I wake up to the jungle sky, the grass soft beneath me.
It's calm. Realization hits me like a brick and I'm up on my feet. The sound of the waterfall alerts me, and I realize I'm back outside. The siren was nowhere to be found. I find my clothes scattered around and I quickly to them, hurriedly getting dressed. The picnic stuff remained packed as it was before, and the twine to the path out of the forest remained intact. Adam's clothes were still outside and scattered as well. I pull on my shoes and stood up in a panic, ready to enter the cave behind the waterfall again.
"Where are you running off to, Angel-face?"
I spin around, finding the siren standing on two legs, wearing a black button-up shirt and black pants with chestnut brown leather boots. His black and white hair is in a long ponytail that nearly reaches his knees. He looks at me with a curious expression, his red eyes looking over me. He clicks his tongue in dissatisfaction.
"You looked more satisfactory with fewer clothes on."
My jaw falls limp, and he grins. Instead of shark-like teeth, they look normal, except for the two abnormally sharp canines that adored his teeth. "Adam. Where is he?"
"He should be over there somewhere. Unconscious still, I suppose."
I move away from the siren in the direction he pointed. There he was. Passed out and a seaweed bandage covering the cut on his head. His chest rose and fell with ease, he seems peaceful. A satisfied and calm breath leaves my lungs and I look at the siren, who made himself comfortable on the picnic blanket, rummaging in the wooden basket and eating without a single care.
"That isn't for you."
"It is now."
I glare at him and take a seat beside Adam's body. "I can tell that you and your lover are not from Astrolia."
"He isn't my lover. And we aren't." I cross my arms and the siren raises a brow, sitting with gaped legs. "Not from what you both have demonstrated... Swimming in my pond as lovers." I shake my head, ignoring the last part and changing the topic.
"Since I'm your patron. I should know your name. To avoid suspicion." The man grins with newfound confidence and bends in one fluid motion, raising his arms out. It was an eccentric bow.
"Pirate Captain Maverick. The Slayer of Sea Demons."
The never-ending and ever-changing Tale of Captain Killian Calnick Maverick
A story told long ago of the curse of the sea king, Leviathan. That Maverick had been forced to succumb to. A siren that was once a man. Truly, his tale was never-ending. Unlike the other barbarous, murderous, terrible, violence-ridden pirates, Maverick was the one with a second chance.
The pirate stands up straight with a wide, overconfident grin. "And you, doll face, shall accompany me and aid me in this new tale of mine."
The new never-ending and ever-changing Tale of Captain Killian Calnick Maverick
Before I am unable to say anything, a soft groan leaves Adam's lips. I watch his eyes flutter open, his pupils dilating, before settling on me. "12... You're alright." I nod as he mutters. I help him sit up, and he looks over me. I could see the gears in his head-turning.
"How did you--"
"Me. I did it. Saved you and her's life." Maverick interrupts and Adam nearly snaps his neck to stare at the man. Within a second, Adam is on his feet, separating me and Maverick. I rest my hand on his back, making him glance back at him, his posture relaxing upon seeing my relaxed face. "He's not a threat."
"..." He doesn't say anything but clears his throat, standing up and slowly grabbing his throat. Obvious embarrassment suddenly crosses him as he stood only in his briefs.
"Forgive me." I stand beside Adam and watch Maverick look Adam up and down before clicking his tongue, a mischievous and oddly sexual look in his eyes. "You do not have to apologize." Me and Adam's eyes go slightly wide, and Adam looks visibly taken back. My gaze darts between them before clearing my throat.
"We should return soon. In case Lord Ventura has returned."
Adam nods in agreement, sending Maverick a single look before moving off to a secluded place to get dressed. I turn back to Maverick, who was suddenly a lot closer to before. Highly amused eyes looking at me. "Ventura. Who is he?"
I take several steps back, creating a distance between us. "A man I work for." He stretches his arms, kicking the grass. "Seeing as we are on Astrolia. Keep my name a secret. Those here still have a special grudge against me. Seeing as I abandoned their 'Queen' if you could call a whore like her that…"
He is fully aware of the tales that exist.
The stories of his ex-wife, and how she married the prince and became King. My tongue itches and I wanna say something. I wanna mention the tales and the true unedited story of Maverick and his wife and the truth behind his tales.
"If you have something to ask. Ask it."
