Chapter Three: Traditions & Sea Urchins

"Hey...Where is captain Star?" asks the brunette male, his lips pursed into a slight frown after he searched the entire ship for her presence. The others stared back at him in a state of confusion before nearly all shrugged their shoulders and muttered to each other of her last known presence which we all had different answers.

The boy known as Jean rubs his chin in thought before he asks noncaring "Maybe she's on the John...She might have had a stomach ache. Did you check-"

Before he gets to finish the brunettes sharp gaze went to Jean before snapping "I checked the toilet! Shes not there you idiot! That's the first place I checked after not finding her in her bunk."

Jean sneers at the brunette's aggressive voice before he grumbles "Then I don't know... She has to be here somewhere. I mean where else could she have gone? Defiantly not out in the ocean..."

Everyone falls silent looking out into the ocean in morbid thought after Jean's words. Connie then says thinking the worst "You don't think after last nights party she stumbled off the side of the boat drunk...Do you?"

Eren scratches his head, "I don't think so. I mean Captain Star has been drunk many times before, and she normally goes straight to her bunk and passes out."

A blonde haired boy with bright blue eyes glances to the side where a glint of silver catches his eye after the sun hits it just right. What is to be seen makes his eyes widen. A puddle of blood that was once fresh is dried on to the brown wooden deck and also what lies next to it is the stained pocket knife that their beloved captain favored.

The blonde moves away from the main group who were bickering amongst themselves before he cuts them all off crouching down on his knees "Hey guys. Take a look at this."

Everyone silences after hearing Armin speak and are curious about what he is talking about before moving over to him. They all crowd around the small blonde boy as he picks up the knife examing it.

"Isn't that Star's knife?" asks Sasha, worry evident in her voice.

Armin then replies looking at the wooden handle with her name carved on to the side "It's undeniable. Her name is on it."

Everyone falls silent as Armin stands up and they all look off the side of the boat to see the net dragging into the ocean. Eren swallows nervously before he mutters in thought "Do you think something got her? Like one of those Siren creatures...Armin you did say they could shapeshift to have legs, didn't you? It could have seduced her out to sea."

Armin frowns before he mutters looking at the knife "No. It doesn't make any sense why there be blood on the deck. If anything it was someone on the deck who attacked her, not seduced her. Sirens normally lure their target out into the ocean by singing, and that's when they attack. Well, the females sing anyway, it's their way to hunt humans and other intelligent life forms."

Eren raises an eyebrow before he asks "What about the males then? Do you know anything about them?"

The blonde purses his lips gripping the handle of the knife tightly before he replies "I know very little information on them. I'd fear if it were a male siren who targeted her he would keep her alive as long as possible."

"Why is that?" asks Connie with rounded eyes.

Everyone stares at the intelligent blonde awaiting his reply.

Armin sighs before replying "Males, unlike females, hoard things they find beautiful in a place that is secluded and by water. Normally a place like a cave; Is what they claim as their territory, using their scales to chase away any other males. From what my mother documented after researching them further after my father's experience, a fisherman found one of these caves with a beautiful naked woman inside who claimed a 'fish man' kidnapped her...and had raped her. So I assume sometimes male sirens keep female humans for reproducing purposes."

Everyone's mouth is agape at Armin's words.

Jean is visibly nervous, sweat dripping from his forehead before he says his voice shakey "So let's say Star did get kidnapped by one of these male monsters. He as of right now, would be hoarding her in some cave and plan to knock her up with some monster babies? What kind of fucked up shit is this?! And what happened to that woman?!"

Armin sighs again looking down at the knife "We don't know for sure that's what is happening. Since after all it doesn't explain the blood here...and that woman died during a rough childbirth eight months later...and when the woman died so did the child inside her."

Eren's lips are pulled into a tight frown before he says while his eyes are squinting at the mist in the distance "Hey guys I know this is a bad time and all but we might have some trouble up ahead."

Armin looks up a breeze passing by all of them and everyone focused on the mist up ahead. "This doesn't look too good," mumbles Connie scrambling to get to his post and climbing up on the pole.

Everyone's faces grow grim, especially Armin before he looks down at his book hurdled close to his side, tucked underneath his arm.

The blonde mutters and everyone gets eerily silent "It almost looks like...The Siren's Lair described by the pirates twenty years ago."

Jean then says backing up, fear shaking his voice "You mean the incident where only three people came back to shore alive...and everyone called them crazy and got hanged anyway."

Armin nods his head, and Eren then yells taking Star's place as captain "Everyone, be on guard! Get your weapons and get to your post now!"

After Eren gives orders, everyone scrambles, and they enter the place known as The Siren's Lair.

...

...

I limp on my good leg as I walk around the cave, searching for any way out at all. It seems to be daylight as the light from the outside shines into the cave from the cracks into the ceiling, the sparkling blue water to my right would have been beautiful if it weren't for a creature living in it. I don't think I will ever look at water the same after this.

