25 THE 8TH ACCOUNT: GULF OF SIRENS 4

It took a lot of convincing but in the end Thaddaeus conceded. He would stay in Labyrinth with Tibet and be prepared to anchor up when he sees us coming back. We made sure that they would not be ambushed by any other mermaids, so after we dropped them off to Labyrinth, Qara casted a spell to ward off their smell.

Soon after that, Qara led us to the next lair. Before we went in, Qara casted a protective barrier around Puma. Right away, we heard the ethereal mermaid song.

"Mmmm...Hmmm….… la…. la…. la….. mmmm….hmmm… la… la… la," she continued humming. It was the most beautiful voice I have ever heard in my life. My music tutor told me I have a beautiful singing voice but this mermaid voice is far more superior than mine.

"That, my dear is Tonishel," Qara announced and presented the mermaid gracefully.

Tonishel was clearly waiting for us. She was in her pool smiling at us when we walked in. Just like the other mermaids, her emerald green eyes exuded mischief. Her thick wet golden locks covered the upper part of her body. She was twirling the ends of some of the strands with her fingers as she watched us walk in.

"Coralyn warned me you were coming for them," she said and signaled the newly turned mermen to come to her. It was Lowen, Wabi, and Elgo this time.

Puma, seeing one of his best friends, stepped forward. Tonishel shook her head. "I suggest you do not do that," she warned right away. Her voice singsongy. "I know Qara put a protective spell on you but you are in my lair. My powers are stronger here."

Tonishel turned to me. "You want them back?" she asked me. Her voice is calm but taunting. I felt chills coming up my spine. I know she was up to something.

"Would you please release them?" I asked.

She chuckled elegantly as if she was entertained by my response. "You are right, Qara! She is quite amusing," she said to Qara. Qara looked at her knowingly and Tonishel grinned in response.

"This is not good, Miss Darling. They are clearly planning something," Puma warned me.

Tonishel hissed at Puma, "Oh be quiet!" she commanded and true enough, Puma could not talk after.

"Stop that!" I said.

Tonishel turned to me once again and continued to stare at me as she ascended from her pool. She was clothed in an aqua upper draped bodice that only covered her breasts. She had a long flowy skirt to match.

"What will you give me in return for their release?" she looked at me… testing me.

I stepped back. "I have a sword," I told her.

She raised her left brow and frowned. "I am not Coralyn," she replied.

"What do you want?" I asked.

"Miss Darling ---" Gondro warned. Tonishel flicked her hand and Gondro went flying out the lair.

"Stop it!" I demanded.

"Offer me something," she responded.

"I do not know what you want!" I screamed at the top of my lungs in frustration. Tonishel was clearly toying with my emotions.

Tonishel smiled at my response, "Do you sing?" she asked me with a glint in her eyes.

Qara chuckled at her question and went into Tonishel's pool. "Do you mind? I could feel my skin drying," she said

"Help yourself," Tonishel responded without taking her eyes off of me. "Sing for me, woman," she said.

My eyebrows met. That was an odd request but I had to comply if I wanted to rescue Lowen, Wabi, and Elgo. "Any song?"

"Any song," she said.

I took a deep breath and sang a lullaby that my mother used to sing for me when I was a child before she died. When I finished, Tonishel smiled wider.

"Would it do?" Qara asked.

"Oh yes it would!" Tonishel replied immediately.

"What do you mean? What 'would do'?" I asked.

"I want your singing voice," she demanded. "I want your singing voice in exchange for them."

Puma mumbled loudly. He could still not talk but it was obvious that he was against the bargain.

Tonishel glared at me, "If you do not give me your singing voice, I will command them to drown themselves. If you do, you and your friends can go free," she said with a threatening voice.

I had to think fast. I had to be clever. "How could I negotiate with the other mermaids if I turned mute?" I reasoned.

Tonishel rolled her eyes and frowned. It looked like all mermaids have these mannerisms. "I do not ask for your talking voice. I WANT your SINGING voice," she clarified.

Her clarifications made me more confused. "I do not understand. Isn't it the same thing?"

Tonishel laughed at me mockingly. "No, it is certainly NOT. You could still talk after I take it away. But you can NEVER sing anymore. If you try, NOTHING will come out," she explained.

"You promise to free them. No deception? No trickery?" I had to be sure.

"Qara hasn't explained to you about repercussions yet? We cannot back away from our word or else we suffer what we bargained for. In my case, I will lose the power of my mermaid song."

"Alright then, take it," I agreed. As long as I still have a voice to speak I am fine. I do not sing as often anyways.

"Open your lips," she commanded. I did as I was told. She flicked and waved her hand and I felt something coming out of me. She took hold of that smoke-like texture in her hand and claimed it.

I held my throat when it was all done. I coughed. "Is it done?" I asked although it was obvious because I wanted to test if I could still talk.

