. "Are you sure?"
His friend nodded a little. "She always did like you." He smiled. "She was afraid you wouldn't feel the same."
Steve teared up a little, but took it, fastening the chain around his neck, then hugged Bucky tight. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
After a moment of silence, Steve sighed. Bucky rubbed his back.
"She knew the siren was going to come."
Bucky nodded. "I don't know how."
"Well, I can think of one simple way."
"What?"
"She had foresight."
