Cursed Siren: The Beginning Chapter 1: The Stranger

BY: EMILY SUN

The streets were empty as a lone figure strode quickly across it. Captain Armada jumped at every little noise from snuffling stray dogs to debris scraping along the cobblestone walkway by the wind. Clenched in his fist was the beauty of treasure, a map to the mysterious island that he managed to chart on his map and to discover it showed no existence on any other maps. He headed toward the docks, where his prized beauty, the Cursed Siren, stood awaiting him. The Cursed Siren was one of the most prized and eldest of ships that rode the sea. And he, Captain Johns Cresswell Armada, had managed to take control of it, earning himself riches from which the past captains had managed to loot and also respect for being captain of it. Nearing his ship, he could hear his crew on board shouting, laughing, and roaring, though not as loudly. His old age was getting to him and that had also affected his hearing severely. Nevertheless, he wanted to give them the news and set off immediately, so he hurried up the plank that connected his ship to the docks. A sudden hush spread throughout his ship as he appeared, all eyes on him, he looked around, masking his excitement as best as he could. "Laddies, get ready, WE'RE HEADIN' TO THE ISLAND!" And at these words, the tension broke and everyone cheered. He grinned at all of them and shouted "Deploy the mast! Set the sails! Get ready to bathe in riches mateys!" His crew replied with an "Argh, Cap'n!" and sprang into action. As he watched his crew run around, untying ropes, deploying the mast, setting the sails, he felt a light tap on his shoulder. Turning around to see who dared to touch him and had not saluted him first and not even facing him properly, all he saw was

his boy, Nott, who looked as gentlemen-like as ever. Now Nott, he was a special boy, already in his young adult years (mind you, he's only 16, but that counts as young adult), many people'll mistake him for a gentlemen. His blonde hair was stubbornly untidy and windswept, he was well-built and tanned from his many years at sea with his father, and his hazel-colored eyes had a rather unnerving look of mischief and amusement. If it wasn't for his pirate-like clothes (bandanna included), he could've pulled off a "James Bond" look. Nott grinned at his father and said, "Father, you almost forgot to ask if we got the supplies, which we did, but I thought you that you swore to never be this uncaring for small but very important matters again!" His eyes narrowed, making Captain Armada shift around uneasily. It was true that he, Captain Armada, was sometimes very irresponsible, like that time when they had arrived at the mythical city of gold, El Dorado, and had gotten into a rather serious issue with this chief and a pair of underpants, but now was not the time to explain. "Aye me son, thanks for catchin' me mistake laddie, and that's another reason why yer first mate on board here." He gave one of his rare smiles to Nott and patted him before stumping off to his quarters. Suddenly, one of the men shouted, he was up in the crow's nest and pointing down at something on the docks. Everyone rushed to the edge to look, Captain Armada shoved aside them to see. There was a cloaked figure on the docks, staring silently up at them; the hood covered the figure's face, so the crew and Captain Armada couldn't see if it was a boy or girl. They looked down at the cloaked figure as he/she looked back up at them. Slowly, he/she raised their hand in salute and

called out in a hoarse voice that still carried, "Are thou of thee Cursed Siren? I call out to thee to let me come and join." Silence met these words and all eyes turned toward Captain Armada, who was standing stock-still. For a long time, no one spoke, and the person on the dock stayed, looking up at them expectantly. Finally, Captain Armada opened his mouth and shouted back down, "I be the Cap'n Armada of thee, and what irks you to come and join us?" It was quite rather stupid to say that since after all, the Cursed Siren was one of the oldest and well-known ships, so of course people would be roarin' to join. The cloaked figure said, "I have heard tall tales about the adventures that happens on here, my interest sparks to thee, I wish to accommodate you." Silence again after these words. Clearing his throat a little, he called back down, hoping no one was coming out to investigate what was happening from the small market near the docks, "Argh, why should I bother to answer if you won't even announce who you are?" There was a pause, then the answer came back, though the words sounded carefully chosen, "I am known as the Black Spirit from where I come from." ".......well.....I suppose you can join.....BUT, you must prove your use!" Captain Armada eyed Black Spirit, waiting. "I'd be glad, but I won't until you first give me permission to join now, your words mean nothing much." And there was uproar at these words. "How dare he? Or she? Daring to say such dirty things to the captain! I say we put Black Spirit in the stocks!" Another one said, "Walk the plank!"

"To the water beasts Black Spirit!" "Wait! Stop!" Nott's voice rang out louder above all. Everyone turned to him, though Black Spirit still gazed determinedly at Captain Armada. Nott looked surprised at his own daring too, but he brushed that aside, "Well, I believe to give anyone a chance, forcing people to do what we want is like pure slavery, and no one deserves that! Do they? So let Black Spirit come abroad, if he/she does something serious on board, I take full responsibility." There were some hissing and muttering after this short speech, Captain Armada though, he spoke quietly, yet his voice didn't sound like the dangerous calm he usually had. "I believe you Nott m'boy, aye, I'll give Black Spirit a chance. But, you do realize, on misstep he/she makes, one slip up, its off to the planks with ye, that's the rules. Are you sure of this?" There were nervous chuckles at this and everyone was staring back and forth at Captain Armada and Nott. Pause, then, "Yes, I am sure cap'n." Chapter 2: The Happenings Now that Black Spirit was on board, everyone kept out of its way (Black Spirit had insisted everyone call him/her as "it" instead of telling them his/her gender), but it had proven itself to be able to join the Cursed Siren. Black Spirit was as strong as any of the other men in the crew. Though everyone else sweated severely in the hot weather, Black Spirit didn't seem to mind the heat, it even wore its cloak on at all times, masking its identity. Black Spirit could pull the riggings together faster than any, climb up the mast the quickest, and can even lift up one or two barrels of grape wine at the same time.

