Raephier huddled under the thin piece of cloth he'd been given to sleep on. It wasn't that he was particularly cold - thankfully summer seemed to have finally arrived - it was more that he wanted to hide from the pirates. He wasn't stupid, he knew that there was no way he could actually hide under that thin sheet, but there would always be that childish part of his brain that insisted that if you couldn't see the enemy, they couldn't see you.

It had been six days since he'd been on Jinx's ship and three days since he'd seen Fingers. It hadn't surprised him too much when Fingers appeared to him and tried to persuade him to use his powers on Jinx.

To be fair, he did have a compelling argument. He said that when all the pirates were dead, Jacob and his crew could have their supplies back. As much as he would like to see Jinx die, it was the thought of helping Jacob that really motivated him. But there was one problem.

Raephier had only ever used his power once and no one else was around to hear him sing at that time, so he wasn't fully aware of how the rest of it would work. He knew that the rest of the Pirates would fight each other to the death, but what if some of them survived? Raephier didn't know how many were even on the ship. What if some of them were below deck and so unaffected? Also, what if Jinx lost his soul before they'd finished fighting? There were just too many variables that he couldn't control and even if one pirate still remained, he would probably be strong enough to overpower him.

Since he'd been on board, he'd mercifully been left alone. He was back to just one meal a day with a few leftover scraps in between. But he could live with that. As long as he was left alone, he would be fine.

He'd noticed that many of the pirates who used a tease and mock him last time he was on this ship, seemed to be more wary around him this time. He could see the slight fear in their eyes. Usually he hated that people would fear him, but this time he was thankful. Raephier even found himself playing on that by making small alterations to his appearance. He'd aged himself a little, added a few more muscles, and even a scar down his left cheek. The scar was an exact copy of a scar he'd seen on Jacob's back once when he was getting changed. Raephier would often find his fingers tracing over the undulations of the imperfect skin on his cheek, wondering if this was what it would feel like to run his fingers over Jacob's scar.

Raephier froze when he heard the familiar squeak of the door opening. He'd only been fed an hour ago so that couldn't be the reason why someone was approaching. He heard the unmistakable sound of Jinx's footsteps coming down the steps that led to Raephier's prison. Last time he was on this ship, he'd learned to identify the sound of most of the people who visited him. He liked to be prepared. The fact that Jinx himself was coming to see him wasn't a good sign. It wasn't a good sign at all.

Raephier didn't want to appear cowardly so he threw the sheet off himself and stood up, waiting for Jinx to approach.

When he finally stepped into the area where Raephier was caged, bringing a small lantern with him, Raephier could finally see the vile man. Jinx was as ugly on the outside as he was on the inside. He had slightly sunken eyes and thin brown hair that hung like rats' tails to his shoulders. His nose was very crooked, clearly it had been broken at some point and not reset. He truly was a character out of a horror story.

But Raephier was pleased to see just a flicker of caution in his dark eyes.

"So," Jinx began, leaning on the wall opposite his cell, "you've grown up a little since we last met ain't you?"

Raephier didn't really think that was a question that required an answer so he just stayed quiet, not breaking eye contact with Jinx.

"So how about we make a deal?" Jinx offered.

"And what would that be?" Raephier asked.

"Well," Jinx said, leaning closer like he had something secret to share with him. "Fingers said that you might be willing to sing now, and if you'd like to work for me, I'd gladly give you a cut of what we make."

"When you say work, you mean using my powers?"

"Aye, but you can help with other stuff too. You'd be part of my crew."

"Thank you, but I think I'll pass," Raephier said, then promptly turned from Jinx and began to straighten out his sheet on the floor.

Despite not being able to see him, Raephier had to concentrate hard to not react to the sudden change in atmosphere. He knew he'd just insulted Jinx, and he knew that probably wasn't the wisest move, but he just couldn't help it.

"So you'd rather rot in here then?" Jinx snarled. "I knew you were still a reject! I've half a mind to feed you to the sharks!"

"I'm not a reject," Raepheir said calmly. "I know how to use my powers, I just like to choose when and on whom I use them."

Jinx appeared to think this over for a minute.

"And what would your conditions be for using them then? Is it a bigger cut you're after?"

Raephier nearly made a comment about how for someone who wasn't a pirate, there was more to life than money and possessions, but then he had a thought. If he could get Jinx to trust him enough, like Jacob had, then as soon as their backs were turned, he could jump into the sea and swim away.

