Sorry for the lack of updates. I was too busy for Philip and Syrena's wedding because I was busy dealing with my sister's own real life wedding. Expect a lot of personal emotion from me in the story (especially from Elizabeth's perspective as the sister of the groom) in the next few chapters.

Trigger Warning: In this chapter, Syrena discusses briefly sexual assault against sex workers. There is no on-screen depiction or details, just short, suggestive mentions in a negative light and how an attacker was punished. If this is triggering, please skip the scene between Philip, Weatherby, Syrena, and Rutherford. It's mostly a scene tying up some obvious loose ends and easily skippable but the story needs it to move forward.

This chapter is definitely like one of those episodes you would skip on a re-watch of your favorite show because once you have the information that episode provides you can skip to something more interesting. I'll got the next chapter out super quick so you have something more fun to read.

Birds of a Feather

The Curse of the Black Pearl

Chapter Fifty-Two

Permission and Persuasion

While Giselle finished dressing Syrena, Philip waited outside of her bedroom. Whether Giselle had any clue of what had transpired while waiting for the pair, Syrena didn't know. However, she did notice the flash of recognition when Syrena asked to wear the sapphire heart necklace. Giselle thankfully didn't say anything, just nodded add helped put it around Syrena's neck.

Weatherby had sent Syrena a small selection of jewellery that she suspected were Elizabeth's cast offs. Syrena's hair was dressed down with pearls woven throughout them and in her ears were put small sapphires with a pearl hanging off it. Despite the gold and rubies clashing with outfit, Syrena insisted upon wearing her hibiscus bracelet. For makeup, Giselle dusted a faint peach blush onto her cheeks and then dabbed on a lip salve that was tinted coral.

"There you go, Mistress Finson," Giselle said proudly. "You look a vision. Sure to make Master Swift light in the head."

Syrena smiled gracefully. She said nothing about how Giselle had switched from calling her Miss Finson to Mistress, a title that should only belong to members of the household and not just their guest.

Weak in the knees the sight did make Philip, but he somehow found the fortitude to take her arm in arm and proudly lead her down to breakfast.

Philip and Syrena were surprised to find Uncle Weatherby and Elizabeth waiting at the bottom of the stairs in the grand hall for them. But thankfully they watched the couple with smiles and knowledge twinkling in their eyes.

"I see you have made your decision," Weatherby greeted the couple when they had reached the main floor.

Syrena was startled when Elizabeth pulled her into a hug, but she gave in and hugged back.

"I feel sorry you've had to settle for Philip," Elizabeth teased. She pulled back from the hug and grinned over at Philip, "Though I suppose she could have done worse."

"If only one could imagine," Philip rolled his eyes, but when Elizabeth offered a hug, he gladly accepted it. "Thank you for the support."

"Always," Elizabeth said sincerely.

"I suppose we will be family now," Syrena told Weatherby. "Would you like me to start calling you Uncle?"

Weatherby startled. He was surprised by the offer, but quickly his features were graced by a smile.

"I would be honoured," he chuckled. Like his daughter, he pulled each of the affianced couple into an embrace. "I will speak to Pastor Thomas when he arrives. He promised to come before Rutherford."

Philip's smile dropped, "Right. Forgot about him."

"Yes, I'm sure he will be thrilled with the latest development," Elizabeth teased.

"That will be enough of that," Weatherby scolded. "Your cousin and Syrena will need our help to pull this off. Philip has sacrificed a lot because of the trouble you pulled us all into. You will support him in maintaining his position with the church."

"Yes, Father."

"Besides," Syrena hooked an arm around Elizabeth, "I will need my maid of honour's assistance with planning my wedding."

"Maid of honour?"

"Who else am I going to ask? Prudence Gillette?"

"You joke, but I would kill to see the look on her face when you asked her."

The girls laughed together, heading in to breakfast as they began discussing plans. Philip moved to follow them in, but Weatherby caught him by the arm.

"I think you ought to go bring your best man here," Weatherby suggested. There was no trace of teasing or reluctance, just the foregone conclusion of who Philip would make best man. "We'll need all the help we can get."

Philip went green. What on earth was he going to tell Will?

Will was shoeing Dominic when Philip suddenly burst into the shop.

"Don't you ever knock?" Will teased. But then he took in the sight of Philip, "What's wrong?"

