Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The moon hung low over the royal archives, casting a silver haze across the stacks of parchment and leather bound tomes. Prince Stolas paced between the shelves, his bare feet brushing against the cold stone floor. He paused at the window. The city sprawled along the coast, a bustling port where sailors moved about was empty this late at night. Royal vessels filled the docks, their gleaming hulls a reminder of law and order, but the darker corners of the harbor belonged to men and women who answered to no crown.

His thoughts were restless, circling the same worry. He moved away from the window as he continued his pacing. Octavia. His daughter deserved a life of her own, not one dictated by arrangements he despised. And yet, his wife was already scheming, whispering to the court about suitors and alliances. Stolas tightened his fists. He would not let them steal her freedom the way his own had been stolen.

As a prince, Stolas had grown up in polished halls, shielded from the shadowy streets by the sea. A part of him longed for it. He read fictional tales of daring pirates sailing to far away horizons in search of treasure.

A sudden creak echoed through the otherwise silent archives. Stolas froze. The candle threw long flickering shadows across the shelves, and in that moment, he noticed the window nearest the back of the room had swung open, letting in a breeze.

Through the open window, a shadow slipped silently across the floor. Stolas’s heart skipped.

He ducked behind a stack of ledgers, and blew out the candle he held.

The figure strode through the room and that's when Stolas got a good look at them. It was an imp with impressive large horns and a tricorn hat. A thief!

Stolas opened his mouth to call for the guards but stopped. The imp was doing something rather peculiar.

He seemed to count the book shelves. Then he knelt before a shelf and emptied it of books. He reached into the now empty shelf and felt along the wall as if looking for something.

“Damn it. Where is it? That prick better not have told me shit information,” the imp said to himself.

Finally there was a click, and a section of the shelving swung outward, revealing a small chamber. Inside on a pedestal was a rolled piece of parchment.

Stolas was just as surprised as the imp. He had never known there was a secret room in here.

The imp grabbed the parchment and unrolled it. It was a star map and written in the corner were blue runes that glowed faintly in the moonlight. From his years of study, Stolas recognized the text as the mysterious mermaid language.

Stolas swallowed hard, the rational part of him urging caution, but his curiosity flared. Whoever this intruder was, he had stumbled onto something extraordinary.

He took a step forward and a loose floorboard creaked beneath his foot. The intruder spun, eyes sharp as knives.

“Show yourself,” the imp demanded, pulling a gun.

Seeing no alternative Stolas stepped out from around the bookshelf he was hiding. He held up his hands in surrender.

The imp looked him up and down as he strode over, and Stolas felt subconscious. He was only wearing his dress robe and underwear. Hardly the regal outfit of a prince.

The pistol gleamed in the candlelight, cocked and aimed squarely at Stolas’s chest.

“Well, well,” the imp drawled, flashing a wicked grin. “Didn’t expect company. You always creep around libraries in your skivvies, or is this a special occasion?”

Stolas straightened, chin high despite the heat rising in his cheeks. “You’ve broken into the royal archives. I am Prince Stolas. And you are…?”

The imp let out a low whistle, tilting his head. “A prince, huh? Fancy. Guess I can cross ‘shoot royalty’ off my bucket list. Wonder if it feels any different than shooting some dockside drunk.”

Stolas’s pulse raced, but he refused to look away. He tried to buy time as he considered how to get out of this. “At least give me the name of my killer.”

“Captain Blitzø Buckzo,” the imp said. With the hand not holding the gun, he tipped his hat.

“Captain of a ship? Under what flag?” Stolas said, wondering if this had anything to do with the Goetia's diplomatic disagreements.

“My own. I'm…” Blitzø seemed to pause for dramatic effect. “... a pirate.”

Stolas blinked.

“Pirate Captain Blitzø Buckzo,” he clarified.

“Got a nice ring to it, right?” Blitzø said.

“Never heard of you,” Stolas said with a shrug.

Blitzø looked offended before pulling the hammer back on his pistol. “Everyone will know of me after I kill you and find the treasure on this map.” He waved the parchment for emphasis.

A treasure map? In the royal archive? Stolas tried to keep his head as he looked down the barrel of the gun.

“Then you’d be a fool, Blitzø. Kill me and you’ll have the entire Royal Navy on your tail. You won’t be a pirate for long once they hunt you down and put you on the end of a noose,” Stolas warned.

“Good luck with that. My ship is fast,” Blitzø said with a laugh. “Any last words?”

Stolas wet his lips, his gaze flicking to the parchment clutched under Blitzø’s arm. The glowing runes tugged at his scholar’s mind, and an idea struck him. “That map… you can’t read it, can you?”

Blitzø’s smile faltered for the first time. “I’ll figure it out.”

Stolas seized the hesitation like a lifeline. “No, you won’t. I know the stars, and I’ve studied languages all my life. Let me go and I'll tell you what it means.”

Blitzø narrowed his eyes. “And what about after? The moment I take off, you'll be calling your guards and blabbing everything. Sorry, but you're better off dead.”

“Then take me with you,” Stolas said, his voice steady now. He didn't fear death, but he had to stay alive for his daughter. If he was alive, he could always escape when the opportunity arose.

“A kidnapped prince will have the navy after me as soon as a dead one,” Blitzø said.

“I'll leave a note,” Stolas said. “Please… my child still needs me.”

For a heartbeat, silence stretched broken only by the whisper of the sea breeze through the open window.

Then Blitzø sighed, lowering the pistol just a fraction. “Damn it,” he cursed, almost to himself. “Fine. You get to live…for now. But one wrong move, and I’ll make history as the pirate who shot a prince in his underwear.”

Stolas let out a sigh of relief. He had no illusions about his situation. He was a hostage. But for Octavia’s sake, he would play the game.

Stolas hastily scrawled a note, and left it on the desk where he knew it would be found at dawn. Blitzø skimmed it, gave a short nod, and jerked his head toward the still open window.

“Princes first,” Blitzø said, pistol never wavering.

Stolas walked to the sill and glanced down. A grappling hook was wedged into the stone, rope dangling toward the ground below. Carefully, he swung his leg over and shimmied down, the rope biting into his palms. Blitzø followed close behind, nimble as a cat.

The instant Stolas’s feet hit the ground, the pistol pressed into the small of his back.

“Let’s go,” Blitzø said.

***

“Dad?”

Octavia walked in the royal archives. Her father spent most of his time here, reading about his latest obsession. He was a prince, but also an astronomer, herbalist, and linguist. It was common for other nobles to seek out his help in such matters.

However, the room was empty. She walked over to her fathers desk and spotted an envelope with her name written on it. It looked hastily scrawled, her father’s neat script uneven and filled with ink blots. Curious, she took out the letter and read…

My dearest Octavia,

I must leave for a little while. This is sudden, and I am sorry. There are matters I cannot ignore, though I wish I could stay by your side instead. Please do not be afraid. You are stronger than you know.

If you think of me, remember that lullaby we used to sing on the shore and hug your orange teddy bear. Send my love to your mother, and tell her I'll be at sea for some time.

Until I return, my Starfire.

~Dad

The letter confused her and immediately sent up some alarms in her mind. The first was the teddy bear. When she was little, her father and mother had constructed a code that was known just between the three of them. Orange meant kidnapped or held hostage, and she’d never had an orange teddy bear. Mentions of the shore and the sea also meant her father had been taken by ship.

Perhaps the most concerning was the mention of the lullaby. They didn’t have a lullaby by the shore, but they did have a song they sometimes sang.

We pillage plunder, we rifle and loot
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me

Her father had been kidnapped by pirates and taken aboard their ship. Stolas had no love for Stella but the letter indicated Octavia should go to her.

She rushed off, letter clutched in her terrified hand. Octavia was so frazzled she didn’t even notice the large crack in the bookcase which revealed the hidden room behind it.

***

The rope ladder swayed beneath them as Stolas clambered up from the rowboat, Blitzø following close behind. The wet slap of the sea mixed with the smell of tar and wood, and Stolas climbed aboard the ship.

It was a small bermuda sloop with a pirate flag flying off the single mast in the center. Stolas knew from his studies that such vessels were quick and easily maneuverable. They could carry a dozen cannons, although he only counted six on this one, and could be manned by only two people if necessary.

Stolas adjusted his robe and tried to steady himself as the ship swayed beneath his feet.

“Who’s that?” a voice said. Stolas spotted an imp with a lute slung over his back. A female imp was standing next to him, and a hellhound leaned against a canon.

Blitzø cleared his throat. “Ah! Crew! Meet our new navigator! Name’s… Stols Scallywag.” He winked at Stolas, who froze. “Stols this is Millie, Moxxie, and Loona. Welcome to the IMP. Best ship in these waters.”

“My… what?” Stolas blinked, utterly confused. He’d expected to be brought to a brig and locked in chains. Not Blitzø pretending he was a new crewmember, and being introduced with a ridiculous pirate title.

“Navigator?” Moxxie repeated, raising an eyebrow. “You mean… a goetia… agreed to sail with us?” His suspicion was sharp.