My face twists in pain as I put some of my weight on to it as I walk, trying to hurry before he comes back. The more my eyes glance around the cave I see clean human bones used as decoration, hanging on thin ropes, and furs of beasts used as carpeting on the rocky ground in some places. Not to mention the gross dried fish scales rubbed on to the sides of the rocky cave. Some of it was fresh...

I grow anxious as I walk further and deeper into the cave from the things I find that once was possessed by humans. Jewelry, treasures, and gold coins seeming to be taken straight from a pirate ship. I swallow as I see more bones of humans and unknown creatures in the corner; he seemed to keep them clean as not even a chunk of meat; was on them.

I feel like crying as my leg gives out from under me and I collapse on the ground, a pitiful groan leaving my throat. I see more blood ooze out from the teeth punctures in my leg, and I feel a tear run down my cheek.

'Why me...' I think bitterly to myself.

My leg was most likely going to get infected, the human mouth held the most germs, and I assumed since he was some creature and ate humans his mouth wasn't very clean.

I start crying, and I quickly snap my head up once hearing the sound of the familiar splash behind me.

Oh no, he was back. I force myself up and off the ground, and I hear the sound of wet feet hit the ground. Wait feet? Not a fishtail? I turn my head to look behind me to see the man who bit me and also called me his wife walking on his feet.

I watch as he was like a newborn baby trying to walk as he uses the wall as support, his wet black hair hanging into his eyes. I frame myself from looking in between his legs...

This would give me time to get away; I can be faster than him! I force myself up and start limping faster while checking behind me, I see him lock eyes with me, his bangs pushed to the side. "Wife!' he growls out saying agitated from afar, his voice having a slight growl to it as if warning me not to go any further away from him.

I don't listen to the word 'Wife,' the word sickening me coming from a creature such as him. I think when I was a child I liked the ideas of a mermaid, but I didn't like the idea of a man-eating one wanting to marry me.

"Don't run brat! It will only make me angry when I find you! And I will find you! There's no escape from me!" he yells his voice sounding sinister, his English clear.

How did it seem his English got better in one day? Again I don't listen to his words as I limp as quickly as I can, ignoring my throbbing calf. There had to be a way out of here. The more I get further away, the more rights and lefts I take the more lost I become and the more I couldn't hear his anger filled voice anymore.

Upon reaching what seemed like the end of the cave, I come to a complete dead end while to my left is more water looking to be connected to the other body of water I saw earlier. "No. No no no. No!" I yell before pounding my fists into the stone wall, irritated I backed myself into a corner while he was searching for me somewhere in the cave.

He could be anywhere... and if he gets ahold of me who knows what he will do. I feel my chest heaving up and down as I feel more tears sting my eyes. I needed to backtrack...I just took a wrong turn somewhere.

When I go to turn around things don't end well as I come face to face with him. My breath catches in my throat as there's no way he caught up with me that fast while his legs haven't been used in god knows how long.

I go to raise my fist to punch him in self-defense, but he catches my fist applying pressure to it making me whimper. His lip pulls back into a sneer. "You really have done it now brat." he hisses pushing me back into the wall harshly.

I wince, and he clasps both my wrists above my head. I look down at him, he wasn't that, tall, but neither was I. I would say I was about an inch or two taller than him if I were to guess.

His gray orbs show a shine of interest when observing my features before a small smile or more like a smirk creeps up on to his face.

"What do you want?" I ask my voice quivering ever so slightly. I should be kicking him with my freed legs, but I'd fear he bite out my jugular, killing me instantly if I did such things. "If you want me to be your wife then, fine. I will be your stupid wife." I say glaring harshly at him, giving in to what he wants.

He stays silent, his thin brows raising up before grinning madly.

"Didn't I warn you before. Bratty wives get punished, and I want what a human wife can give me," he says his leg sliding between my own and I cringe. His knee slides further up between my legs, and he leans in towards me, his wet tongue sliding along the side of my neck. "but first, is your punishment for trying to run from me. Pain is the best teacher after all."

Before I understand what his words meant I feel a sharp pain in my shoulder, and a warm liquid runs down my back and down my arm. I scream, surprising myself how loud it was in the silent cave.

I thrash my body trying to twist my way out of his grasp, but it is hopeless. For the second time within the last 24 hours, tears slip from my eyes in pain. His teeth sink further into my flesh making me plead through sobs "Please it hurts! No more! I will behave! I-I promise!"

I don't think I ever sounded so pathetic in my life. I would be disgusted with myself, but for now, I would do anything to relieve the pain in my shoulder or well stop it from getting any worse. After my pleading reaches his ears, he removes his teeth, his tongue darting out licking his lips.

