When Gray and Juvia arrived at Mermaid Heel it had become so much darker. The sky was filled with stars and the full moon was out which is a most haunting time at which to see the mermaids.
Now mermaids are not as they are in storybooks. They are dark creatures in touch with all things mysterious and very dangerous to all mortals. But they had eyes and ears all over the sea, making them the first to know anything that had taken place in the waters of Tendrou Island. If Juvia's brothers had drowned or had been taken aboard by pirates, the mermaids would know.
Once the dark haired boy and his bluenette lady friend were safely seated on a sturdy rock at the lagoon, he pulled out a pan flute and played a little tune. One that was known to attract mermaids once they heard it. In seemingly no time at all, three heads rose up to the surface of the water.
"Oh how sweet." Juvia smiled as she instantly recognized what they were.
She moved to wave or call out to them but Gray grabbed her hand to stop her in a cautionary manner. She looked at him confused.
"Are mermaids not sweet?" She asked him.
"They'll sweetly drown you if you get too close." He warned.
The three heads swam slowly toward the rock where the children sat which allowed Juvia to see their appearances better. They all had the upper body of a woman and very long hair that was like fine silk and each a different color: One green, one brown, and one a dark purple. But those were the only human qualities they had about them. The rest of their bodies were very much like a fishes. They bore gills on their necks, scales all over their skin, hands with claws and a thick-like webbing between the fingers, and pointed, razor sharp teeth that poked out a little from their mouths. They were not at all what Juvia pictured them being nevertheless she was still amazed and astonished upon seeing them.
Gray leaned over the rock to chat with the first two mermaids, speaking in a language that Juvia could not understand. But the third one with the dark purple hair turned her gaze toward the girl and moved closer to her. She slowly and subtly caught Juvia's hand and started to softly pull her into the water. Gray felt her slip from him and was quick to draw her back while hissing viciously at the mermaid who tried to drown his companion. She hissed back at him and they all wailed in a inhuman way before diving back into the sea.
"I told you not to get too close to them." He said to Juvia who was trembling a little.
"I'm sorry. I...I didn't know she was trying to drown me. She was being so gentle."
"That's how they get you. They don't just roughly drag you under. They make it seem like they're just trying to get you in for a harmless swim. Next thing you know you're a dead corpse floating around in the water. Never let them touch you again. Understand?"
"Yes. But what did they say? Do they know where my brothers are?"
"Yep and now we've got trouble."
"What do you mean? Are they alright?"
"They're alive but maybe not for long. Hades has them and the Indian princess. He's taking them to Marooner's Rock."
"What is that place?"
"It's where the pirates chain up their prisoners and leave them there to drown. They drown when the tide rises, for then it is submerged."
"Oh no." Horror, concern, and worry overwhelmed her. She felt as if her heart would stop in the moment, terrified that the next time she saw her brothers they would both be as dead as a door nail.
"He's doing this to draw me out. Another one of his futile traps. The dog!" He cursed. "And obviously he didn't learn his lesson from the last time he crossed the Indians otherwise he wouldn't be threatening the princess. We better get going, when the moon is out like this high tide can't be too far behind."
They flew from the lagoon and toward Marooner's Rock where at that moment Hades, his crew, and their three captives had just arrived. During the whole trip there both Natsu and Lucy had done their best not to show a single sign of fear but Romeo being so much younger couldn't help but shake and shiver. Especially when he saw the skeletal remains of the pirate's previous victims. Captain Hades took his stance on to land once the boat reached it and he quickly loaded up his pistol.
"Like all surprise attacks." He said. "It must be conducted improperly."
He flashed the three of them a most hideous and unsettling grin.
"You don't scare me." Natsu said.
"Me either." Lucy added. "You are a coward. You prey on the weak and you use dishonorable tactics against your enemies! Your death will truly be one of shame and humiliation!"
"Defiant til the end eh princess?" Hades said to her. "You know if you will just tell me where Gray and the lost boys keep their hideout, I will gladly release you. This is your last chance. What do you say?"
She looked back at Natsu and Romeo, now if it had just been her life at stake at the moment she would have kept her mouth closed on that subject even if it would mean she would die for it. She knew how evil Hades was and believed that no one deserved to die or suffer by his methods hence why she held her tongue. But it wasn't her life being threatened anymore, there were two more innocents who would probably perish if she kept silent. Perhaps she would talk if they could be spared. Of course she knew the consequences of disclosing Gray's location to the pirates but if Hades did have every intention of letting her go for doing as he wished then she could always warn Gray and the boys of his arrival, giving them a better chance of escaping with their lives then these two boys she had met.
"What of them then?" She asked looking back at Hades. "If I tell you what you want to know will they live or die?"
"They will die. I only allow myself to let one child live if I get it in my grasp. If you talk then you'll be the only survivor."
"In that case I have nothing more to say to you."
"Have it your way." He turned to his men. "Put the children on the rock."
Capricorn and Kain then forced iron clad shackles on to their wrists and ankles.
"Sorry your highness." Capricorn said to Lucy as he locked the shackle onto her. "Any last words?"
"Beg for your lives!" Kain spewed into Natsu's face who drew back in disgust at his horrid breath.
"Sirs!" He replied defiantly. "My brother and I are English gentlemen. English gentlemen do not beg!"
He stood proudly and ushered Romeo to follow his example but the poor younger boy just crumbled.
"Please!" He cried out. "Please! Please don't kill us!"
"Please don't kill me either!" Natsu said doing the same when he realized that putting up a brave front wasn't getting him anywhere.
Lucy just rolled her eyes in embarrassment. Yet despite the boys's best effort to beg and appeal to the pirates's better nature, all three of them were chained to the rock and left to wait for the high tide that would claim their lives.
"Ahh! It's cold! Cold!" Romeo whimpered from the feeling of the icy water.
"Cold is the least of our worries." Lucy said. "Once this water rises we're going to die."
"Natsu I'm scared! I don't wanna die! I want Juvia!"
"There, there, Romeo." Natsu said trying to comfort him the best way he could. "It's okay. Somewhere just not here."
"I never thought I would die this way." Lucy sighed sadly. "By a pirate's hand. But I suppose it serves me right for wandering off and getting into trouble when my people have told me time and time again not to. How devastated they'll be once they hear word of my demise."
"So there's no way out of this?" Natsu asked. "We're really going to drown?"
"I'm afraid so."
"Oh man." He said trying not to panic. "Well if it's any consolation thanks for trying to make an attempt to save us. That was what you were trying to do back there right?"
"Yes. I'm ashamed to admit it, but I would have betrayed Gray if Hades promised to spare you two in exchange for it. Pathetic I know but I figured he'd have a better chance of escape than you two did at the moment."
"That's not so pathetic. I mean I'm sure Gray would understand the circumstances."
"That's kind of you to say but it doesn't really matter now." She said looking down at the rising water. "I die but I die loyal."
Natsu was chained between Lucy and Romeo. He moved one of his hands to grip Romeo's and the other hand to grip Lucy's.
"At least we'll be going together." He said with a sad smile which Lucy returned.
"Hey shut up ya brats!" Kain shouted at them. "The captain says if you go to screaming we have every right to shoot you in the head so keep your traps shut! You got it?!"
"Got it ya fat, brainless, neanderthal." Natsu mumbled.
"What was that?!"
"Nothing."