Blitzø waved his hand dismissively. “Aye! Said he’s been exiled, but has a keen eye for maps, stars, and all that fancy navigational mumbo-jumbo. Decided he’d join our crew for adventure! Lucky us, right?”

Millie frowned, folding her arms. “And did you get the map he’s supposed to read?”

“Right here,” Blitzø said with a grin and held up the parchment.

“I’ve never heard of a goetia named Scallywag,” Moxxie said, eyeing Stolas.

“Name and titles are royal nonsense… we’re pirates! He’s just Scallywag to us. Right?” He nudged Stolas, who opened his mouth to protest but quickly realized that it would only invite more scrutiny… and possibly danger. If Blitzø was introducing him as some no-name goetia, there had to be a reason for it.

Loona finally spoke. “He’s awfully calm for someone who’s joining a pirate crew.”

Blitzø clapped his hands. “Enough chit-chat! Time to get this ship moving! Head out to the open sea for now. Navigator, why don’t you come to my quarters? I’ll get you some clothes, and we’ll take a look at this map.”

Blitzø brought Stolas to a trapdoor near the stern. Down a steep set of stairs was a compact room with a single bed and a desk. Every inch of the walls, minus the window and a painting, were covered in seahorse decorations. Looking at the painting, Stolas realized it was the adult hellhound he had met back up on deck and Blitzø.

“Is she your wife?” Stolas asked uncertainly.

Blitzø looked like Stolas had just asked him to eat a barrel of spoiled fish. “She’s my daughter,” he corrected. “Found her shipwrecked when I was sailing under someone else. She’s mine in everything but blood.”

He said it so naturally that Stolas immediately believed him.

“Why didn’t you tell your crew I’m a prince?” Stolas asked, still trying to make sense of the situation.

Blitzø shrugged, leaning against the wall. “Because if they knew, none of this would work. Moxxie would throw a fit, Millie might start calculating ransom money, and Loona wouldn’t trust you. It’s easier if everyone thinks you’re just a navigator.”

Stolas blinked, processing. “So my survival rests on me playing along like some common sailor?”

Blitzø’s grin softened slightly, and there was an unusual tenderness in his tone. “Look, I get it. You’ve got a kid. Play it right, I’ll get you through this in one piece, and make sure you get home to them. Just keep your head down and read the stars like we agreed.”

Stolas considered this. Blitzø might be a pirate, but there was logic in his reasoning. Plus being a navigator on the ship sounded preferable to being a prisoner.

“Fine,” Stolas said, voice firm but calm. “I’ll be your navigator. But I expect a full explanation of this ship, your crew, and… whatever that map is.”

Blitzø’s grin widened, showing sharp teeth. “I’ll tell you what you need to know. We are pirates, after all. Can’t be letting you go with all our secrets.”

He unrolled the map across the desk. “As for this map, it leads to the greatest treasure of Captain Bloodtooth. I learned about its location in a card game from some old timer trying to save himself from losing his last coin. Nobody had the balls to go after it in the royal archives except me.”

Stolas had heard of Bloodtooth. He was a notorious shark pirate who had sailed the seas undefeated for decades before mysteriously vanishing. It was rumored he had hidden his most precious riches behind riddles and trials on an unknown island.

“I didn’t even know the map was there,” Stolas said, tracing the mermaid script in the corner.

“Do you know how to read it?” Blitzø asked.

“No one does. Mermaids keep their language a secret from land dwellers,” Stolas replied.

Blitzø swore. “I was hoping you wouldn’t say that. Looks like our first stop will be Brimstone Harbor. There’s a sea wench’s tavern there known for the mermaid they keep as live entertainment.”

Stolas straightened. “Very well, Captain. Let’s see where this map takes us.”

Blitzø smirked, rolling up the map. “That’s the spirit, Scallywag. Now let’s get you in some proper clothes. Unless you want to walk around in your skivvies. I don’t mind the view,” he said salaciously.

Stolas’s cheeks flushed. He’d completely forgotten he was standing there almost naked. “I beg your pardon?"

“I mean it’s hard not to notice that fine ass when it’s at eye level,” Blitzø said with a wink.

Stolas’s pulse quickened, caught between indignation and amusement. He opened his mouth to respond, but Blitzø’s grin widened, as if he knew the effect he was having. Stolas had never had anyone call any part of him fine, let alone his posterior. All his wife did was complain about how scrawny and weak Stolas was.

“Come on, let’s get you sorted,” Blitzø continued. “Don’t want the crew thinking the new navigator is… scandalous.” He carefully rolled up the map and stashed it in a safe underneath the desk.

As Blitzø pulled Stolas toward a small chest to find him some clothes, he couldn’t help but feel a flutter of something unfamiliar. Stolas had no illusions that this was going to be a dangerous and unpredictable journey. Yet excitement coursed through him. For all his royal training, the lure of the unknown, the sea, and the promise of adventure called to him more strongly than anything ever had.

Chapter Text

As the IMP sailed steadily into the open sea, Stolas began to settle in as navigator. He now wore a fitted vest, breeches, and a ruffled cravat that kept his chest feathers comfortable.

Everyday he learned more and more about his new crewmates.

Millie seemed in charge of all things weapons including canons and swords. Her farm upbringing made her practical, but she also had a soft side when it came to her husband.

Moxxie spent a lot of time plucking at his lute while gazing at the horizon. He came from a pirate family, though he refused to say which one, and usually manned the helm when Blitzø was busy.

Loona was everywhere at once. She could be found napping in the crow’s nest, reading behind a cannon, and drinking in the cargo hold. She rarely spoke unless it was necessary, yet she mentally seemed to observe everything.

And then there was Blitzø. Charismatic and chaotic but holding the crew together through some unknown ties of loyalty. His teasing flirts and constant energy should be exhausting, but Stolas found himself oddly captivated.

Despite being kidnapped, Stolas was enjoying himself. It was freeing to roll out of his hammock to the sight of the waves and the sound of Blitzø’s jokes.

The only thing that made him uneasy was the thought of Octavia alone with Stella. He hoped she understood his message and would remain strong until he returned.

Eventually the IMP came to an island that had a huge waterfall tumbling straight into the sea. The waterfall was taller than the ship and so wide that the mist coming off it made the island look like it was floating in a cloud.

“Tie up the sails and batten down the hatches,” Blitzø called, and the crew raced to comply. Stolas at this point was learning what these commands meant and he did his best to help Loona close everything up while Millie and Moxxie climbed the rigging.

Blitzø had pulled out a tattered umbrella with one hand on the helm. With some alarm, Stolas realized he was aiming right for the waterfall.

“Everyone get some cover!” the imp captain called. “It's gonna get wet!”

Millie and Moxxie ran to the overturned rowboat and huddled under it. Loona dived down into the cargo hold.

“Blitzø!” Stolas said with some alarm as they neared the waterfall, the roar of it becoming deafening.

“Get under here birdy before you get soaked!” Blitzø called with a laugh.

Stolas raced over and crouched under the umbrella as the bow entered the waterfall. He braced himself, sure that they were about to crash into the stone cliff behind it. However the ship passed safely through the water. When they passed under the waterfall, the umbrella barely held back the torrent.

Stolas coughed when they came out the other side. The umbrella had kept them dry, but his tail had gotten soaked. He wrung the feathers, and shook them out. The crew came from their hiding places as water splashed out of the canon ports.

Stolas came out from under the umbrella to find themselves in a massive cave filled with vessels of all shapes and sizes. A huge natural hole in the ceiling let in sunlight, and gulls could be seen flying in and out. On a small beach was a scattered assortment of dwellings.

What is this place?” Stolas asked. He watched Loona drop anchor while Millie and Moxxie prepared the rowboat.

“Brimstone Harbor,” Blitzø said, coming up beside him.

The rowboat hit the surf with a splash. Stolas climbed in gingerly with Blitzø and Loona. Millie and Moxxie remained on board, exchanging a grin.

“Have fun, Captain,” Millie called down. Stolas watched as she promptly dragged Moxxie below deck.

“Will they be alright?” Stolas asked.

“Oh yeah,” Blitzø said breezily, taking off his damp jacket and grabbing the oars. “They love it when the ship’s all theirs so they can play house and fuck each other silly. Real boring domestic shit.”

Stolas tried not to stare at the muscle across Blitzø’s arms as he started to row. Without the jacket he could see just how attractive the imp was. Feeling hot, he turned his gaze toward the shore.

The closer they came, the more Stolas realized why this harbor was hidden. Broken ships in varying states had been dragged up onto the beach and converted into houses, shops, and taverns. Smoke from cookfires rose into the air, carrying the smell of roasted fish, seaweed stews, and cheap rum. Pirates of every shape and size laughed, drank, or brawled in the sand.

Children darted between the shanty-like huts, their games involving daggers and dice. One old demon sat sharpening a cutlass longer than Stolas was tall, while another polished a pistol under the shade of a patched sailcloth.

Everywhere Stolas looked, there was a kind of organized chaos that could only mean this was a pirate town.

The rowboat scraped onto the sand, and Blitzø vaulted onto the beach. Together, they dragged the rowboat further ashore.