"Why would you assume something's wrong?" Philip's words jumbled together a bit too quickly.

"We've been best friends for eight years. I can tell when your smile is fake and there's worry in your eyes. And I haven't heard you speak that quickly since you needed to use the chamber pot halfway through the church announcements that one Sunday." Will patted Dominic and gave him a slight nudge. The donkey lazily sauntered over to his trough and began munching on oats. Will wiped his hands on his trousers and began to put his tools away, "So what's going on?"

"Alright, you caught me," Philip put up his hands in surrender. "I, uh need to talk to you about something important."

Will paused, "Actually there's something I need to talk to you about too."

"Oh?"

"You first. Mine can wait."

"Okay. Um. Well… I came here this morning to ask you a very important question."

"Yes?"

Philip cleared his throat, "…Will you be my best man?"

Will blinked and then just stared at him in long silence.

Philip grinned innocently at him, "Is that a yes?"

"What did you do?"

"Nothing!" Philip fibbed. "Can't a man ask his best friend to be his best man?"

"Philip," Will rubbed his temples. "Look, in answer to your question, yes, I will of course be your best man when you get married. But Philip, please tell me this is a hypothetical far off promise you just want to secure for the eventual day you marry motivated by your head being in the clouds about Syrena. Tell me that's what's going on!"

"By far off, you meant today or tomorrow, right?"

"What did you do?"

So Philip explained the events that led to his imminent marriage.

"For the love of God, Philip," Will groaned when the story was over, "I told you to draw a line. Why didn't you listen to me?"

"Hey, I drew a line! Uncle just disagreed with me on the whereabouts of the line. Also leave the Lord's name out of this."

Will sighed and took a seat on the chair against the wall.

"So…" Philip hesitated. "What was it that you were wanting to tell me?"

He looked up at Philip, "Nothing that can't wait until we deal with this insanity."

"Okay, because Elizabeth was acting weird this morning when she heard we were paying off Rosalyn."

His money, Will knew. His salvation gone down the drain.

"It'll be alright," Will lied. "I'll tell you after your wedding… I guess. There's no way out of this, is there?"

"Not without skipping town."

Will sighed, knowing it was never an option in Philip Swift's mind, "So this wedding be taking place today?"

"Either today or tomorrow," Philip leaned against the anvil. "That will all depend on Pastor Thomas. Truthfully, I'm worried that he's really going to despise me after this. He was hoping so much that I would marry Hannah, and now-"

"I think he'll handle it alright. You know you're like a son to him. Besides, everyone knew that when you found the one, it wouldn't take very long for you to rush into marriage. I'm honestly not surprised by the engagement but rather the haste to the altar."

"Yeah, I know Uncle is already trying to figure out how to put together an appropriate wedding with this much hurry. A lot of the traditional elements he had been planning for my wedding will have to be dropped. I fear when you do wed Elizabeth, he's going to go the whole nine yards to make up for my poor showing."

"Thank God that it's the woman's family that pays for the wedding."

"So you're not going to fight for control over that?"

Will's smile faltered, "Money is not something I'm all that secure about at the moment."

"Well, you won't have to worry long," Philip walked over and patted Will on the shoulder. "Once you buy the shop from Mister Brown in the next year or two, you'll have a nice steady income."

It took all of Will's strength not to tell Philip in that moment. He wouldn't ruin Philip's wedding day for him.

"I'm sure you're right," Will said. "Now, speaking of the wedding, what exactly am I supposed to wear? You know my church clothes are basically the same as my everyday clothes. I mean I do have that red cape, but I don't think-"

"I'm sure we'll find something of mine to put you in. Syrena is going to be wearing one of Elizabeth's gowns as her wedding dress anyway."

"Really?"

"Yeah. It's kind of a pity. We're trying to keep this quiet, so we can't even bring in a seamstress to try and alter the gown into something unique for Syrena. There's not anyone we could trust to keep it quiet."

At that moment, their eyes met and they both got the same idea.

"Oh," Philip said nervously, "Elizabeth is going to kill us."

Weatherby and Syrena were talking plans in the sitting room while Elizabeth waited by the entrance window for the carriage to return. When she saw it pull up, she raced out of the manor onto the front steps just in time to see Will helping Rachel Brown out of the carriage.

