11. Chapter Eleven #2
“She was nice to me.” He pauses, his face lighting up as though he’s just been struck with a sudden spark of confidence. “And then she went on deck and saved your asses from drowning!”
“Aye!” Multiple men shout in agreement.
Another pirate steps forward, one I haven't seen before. Seeing as he’s covered in tar and ash, it’s safe to assume him to be a man working at the gunports.
“It’s the Glim that showed us the route, not her.”
Now Nightglass moves forward and pushes his son behind him protectively.
“But the Glim has only appeared whenever she is on deck. And it was the night that she boarded the ship when the Glim first appeared to us. It’s why we left Aurelith.”
At that, a gasp escapes my mouth. If what he is saying is true, the Glim could actually be connected to me. I don‘t even know what the meaning behind the Glim is. One thing I know for certain, though, is that it is a creation of sea magic. It has to be.
Twenty pairs of eyes stare at me in anticipation.
An invisible string pulls my attention toward the captain.
He tilts his head as though trying to read me, his eyes silently questioning if I am behind the Glim.
But I don’t have an answer to his question, so I press my lips together and shake my head ever so slightly.
It’s a movement subtle enough so the others don’t catch it, but he does.
Sable takes a deep breath before he raises his voice.
“Based on the fact that she claims not to remember, I announce the questioning closed. We will cast our votes now. I urge you to think your answer over fully before locking in your decision. Her life is in our hands.” Swallowing, he moves to stand next to me, then looks at every man in his crew.
“The possible options you have chosen in yesterday‘s pre-tribunal vote are the following…” I turn my head to glance in his direction. My whole body goes rigid as he announces the paths my life can possibly take.
Walking the plank.
The Markets.
Captivity.
I must admit that even for my miserable life, my future has looked brighter before. My freedom is not even considered. I let my head fall forward in resignation. There’s nothing left that I could do or say now. It’s up to them. I have no control over my fate. Not that I ever have.
Match collects the votes of each crew member in a small pouch. Each pirate throws in a piece of colored glass, though I don’t know the meaning behind each one, but by the seas, there’s a lot of red.
Then the captain counts the votes and hands the pouch to Grim. He counts them again, and they nod in agreement.
Because of the blood rushing in my ears, I cannot make out what Sable says. The dizziness of my drained magic makes me sway on my feet. Again, my vision blurs. Sable swallows hard, the muscles in his face tight, his forehead carved with deep lines. There’s that clouded sorrow in his eyes again.
The next thing I know, I am moved toward the plank of the ship.
So the decision has been made. This will be my fate.
I walk it down with unsteady feet, remembering Grim‘s words from earlier. I have to accept my fate. As I reach the end, I glance over my shoulder to find them all gawking at me. Some smile in victory. In the center is Sable, with his arms crossed over his chest. When I look him in the eyes again, they’re darker than before, his hat casting a shadow over his face. His expression gives nothing away.
Then there’s Lark. Tears are streaming down his face as Nightglass hugs him tightly against his chest. The sight of him breaks my heart. He’s too young to witness death by drowning. Too young for any of this.
“It’s okay, Lark. I‘m a siren. The sea is my home.” I manage a smile, and he gives me a sharp nod. He should know that I’ll be at peace.
Turning back around, I step to the very edge.
The drop stretches beneath me, and for a moment, my body refuses to follow through.
Every instinct claws at me to stay, to fight, to turn back and beg for one more breath.
My toes curl against the wood, as if that could keep me here.
If the sea does not show mercy now, it will take me and keep me in its depths.
It doesn’t matter now.
I close my eyes.
And jump.
The water swallows me whole. I sink fast. Too fast. I don’t hold my breath, the weight of my wrong body dragging me under. Useless, human legs that don’t belong here. The sea presses its heaviness on my ribs, my mouth, my legs.
Brave.
I hear the voice of my mother surrounding me as the water drags me under. I have done this many times before, but I never had to fear death. My last hope is my shift. Maybe the sea will show me mercy at last. There’s no wound to heal, only my legs to correct into a glistening tail. My true form.
So I open my mouth and invite the water in. It rushes into my lungs and steals the last breath away from me as I silently scream.
The sun fractures above me, light splintering into pale ribbons that grow thinner the further I sink. If this is the last thing I see, at least it is something beautiful.
The pressure grows unbearable. My lungs seize, my vision darkens at the edges, and the warmth I felt earlier is gone, replaced by a numb, spreading cold.
Then something shifts.
“Little siren, you are drowning.” A faint voice whispers into my ear. “Let him help you.”
I am pushed upward by an invisible force that curls around my ribs like smoke. Through the haze of salt and fading light, a shadow cuts through the water above me.
My mind screams as I recognize him.
It’s Sable.