“Alright, listen up,” Blitzø said. “Loona, you’ve got shore leave. Do whatever the hell you want, but meet us back by sundown. Stolas, you’re with me. Don’t need you getting stabbed your first time out.”

“See you later,” Loona muttered. She shoved her hands into her pockets and stalked off toward a book vendor.

“Bye, sweetie. Daddy loves you!” Blitzø called after her, earning a middle finger in reply.

That left Stolas, still staring around wide eyed at the squalid beauty. “This is… extraordinary,” he said softly.

Blitzø caught his wrist and tugged him toward the crooked line of taverns. “C’mon, birdy. We’ve got business with a certain mermaid.”

They passed beneath the warped beams of an old galleon that had been split in half and turned into a bar. A battered sign swung above the door, painted with a crude picture of a woman in a revealing dress balancing a tankard on her head. The name was scrawled in peeling red letters: The Loo Loo Lady.

Blitzø stopped at the door. “Now, this is a sea wenches’ place, so don’t mind the stares. Men aren’t always welcome… but they’ve got decent grog. Stick close to me and you’ll be fine.”

Stolas hesitated at the threshold. He tugged lightly at his ruffled cravat before stepping into the tavern after Blitzø.

The first thing Stolas noticed was the tank. A massive glass wall stretched behind the bar, filled with shimmering blue light. A mermaid lounged inside, pink-scaled tail curling lazily as she sang. Her voice slipped through the tavern sweet and almost hypnotic.

The majority of the patrons were women who leaned on the bar to watch the mermaid. A few turned and openly stared at Stolas who stuck out like a sore thumb. Not only was he a man but he was a tall goetia who towered over everyone.

Stolas's new clothes suddenly felt too snug under all the stares. He caught a few women sizing him up like he was a decorative pet bird someone had smuggled into the bar. He was doing as Blitzø suggested, and stayed close to the imp.

“Don’t worry, Stols,” Blitzø said. “They only eat men who can’t hold their liquor. But…” He paused as he caught sight of someone in the crowd. “Barbie?”

Stolas followed his line of sight. At the far end of the bar, a woman sat with her chin tilted toward the fish tank. He could immediately see the family resemblance. She had the same face, eyes, and even her horns were similar to Blitzø's.

The mermaid inside the tank seemed to be singing to Barbie while her tail curled into hearts. The mermaid’s eyes glistened with something close to longing.
But the moment Barbie noticed Blitzø, her face hardened.

“Great,” Barbie snarled, her gaze narrowing. “If it isn’t my worthless brother come to ruin a perfectly good night.”

Blitzø’s bravado faltered, his tail flicking with unease. “Good to see you too, sis,” he said, though his tone made him sound contrite. “I thought you were sailing on the Hungry Hound. Didn't see their ship in port.”

“Found something better. What are you doing here? No one here wants men, so if you're looking for a pity fuck, I'd head down the road,” Barbie said and poured the last of her grog down her throat. She seemed to finally notice Stolas and raised an eyebrow. “Whose this?”

“My new navigator,” Blitzø said. “Stols, this is my sister.”

Barbie scoffed. “Navigator? Please. What do you need a navigator for?”

Blitzø’s eyes glinted as he leaned in, lowering his voice. “Because, Barbie… I finally found it.”

That flicker of contempt in her eyes snapped into surprise. The grog mug nearly slipped from her hand. “You’re kidding.”

Stolas blinked between them. “Found what?”

“Don’t tell me you’re still chasing that stupid fairy tale,” Barbie said.

Blitzø’s tail lashed, defiance heating his tone. “It’s not a fairy tale, Barbs. Bloodtooth’s treasure is real. I’ve got the map, I’ve got the crew, and I’m going to prove it,” he said loudly, drawing a few curious stares.

Barbie snorted, pushing away from the bar with a bitter laugh. “Same obsession since we were kids. You’re going to get yourself killed chasing shadows.” She looked Stolas up and down again, her mouth curling into a smirk. “Stols, was it? Take my advice and get out while you still can.”

“I'm afraid me and the Captain have an arrangement,” Stolas explained. There was obviously animosity between the siblings but they were here with a purpose. “We could actually use your help. We need to speak with the mermaid.”

Barbie’s smirk faltered at the mention of the mermaid. She set her empty mug down with a hard clink.

“You mean Verosika?” Her tone had gone from mocking to protective. “What do you want from her?”

“The map is written in the mermaid language, and we need her to translate,” Stolas explained.

“And why should she? She's stuck in that damn tank. Can't even really swim,” Barbie sounded sad before she leaned forward into her brother's space. “The bastard who owns this bar keeps her locked up like a trophy. Everyday singing her gills out for coin she never sees.”

“If you've got such a bleeding heart, why haven't you freed her?” Blitzø asked.

“I've tried but I can't do it alone,” Barbie said. “You want Verosika’s help? Free her, and I'll make sure she translates whatever you want.”

Blitzø gave a reckless smile. “Sounds like my kind of plan.”

***

It took a few days to get everything in place. The Loo Loo Lady was rowdy the night they decided to break out the mermaid.

At a corner table lit by melted candles, Blitzø slapped his cards down with a dramatic groan.

“Son of a bitch! That’s the third hand in a row! You cheating, Wackford?” he barked, throwing his arms wide so the nearest woman glanced over. His tail lashed against the chair leg in frustration.

The tavern owner Wally Wackford laughed, gathering the pile of winnings in his hands. “I say, I say, not my fault yer luck’s rotten. Shoulda quit while you had something left.”

It had taken some work to get Wally to step away from his place at the bar. Blitzø had been bartering away painted tin disguised as cheap coins. Barbie said the tavern owner was a sucker for gambling, and with Blitzø loudly announcing his poor luck, Wally had been lured into a game of cards.

Blitzø scowled and dug into his coat. For one tantalizing second, he flashed a glimmer of real gold. A murmur ran through the crowd. “This is it, Wackford,” Blitzø growled, letting the coins clink before snapping them back into his palm and tucking them away. “Last of my treasure. You win this hand, it’s yours.”

While the crowd pressed closer to watch, Loona slipped behind the bar towards the tank. Her hands found the cord, and with one sharp tug a heavy curtain swept down, cloaking the mermaid from sight.

Behind it, Barbie, Millie and Moxxie were already moving. Barbie pulled out her lock picks while the other two kept watch. Verosika was still as stone as she watched the lock finally give way and Barbie lift off the tank lid.

The three imps quietly slipped the mermaid out of her prison. Barbie cradled her front while Millie and Moxxie supported her tail.

“Hurry up,” Loona hissed as Blitzø loudly started telling Wally about the time he won with a straight flush while betting his ship. The other patrons were entranced as Blitzø pulled out his pistol and waved it around in a dramatic reenactment.

They were just at the door when disaster struck. Verosika was dripping water, and Moxxie slipped in a puddle. He let go of her tail in order to stop himself from faceplanting, and the resulting thud drew a few patrons attention.

“What are they doing with the mermaid?” one of the women said, which drew Wally's attention.

“I say, I say… put her back you thievin’ rats!” Wally bellowed. He jumped up from the table.

“Oh crumbs,” Moxxie said, scrambling upright.

“Shit!” Blitzø overthrew the table at Wally, knocking cards and tankards to the floor before spinning toward the door. “GO, GO, GO!”

Barbie cursed under her breath, tightening her grip on Verosika’s shoulders as Moxxie retook his position on the tail. Together they hauled the mermaid through the exit.

Wally shoved past gawkers, his voice shrill with outrage. “After em! Fifty gold coins to the whoever brings back my mermaid!”

The whole tavern went silent for half a beat… then erupted as people drew guns and swords. The barmaids dropped their trays. Patrons leapt from stools. Half the crowd scrambled for the bounty and the other half ran to watch.

“Move it!” Loona barked, vaulting a table to keep pace with the others. She planted herself at the doorframe, baring her fangs and brandishing a broken bottle like a knife to slow the rush.

Blitzø skidded to her side, sword flashing. “Get her to the water, Stols,” he said. “We'll buy you as much time as we can.”

Stolas was outside with a cart, and as soon as Verosika was safely in it, he took off for the beach. He had never been much for running, but his long legs had him quickly gaining ground from the crowd behind him. He dodged around people in the streets who stopped to stare at the goetia carting a mermaid.

After seeing Stolas run off, the others stood to hold the line against the hoard of pirate women intent on giving chase.

Wally barreled forward, sword raised high. “Thief!” he bellowed, swinging at Blitzø’s head.

Blitzø ducked and used his own sword to catch the blade. He kicked into Wally’s gut, sending the pirate staggering back with a wheeze.

“Dirty trick!” Wally gasped, keeping his sword level even those he was doubled over.

Blitzø grinned and twirled his sword. “If you think this is dirty, you should see me in bed!” He lunged forward, and Wally flinched. However, Blitzø was aiming for his belt, and with a snap, Wally’s trousers dropped to his ankles.

The pirate tripped over his own pants, and landed flat on his back. The pirate women stopped battling long enough to laugh.

“Show’s over, ladies!” Blitzø shouted. “Tip your servers, and thanks for coming to the show!”

The crew of the IMP bolted for the door, and after a moment the crowd followed.

