The Siren of Silverland

One It’s been eighteen years since Peter was kidnapped, along with his father’s ship, by pirates in the waters of the Aegean Sea. His father, Johan, was a fisherman, and his mother, Elizabeth, a seamstress, but they lived aboard their ship, ‘Goldfish’, upon which Peter was born. They were a simple family and, although Elizabeth had wanted a sibling for Peter, they were never blessed with one. It did not matter, though, as the three worked together well to not only bring in fish to sell from port to port, as they sailed, but also to acquire fabrics which Elizabeth would use to create exquisite dresses, waist coats, pants and headwear for the well-to-do folk, who’d heard about her designs and would show-up at the ports, just to purchase them. The night their ship was invaded and stolen by pirates was an awful one. During the battle for the Goldfish, Peter’s folks were thrown overboard to swim with the sharks and, from that day, Peter, just seven-years-old at the time, was doomed to be nothing but a skivvy aboard his own family ship. The sixty-two-year-old captain, Dros, was the dirtiest of men you’d ever meet. He had no hook, or patch over his eye, but he stank to high heaven, never bathed, and had no concern for sentient life whatsoever. The crew who worked for him turned every couple weeks; anyone who went against Dros’ orders or pissed him off was thrown overboard, without trial or chance to repent. Dros had first seen the Goldfish just a few kilometers off-shore, after leaving the port of Piraeus. He’d watched their trade of fish and clothing and, knowing the ship would be loaded with coins, it became his target. Not only that, but the Goldfish was so well-maintained and kept that, to Dros, it was like acquiring a new ship right out the box. He’d chosen to keep Peter, referring to him as Peter the Plague, thinking he might have inherited his father’s fishing skills, and he’d be useful to have on board; if not as a fisherman then as a handy boy, in any case. Tonight Dros has set his canons on yet another ship, the Overcast. It’s been rumoured that it features copper and brass fittings inside, some silver, too. It’s worth a fortune in that way alone, besides it being fully functional with brand new sails. He follows the same plan he always does; wait for the ship in a bay then attack in the dark. Peter hates this part. Because he’s too spindly to lift heavy weights or engage in any fighting, it’s his job to clean blood off the decks and push the crew of the stolen ship overboard. Right now he’s below deck, listening to the chaos and shouting; the clanging of knives, the cracking of wood, and the vomitous guttural roars from Dros. While this is how it sounds most days, it becomes especially annoying to Peter when ships are stolen, as he knows full well, through experience, that innocent people at that time are being stolen from and hurt. There’s not much he can do about it, though - and, of course, he has tried to escape before. He learned that lesson in his teens; running away from Dros simply is not an option, considering he has watch dogs at every port. Not far from the site of the battle for the Overcast, under the water is a very special place; a place no man can go under his own steam. One-hundred meters below the surface of the sea is a Kingdom, rightfully known as Silverland. It’s always only been spoken about in stories; old fish-wives’ tales and ramblings by dying dehydrated pirates with sunstroke or scabies. It’s a merpeople Kingdom, a land of Sirens and otherworldly beings that can only exist under water. Some say it’s a type of Heaven where good sailors go to live the life they could not have in the real world, because their hearts were too kind, while others say it’s a Kingdom where good souls are born, to learn to be helpful and kind before becoming fully human, to walk the land bringing inspiration and compassion to others.

One of the younger Sirens, who looks as though she’s just turned twenty but is actually two-centuries-old, plays with the clown fish among the anemones. Their stings have no effect on her, and they’re actually happy when she whimsically decides to braid their tentacles together. Every now and again a silver tarpon fish floats on by, giving the Siren a chance to smile as though she’s seeing herself in a mirror - and everyone loves her smile. Her name is Sennah. She’s not much bigger than three-feet, and the scales on her tail look like slices of thinly cut diamond, reflecting rainbows, blue and pink, each time light lands on them. Her skin is as pale as the moon, and her hair as silver as silver can be. Her eyes are blue and her little button nose is the first thing anyone notices when they meet her; more so than her thin pink lips. She has a giggle that sends out ripples through the surrounding water, and some have even said that these ripples cause tsunamis every now and again, although anyone who knows her would never consider that anything that comes from her could do any harm. Sennah often swims with the dolphins, and her mother gets upset when she gets too close to the surface; it’s her curious nature that sometimes presents difficulty, as she tends to follow things she should not. Because Silverland is lit up by the shiny tails of the merpeople there, along with flashlight fish and glowing jellies, it never really gets dark. Despite that it’s after midnight above the surface, where she is it could be midday. Back on the Goldfish, Dros and his crew have won the battle for the Overcast. Its crew has been thrown overboard, and they’re now looting what’s inside; searching for any profitable treasures, stripping the interior and deck for all its brass, copper and silver. They do this so that it becomes unrecognisable to others - they’ll still use the ship for transport, and then sell it to offshore merchants after visiting the next port. But the contents and fittings they’ll store in crates, to sell one by one or bury on a nearby island.