Sure, he didn't have any idea where he was, and there were many dangers in the ocean that could cost him his life, but then again his life wasn't exactly safe here either. And if he was going to die, he'd rather die in the ocean swimming free than cooped up in a cage on this ship.

If there was one thing he'd learnt about pirates since he'd been with them, it was that everything was always about the money.

"Aye," Raephier said. "If I were to sing, I'd be doing all the work, leaving your men to do nothing. It's only right that I get a bigger share."

Jinx smiled. It wasn't his usual sneer or smirk, but an actual smile! And he still looked ugly as an octopus's bottom!

"Sounds like we may have a deal then!" Jinx said.

"Does that mean you'll let me out of here?" Raepheir asked, possibly a little too eagerly.

Jinx laughed, and the sound made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

"If that's what you wanted, you should have made that part of the deal!"

Raephier just stared at him speechless.

"I'll tell you what," Jinx said, now with a horrible leer on his face, "I'll reconsider once you've done your job. Do it well with no bother and I might let you out."

Raephier tried not to let his body show the disappointment he felt. He was hoping that he would be able to escape before he had to do anything, not afterwards. Maybe he would be given the opportunity just before he had to sing.

"How will you make sure that you and your men are not affected by my song?" he asked, hoping that this was where he might find some way to get away from them.

"Ah, don't you worry about that. Fingers sold us enough Muntle Seaweed to last us a year!"

Raephier subtly pinched his leg to stop himself from smiling. He might have hated Fingers, but he found he hated him less when he was pulling his stunts on the likes of Jinx. That still left him with a problem though. If the pirates thought they were immune, it meant that they were unlikely to move far enough away from him to give him the opportunity to escape.

There was a sudden shout from outside, and the door was flung open again.

"Jinx! You'd better get out here! We've got a problem."

Jinx growled and rolled his eyes.

"Looks like we might be needing you sooner that we thought!"

And with that Jinx left, taking the light with him.

Darkness. Complete and utter darkness. Raephier thought he'd got used to it, but the way his heart beat wildly in his chest told him otherwise. The dark could be many things; your enemy, your friend, your saviour, your demise. Raephier had never been scared of the dark before. He wasn't really scared of it now. What he was scared of was having nothing to focus on but his thoughts.

Was there another ship coming? Would Jinx raid that ship, like he did Jacob's? Would he try to use Raephier?

He tried to convince himself that this is what he'd been waiting for. A chance to escape. All he needed was a brief moment of distraction and he could jump off the side and into the ocean. But he couldn't help that niggly voice that told him it wouldn't be that easy. What if he was chained to another pirate? What if he bound his hands and feet? Even though he couldn't drown, it would be too risky to jump in while tied. What if he couldn't untie himself? He'd basically be a meal ticket for any large predator in the waters.

His mind was whirring with all the possible scenarios of what might happen, but no matter what he imagined, there was one key question he needed to ask himself. If there was no way out, no other option, was he willing to sing and kill many innocent people just for his freedom? Raephier had no idea what his answer was, but he knew that either answer scared him.

Time seemed to drag on and on. He had been expecting to hear gun fire, but actually it had been pretty silent.

Perhaps the other ship got away? Or maybe Jinx was wrong in his assumption that the 'problem' was in fact another ship. Maybe it was that some of the food had gone bad, or one of the men was ill.

As time moved on and nothing seemed to happen, Raephier began to calm down. He was just drifting in that place between being awake and asleep when the noise of the door opening again, jolted him back awake and loud voices made their way down the steps towards him.

"He's got a fucking nerve, that's what I say," came the voice of Bones.

"He's an idiot," Jinx stated in a very matter of fact way.

"Then why are you doing this?" Bones asked, sounding exasperated.

"Because the idiot needs to be taught a lesson."

"Yeah, but can't we do that without the Siren. I don't trust him."

"You don't need to trust him. You just need to trust me."

By this time they were now standing in front of Raephier. Bones looked beyond pissed off, but Jinx just had his usual annoying smirk on his face.

Jinx finally turned to face him.

"Come on freak. Looks like your lover boy has come to rescue his fair maiden. It's time to teach him a lesson he won't forget."