***

Stolas barreled down the sand, cart wheels sinking deep as he hit the beach. With no pause, he shoved it straight into the surf, and water spilled into it. Verosika slid off into the waves.

“There’s the mermaid!” a voice shouted from behind, and Stolas twisted to see a growing crowd of pirate women running toward them. Panic surged.

With no other choice, he leapt into the harbor, the water swallowing him up to his chest. Despite growing up by the sea, he wasn't a very powerful swimmer. Salt stung his eyes, and the added weight of soaked feathers made swimming a struggle. Stolas flailed, arms thrashing, as his long legs kicked desperately.

“Come on!” Verosika called, doubling back with ease. She hooked a strong arm under his and propelled him forward with powerful strokes. “Damn. You’re heavier than you look.”

“Let go … they’ll catch you if I slow you down,” Stolas sputtered.

“Just trust me!” she snapped like she was irritated he would even suggest such a thing.

Behind them, Wally Wackford had reached the water’s edge, holding up his pants with his hands. “Come back with my MERMAID!” he wailed.

He looked like he was on the verge of jumping into the water to give chase when a fist connected with his jaw. Like a deck of cards, Wally folded to the sand and lay still.
“Fuck! That asshole has a jaw of steel,” Barbie said, shaking out her hand. She spit on Wally. “That’s for keeping my girlfriend prisoner.”

The pirates were momentarily stunned at Wally’s defeat, giving Moxxie, Millie, Loona, and Blitzø time to climb in their rowboat and push off from shore. Barbie too ran to her own boat, which she’d made ready to launch prior to the rescue.

The pirates hesitated at the water’s edge, shouting back and forth to each other.

“Do we really need to chase them?” one muttered, eyeing the distance.

“They’ve got a mermaid!” another yelled.

“Yeah, but Wally’s knocked out,” a third said, peering down at the prone tavern owner. “Will we even get a reward if we catch her now?”

Blitzø leaned over the side of the rowboat, and called back loudly, “HEY! Since Wackford’s knocked out, you can drink all his grog without paying! Don’t let it go to waste!”

The pirate women froze. Then, as if on cue, a chorus of cheers erupted. “FREE GROG!” one yelled, and suddenly all thoughts of chasing a mermaid, a soaked goetia, and a crew of imps vanished. The pirates turned on their heels and sprinted back to The Loo Loo Lady, leaving an unconscious Wally behind.

“Now that's how you get rid of a bunch of pirates,” Millie said and gave Blitzø a high five.

They brought the rowboat alongside Stolas and Verosika. With the mermaid pushing, and the imps yanking, they were able to pull him on board. Stolas, still flailing and soaked, blinked at him. “I think I just drowned,” he stated.

“Well if you want mouth to mouth, just let me know,” Blitzø said with a wink.

“Can you not flirt right in front of me?” Loona said with an exasperated sigh as she paddled toward the IMP.

Blitzø took off his coat and threw it over Stolas’s shivering shoulders. He said with an air of innocence, “I'm just looking out for our newest crew member.”

They looked over to see Barbie sailing her small single person boat towards the IMP. While she lashed her vessel to it with a tow line, the rowboat came up beside the ship with the others.

The mermaid Verosika swam over to hang onto the side of Barbie’s boat.

“Swim to the open ocean. Get somewhere safe,” Barbie told her, going over to the railing.

“Thank you for freeing me, babe. And for punching that prick,” Verosika said and dragged Barbie into a very passionate kiss. Tongues tangled quickly and they embraced as much as possible.

“Aww,” Moxxie said before climbing up the rope ladder.

“That’s really sweet. Makes me wonder though,” Millie added before climbing up to the deck of the IMP.

Blitzø looked a little green at seeing his twin playing tonsil hockey and loudly cleared his throat. “Yeah…sweet. Anyway, we had a deal. We freed you. Now we need you to translate our… ow!”

Blitzø looked back at Stolas who had bumped his hip into Blitzø's shoulder to shut him up. As a romantic, Stolas was on Millie and Moxxie’s side. Finally the two women parted and Verosika pushed off and disappeared beneath the waves.

“She’ll meet up with us at nightfall. Mermaid language needs to be read by the light of the moon,” Barbie explained.

Blitzø leaned back against the railing. “Oh … of course. I knew that. Totally part of the plan. Moonlight translation, very important.”

Stolas gave him a fond eye roll, the kind that made Blitzø grin wider, as if he’d just won some secret prize.

“Of course, Captain,” Stolas murmured, amusement dancing in his tone. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to go dry off.”

Barbie, still watching from her boat, narrowed her eyes at the exchange. Once Stolas began climbing the rope ladder back onto the IMP, she moved close enough to hop from her own boat to the row boat.

She tapped Blitzø on the shoulder, stopping him from climbing the ladder. “Something going on with you two? That little… look the goetia just gave you?”

Blitzø blinked. “Huh? What look?” he said, glancing up at Stolas’s backside before it disappeared onto the ship. “Scallywag here just joined our crew last week. He’s helping me get Bloodtooth’s treasure, then I’m helping him get back to his kid. That’s it.”

Barbie raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. “Really?”

“Really,” Blitzø said, grabbing hold of the ladder. “I mean sure I’m gonna flirt a little. He’s hot. Did you see those legs? Though it looks like you aren’t into girls with legs…”

“Blitzø,” Barbie snapped, losing patience with her brother.

“Nothing is going on,” he repeated. “Now hurry up. I want to show you my ship.” He climbed up the ladder and after a moment, Barbie followed unconvinced.

The IMP passed through the waterfall and slipped into the open sea. The island that hid Brimstone Harbor shrunk, leaving the danger behind them.

… or so they thought.

Chapter Text

“Do you believe this nonsense, Andre?” Stella scoffed, showing him the letter Octavia had brought her. “If he’s run off, good riddance. The fewer hours I must endure his simpering, the better.”

“You don’t get it,” Octavia snapped, feathers puffing. “It’s code. He’s been kidnapped by pirates. We have to rescue him.”

They were in the royal archives where Octavia had originally found the letter. After telling her mother that Stolas was missing, Stella had sent for Uncle Andrelphus.

“Since he’s gone, how long until I can take control of the estate?” Stella asked her brother as if Octavia hadn’t spoken at all.

But her brother wasn’t listening anymore. Andrealphus was inspecting the hidden compartment that had been left open. There wasn’t much inside, just the shelf where the map had been next to a glass bottle holding a miniature ship.

“Pirates… pirates, pirates…” he murmured. His fingers ran along the dust on the shelf. “I heard rumors once, you know. That an old pirate treasure map was hidden in these records. It seems Stolas may have stumbled on it. My guess is he ran off with it.”

“But Dad wouldn’t just leave,” Octavia protested. Her voice faltered, though. He wouldn’t leave her. He wouldn’t.

“So he found a weird map, and left. Who cares,” Stella said, annoyed.

But Andrealphus smiled wider. “Oh, but I care, sister. Because where there are pirates, there is plunder. And where there is plunder… there is power.”

Stella’s eyes lit up. “You mean money?”

Andrealphus picked up the bottle on the shelf and examined the tiny pirate ship inside. “Yes. Hang a few pirates and collect their treasure and I could easily rise from being a Marquis to a Duke. Maybe even a Prince.”

“And we can get dad back too?” Octavia said hopefully.

Andrealphus looked down at his niece with a predatory smile. “Of course,” he lied.

If he had his way he would get Stolas’s estate secured through Stella, pirate riches fattening his coffers, and Octavia bartered away in some advantageous marriage. But as long as Stolas lived, there was always a risk he’d return and ruin everything. Best if he was hung with the pirate scum.

“I shall alert Admiral Vassago of the situation,” Andrealphus said, already tucking the ship in a bottle away. “The kidnapping of a prince is no small matter. And naturally, I will accompany him in the search to ensure your father’s safe return.”

“Ugh. Let him rot,” Stella muttered, folding her arms. “Just get the damn treasure.”

Andrealphus’s smile flickered at her stupidity. He didn’t bother correcting her. His sister was a loud, blunt knife when it came to scheming. Fortunately, he knew how to cut much deeper.

***

After the mermaid’s escape from the Loo Loo Lady, rumors traveled fast through Brimstone Harbor.

At first, it was just the locals gossiping. Dockhands on break, ale-drunk sailors leaning against pilings, and fishmongers calling across stalls about the “mermaid mix-up.” Some swore Wally Wackford had sold the poor thing to pay off gambling debt, others whispered she had been snatched by pirates who didn’t know how dangerous a mermaid could be.

By the second day, the story had already grown fins and teeth.

“Didja hear? That mermaid wasn’t just any fish-girl. She was royalty!” one deckhand slurred, sloshing ale from his mug. “Half the ocean’s goin’ after the ones that took her to save their princess.”

“No, no,” another argued, puffing up with certainty. “It wasn’t the mermaid who was royal. The pirates had a goetian prince with them, and the mermaid knows where Bloodtooth hid his treasure.”

By the third day, the tale had tangled itself like a fish net beyond repair. Depending on who you asked, the pirates of the IMP had:

Won the mermaid in a drinking contest against Wally Wackford who refused to pay up.
Stolen her to lead them to treasure hidden in Davy Jones locker.
Were a bunch of drunk idiots who took the mermaid as a joke.