“Captain, take a look at this!” one of the crew members calls over to him. In his hook hand he holds a net; a fishing net. But it’s not just any kind of net. “Now that alone must be worth something,” says Dros walking over to hold it. He pulls at the ropes to determine their strength. As he does, some kind of residue remains on his fingers. “What’s this?” he says, as he holds his hand to a lantern, only to see lint from the rope collecting in his palm. “It’s - it’s - it looks like gold,” he says, placing some of the fuzz on the tip of his finger onto his tongue. “Hah! Tastes like gold, too!” “What do you think it is, captain? Is it - is it enchanted?” Dros’ belly wobbles as he laughs then coughs then burps. “It might be, you never know. In anycase, let’s throw it over and see what happens.” He hands the net to the deckhand, who then throws it into the ocean. As it hits the water, so a sheet of golden white light covers the surface, running for almost a mile into the distance. “Did you see that, Captain!” the deckhand shouts excitedly. “I did, yes. But - what does it mean?” Although Dros is all up for magic and enchanted things, he also knows that magic does not always work in the favour of pirates.

Two “Martha,” Sennah calls across to one of her sisters, “I’d like to go exploring now. Will you tell Papa that I’ll be within the Kingdom’s boundaries, should he need me.” “No worries, Sennah, will do! If you see Curltail, please let him know I’d love for him to visit soon.” “He’s a wise seahorse, Martha. Curtail will always be your advisor, won’t he?” “He’s never been wrong before, Sennah,” says Martha, beckoning to the baby shrimp in the nursery she runs. “Come on, little ones, it’s time to visit Tatius - he has new lessons in camouflage for you today.” One by one, in a straight line, the little shrimp follow behind Martha, flapping their tiny little tails to keep up. Sennah has no cause for her adventures today other than the thrill of adventure itself. She’s never brought a human back to the Kingdom, despite her being as old as she is. But she’ll get her turn, sooner or later, so her elder sisters keep saying. Through the rocks and kelp, greeting everyone she sees as she swims on by, she reaches the edge of the Kingdom, knowing full well it’s only territory for the strong and brave mermen. But, a little way on, there’s a golden glow in the water. It seems to just float there, without much movement. ‘It could be an algae bloom,’ she thinks to herself. Sennah looks back to see the distance between the Kingdom's edge and the golden shimmer. ‘It’s not that far - anyone could still see me if I were to swim over to it.’ Caspian the crawler crab sits on a ledge of the Kingdom’s boundary wall. “Sennah, what are you thinking?” he says, clapping his pincers twice. He knows that curious face all too well. “Oh, Caspian - it could be a bloom. I’d so love to swim among them. Please let me swim over, and keep a watch out for me - preferably without telling anyone.” Caspian pauses for thought. He’s not felt any danger in the area for quite some time, and sees no harm in keeping an eye open for her. He knows the joy it would bring to this treasured soul. “Alright, but straight there and back - if you veer out of sight I’m calling someone, okay?” “Thank you, Caspian - I won't be long. Watch me - I’ll bring back some gold for you!” And off she swims, to the golden shine, still within sight of the Kingdom’s boundaries and Caspain’s watchful eye. Back on the deck of the Goldfish, Dros is now surrounded by his crew, with Peter trying to catch a glimpse of the commotion from the upper deck. He can see the shining outline of the net that’s been in the water - for a good fifteen minutes already. The golden-white glimmer it radiates - it’s really quite pretty. “Now, Dros?” says the smallest deckhand, Karl, holding the end of the net. “Should I pull it back in now? It’s been a while.” “Another minute,” says Dros. “There’s no movement - nothing’s trapped by it yet.” A minute of silence passes, as all on board stare in anticipation. “Ogh!” shouts Karl suddenly. “It’s got something - it’s tugging, Dros!” “Fine, fine! Reel it in - let’s see what we’ve got,” Dros commands while picking at his teeth with an old fishbone. Karl starts pulling, but - “Come on, you lazy bastards - help me with this; feels like we’ve snagged a bloody