Author's Note – Hello readers and happy long weekend! I hope to have the next chapter for you when I get back from camping early next week. It's already almost done. I know everyone's heart is breaking and I'm getting impatient for the big throwdown! Which I promise is coming very soon! As always, thank you for all of your comments and encouragement. 😊
Melody grabbed Harry's extra sword from where it leaned beside his desk and stuffed it, and her own blade into the long duffel bag he used for practice. She knew he had a few more stray weapons and daggers hidden in a stash under his bed, so she went for those, too.
She bent onto her hands and knees about to reach under the bed when she felt something wet beneath her palm. She glanced at her hand, expecting to find the evidence of more muddy footprints, but choked on her own breath as she saw the crimson stain coating her skin. Her eyes fell to the floor where spatters of blood streaked the tile.
Bile crept up her throat and she swallowed it back, not allowing herself to think about whose blood that was. Panic threatened to overtake her and she would have just stayed there on the ground. As her emotions boiled over, she would have just collapsed. But she heard Harry's voice in her head.
He loved her. If the tides were turned, he would fight for her, she knew that. He'd tried to face Sparrow's crew on his own just days ago to keep her safe.
She could do this. She might not be able to do it with brute strength, or a siren song, but she would find a way to save Harry.
Melody fished the weapons out from under the bed, then wiped her bloodstained hands on her already ruined dress and tried to think.
Maybe she should use the pixie dust to scout out the area, to see where the Pearl's crew was heading. But this didn't feel right. Something was telling her she should save it. Besides, there was only one place Sparrow could have taken her friends. If Sparrow's plan was to build a fleet and control the seas, he would be taking the Lost Revenge to add to his collection and heading to Neverland for the Jolly Roger. And he'd need her to help raise 'd save the pixie dust. She'd need all the secret weapons she had until she was ready to use them.
A plan was forming in her mind now, and as it solidified, she really only saw one way forward.
Slinging Harry's bag over her shoulder, she ran, following the muddy footprints from Harry's room back toward the North Tower Main Hall where the ball had taken place. The rain had stopped at the north end of campus around the dorms, but her boots sloshing through deep puddles were evidence enough that the storms had been recent. The night was darker now, too, with the moon hidden behind the blanket of clouds floating overhead. Careful to avoid being seen, she stuck to lesser traveled paths, tripping in the dark over roots and raised cement. But even when she felt the blood trickling from her battered knees down her shins, she never stopped running.
Sirens blared and the sky darkened as she approached the hall. The thin veil of clouds had thickened into churning thunderheads and it was clear a storm was brewing.
A very unnatural storm.
The air shifted suddenly, sending a barrage of punishing droplets crashing against her face, pushing her back. Gusts of wind razed the trees and shrubs surrounding the Hall, and she clung to a bench at a safe distance, watching a group of Auradonian military emerge from the ballroom, hunched over, fighting the storm.
Melody felt her stomach sink, a pit of dread forming there as she watched the wind lash at the fancy blue uniforms of the Auradonian soldiers. One screamed as he was pushed back violently into the wall. His body went limp as it slammed into brick. The others scrambled for him, trying to pull him back inside the Main Hall, fighting the blustery wind tearing at their clothes.
Melody could only hope Sparrow would show mercy to the innocent people inside.
But she wouldn't hold her breath.
Watching the scene unfold, it was clear that Sparrow's crew would not be stopped tonight. He controlled the sea and the sky and the Auradonian forces were powerless against him. The only way to stop him was with sea magic. She needed to get those sapphires back.
Melody turned in the opposite direction, away from the heart of the storm, skirting the edge of campus. Finally, as she approached the Western Docks and scanned the port, she confirmed that the Lost Revenge was already gone. If she squinted, she thought she could make out the faint glimmer of her sails on the horizon but with the rain, and it being so dark tonight it was hard to make out any details.
But even in the dark, there was no way she would mistake the silhouette of The Black Pearl. Sparrow's ship was still docked and would likely stay that way until he either found Melody or until the Auradon authorities arrived with enough force to push him back onto the sea. And from the looks of things at the North Hall, it didn't seem like that would happen anytime soon.