The harbor swelled with whispers and bets. But one thing was agreed upon. The IMP was after Bloodtooth’s greatest treasure, and they’d found the first clue to its location.

In the gilded balcony of one of the more upscale taverns, Asmodeus leaned forward, drumming jeweled fingers on the table. Beelzebub, ever restless, was drinking a tankard of mead the size of her head. Satan merely narrowed his eyes as they looked around.

The Sins were a fleet of pirate lords, one for each of the seven seas. Each was captain in their own right with Satan being the leader. It was rare to see more than one at a time as part of their alliance was not to plunder within each other's waters. But they were here on special business.

“He’s not gonna show,” Asmodeus said, looking bored as he checked his pocket watch.

“He'll be here,” Satan said, drumming his fingers as he watched Beelzebub eat her way through a plate of fried fish.

“Lighten up and have a snack,” she said. She held a piece of golden fish dripping in tartar sauce. “Here, say ahhh.”

Satan’s eye twitched. His lips peeled back just enough to bare teeth. “I don’t want a snack.” He banged the table hard enough to rattle plates.

“See, that’s your problem,” Bee said, shrugging and stuffing the fish into her own mouth. “No protein, all rage. Won’t keep those muscles like that.”

Satan opened his mouth to retort when a familiar voice cut across the table.

“Well, look at this,” Mammon announced as he walked onto the balcony. “Big bad Satan can’t keep his bloody temper as usual. And what about you two? Ready to leave this hothead and come work for me?”

“We’re fine where we are,” Asmodeous said somewhat coldly. He didn’t much like Mammon.

“Your loss. Let me know when you change your mind and want ta make some real treasure,” Mammon said with a laugh. He turned to the imp behind him “Fizzy. Get me a drink.”

Asmodeous now noticed a little imp trailing behind Mammon. He had on a jester hat, and looked to only have one full arm, which held a cane to keep him steady on two wooden legs. His other arm ended in a hook. “Right away, Mammon,” he said before shuffling out.

Satan growled, but Mammon was already pulling up a chair with a squeal of wood against the floor. He plopped into it like he owned the place.

“So you hear the gossip,” Mammon went on, “We’ve got a pack o’ upstart idiots runnin’ ‘round with Bloodtooth’s treasure map. An’ I dunno ‘bout you lot, but I wouldn’t mind gettin’ my hands on that prize.”

Fizzarolli came back and set the drink in front of Mammon before going to stand in the corner. It was like he was a dog waiting for his master's next command.

Beelzebub sipped her mug. “Now you're speaking my language. Rum and Treasure.”

Asmodeus leaned his chin into his palm. “Ugh, I suppose. But if these…what were they called? IMP pirates? If they are in possession of Bloodtooth’s map, they’ll be dead within a week. I’ve heard the traps guarding it have killed plenty before now.”

Satan’s jaw worked as he finally sat back, flexing his fingers slowly. His glare flicked from Beelzebub to Mammon to Asmodeus.

“Doesn’t matter how fast word spreads,” he said lowly. “If the map’s real, we’re claiming it. And anyone dumb enough to stand in our way will drown.”

Mammon smirked, showing every tooth. “Cute speech. But why should I give a toss about what we do? Last I checked, there wasn’t a we anymore.”

Several years prior Mammon had broken from the Sins to become an independent pirate. He was unhappy about splitting plunder and working together. It wasn’t very lucrative in his opinion.

Satan leaned forward, voice low, dangerous. “Don’t be a fool. The Crimson Sails have been making waves, and they’re not the only ones. If we don’t make a show of strength, if we don’t claim what’s ours, people will start to forget who their true masters are. I’ve already met with others, and they agree.”

For once, Beelzebub lowered her drink. Even Asmodeus looked thoughtful.

Mammon just laughed. A sharp, barking sound. “You’re jokin’, right? You lot want me to crawl back to the Sins, just ‘cause some upstarts are kickin’ up surf? Nah. I’ve done better on my own than I ever did splittin’ loot with you bastards.”

“You’re arrogant,” Satan growled. “This isn’t about gold. It’s about dominion. About reminding the seas who rules them.”

“My jester tells better jokes than that,” Mammon smirked. He swirled the last of his drink before downing it. “Fizzy!”

Fizzarolli limped back over and took the empty mug. Before he could leave those, Mammon held out a hand. “Tell em a real joke. That one I like,” he said to the imp.

“Uh…okay,” Fizz said and stood up as tall as he could. He put on a forced smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “So there’s this girl on the beach and she’s just a torso. And a man walks by and she tells him that she’s never been hugged before. So he hugs her. Then she says she’s never been kissed before. So he kisses her. Then she says she’s never been fucked before. So the man throws her in the ocean and says, ‘There. Now you’re fucked.’"

While Mammon roared with laughter, Fizzarolli gave a weak smile as if he was laughing too.

“Just like you Fizzy. Throw you in the sea and you’d be royally fucked,” Mammon laughed.

Bee gave a weak chuckle as if trying to be polite, and Asmodeous gave the imp an encouraging smile. Satan continued to look sullen.

“Ah, comedy. Almost better than money,” Mammon said. “Now go get me another drink.”

The moment Mammon looked away, Fizz’s smile fell and he limped back out of the room.

Asmodeus tilted his head, watching the little imp disappear through the door. “What happened to him?” he asked, voice unusually soft.

Mammon waved a hand like it was nothing. “Oh, that? Gunpowder accident. Poor sod lost half his limbs. Couldn’t dance, couldn’t fight, couldn’t even beg right. Streets would’ve eaten him alive if I hadn’t taken him in.” The words were smooth, but the curl of his grin told a different story.

Beelzebub’s mug lowered again. “How charitable,” she muttered as though she was trying to be polite.

Mammon leaned back in his chair, arms folded. “Charity? Don’t make me laugh. He owes me everything now. An’ I don’t let a man who owes me forget it.”

Asmodeus' smile thinned, and Satan’s knuckles flexed against the table once again.

“If you aren’t going to join us, then our business is done here,” Satan said and stood up. He left the room, his large form shaking the floor as he passed.

Beelzebub finished the last of her fish, licking her fingers clean before rising. “Well, I’m going to see what else is washing around about these IMP pirates. Loo Loo Lady’ll be spilling stories along with rum.” She cast a look at Asmodeus. “Coming?”

“Gladly,” he said.

“Can’t even stay for a round of cards,” Mammon asked.

“Not against you,” Asmodeus said over his shoulder. “You cheat.”

Mammon’s laughter followed them out. They passed the little imp, Fizzarolli, bringing Mammon his next drink. Every step seemed to be a struggle, like his prosthetics hurt him. Asmodeous noticed half the issue was the two legs weren’t the same size. Almost as if they were stolen from other people and slapped on.

“Hey you,” Asmodeous said. Fizzarolli looked over his shoulder as if assuming Asmodeous was talking to someone else. When he realized he was speaking to him, he looked surprised.

“Yes?”

“If you ever want to leave Mammon, you’re welcome on my crew,” he said. It wasn’t necessarily that he cared about the imp, but he liked the idea of taking away Mammon’s pet and plaything.

“Really?” Fizz said, looking surprised.

“We leave tomorrow at noon. Come to my ship before then if you’re interested,” Asmodeous said before leaving.

***

The deck was quiet save for the slap of waves against the hull. Stolas adjusted his cloak as he looked up at the stars. To many, they were little far away pricks of light, but to him, they were stories. The winged horse, Pegasus, beside the mighty hero Perseus. Orion and his bow aiming toward the bull Taurus.

He heard a creak behind him and turned to see Blitzo joining him on deck. He was carrying a lantern. “Barbie’s getting her boat ready to go meet the mermaid.”

“Alright,” Stolas said and turned his gaze skywards again.

The ship gave a low groan as it rocked beneath them. Blitzo glanced over at Stolas, then grinned slyly. “Y’know, you don’t look half bad in the moonlight. Makes your feathers kinda glow.”

Stolas blinked, then gave a faint laugh. “You don’t have to keep doing that.”

“Doing what?”

“Joking about my appearance. I’m aware I’m not very attractive.”

“Who told you that?” Blitzo sounded angry on Stolas’s behalf.

“My wife.”

Blitzo’s eyes widened as he looked at Stolas. For once, he didn’t cover the silence with a humorous quip. “I wasn’t joking,” he said, softer now. “You’re… actually pretty. In a mysterious owl-prince kinda way.”

The lantern light flickered across Stolas’s face, illuminating the crack through his usually composed mask. His beak curved into the smallest of smiles. “Thank you. I never thought I’d have to be kidnapped by a pirate to hear that.”

Blitzo, suddenly aware of the heat rising to his cheeks, turned to look away. “I know it started that way, but you’ve more than earned your place on my crew if you want to stay.”

Stolas thought about it. Him and Blitzo, sailing on the IMP to a new adventure. And maybe something more behind closed doors. He’d be lying to say he hadn’t grown a large crush on his Captain. A strange case of stockholm syndrome, perhaps, but one that Stolas wanted to explore.

