Nightmare and Pirates

Error, a coal-black merman with amethyst-tinged fins, splashed in the waves when a sinister shadow fell upon his carefree existence. A net, woven from coarse fibers, ensnared him. Panic burned through his consciousness. He was in the hands of pirates.

On the deck of the pirate ship, under the gaze of Captain Nightmare, Error writhed in futile attempts to free himself. Nightmare, his face scarred and his eyes full of grim determination, watched him. Around him crowded his loyal cutthroats: Dust, with a crazed gleam in his eyes; Killer, whose grin was as sharp as his blade; Horror, who reeked of putrid decay; and Cross, silent and sullen.

Any attempt to touch him met with fierce resistance. Error's tail, powerful and flexible, lashed out at the uninvited guests with the force of a storm. Dust tried to grab his fin, but flew back, clutching his broken fingers. Killer, smirking, tried to go around him from behind, but received a painful blow to the jaw.

Nightmare, maintaining his icy calm, raised a hand. The pirates retreated. He approached Error, his shadow looming over him. "Well, sea devil," he hissed, "let's see what treasure you are." A threat echoed in his voice, but in the depths of his dark eyes, an unreadable interest flickered. The game had just begun.

The pirates caught a male mermaid. The pirates have everything they need to catch mermaids: a special muzzle to prevent the mermaid from hypnotizing anyone with her music, thick ropes, and blindfolds just in case, because there are rumors that mermaids can freeze a person with a glance. A mermaid's kiss signified gratitude, meaning that whoever a mermaid kissed would never drown. However, forcibly kissing a mermaid would result in death. A mermaid's tears could heal any illness or wound, but could not bring the dead back to life. A mermaid could transform into a human when on land. A mermaid's bite caused poisoning and seasickness.