Sparrow needed her andthe locket, and he was not leaving until he had both.
Melody stayed in the cover of darkness and turned away from the ship, heading to the beach first. The rain was coming down in sheets on this side of the bay and each step felt like twenty as her boots sucked into the wet sand. Her thighs burned from the effort by the time she dropped her soaked bag of supplies at the waterfront, swords and daggers and the little vial of pixie dust, before activating her locket's magic and diving into the waves. She swam out past the breakers and called for help underwater, projecting her voice for any fish nearby.
Fat droplets pelted the water all around as she waited for a response. A few stray mackerel eventually answered her call, bringing a half dozen friends to circle her.
"I need your help," Melody said, unable to control the desperation in her voice. "Find Florian, the blue shark that's been hanging around. Or Sid's school, you know, the sea bass? Please."
"I know them," one tiny mackerel said, flicking his fins, excited to be of help.
"Tell them to come quickly. And while you're at it, tell any fish you meet along the way that Queen Ariel's daughter needs help."
The wide-eyed fish dipped below the choppy waves and disappeared. As Melody waited, she worked out the details of the very rough plan she'd been formulating. If she didn't bring the locket to Sparrow, her friends could be killed. She knew that. And the longer she took, the more people were at risk.
She thought back to the limp body of that soldier. How many more would die until she surrendered to Sparrow? How long before he found more people close to her to punish? Her mom, her dad. Her mermaid friends in Atlantica. With the trident, anything was possible.
Plots and fears and thoughts and emotions all whirled around her mind until soon, a pair of familiar black, beady eyes popped up next to her.
"Princess!" Sid squealed. "It's a pleasure to see you again, what can we help with?"
A sharp dorsal fin pierced the surface next, followed by another familiar black eye.
"Hello Sid," she nodded a quick greeting to her friends. "Florian. Thank you so much for coming."
But it wasn't just Sid and Florian. Something brushed against her tail fin. Then something else. Again and again until soon, a mass of schooling fish churned the water all around her. It was hard to tell exactly how many there were, as the surface was under siege from the downpour, making it hard to see under the water. But Melody recognized not just sea bass, but mackerel, tuna, barracuda, sharks, whales and now she could even see a few drenched gulls and pelicans circling overhead. The dark water was teeming with life, waiting for her command.
"I'm in trouble guys," she said. "I need you to somehow get my bag of supplies to Neverland. I think that's where The Black Pearl will head. It's a long way, you might have to take shifts. But please, meet me there. I'm hoping my parents will send some help, too."
Sid dipped his head down low into the fish version of a bow. "Anything for you, princess."
"My guys saw Sparrow take The Lost Revenge," Florian said. "They had that pirate I'm not allowed to eat with them, too."
"Did Harry -," she began, voice cracking as she tried to keep her emotions under control. "Did he look okay?"
"He's a fighter, that one," Florian said. "He was pretty banged up. Still don't know why you care so much, though. Best let him go, it's too dangerous for you to try to rescue him on your own."
"I can't just let him go." Her gaze was pulled to the dark horizon, toward the Revenge, where she knew Harry was probably bound, gagged, and in agony from whatever wounds had left those blood stains on his floor. "I love him, Florian."
Both fish angled their heads to study her. It was the first time she'd said the words out loud to anyone and they felt strange in her mouth. Too big, too unwieldly, but they were the truth. She felt it like an ache in her bones now.
She loved him. And she was going to get him back.
"I need to go after them."
"The Black Pearl is still docked. Sparrow split his crew, half to the Revenge," Florian said. "I don't see how you can get close with everyone watching for you."
"I'm going to pretend to surrender to Sparrow. Then he'll probably take me to Neverland where the Jolly Roger is submerged. I'm pretty sure he'll try to raise it and any other sunken ships in the Gorge to add to his fleet. And before he does, I need to find an opening to steal his sword, or the trident."
