How many days had it been? Her moss covered body was recovering slowly, the bruising had faded significantly, The beautiful green of her scaly body shimmered in the reflective pool of water. In latent terms she was nude, though the markings and unique moss and grass like growths hid a mass of her modesty, in fact many would confuse the unique coverage as clothing though as she herself knew otherwise she would tend to cover up, being alone and in the water though, she allowed every inch of her body to drown in the salty goodness. The large boulder of the entrance had yet to be moved, the only other way into the Red Scarves secret base was this pool, though no ordinary swimmer could do so, without an incredibly large lung capacity or being of the mermaid and fishman lineage. "They aren't coming" she uttered softly, her large elongated fingers tingled in the water. "I need to go" she muttered to herself.
Pulling herself from the pool always caused a small issue, her hands though long were a source of weakness, brittle and always a constant source of pain. Years of learning to deal with it had allowed her a modecom of a normal life, though she was unable to push past the pain when a large amount of strain was required. That is where her lineage came in handy. She had been training in the art of mermaid combat not just in a way to protect herself, but to help her do with water what her hands could not. Originally her crew laughed at her whenever she tried to get out of the pool. They knew why she did so, they knew her story but they didn't feel sorry for her, they didn't shy away from her un-natural appearance. You see many of her race were changed by the plague rain, but the changes werent as severe, some had mucus issues, some had minor skin deterioration but Melissa. Melissa's entire being was changed, from the grey skin, to the moss like deformaties, to the long elongated fingers and the razor sharp finger nails, the only powerful part of her hands, they could slice boulders with sufficient power, alas this caused a knock on effect and if she used them it generally led to broken fingers when dealing with hard material, slicing a throat on the other hand, childsplay. The tentacles upon her head swayed rapidly where hair should be, her striking blue eyes held no irises yet she saw with clarity. It was hard for her to fully hide herself.
Her long tail danced within the water, creating a torrent, the water seemingly moving at her whim, with a small burst from below she seemingly glided into the air, the singular tail clung together split apart flowing into something akin to legs. The first time her legs had split had been utter agony but now it was easily her choice, she had learned to walk and run and now, like the infamous Pirate Singer Hannah Moshana" she had the best of both worlds. She had been prepared for a quick exit, her water proof bag in which she kept her clothing in was sealed, the two water skins which contained, yup you guessed it water had been filled by the sea. She had taken some beli and everything else she needed to survive. She had the hideout to come back to for anything else.
Cr.....Cr.....Cr...Sprrooff
The sun burst through as the boulder rolled away. "No way" Melissa whispered, her heart beating fast within her chest. They had come, they had returned to the base, the remainder of her crew. "Spread out, no prisoners" A voice echoed. "NO" Melissa screamed, she shouldn't have, but that voice. It was the voice of the marine who had been hunting them. Ensign Turota's familiar laugh echoed through the chamber. "I KNEW IT, I KNEW IT. THE HAG FISH IS HERE, I'D KNOW THAT SCREAM ANYWHERE MWEHEHWEHEHE" that horrible laugh. Melissa grabbed her stuff as Turota turned the corner, his long gun spun around aiming at the mermaid. ""Mwehehehehehehehe, ANOTHER RED SCARF, Your crews exterminated HAG. Your Captains due to be executed, the rest of your crew is DEAD and now...SO...ARE....Y" her hand glided forward, the water droplets upon her fingers danced gently to the edge, connecting together like those magnetic balls until they curved into an arc of slicing water. The marine dodged out of the way, but that was all she needed. He shot but alas her tail vanished into the water. She swore the water vibrated with how furious his scream was. She looked upwards and she counted roughly 8 shadows pointing their guns down into the pool. With a burst of un-natural speed she vanished from view.
...
Two hours of travelling in the sea put her closer to the city, her clothing now masked her, the red scarf of her crew pulled over her head like a bandanna, a long pencil skirt and boots hid her flippers, though she did not hide her hands, gloves caused her un-needed pain. She wore an ill fitting shirt but a beautiful long red coat to show her figure. Her water skins at her side, her bag slung across her shoulder as she made her way through the town. Being a woman in this town, she was met with a lot of people asking "how much?" she had been in many places like this before, Prostitution was common here, almost every woman could be bought here, in fact almost every male could also be bought. Beli was beli, if you were a woman into woman, it simply cost more and a man into a man, depending on what you wanted it would just cost you more. The mountain town was ideal, this place wasn't a very "marine" friendly location given their demographic, it would also take them a while to get to her. Though she knew the hideout was now compromised, she couldn't go back. Not yet anyway.
