"My heart is pierced by Cupid," a voice crooned, seemingly from all around her. "I disdain all glittering gold. . ."
Alina turned around—she was standing on a rock, next to a trunk with golden details in the shape of the stag of Morozova. Golden coins like her own medallion littered the floor.
She was surrounded by swirling waters, in an endless cyclone or typhoon. Yet there was a peace, a tranquility to it, like what Alina felt when she sank under the waves in her blue taffeta gown. Time slowed down, her white hair all around her like she was underwater, even though she could breathe and all other laws of gravity seemed to be in their rightful places.
And as she turned once more, a giant woman towered over her, her blue gown becoming the rushing sea around her. This voice—this was the one that Alina heard singing.
The woman was familiar to her, with eyes that sparkled like the midday sea, the same shade of blue of oceans in the New World. Her hair was also everywhere like Alina's, but dark where Alina's was white.
There was something maternal and mischievous and malicious all at once in the giant woman's lovely features.
She met Alina's eyes as she sang the last words of the old song. "There is nothing can console me, but my jolly sailor bold."
Alina awoke with a start, nearly propelling herself off of the chaise with a yelp. Her heart thundered in her ears as sunlight streamed through the diamond panels of the window above.
While what had come before it had faded, Alina could not forget the face of the woman or her song.
"Bad dream, eh?"
Alina turned her head to see Captain Sturmhond as he was pulling a fresh white linen shirt over his head.
Memories of the argument the night before about where Alina would sleep returned to her, as well as all else that had happened with the damned Volkvolny.
He had insisted that she stay with him, to prevent any clever tricks or so. To his credit, he had allowed her to take the chaise, but she decided he was still an absolute prick.
"You're a bad dream," Alina sneered at her boots hit the deck.
Sturmhond just laughed. "You're going to have to try harder than that to wound me, Miss Starkov. I'm afraid my pride is far too large for such tiny insults—"
Alina raised her eyebrows. "Overcompensating for something, are we?"
"Why?" He smirked, straightening his shirt. "Like what you see?"
She rolled her eyes. "In your dreams."
He shrugged on his distinctive teal clothes, finally dropping the matter. "Genya should be coming along soon to take you to breakfast and chaperone you around the Volkvolny. The winds have worked exceptionally in our favor since you came aboard, and we should reach our destination sooner than expected."
"I'm to have a governess then?" Alina stood, taking a moment to catch her balance once more with the swaying and rocking of the boat.
"Unfortunately, as we discussed last night, you are far too important to let you wander around, Miss Starkov. Would be a pity if you somehow cut yourself on something and bled to death, or if you fell off the boat and got eaten by sharks."
"I'm sure." Still, Alina had to internally admit that a bodyguard was probably an improvement over being stuck in the captain's cabin the entire voyage to wherever they were going.
"Cheer up, Genya's not bad, as company goes." Sturmhond winked. "One might even call her fun."
"Might?"
Sturmhond and Alina turned their heads to see a strikingly beautiful girl with red hair burst through the door to the captain's cabin.
She looked to Sturmhond, both amused and seemingly offended. "I will not accept such slander from you, Captain! I am a delight!"
"And so you are, Genya, and so you are." Sturmhond's eyes twinkled. "I'm sure you've already caught a glimpse of Miss Starkov?"
Genya looked to Alina and raised a hand to her chin, then tilted her head ever-so-slightly to the side. "You can see Captain Daiyu in her eyes. And her bone structure. There's not much of Starkov in her, is there?"
"You knew my parents?" Alina was breathless.
Genya's sea-blue eyes softened. "I've only seen the portraits in the galley, I'm afraid. But the resemblance is good."
"As fascinating as this discussion is, I'm afraid I have far more important work to do." Nikolai placed his sword and revolvers in their proper holsters, then donned a tricorn hat. "You'll keep our curse-breaker entertained, won't you, Genya?"
"And safe from harm," Genya added, taking Alina's arm. "And we'll start with those clothes! Come on!"
Before Alina could say another word, she was pulled away from the captain's cabin and into new corridors of the Volkvolny.
The rest of the day passed more quickly than Alina would have thought. Luckily enough, there was enough food supply that with careful rationing, Alina would be able to survive the voyage, or so Genya had implied.
Alina hadn't quite built up the courage to ask what would happen to her, once the curse was broken. But she supposed first things had to come first, and she would deal with that problem when she got to it.
It was nice to be able to change out of her nightgown and dressing-robe, and luckily, good clothes were still in great supply. Alina had never worn trousers like a man, before, and yet all the women had done so onboard the ship.
