Oh my! It has been sometime since my last update! So very very VERY sorry for the wait! - There was not one day this story was not on my mind. I can get very indecisive on where I want this story to go. I finally found the time to submit something! Thank you for your patience!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own the rights to The New Adventures of Sinbad - all this recognition goes to the Creator, Ed Naha.
Bryn was standing next to the covered window when she heard the door open again. This time two men came in to see her.
"It's time to meet our Captain", one of the men said to her. "Are you ready?"
"Do I have any say in this?" Bryn asked rhetorically as one of them took a hold of her tied arms.
"No", both men said in unison. They both laughed out loud while they exchanged amused smiles.
Bryn looked at the two men who she considered to be rather annoying and took that moment to move. While one man had a hold of her tied arms, she lifted her leg as high as she can in that long dark skirt and kicked the other's chest. Surprised, he stumbled onto his back with a yell as she pulled her arms away from the other man's grasp. Before he had time to react, she lifted her tied arm and brought her elbow down onto the man's shoulder. The man backed away in pain. The first man was starting to stand as Bryn ran for the open doorway. She did not get very far. When she reached the kitchen she abruptly stopped in her tracks. The room was not as empty as she saw it before. More of Captain Hawkins' men were already on their way to see what the commotion was. They stood in front of her with swords raised.
Bryn observed the room and gave them all a sweet smile knowing she was cornered and outnumbered.
xxxx
Rongar rejoined the crew from scouting out the trail to the house below. He made eye contact with his Captain and indicated the trail was very steep.
"We need to go the rest of the way on foot", Sinbad ordered. "Let's tie up the horses here".
"Do you have a plan?" Doubar asked his brother out loud as he climbed off his horse.
"Not exactly", Sinbad replied. "We need get to the mermaids and find Bryn. At some point talk some sense into Hawkins".
"Look!" Firouz pointed out. From where they stood they could see Bryn being escorted out by two of Captain Hawkins' men. They were walking her towards the boulders near the shoreline.
"Her hands are tied!" Anders stated.
From where they stood they could also see Captain Hawkins making his way towards the boulders as well. In his hands looked to be a heavy weighted chain.
Ruby gasped. "I don't like the looks of this".
"What is it?" Doubar asked.
"That chain is meant to weigh her down. I think he plans to push her into the water", Ruby explained.
Sinbad's eyes went back to Bryn. If Ruby was right, Bryn could easily drown with her hands tied together. She would have no chance. "We need to get moving", he spoke to his crew firmly.
xxxx
"Get off of me!" Bryn was struggling with the two men holding her arms as they walked her towards the rocks. She knew what Captain Hawkins plans to do with her. There is nothing but the sea at the edge of those rocks ahead of her.
One of the men grew agitated with her behavior and shoved her roughly forward. She lost her balance and fell onto the rocks. She grunted with pain as she scraped the side of her tied hands while attempting to brace herself from the impact.
"We do NOT shove women!" Captain Hawkins yelled to his crew members. He was coming up right behind them. How many times do I have to tell you that?" He walked forward and helped Bryn stand up. He looked at her face and turned to his men angrily. "Who brought her here?" He asked forcefully.
"You said to bring both of them", one of his men answered sheepishly, "We were only able to get this one".
Captain Hawkins sighed, "I did not say both." He cursed out loud and mumbled under his breath about how his men were idiots.
"What do you want us to do with her?" One of his idiots asked. "She's one of them, right?"
Hawkins sighed with frustration and let go of Bryn's arm. He turned away to think.
"I'm not one of them", Bryn spoke first and looked at Captain Hawkins, "You need to stop what you are doing".
Captain Hawkins turned to look at her. She held his gaze. "How would you know what I am doing?"
"I know about the stones and the mermaids", Bryn quickly replied, "What you are doing is wrong".
Captain Hawkins did not reply. He stood and stared at her silently. Wondering what else she knew. He made up his mind. "Tie this chain around her ankle", he ordered his men, "She is one of them".
"No!" Bryn yelled. She struggled and felt panic rise within her. She didn't know how else to stall. Her emotions and powers got the best of her. As she felt the cold chain touch her ankle she felt the heat of her power come to the surface of her skin. Her powers surrounded her.
"What the …" Captain Hawkins' men stared and backed themselves away from what they were seeing. Seconds later they could feel the heat coming off of Bryn's body. She glowed red. They backed further away afraid to get burned. "What is she doing?! You said mermaids have powers!" They looked at their captain in panic.