Taking to the tavern like all good pirates do. She would gently open the door, finding a table to the right corner, she would go to the bar placing down a small clump of beli. "A shirley temple sugar, make it coooold" she said with a wink. The tavern owner gave her a look before shrugging as she turned to find a solitary table. She just so happened to glance at the news coo sitting upon the counter, her hands moved quickly grasping it. Chevalier 'Iron Fists' Gabriel EXECUTION it wasn't on the front page, it was just a small blurb with a picture too but it felt as though someone had just stabbed her in the gut. Maybe..."I can stop this" she whispered to herself as she tried to scan for information....."Nooooo" she stifled herself, a hot bubble built in her throat...As she placed the paper down, the date revealed why. His execution was today, and even at her fastest pace, the location was too far away. "a shot....a shot of port" she ordered as well, she took to the table the paper in hand, her eyes looking at the smiling face of Gabriel. "I'm sorry" she uttered as she traced his face with her fingers.
Standing in the of the tavern. Ghost be looking at a hand of cards. To which he would have placed on the five all on the table. The dashing young man would be wearing his all Taylor exclusive suit made for him. With his all-black bearskin light coat. The pearls in his ears blue as the sea and a smile so white. You would swear his teeth were fake. Across the table from him would be a local legend around here. He was a man known as Jerry The Rat. With a small-time bounty of five hundred thousand, he was barely A catch. The look on the man face was of pure unhappiness. As Ghost would pick up the beli and jewelry off of the table. The crowd surrounding them would be making loud noises. It was only ten beli he picked up. But each beli would have a person face on it including The Rat. Ghost would say something to The Rat. However most would go unheard as the loud noise over took his soft spoken voice.
As Ghost walked away from the table with said beli in hand. He would notice two things. The Rat running out of the Tavern and a unfamiliar face. Soon he would eye her up and down as he got closer to her he would put away his earnings. Walking close enough to see the sadness around her to hear the sadness in her voice. Slowly taking a chair he would sit only one chair away from her. As he held his hand up he would say the usual. With a soft smile on his face he would turn to the woman."We don't get to many like you around here especially in the morning time. Tell me did you have a bad day?" He would ask this question clearly concerned about her for the most part.
The well dressed man spoke, immediatly Melissa's hands moved to check that her bandana had not slipped. "What, you don't get many woman, Huh? I can tell" she said coldly, rolling her eyes. She carefully rubbed her eyes, wiping away the tears, though doing this simply caused her pale face to flush red where she had rubbed them. She studied the man, taking in his appearance. Not a marine, they for some reason seemed to always wear marine attire. Not a pirate whose face she knew. Just a well dressed civilian, some what strange in these parts. "Doesn't seem like you fit in here either" She said as she nodded towards the table where Jerry the Rat sat, he was seemingly looking over at the finely dressed gentleman, anger seething from him, a single vein within the side of his neck bulging, ready to pop from pure unfiltered rage. With a sigh Melissa looked to the paper once more."If you don't mind, I'd like to drink alone" she uttered as her went back to tracing the face of the infamous pirate upon it. "Another shot please Barkeep" she asked sweetly.
She sipped the drink she previously had, her eyes darting to the clock and back to the paper. Her mind was racing. Surely there had to be away for her to get to this location before the designated time. "Maybe if I got through the whirlpools" she muttered to herself seemingly forgetting that the man was standing there. "No, that wouldn't work. Maybe dead mans cavern" she mused. "Fuck. fuck fuck fuck" she continued to utter as her hands shook, grasping the paper hard. Her face winced. The action of simply crushing this paper took its toll on her hands, the pain shot through her like a thousand needles penetrating her skin. As she relaxed her grip, the wincing on her face would get worse. "Fuck" she griped as the shot got to her table. With a gentle grasp she drank it in one. "Another? she asked as she tapped the empty glass. "Everyones dead. No, wait they didn't get him. He's out there" she said as she turned the paper.