"What in the world?" Elizabeth skidded to a stop. "What is she doing here?"

Rachel just smiled politely and said without a hint of sarcasm, "Good morning to you too, Elizabeth."

"Sorry," she flashed a quick but not so sincere smile as they entered the Manor. Then her eyes snapped to the boys, "Well?"

"Elizabeth?" Weatherby Swann's voice came near as he entered the hall with Syrena. "Have the boys retur- Oh! Miss Brown."

Syrena blinked at the sight of the brunette holding what almost looked like a doctor's bag as she stood between Will and Philip, "What is going on?"

"We heard about the dress issue," Will explained. "We thought Rachel could help out. She really is a good confidant."

"Congratulations on the wedding, Miss Finson," Rachel said kindly. "I brought my work bag with me. It has extra fabric, lace, some embroidered stomachers I've been working on, and other such frivolities. I can't promise you a new dress, but I can transform an old dress into something unique. I would be happy to help you with your wedding dress if you offer the opportunity."

Syrena looked between the group, Philip and Will's excited looks and Elizabeth's head shaking.

"I would be honoured to have you alter a dress for me," Syrena decided.

"Syrena!" Elizabeth hissed.

"What?"

She looked exasperated and pulled the mermaid in close, "I don't want her around here!"

Syrena lifted a brow, "And since when has catching your favor been my priority?"

Elizabeth had to admit, she had her there.

"It'll be fine," Will took her by the arm and gently pulled Elizabeth back. "Besides, isn't giving Syrena a unique wedding dress more important? I'm sure you'll look lovely on our wedding day, so it's only fair Syrena gets that on hers."

"Fine," Elizabeth huffed. "But you owe me."

"I'm sure I'll find a way to make it up to you," Will laughed. "By the way, congratulations on the wedding, Syrena. I knew it wouldn't take you long to lock Philip down, but I'm still surprised at your efficiency."

Philip flushed red as Syrena laughed.

"So," Rachel said, "do you have the dress picked out yet?"

Elizabeth sighed, "Follow me."

The three girls were about to ascend the stairs when the footman suddenly called out, "Announcing Pastor Thomas Woodberry and Archdeacon Adam Rutherford."

The group froze.

"Elizabeth," Weatherby barely mustered himself. "why don't you go alone with Miss Brown? I have a feeling we will be needing Syrena for this."

"Please don't kill Rachel while alone," Will muttered.

Elizabeth made no promises.

"Marriage?" Pastor Thomas exclaimed. "Philip, what on Earth has happened?"

Philip gave a weak smile and took Syrena's hand. They were sitting on the couch in Uncle Weatherby's office, with his uncle on his other side and Pastor Thomas and Archdeacon Rutherford seated across from them. Will had been shown to Philip's room where he and a manservant were going through Philip's wardrobe to come up with some sort of best man attire.

"We have decided that God intends us to be partners on this Earth," Philip explained. "We thought that there was no sense in pretending otherwise and would like to start our lives together."

"Philip," Pastor Thomas said gently, "have you and Miss Finson compromised your honours?"

"No!" Philip exclaimed. "No, I swear to you that our virginities are intact, as God has intended."

"Then why the rush?"

Syrena and Philip looked at each other.

It was Weatherby who spoke, "There is reason to believe that our household staff may think otherwise."

"Surely it's not that big of a problem. It's just gossip."

"It's a bit more than gossip," Weatherby said suggestively.

"Ah," Pastor Thomas understood. He looked to Philip, "Then I believe it would be prudent that marriage came to pass."

"We are also hoping the knowledge stays within a select group of people, Pastor Woodberry. At least until the announcement during church on Sunday."

"Of course. How quickly are we hoping to have this completed?"

"Tomorrow evening at the latest, but tonight would be preferable."

Thomas nodded, "I see. I'm unfortunately unavailable to perform the wedding this evening, but tomorrow evening would be acceptable."

"That sounds wonderful."

"March 14, 1739," Philip smiled at Syrena.

"It sounds like a wonderful wedding date," she squeezed his hands. "Shall we begin the plans?"

Pastor Thomas nodded, "Of course. Now are there any-"

Rutherford cleared his throat.

They all fell silent.

"…Yes, Archdeacon Rutherford?" Philip dared to ask.

