CHARACTERS


SUMMARY
Working on it >.<

The storm was coming in faster than she thought; the current was stronger as she swam through the waves. But it was the ship braving the waves above her that was causing her the most concern. It was a fishing boat yes, but the boat was losing it's catch overboard. Already the fish that still lived swam past her in droves, down and away. But it made the currents around her swirl her around--which said something for she was a strong swimmer.

It was almost like it was raining fish. An amusing thought for an unamusing moment of time. With a burst of strength and determination the mermaid swam on, swimming against the currents. But it was hard. The water was a strong force, strong like the storm was becoming. This was not going to be a easy night. And it seemed to just be getting worse.

Up ahead of her something was coming into view. Something gridlike.

A net!

Fear now fueled her strength, trying to avoid the fishing net. But it dragged along the ocean floor. She paused long enough to take her surroundings in better, long hair floating around her. She pushed at it as she gave a frustrated sound and swam on. Maybe she could get to the bottom fast enough as it dragged closer and closer to the boat. Maybe there would be enough of an opening to squeeze through!

More fish swam past her, some narrowly missing running into her. The more determined she was, the greater the threat ahead her loomed. The net still dragged too close to the bottom and the storm still was too much for the waves and boat. She turned, but as she turned, her tail entangled with the net.

Crying out she struggled to free herself, but the more she struggled, the more she was caught. Within moments there was nothing else she could do. She sagged against the net in defeat, but there was still hope. Maybe when the storm passed she would be able to get free. That would be what she waited for.

But hours passed and her hope was fading. The rope of the net bit into her skin and tail, dragging at her hair and pulling it painfully. She moved enough to ease the pain of at least her hair, but her body was another matter. It looked as if it would be a long while before anything happened.

**

When morning came the storm had long since cleared away to reveal the blue of the cloudless sky. The sun's rays reflecting off various parts of the fishing vessel hiding nothing. Not even the mass of tangled nets and busted portions. Not even the glint of a rather large fish trapped within the nets. But if one was to take a closer look they would take note that the large fish was something more. They would notice the delicate hand hanging from the nets, a string of pearls ringing around the wrist and tail. Perhaps they would notice long hair the color of sunshine matted and plastered against the head of an unconscious woman.

The sky had gone dark, the clouds moved faster towards them with every blast of wind that was pushing them off course. "Grab the rigging!" Captain Jacqueline Valliere shouted at her men, but the sound of crashing waves and howling wind swallowed her voice. Her raven hair was plastered wet on her face, the rain and sea water stung her eyes. She held on tight to the railing, using all her strength to pull herself towards the helm. The lieutenant was nowhere to be seen, and she prayed to Gods above that he hadn't been washed away. The ship rocked violently beneath her feet, each step threatening to toss her overboard.

She felt a hand tug at the sleeve of her crimson jacket, "Cap'n, we must get inside!" Mr. Buttons was her first mate, an older gentleman, a bit off his rocker with a penchant for collecting buttons. She barely heard him over the commotion. She nodded her assent, now pulling the weight of two people towards the door into her quarters. Without warning, the ship lurched to a halt. They were caught in something, but the captain ignored it. Better to be caught on something than careening across the ocean pulled by a storm. After a few more body aching minutes a few of them made it inside the Captain's quarters. Moving wasn't an option, the ship was still bobbing in the storm like a buoy. They all huddled just behind the door, where they fell asleep, rocked by the waves pummeling the hull.

Jacqueline awoke to dawn streaming in the ceiling height windows. They had made it! She laughed, "We're alive! Blessed light, we're alive." She stood, cracking her neck to remove the kink. Once outside, she took the biggest breath of sea air she could when she saw a mess of fishing net on the deck of the ship. "It looks like the Gods saw it fit to provide breakfast after that hellish storm," she called out behind her shoulder, the men laughed between half sleepy groans and stretches. After they ate, she would have the moment of silence for the crew she had lost. Let them have their moment to be grateful for life.

"Saints above!" one of them shouted. "There's someone caught in the net!"

Jacqueline inched closer to see what it was. A woman… with a…tail. She poked at her with a finger, "Wake up," she had never seen one before, but she knew what it was. It was a bad omen, but then, pirates were always a superstitious lot.

At the sound of voices she began to stir, but felt constrained. Something was wrong. She tried to roll to her side, her body felt too dry and warm, but found that what ever held her, would not give any slack. A small grown escaped her, but was soon cut off. The voices were closer. Very close.

She was prodded and spoken to then.

She managed to wiggle a hand enough to rub at her eyes before opening them. And found herself still tangled in the net that trapped her the night before. But that's not what caused the fear to flood crystal blue eyes, her body tensing.

She was surrounded by pirates.

Again she attempted struggling against the ropes, but hissed in pain as they rubbed her skin, digging in harder in a few places where the net pulled tighter. The crystalline hued tail shimmered in the sunlight, kept immobile in the mess of rope, giving glimpses of the string of pearls around her, along with a few other shiny trinkets. If they paid closer attention they would notice only the net and her hair covered the rest of her since of course mermaids wore nothing.

