Before We Continue: A huge thank you and many sprinklings of pixie dust to everyone who has read my story. I'd appreciate a few more reviews hint, hint, but thank you anyway, and I hope you enjoy this penultimate installment!
Sincerely, Little Sparrow
He took hold of her wrist and felt for a pulse. He struggled for a while, pressing down on the rubber-like flesh of this delicate creature, hoping against hope that she wasn't…
There it was. A feeble little percussion beat beneath the less-than-human, paper-white skin. She was alive - not that she was any use like this. But - no, it couldn't be…had the exceptionally bright light sent her into - into some kind of trance.
Hook stood up brusquely and considered the half-woman, half-fish coiled by his feet; he toed the unmoving tail with his well-polished boot, wondering what to do with her next.
Tick, tick, tick.
Hook's vivid eyes flashed with fear. For a second, he was completely immobile. Then his senses came crashing to the surface, as though a floodgate had been wrenched open, and he kicked urgently at the Daughter of the Lagoon, trying to wake her, and failing miserably.
Tick, tick, tick.
Why did this have to happen now? He pounded into her body harder with his foot, spurred by blinding panic.
Tick, tick, tick, came the subtle, murderous warning. It was getting louder and louder, more and more dangerous…
"Wake up, you stupid fish!" howled Hook, losing all traceof reason and spitting searing saliva over his victim. She did not stir.
Tick, tick, tick…
A dozen ruddy-faced pirates came bursting out on deck, just as a giant, great green beast clawed its way over the rail, its eyes glittering. Hook stumbled back and shook with fear as his men encircled the crocodile, swords drawn. They advanced like a swarm of wasps, shouting and swishing their blades, trying the force the animal to retreat.
"Oh, no you don't, Captain," hissed the crocodile as it eagerly pulled itself forward, greedily watching the fear cloud his prey's eyes. "It is you I've come for - the plan didn't go accordingly but I will still get what I want - and you've kicked that poor little girl to death now, by the looks of it…ah, well. I do not care. You will still die today, and be digested before the clock strikes midnight!"
At that precise moment, a shout went up and a cavalcade of evil-edged blades came whizzing towards the crocodile, slashing the reptile across its right eye. Blood spurted out and the crocodile roared in agony, tumbling back into the water, writhing and thrashing.
Blood and froth churned together in the water.
Where was she?
It was several hours later, and she was bobbing in the sea; a harsh, burning rope had been fastened about her midriff, tethering her to the bowsprit like a dog. She blinked in surprise - what was going on? This wasn't the plan at all.
"Ah, you are awake, then, miss?" came an educated, smooth voice from above her. It was tinged with malice and mocking. The mermaid twisted against her tether to see who was talking.
"You are useless, my pretty one," sneered the Captain, glaring down at his prisoner from the deck. "What use is a mermaid who faints at the sight of light? Maybe it is my fault - I din't realize what a little brightness could do to your worthless self. But I am rambling. Do you know what happened whilst you were out of it, lounging on my deck like a dead halibut? Do you?"
Hook leaned forward. The mermaid tried to break free, but couldn't move, could only stare into the ice-edged eyes.
"THE CROCODILE CAME!" bellowed Hook furiously, his eyes illuminating as though lightning was darting through their pupils. "The beast came and tried to devour me again! And what was your job? To protect me! And what were you doing? You were out in a cold faint the whole while!"
"Cap'n?"
Smee had sidled up during this rant and was now standing only a few feet away from Hook, who turned on his heel slowly.
"What is it now, Smee?" asked Hook, his voice calm and flat.
Smee gulped. "Don't you think…um, I mean…it's not her fault is it? She didn't mean to..um…faint…er…C-captain?"
Hook simply gazed into Smee's small, frightened eyes. The bo'sun swallowed hard - he knew that look only too well.
"Sorry for disturbing you, Cap'n," he babbled, backing away breathlessly. Hook raised an eyebrow before turning back to the task at hand.
"Now, miss, you may wonder what you're doing, tied up like that," continued Hook, his tone falsely polite. "I'll tell you, shall I? You're going to protect this ship from the crocodile beforeit decides to invite itself on board, do you understand me? Oh - and don't worry about light affecting you again - it's always dark under the bowsprit."
He laughed evilly, ripplingly. "Do your job well, fish-girl," he warned darkly, before turning away and striding back to his quarters.
The mermaid screeched and wailed, resenting her imprisonment. She scrabbled at the rope, trying to untie the knot, but her thin fingers were too spindly and weak to loosen it in any way.
She grew tired and hungry as the day wore on. It was cold under the shadow of the hulking bowsprit, and the waves moved her light frame easily from side to side, making the rope chafe.
It was night when something surfaced in front of her sore, weary eyes.
"So - Daughter of the Lagoon," it breathed.