The fantasy ended as soon as it began.

“I need to get home to my daughter,” Stolas said.

“How old is she?” Blitzo asked.

“Seventeen. My wife has been wanting to marry her off, but I promised her I wouldn’t let that happen. Octavia deserves to choose her own path,” Stolas explained.

Blitzo didn’t say anything out loud, but the thought lodged heavy in his chest. He understood, but he was going to miss Stolas when this was over.

“HEY!” Barbie’s voice called up from her boat. “You two lovebirds done star-gazing? Get your asses in the boat!”

Blitzo leaned over the railing. “I told you nothing’s going on!” He shot Stolas a quick look, sheepish and fumbling. “I mean… unless you want something to go on. Or… nevermind.”

The imp bolted for the rope ladder and scrambled down, leaving a bewildered Stolas on deck.

Did he want something to go on? Maybe. At least for the time he was here.

Stolas shook his head, unwilling to chase that thought too far. Right now they had a map to translate.

He descended after Blitzo and joined Barbie in the small boat. The three of them rowed out into the dark water, the IMP still floating in sight. Barbie leaned over the edge and lowered the lantern, sending shafts of light rippling down into the waves.

A sudden splash broke the surface. The water frothed, and then Verosika breached the waves, her sleek form gliding toward them. It took a bit of fumbling to get her on deck and then she and Barbie were hugging and kissing all over again.

“Ugh, can you not,” Blitzo said.

Barbie ignored her brother, but they broke the kiss to stare into each other’s eyes.

“It’s been a long time since we could be this close,” Verosika explained, not sounding the least bit sorry. She turned back to Stolas. “Alright. Let me see the map.”

Stolas took out the rolled paper and handed it over.

The mermaid language glowed in the moonlight and the star map shimmered like the heavens above.

“The mermaid tongue is meant to be sung,” Verosika said after a moment. “Hold on while I work out how to translate it to land-dwellers speech.”

They sat there quietly as Verosika dictated words to Blitzo who was writing them down on a fresh piece of paper. Eventually the translation seemed to be complete.
Verosika opened her mouth and a haunting sweet voice echoed over the water…

Scorpion's sting points to the sea,
Bones of Stone hold the key,
Dig with fervor, six feet down
There, the next riddle can be found

Chapter Text

The crew of the IMP was stirring to life the next morning with mugs of bitter coffee. All except Stolas, who had been up half the night. 

He had Bloodtooth’s treasure map and other charts spread out on a makeshift table made of two barrels and a piece of wood. He used an astrolabe and sextant, making little marks here and there with a pencil. 

Occasionally he’d mutter to himself or check the sun. At one point he took Blitzo’s spyglass and checked the horizon for a solid minute. 

“Well?” Moxxie said, feeling like he couldn’t take the suspense a moment more. 

“It’s clear,” Stolas said, half to himself. "Someone drew the chart of the late August sky. The first half of the riddle is about the constellation Scorpius, whose tail points southwest at the time of year. Based on the other constellations in this map, the altitude of the sun, our current speed, and the fact that the captain hasn’t sworn once all morning…” 

“What does that have to do with anything?” Blitzo asked, bewildered and a little offended. 

“...It should take us about two days to get to where the map is pointing,” Stolas finished. 

Barbie perched on the railing, chewing the end of a strip of dried kelp. “Southwest, huh? That’ll take us toward the Dreaded Greed’s territory. Nasty waters. You sure about this?”

Stolas’s eyes flicked toward her, steady. “I am certain. The stars do not lie.”

Blitzo clapped Stolas on the back with an excited grin. “Alright, Stols says southwest, so southwest it is! Millie, raise the sails, Moxxie to the helm, and Loona, I want you on the crow’s nest. If you spot anything, tell us immediately. And Barb..." He looked at his sister, uncertain and a little hopeful. "Were you staying?"

Barbie crossed her arms and shrugged. "I guess I can stick around for a bit. Verosika is gonna be busy checking in with her family anyway."

Blitzo gave her a brilliant smile. "Alright then, people, move your asses, we’ve got treasure to find!”

The crew moved to obey.

Stolas carefully rolled up the map, but his gaze lingered on the sky a moment longer, watching the sun climb higher. “What about me?” 

“I want you to get some sleep. Take my bed,” Blitzo said. 

Stolas hesitated, brushing a stray feather from his sleeve. “Sleep… yes. I should probably sleep before fatigue makes my calculations useless. Are you sure about lending me your quarters?”

“It’s more comfortable than a hammock, and you won’t get bothered by the rest of the crew. Go on. I’ll make sure nothing blows up while you nap. Mostly.”

Stolas raised an eyebrow, half-amused despite himself. “Mostly?”

“Mostly,” Blitzo confirmed, then gestured toward the crew. 

The captain’s words carried a rare mixture of teasing and genuine concern, and Stolas smiled faintly. He descended through the trapdoor to Blitzo’s private space. 

Feeling filthy after so many days at sea, Stolas took off his shirt and shook it out. He really should preen himself, but Blitzo’s bed looked so comfortable. He crawled under the covers, and he immediately noticed Blitzo’s smell. It was overwhelming. He buried his face in the pillow to take a deep inhale. 

It was hard not to think of the captain down here, perhaps shirtless… or nude. Curled in these very sheets. 

The fantasy took hold in his tired mind. Blitzo coming down here and climbing into bed with him. Stolas felt himself become aroused and was embarrassed at how quickly it happened. He knew he shouldn’t, but his hand trailed down his abdomen to his pants and pushed them out of the way. 

This wasn’t his bed. 

Blitzo might tell what he’d done later.

A part of him wanted Blitzo to find out.

A circled his wet hole with a single finger before pushing it in, imagining it was Blitzo. He pushed his face deeper into the blankets, inhaling greedily as the Blitzo in his head teased him. Another finger entered, and he widened his legs. He pumped the digits in and out faster. 

He imagined the sight of Blitzo above him. He already caught glimpses of his chest, and he longed to drag his talons across those muscles. He was sure the imp's cock was as long and thick as his horns. And those eyes. Stolas could just imagine how fiery they got in the heat of the moment.

He was getting close. a third finger. He turned his head and bit the pillow to stifle a moan.

Would Blitzo make Stolas call him captain? Would he tie him up with complicated sailor’s knots? Maybe they would kiss as passionately as Barbie and Verosika had. 

A last finger slid in, and he stretched to the point it almost hurt. Stolas couldn’t take it anymore. He shuddered and came all over his hand while breathing out Blitzo’s name. 

Stolas lay there panting for a moment before sitting up. He quickly grabbed his shirt, using it to wipe his hand and the evidence off the bedding. Not wanting the room to smell like sex, he cracked open the window of the cabin. 

Feeling depraved and a little guilty for his actions, Stolas lay back down and closed his eyes. The gentle sway of the ship eased his mind. Deep down, he realized that, for all the danger ahead; he was exactly where he was supposed to be. With that comforting thought, he drifted asleep. 

***

Blitzo finished the last of his duties on deck before he slipped down through the trapdoor. The lantern light swung lazily, throwing long shadows across his cramped quarters.

He stopped when he spotted Stolas sprawled across his bed, feathers mussed, shirt discarded, his long frame wrapped up in blankets like he belonged there. His face was softer in sleep, with none of the stiff nobility he sometimes carried. Just… peaceful. Vulnerable.

Blitzo leaned against the ladder, watching longer than he meant to. A crooked grin tugged at his lips, though his chest ached with something heavier than usual. “Damn, owl-boy. You look good in my sheets,” he whispered under his breath.

For a fleeting moment, he imagined climbing beside him. Stolas’ feathers brushing against his skin. He wondered what that sweet voice would sound like in the throes of ecstasy. 

But the fantasy soured quickly as he recalled their talk the night before. Stolas had a daughter, and a whole life waiting for him back on land. This was just a stop along his story, while Blitzo… well, Blitzo was a pirate. He was the one people left behind when they came to their senses. 

He finally climbed down the ladder and sat on the stool across from the bed, watching as Stolas slept. “Wouldn’t mean nothin’ anyway,” he muttered partly to himself and to Stolas’s sleeping form. "But it could be fun."  

Stolas stirred faintly in his sleep, shifting deeper into the pillow, and that’s when Blitzo noticed Stolas’s shirt balled up on the ground. He picked it up, and a heavy scent came off the material. He noticed something dried on it. 

The ship lurched as a large wave passed under it. Blitzo was used to such things, but the motion caused Stolas to roll, and he blinked open his eyes. 

He saw Blitzo holding the shirt. 

It took Stolas a moment to wake up properly, but then he was blushing and stammering. Something about him cleaning it up, but Blitzo wasn’t listening. He took two steps and was climbing onto the bed. 

“I’m sorry. I…“ Stolas started, but stopped when Blitzo grabbed his wrists and pinned them on either side of his head. He gulped, misinterpreting it as Blitzo being angry. “I won’t do it again.” 

“Why not?” Blitzo said, voice dipping lower. 

“What?”

“I don’t mind. Just a little hurt you didn’t ask me to join you.” 

