Chapter Text
Izzy should have known better than to ignore his instinct. He’d felt eyes on him the moment the Revenge made port, but still thought it harmless that he enter town by himself. Regrettably, Bonnet had volunteered to join him while he reached out to his local contacts, but he’d adamantly refused. He just wanted to be alone for a bit, after weeks at sea and the…well, the ‘Incident’, as Bonnet had dubbed it. It had taken a bit of coaxing (and threatening, but Bonnet didn’t need to know about any of that) for the crew to trust that he wouldn’t turn his voice on them and while at least they weren’t hissing at him anymore, their wariness was still plain to see. There was a silver lining in that the more weak-hearted of the bunch took to their tasks with much more haste than they used to, out of fear he’d bewitch them or something stupid like that. Only Jim continued on the way things were before, still inviting him for their regular sparring sessions and knife-throwing competitions.
The worst of it definitely had to be the talk with Bonnet. Izzy and Edward had found themselves squeezing onto his fancy chaise while he scolded them like a pair of schoolboys.
(“Now, I definitely feel that this is the type of information that you tell your crew, or at the very least your captain!”
“Co-Captain, Stede.”
“Yes, Co-Captain of course, apologies Ed.”
“I don’t owe you shit, Bonnet.”
“Now that’s not very nice of you, Izzy.”
“Fuck off.”)
Izzy supposed he should be grateful that Bonnet didn’t demand his life-story or anything of the sort, just the basics: What exactly was he? What could he do? Why did his voice on dry land sound like that ?
At Edward’s urging (a firm hand on the back of his neck) he reluctantly answered: I’m a siren, half-siren technically. I can do the usual, sing people to death and shit, breathe underwater for a short-time. And again, half-siren, so sorry you have to put up with this when I’m not fucking soaking wet.
There was a layer of relief to it all, not having to hide such a big secret from these people. Edward had known, of course, but not having to take a hundred precautions when he wanted to wash his body or cool off from the Caribbean heat in the ocean made his life considerably easier.
So all in all, some time alone was needed, but in retrospect, probably not the best idea.
Izzy had just left the store of one of his contacts when he found himself surrounded by a group of suspiciously heavily armed men. They didn’t look to be from around here, dressed in clothing a bit too clean and frilly. Their weapons looked military. Spanish, if Izzy’s approximations were right. He stood still, eyeing any potential exits as they inched closer. Seven of them, each covering a different angle. There wasn’t one behind him, so he supposed he could escape that way if it came to it, but that way only led further into town, further away from Edward and the Revenge .
“Are you Israel Hands?” A man stepped forward, he wore an ornate coat, rich purple with a black trim and perfectly tailored to suit his form. The leader of this little group, then. Voice accented in Spanish, as he’d guessed.
“Depends who’s asking.” Izzy responded easily. He shifted slightly and watched as all seven pairs of eyes caught onto the movement. Alright then, this wasn’t going to be easy. “Blackbeard doesn’t do business with strangers. Especially not those who try to intimidate him. Whatever your proposal is, the answer will be no.”
The leader chuckled lightly, his face nothing but a polite smile. “I think you misunderstand, Señor Hands, our business is not with Blackbeard, it is with you.”
Izzy felt his body tense at that, what the fuck could they possibly want with me? “If you think you can offer me coin or treasure to betray my captain, you’re stupider than you look.”
Infuriatingly, this did not faze the man at all. “No no, we do not want anything to do with Blackbeard at all. My name is Captain Hernandez, and these are my men. We do not hunt pirates, you see, but the inhuman; monsters – demons, if you are a pious man.”
Fuck.
“Not only stupid, but also insane.” Izzy drawled, desperately trying to hide the way his heart hammered in his chest and his hands trembled. There’s no way they could know. Nobody is supposed to know. Well. Nobody but Ed, Bonnet and his useless crew. But surely they wouldn’t, they wouldn’t tell anybody would they? Not even they’re stupid enough to do that. “If you’re done babbling your nonsense, I have important business to conduct for Blackbeard.”
He made to push past them. It was the wrong move.
Two of the men rushed forward wielding blades. That was also the wrong move.
Instinct took over and he was drawing his rapier, parrying their careless, clumsy swings with ease. The first went down screaming and clutching the gushing hole he’d just put in their abdomen. The second he slashed right across the eyes, a move more cruel than even he was used to but necessary if he was to scare these men enough to leave him be. I have to get back to port. I have to get back to Edward.