"What are you standing there for?" Hawkins glared at his men, "Get her in the water now!" He watched his men look at him with fear. He couldn't believe it. They were not going to follow his orders. His thoughts were interrupted by one of his men shouting his name from behind him. "What is it?" He yelled impatiently.
"We are under attack! Men with swords are here!" He yelled back.
Captain Hawkins looked back at Bryn. He already knew who they were. He recognized the brunette in front of him the second his eyes landed on her. It could be no other but her own Captain and crew.
At that moment Bryn got control of her powers and felt it fade away. She immediately felt faint and bent her knees to sit down on the rocks. With her hands tied she lost her balance and landed on her butt harder than she expected. She didn't know why her strength weakens every time she taps into her powers at such a high capacity.
xxxx
"We've got this! You get Bryn!" Doubar said to his brother as they fought their way into the house.
Sinbad surveyed the room and nodded his agreement at his brother's order. Before he left, he noticed that Ruby was already making her way up the stairs to find her friends and family. "Anders! Go with her!" He yelled from across the room. "There may be more of Hawkins' men upstairs!" Anders nodded his head and ran ahead to catch up with Ruby.
"Sinbad! Your bracelet…" Firouz tried to point out. Before he could finish his sentence, he immediately ducked from a punch that was swinging his way. Rongar took the opportunity to assist and bashed Firouz's attacker on the back of his head with the hilt of his sword. "Thank you!" Firouz said to Rongar as he stood up.
Sinbad felt it before he saw it. The rainbow bracelet on his wrist felt warm as it glowed. Just as he looked down at it, another man came running towards him with a yell and his sword raised. Sinbad only had seconds to react before you could hear metal against metal.
xxxx
Anders caught up to Ruby just in time. When he reached the top of the stairs Ruby was being pinned up against the wall with a blade against her neck. He got her attacker's attention and swiftly punched him in the face. Ruby squealed at the sudden movement and looked at Anders with wide eyes. "Thank you", she quietly said as she caught her breath.
"You shouldn't be running around here alone", Anders stated.
"I've learned my lesson," Ruby replied. She gave him a look of annoyance. "A 'you're welcome' would have been enough".
With his back to her, Anders smiled at her tone, "Do you know which room they are in? Did your friends tell you?" He pointed at his temple to indicate whether or not she has heard from them telepathically.
"End of the hall", she pointed in that direction. "It's locked". She looked at the man Anders just knocked down. "Check his pockets!"
Anders sighed and got on one knee to examine the body. Ruby hovered just above him. "Is he dead?" She asked.
"No. Just unconscious," Anders answered. "We should hurry".
Ruby jumped when she heard banging coming from the door at the end of the hall. She heard her friends call out. She ran to the door and yelled through it. "We are coming! You are safe!"
xxxx
Bryn was telling herself to stand up when she felt someone's strong hands lift her up to her feet. She opened her eyes and looked into the eyes of Captain Hawkins.
"I'm sorry. I can't have you knowing what you know", Captain Hawkins whispered close to her face. "I won't stop. I can't".
"What is she to you?" Bryn whispered back. She could see that he was not aware of who she was talking about. She was more specific, "Mabel".
Captain Hawkins 'grip tightened around her arms. Bryn could feel and see the anger radiating from him. Mabel did mean a great deal to him. They were interrupted before he had a chance to answer her question.
"LET HER GO!"
Captain Hawkins turned his head to the sound of a forceful voice. He was right. It was Captain Sinbad and his crew on his property. Sinbad approached him closer and raised the tip of his sword at the base of his neck. "I said, let her go", Sinbad repeated.
"Give it up, Hawkins. We have your men tied up", Doubar informed him, "You're outnumbered".
Captain Hawkins growled in frustration and let go of Bryn forcefully enough that she had to take a step back to keep her balance. He backed away with his hands up as Sinbad, still, kept his sword pointed in his direction. Sinbad looked at Bryn. From a quick glance, he was relieved to see that she had no major injuries. "You okay?"
"I'm fine", Bryn replied quietly. She gave him a small smile to convince him.
Sinbad saw the chain locked around her left ankle. He looked at Captain Hawkins angrily, "The key! Where is it?"
"It's hooked onto his belt", Doubar pointed out.
Captain Hawkins sighed and removed the key from his belt. He threw it on the ground next to Bryn. "She's yours".
Rongar quickly grabbed the key and turned the lock on the chain that was around Bryn's ankle. As he bent over to help her remove it, Bryn placed a hand on his shoulder to keep herself steady.
"You and I need to have a little talk", Sinbad said to Captain Hawkins.