"That seems… unwise," Florian said, making a worried circle around her.
"It makes more sense than fighting. Can you really see me sneaking past dozens of crew who are already on high alert and fighting past all of them on my own?"
Neither fish answered.
"He can't kill me. He needs me to help him. So, I'll try to get Sparrow to trust me, wait for an opening, and then try to set my friends free."
"A lot of 'ifs' there, Princess," Florian said.
"Better 'ifs' than more deaths. He's going to keep killing until he finds me. Who knows when he'll turn on my family."
Sid and Florian gave each other worried expressions, but said nothing. Their silence was their agreement, there really wasn't another choice.
"What's in the bag?" Sid asked, flicking a flipper toward the shore.
"Weapons and pixie dust."
"So, we'll get your bag to Neverland and get it to you when you need it," Sid said.
"Yes, but we'll need more help than that," she said. "Gather everyone you know along the way with jaws big enough to do some damage to a ship's hull. We may end up needing to do something drastic. And if Sparrow locks me up, I'll need someone to try to get me out."
The water rippled as fish gestured their agreement to serve their Princess in this request, bowing or nodding.
Sid and Florian echoed the motion.
"We can't swim fast enough to catch those ships, but we can spread the word through the air." Sid looked up at the seabirds circling above. "We'll find a way to keep the seas safe for you. Someone will be there to help, princess."
"Thank you," she called, but Sid and Florian were already swimming as fast as they could go. She heard them spreading the word to the gulls overhead and soon, there was a squabble over who carried what, as the swords and weapons were separated to make for a lighter load.
By the time Melody used the locket and felt her boots sink into the wet sand again, her bag was already on its way to Neverland.
The lonely walk to The Black Pearl may have been the worst five minutes of her life. Alone, with her thoughts and with no more need for planning, all she could think of were her friends. Jay, Gil, Uma, Carlos, Jane. And… Harry. The crew were about to sweat him that night at Skull Rock, what could they have already done to him this time?
And now that Melody had given a name for the feelings she harbored for her pirate, the thought of him being hurt seemed… unfathomable.
She tried to breathe, tried to count her steps to distract herself, until she emerged out of the storm, hair and ballgown drenched, to stand on the dock - the now, eerily clear dock underneath a perfect starry sky.
That night sky seemed to meld with the black sails of the Pearl docked just ahead and as she approached, the whip and flap of those sails grew louder as the crew began to unfurl them.
They were shoving off soon. That meant…
"I knew you'd come, darling," Sparrow purred, appearing from behind the railing and crossing down the gangplank to her. "Clever trick with that fake locket. After you nearly made me blast a hole through Skull Rock, I eventually calmed down enough to be impressed."
He was dressed in a long, burnt orange jacket with black trim and silver buttons that shone under the dim glow of the light posts lining the pier. His long dreadlocks hung down past his shoulders and his hat was tilted low over his shadowed eyes, but it couldn't shade the smug smile he was wearing. Triton's sword was strapped to his waist, but she couldn't see the trident on him.
Her vision swam for a brief instant as the shock of what she was doing threatened to pull her under. She coaxed a breath into her chest, then another, stringing them into something that resembled a regular rhythm again. She needed to keep it together, for her friends. For Harry.
"You win, Sparrow," she said, playing into that ego of his. "Just let my friends go and I'll do whatever you want."
His lip twitched, a subtle hint at how her surrender had affected him.
"Whatever I want, hmm? Well, that is music to my ears."
The rest of his crew was leering at her from over the railing, waiting for their Captain's orders.
"Even so, I won't be letting them go just yet. Otherwise, what leverage would I have?" He gestured over his shoulder to summon a few of his men. Then he was circling her, like a shark, slinking around until he stood just behind her, breathing his next words against her temple. "Forgive me if I don't trust you, but you got the best of me once. And I will not let that happen again."
She recognized Growly and another of his ghostly crew as they approached.
"Search her," he ordered.