At last, Hernandez made an expression that wasn’t that smug, infuriating smirk. Jaw clenched and eye twitching, he turned to the remainder of his men, “get him.”
Despite his skills and his experience, Izzy’s sword could do nothing against the large chain net they tossed over him. He put up his free hand to protect himself, looking to get some leverage that he could use to throw it off. Instead, his skin sizzled and his body seized with pain. He collapsed to his knees beneath it, every inch of his bare skin that touched the metal burning in agony. He cried out, despite himself. What the fuck? What the fuck is this?
“Pure silver.” Hernandez said – as if reading his mind – and unsheathed a small knife from his belt. “It repels your kind, does it not? Sirena .”
Izzy let out a choked scream as the knife was pressed against his face, it wasn’t particularly sharp, but the pain it elicited was far more than any blade he’d ever felt before. It felt as if he was being branded, though there were no flames in sight. Hernandez gestured to his men and suddenly Izzy was being bundled up and lifted like a sack of potatoes, his rapier clattering to the ground. He shuddered uncontrollably, shifting to protect his skin from the silver chain. Not for the first time, he was grateful he wore so many layers, the glare of the sun and humid heat be damned.
“What,” he rasped furiously, “the fuck do you want?”
Hernandez tilted his head confusedly, like it was the stupidest question he’d ever heard. The prick. “You, of course. And also gold and riches, which is what we’ll get once we hand you over to the navy. They pay handsomely for disgusting, godless creatures such as yourself.”
Of fucking course. “Blackbeard will have your heads once he hears about this. You’re making the biggest mistake of your short, insignificant lives.”
At his words, Hernandez’ smile turned cruel. “By the time Blackbeard hears about this, we will be half-way to Spain and your future execution.”
Izzy’s blood turned cold. The bastard was right, Edward wasn’t expecting him back on the ship for several more hours at least, his absence wouldn’t be noted till it was too late. He thrashed wildly, the chains rattling around him but not doing much else.
“Or,” Hernandez continued conversationally, “they might keep you alive to experiment on, we’ve never given them a halfblood siren before. I’m sure there’s many things they could learn from you.”
“Fuck you! I’ll kill you, I’ll fucking kill all of you.”
“Funny. That’s what the last one said too.” Hernandez turned his back and began waltzing away, the crew followed and Izzy felt his stomach turn as he dangled uselessly in their hold. He felt sick. He felt helpless.
Edward, I really need you right now. Please.
Stede was having a wonderful time. He and Ed had spent the better half of the afternoon up in the crow’s nest, drinking tea and eating some wonderful shortbread biscuits that Roach had whipped up. Stede had even laid down a blanket, and with most of the crew out in town, it had been a blissfully relaxing time. He was just about to feed another biscuit into Ed’s waiting mouth when a frazzled, frantic woman ran right onto the deck.
“Blackbeard! Is Blackbeard here?”
Ed snapped up straight, “is that..?” He shuffled over to peer down at the deck, “Frances? Is that you?”
The woman’s head snapped up, her wild red curls whipping around her face. “Blackbeard! You have to hurry, it’s Izzy, he–he’s–fuck!”
She gave up on trying to scream up at him and ran to climb up the ladder herself. Stede blanched and called down hastily, “w-wait dear, we’ll come down! You might get hurt if you try to climb up in your skirts.”
He nudged Ed and began scrambling down as fast as he could (which admittedly, wasn’t very fast.) By the time they reached the bottom, the woman – Frances, was it? – was still as panicky as before.
Ed laid a hand on her shoulder to still her. “Frances, what’s up? Has Izzy not popped over to your place yet? Don’t worry, you know you’re still one of our regulars–”
“–just shut up for a moment!”
Ed drew back, surprise colouring his face at the disrespect. He wasn’t used to being spoken to like that, at least not by anybody who wasn’t Izzy.
Frances seemed to realise her mistake, “w-wait, no I’m sorry, it's just– Izzy’s in trouble.”
Ed’s expression darkened and he drew up closer to the already fearful woman. “What do you mean?”
Stede hadn’t heard his voice that hard or grim before, he hated the way his chest tightened at the sound of it.
“He came to my shop, did the usual and all that, but after he left this group of bastards came along and nabbed him! They were taking him back to their ship.” Frances explained, her arms flailed widely as she spoke. “They had this weird chain net thing and scooped him right up, not before he took out a couple of their dumb arses of course. I dunno who they are but they looked like they meant business.”