Some of the others even compared Black Spirit to Burly Billy. Though his name may quite some comical, he was not the one to mess with. His entire body rippled with muscle, an old battle scar also here and there. The tattoos were also very intimidating, one said "One look at is one slit in the throat" and another were even more gruesome, with the words "Gore", "Slice", "Maul" added. On the 5th week out at sea, something exciting had happened. Burly Billy, tired of the comments saying that Black Spirit may be stronger than him and being teased afterwards, he got up and roared, challenging Black Spirit on the spot for a test of strength. Black Spirit, who was merely leaning against the mast and twiddling a silver dagger in its hands, didn't flinch at all. It was quiet for a moment then said in a dangerously soft voice, "I don't think that's a good idea, you might be forever shamed." "And why is that?" Burly Billy spat out. "Because, I sense your aura weak, though everyone believes you to be great and mighty. But truth is, you are weak, you are nothing, you had to beat and claw your way up to the reputation you have now. No one would ever believe you to be the man you are now. And you will never, ever, amount up to me." Black Spirit paused there, still twiddling with the dagger. There was a mighty crash, Burly Billy had keeled over in a dead faint at these words, all the sausage and cream scared out of him. Nervous laughs broke out quietly but were quickly hushed up as Black Spirit swept the onlookers with its gaze. Then, satisfied, it went back to its original space at the mast and continued to twiddle with the dagger as if nothing had happened. Everyone was still gazing at each other before Nott came out.

Surprised to see them all inactive, he shouted out, "Oy! Why aren't ye working? I'll have you walk the planks if I ever see this again!" And then stormed off. The men were really frightened now, since when had Burly Billy been ever affected by words of threats? When had Black Spirit taken the reputation of being the best on here? And why, why, WHY was kind Nott acting like a grumpy and crazed pirate? They had little time to ponder on this as they heard the pounding steps of Nott returning, quickly and trying to busy themselves, none noticed that Black Spirit was helping at all. In fact, it was just staring out at the ocean, absent-mindedly stroking its silver dagger. Speaking in the same hoarse but soft voice, it said, "The time for the ocean's reign has come to an end, and you, Captain Armada, I know what you are hiding, and I'm not afraid to rip it out of you." And then it stabbed its silver dagger into the wall lining the ship and carved a single symbol. Anyone who had studied ancient writings would've fled from the sight of the symbol, for it was the symbol of terror and chaos. Bad things always happened at where the symbol was ever carved, and just the Cursed Siren's crew's luck, the symbol had been completed, it glowed faintly violet for a moment, before fading away, but the curse was still sealed there, and it was to be activated at the right moment. Chapter 3: The Tragedy It had been 4 months since that day when they had set sail. Nott looked out toward the sea, watching for any sign of land since they were nearly out of provisions and needed to stop for more, as well as new sheets for the crew, as well as new weapons since the men were foolishly wasting it on duels for fun since they had no other stuff to do. He looked over toward Black Spirit, who was still peaceful

and calm, playing with its dagger. He gave a jolt, the dagger, was it his imagination, or did the dagger seem to be giving off a violet glow? Shaking his head, he looked again, but the glow was gone, shrugging, he turned away. Black Spirit, noticing how Nott was studying its dagger, shrugged off the worried feeling that he somehow would find out its secret. Tilting its head, Black Spirit sheathed the dagger and closed its eyes, calling on the strength of the mother Gaea. "Mother Gaea, I, your most faithful servant and child, shall help you and destroy the Great Poseidon, since it was he that helped those wretched Olympians defeat Typhon again. I will destroy anyone who would be a threat to my mission. Don't fret Mother, for I will destroy his wretched offspring as well, Percy Jackson!" Suddenly, there was a yell from below. Black Spirit grinned, "Speaking of destroying anyone who seems to be a threat...". First mate Tim ran up, half-carrying someone over his back and ran-dragged over to Nott, who was looking peaked. "Sir! Nott, sir! I-I swear I didn't do anything, I mean, I was just passing, and I heard a yell from his room! I panicked, unsure whether to go in and see what was happening or stay out respectfully just in case he was just testing something out or just another escaped lobster in his room, but suddenly, the scream went higher and then absolute silence! I was mortified, slowly and cautiously, I opened the door and-and-and....." he couldn't continue. Everyone crowded closer to see the man Tim had brought up, everyone that is, except Black Spirit. Gasps rang out, Nott bit his tongue down hard to stop himself from screaming, the dead man was Captain Armada. His eyes were opened and glassy and his hands were

clenched into fists. His skin was very pale and stretched tightly across his face in a horrified gasp. Tim coughed a little and everyone turned to look at him again, although there were occasional glance back at the corpse. He quietly murmured, Before, he-he, um, passed on, I thought I saw a faint violet glow hovering over his throat, and I saw it vaguely in the shape of a hand, a terrible clawed hand, as if it was strangling him and caused his, passing on. Problem is, it sort of..faded away, like it was drifting off and yet disappearing at the same time, I dont know whats happening! He clutched his head and broke down in hysteria; everyone knew he always looked up to Captain Armada ever since he was appointed as first mate. Everyone looked terrified now, scared that now, maybe the Cursed Siren was actually haunted as well from who knows where in the past of its voyages. Everyone that is, except for Black Spirit, who was gently caressing the symbol it had carved earlier on the side of the ship, and for a moment, the symbol glowed violet very faintly then turned back into a normal scratched color. Thinking that no one saw this, Black Spirit was wrong, for Nott had been watching it for a long time and saw. Now, it suspected it, feeling someone watching it, Black Spirit flipped around and glared at Nott, who turned away.