Ghost would look on at the woman before. Clearly she mistook what he meant by what he said earlier. What he meant to say that it was not many sad faces around here. Either you was really happy or very mad but never sad. Looking on at her he was able to get a glace at what she was looking at. It started to make sense as he would take his milk he would start to drink it. Milk mixed with honey and cinnamon was his favorite. Looking on he would noticed that she started to talk to her self. As in saying should she stay or should she go. But going there would not end up in her favor like at all. But soon she would look on with a slightly sign of relief.
He would put down his drink and start to clap. He was clapping as a way to show he glad. That she felt a bit of happiness. " This is good now that you made up your mind will you go. Looking at the place your hand is at on the news co. I can tell you was a person who supported that pirate crew. I can not fault you for that. However what i can say is. Accept your lose with pride collect your thoughts and emotions. Then make a comeback but right now acting recklessly will get you no where. I do mean no where at all."
Looking on he would wonder is this person was a part of such a crew. But that could not be the case see as she was crying just now. Or is she someone of importance it was only one way to find out." You want to be alone or maybe we can help each other out. But to answer your question. No i go from place to place to do things of this and that. My name is Zeal by way i did not catch yours."
Was this guy serious, was he still here? She had totally forgotten about him until he had spoken again. Alas this man should watch what he was saying, she had lost everything in the last few days and this man, this swine of a human believed that after a single glancing look he understood all. Her finger gently danced along the rim of her shirley temple. The moisture running over her long fingernail. "You know nothing of which you speak" she said scathingly. The rage in her voice gave away the level of her anger, you need not see the fierceness in her eyes, or you wouldnt. She moved with cat like reflexes, one hand came upwards to knock the milk from his hand as she stood. Her other hand, the one that had been dancing along the rim of her shirley temple came to the mans throat. A long streak of pink tinted water elongated her finger even further, creating a rather unique looking dagger that intended to rest upon the mans throat. "This was not some mere person, I did not support these pirates." she said coldly. Her finger would intend to push forward aiming to draw a small portion of blood from the mans neck. "They were MY pirates, MY friends MY CREW" she shouted, thus drawing looks from the rest of the tavern. With her spare hand she would rip the bandana from her head.
This small act was a great one, She would not hide, she would not turn her back on her crew, though she would be unable to save them, though she could not reach her beloved Captain before he was to die, she could keep the name of the Red Scarves going, she may join another crew in time, she may even make other bonds, but she would always keep them in her hearts, she would always keep them together with her in her heart. She was accepted for who she was, accepted for what she was. A deformed Mermaid. Her greenish-grey hued tentacles flowed upon her head. With a flick of her wrist as she pulled away, the alcohol blade dispersed into droplets hitting the tavern floor. She grasped her clothing that hid her true self, in one mighty pull she tore the clothing from her body revealing herself in all her glory. Her mossy green body which left little to the imagination. Though the moss like creations hid her breasts, she would step out of her shoes revealing her split fins. "I, am Melissa Devaroux, Mermaid and Musician of the Red Scarf Pirates, worth 2,000,000 Beli. She said her eyes never leaving the well-dressed man. "Perhaps before you attempt to stick your rich nose in another persons business, you should know exactly what you are talking about. If you don't you'll end up dead got it?" she said, her breathing now heavy, a little bit on the rough side, the adrenaline building up from within her. The two water skins sat at her side, disguised with the moss.
Every thing moved so fast. Everything became so intense out of the blue. He just gotten what he wanted to get and that was to get her to open up to him and damn did she did. So she was apart of this now dearly departed crew. One of the most powerful crews to roam the oceans in recent years. Was it a good thing that they lost that battle who knows. But one thing was for sure this lady who just revealed herself was something to be behold. As the knife dropped to the floor he wonder why she did not finish him off? Mayne too much death in the last couple of days. But he could not do nothing but laugh a little when she called him rich. This was true he did have more then a pretty penny." Well at least you did not call me a noble. But Zeal is the name and just like you. I live on the outside of the law. You as a pirate of a fallen crew must know all about loses. Well i live for the underworld and believe you me. I know all about loses and how to get around certain places. I say to you that you should start again. The best thing you could do is keep them alive."