Rutherford's voice was strong and steady, "While I pray that the Lord sends his blessings to all marriages in Port Royal, I'm afraid we do have business to complete regarding Mister Swift's ordination application."

Thomas said, "Surely that can wait until after the-"

"I prefer we settle some points before the matrimony takes place. After all," Rutherford eyed Weatherby and Thomas, "while a Governor and local Pastor do have the authority to expediate past the reading of the banns and other such customary pre-wedding requirements, an Archdeacon does have the license to override such arrangements if he deems it necessary to protect the sanctity of a union."

Threat understood, the tension of the room grew taught.

"What is you wish of us?" Weatherby asked bluntly.

Rutherford chewed on his lip and then said, "Pastor Thomas, perhaps you would like to begin preparing for your wedding sermon in another room?"

Thomas stood, made his bows, and took his leave, but not before patting Philip on the shoulder and giving a muttered good luck.

When the door closed and the room filled with silence once more, Weatherby Swann decided he needed to replace the clocks in the house with ones that didn't have such loud ticks.

"Well?" Weatherby pushed.

"Philip Swift, you are the most puzzling man I have ever met," Rutherford said. "On the one hand, you are the perfect Postulant. I have rarely seen one so prepared for the role of servant of the Lord. But this past month-"

"I grow tired of apologizing for actions I do not regret, nor do I believe are against God's will," Philip said.

"Is that so? How might one reconcile such an opinion to the word of the Holy Bible?"

"It is in the Word of the Lord I find my understanding. Esther went against the laws of Persia to approach King Xerxes to save her family and her people, much as I did to save mine."

"Yes, but she did not break a man from prison."

"The Lord sent an angel to walk Peter out of his prison," Philip shot. "Jesus Christ ordered us to obey governing authorities as he put them in place, and yet when Peter was rightfully sentenced to death under the laws of man, Lord God sent an angel to free him. God puts down the laws as he intends but when an exception must be made, he puts the pieces in place to allow that exception. It is why he brought Captain Jack Sparrow to Port Royal so that Will and I could save Elizabeth and Syrena."

"So you argue that every man who breaks a pirate from prison is doing it from a place of Godly approval?"

"It is not for me to say with concrete evidence what the intentions of the Lord are. I can only say what I feel in my heart that God is telling me. The word of God is not unchanging. He sent his son to Earth to show us that, to rewrite what had already been written. I listen to what the Lord tells me and I share that word as he intends I do."

"You claim yourself a prophet?" Rutherford asked.

"I am merely Job who endures tragedy and seeks to find the meaning of it in my trust of the Lord."

"Job did not fight his fate however."

"Nor do I. While the world around me readjusts, I stand firm in the face of the objections of Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar."

"Then how do you reconcile when the Bible does not seem to speak of all reality?"

"I believe the Bible does not lie and encompasses all the world has to offer."

"Even when you discover your beloved is a mermaid?"

That knocked him dumb. Philip frantically looked over to Syrena – who just stared at Rutherford with brows slightly creased – and then over to his uncle whose face had gone pale.

Nervously, Philip began to laugh. It was loud and long and frantic as if Rutherford had just named the most ridiculous notion in the world.

"A mermaid?" Philip continued his rapturous chortling, "What kind of absurd fantasy are you-"

But Syrena cut him off.

"How did you know?" she asked flatly.

Crimson rose in the faces of Weatherby and Philip as they shared a nervous glance. They had no idea what was about to happen, but whatever it was, even if the situation was forced to become physical, they were prepared to protect Syrena.

Rutherford just looked at Syrena curiously, and pulled out the notes he had so studiously taken from the moment they met.

"Her name is Syrena Finson," Rutherford read out. "Syrena is a name typically invoked to reference Sirens, another name for Mermaid."

Syrena shrugged, "Actually that's a common misconception. While water related, the traditional Grecian Siren is a bird woman who drowns sailors. Anyone properly versed with The Odyssey would know of this difference."

"Indeed," Rutherford's tone suggested he didn't think being versed with The Odyssey was a necessary accomplishment in life. He turned back to his notes, "While the name Finson contains the word fins – typically an aquatic associated word – several witnesses testify this must be a creation of Miss Elizabeth Swann based on how she first introduced all to the surname."

