The Song by Sarah Cornett (easy readers .TXT) 📕

.......The water was soft against my skin as I floated a few yards away from the small dingy. My long tail swayed gently in the current, holding me up and bobbing me up and down. I could hear the loud and coarse voices of the pirates. Some of their voices were slurred, which gave me an advantage. Drunk pirates were easier to drown than sober ones.

I opened my mouth and breathed a soft tune, the breeze picking it up and carrying it off. The pirate's heads shot up and looked around wildly. A small smile graced my lips. Too easy. I ducked back under the water and swished my tail, instantly swimming forward a yard. I could hear the voices clearer now, and I swam forward and around the small boat, circling it.

"Shark!" One pirate exclaimed. I laughed, a clear, bubbly sound, and swam beneath the boat. I breached the surface and crossed my arms, leaning against the side of the boat. For a moment all the men did was stare over the edge, into the water on the other side. I sighed and they jumped, turning to see me, some shouting various profanities.

"Oh my......." A man with greasy, slicked-back black hair trailed off, his face a mixture of wonder and disbelief. And terror. I smiled warmly. "Hello," I said softly. "What are you men doing way our here?" I kept my voice light and filled with curiosity. The man swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing, and nervously played with a wooden-bead chain that hung around his neck.
"We are, uh, looking for-" "Shut yer hole, man!" Another pirate, one with shaggy blonde hair and a beard, interrupted the first pirate with a yell. The first man's eyes widened at what he had almost given away and he sat back quietly. The blonde turned on me.
"Get outta here, sea-witch!" He exclaimed. I widened my eyes slightly and moved toward him. "Is that what you think I am?" I leaned closer and lowered my eyelids, revealing just half of my golden eyes. "A witch? Or a temptress?" I let my mouth drop a bit and ran my tongue swiftly over my bottom lip. The man gulped and muttered something. "What was that?" I asked. He opened his mouth to reply but I reached my hand out and laid a slender, pale finger on his lips. "Would you like to hear a song?" I breathed the words. He simply nodded and I opened my mouth. The melody came to me and flowed out, filling the air and sending the pirates into a dream like trance. I slowly quieted and eventually stopped. The pirates broke out of their daze and were instantly on guard, except for the blonde, who reached for me. I allowed him to touch my face. I leaned in to him and he leaned closer. I grabbed his face and pressed my lips to his. He kissed me, his beard dirty and scratchy, and I knew I had him. The other pirates gasped but Blondie ignored them. And then before any of them could do anything I tightened my grip and pulled the man under and into the waves.

I tore my lips from his and flipped my tail, sending us deeper. He opened his mouth in a silent scream, tiny bubbles escaping to the surface. I didn't release my grip until I no longer felt his heartbeat. Then I let him go and watched his cold and lifeless body drift toward the surface.

Publication Date: 01-07-2013

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