Ghost say this awaiting her answer. Now that she revealed who she is. He wanted to know would she give up or not? It all depended on her next move. But given up now would be a major lost. Thinking to himself that maybe this pirate knew of another pirate. She is a pirate captain herself." Seeing as you are a pirate did you ever come across a pirate crew known as the Hart pirates led by their captain Yara EverHart? I say this because she talked of a pirate crew from under the sea once. She even metion having a drinking contest with a iron fist guy. Such a small world right? Now then you then made a scene its best to leave this place. Bounty hunters will be on your tail." He would say this hopeing she would leave as. He truly was not ready to fight.
"You are indeed a rather strange man" the mermaid uttered as she looked to the other patrons of the tavern. Her grand reveal had made her feel great, though now she had another problem. All these people and she had announced her worth. "I advise you all to not make a move" her white eyes darted along to the other patrons. "You may leave with your lives or continue drinking to your hearts content, if you dare to make a move, I shall show you no mercy" she said gently. "You. Sit" she spoke to the man who now named himself as Zeal. He spoke far to politely, he spoke far too easily, though she had also done the same thing, she felt that hers was a grand gesture, his, his was either some form of bragging or it was some kind of strange sell. "I care nought for the underworld" she said as she took her seat, picking up her Shirley temple with a bit of a wince. Most actions that revolved around the use of her hands such as lifting or pulling caused her some semblance of pain. Yet she tended to push through this, the drinks of course helped. "I can get around just fine, as you can see I don't require a ship to traverse the great seas, I don't require a crew unlike you humans who need such a vessel." she said in between her sips.
Her hand gently rubbed the tentacles upon her head. "You have not commented on my appearance, the strangeness of my hands, my skin and my hair" She said with a crooked smile. "For that, you have earned perhaps an hour of my time, You may ask whatever you want, It seems you have questions correct? Or did you just come to cheer up a pretty girl in distress?" she asked, her tone no longer angry, more inquisitive, perhaps a tone of playfulness within it. Her hands now rested under her chin, the irisless eyes drinking in the strange male. "You are too well kept, too well-groomed to be a voyager of the sea, I have been with those who have had an adventure, I'v toyed with death and have the scars to prove it. I've been shot, stabbed and almost died many times. Yet you hold yourself in a way that says "Virgin" in terms of danger that is, other than your little nick" she said this final part, pointing to the small trickle of blood that now made its way down the man's neck from where her unique ability had punctured him. "What do you, have to offer me?" The mermaid said this with a twinkle in her eye. Her eyebrow raised as she asked the question.
He would start to laugh a little as he took some napkin wiping himself off. The questionnaire was given to him to say the least. As she made it known she didn't believe him to be a child of the sea. Looking on he would smiled as he nearly balled up the bloody napkin. Placing it by his hand. Looking on at her he was glad the moved had change to say the least. But as the nar empty out he would notice Jerry The Rat missing. Looking back to the mermaid and began to explain himself. "The way you look is rather normal in my eyes in my world. I have seen things far more dangerous then you could ever imagine. What you do and what I do is one in the same and that is. We both put ours lives on the line like everyday. Let me just say my job is all about a smile. But if i can get right to it. I helped you escape a fate worse then death ms.pirate. I need you to lend me your strength and in return I shall help you get the one thing you want back the most."
He looked on as he said that as his tone changed. To a more rather serious way of taking. He meant business when he said that and what he about to say." Do you know that guy I was just playing cards with? He did very bad things in this world but he works for some one even more deadly. I need you ms.pirate to form a crew and well help me get on his boss good side. By helping me out I can tell you where they are keeping the remaining red scarf pirates at and i can pretty much get them back to you. What do you say get revenge on the one who set yall up." Ghost looked on as he said that finishing his drink. Taking out his inhaler and taking a puff of it. Only to put it away and take out a cigarette then lit it up. Starting to smoke on it. He would sit there smoking as he waited on her answer.
This stranger had done nothing for her, yet he claimed he had helped her escape a fate worse than death. He didn't seem strong nor powerful. This man seemed weak, all he had was words, words that were growing more and more obscene. These were the current points. This man knew nothing of what happened to her crew, this man was now attempting to use her crews untimely demise to his own ends. No. No. No. "You really should have stopped talking when you had the chance" her voice uttered. It was cold, acidic almost. There was no love, no lightness to her voice. It was simply empty. "I was with the Red Scarf Pirates for many years. Never once have we done business with the Rat. That was one of your mistakes" she said as she stood up, her hands gripping the table in frustration. "I was there when they died. I searched the wreckage of our ship" she said through gritted teeth. "I counted, I embedded the faces of every single crew member into my head, I have seen all of their faces lifeless in the waters". It was obvious her anger was growing, she did not take her eyes from this man, if looks could kill, the man would have fallen over before she had even started to speak. Her hand glided gently to the glass of alcohol. She lifted the rim to her lips and took a single gentle taste. "There are no other survivors as you so simply put it. There is only a survivor" the Mermaid said. "Choosing this distasteful lie, this fantasy, was your downfall" The Singer uttered.