Philip winced. He knew Elizabeth's flub would one day come back to bite them. They should have just stuck with the surname of Fins.

"Additionally," Rutherford continued with his notes, "two of the captured pirates have spoken the name of Fins to Miss Syrena in front of guards while she visited them aboard The Dauntless."

"Yeah, that sounds about right," Syrena muttered.

Rutherford went on with his notes, laying out a very solid case for why Syrena was obviously a mermaid and that they had barely even tried to hide the fact.

"On Saint Albinus, Miss Syrena was well acquainted with the most prolific fishing grounds."

"Maids were instructed not to be present while Miss Syrena bathed."

"You all have claimed that Miss Syrena has a very strange disease of the legs that seem to constantly change symptoms except for that she struggles to walk."

"You claim to come from Santa Perla Negra, which is just the Spanish words for Black Pearl – the name of the ship you were captive on – with a Santa thrown in front of it, as typical of many Spanish settlements."

"The pirate who died in your company had odd markings on his throat, marred by dagger cuts, but not impossible to see. I have a witness who claims they looked similar to teeth marks."

"Your home was said to be Bahía de las Ninfas del Mar, the actual Spanish name for Whitecap Bay, the known home to mermaids in Florida."

"Witnesses by the entrance of Isla de Muerta claim they saw some sort of tailed creature go past them the night of the skirmish."

"You claim to have a sister named Tamara, which is the same name as the Head Sister of the mermaids of Whitecap Bay."

"Miss Elizabeth Swann openly shouted to all the men aboard The Dauntless that the pirates had a mermaid."

"Yeah, it's hard to argue with that last fact," Philip loved his sister, but he would at least attempt murder if her stupidity blew this for Syrena.

"And finally, I received this letter," Rutherford held up the envelope from the Gillettes, who had received further interrogation the day previous. "It's from a concerned citizen claiming that Miss Syrena Finson is a mermaid."

Feeling like his brain suddenly dropped a million IQ points, Philip stupidly reached for the letter like Rutherford would actually let him have it. As expected, Rutherford jerked it away and sat there, holding it up.

Then he threw it in the fire.

Syrena startled, "Wh-"

"I cannot stand gossip mongers," Rutherford said flatly. "It is because of them my entire position exists and it would be best for all if they devoted themselves to less selfish, more Godly pursuits."

The trio just stared at Rutherford in complete disbelief.

"You know," Weatherby spoke cautiously, "you are taking to revelation of mermaids remarkably well."

Rutherford raised an eyebrow, "I deal with religious problems for the Church of England in the Caribbean. Do you really think this is the first time I've encountered a mermaid?"

In truth, they all had, but Rutherford spoke the fact in a way that made them feel stupid for assuming such.

Syrena asked, "Have you dealt with Tamara before?"

"I've never had the displeasure of meeting her personally, but I've had to sort out a few times the mess she left before when she or her kind ate the wrong young man. Truly, trying to explain to a mother what happened to her son when his best mates claim murder by mermaid is not an easy task."

"You conceal our existence then?"

"The Church of England has decided there are some creatures it would be best we not alarm our parishioners with."

"What kind of creatures?" Philip asked.

"That is none of your concern," Rutherford shut down instantly. "Though I will tell you, my Irish and Scottish brothers definitely have more problems with men disturbing Selkies than those young ladies ever did to humans. It's remarkable how many young men think it's acceptable to steal a seal skin to gain a wife against her will."

"Ah, I see you've met my almost brother-in-law, then," Weatherby said dryly.

Philip scowled, "Did Beckett-"

"Only a jest, Dearest Nephew… Though I wouldn't be surprised if told otherwise."

Syrena cleared her throat, "Not that it is insulting to be compared to a Selkie – which it absolutely is – but what is it you are doing here? You burned the letter testifying to my true form and seem to give very little concern to the existence of mermaids. So what is it that you want?"

Rutherford just looked at her, "I want to know what you're playing at."

There it was.

"Excuse me?" Syrena feigned insult.

"Mermaids do not marry or fall in love, and if they do, it's certainly not with Postulants. So, what is going on here? Are you actually in your fifteenth year and doing some sort of elaborate ritual for your First Hunt?"

"As flattering as it is to be stripped of a few years, I am about to enter my twentieth year in the month you call May."

"So the First Mating. Even more reason to worry."