"I want to eat you." he hums happily tilting his head. "I never tasted such sweet human flesh before." I feel hot tears escape my eyes, my leg now not the only thing throbbing in pain.

The monster leans back into my body, and I flinch automatically, and I yell shutting my eyes tightly "Please I told you, I will behave!"

He inhales deeply by my neck before he replies "I told you didn't I? Pain is the best teacher. I can smell how much you fear me now, brat." He pauses sniffing me again before exhaling like some animal... Well, he was technically an animal.

"I love that smell..." he purrs out before he lets go of my wrists and I know better than to run. I needed to be careful and find my way out slowly.

I reopen my eyes, to see gray-blue eyes staring at me in some sort of fascination. I wanted so badly to run, but I keep still, perhaps that is the reason why he is staring at me so intently. He was waiting for me to run, so he had a reason to take another bite out of me. After we stood in silence, he smirks before snatching my wrist tugging me somewhere. I start trembling against my will in horror in what he had planned.

"W-where are you taking me?" I ask my voice slightly shaky, my eyes focusing on his back and sometimes his feet. Occasionally my eyes would accidentally land on his privates, but I quickly erased the image from my memory...not dwelling too much on him being nude due to the fact I didn't know if he was going to kill me sooner or later. My mind had much worse worries other than seeing his pale rear and such. Luckily I managed not to glance at his manhood. That would probably fluster me to some extent.

He replies with one word, that word being "Food" while he didn't slow his quick steps that were slightly off balance, I could see he was having a hard time keeping a steady balance. A few things flash through my head at that moment.

'Food' as food, which means he was going to eat and me being his dinner because I upset him or was he going to eat whatever he eats which all I could think his typical diet was is human flesh. So either way, the destination to 'food' didn't sound too pleasant.

I wince, my leg throbbing even more now that we're walking so fast. "Please slow down," I mutter but he doesn't listen choosing to ignore me, his grip getting tighter around my wrist as he probably thought I was trying to run away again which maybe I should as I didn't want to become the fish person's dinner but between my leg and my shoulder I don't think I would get very far. I feel tears wet my eyes as he pulls me further along. God, my leg hurt so bad. I just wanted to sleep comfortably and let it heal. That was another thing; I was tired.

I don't think I got a wink of sleep after he left me, I tried staying alert as possible while clutching my leg he bitten. I remember watching the cave that was dark, grow brighter and brighter as the sun rose higher up in the sky outside. Then as soon as it was light enough and the pain in my leg became somewhat bearable, I searched around carefully. Trying to find anything as a way out to escape. I didn't get very far obviously, and I didn't think fighting him would do me any good either when I looked around at the old swords and knives.

I have seen a small glimpse of his strength, he could probably bend that at his will if he wanted but I did stab his friend on the ship meaning I could hurt him. Their skin isn't tough like you would imagine. Pushing the knife in that man's stomach was relatively easy. He was like anyone else but how well did these people heal?

My eyes glance at the gash I gave him yesterday. My eyes widen finding it had mostly healed up, just a bruise with a bump lying in its wake along with a thin red line. It seems they heal quickly. But could the same be said with a stab wound in the abdomen?

I wish I knew what happened to that man I stabbed on the boat. I know he fell off the side of the boat but was he dead or was he alive and healing? I wouldn't know and probably never will.

Unable to keep up with his fast pace I whimper, my leg growing unstable and I fall forward, my head bumping into his back. I hear a low growl being emitted from the back of his throat feeling me so close but it stops as I fall to my knees.

I feel him get tugged down slightly as I was still holding his wrist but he tries ripping me up again. "Get up," he orders his voice lacking compassion.

I mutter, and my tears fall from my eyes on to the ground, but luckily my hair hangs in my face, "I can't. It hurts too much." I hear him click his tongue, growling in annoyance as he kneels down to my level.

The next thing I know I'm lifted up and off the ground but not bridal style but more like I was a sack of potatoes thrown over his shoulder. I groan in pain, my teeth clenching as I roughly get slung over his shoulder.

He squeezes my wounded leg as a warning not to take his kindness lightly, and he grumbles "Only once. Understood?"

I quickly respond as he starts walking being even more clumsy with his footing, "Understood," I whisper in defeat.

If I was in my normal state of mind, I would probably be making a fuss for him to put me down and that I could walk on my own but I was just too tired to put up a fight. I just wanted to be back on that stupid boat with my companions waiting to see that stretch of land before us.

I feel depressed thinking about it; I probably won't live long anyway all thanks to my stupid heart. So why should I care? My mind grows quiet as I shut my eyes, my body getting jostled every time the siren moved. At least I didn't have to walk on my bad leg.

Then right when I was growing too tired to care I was so close to an enemy I roughly get thrown down. I yelp as I rub my back.