Ed’s frown grew deeper and deeper the more she spoke, the last remnants of any happiness or relaxation he may have felt drained away in an instant. Stede gawped at her tale, panic rising in him at the thought of their first mate in danger. Whatever could they want Izzy for? Were they navy? Were they another rival pirate crew, looking to hurt him or Ed?
“I knew I should’ve accompanied him into town!” He wailed despairingly.
Frances levelled him a grimace, “eh, you probably wouldn’t have been much help, sorry pal.”
Stede felt his face heat at that, “yes, well–”
“–which way did they go?” Ed cut in, and Stede could see how his brilliant mind was already churning with ideas and schemes.
“I don’t know exactly, down to these docks I assume, to their ship.” Frances replied, “I ran straight here as soon as they left. Izzy had told me you were on the ship with a cat on the flag.”
Ed didn’t respond, turning away to pace the deck and mutter quietly to himself.
“Ah, thank you Frances, for telling us. Um, here!” Stede reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bag of coins, he tossed it to her and she caught it with surprise. “For your troubles! Please return home safely. We wouldn’t want for you to be caught up in all this.”
“Good luck, I hope you get your man back.” Frances smiled grimly and left without further word, Stede watched her until she was out of his sight. Biting his lip, he turned back to Ed, who was still deep in thought.
“Ed,” Stede said softly, placing a gentle hand on his arm to grab his attention. “What should we do?”
“Who else is left on the ship?” Ed asked, his face stony with determination.
Stede racked his brains, “um, I think I saw Jim and Oluwande go below deck, and Fang and Ivan were both finalising the inventory.”
Ed chewed on his lip for a moment, contemplating these meagre numbers. “Alright, okay okay,” he said after a moment, and he nodded slowly. “I can work with that. I’ll get the guys, you see if you can figure out what ship we’re looking for.”
Without further instruction, he rounded on his heels and traipsed below-deck. Stede just hoped Jim and Oluwande were both decent.
Leaving Ed to gather their troops, Stede climbed back up the crow’s nest, hoping to perhaps get a sighting from the higher vantage point. He looked out at the array of ships docked around them, there were a multitude of types, from simple fishing boats to larger merchant frigates. One particular ship caught his eye, a beautiful brigantine, immaculately-kept; from its entirely barnacle free exterior to the flawless rigging work. It may have been his pride speaking but if he were Izzy and had found himself captured by a crew of brutes, he’d at the very least want those brutes to be professional and highly skilled, right? And if there was anybody who would dare to cross Blackbeard himself by attacking his first mate, it would be people who were confident they could survive his wrath, right? It made sense in Stede’s mind, at the very least. He climbed back down, tallying in his head what weapons he should bring.
“Stede!” Ed was back, followed by a very flustered looking Jim and Oluwande. Ivan and Fang were not far behind, stone-faced and looking to fight, they both carried several swords and pistols. “Any luck?”
Stede’s eyes darted back over to where he’d spotted the brigantine, he’d hate himself if his strange logic proved to be wrong and resulted in Izzy getting hurt, but his gut was urging him on. Izzy was on that ship, he was sure of it. “Over there.” He said, pointing towards it, “a brigantine, flying Spanish colours.”
The small, proud smile Ed flashed him was enough to extinguish any fear he may have.
“Alright, then mates, let’s get our Iz back.”
Izzy was losing all hope.
They’d strung him up like a piece of meat, hanging from the mast in his painful silver prison. All around him men bustled on deck; quick and organised, preparing the ship to set sail and take him away. He’d already gotten a good look at the state of the vessel as they carried him on; the hull was pristine, the deck beautifully swabbed, no faulty ropes in sight. It was a well-run affair, with a competent and obedient crew. Just my luck. A crew that isn’t useless and they just so happen to be fucking kidnapping me.
Further up on deck, Hernandez was conferring with his men, charting course most likely. He’d want to get out of port as quickly as possible to avoid any chance of contact with Blackbeard. Izzy prayed to all the gods he could conceivably think of for a surprise storm or other disaster, but the sky stayed infuriatingly clear. Welp, with that he’d exhausted all his options for escape.
“Prepare to ready the sails!!” Hernandez’s voice rang loud, responded too by a chorus of affirming voices.
Right, well, that’s it then isn’t it?
“Hey dickfuck!”
Izzy could’ve sobbed in relief.