"I am afraid I will have to take your word. I am no longer counted among the Sisters of Whitecap Bay and have no access to their knowledge beyond what they had already shared with me. The rituals of the First Mating was not one of those."

"Syrena was banished from her Sisterhood when she was only thirteen years old," Philip took her hand. "Syrena is different from other mermaids. She is not a vicious killer but one who chooses love. In fact, she was banished for saving the life of a young boy at sea – William Turner – and brought him to our ship, an act no doubt fated by God."

"That sounds all well and good," Rutherford said, "but I still have never heard of a mermaid who was not truly a killer."

"I suppose there is a first chance for everything." Syrena said coolly. "If I had wished to kill Philip, I would have done it by now."

Weatherby awkwardly added, "The girl has had ample opportunity."

That did not seem to improve the tension in the room.

Rutherford took a moment before asking, "You said you were banished at thirteen. Have you had your First Hunt as all mermaids do at fifteen years of age?"

She looked him directly in the eye, "Yes, I have."

Though it was not exactly news to him, Philip startled a little at her bluntness.

"So you admit to hunting down a man, murdering him, and consuming his flesh?" Rutherford shot.

This being news to Weatherby Swann, looked at his nephew with the most disturbed regret Philip had ever seen. Philip almost wondered if his uncle was going to suddenly call the whole thing off.

Syrena, however didn't simper, "Would you like to hear the story or continue to draw your own conclusions?"

"By all means," Rutherford gestured for her to tell the tale.

"When I experienced the moon that indicated what you humans would call my fifteenth year, I became uncontrolled. It started simple with a stray thought here or there and the occasional unexpected hiss. But over time it worsened, and I felt myself losing control over my aggression. Soon I could not look at a man without imagining the dozen ways I could kill him in that moment. It scared me, I did not want to murder senselessly, but my blood rushed, my eyes darkened, and the hunger tore at me."

"So you chose murder?"

"I fought hard against my instincts. It was a struggle, but I thought I could tame myself… until the incident. Until the day my mind just turned off, my animal side took over, and I attacked my caretaker Ragetti." Syrena, still determined to keep the story of the curse a secret from Rutherford, did not elaborate. She didn't tell them how her claws slashed across Ragetti's throat in a blow that surely would have killed him instantly had he not been cursed. "When that happened, I knew I couldn't fight it anymore. I could not ignore my nature… but I could suppress it and approach it on my own terms."

The men looked at her curiously.

"There is a woman named Eveline whose father had once been my father's Captain. Eveline's family had always been knowledgeable about myth and magic as well as the seedy underbelly of the pirate world. My father decided to take me to see her."

Syrena would later clarify to Philip and Weatherby that Eveline and Barbossa had struck a deal long ago. Due to Eveline's vast knowledge base, she was too valuable a commodity to sacrifice, so Barbossa agreed that so long as she continued to help him in all other ways, he would not press the location or identity of her cousin. The deal had become strained over the years and there had been many times Barbossa almost broke it off, but Eveline knew how to play her cards enough that the issue never came to a head. It very much helped that while Eveline in fact knew her cousin was a boy named William Turner, she genuinely had no idea where he was or how to find him.

"With a First Hunt, you only need to kill one human," Syrena continued. "Hunt them, kill them, and consume them. Then my mind would be back under control. While I am different, I am still a mermaid and I do not see the wrong in myself using my natural weapons of claw and fang to produce a meal. To me, hunting and consuming a human on paper is no different than a human hunting and consuming a deer. The catch – however – is humans cannot understand the deer nor listen to it beg for its life. A deer is a deer to a hunter. There is no good or evil; it is simply venison."

"I see," Rutherford said smoothly, his tone not betraying if he empathized with the point or just sympathized.

"I didn't want to be like the cruel Sisters who raised, who tricked good men into death and then played with their food. So, I made an arrangement with Eveline."

"And what arrangement was that?"

"She would find me five men who deserved to die, and I would choose one to hunt."

The room filled with a tense silence as the men struggled to weigh out the morality of Syrena's choice.

"So you didn't just kill a random man?" Weatherby asked nervously. "You specifically targeted one."

"A man had to die," Syrena said simply. "I wanted to make sure it was one who deserved to be delivered to the fires of Hell."