Genya had toured her around the ship, introducing her to others like the alchemist, David, and the cannon-master twins, Tolya and Tamar.
Now it was late afternoon, with the clouds rolling in as they sailed on choppier seas than they had in the morning.
"We're getting closer," Genya murmured, then she frowned. "That's interesting—usually it takes far longer than this, to complete the voyage. I should go tell Captain Sturmhond—"
She paused, regarding Alina. The conflict of duty was evident in her sea-blue eyes, so similar to the woman in Alina's dream.
"Will you be alright, if I go?"
"I doubt I can get myself killed if I stay right here, if that's what you're asking." Alina leaned against the railing, feeling the spray of the sea on her face. She had not felt it since Governor Keramzov's voyage to the Port bearing his name.
She'd forgotten how she'd enjoyed being at sea. Even under such unfavorable circumstances, she couldn't help but enjoy herself. There were no tight-laced corsets, no rules, no governess barking commands or telling her what she could and could not do.
This was as close to true freedom as Alina would ever know, she realized sadly.
To think, the only time a woman is free is when she's a prisoner of pirates!
Still, Genya nodded, accepting Alina's answer.
"Alright then." Genya backed away slowly, as if escaping a tiger. "I'll be back in just a few minutes. Just stay there and try not to die."
"I'll do that."
"Alright then." Genya finally turned her back on her and marched into the interior of the Volkvolny.
Alina instead closed her eyes, trying to capture the feeling of it all so it would remain with her forever.
That was when she heard it.
"My heart is pierced by Cupid, I disdain all glittering gold. There is nothing can console me, but my jolly sailor bold."
Alina's eyes flew open. The wind whipped her hair and the sails around more sharply, like the beginnings of a storm. Alina squinted—she thought she could see something among the white caps of the waves.
"Come all you pretty fair maids, wherever you may be. . . "
Alina squinted—then her eyes widened. There were women, in the water, singing. She glanced around, but there were only a few scouts on the decks. Could anyone else see or hear them?
"Who love a jolly sailor that ploughs the raging sea."
The clouds darkened another shade of gray, taking on a faint indigo tint.
Lightning sparked in the distance—and the light of iridescent scales and tails cut through the water as they drew close to the women in the ocean.
They were smiling up at her as they sang the most sweetest songs Alina had ever heard, save for the woman she had dreamed of.
She leaned closer, over the railing to hear.
"Upon one summer's morning, carefully I did stray—"
Just as Alina was about to lean closer, to hear better, she felt a yanking at her scarlet jacket.
"Are you mad?" Genya demanded, as Zoya and Sturmhond also entered the main deck. "Surely you've heard the stories? Of the mermaids who will sing to lure ships, to drown sailors?"
Alina frowned. She hadn't heard stories about those kinds of mermaids—but she should have known better.
"I can't believe you somehow almost got yourself drowned after just five minutes alone—-" Genya stopped, closing her eyes. "Doesn't matter—they've been pulling us off course."
"Come, sister, surely you wish to rejoin us in the water?" One of the sirens called as the ship drew closer. "Is your curse upon the land really worth it? The Lady of the Sea is forgiving—"
"No thank you," Genya called. "I'd kindly ask you leave my friends alone!"
They ignored her, instead locking eyes with Alina.
"We can take you to your parents, they live still," another crooned. "They live in a palace of pearl—"
"She would rather not, either!" Genya clapped a hand on Alina's shoulder.
"And what of you, Prince Nikolai?" Another mermaid piped up. "Surely you would desire the kiss of a sea-daughter—"
"Tempting," Sturmhond answered as he stepped behind Alina. "But I'd really prefer it if you left my ship and crew alone."
He then looked to Genya. "If you would?"
"Gladly."
She cleared her throat and closed her eyes once more. A pure, high note flowed from her throat, sweeter and more powerful than all her sisters' combined. When she opened her eyes, they glowed as brightly as the moon, that same beautiful sea-blue.
Genya raised her hands in the air, as if conducting a symphony. Then, with a single motion, she made a pushing motion, and the winds changed, the storm quieted.
The other mermaids tried to sing again, pooling their voices—but they were too late.
Genya was too powerful for all of them, and they could no longer be heard by the time Genya stopped her song.
"You're welcome," she said quietly.
"Beautiful work, as always, Genya." Sturmhond applauded her.
Alina narrowed her eyes. "Prince Nikolai?"
Sturmhond's face fell.