Stolas stared as Blitzo leaned in closer and took a deep inhale along Stolas’s neck. He could smell how well their scents complemented each other in the bedding. The pulse in Stolas’s wrists increased as Blitzo opened his mouth and blew teasingly onto the owl’s neck. Stolas gasped, and Blitzo chuckled darkly.

Oh, he was going to have fun with this. 

A hammering on the trapdoor broke the moment, and Blitzo looked up at it, annoyed. 

“What!?” he called. 

“Ship off the starboard quarter, Captain,” came Millie’s voice. “Can’t make out the sail yet.” 

Blitzo huffed and reluctantly got off Stolas. The owl looked stunned by what had just occurred and sat up slowly. He watched Blitzo climb the ladder. 

“Captain?” he called, not sure what to say. Only that he felt hot and needy. 

“You can borrow my clean shirt,” Blitzo said with a wink. “And we are definitely finishing this conversation later.” 

Blitzo threw open the trapdoor and vaulted onto the deck. He rolled his shoulders to shake off the heat still clinging to him from below. The air felt sharper, as if the sea itself knew trouble was brewing. 

A quick look told him Moxxie was still on the helm, Millie was pacing the ship and Barbie was up in the rigging.

“Loona!” he barked, calling up to the crow’s nest. “What’ve we got?”

Loona yelled down. “It’s big. Flying blood-red canvas.”

“Definitely another pirate ship,” Barbie added.

“Well, that narrows it down to every broody edgelord crew this side of the equator,” Blitzo said.

As she spoke, Stolas emerged from below deck in a fresh shirt. He looked sheepish and blushed when Blitzo caught his eye. He turned instead to face the ship coming up behind them.

“That’s a brig,” Stolas said, recognizing the type of ship. It was twice the size of the IMP. 

Blitzo pulled out his own spyglass and looked through it. A massive black hull cutting the waves with sails like the wings of a dragon. The figurehead was carved into a snarling shark with too many teeth. He recognized that ship. 

“Shit,” he said, putting away his spyglass. 

“What?” Millie asked, tightening her grip on her axe as she came to his side.

Blitzo lowered the glass. “That ain’t just any ship. That’s the Crimson Sail.”

Millie blinked. “...As in?”

Before Blitzo could answer, Moxxie spoke. His voice was barely more than a whisper, a tremor in his voice. “My father’s ship.”

Everyone turned. Moxxie was gripping the helm so hard his knuckles had gone white, and the color had drained from his face.

Millie went over and put a hand on Moxxie’s shoulder to steady him. “It’ll be okay, honey. I’m with you.”

Moxxie’s eyes looked to Millie, and he shook his head. “He doesn’t let people go. If he’s after us, it’s already too late.”

Blitzo bared his teeth like armor. “Like hell it is. Nobody tells me when it’s too late.” He drew his pistol. “Alright, crew, man the guns. Looks like we’re about to have a family reunion.”

Chapter Text

Waves slapped against the IMP’s hull as if the ocean itself wanted blood. From the starboard quarter, the Crimson Sail bore down, its red sails snapping in the wind.

“Their cannon ports are opening!” Loona screamed from the crow’s nest. Even from down on deck you could hear the fear in her voice. 

“Get down here sweetie,” Blitzo called up to her, and grabbed the wheel from Moxxie’s grasp. “Don’t just stand there gawking, people! MOVE! Millie, get to the powder room! Barbie,cut those ropes! We need all the speed we can get.”

The crew scattered, boots thudding across the deck. Stolas gripped the railing with all four eyes locked on the oncoming ship. 

Stolas had lived his life in the refined halls of a palace. He’d been given a basic education about warfare and learned the basics of sword fighting. It was assumed that in a real battle, he would be leading troops from a vantage point, not fighting on the ground. Now to see a pirate ship closing in with loaded cannons had him trembling.

BOOM! 

The Crimson Sail fired the first shot. The cannonball shrieked through the air, striking the water just off their bow in a geyser of spray. Stolas flinched so hard he nearly fell.

“Come help us!” Millie cried, and Stolas turned to see her and Moxxie loading a cannon. Barbie and Loona were preparing another. 

The second volley came, and a cannonball tore into the IMP’s hull, splintering wood with a thunderous crack. The ship lurched hard, sending the crew sprawling.

Stolas righted himself, and stumbled over to help Moxxie lift a cannon ball. 

Blitzo spun the wheel quickly, sending the ship into a sharp turn to bring them perpendicular to the Crimson Sail. While the larger brig was faster, the smaller sloop could turn much quicker. 

“Return fire!” Blitzo roared.

Millie lit a match with a wild grin. “Aye-aye, Captain!” She jammed the flame into the cannon’s touch hole. The deck thundered as their gun fired, smoke choking the air. The ball sailed across the water and smashed into the Crimson Sail’s railing, showering its deckhands with splinters. Barbie lit the second cannon. Another ball crashed into the Crimson Sail’s shark figurehead. 

They all waited to see if the damage did anything, but the other ship was larger, heavier, built for slaughter. It hardly slowed.

“They’re gaining on us!” Barbie called, teeth bared. She leapt to the railing like a cat. “I’ll cut my boat loose and gain you some speed.” 

“No!” Blitzo called, sounding scared. “One cannonball and they’ll sink you.” 

“Don’t worry about me,” Barbie said and dropped down to her ship. She bit the tug rope with her teeth, sending her boat loose. Her sail billowed wide and she pulled it out and away from the IMP. 

The IMP surged forward without the added weight. As Blitzo had predicted, the Crimson Sail took a lot longer to turn and chase them. But there was only so much they could do. The Crimson Sail’s prow cut the waves like a knife as it relentlessly chased them down. 

Blitzo cursed under his breath. They couldn’t outrun it.

“Stolas!” he barked. “Where’s Barb?!”

The prince ran to the railing and looked out to see Barbie’s little sailboat heading alongside the Crimson Sail. 

“What is she doing?” he said as a cannon blast hit too close to the small vessel. He watched as she pulled into a steep turn and swiveled around. It was then he understood. “She’s trying to create a distraction!” 

The Crimson Sail’s cannons fired again, and the iron ball ripped Barbie’s sail. It left her dead in the water, and he watched in horror as a grappling hook bit into the rail and several pirates slid down to start battling Barbie on deck. 

“She’s been boarded!” Stolas called. 

“Damn it!” Blitzo said as he turned the IMP around. “Everyone grab something to fight with.” 

Millie got her axe and Moxxie pulled out a gun and a cutlass. 

“Stolas, here!” 

Stolas turned to Loona who was holding out a sword to him. He took it and held it in a typical fencer's stance. 

Another crash shook the IMP as a cannon blast hit home, and then they were pulling alongside and boarding planks slammed down. The enemy poured across as a school of sharks. Swords flashed. Pistols barked. The air filled with smoke, steel, and screams.

Millie and Moxxie fought side by side. Millie gutted a pirate twice her size with a feral snarl while Moxxie blasted another in the face. Loona was a force, using her claws and fangs as easily as any weapon. Stolas locked blades, doing his best to parry as he was horribly out of practice and had never been in a real fight. 

“Hold the line!” Blitzo bellowed, firing his pistol into an enemy's chest. He spun, laughing with manic glee even as blood sprayed across his face. “You picked the wrong ship to mess with!”

They couldn’t hold out forever though. The Crimson Sail had numbers, and they seemed endless.

Then a voice shouted across the chaos. “That’s enough!” 

They looked to the Crimson Sail to see Moxxie’s father, Captain Crimson, with a blade to Barbie’s throat. His eyes locked onto his son with cruel satisfaction. “Thought you could run from me, boy?” 

Moxxie froze, sword shaking in his grip, and Millie moved to shield him. 

Blitzo sheathed his sword and came to the railing, looking over to the other ship. “What are your terms?”

“The map and my son for the dame,” Crimson demanded. 

“That hardly seems like a fair bargain,” Stolas said.

Crimson’s cruel grin widened, pressing the blade closer to Barbie’s throat. A thin line of blood welled where steel kissed skin. “Life ain’t fair, bird. Now hurry up. I’m not a patient man.”

Barbie’s eyes were wide, but she looked incredibly brave. Her hands were balled into fists as she looked at her brother. “I knew the risk. Just… tell Verosika I love her.” 

Blitzo felt every eye on him as both crews waited for him to react. His hands itched to grab a pistol, to end this with a bullet between Crimson’s eyes. But one wrong move and Barbie would be dead. 

“Dad…” Moxxie’s voice cracked. His cutlass slipped from his hand to clatter on the deck. “Let her go. This has nothing to do with her.”

“Oh but it does. Ever since you took off to sail with a different ship, who do you think has been holding together this crew?” Crimson snarled. “It’s time you came back and learned what it means to be loyal.” 

Millie growled low in her throat, shifting closer to her husband, but Moxxie put a hand on her shoulder. His eyes locked on his father, and his voice came out clear. “I’ll go.”

“Moxxie?” Millie said like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

He turned to her, face pale but determined. “He’ll kill all of you just to prove a point. If this is what it takes for you to get away, then so be it.”

