Disclaimer: I don't own the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.


"Don't ye mourn for her. Mermaids, they be bad lovers."

Philip looked up at the ragged captain in surprise. How could the man possibly know?

"Ach." The weather-beaten man spat. "Dinnae look at me like that. I ken the look of a man under the spell of one a' them beasts. Had that look meself… long, long years ago."

Captain O'Quinn looked out into the distance from 'neath his craggy brows, lost deep in thought as he pondered his tale.

"Name was Yvaine. Always thought it was fittin' what wid the 'ttention the beast paid to 'er hair…"


"Yvaine! Yvaine! How beautiful thou art! Oh how my soul cries out the name of my one true love, my fair Yvaine!" The young man crowed. The slight, raven haired girl beside him giggled.

"James! Really? Is that necessary?"

"Oh but for you my heart beats and my lungs draw breathe. I must proclaim you to the seas!" The man laughed, spinning around on the ship's deck. The girl pulled his arm, leading him away from the railing.

"All right, my love, my strong man. You have proclaimed my fairness enough." The young woman looked into his eyes, her soft smile calling to him like a siren's song, her lips begging for his attentions. She seemed to read his mind, as she tilted her face upward, pressing her lips to his…


The captain spat again after his story. Philip watched in equal parts admiration and disgust as the saliva arched over the rail and into the sea. The older man grunted and concluded,

"Seduced me she did, wid 'er beauty 'n all, then left me on a spit a' land nae bigger than this here deck, wid nuddin' but a pistol and a single shot. Dunno what happened ta 'er. Dunno if'n I care. But ya best be puttin' thoughts a' her outta ya head, if'n ya got any brains."

Philip merely grunted in acknowledgement at the man's words, knowing they were wise, and returned to gazing at the sea.

What had happened to her? He couldn't help but wonder. The last he had seen of her was her ghostly white complexion as he drowned. He knew he had drowned. There was no other way. And yet, here he was, standing on the deck of a proud merchantman, the sea breeze ruffling his pigtail. He had been picked up off a small island by the ship. They had assumed that he had been abandoned there by another crew. He did not try to convince them otherwise. But he could not stop his mind from wandering, wondering where she was. Syrena… the name ruled his nights and his days, as images of her beauty haunted him, tortured him. He knew she was out there, but where?


Her bright eyes watched as the last cask of fresh water was stowed and secured. The mate looked up at her through the hatch.

"That's the last of it, Cap'n." He declared. She nodded and turned on her heel, on her way to attend to other matters, before they set sail on the next tide.

Her boots rapped sharply on the street cobbles as she headed for her destination, the collar of her coat turned up against the chilly November winds. The building she wanted loomed in front of her, and the captain paused, looking around her, before pressing through the door. The sign of a mermaid swung overhead, blowing in the wind.

The captain paused, allowing for her eyes to adjust in the darkness of the tavern. She spotted her quarry, huddled in a booth in the darkest corner, hovering over a tankard. A small smile crept on to her face. And you thought he wouldn't show. She chided herself. Quickly, gracefully, she strode across the room, winding her way through the scattering of tables.

The man jumped in surprise as she dropped lightly onto the bench opposite him. He noted her smirk and shrunk back a little.

"What did you have to tell me? Did you find what I wanted?" She whispered conspiratorially.

The man blanched and opened his mouth to tell her everything. Right before he could, the warning from his boss echoed in his mind. Pay first. Then the information. He set his jaw.

"The pay first." He said determinedly, with a slight tremor in his voice.

Air hissed through the captain's nose as she dropped a small leather bag on the table between them. It landed with a heavy clunk. The rat-like man scrabbled that the knot that fastened it shut. He succeeded in untying it and yanked the mouth of the bag open. He stifled a gasp as the dull candlelight struck the contents, sending a rainbow of jewel toned reflections across his face. Quickly as he had opened it, he shut it, stuffing the bag of treasure under his cloak.

"O'Quinn'll be docking tonight in Port Royale, and he leaves on the midday tide, headed for Playa del Carmin. He'll be heavily loaded, and slow. Take him when he's approaching Playa."

Without a word, the captain stood and left, headed back to her ship, hunched against the cold drizzle that had started.


Okay. I can't tell you how good it feel to write again… But anyways… I'm not sure if this'll go anywhere, but hey, it might, and we'll just have to see if my muse doesn't leave me. Anyways, review if you think it's worth the time to review!