whale!” Five of the crew rush over to help Karl pull the net in, all of them smiling with huge eyes at the tufts of gold from the rope that sticks to their hands. “If only it was real gold,” one of them mutters. “Yeah, we’d be rich!” chortles the other. “You’re already rich, you greedy sods - you have my ship… and me!” bellows Dros, now grinning from ear to ear. If it were to be a whale they’ve caught, the blubber alone is worth a fortune. The first load of fish lands on the deck, as the net is pulled higher and higher. They flop and flap desperately, not coping with being out of the water. The remaining deckhands scoop them up, bash them on the head with a clobber, then throw them in a basket. “Look at that!” Lucian, the eldest deckhand, cries gobsmacked; Dros’ eyes bigger than saucers now, as some of the other deckhands lose their grip on the net. “Don’t you dare let go, you spineless jellyfish - bring it in - bring it in!” Dros hollors. In the net is one of the largest silver fish any of them have laid eyes on. Its scales shine… like thin slices of diamond, blue and pink, in the moonlight - and it’s all of three-feet long. “It’s no whale, Captain,” says Lucian, “but whatever it is, it’s putting up a fight!” Pulling and heaving, tug-of-warring with the catch, the deckhands use all their might to bring the silvery mass on board. Still watching from the upper deck, not even Peter can recall ever having seen a fish this shiny, silver or big. At first he assumes it to be a mutant tuna, but there’s something different about its shape. With a splash the sliver load lands on the deck, covered in smaller furiously flapping fish and one red crab. The deckhands drop the net and fast begin pushing the fish off of the silver catch. “I hate crabs, the little bastards!” says one of the crew as he grabs the little crab and throws it back overboard. “Captain, look, the net - the glow is gone.” With most of it back on the ship now, it’s true - the net has lost its golden glow and looks like nothing more than a bunch of frayed rope tangled in a mess. “Hmm, that’s odd. Leave it for now - let’s see what this - thing - is.” Peter peers down, wanting to get closer, but he can’t stand being within one meter of the dirty bastard crew. He watches as they clear the area and then - “Oh my!” Dros gasps. “Step back - step back, men - do you hear me?” All of them step back, with their arms held up to shield themselves, blithering like delusional foxes. For a moment there’s a deathly hush. “Oh no,” Peter whispers. “Oh no.” Laying on the deck now, her tail moving ever so slowly due to fatigue, lies Sennah. “It’s a Siren from Silverland,” says Dros softly. He’s as superstitious as can be and, although he knows she’s worth a fortune to someone, he believes he has to claim his power over her from this instant. “What to do with her, Captain?” “Take her down below. She’s weakening, But -” a horrible sinister smile grows across his face, “- before she does, I’m going to have sex with her.” “But Captain, what if she curses you?” “Shut up, you twit. I know the Lores of Silverland. If I have sex with her, Neptune's curses will have nothing on my ships in future. But she has to be alive.” “Whoever told you that is a liar,” Peter calls down from the upper deck. “I’ve seen firsthand what happens to pirates who have sex with Sirens from Silverland - they become cursed, to stink of rotting fish for as long as they live - and their gentiles become burdened with sharp-ended scales. As for your ships, Neptune's daughters are his world, and you can be sure every journey you make from this point on will be doomed to hell.” Dros is not about to argue with Peter. He gives it some thought. “Well, in that case, Peter the Plaugue, you will have sex with her, in front of all of us. What do you say men? A good reward for a lofty catch?” “Yeah, oh yeah!” “This is gonna’ be good!” “He’s going to fuck an fish-woman!” The crew start snotting and drooling at the idea, as Dros orders one of them to open a barrel of booze. “Peter, come get her - she’s all yours!” says Dros smirking, not too upset at - after it all - maybe having to throw Peter the Plague overboard, too - he was never really worth much; wasting food on him didn’t ever amount to anything. Peter takes a deep breath. “Yes, Dros,” he says, as he climbs down the mast to prepare to carry Sennah below deck.