"A-and, did he?" Philip felt the urge to clear his throat. He still held Syrena's hand, but his eyes watched her warily.

"Yes, he deserved it," Syrena answered. "It may be surprising to you, but some do choose to raise families on Tortuga. Not right in the centre of town, but in the outskirts you can find a gaggle of children milling about. But in town you'll also run past young boys who have stowed away to freedom and young girls who have fallen on hard times, finding selling themselves their only choice. Some girls in those situations are very young and very naïve."

Weatherby coughed politely, "Is this really the most appropriate-"

"It's a story about murder and mutilation of a dead body," Philip shot, "I don't think the presence of prostitutes will push it over the edge. Syrena, go on with your tale."

Syrena nodded, "One of the men Eveline offered to me was Johnny Greig."

"God Lord, she knows his name," Weatherby murmured.

Her dark eyes flicked to him for a moment with an intensity she must have only learned from Barbossa, "Johnny Greig was a man with a fondness for women- not, not women. Girls. Girls far younger than any man should look upon that way."

Philip shifted uncomfortably, remembering the way Twigg and Koehler had looked at Syrena and couldn't help but once more wonder when their desires for her had begun.

"At first he just went for the young prostitutes," Syrena struggled to keep her voice calm, "but then they got younger…and he also stopped paying. Soon the young prostitutes wouldn't accept his offers, so he began taking what he wanted by force. He would leave them black and blue and bloody, taking weeks for them to heal. If they were lucky, he would call them whore and throw a few coins at their feet. It upset the older prostitutes who would look out for the younger ones, and he also found himself at the wrong end of a blade with the pirates who did find they had some modicum of a heart. But Johnny Greig was a man who never had enough, and he went after some of the young girls of the merchants and sailors who lived on the outskirts of town. Soon enough, there was a whole mob of angry pirates and prostitutes who demanded that Johnny Greig be stopped."

"And you stopped him?" Rutherford's words weren't truly a question.

"I was fifteen," Syrena said, "the perfect age for him. Eveline made sure Johnny Greig was in the bar and I came and acted coy around him. He was too easy a target, I didn't even need to use any of my seduction magic."

"So, you have the capacity to use your attraction magic," Rutherford said. "Have you used any on Mister Swift here?"

Syrena smirked, "I haven't had to use a drop."

Philip reddened slightly.

Weatherby shifted uncomfortably, "So this Johnny Greig, you attacked him?"

"It wasn't all that hard in the end," Syrena shrugged. "It took nothing to convince him to come for a midnight swim on the beach. Eveline had enlisted a few pirates to keep the beach clear of other people – who didn't know about the presence of a mermaid, just that Eveline had arranged for Johnny Greig to be dealt with. I lured him into the water, pretended to go in for a kiss, but then sunk my teeth into his throat and made him suffer for all the pain he had inflicted upon those girls. The water was red with his blood as I ate my first hunted prey, and I regained my control of senses again."

"But surely someone noticed?"

"If they did, they didn't care. Johnny Greig had disappeared for good, and the world was all the better for that. I returned to my father, told him and my caretakers what happened, and we never spoke of it again."

A heavy silence clung to the room as the men processed the darkest crime Syrena had ever committed.

Philip remembered the way Ragetti and Pintel danced over the tale when he asked if Syrena had ever eaten a man. It was cold, calculating, and brutal, but at the same time the calculation had been for the greater good. If Syrena had to murder and consume a man – and apparently she had to – wasn't it good that she made sure it was a true monster?

Finally, Rutherford spoke, "Do you regret it?"

"No," Syrena answered immediately, her voice as toneless as ever. "It helped me control myself to prevent further murders and I removed evil from this Earth."

"It is not up to us to cleanse the Earth of evil; that is the duty of the Lord."

"But does he not sometimes use us as vessels to perform that duty? After all, not every pirate would find death through drowning in a storm."

"So you claim your actions righteous?"

"In the same way that Commodore Norrington putting a noose around the neck of a criminal is righteous." Syrena cocked her head, "That said, I am not about to commit a spree of murders in the name of the Lord. I do not condone the Spanish Inquisition if that is what you are after."

"Oh, Nathaniel would have liked you," Weatherby muttered, remembering his brother-in-law's particular rancour against the Spanish Inquisition.

