Qara led us into a cave with several weaponries. The collection could be dated from ancient times-- spears, arrows, shields, swords in different shapes and length, pistols, and cannons. Then I heard a battle cry!

I immediately turned to the clashing of swords and saw two mermen fighting. They were agile with their movements adapting with their environment. One of them is huge and bald. When I looked closely, I noticed it was Thaddaeus. I turned towards the merman he was fighting. I gasped and put my hand on my mouth. It was Puma!

Both of them grew gills. Theire bodies were filled with grayish scales-- the ones you see on fish at the market. Their feet were webbed and they have fins on their calves, lower arms, and back. They looked hideous!

"What did you do to them? Put them back!" I demanded and stepped forward and drew my sword. However, I was quickly disarmed after another merman's sword made contact to the hilt of mine. I looked at him.

"Tibet--" I said but he immediately pointed the end of his sword at me.

Upon seeing my hostility, Thaddaeus and Puma charged at us. But, Qara smirked and raised her hand and signaled them to stop. She did not say anything. Her lips did not move. But Thaddaeus and Puma froze! I noticed the shell necklace around her neck glowed midnight blue.

Someone hissed that took my attention away. I turned to it quickly and saw the mermaid from Labyrinth ascended from her pool and rushed towards us. Unlike Qara, she was wearing a warrior's gear, very similar to what tribal warriors wore.

"Release my prisoners! They're mine!" she fumed.

"Oh calm down, would you Coralyn?" Qara responded.

"You are taking their side!" Coralyn said after hissing at me. "Are you betraying the pod?"

Qara rolled her eyes, "I received payment to assist her. If she dies, I will suffer repercussions," she explained.

Coralyn clenched her fist. "Release them or else there will be shedding of the blood!"

"You release them or you will shed blood!" I said and pointed my pistol at her. I had to put my brave face on even if deep inside I was horrified. I was bluffing but I am praying that Coralyn would not see through it. Because honestly, I think she could easily flick me away like a fly if she wanted to.

To my relief, when Coralyn turned to me, she was neither furious nor combative. Instead, she took a keen interest in the pistol I am holding.

"Are they that important to you?" she looked at me and asked.

"Yes! They're my family!" I replied unwavering.

Coralyn grinned. "I'll make a trade, then. Your weapon for them," she said and held out her hand.

I watched her suspiciously. "You're serious?" I asked.

Coralyn rolled her eyes at me. "I've never seen a weapon before with an ivory handle. I want it and I want it now!"

"You would release my friends?" I asked again to be sure.

She nodded. "They are giving me a headache. I cannot control their minds completely. I've been telling them I need bloodshed but their consciousness kept fighting back. I would very much like your weapon better than them," she reasoned.

"All three of them would be released?" I continued to clarify the terms of our negotiation.

Coralyn nodded again. "Yes! Yes! Yes! I want that weapon now!" she was impatient.

I smiled. This time I was lucky. I had the upper hand. I glanced at Gondro. He gave me an approving smile.

"Release them first," this time, I demanded.

Coralyn squinted her eyes at me. "You won't bamboozle me?"

I shook my head. "No I wouldn't. Also, you have to promise to assist us when we escape with our ship," I had to think fast.

Coralyn nodded again, "Now give me the weapon."

"You should ask her for a mermaid scale so she could honor the negotiations you two were making," Gondro interrupted.

Coralyn looked at him and hissed, "How dare you!"

I held out my hand quickly. "Give me a mermaid scale," I said following Gondro's advice.

Coralyn hissed but obliged. She took one silver scale and placed them on my palm. Looks like mermaids can be easily obsessed with something.

"Now, would you please release them?" I asked next.

She moved her lips. I saw the shell on her left ear glowed dark blue. It was the same as Qara's necklace.

Tibet, Thaddaeus, and Puma fell down. They were groaning in pain. I turned to Coralyn harshly, "What did you do?!"

Gondro responded, "It's alright Miss Darling. They are transforming back!"

I sighed. Coralyn held out her hand again, "Now hand me what is mine!" she ordered me.

"Do not forget our bargain… our escape," I reminded her. She nodded her head and I placed the pistol in her hand.

She smiled right away and aimed at one of the stalagmites in her territory. She pulled the trigger. It was a direct hit. The stalagmite fell. She giggled and planted a kiss at her new treasure. Then, she went back to her pool.

After determining that we are out of threats and danger, I ran towards my crew mates. I picked up my sword and sheathed it. Then, I sat next to them as I watched their gills, fins, and scales vanish. They were clearly still very weak after. It was just like how Gondro was when he transformed back.

"Will they be alright?" I asked Gondro.

Gondro nodded as he made them swallow a liquid medicine he concocted. In no time, they were healed.

"What happened?" Puma asked and looked around. "Where are we? Is that what I think it was?" he said as he gazed at Coralyn.

Tibet kept shaking his head. "It's not very clear. But I think I was in a daze. I was moving but it was not me. It's like… it's like…"

"We were hypnotized by that mermaid. It was ordering us to fight," Thaddaeus replied. He then looked at Gondro, "Thank you for saving us."

Gondro shook his head, "It was actually Miss Darling who did the negotiations for your release. I did not do anything except give you a remedy to replenish your strength."

Thaddaeus looked at me with uncertainty. Upon hearing that, Puma gave me a big hug.

"Oh Miss Darling, what would we do without you?" he said.

Tibet was about to lock me in his embrace as well. But, Thaddaeus pulled them both away from me. "Captain will shoot you if you lay a hand on her," he said.

I chuckled, "I am just so happy you were back. You looked hideous as mermen," I told them.

Their eyes widened! "We were what?!" they exclaimed together.

Gondro nodded. "She turned you into mermen," he said and motioned at Coralyn. She smiled and waved at them.

Puma narrowed his eyes and turned to Gondro, "And you?"

I giggled. "Gondro is half merfolk," I announced.

"What?!" The three exclaimed again.

I could not help but laugh at their surprise. Gondro looked at me while he shook his head, "Miss Darling, that was supposed to be a secret," he said.

"Miss Darling wasn't joking?" Tibet asked.

Gondro whacked his forehead with his right palm. He just confirmed that what I said was true. I could not help but laugh and giggle. I was just too happy that they were safe.

Qara cleared her throat, "Should we continue our quest?" she asked.

The three pirates looked at her. They stood up and shielded me right away. "Who's this?" Thaddaeus asked.

"I am Qara. I am a mermaid too. Darling paid me to assist her to rescue all of you," she replied.

The three men turned to me. All of them looked worried, "What did you pay her?" Puma asked.

"Three strands of my hair and my name," I answered.

"What is it for?" Tibet asked and looked at Qara.

Qara smirked. "It is none of your business," she replied and looked at me. "Shall we go?"

I nodded and stepped forward but Thaddaeus blocked me with his arm. "We will take care of this, Miss Darling. You should go back to Labyrinth. It's much safer."

The pirates all clenched their fists and narrowed their gaze at Qara. She smirked in response. She put her pointer finger up and waved it at them slowly. "You couldn't hurt me. It irks you so, doesn't it?" she giggled.

"That's enough," I said. "We still have the others to rescue. Lead the way, Qara."

Qara nodded and walked out of Coralyn's territory. We followed. Before I completely left, I turned back to Coralyn. "Don't forget your promise."

Coralyn sighed and gazed lovingly at her pistol. "You have my scale, don't you? Of course, I will do my end of the bargain. I will not risk any repercussions," she said and waved to dismiss me.