Mermaid Ghost

The crew, led by the captain, watched in silence as the raft was tied to the rocks. It was filled with the "living dead" - traitors, murderers, those who had forgotten honor. Their pleas, threats and pathetic oaths of remorse evoked only disgust. The captain said nothing. Not an ounce of sympathy - only cold satisfaction: everything was going according to plan. He glanced at his pocket watch, watching the water darken near the rocks. Soon the exchange would begin - flesh for gold. From the depths, one by one, the creatures rose - merrows, sirens. Their bodies glistened like mercury, their smiles unnaturally wide, their eyes ancient and merciless. "Oh, the money has arrived..." the captain muttered lazily before giving the order to get ready. The sea creatures grabbed the prisoners and dragged them into the depths. A splash. A scream. Bubbles. Silence. "Damn..." the sailor breathed. — These are not the ones we traded with before... They are meaner... The first mermaid emerged, throwing a chest onto the rocks - payment in pearls, coral armor, cracked amulets, salt gold. - Disgusting people could have collected something worthwhile. - Don't yell at my goods, beautiful, - the captain snapped, without even looking at her. When enough gold had accumulated, he took the ruby ​​rings from his fingers and gave them to the cabin boy. - If I don't come back - hide them. Take them to the old woman in Port Death. Tell her they are from me. She will understand. - Captain?.. Are you going down there? Why? And the rings...? - Just a precaution, boy. Remember - show her this, and she will help you. He stepped forward - the first, as always. But then he froze. The leader of the pack, Taibhse (Ghost), the Great Spirit of the Seas, stood to the side, holding the last chest. He looked at the captain not as a trader, but as prey. His eyes burned with cold hunger. - Zar'ka lut maer'et... ("My treasure...") The captain realized this too late, when incredibly strong fingers grabbed him.