- Chapter 9 -

Victor looked too unsettled for his own good that Jones couldn't help but notice it so himself. And yet, he couldn't get himself to approach the lad. And so since he wasn't certain about how to approach the boy, he turned to his lover and asked whether she could give a hand. The sea goddess only replied with a smile before walking over to the lad, who was currently standing by the railings, looking down on the white foams that bubbled up the surface of the Caribbean sea as the ship passed by.

"Troubled, child?" Calypso's voice caused Victor to look away from the sea, pulling him out of his thoughts.

"I couldn't help but think, I suppose," he admitted, slightly surprising the sea goddess.

"You'h parents?" The lad nodded. She nodded in return. In truth, she didn't know what to say to the lad. She could only promise him that he would see his parents again, but Victor worried his pretty little head off with many things which concerned perhaps mostly of "what if's".

"How can the ship sail with only three people aboard?"

The sudden question was unexpected, and so the only reaction Calypso could do was to look down on the redhead lad.

When their eyes met, she could only smile. "You do not yet trust my powa'h, child? Even ta dis day?" she decided to ask. His reply was a shrug of his shoulders. She definitely couldn't help but admire this boy. She would later tell her lover that there was nothing to worry about the young Master Barbossa.

Victor knew it himself; that his small efforts of reassuring his nervousness was that obvious to the goddess. But it was the least he could do at least for himself. Better to know how a "normal" ship sails rather than nervously anticipate meeting parents who thought you dead for years.

Philip's P.O.V.

If anyone was to be blamed, it was me. If it were not for me, Serena wouldn't be here, hands and wrists tied with only half in water and half above. They said that a mermaid was to die slowly in that manner, and I couldn't let that happen to her. I just cannot! But what could I have possibly done? I was helpless myself when we left her there, surrounded by her sisters, to her death.

In truth I do not know her real name. I only named her Serena when I got furious at the black-hearted captain by referring to her as "the creature".

I first met her at that accursed place. They said that at the night of a full moon was the perfect time to hunt for a mermaid. I was one of those among the crew chosen to be bait, set on board a longboat a great distance from the ship and the others, with the Gunner with us.

As we waited, Ezekiel, the oldest among the crew, told of what he knew about mermaids. He said that mermaids are all female, whose beauty is beyond what you have seen on Earth. Said that they would enchant their victims with that beauty, and slowly lead them down to the sea, drown them, before eating them. Scrum took it in another idea. Twisted it so to his own liking. That was when the Gunner suddenly ordered Scrum to sing, said that mermaids were attracted to singing. Scrum did, rather hesitantly. We joined him as well when the Gunner demanded that the singing be made more loudly.

Some time later, we had our first encounter with mermaids. It was like the calm before the storm. The first of them enchanted Scrum rather successfully, but we managed to save him before he got drowned and become food to the fish.

The horror of that encounter. That night. Men screaming in horror.

He expects us to capture one who's breathing? How? From what happened that night it was apparent that those creatures would not be willing to be captured alive!

Alas, it was I who was able to give the "good captain" what he wanted. A mermaid, alive and breathing.

I thought she was trying to attack me. I would find out later that she tried to save my life.

The moment I opened my eyes and caught sight of a large fishtail, I groped for the hilt of my sword and stabbed the tail so that the creature would not be able to escape. That was the first time I've set eyes on her beautiful face.

It was a young, innocent-looking face, the kind of face you wouldn't expect from a creature who has an appetite for sailors. Her dark curling hair clung to her face as I took in more of her beauty. She looked back to me with a mixture of - what I believe was - fear and wonder.

Then the net went down on her.

All throughout our journey through the treacherous jungle, I found myself getting closer to her. I have even offered her my shirt when the glass coffin filled with water where she was put fell, spilling her out along with the water. It was then that I realized mermaids loose their tails when on dry land. And upon loosing her tail, she was completely naked. For the sake of decency, I had to offer what clothing I had.

Despite having legs, I should have known she couldn't walk. At least she said she can't. So I also offered to carry her. I even so much as looked up to the Captain and said, "We are in a hurry, yes?" as though I was the one who would not put up with too much delay in our journey.

He only answered back with, "Do not fall behind."

And now, as we have finally found the location of the Fountain of Youth, we also found an ambush waiting for us. It seems Miss Angelica thought this was all Jack's doing. Personally, I was a bit glad that Jack did it, if the First Mate's accusation was indeed true.

As I waited for what I know was an inevitable clash between the crew of pirates and the small band of the King's Navy, I already had a plan in mind: Get out as quickly as possible amidst all the chaos, and get back to Serena to save her...

Serena's P.O.V.

Half under water, and half above. My hands tied firmly, I could not so much as move anymore. I can feel myself getting weaker as time passes. And yet all I thought of was Philip.

I shed a tear for him, when he came back, alive, to set me free from my bonds. Though I gave him a glare before they left me, I knew that he was innocent. That he was only used by that pirate to have my tear.

Mortal men would do anything to gain eternal life. Even if it meant death of another.

Thoughts of death may have came over me, but thoughts of Philip conquered my mind. How I wish I could see him once again. I was right. He was different from them. It was the look in his eyes. His face. The way he speak to me. He even gave me a name.

"Philip..." I heared myself whisper his name before I closed my eyes, wishing it would not be the last time.

A/N: "Quite short, I know, but I'm losing a few ideas on this chapter. Getting near to the last chapter here. Whew! R&R, please, he heh."