My eyes look up at my inhuman man, and he looks down at me annoyed like I was a nuisance before moving away. My eyes glance around where he tossed me. He put me in what resembled a bedroom. We were in a rounded corner of the cave, and a worn blanket hung up between the rocky cracks, giving this corner a feeling of security making it as if we were not in the wide open.

He had thrown me down on what looked like fur from some beast; must be the bedding. It was soft but not very comfortable to sit on as underneath it was hard rock. I watch him move about into the furthest corner, and he digs through a wooden crate before taking out clothing. His eyes slide over to look at me before back at the clothing bunched up in his hand before he slides up the gray pants that were sorta baggy on him. He must have worn human clothing before seeing as he had them...

He then slips on a white button-up shirt, but he refuses to button it properly just fumbling with the bottom buttons before tsking and giving up, not bothering with them. I want to sigh in relief he finally dressed and wasn't walking around naked but then he tosses something at me taking it from the crate as well. I look at the bunched up blanket, and I look at him confused.

"You were shivering," he states nonchalantly like he actually cared about my well being which apparently, he didn't since he harmed me as he did.

I don't argue with him since it was the truth, I was cold from my clothing or what was left anyway. I was only wearing my pants and bra because my shirt was wrapped around my wounded leg. I take the blanket wrapping it around my torso, and my trembles from my body somewhat stop, despite it providing little warmth. It felt better than nothing though.

He then grabs something that was in some chest in the far corner and what he holds in his hands once he turns around is some spikey creature or was it a creature? I stare at it in confusion not knowing what it was as it doesn't move. He then sits down across from me, and when he sits down, I can only feel tense.

"What is that?" I ask hurdling into the old blanket more.

"Food," he replies flipping the spikey thing on to its back, and he takes his long claws and pushes it into the creature's underbelly before tearing into its insides. I cringe something resembling a pool of blood is what lies inside the creature insides, and he pours the blood into an indentation in the rocks after tossing out the parts I assumed were no good.

After he is done, he digs out four slivers of meat from the inside of the creature, and he lays them down on a stone. I continue cringing as it resembled something like an orange tongue and he pushes it towards me.

I might have been hungry, but I shake my head. "I can't eat that. It's disgusting." I say, my head turning the other way.

I can only picture his face scrunching up in a sneer when he hisses "Eat now or starve."

I reply to him, my voice cracking, gripping the blanket tightly "I'd rather starve than eat that."

I was probably an idiot, but I really didn't want to eat something that looked disgusting and foreign. Who knows how sick I can get from eating something I didn't know anything about, not even the name of the creature it came from. It can poison me from all I know, and I wasn't about to go trusting the fish man's judgment on food.

He doesn't seem to take my reply to kindly as he grabs my cheeks, squeezing them tightly as he forces me to look at him turning my head around swiftly.

His eyes narrow down at me before hissing "Eat..."

Then that foreign food is pushed against my lips forcibly, it being slimy and cold. I shiver in disgust and try and pull away. "No, I don't want it," I say, my voice rising in panic and when I speak, he shoves it into my mouth and clasps a hand over my mouth so I couldn't spit it back up. Tears spill from my eyes as the food sits on my tongue.

"Swallow," he orders.

I take both my hands trying to pry his hand away from my mouth, but he shows me his teeth in warning. Probably getting ready to bite me again for 'misbehaving.'

Not wanting to be bitten or have the raunchy food sit on my tongue any longer, I swallow it whole not wanting to chew and taste such a thing. I feel like gagging the instant it slides down my throat, and when he knows I swallowed the food, he lets me go, and I take shaky breaths. More tears spill from my eyes as I want to barf it back up but he watches me carefully.

What would he do if I forced myself to puke? Would he still bite me? I answer myself 'probably.'

I ask him, pushing more into the corner, and I yell "Why did you make me eat that? Why? I would have rather starved!"

He replies picking up another sliver of meat off the stone staring at it "Tradition."

I stare at him confused before he smirks continuing speaking "Its tradition to give females the reproductive organs of a sea urchin. It's good for fertility."

I pale, and I instantly want to vomit after hearing that I ate something's reproductive organs.

I start to gag at the thought and then I feel sicker after hearing it was good for fertility. Meaning he was interested... I don't get time to think as I stare in horror at him inching closer to me with another sliver of meat in between his fingers.

From there I knew I didn't have a choice. It was either follow his rules and orders or be eaten by him. There were absolutely no in-betweens...but how long could I keep my sanity together?

Author's note: Oops well I lied when I said I was going to update in a week. I ended up getting really busy as usual. Anywho I hoped you enjoyed the chapter and hopefully see you in the next one. Also, thank you guys for the lovely reviews. Hopefully, I will see more reviews in the future to hear your guys thoughts on the story. I would love to hear them. :) Oh while I am here, who else is hyped about Snk season 3 airing? I know I am!

Edited/Revised on February, 19th, 2019