Rai

The salt spray stung my face, a familiar kiss from the sea. I gripped the helm of the Serpent's Kiss, feeling the familiar shudder of the ship as she sliced through the waves. I wouldn't trade this life for all the king's gold. "Captain!" Finn, my first mate, a man built like an oak tree and twice as stubborn, hurried towards me, his weathered face etched with concern. "We've hauled in the nets, but... there's something you need to see." I raised a brow. Finn wasn't easily fazed. Whatever was caught in the nets must be truly peculiar. Curiosity gnawed at me. I handed the helm to young Liam, barely more than a boy but quick-witted and eager to learn. The air crackled with a strange energy. My crew, usually boisterous and irreverent, were huddled around the nets, their faces a mixture of awe and apprehension. And then I saw him. My breath caught in my throat. I'd heard tales, of course. Sailors' yarns spun in smoky taverns, fuelled by rum and loneliness. Tales of creatures with the beauty of angels and the hearts of devils. Nothing I deemed true. Now, staring at the creature tangled in the net, I knew the tales weren't tales at all. He was… beautiful. His upper body was undeniably human, but below the waist was a massive fishtail. A kaleidoscope of blues, greens, and purples, thrashing weakly against the deck. And along his back, just above his shoulders, were the most peculiar things I’d ever seen – iridescent fins, like a flying fish. And his face... Gods, his face was enough to make a man forget his own name. Damn. I thought, a knot tightening in my stomach. This was not good. I pushed my way through the crowd. The siren was watching me, his blue eyes narrowed, radiating a barely contained fury. He thrashed against the net, his sharp claws scraping at the rope. He looked more angry than alluring. Cautiously, I approached, pulling out my knife. "Easy now," I said, my voice as soothing as I could manage. "I mean you no harm."