“Mox, no!” Millie grabbed his arm, and he pulled her into a kiss. The couple clung to each other passionately, neither wanting to let go. 

Eventually Moxxie pulled away and whispered, “I love you. I’ll come back. I promise.” 

Crimson rolled his eyes. “Touching. Now get the map.” 

Blitzo stepped forward. His red eyes were fixed on Moxxie like he could burn sense into him by sheer will. “You think I’m letting you walk across to that asshole? Not happening!”

Moxxie looked back at his captain… at his friend. His voice softened. “Blitzo… I’ve been running my whole life. I can’t keep hiding behind you and Millie. You shouldn’t have your sister die because of me.”

“But…” 

“You need to let me go. If you don’t, he’ll sink this ship, kill everyone, and take me anyway,” Moxxie said. 

Millie still clung to him, eyes wet and furious. “Don’t you dare talk like that! You’re my husband, Moxxie!”

“Fuck!” Blitzo swore. As much as he hated it, Moxxie was right. “Alright. We do it your way. Stolas, get the map.” 

“NO!” Millie pulled her axe, tears falling down her cheeks. “I won’t let you take him!” 

Blitzo grabbed Millie and Loona helped him restrain her. She was screaming as Stolas came over and handed Moxxie the map. Slowly, step by step, Moxxie walked across the boarding plank as the crew watched in horrified silence.

The moment his hooves hit the deck of the other ship, Crimson shoved Barbie. She stumbled and almost fell overboard. Stolas rushed to grab her and pull her on board. The pirates climbed onto their respective ships and shoved off.  

Millie was in hysterics as the Crimson Sail started to sail away. When it was far enough that she couldn’t leap to it, they let her go. She rounded and punched Blitzo, sending him sprawling. 

“How could you!” she screamed as she hit again. He didn’t even bother to defend himself, just let her wail on him as she cried. Loona whimpered in the back of her throat until Stolas pulled her off. 

“We’ll get him back,” Blitzo promised, wiping blood from his nose as he staggered to his feet. He looked out over the water, toward the Crimson Sail vanishing into the horizon. His eyes burned with fury. “They have the map, which means they’ll follow it. As long as we get there first, we can find the next riddle and get Moxxie.”

Stolas’s gaze lingered on Blitzo. For all his bluster, the captain’s pain was laid bare. It struck Stolas that Blitzo wasn’t just some low life pirate. He was a man who would tear the world apart for those he cared about.

***

Fizzarolli’s small body was wedged inside a barrel down in the hold of the Lust’s Embrace. He had slipped aboard back at Brimstone Harbor. Even though Asmodeous had invited him, there was no way Mammon would let him go willingly. So he had snuck on board, and waited for the right moment to reveal himself. 

But time ticked on, the ship swaying in the waves, and eventually the warmth and faint perfume scent of the cargo lulled him to sleep. His tail curled around him as he dozed, mouth open in soft snores.

When he woke, his stomach growled loud enough he thought it might give him away. “Ugh,” he whispered, clutching his belly. “Figures. I sneak on and forget the snacks.”

Cautiously, he pushed the barrel lid just enough to peek out. Dim lanterns swayed in the hold, casting long shadows over crates. Fizz slipped out as quietly as he could. However, his wooden legs made a clunking noise, and it took some maneuvering to get his cane out. His fake legs had both belonged to other people and were a slightly different height. It left his hips and lower back aching with every step, but he didn’t dare complain. As a cripple, Fizzarolli was lucky to be walking at all. 

He hobbled around the hold, grabbing crates to steady himself against the rocking of the waves that buffeted the ship. Eventually he spotted a barrel of apples.

“Don’t mind if I do,” he muttered, stuffing one in his mouth and another down his front for later.

He crept next toward a crate of sugared figs when a loud voice barked from the stairs.

“Who’s down there?”

Fizz froze. He looked around for a place to hide as heavy boots clomped down into the hold. A pair of sailors rounded the corner, rough incubi with pistols at their hips. Their eyes landed on him, a bitten apple still clutched in his hand.

“Well, well,” the taller one drawled, grinning with sharp teeth. “Looks like we’ve got ourselves a little rat.”

Fizz straightened up, puffing his chest out like he wasn’t trembling inside. “Rat? Excuse you! I happen to be an entertainer.”

The shorter sailor laughed and grabbed his arm. “Stowaway, more like. Captain’s gonna love this.”

Fizz struggled, but they dragged him along, dropping his stolen apple and cane. “Okay, first of all, rude. Second of all, I didn’t stow away. Your captain invited me.”

“Tell it to Ozzie,” the tall one snorted, hauling him toward the stairs.

Fizz’s stomach sank as they dragged him up toward the sunlight and the sound of Asmodeus’s sultry laugh above deck. The sin was lounging in a cushioned chair, surrounded by his entourage of sexy succubi and incubi. He looked up from his drink as someone shoved Fizzarolli down on the ground in front of him. 

“Well, well, I thought you had turned down my offer,” Asmodeous said as he held out a hand to Fizzarolli. 

“Wait… you really invited him, Captain?” the incubi said in surprise. 

Fizzarolli hesitated before taking the proffered hand. It was so big and warm around his own, and he let the sin haul him to his feet. He stumbled, grabbing onto Asmodeous’s arm for balance. 

“Sorry,” he mumbled, but Asmodeous didn’t seem to mind being Fizz’s crutch while the imp got his bearings. “I dropped my cane.” 

“No need to apologize. I would stumble too with legs like that,” Asmodeous said. At first, Fizz thought the Captain was making fun of him, but one look into his face showed empathy. It was not an emotion he was used to, and he stepped away quickly. “Perhaps we can get you some new legs,” Asmodeous continued. 

Fizz blinked up at him, surprised. “New legs?”

Asmodeus smiled slowly, his voice rolling out like velvet over glass. “Yes. Sturdy legs that don’t give out when the ship rocks. Something fit for a member of my crew. I have artificers who owe me favors.”

Fizz snorted, crossing his arms. “Sounds expensive. You sure you’d waste that kind of treasure on me instead of another bottle of wine or, I don’t know, gold-trimmed underwear?”

Asmodeous laughed. The sound was loud and spilled out around the watching crew, who joined in with a few chuckles. 

“You’ve got fire speaking to me like that,” the sin said. He leaned in, lowering his glass until the rim brushed Fizz’s chin, tilting it up. Fizzarolli shivered as Asmodeous looked him right in the eyes. “I invited you to be a member of the Lust's Embrace, and I take care of my crew. Every one of them. Plus, it would be a shame to let something as pretty as you walk around in pain.” His eyes gleamed with hunger as he looked up and down Fizz’s body. 

Fizz froze, throat dry. Nobody had looked at him like that since before the accident. With Mammon, he was just a tool to wind up and use. But Asmodeus… Asmodeus was looking at him like he was a person and attractive. 

He swallowed hard and tried to laugh it off, though his voice cracked. “Ha! Well, you’re laying it on thick, Captain. You’ve already recruited me.”

“What does that have to do with anything?” Asmodeous said, sitting back. Fizzarolli was left blushing, and his tail wrapped around his hips. Ozzie turned to a succubus in the crew. “Coco, take our new crewmate below deck and get him some new clothes and a hot meal. Then find him a place to sleep and put him on lookout rotation.” 

Fizz let Coco guide him to the stairs that led below deck. She was tall, her long legs striding easily, and her huge afro bounced with every step. When she noticed him struggling with the stairs, she looped an arm through his with surprising gentleness. “C’mon, honey. Let’s get you settled before you fall over again.”

Fizz muttered, “I wasn’t gonna fall,” though his limp gave him away as they descended. His voice lowered when the sound of Ozzie’s laughter faded behind them. “Hey… uh… is he serious? About the legs? About all that?”

Coco grinned, tilting her head so her curls caught the lantern light. “Oh, he’s serious. When Captain Asmodeous says he takes care of his crew, he means it. You could lose a hand, an eye, a tail, and he’d make sure you had something shiny to replace it before the week was out.”

Fizz blinked. “Really?”

“Really,” Coco said with a shrug. “He doesn’t enjoy seeing people hurt, unless its in the bedroom. And especially if it keeps them from being what they’re meant to be.”

Fizzarolli wondered at that. He had always relied on his natural humor and talents to scrounge enough coins so he could eat. It was hard to think about what he was meant to be when he was just trying to survive. 

Still, he couldn’t help asking, almost sheepish, “And that whole… ‘pretty’ thing? He was just being nice, right? I know I’m not very… well, look at me.”

Coco giggled. “Ozzie’s flirty with everyone. The whores, the crew, and even the damn cannon. That’s just his way.” She gave him a playful nudge. 

Fizz tried to scoff, but his cheeks heated anyway. “So he was just saying it to flirt.”

Coco patted his shoulder. “If it makes you feel better, Captain’s the type who doesn’t waste his time pretending. If he says you’re pretty, he means it. If he says he’ll take care of you, he will. Everything else?” She winked. “You’ll figure out soon enough.”

Fizz’s tail tapped his shoulder, a nervous habit, but this time he felt… steadier. Maybe jumping Mammon’s crew would come to bite him in the ass, but for now he felt more secure than he had in years.