"But," she said pointedly, "I will seek the forgiveness of God for my actions. David may not have regretted Bathsheba and Uriah until Nathan brought it to his attention, but he did repent when it was."

"Ah, but David still paid for the sin with the life of his child," Rutherford pointed out.

"And is Philip to pay for my sin with the cost of his priesthood? Or worse, our potential marriage."

Philip clenched his jaw; while his uncle may have forced him into this speedy marriage, he also did not wish for Rutherford to tear them apart.

Rutherford studied Syrena for a long time.

"In the same way that I should disallow his ordination due to his sins," Rutherford said, "I should deny you marriage as punishment for yours."

Philip opened his mouth to object, but Syrena grabbed his arm. Their eyes met, and Syrena's expression bade him to calm down, which Philip conceded to.

"And yet," Rutherford watched the pair, "the two of you seem to have a connection most would only dream of. Preachers can be overly passionate, and they need a calm, stable wife to guide their temper. Speaking with you, Miss Syrena, I find you delightfully versed in the Bible in a way the Church would require of a preacher's wife… And yet, there's still a darkness about you."

"Darkness does not mean unholiness," Philip pointed out. "You can hardly throw a stone in the Bible without hitting a story of how the heroes disobeyed either God or society. Abigail went against her husband's wishes, Peter denied the Lord thrice, Jonah-"

"Yes, I am familiar with the Bible, thank you very much." Rutherford shook his head, "This whole situation is one of the most tangled webs I have encountered perhaps ever. Decisions are easier when the world is black and white and not a mass of grey."

"But the colour grey itself is the point, isn't it? It's both black and white and has its place in the world as ordained by God. Just as Syrena has both light and dark within her, yet is meant to be with me, she at my side and I at hers. She's different."

"I don't know if I can truly say she is."

Syrena spoke, "What do I need to do to prove this to you? I know you are not going to make your decision on Philip today, but we need a choice on our marriage. How can I get you to agree to let us become man and wife as intended by God?"

Rutherford regarded her for a long time.

Then he gave his answer.

"You repent sins and be baptised in the glory of the Lord."

To Syrena's credit – and Philip's surprised – she just blinked at him.

"Forgive me, but I do not see how it would be possible to be baptised without compromising my true form."

Rutherford seemed to expect the objection, "I'm sure we can clear another beach."

"Clever."

"I try. So, will you do it?" He reached out his hand for a shake, "You marry Philip Swift tomorrow night, and the night before I leave, you will be baptised."

Syrena smirked and took his hand, "Deal."

And they shook on it.

"So… that's the story of how you ate a man?" Philip asked awkwardly.

After the barter was struck, Rutherford called back in Pastor Thomas to speak with Governor Swann. Philip and Syrena were unceremoniously kicked out of the room, citing that the pair had plenty to take care of now that the wedding was set. They were headed up the stairs towards their respective rooms to check on Will and Elizabeth and the progress of the outfits.

Syrena smiled, "Why, are you scared of me now?"

"A little bit," Philip admitted.

She laughed, and when they reached the top of the stairs, pulled him to a halt.

"Thank you for fighting for me in there," she stroked the side of his jaw, wanting to do nothing more than place a trail of kisses along it.

"I will always fight for you," Philip promised. He loved to play with a strand of her hand between his fingers. "You know, this whole baptism thing. We could probably find a way out-"

"No. I made a vow, and I will keep it."

"But to ask you to accept my God as yours-"

"There is room for both in my life, and I am willing to find a place for your God there."

Philip smiled, "What did I do to deserve you?"

"I'll let you know when I figure it out," she teased.

Syrena sighed and rested her head against his chest. She didn't care what anyone might see or say anymore; she would marry that man tomorrow. Philip Swift was hers forever.

"Philip?" she whispered, listening to the steady beat of his heart. "Do you think you could ever try to accept my world into your life?"

He gave a long exhale and wrapped his arms around her, "I will do my best to try."

And by God would that man try.

A/N: So I have a weird problem I didn't expect to run into, but I honestly can't decide what I want Syrena's wedding dress to look like. Due to this being set in 1739, Syrena won't wear a white gown, but I can't quite figure out what I do want her to wear. I'm really torn between something red because she's a red tail, blue because of the ocean, or green because that's Philip eye colour. Which do you prefer?