“Edward!” He yelled, lurching forward as his captain’s form came into view. Edward stormed up the gangplank, a cloud of fury and vengeance zeroing in on Hernandez. Behind him was Bonnet, who carried with him a look of determination and a sword that he partially knew how to use. Oh Christ, it’s just them. The rest of the idiots must still be in town. They’re going to fucking die.
“Hello,” Hernandez once again was a perfect picture of cool and collected. “And may I ask who you are?”
Bastard, he knows exactly who he is.
“Bastard, you know exactly who I am. I’m fucking Blackbeard. And that is my first mate you’ve got there. Give him back if you don’t want to die right here.” Edward simmered with rage, his voice stony and deathly serious.
The crew whispered among themselves at the proclamation. (“Blackbeard? The Blackbeard?”)
Hernandez wasn’t particularly impressed. “I’m afraid neither of those things will be happening, Captain Blackbeard. Señor Hands will be returning with us to Spain where he will be handed over to authorities for a handsome sum.”
“Like hell he is!”
“Our quarrel is not with you. You and your companion–”
“–Captain Stede Bonnet!–”
“–may leave now and remain unharmed.”
Edward stepped in closer, using the several inches he had on Hernandez to peer down intimidatingly. “Fuck you and your quarrel. Give me back my first mate.”
Hernandez grinned back wickedly. “Your first mate? Or your pet ?”
“What did you just say?”
“I wonder what everyone would think if they knew the infamous Blackbeard had his own little pet siren. Are you still the same fearsome Captain without him? Or would you be a sitting duck without your creature to protect you?” In only a matter of seconds Hernandez had turned the tides. Edward stumbled back with a gasp, horror dawning on his face.
“How–how do you..?”
“Oh we’ve been watching you for a very long time. Tales of Blackbeard and his demonic magic, with smoke for a head and a bloodthirsty hound at his side. It was not hard to discover the truth. You left far too many survivors to tell your little stories.”
Edward was too stunned to respond. He glanced over, locking eyes with Izzy. I’m sorry, Iz.
“Ed.” Bonnet placed a hand on Edward’s shoulder, warily eyeing the men all around them. “Edward.”
Edward brushed him off and in a flash, had drawn his pistol and pressed the barrel directly to Hernandez’ forehead.
Izzy gasped at the sight. No, Edward. Don’t. You can’t.
All around them, more guns were cocked. Each one aimed directly at Edward.
“Stop!” Izzy shrieked, he felt bile rising in him at the thought of Edward bleeding out on the deck of this fucking ship. All because of him. “Stop! Don’t kill him. Edward, put it down! Please!”
Edward’s eyes on Hernandez faltered for only a moment but it was enough. The pistol was knocked from his hand, clattering across the deck as Hernandez leapt forward and knocked him backwards. They both went sprawling, grappling right on the deck and throwing curses at each other, a mix of English and Spanish that would make a sailor blush.
“Edward!” Bonnet yelped. “Oh fucking hell… barnacles! ”
All hell broke loose as out of nowhere Fang, Ivan, Jim, and Oluwande stormed the deck. Not from the gangplank, but from deeper within the ship. They managed to take the crew by surprise, the men not expecting them to come from behind. Edward must have had them board secretly while he and Bonnet distracted Hernandez and the crew.
Izzy was glad it was at least the more competent of the crew here rescuing him, there was a certain pride to be felt watching Jim mow down man after man, using moves they learned from Izzy himself. Oluwande had definitely improved too, though notably stuck close to Jim in case he needed help. Fang and Ivan as always were brutal, each strike heavy and true. Izzy winced at the sight of Edward scuffling on the floor, he and Hernandez wrestled sluggishly, each trying to get the upper-hand on the other. Edward’s knee would be killing him when all this was over. So then that left only Bonnet.
“Izzy!”
Speak of the devil. Izzy whirled his head to see Bonnet by the mast, studying the net and the rope holding it up.
“Bonnet what the hell do you think you’re doing?!” He hissed, his entire body throbbed with pain and his head pounded but he’d be damned if he wasn’t happy to see the ponce here. Bonnet flashed him a quick, terrified smile before returning his gaze to the mast.