Jacqueline watched the half-fish struggle in the net and all she could think of was feeling sorry for it. Her eyes were the clearest she had ever seen before, and she looked in pain. "Out of my way, ye big louts," she commanded, producing a large silver hilted dagger. It was the only thing she had to remind her of her past and she kept it close. It glinted in the sunlight as she lifted it and sliced open the net, picking the best places so as not to cut the mysterious creature. "Don't fight," she cooed. It was hard to tell who was more afraid, but before she could decide…"Look at them baubles," one of the crew noticed the finery draped around her.

"No!" she caught his arm, "It's bad luck to steal from a mermaid."

There were plenty of tales about mermaids and sirens, evil half humans who sang sailors to their doom. It was always different, sometimes their look would bring a man to jump ship, others it was their beautiful voices that put ideas in their sun rattled heads. Either way, she wasn't going to risk the lives of her few remaining men over a tidbit of jewelry. "Come on men, toss her in the drink!"

Protests sprung up, and once they got like this there was nothing she could do. "D'ya have anymore of these trinkets, lass?" her voice was soft, she didn't want to frighten her anymore than she probably already was. "We'll let ye go of ye show us where there's more," the other pirates grumbled in accord. "Alright, she ain't to be touched!" she warned them, "I'll not have ye cursin' the lot of us for a bit of gold." she didn't like this one bit, but she disliked mutinies even more.

At the sight of the dagger she seemed to shrink back, but it seemed as if they were going to help her. That was something of a relief. Within moments at least half of the net binding her fell around her body. There were several rope burns and abrasions as her upper body was revealed. She still did not move though, blue eyes wide as she watched them. It was interesting how the female was reacting and how knowledgeable she was.

As true as her words were, se herself hadn't…caused…any deaths for treasure for some time. She preferred to just rummage around shipwrecks.

Her eyes jerked at the pirate mentioning the small treasures still attached around her limbs and waist. They were -hers-. And they weren't going to take them from her. Her fear dimmed just a tiny bit at that moment as the threat loomed and her grew protective.

It was when she also saw her freedom on the horizon that she thought she'd get away clean. But the female's voice was what truly drew her attention to the situation.

It was getting tricky. Her gaze went from the other pirates to the female, realizing this must be the captain, the one actually keeping the crew backed off.

"No." she finally decided to say. She knew it was extremely risky lying to a pirate, but she wasn't going to be leading them anywhere near her private trove. "These are all I have."

The demands of her men and the response from the mermaid were not what she was expecting. They had just survived one of the worst storms since they set sail just a few weeks back and already, they were seeking treasure. "No? Aye, then we have nothing to be keepin' ye for," she stated with matter of fact. The men grumbled, one of them coming close to the mermaid…"Poppet is lyin'," he sneered. Captain Jacqueline put a firm hand on his shoulder. "Leave her be," it was a tough tone, but then as a captain she needed to rule with a tough attitude. Women pirated were uncommon, but female pirate captains were exceedingly rare. She prided herself on being one of the few female ship captains in the world. She didn't earn that title by being a softy. "If the lass says there is no treasure then there is none. Where did you get it?" she asked curiously, looking at the befuddled mermaid.


Christ above, there was a real live mermaid on the deck of her ship. This thought rattled her most of all, but the sound of disagreeing shipmates was grating on her nerves. "Could ye tell us where you found those, then?" she pointed at her trinkets. Jacq would be lying if she said she wasn't the least bit interested in the little bits of jewelry; she wanted to know where there was more herself. The shiny trinkets would fetch a fair price in any town. "On the honor as a pirate captain, I solemnly swear to return you whence you came if you show us where we can get more of them pearls," she smiled. It was a devilish grin more like, and her emerald eyes twinkled with mirth. She'd get them their treasure, big louts. And she'd find out more about mistress fins as well.

She jerked as a pirate came near her, a small squeak of fear escaping her. Unfortunately she had no where else to go. The mass of nets were already overhanging the side of the ship, but she was caught in the middle of them; there would be no easy way of getting off the boat herself at the moment. Not unless someone helped her move closer, but she highly doubted that would come to be as it stood.

But as they insisted on inquiring where she procured her trinkets, her mind raced. Then she caught onto one particular thought, "You would die before you reached where I found these." she said simply enough. Of course some of the items were -found- deep. It was a reason why she was thankful they believed her lie. In her trove she had a great deal of treasure. As it was, she slowly scooted more of the net still tangled around her tail lower down as they spoke.  Perhaps she could manage to get enough of it off that it wouldn't hinder her if she tried to escape overboard. It was worth a shot. She longed to be in the water again. Her body and tail were much too dry now and it wasn't good for scales to become too dry.

"But if I lead you to the area...you would let me go?" she inquired, turning her gaze back to the captain. That idea had some kind of merit at least. She glanced away towards the water then, feeling the pull of the waves. Maybe she could scoot closer to the edge and somehow get herself over the side. Without realizing this, her thoughts betrayed her as she unconsciously moved a couple of inches towards the side of the ship.