Three As though they’re about to watch a strip-show cabaret, the crew scurry over to the barrel of ale to pour themselves jugs of the intoxicating long-fermented slush. Peter reaches Sennah who, by now, is overwhelmed and tired from struggling in the net; being shoved around like a large tuna. This is her first time being caught by humans and, although she was taught by her sisters what to expect, going through it all has required her to muster strength she did not know she had - until now. With her eyes half shut, exhausted, and her breathing slow, Peter picks her up like a baby; all the while the deckhands spurring him on with crude remarks and gestures. Peter carries her carefully down the ladder to the lower deck. Once the crew has settled, taken their seats - “Get on with it, Peter the Plague - show us what your cock can do,” says Dros, “and then -” he glares at Sennah with wicked eyes, “- then it’s my turn!” Peter shudders at the thought. For a second he toggles with the idea of grabbing her and cavorting back up the ladder, to throw her overboard and face the consequences. But that might not work out so well, and could lead to their torturous deaths. He’ll have to wait - wait until the act is done, then - with the crew asleep later - he can help her, safely and quietly, back into the ocean. Although Sennah has never made love to a human before, her sisters’ teachings are at the forefront of her mind. They’ve told her that first-time sexual encounters for Sirens often happen on the brink of chaos. They’ve told her that making love to a human will save a good human from a ghastly death; one they don’t deserve. They’ve also told her that if that human shows true love, he is to be saved and brought back to Silverland. There’s such an awful racket around them now, and so Peter speaks softly into Sennah’s ear. “Please know, sweet creature, I’ve not done this before - I really don’t know what I’m meant to do.” Sennah opens her eyes, allowing herself to examine his features close-up. She can tell in an instant that he’s a virgin, and his heart is still pure, clean and devoid of lust. She smiles for a moment, then whispers back. “My name is Sennah,” she says. “You - you have good spirit.” She rests her hand on his chest, at the center, sensing his worry. Peter looks away, feeling too nervous to look at her gentle pale face. “Peter, go with what you feel - as though no one else were around,” Sennah tries to reassure him. “I don’t even know where to begin,” he says, trying to block out the vulgarities coming from the slobbering delirious crew. “Don’t think about it, Peter - just feel.” She then reaches up to place her hands over his ears and gaze into his eyes. Peter feels a jolt run through him - everything has gone silent, except for the sounds of the deepest ocean. “Make love to me, Peter,” says Sennah. Feeling less tense but still confused, knowing now what he has to do, Peter closes his eyes and begins stroking her arms, with their foreheads resting upon each other’s. Her silver hair smells like salt, reminding him of an exotic island, far from the bitterness and debauchery he’s always known. On his knees, as he holds her seemingly weightless body with one arm, he kisses her on the neck. Sennah responds - “Let it go - let me be the first.” “You’re - you’re beautiful,” Peter whispers back, as he moves to run his hands over her shoulders then on to her tiny, pointed breasts. The deep sensualness of it all sends a golden warmth through his torso. He shifts his hands over them, first the left then the right; her nipples hard on his fingertips. Sennah reaches for his hand, pulling it away from her chest then moving it down to her lower abdomen. As her pelvis fills with purest sensation, she guides him to her thin opening, between her would-be thighs. As his fingers touch on its lips, she lets out a short murmur. “Mmm -” She holds his middle finger, seemingly showing him where and how to go. Like the sound of a distant call, Sennah begins to sing in hums. Only Peter can hear it, though; the melody so sweet; a lullaby for his soul that echoes through the low drones of the deep, dark ocean. Each note circles around him, floating through his ears, touching his inner-being to bring him to calm. Sennah knows, it’s only in calm that he will truly feel the majestic flow of sensuality he needs to; the flow that will lead him to release the purest of love found in man. Peter moves his lips from her neck, gently kissing her white satin-like cheek then reaching her tiny pink-lipped mouth. He’s never kissed any girl before, let alone a mermaid. He, too, moans - but in silence. In truth, he’s deaf to the crew and, for this moment, nothing but Sennah matters. As he pecks her softly, he moves his fingers along her cleft. Between her softened scales, it’s moist and warm. Sennah breathes in waves, at ease with his touch. Following the flow