Snapping out of my thoughts, Maverick grabbed my face teasingly, shaking it from side to side with a wide grin. His eyes are a vibrant red, his long black tongue slithers out of his mouth, like an eel, and runs along the side of my face. My body tenses as Maverick speaks, his tongue still hanging out of his mouth.
"Just as I had hoped. You do taste sweet, doll face."
I shudder and move away, wiping away the trail of saliva. He laughs at my grimace. Adam soon returns after the tongue incident, quick to pack and lead us out of the forest. I wasn't sure how I'd explain the situation or the man, and all I could do was hope that the random fake story I made up would buy me time.
Captain Killian Calnick Maverick would be known as Liannick Mave, a young fisher from the village located west, who was out fishing when a storm came a few days prior and crashed his boat. He had taken refuge in the forest, having no money and living off plants. He had to have seen us near the waterfall and saved us and we owed him our lives and a proper place to stay for two weeks. Which was the usual process of time to speak with the king.
Adam bought the story that came out of my mouth, with slight hesitance—Maverick watching with utter enjoyment as he enjoyed the carriage ride. The ride back to the villa was an anxious one. We had taken longer to return due to Maverick being hungry and demanding to eat, and then a walk on the familiar streets of the town. By the time we were back in the carriage, Maverick had several bags of clothes and jewelry, while Adam himself had indulged, buying several novelty books, pencils, pens, paper, and a new leather bag. I bought nothing, far too anxious to get anything I wanted.
Adam and Maverick conversed amongst themselves loudly, sharing stories. Maverick was happy to flaunt and boast about his achievements as a "fisher", while Adam got a kick out of writing them. Each story sounds familiar to a tale when Maverick was a pirate, replacing the pirate theme and creatures with fishes.
Like a true actor.
The sun began to set as we arrived back at the villa. Loren stood by the front doors, a neutral expression, but as the carriage stopped, he moved in long strides to open the carriage doors with a curt bow. "Thank yo--" My voice trails off as Loren stares straight at Maverick with a suspicious stare. I slide out of the carriage, folding my hands behind my back.
"We ran into trouble earlier. This man saved us, and we owe him our gratitude." Adam nods along as he gets out of the carriage, Maverick following. Loren gives one more stare, before huffing and closing the carriage door, taking the several bags from Maverick and Adam's hands.
"He's charming..." Maverick mutters as Loren wordlessly enters the villa, leaving the door open for us to enter. The smell of cooked food wafts through my nose and my stomach grumbles.
"Look at who decided to return." All our gazes move upward, Lord Ventura and Rhodon both leaning against the banister. Me and Adam automatically bow.
"Forgive us."
Rhodon waves his hand, signaling that we were alright, while Ventura stared at Maverick, studying him. "Who is this?" Before I could open my mouth, Maverick was already bowing with a wide, cocky grin.
"Liannick Mave. A friend and savior."
My face drops at the word and Adam chuckles, stepping forward. "Lord Ventura. This man saved us from drowning." Maverick stands back up with a smile and Ventura scoffs, crossing his arms.
"Wonderful. Why is he here?"
"Forgive him--" Rhodon glares at Ventura, before descending from the second floor and grabbing Maverick's hand with a grin, I watched the siren's eyes light up before a wide sharklike grin spreads across his lips.
"A handshake. It has been such a long time since I received one of these."
"A change of pace." Rhodon chuckles while Maverick laughs. They release each other's hands and Rhodon silently thanks him for saving us and says something I don't catch as Ventura is by my side, grabbing my wrist and moving my body, inspecting it.
"What are you doing?"
"Inspecting." His voice is curt before I felt an oddly warm hand on my shoulder. "No harm came to her. Promise." Ventura slaps Maverick's hand off my shoulder, clear disdain in his eyes. Maverick looked over at my Lord before a confident grin crossed his lips.
"You must be Ventura." Maverick holds out a hand. Ventura only looks at his outstretched, before crossing his arms once again.
"I am certain you should return home. I give you my appreciation for saving my belonging. Do not anticipate much else."
"No can do. I was promised a place to stay for 14 days, rescuing them was not an effortless task, and used the rest of my resources to make sure they remained alive. I will be compensated."
A tense silence falls, as Ventura and Maverick had a staring contest. An annoyed tongue click leaves Ventura's mouth as he turns and ascends the steps to his bedroom. An amused hum leaves Maverick's lips as the door to Ventura's room closes silently.
That was the first time I've seen Ventura back down to anyone.