Raephier felt his eyes widen but he stopped himself before he started asking all the questions that were running through his mind. Jacob was here? He'd come to rescue him? But if that was the case, why hadn't he heard gun fire? And what did Jinx mean by 'teach him a lesson'? Surely he must know that he wouldn't use his powers on Jacob and his men. Nothing would persuade him to do that. He'd rather be tortured to death than harm Jacob or his crew.

Jinx opened the cell door, and did the one thing he'd really hoped he wouldn't. He chained his hands and feet. Now he wouldn't be able to escape.

Raephier felt the fingers of fear closing round his body and squeezing all the hope out of him.

As he made the ascent up the steps towards the daylight, Raephier thought about nothing but Jacob. What would it be like to see him again? It was equal parts anticipation and fear. As much as he wanted to see him again, he was also worried that it would take away from him the one thing that he had left from Jacob - good memories.

When Raephier finally stepped out onto the deck, he immediately raised his hands to his eyes to protect them from the glare of the sun. Being in the darkness for so long had affected him more than he thought. He had to take a few moments to let his eyes adjust before he scanned his surroundings.

His heart gave a thump on seeing Jacob stood on one side of the ship, his gaze fixed on Raephier. He looked good. And by that he meant he looked uninjured, which made Raephier relax a little. He gave a small smile at Jacob, and he was almost positive that Jacob gave him a small smile back before his features turned stern as he addressed Jinx.

"Do you accept my trade?"

Trade? What trade?

"Aye," Jinx replied. "Bring the item onto my ship and then I'll let the Siren go."

Raephier felt himself stagger back a step in shock. Jacob was going to trade something for him? He frantically tried to search his mind for anything that Jacob might own that would persuade Jinx to give him up. He came up blank.

"No," Jacob replied. "You can't blame me for not trusting you, you are pirates afterall."

Jacob's men, some of whom were standing near Jacob and others who were still on Jacob's ship, which was currently tethered to Jinx's, all laughed loudly.

"Then what do you propose?" Jinx asked.

Raephier didn't like the smirk that was still on his face. He was definitely a man not to be trusted. If he knew Jinx, and he was pretty sure he did, Jinx was intending on leaving this with both him and the item that Jacob had, whatever that was. There was no way he was going to give Raephier up.

"Take some of your men onto my ship and they will be shown the object."

"That sounds like a trap to me," Jinx said.

Jacob rolled his eyes dramatically.

"Take as many men as you want. Take your pistols and swords. I've nothing to hide. No traps."

Jinx turned to Bones, "Take Drake and Fisher and see what you think."

Raephier watched nervously as the three burley men, who were covered from head to toe in armory, headed towards Jacob's ship.

"Wait!" Jacob shouted, holding his hand up. "If you get to inspect your goods first, then it's only right I inspect mine."

Jinx laughed.

"That's fine by me, but just to warn you, if my men are not happy with what they find on that ship, or if at any time I think you're trying to cheat me, every single one of you is going to die."

Raephier was pretty sure he'd never heard a threat sound so casual. But he knew it was real, despite his tone. He found himself hoping and praying that whatever was on Jacob's ship was enough. Nothing would be enough for Jinx to give him up, he knew that, but he just hoped it was enough that he would spare the lives of Jacob and his crew.

Raephier was suddenly given a shove in the back and he stumbled forward towards Jacob. Jacob glared at the man behind him, but then his eyes focussed on Raephier as he came to meet him.

"Are you alright?" he asked softly. "Have they hurt you?"

It was almost cruel for Raephier to have Jacob this close. He wanted nothing more than to throw himself into his arms and beg him to take him away.

"No," he replied. "They haven't hurt me." Yet. He didn't want to say that to Jacob. He didn't want to make him worry.

"HEY WHAT'S GOING ON!" came a loud shout from Jacob's ship. That sounded like Pete.

"GET THE FUCK OFF!" That was James.

Everyone's eyes turned to Jacob's ship and several men from both sides drew their swords.

Then there was a crash that sounded like someone had upturned a crate. But there was still nothing that they could actually see.

As more shouts filled the air, Raephier felt Jacob grab his arm and pull him close.

"You need to listen, we don't have much time!"

"Time?" Raephier asked, torn between looking at Jacob or trying to see what was going on behind him.

"Yes, this is all a part of a plan, but if we want the plan to work, we need your help."

Raephier felt his eyes widen. This was a plan?

"Of course I'll help. What do you want me to do?"

Jacob gave him an apologetic smile.

"I need you to sing."