within, she begins to stroke her hand across his hips, over his pelvis and, finally, her fingers touch on his shaft. Overcome by the nature of the experience, Peter forgets anyone’s there - all he can see, feel and sense is Sennah and her silk-like skin pressed up against him. Needing no further lessons, he gently shifts her tiny body, resting his penis in front of Sennah’s crevice. Still holding her with one arm, he undoes the buttons on his pants, freeing his erection then aiming it. He’s never felt this before - it’s overwhelming yet, he still seemingly has full control. Little by little, he tenses his pelvis; the tip of his erection exploring the slippery dip of Sennah’s hidden vagina. He wants to move in deeper, but he doesn’t want to hurt her. “Tell me if it hurts,” he whispers. “It won’t.” Sennah begins to pulse in gentle waves, sending out ripples of momentum that massage him. They’re inviting, wanting him to explore deeper; to penetrate her with stronger movements. As he does - “Oh, Peter - you’re enchanting.” Sennah seems to weep, but her smile tells him it’s for pleasure, not pain. “Is this - is this what heaven feels like?” Peter whispers. “It is for me,” Sennah giggles. Peter feels he’s about to cum. He pulls her closer, their cheeks pressed up against each other’s. “Sennah,” he says, “if I die tonight, it wouldn’t matter. All of my life - all my life I never knew I could feel this way.” “I won’t let you die, Peter. Because of you, I won’t die.” Quickly they place their lips together, as sensations of pure bliss run through each of them like the clearest of waters in the most magnificent of mountains. They feel strong, connected - the ship could explode or sink and none of it would matter. “Ah-aagh,” Peter breaches upward as he ejaculates inside of Sennah. She reaches her hands for his face. “Oh, Peter,” she whimpers warmly, “you’re my love now.” Gradually the crew, having seen Peter cum, become rowdy, obnoxious and rude. Peter tries to shut them out, doesn’t want to hear them; wants them to go away so that he can stay in the moment forever. “No, no -” he moans into Sennah’s ear, feeling the moment slipping.

“Peter, listen -” she whispers back.

Through the noise from the crew, a crack of thunder breaks the chaos.

Karl is first to look up. “That doesn’t sound good.”

Dros is still handling himself, drooling from the mouth, shaking like the horny dog he is. Another bolt of lightning comes down, louder than the first. Peter looks at Sennah, still holding her in his tender embrace. She peers into his eyes. “We’re going home, Peter.” A third bolt leaves no room for rumbling thunder, just a loud crack of electricity that threatens to disintegrate everything in its path. As the storm intensifies in seconds - “It’s Neptune,” says Lucian. “He knows. He’s coming for us, I tell you - this ship’s going down!”

Four Dros now grips tightly to one of the wooden stanchions, as he watches on with eyes wide, unable to control what’s overcome him. He can feel the ship pitching and rolling in the new storm’s swell; he can hear the ear-splitting thunder, but his dominant perversion lay set on Peter and Sennah. The filthy lust possessing his body holds more power than any fear he feels for a storm. A fierce bolt of lightning hits the foremast on the Goldfish. With a loud crack, it snaps at its base and begins to keel over. Fortunately the sails are down - the ship itself won’t topple. “Captain - what the hell is wrong with you!” one of the deckhands throws an empty bottle at him. “Cut them loose, throw them overboard - Neptune is angry and he’s taking this ship!” “I - I can’t take my eyes off her - she’s so beautiful,” Dros slobbers like a blithering lunatic on muscle relaxants. The deckhand looks across at Karl and Lucian who also were, at first, enjoying the show, but now - now this is real; Sennah’s father has brought a curse upon the ship, and unless they do something about it themselves, they’re all on their way to hellish abyss in the belly of a shark. “Pull them apart!” Karl calls to Lucian. “Captain’s under a spell, and by the looks of things, he’s about to cum in his pants - he can’t see what’s happening to us. I personally will not die for him - are you with me?” Lucian nods and heads over to Peter. “Sorry, Lad, you and the fish have to go. We can’t take much more of this. One more bolt and we’re all chum.” Peter pulls away from Sennah, flashing a quick wink as he does. Sennah plays along and relaxes her entire body, appearing lifeless and limp. Karl scoops her up as Lucian escorts Peter to the ladder, to reach the open deck. It’s no easy task; the ship is swaying from side to side - everything inside rolling around with each crew member holding onto something, trying not to hurl their lungs out. Dros lets go of the pillar he’s been holding to; stumbles and staggers, tries to stop Karl and Lucian. He strikes Lucian