She threw the drink upwards, allowing its pink tinted contents to flow into the air, "Keep your eyes on me" she commanded. Though her movement had already started, the left hand in which she threw the drink moved in combination with the right hand which passed threw the pink liquid, allowing her fingernails to soak in the moisture. Her own fingernails were already roughly four inches long, due to the plague of rain that caused the deformities of the fishmen and mermaid population within the South, the same rain that granted her this unique appearance, her finger nails were incredibly powerful unlike the hands they were connected too. Four inches of bone scratched down the air, roughly two inches from the males face, a horizontal slice. While the added three inches of water granted her not only a better reach, but a much stronger assault. Perhaps lying to a pirate was not the best way to get your point across, perhaps using an event so fresh, one that very few would know off until this day, the marines were not one to share information with the likes of scum, and as she had stated, she swam the waters, she searched for her crew mates, she had seen each of their faces. Only her sensei had survived, lost to the ocean in some way or form, or captured and already executed. The Red Scarves were not extreme pirates, they were good, kind hearted, they stole from the rich and gave to themselves and often the poor as well. They challenged the status quo, they were not on par with those of the devils and demons, no. They were simply navigators through those rough waters.
As he looked on at her he would give a smile. It was as if time slowed down for them. As he just realized that she mistook what he said again. He never not once said anything about Jerry The Rat. But more or so The Hart pirates. He would smile as he saw her stand up. She was going to attack him for sure. But how she went about it was her only error. Ghost would watch as he blew smoke. Looking on as her drink went into the air. Ghost would be watching all of her movements as he took his lighter. As her hand went through the drink it would. Be met by his lighter. The fire which met her liquor damp hand. It would land on the fire itself.
This gave Ghost the chance to jump back some 5 meters. Holding his risk as he prepared to defend himself. A smile came across his face and then he started to clap. He was capping for her. "Very well done if i do say so myself. Yes it is true you saw bodies floating around but some still was alive. As i said before I am in the underworld and word spread faster then a high school rumor. I do not want to fight you i just need your help and to be honest. Rather you a good pirate or bad one. So long as you fly a pirate jolly roger you are label villian. Now get out of your feelings. We have much work to do."
Ghost would look on as he grab hold of a chair. Thinking to himself how he will need a new lighter.
Perhaps he had some power of divination that allowed him to see abilities he had yet to witness before. Alas he would be too slow. He watched the drink flow into the air that was for sure. For these two things happened simultaneously as previously described, one could not in all sense of the words watch the drink flow into the air, as well as all her other movements. Though regardless, the outcome would still be the same. Even as his lighter ignited the drink that satiated her arm. Perhaps she should have went with a traditional Shirley Temple next time. Ah well, a learning curve for sure. Either way it did not matter, as soon as her finger tips had been touched by the liquid it was all ready too late for the man to avoid her attack despite the small ignition of flames. To be perfectly honest, she barely felt the fire. The alcohol and moisture creating a temporary barrier from her skin. Though a little surprised she could do not to halt her trajectory, her movement had already been made and halting it would be rather impossible. So the nails of water and now a small blue ember would dance across the face of the man in a horizontal motion, given that he had been a mere two inches away from the bones of her nails when she swiped, his attempt at igniting the fire was impressive, though this time would have been better spent dodging her assault. A simple ducking manoeuvre would have sufficed. Instead the watery nails, sharp like a blade created four slashes from his ear, all across his face in one simple motion.
