Bi-Han felt himself slowly sinking below the waves. He could taste sea salt and copper on his lips. The water around him clouded red with his blood. It felt like he was drowning, but that was not possible, sirens had no fear of the waves. No, it was more likely that he was about to bleed out, the armour he'd worn in the world above weighing him down and stopping him from swimming to safety. He internally cursed, should have known better than to rely on pirates.
As he closed his eyes, his thoughts were on his dear little brother. Kuai Liang. Bi-Han grit his teeth. Poor Kuai Liang, petrified and alone, prisoner to a pirate and now his last hope at freedom had been extinguished. I failed you. I'm so sorry.
He felt the armour on his chest loosen, causing his eyes to shoot open. Through the haze he could just about make out a face framed by black hair with a white streak. Sareena? What was she doing? He could see she was desperately trying to hold her breath as she undid the clasps of his armour. Soon his chest plate fell away, and her hands were grasping to pull up his shirt. He frowned, watching as her hands began to have a golden glow. The stab wound started to tingle, and Bi-Han hissed at the sensation. Seconds later, he realises what she had done.
She healed me. He looked into her eyes as her cheeks began turning red, she needed to return to the surface before she ran out of air. He grabbed her around the waist, and without his armour weighing him down, he was able to swiftly swim to the oceans surface.
He made sure to lift her head above the water. Sareena gasped, breathing deep and heavy as she tried to get air back into her lungs. Bi-Han glanced around, they were completely out in the open ocean, all he could see was the ship they had been on sailing off into the distance. He felt Sareena clinging to him, her arms wrapped around his neck.
"Why did you do that?" He asked in a low growl. He could feel her shiver against him. "You could have died."
"I..." She shuddered, still trying to catch her breath. "Be-because... I-I..."
It seemed she was in no state to answer his question. He needed to get her out of the water. He glared at the ship, rage overcoming him. I'll teach those pirates why you don't betray a siren. He tried to shift her so she was holding onto his back. In spite of her shock, she seemed to understand what he was doing, moving so her chest was flush with his back.
"Hold on," he told her. She made an affirmative sound.
Even half above water and with a human clinging to his back, Bi-Han could swim fast. The pirates had severely misjudged his abilities. An oversight that would cost them dearly. It was mere minutes before Bi-Han had managed to catch back up with the ship. As he touched the wood he looked around for somewhere he could safely leave Sareena.
There was a rope hanging down from the deck of the ship, stopping just short of entering the water. He swam over to it, and without even saying anything, Sareena understood what to do, reaching out to take hold of it. As she did, he grabbed his shirt, ripping it apart in his hands. Sareena watched with a frown on her face. He had three pieces of fabric, one he rolled into a ball and placed against her one ear. Sareena jumped back slightly in confusion.
"Put these over your ears, and do not take them off until I do it for you," he instructed. The penny seemed to drop on what he was planning. Sareena swallowed thickly and nodded. He balled the second piece of fabric and placed it next to her other ear, before taking the third piece and wrapping it over them and tying it tightly.
Finally, he swam away, leaving her to grip onto the rope with what strength she has left.
He glared up at the ship, a dark grin emerging across his face.
And he began to sing.
It wasn't long before the first pirates came tumbling overboard. He kept going, projecting his voice so everyone on that damned ship would hear. Compelling each and every last one to join him in the ocean. Even as the first to fall swam over to him he continued, watching as more men reached the edge of the ship and jumped off. More and more pirates entered the ocean, and soon, they stopped falling from the ship.
He stopped singing, the pirates around him slowly having their inhibitions return to them. One by one, looks of horror came across every face, as the realisation of what was about to happen hit them.
Bi-Han jerked towards the pirate nearest to him, sinking his teeth into the mans neck and pulling away the flesh. Panic set in amongst the others, all who turned tail and attempted to swim away. They were no match for Bi-Han's speed in the water. Some he dragged below the surface, holding them down until water filled their lungs. Others he tore apart with his teeth, the ocean around him turning red. Bodies strewn around him, some floating to the surface while others sank below the waves.
He did not stop until he was surrounded by nothing but corpses.
Satisfied his work was done, he swam back to where Sareena was still clinging to the rope. She didn't look as disturbed by the bloodbath as he thought she would be. Still, he took ahold of the rope himself, hauling himself out of the water. Sareena reached to grab onto his back again, as he slowly climbed up the side of the ship.
Once on board, Sareena let go of him, letting herself sprawl on the floor. He approached, hooking his fingers into the fabric still covering her ears and finally pulling it away. She looked up at him with big pleading eyes, lips parted slightly.
"Why did you do that?" He questioned again. "You could have left me to bleed to death, why didn't you?"
"Because I-" Sareena stopped herself, biting her lip and closing her eyes. She pushed herself up until she was back on her feet, although she did not look steady on them. "Because I made a promise to help you find Kuai Liang, and I intend to see that through."
Bi-Han nodded, he got the distinct impression that wasn't the real reasoning, merely a convenient excuse. Still, it did not change the fact that, for now at least, he had the loyality of the apprentice sorceress.
He reached for her hand, "I am in your debt." He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the knuckles, her eyes widened as she made a small squeak. She pulled her hand away quickly and brushed her wet hair from her face.
"What now?" She asked, not making eye contact with him.
"First we should get you out of your clothes," he commented, only realising what he'd said when Sareena's entire face went red and she made a very shocked spluttering sound. Despite not being one to embarrass easily, he felt his cheeks heating up as well. "Because they're wet! You need to get into dry ones," he tried to defend.
Sareena nodded, hiding her face with her hands. Silently they made their way to the lower cabins, hoping to find some temporary clothing for her.
As they reached the stairs, Sareena looked at him and asked "so, um, do you have any idea how we steer this thing?"
"Absolutely no idea."
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