“Sho?”

I nod, curtly, “Yes, that’s me.” The mermaid watches me with coy, unwavering eyes. The darkness of her cave shrouds most of her form, but those eyes pierce the shadow like tiny red moons.

Her grin broadens, “Ahh, I have heard your tales.”

“The good ones, I hope.” With one butt cheek growing numb, I switch to the other and shift my posture. I suppose it was too much to expect a mermaid’s lair to have sufficient above-water seating. This rock will be the death of my tailbone.

She swims a hand through the calm waters beside her, “The fish whisper many things to me.”

“I’m sure they do.” In one smooth motion, I unsheathe my cutlass, slice it through the air and leave it to rest upon my shoulder, “Let’s cut to the chase. You have something I’ve been looking for.”

One eyebrow arches as she watches me with those devious eyes. She runs a seductive hand along her human waist, stopping to rest on the sparkling scales of her fish tail, “The same thing all pirate men seek.” Her tone is decisive, like she has all the best cards in this game.

Time to even out the score, “I’m not here for you. I’m here for the Eye of the Ocean.” An ancient relic that will lead me to all the greatest treasures hidden across the world. Maybe I can finally stamp out my growing tavern debts.

Slender arms emerge from the darkness, snaking around the damp rock below me. The mermaid flashes her sea-sprayed, glistening lashes at me – her eyes stare longingly into mine, “Surely you have not travelled all this way just for a silly little rock. There’s so much more I could do for you.” With depraved intent, she slides closer until she’s almost touching my weathered boots, “Just, relax. Let me take a closer look-”

She stops suddenly, like she just had some grand realisation. I don’t have the time or care for this, “The Eye, sea witch. Where is it?”

Her eyes are sprinkled with the shifting reflections from the water – starry, and unflinching, “Not one tale spoke of your divine figure.”

My composure drops, along with the corners of my already frowning mouth, “Pardon?”

With a powerful flick of her tail, she slides up the rock and rests her damp body against mine, “Luring lustful men to their blissful end grows tiresome when they’re all such distasteful specimens. But you…” Her lithe fingers coil around my arm.

I try to pull away, but she persists, digging into my bicep with her long nails. This is getting ridiculous – I brandish my cutlass and hold it to her neck, “The eye. Now.”

That devilish seductiveness returns to her tone, “I like it when they’re feisty.” Her smirk widens.

I expected some resistance. A bit of blood, maybe some dangerous mermaid magic.

Not this…