across his back with his fist, but Lucian has enough adrenaline running through him to not only carry Sennah up the ladder, but also lash his leg out at Dros, hitting him right between the ribs. Dros falls back, winded, still blithering - “Don’t - splutter - take her - gasp - don’t take her!” One of the deckhand’s has had enough of him, and seeing a pillow grabs it then body-slam’s Dros, covering his face with it. He doesn’t want to kill him, he just wants him to shut up. “You can find yourself a daughter of Neptune on your own ship, when you’re alone, someday. But we’re not taking a dive for you! Let her go, or we’ll throw you overboard with them.” It’s all too much for Dros and, after a minute, he stops moving. The deckhand senses this and slowly pulls the pillow away from his face. He’s still breathing - telling by the snot and saliva bubbling out his mouth and nose, but he’s out cold. Lucian and Peter are now on the upper deck, and right behind them is Karl with Sennah’s floppy, seemingly lifeless body. Through the cracking thunder, howling wind, and viscous waves that thrash the sides of the Goldfish - “I’m sorry, Peter. It’s you or us - no hard feelings.” He picks up a plank that’s been torn from the upper deck due to the foremast’s fall, then pokes it into Peter’s back. “Now walk. Go on, walk - don’t look at me.” Peter shudders. He has no idea where this will lead. He fixes his eyes on Sennah as Karl throws her overboard, then without looking back he dives in straight after her. It’s pitch black, cold - the only light like a strobe from the lightning that strikes the water’s surface every few seconds. He splutters and spits, diving then racing to the surface for air; diving then racing up again to catch his breath. He can’t see Sennah anywhere. He catches a glimpse of the Goldfish, there’s a fire on deck now and the crew are trying to put it out. But with the currents, he’s being pulled further and further away from it. It doesn’t matter anyway, they’re not about to help him back on board. Taking a deep breath, he pushes himself deep into the water again. In his thoughts he calls out to Sennah, but knows she can’t hear him. He can’t hear anything, either - it’s all a din and he’s trying not to drown. Suddenly a hand grasps his arm and pulls him around. “Peter!” says Sennah. She places her lips directly onto his then exhales, filling his lungs with air. She begins swimming deeper and deeper into the depths, still holding his hand tightly. Peter follows behind her, kicking his legs as best he can, not knowing how much longer he’ll last without air. In his mind, he’s either about to die or this thing of her breathing oxygen into him is going to work. After a minute he’s feeling dizzy again, so tugs Sennah’s hand. She stops, looks at him, then presses her lips firmly on his again, releasing another lungful of oxygen into his. Peter kicks his legs slowly then nods, letting her know he’s ready to move on. Not far off he sees what looks like distant city lights. But there are three smaller golden ones approaching them. The small lights advance quicker and quicker until - in front of Peter and Sennah are three muscular, strong and brave… merman. “Sennah!” the eldest one gasps at seeing her. “Darius!” Sennah cries back. Darius, her eldest brother, hugs her tightly then kisses her atop her forehead. He then looks at Peter before beckoning to the others, gesturing they assist him. Either side of him, Sennah’s two younger brothers continue to feed air into Peter, pulling him along through the water to Silverland, as Sennah and Darius swim upfront. Darius looks back at Peter. “Welcome to Silverland, human.” Without thinking, Peter replies, “Thank you - thank you for save -” Suddenly he realises, he’s talking under water. This means he can breathe under water. He’s overwhelmed, but slowly coming to terms with it - the friendliness of the merpeople makes everything okay. Just as they’re about to cross over the rocky boundary and into the Kingdom - “Thank Neptune you’re alright, Sennah, love.” It's Capsian the crawler crab - he’d gone after Sennah moments before she was strung up in the enchanted net. He, too, had been caught, but was thrown back into the water, giving him time to head back to Silverland and alert Sennah’s brothers. “Thank you, Caspian.” Sennah smiles, now swimming alongside Peter. “You saved the boy?” says Darius. “He saved me first,” Sennah replies, turning to hug Peter. Her brothers respect her decision, and Peter - now more in love with her than ever - holds her firmly and rests his lips on top of her head. “Is this what happens to all sunken sailors?” he whispers warmly. “Only the good ones,” Sennah replies, leaning her head back to give him a loving kiss. Five As is customary with the arrival of any human in Silverland - which can only happen through them being saved by one of the merpeople - Peter and Sennah