Growly sneered as his icy fingers explored roughly up and down her wet body, leaving no place untouched. Even though she was still wearing just a form-fitting ballgown, they insisted on touching her everywhere. Finally, having searched every inch of her dress, jacket, and boots, they ceased their crude treatment and she stood straight to face their Captain.
"Looks like she's finally ready to behave, boys," Sparrow said, eyeing her up and down letting his stare linger on her locket, before skimming lower to her deep neckline. "Seems I missed a good party. Hope you saved a dance for me."
Now was the time to play her card. She knew he found her attractive, or at least interesting. The last time she'd seen him, he'd stood by gawking at her as she sliced up his crew. Such a weakness could be weaponized when wielded properly. If Harry had taught her one thing, it was the power of a gaze.
"For the most powerful pirate in Auradon?" She concentrated all of her energy on giving him the same kind of hungry look she sometimes gave Harry. All she had to do was imagine him, and she found the expression wasn't too hard to reproduce. "Maybe if you behave, I could even teach you a proper waltz."
Sparrow raised his dark eyebrows toward Growly Voice. "Well, well, well," he said. "She's full of surprises tonight, isn't she?"
Melody bit back a comment about how he didn't know the half of the surprises she had in store. Instead, she offered him a sizzling side-eyed glance. "Full to bursting."
He smirked.
Good. He was enjoying the game at least.
"Give me the locket." When he held out his hand, she didn't hesitate, placing her necklace firmly into his cold, calloused palm. She hoped she did a good enough job hiding the anxious chill that snaked up her spine.
He gazed at the golden scallop for a while, before working at the clasp, but it wouldn't budge. It was locked tight.
"Then its true?" he asked. "It can only be opened by someone with Mer blood?"
She nodded. "It's true."
He handed it back to her. "Then open it."
"Right here?" she asked, looking around at the wooden dock.
"Lie down and open it. I need to see you use it. It's the only way I can be sure you're being straight with me this time." He slanted his head and gave her an unsettling look from the corner of his eye. "Besides, I hear you look pretty good in a bikini."
She let him think she was trying to suppress a smile at his flirtation, before she obeyed his command, and lowered herself to the wooden planks at his feet.
This was a dangerous line to be walking. Pirates were known to take without asking and these flirtations would only be inviting more of his attention. But she had to make him see her as something more than an enemy if she was going to get him to let down his guard long enough for her to take what she needed.
And her options on how to do that were limited.
She never took her eyes from his as she changed from human to mermaid and back again. As she made her transformation, a smile slowly unfolded across his lips.
"Enchanting." The word came out in a slow whisper and his gaze felt heavy on her, as if he was having a hard time looking away. And when he reached out hand to help her up again, she let her fingers linger a bit.
"Now. The locket," he said, slanting an eyebrow and offering his open palm.
There was no choice. She slipped the necklace right back into his open grasp. She had to pretend to be helpless, hopeless, and pray his baser instincts would give her an opportunity to take advantage of him. He was a pirate. The worst kind. The kind she'd thought Harry was on that first day of Oceanography. It was only a matter of time before Sparrow drank himself into a stupor or thought with the organ in his pants instead of the one in his skull. And if either of those things happened, she would be ready and hopefully, the sea creatures she warned would be there to help.
"Where are my friends?" she asked, making her voice sound as meek and frightened as possible. "You didn't hurt them did you?"
"They're waiting on The Lost Revenge. And so long as you cooperate, I have no need to harm them."
"I told you I would do whatever you want." And she reminded him of that with a voice that walked that line between innocent and suggestive, leaving him guessing at her meaning whether he wanted to or not.
He gave her one more look before turning to board his ship. "Bind her hands."
And just like that, she had given herself up. She was now Zach Sparrow's prisoner aboard The Black Pearl.
And as Growly led her up the gangplank, Melody gazed up at the vast net of stars overhead. Thousands of twinkling pinpoints of light pulsed down at her, but Melody sent her thoughts toward one star in particular.
I'm not as good at this as you are, Harry. But I'm trying. And when this is over we'll follow that star together. I promise.
