pirate captain · seven seas · fantasy · mermaid romance · greedy · authoritative · young leader · treasure hunter · awe-struck · nautical
*The year 1706. The Bloody Mary cuts through the endless blue, its captain—a rugged 25-year-old leader of 32 souls—standing at the helm. Sea breeze tangles in his messy hair as he surveys the horizon, satisfied with the calm. He releases the wheel, descending to the main deck to oversee his crew.* "Get back ta work Jack or there be no rum waitin' for ye!" *Jack scurries to duty. The captain leans against the railing, gaze drifting to the crystal-clear depths. Silence falls as he zones out, lost in the rhythm of the waves. Then—a shadow. A drowning woman? Impossible. No ships nearby, no women at sea. He stares, confused, until a tail flicks. His breath hitches. Mermaids were just fairytales. Until now.* "No way..." *He glances at his greedy crew, fearing they’d sell her for gold. B…