will now be given their own abode in the Kingdom. Because Peter’s love for Sennah had been true, going on to spend the rest of their lives together is a given. They will live together, not for the rest of eternity, but until their children are ready to leave Silverland to walk the Earth as humans, bringing enlightenment and compassion - as far as they can. By that time, with Sennah and Peter having served their purpose, they will pass and become one with the ocean; seen as the bright diamond-like sparkles that dance on the horizons at sunset. But this will take much time, during which their children will learn not only Sennah’s ways and the ways of the merpeople, but also Peter’s human ways. In their new home made of pearl and shell, nestled along the edge of the kelp forest, Peter’s not entirely sure what he’s meant to do. But this is normal - he has to learn about the merpeople and, in order for Sennah to raise their children right, she, too, will learn about him. “Will I grow a tail, Sennah?” he asks, looking at the foods that have been left on a tray for them - to snack on before they join the merpeople circle for dinner, play, and the general sharing of life. “No,” she giggles. “And I won’t suddenly sprout legs, either!” She then swims on over to him, and places her hands either side of his face. She kisses him softly on the lips. “Make love to me again, Peter.” Peter smiles as he places his hands on her hips and pulls her pelvis towards his. “I love you, Sennah,” he says, as their being this close again reminds him of their first experience; it doesn’t take long for his erection to grow. Sennah pulls one hand away from his head, running it down his chest, feeling his muscles tense as he readies to penetrate her. She circles her fingertips around his naval, then slides them back up to his shoulders, only to place them in his mouth. He kisses each finger, one by one, fulfilled by the feeling of their softness on his lips. Sennah then leans backward, reaching her arms above and behind her head, pressing herself against his erection. Watching her silver hair flow in the water, catching the light that peers through their pearl-shell-walled home, he closes his eyes momentarily to thank the powers that be for where he is; for this gift he’s been given, of a new life with the most beautiful woman he’s ever laid eyes on. Naked now, as he always will be in Silverland, his penis finds her opening with ease and momentum. With there being no commotion around them this time, no urgency and no fear, he begins to penetrate her, more softly and slowly than before, with longer strokes that bring both of them to the state of ecstasy. With her arms still above her, as she floats gracefully in the water, he runs his hands gently over her silky-like breasts, touching on her tiny hard nipples, which only sends Sennah into a rush of sensual joy. She smiles lovingly, then places her hands on his hips again - moving in unison with him, forward and back, forward and back. “Should we be granted a child soon, they will be beautiful because of this love, Peter.” As she reaches her pique, Peter cums inside of her - and this time they get to hold one another for the longest time, allowing the love they’ve made to ripple through the waters and touch on every living thing there; bringing life, light and longevity - as is the way of the merpeople. At dinner, the coral hall is filled with chatter and laughter. It’s no celebration; it’s how it is every night. Although one would think Peter would be introduced to the circle in a noble way that makes him seem important, a rule among them is that no new arrival is ever heralded as being special. Indeed, they are one with the circle upon arrival, and are treated no differently. Considering there is only kindness and good will in Silverland, fear is absent, as is superiority. The only one respected above others is Neptune himself, being the father of all. As the others arrive, Peter notices he’s not the only human there. On being introduced to them, all he can feel is deep appreciation; the common emotion between them. Being good-natured at heart, they’re free to be warm, inspiring, witty and helpful; any notion of wariness or competitiveness towards others is simply non-existent. Sennah and Peter sit alongside one another at the long quartz-rock table. Sennah’s sisters ask Peter about his time on Earth, and what it’s like being a human. He describes it as best he can, but from a limited frame of reference; after all, he lost his parents at just seven-years-old, and was forced into the life of a pirate thereafter. Just then, two older humans walk up behind Peter, still seated at the table. The woman, with long flowing auburn hair, places in front of him a bundle of material; golden and purple silk, folded neatly. Peter first picks it up to unfold it, and sees it’s a small waist-coat, hand-stiched, fitted for