This is where the flames came in handy for the well dressed man. She had intended on following up with a slash to his throat, though she would be forced to abandon the watery nails before the alcohol had been all burned up and the flames could lick her skin. With one hand they pressed her side and the water skin shot forth its jet of cold salty goodness, dowsing the hand that was licked in a gentle blue flame. Assuming after the attack was succesful that the man still said what he was going to say she would reply with. "You, are a fool" she uttered her hand dripping in water. "They were not alive, They were left in the ocean, unclaimed. I checked for hours. Every single member of my crew, dead" she said. How was this man still not getting it, so he claimed he had underworld connections. She wasn't going to form a pirate crew at all, she was no Captain. She didn't care about being treated as an evil pirate or a good one, all she cared about was getting revenge for her Captain, for finding the marines who had done what they had done to them. "I'd be careful of how you speak. Unless you want to be carved in two" the strange mermaid uttered. "I don't know what you heard, but your information is a lie, these eyes have yet to betray me. Let those scars be a reminder that you should watch your tongue"
With a swirl and a dive he was able to fall back. Looking on as she was surely trying to kill him. Maybe he said something he should not have. Maybe it would be best to take this person down. Or let her live let her get damn stronger. That would be best for him. Looking on he would watch the sea person not knowing that some of her pride would or could be her down fall. But at last it is what it is. Looking at his watch he would see that his time is up. With blood pouring down his face he would give a smile at her. He would start to laugh at what she said about the scars. "No matter what scars i have they cannot be no worse then yours. But ms.pirate our time is up. I have to go trap a rat. But do remember my offer and that is revenge. Do not let your pride kill your heart."
Looking on he would grab a few napkins and start to make it way toward the door. At last he has made contact with one of seven people he needs to meet. Ghost was sure she could become one or he would have. To call this a bad call and well you know. Soon with his back facing the door he would slowly try to make his way out. If able he would leave out of the bar and disappear into the night.
The mermaid continued to watch, her eyes full of hate. Yet her energy was fading, the anger she felt, the adrenaline had been such a welcoming sensation. Yet the knowledge that she spoke, the words that she uttered caused flashes, her mind racing back to finding Tiana lifeless, Jacob his torso blown right from him, the red scarf pirates, dead. Her Captain...No...how long had it been since they had been talking. Had it been. Her eyes flew towards the clock, the time....it was soon. Honestly she barely heard the last words of the man. His face was leaking crimson, her hand dripped with water. Yet she did not make another move. The tavern was now empty, even the owner had vacated the premises. As the door gently closed with a click behind the finely dressed annoyance of a man. She let out a tearful moan. Her hand quickly came to cover her mouth, her other wrapped around her chest. She had never felt pain like this before. She had never felt such heartbreak. She wanted to be sick. She needed to be sick. She wanted this feeling to spew from her like acid, it may have well have been. It felt like it was melting every bit of her body. "Useless" she sobbed. Her fin came up and kicked a seat, it moved perhap a foot, maybe two.
"YOU ARE USELESS" she shouted through the tears. In anger she would pick up a table, the pain in her hands nothing but a mere after thought. Soon the smashing of the glass followed as the table found its way outside. She continued to trash the place for what? Maybe an hour. The execution time was coming close. Curling up in the corner behind the bar, she grasped the bottles of port, the door had been locked from within, the wind howled every so gently outside. She smiled softly to herself, "I hope you can hear this" she uttered. This was a song, a song she had made for him, it was tragic, complete shambles of a song but, he loved it. He always asked her to sing it and it seemed only fitting.
I get on with life as a Captain, I'm a Goofball kinda person. I like fighting on Sundays, I like loving in the week. I like to contemplate Water. But when I start to daydream, My mind turns straight to Family.
Shala la la la la la!
Do I love Family more than Water? Do I love Family more than Water?
I like to use words like 'Gotcha,' I like to use words like 'Nommy.' I like to use words about Water. But when I stop my talking, My mind turns straight to Family.
Shala la la la la la!
Do I love Family more than Water? Do I love Family more than Water?
I like to hang out with Melissa, I like to kick back with Tavo, But when left alone, My mind turns straight to Family.
Shala la la la la la!
Do I love Family more than Water? Do I love Family more than Water?
I'm not too fond of Marines, I really hate laws, But I just think back to Family, And I'm happy once again.
Shala la la la la la!
Tears streamed down her face, yet she did not halt her singing, as if angels themselves came down to grant her the strength to keep going, her voice was nothing like her appearance, rough and wrong, no it was angelic, beautiful and clear. Her eyes never left the clock. "For you, My Captain" and as the clock struck the time listed in the paper, she took the liquid within, holding on to it for a few seconds before letting the burning cleanse her throat. Still alone, within the tavern, a mermaid cried.