Tonishel nodded as she smiled.

"I did my part. Now, it's your turn," I demanded.

Tonishel smiled. I saw the shell on her hair glowed dark blue. Then, the pirates were all released from their curses. Gondro quickly ran back into the lair and supported Lowen, Wabi, and Elgo as they began to transform back to their original body.

Puma immediately ran to me."Are you alright?" he asked.

"What happened?" Gondro gave us a quick glance before he continued treating the other three.

"That mermaid took Miss Darling's singing voice," Puma answered seething.

I smiled at Puma and patted his upper arm, "It's alright. I'm alright."

Puma frowned. "But, that means you cannot sing with us anymore!" he complained.

"It's just my singing voice," I motioned the three. "Their lives are more important," I assured him.

"I HATE THIS!!!!" Puma screamed.

"What happened?" Lowen asked after he regained all his strength.

Puma turned to him harshly. "We cannot protect Miss Darling here!"

Qara left the pool as Tonishel went back. "I told you, MEN are USELESS in our territory," she taunted him.

"You are clearly taking advantage of her!" Puma raised her voice.

Qara lifted her eyebrow up, "And whose fault was that?" her taunting continued.

Puma stared at Qara seethingly. But, he could not say anything. I grabbed him by his upper arm. He turned to me, "It's alright. We have to move on and continue to save the others," I said.

"Uh huh," Tonishel agreed with me. "You have to rush, Laurena and Errah were done with the breeding ritual," she sang and then smirked.

Qara laughed, "They might dispose of them," she taunted us some more.

Elgo scowled. Qara looked at him amused, "Shall we go then?"

I nodded and arched my brow, "Lead the way."

Qara led us to a bigger lair and bigger pool. There we saw two mermaids resting. One with red hair and orange scales. The other one with dark purple hair and teal scales. Upon seeing us, they sighed and rolled their eyes.

"We are done," the red-haired mermaid said and checked her nails. She appeared bored.

"Errah, Errah, Errah," the purple-haired mermaid chuckled and shook her head.

"Not satisfied, aren't we?" Qara could not help but react.

"Well? How could we? Your evil twin, our beloved Queen Arella took the one we liked. He's the dreamiest of all!" the purple-haired mermaid replied.

"Oh come on Laurena, you did not like any of what you had?" Qara inquired again.

Laurena shook her head and then turned to me. "You can have them back free of charge," she said and moved her lips. The shell on the accessory around her upper arm glowed dark blue. Neville, Laurel, and Thom came out of the pool coughing. Gondro and the rest helped them out.

Laurena then looked at Errah. "Release them too. You do not have to drown them."

Errah scoffed and looked at her, "What is in it for me?"

Laurena giggled, "Your offspring?"

Errah scowled, "Fine!" Her lips moved and the shell on her shoulder glowed blue as well. Paco, Fifer, and Sandlot swam up the pool. The three of them were also coughing out the water they swallowed.

After seeing Paco, I rushed towards him. "Paco!" I cried worriedly. Paco looked at me and gave me a faint smile. His being as a merman slowly vanished. Gondro attended to them right away.

I turned back to the mermaids Laurena and Errah. Although I was thankful that they released the pirates, I was still suspicious as to why they did it without asking for anything in return.

"Why didn't you ask anything from me in return?" I asked.

Errah smirked, "You should be grateful. I was being generous."

Laurena smiled playfully and pointed at Qara. "You will be facing her evil twin sister soon. You need all the strength you can muster. Unlike us, she wouldn't release them. Especially that dreamy man, Captain Jacob, was it?" she answered and smiled at me knowingly.

I seethed and clenched my fist. I turned to Qara. "Where is she?"

Qara looked at me amused. "You are one feisty being. You will dare challenge the queen of the pod?"

"She has to give HIM back… them back," I answered.

Qara walked towards me and touched my neck. I felt a sharp pain. The other pirates ran to my direction to assist me but Qara moved her lips and her shell necklace glowed. I knew they froze because they did not reach me. I finally proved my theory. The glowing of the shell is the mermaid whisper.

When Qara was done with whatever she did to me, she released us. I quickly touched the side of my neck that she touched. She gave me gills. I gasped and glared at her, "I thought the mermaid curses do not work on me!" I snapped.

Qara smirked. "I did not curse you. I am assisting you per the terms of our agreement. You see, Arella is very clever. She will not fight you on land. You need gills to breathe underwater. I cannot turn you completely into a mermaid so use your wit when you face her," she explained.

"She won't stand a chance against the queen," Errah commented right away.

Qara crossed her arms, "I could not let her die though, I'm bound to her. She paid me."

"Good luck to the both of you then," Laurena said and waved her hand. After that she dove into her pool and just like that was gone.

Errah looked at me with a serious face. "Laurena is going to warn Arella of your arrival. Just be prepared to be attacked the moment you enter her lair," she said then yawned.