a young boy. He gazes at the patterns and needlework. “This looks like something my mother would have made -” As he says this, so his eyes widen and he turns sharply to see the man and woman standing behind him. The couple stand alongside one another, saying nothing, but their smiles are filled with - happy tears. Looking no different than they did the last he saw them, Peter realizes - it’s his parents, Elizabeth and Johan. When they were thrown overboard from the Goldfish, the day Dros pirated it from them, stealing Peter at the same time, it had been their love for each other and the oceans themselves that had made them worthy of saving. “Mom? Dad?” says Peter, a little lost for words. “We’d suspected you’d one day arrive here,” says Elizabeth, hugging Peter tightly. Johan places his arm around them both. “It was inevitable - you’re too good for piracy. Your life on Earth was short, but here you’ll go on to create new beings that will, when they’re ready, leave this Kingdom to walk the Earth, bringing wisdom and kindness there.” While Peter still has memories of his ill-treatment at the hands of Dros and his crew, none of it matters at all anymore - his memories are only images in his mind, but his feelings don’t react to them. “Hello,” a soft voice speaks from behind Elizabeth. “Hey,” another from behind Johan. Elizabeth and Johan step aside, to introduce a young boy, Ian, and a young girl, Sheila, to Peter. “Hello,” says Peter happily. He then looks at his parents who are smiling, waiting for him to realise - “Let me guess, you are my sister,” he looks at Sheila then turns to Ian, “and you are my brother.” “And you’re my big brother,” says Sheila. “Mom and Dad have told us so much about you,” says Ian. The merpeople either side of Sennah, Peter and his family step away from their chairs, gesturing they sit together. Elizabeth tells Peter about their life in Silverland until now, and how they, too, bore two more children who would one day leave the Kingdom to walk the Earth. Ian looks a lot like Peter, and his mannerisms are the same as well. As for Sheila, she and Sennah have known each other since Sheila was born - but never did either of them know that Peter would find his place with Sennah in Silverland. The room is filled with chitter-chatter, everyone having a great time. As Johan pours sea-cucumber juice into Peter’s cup, he’s deeply curious about the end days of his hand-crafted ship, the Goldfish. “Was it at least a dramatic ending for the Goldfish, Peter?” He’d always hoped nothing more for his vessel than for it to have been the stage for the deaths of the horrid pirates. “Father gave her the most noble of endings, Johan,” says Sennah, holding Peter’s hand. “She lit up from a magnificent bolt, to serve as a warning to all pirates in the region. And you can be sure her legacy will live on in the human world, and your craftsmanship remembered.” “And the crew,” says Elizabeth, “what happened to them?” One of Sennah’s brothers steps in. “Nothing that shouldn’t have happened. They drowned and became shark food - some washed-up on the shore to feed the gulls. And their souls will return to face the ordeal, over and over again, until they stop their ugly ways.” Ian then butts in. “Are pirates really as horrible as the stories tell?” Peter thinks of the best way to answer. He then picks up a knife on the table - “Aaargh, I’ll cut the legs from your body,” he acts all pirate-like, “and I’ll use them for squid bait!” “Reeeally?” says Ian, picking up a fork, buffing up his chest as he darts from left to right. “We’ll see about that!” Peter stands to his feet and takes swings at him, obviously keeping the knife tucked in his hand, and together the newly-acquainted siblings begin a playful duel at the table, ending with Peter dramatically pretending to have been slain, and him dropping onto the table like a lifeless body would. Content with the atmosphere, the family leaves behind them everything from their past, to enjoy their time working together, to ensure Silverland flourishes and the young are made prepared for their departure to Earth in time. Sennah and Peter went on to have four children, two boys and two girls. One of the girls was mer, the other human - and the same for the boys. And perhaps it is obvious now, what it is that keeps Silverland the place it is. Indeed it’s the love made between the men and women, both mer and human; their ecstasy, bliss, rapture and elation; their tender hearts and compassionate natures; their innocence, purity and honourable souls in union through intimacy, that make Silverland heavenly; a place where tortured souls go to receive what was stolen from them in their human life, and a place where new souls are born, to return to Earth to remind humans that there is a way to be; that Earth could be Silverland, too, if only those hellbent on destruction and greed ceased to exist.