OK, part II of this four-parter. I lied - it is not a two-shot any longer.
DISCLAIMER: All characters (c) J. M. Barrie
The dark, threatening pirate ship loomed ahead. The mermaid could pick out movement on board; among them, a tall, slim figure, with long, dark hair. The crocodile followed the mermaid's curious gaze. Another snicker thundered deep in its throat.
"That's the one," hissed the crocodile. The mermaid swallowed and nodded.
They edged nearer the ship as the sun sailed higher in the sky, bringing the glorious morning with it. "Under," whispered the crocodile, and as one, they submerged themselves in the water.
The mermaid swam mechanically, thinking of her task. Her heart was pounding with fear. What if she got hurt? Those pirates were spectacular with blades and firearms - and she would be facing them all…
Her fists clenched and she pressed her arms to her side as she blanked out all emotion and headed straight for the ship. The crocodile dived still deeper and streaked under the ship; the mermaid followed.
The pair halted underwater; the crocodile jerked its snout upwards, indicating that the mermaid should surface and begin her task. The mermaid stared at the reptile for a second before realising: of course, the crocodile couldn't surface yet for fear of ruining the plan. And it just had to run smoothly, or else the mortal state wouldn't be attainable!
Filled with red-hot determination, the mermaid propelled herself upwards with long strokes of her tail.
Her head broke the water with a gentle splash; but however quiet it was, it still attracted the attention of a pair of pirates, who leaned over the ship's rail and goggled at the mermaid.
Showtime.
Gazing directly into their eyes, she began to sing softly in her strange language. The pirates gawped.
"Whatsit sayin'?" asked one.
"Dunno," replied the other, his jaw hanging open stupidly.
The mermaid increased volume. On deck, Captain James Hook himself spun round and snapped, "What is that infernal howling?"
Before the two pirates could speak, they found themselves being shoved to one side as Hook looked for the source of the noise. He, too, gaped as he saw the
strange-looking mermaid, wailing and crooning so close to the ship. The mermaids were terrified of the pirates, and never, ever ventured far from the safety of their lagoon. Seeing one this near to the "Jolly Roger" was most definitely a first.
By this time, the rest of the crew had come to look upon the wailing mermaid. She smiled inwardly. The plan was working.
The crocodile heard the wondering voices of the pirates and took its cue. It let itself float lazily up to the surface.
Through the singing of the mermaid, Hook heard that horribly familiar sound - tick, tick, tick. He gulped and stumbled backwards, unable to stop fear flooding his brain and controlling his body. The other pirates knew what was coming, and sure enough, the slimy green back of the crocodile slid up behind the mermaid.
The mermaid took another breath and carried on singing. The pirates watched, torn between trepidation and irrepressible curiosity. Even Hook moved forward to watch the tense sight.
Slowly, slowly, the crocodile slithered towards the seemingly ignorant mermaid. Still she sang her haunting melody. Each and every one of the pirates longed to cry out, "Watch out, miss!" to warn the mermaid, but part of them wanted to see what happened - whether that be good or bad…
The crocodile's snout was almost touching the mermaid's arm…
The eyes of the pirates grew wider still…
Hook's heart beat faster…
And suddenly, the mermaid spun in the water and laid her hand upon the crocodile's scaly muzzle.
Everyone on the ship gasped.
The mermaid began to intone a message to the crocodile. Her voice was firm and mystical, almost hypnotic. The pirates leaned so far forward that they were in danger of falling into the sea. Hook frowned at the waterborne pair.
The mermaid chanted monotonously, stroking the crocodile's snout metrically. The crocodile, enjoying the current success of the plan, decided to really play the part: its eyelids drooped, and it let out snuffly snores that created bubbles in the water.
Hook stared at the mermaid. Was it possible? Was she…controlling the crocodile? His queries were confirmed as the mermaid shouted one last quivering syllable and lifted her hand off with a flourish. As if under a spell, the crocodile turned and drifted away. Soon, it had gone completely from view.
An awed silence hung over the ship. The mermaid turned back gracefully - for though she was set apart from the rest of the mermaids, she had still been blessed with the gift of grace - and gazed benignly up at the pirates, most of whom were staring after the crocodile with open mouths.
One, however, was watching the mermaid, exclusively and fixedly.
Hook narrowed his dark eyes at the mermaid. If she could control the crocodile…but wasn't that exactly what he needed aboard ship? A calculating smile spread
over his face. Mr. Smee looked up at his Captain and immediately recognized that expression. He watched warily as Hook causally bent forward to address the mermaid.
"Madam!" he called down to the Daughter of the Lagoon, exercising his flawless Old Etonian accent to the full. He hoped she understood English.
She switched her gaze to him and bobbed once. He took that to mean that she comprehended him, and continued.
"With your extraordinary talents, you would be most welcome to reside with us on board the ship," he invited, layering on the charm. "Will you accept my offer?"
The mermaid paused theatrically and in this time, allowed herself a second of triumph. Yes! Everything was working!
She captured Hook's dark eyes with her own grey ones and cooed once: an affirmative. Hook grinned, showing perfect teeth.
"Excellent," he muttered to himself. "Bring out a rope!" he ordered, flinging his hair back over his left shoulder with a sweep of his hook; the pirates were sent scurrying. A rope was found and lowered over the side of the ship until it dangled in the water.
The mermaid flickered her tail and shot forward to seize the rope as though it were her lifeline. She could barely contain her excitement as the rope was hauled on and she began to rise out of the water.
As she was raised level with the rail, a gleaming metal hook was there, waiting, to help her aboard. Frightened slightly by the sharp point, but knowing that she had to do this, the mermaid took hold of the aesthetic curve of silver and manoeuvred herself over onto the desk.
She rested her back against the ship's long wooden flank and looked up at her new companions. There were various different pirates, all, she noticed, carrying some form of weapon; and as her eyes alighted on Hook, she noticed the cruel-looking blade that he carried. That could easily have murdered anyone - her - with one thrust.
"There is nothing to see here," said Hook calmly but meaningfully to his men. They backed away from the mermaid unhurriedly, not wanting to leave, although a hostile glare from their Captain was all they needed to turn around and leave the deck on the double.
The mermaid watched, fighting back fear, as Hook knelt next to her. She could not take her eyes off the sword for exactly seven seconds; nevertheless, she soon had something else to distract her: the hook itself flashed before her eyes, and she stared at it in fright. What was going to happen?
"Now, Miss, your little trick with that cold-blooded fiend was rather impressive," murmured Hook, not looking at his addressee but instead twirling his hook and studying the light rays darting off its highly-polished surface. "I would be most grateful if you would stay with my crew and I and - " He broke off to swallow his pride - "protect us from the crocodile."
The mermaid purred gently, her eyes apparently out of focus. …Oh yes…the plan was working…but the light…on the hook…
She reached out her bloodless fingers and touched the chilled metallic arc. It was beautiful in a macabre way; the way it shone and glimmered, whilst its underside remained in shadow. She was hypnotized by the light…it was beautiful…so bright… devilishly enchanting…
Her eyes closed swiftly and she fell to the deck with a sigh. Hook stared at her in shock. What had happened to her?