A/N: So good news! I'm, first, still alive and second, my muse has come back for this story. For now, I'm trying to go back and fix and extend all the chapters because my goal is to hit at least like 4/6k a chapter so when I take longer to update, its worth it! In the mean time, a nice thank you to the person who made me feel inspired to write again!

R&R!

It was a cool, foggy day.

The wind was slow and steady, not taking favor of any ship that day. And all was quiet, except for the soft sound of water moving. The sea was as bottomless as the gray sky and the fog was thick with intent. Tension sat heavy on the waves, the silence being almost deafening.

Swimming through grey waters was The Black Pearl, a said demon ship with a murderous rage. It sails were as dark as rumors claimed with holes spread throughout, appearing more ghost-like than anything. And the ship itself was stained darker than that, barely visible through the fog.

But, one creature saw the ship and with a mad curiosity, followed it. A mermaid, too careless to not be young, trailed after the Black Pearl underwater. Among the merfolk, the ship was famous; everyone knew when Davy Jones had a hand in something. But, even more famous was the captain, Jack Sparrow: The only man to ever resist the mermaid's lullaby and live to tell the tale.

Unknown to this mermaid, there was no Captain Sparrow aboard.

But still, she followed after the ship, long , dark hair shielding her glistening scales in black waters. Her long tail moved gently behind her, the motion disrupting the water, but she was smart enough to stay deep under the surface.

She wanted to see what this ship's goal was. Wondered why the ship was crossing her path. And suddenly the water rippled, a loud bang making her ears ring. Startled by the explosion of gunpowder, the mermaid retreated deeper underwater. Next to the Black Pearl was an average sized merchant ship, the cannons doing quick work on it and its crew. The pirates swung over, boarding the vessel and making quick work of its occupants. The mermaid had found the ship's purpose.

Other cannons went off and the mermaid was scared off farther from both ships. But, still, she watched from far away with curious eyes. She could not, for the life of her, understand men. Why did they attack each other? What gain could one have from killing their kin?

With another cannon ball fired, a lone, small body was thrown overboard, its presence unknown to anyone. The body smacked the water's surface and sunk rapidly. The mermaid watched without compassion.

However, a jewel on the person drew her attention. It pulsed in the sea, sending out a wicked intent into the water. And instantly she wanted to have it for her own. So up she swam towards the body, every intention on saving her possession.

But, when she touched the boy whose life was drowning away, she found she could not steal his prize.

Unknown to the world, mermaids possessed physic abilities (it is how they communicated with each other) and they could glimpse into the mind of someone with just a brush of their fingers. That's why it was rumored that once a mermaid has kissed a man, they are as good as dead. She sinks her fangs into her victim's mind, all his wildest desires flashing before his mind and, before he knows it, he's falling into the water to his death. But, they could also see someone's fate. It wasn't a thorough ability, just a quick sense of the man's soul to know whether or not he was a man worth killing or not.

And this boy's soul burned like fire under her fingertips. She felt like she had been dropped into Davy Jones' Locker, the endlessly scorching sun beating against her back as she burned on the sand. Like she had been dropped into a lake of fire and her scales were melting from her bones. Like she was sizzling on an oiled pan and a man above her licked his lips in hunger as he eyed her like a common fish.

For a second, she lost her breath, all the stored up air in her lungs dried as her chest constricted in fear.

And like cool water on a parched throat, her Goddess' voice whispered to her. The words, honey to her senses, were clouded and blurred. She could not distinguish one letter from the next, but she could feel the shiver race up her spine as her Goddess commanded her to do something. As she was wrapped in her Goddess' cool embrace and given a vision of the calm seas she called home, she knew she would obey whatever instruction she was given.

The mermaid also knew the importance of her Mistress' voice. It had been a long time since anyone had heard the voice of Calypso, the love the Goddess held for a certain sailor unknowingly damning her into a mortal body. The sea roared in anger when its Goddess was taken and the mermaids wept like babes robbed of their mother. Calypso was her queen, and she would damn herself before she disobeyed her.

So with a push, she grabbed onto the boy and pulled him to the surface, far from the wreckage of the ship. The pirates were finishing up with the vessel anyway, seeming to find what they were looking for. In result, the merchant ship was left in embers, breaking apart into the sea. The left over passengers lay dead in the water, waiting for Davy Jones. And all their forgotten possessions sunk to the bottom of the sea, unwanted by the greedy men.

The boy was still in her arms though, and she was desperate for a surface so she could help him. Her head swung back and forth, searching.

In front of her, a drifting piece of the ship was coming their way, so she quickly swam forward to meet it. When she laid the boy out, she could already feel her care for him; he was such a beautiful, pure child with such a magnificent fate.

She watched him gently as he seemingly slept, the explosion no doubt knocking him out. Brown hair slicked back by water, peachy, smooth skin pale from being in the water so long. Her heart swelled when she saw the freckles dotting his cheeks. They were a human feature, a consequence of being in the sun so long. She pressed her hand to his small chest, checking the beating heart inside. She smiled when she felt its slow rhythm against her palm.

Her attention shifted and, gingerly, she fingered the treasure on his neck. She could feel the damning curse right away and wished she could save him from the troubles it would no doubt bring him. But, since she had saved the boy, her Mistress had not pushed her further, so she left his fate alone.

Unconsciously, the boy moaned in fright and pain, no doubt scared from his last sight. Trying to calm him, she smoothed a hand over his soft hair.

Mermaids were usually such cruel creatures, ripping out hearts and eating the flesh of men. But, they were also capable of such warm compassion. They only really shared it with their sisters, but this young boy was special. He was important to her Goddess and therefore he was important to all merfolk. Already, the mermaid could feel the love she had for Calypso reflecting onto the boy.

A young voice unexpectedly filtered through the air, a song about pirates being sung by a little girl. She was on a boat that was directly headed their way; the mermaid could hear the ripples in the surface.

Even with another ship present, the mermaid hesitated. Was she to leave this boy to other humans? What if he grew up to be a malicious sailor like the rest of them? What if he hunted her for her tears later?

But, she found she could not care, she knew he had her Goddess' blessing and would never regret saving him.

So away she swam, giving an extra push to the makeshift raft so that the ship with the girl would definitely find him.

She promised to herself though; that she would keep her eyes out for him when she was out at sea. She had never saved the life of another and wondered if this affection growing in her chest was a result of her "kind act." Not only was he important, but he had also become her precious jewel.

But, mermaids are not known to give up their treasures.