“Rescuing you of course! Just give me a moment to…aha!” He unsheathed his blade and swung it into the mast, slicing through a length of rope and sending Izzy crashing down onto the deck. He grunted in pain as the silver dug into his flesh, he’d be ripe with bruises and marks come tomorrow. Bonnet winced apologetically and bent down to tug at the net. “Oh! My apologies Izzy, here let me just–”
“–Bonnet!” Izzy yelled in warning just as a flash of purple blew past and crashed directly into him, sending the blond slamming into the mast. Hernandez stood over Bonnet, red-faced and triumphant, with his own pistol drawn and aimed. Izzy looked back to where he had just been, heart stopping at the sight of Edward’s prone form on the deck.
“Any last words, Señor Bonnet was it?” Hernandez looked worse for wear, his teeth were coated with blood and a wicked bruise was beginning to colour one of his eyes. Edward had managed to do some damage at least. Izzy’s chest filled with satisfaction despite everything.
Bonnet froze in the face of the pistol between his eyes for only a moment before steeling himself to return Hernandez’s glare. “Yes. You dared hurt our first mate, you won’t make it out of this alive.”
Hernandez cackled, setting aside all pretence of politeness or propriety as he threw his head back. “Tough words, Señor Bonnet, but do not speak them if you do not mean them.”
Bonnet opened his mouth to retort but was presented with a boot to his gut that sent him sprawling.
“You know, your name sounds very familiar. Stede Bonnet, now where have I heard that before?”
Stede gave a pained smirk, struggling to hold himself up with his arms. “Well, you might have heard of me as the Gentleman Pirate, I am rather famous, I know.”
“No, no, that’s not it.” Hernandez hummed mockingly, “ah! I remember now. You are a very wanted man, Señor Bonnet. The British Navy has a very handsome bounty on your head.”
At that announcement Bonnet baulked, “um, w-well, I uh…”
“Enough!” Hernandez’s voice boomed across the deck and like clockwork all fighting ceased.
Jim, Oluwande, Fang, and Ivan look distraught at the state of their Captains and First Mate. Without needing to be instructed they lowered their weapons. The silence rang deafeningly.
“Good.” Hernandez straightened and readjusted his coat that had gotten rumpled in the brawl. He smiled viciously as he spoke, “I do not hunt humans, but you people gave me no choice, by protecting this creature you caused me to do what I vowed to never do. But, I am still a merciful man, any of you who wish to live may leave this ship now and none of my men will cause you harm. In exchange for this mercy, we will take your Captain Bonnet and the creature. You will not chase us.”
The four crewmembers eyed each other in alarm, unsure as to the course of action to take. If they all left the ship now, Izzy wouldn’t blame them, it should’ve been the easy choice. So why were they still here? With Edward out of commission, they deferred to Bonnet, whose expression was uncharacteristically sombre.
“Captain..?” Oluwande asked, voice sharp with fear.
“Go. Save your lives…and take Ed with you.” Bonnet said, his eyes were fixed directly on Edward’s still unmoving body. Fuck, he’s not dead is he? He’s still breathing, please tell me he is.
Izzy’s heart pounded so fast he thought he was dying, no, no please, we were so close. “Bonnet..!”
“Hush, Izzy.” Bonnet interrupted softly, and the smile he directed Izzy was so sincere it made him want to weep. “At least neither of us will be alone, right?”
“How touching,” Hernandez drawled, having the gall to look bored at the display. “Now, what will it be?”
None of the Revenge ’s crew had moved. Each of them looked ready to keep fighting, if Bonnet gave the order. He didn’t.
“Go, now. That’s an order!” He commanded, leaving no room for disagreement. With slow reluctant movements, the four trudged off the ship, glaring at Hernandez and his crew as they went. Jim caught Izzy’s eye, and he was shocked to see barely contained anguish in their usually stoic face. Together Fang and Ivan lifted Edward from the deck, awfully gentle and careful not to jostle him as they stepped down the gangplank. Izzy dared not move a muscle until they were completely off the ship, barely even breathing until the gangplank was pulled away from the dock.
It wasn’t until Hernandez spoke that he fully grasped what exactly had just happened. “Raise the sails! We have lost time to make up for!”
The men set to work immediately.
This is my fault. This is all my fault.
Around him, those fucking silver chains rattled. It felt like the weight of the entire ocean was crushing down on him.
“Now then,” Hernandez returned his attention to Izzy and Bonnet, neither of whom had spoken the entire time. Izzy hated himself for the way he flinched at his voice. Standing tall and victorious in his purple coat, his blood-stained grin promised nothing but cruelty. “What shall we do with you two?”