One fateful, hateful summer night
I crept into a bar
To wash away my sins, did I
Though I did not get far
A weathered man approached me
His eyes a raging sea
They crashed and seethed with deep intent
A midnight mystery
"I once was young" he, weary, slurred
Over his empty glass
What followed was a warning
A tale from his past
Once there was a bright young man
Who joined a bright young crew
And bright young hands would build a ship
That sailed the ocean blue
They travelled seas a-seven
Stole all they could dream of
But the ocean was a hustler
And they were fools who fell in love
They pillaged, raped, they stole, they slashed
Played hooky with the gallows
But little did they know
What their mischief would foreshadow
One day they found a parchment scroll
Just west of brimstone and fire
"Follow the path marked on this map
To find what you desire"
"Riches, gold!" a boatswain cheered
"And women beyond compare!"
"I bet," the gunner interjects,
"Be a pretty penny there."
"It's settled!" Captain bellowed out
The men readied the sails
With lightened hearts and greedy eyes
The crew began their trail
For forty days and forty nights
These boys would seek their gold
Though six weeks seems much longer
With no water, food or coal
Through bitter storms that thrash the boat
its punches crashing waves
To burning days with nary wind
That dragged along for days
Finally, they saw their end
And hidden in the rain
The cave that hid their treasure chest
Almost seemed arcane
Not long post entering the mouth
did thickened fog roll in
The walls and water disappeared
As did the pirate's gin
Despite this all, the ship sailed on
It's pace a sluggish crawl
And quiet pirates now could hear
An echo from the walls
"Come, weary sailor, forget what you owe
You are too handsome to look so alone
Save me, my darling, take me from the stone
I'm Juliet and you're my Romeo."
The voices, like honey, sweet and rich
Drowned the pirate's ears
It trickled to the brains and hearts
And painted over fears
In the fog lay silhouettes
Sitting upon rocks
Creatures of beauty only known
By shanties sung on the docks
Deafened by the Mermaid's song
And blinded by the mist
They didn’t feel their sinking ship
Too lustful for a kiss
However, there was a single man
Who shouted in surprise
"Stop! What are you doing, men?!"
Yelled the man with cobalt eyes
"Hush now, my sailor, be one with the sea
I have been waiting for eternity
Rest in my arms and you'll surely find peace
For you are Adam, and I am your Eve."
Now at this point had many men
dived their ways to hell
Remaining were a sharper bunch
Though they remained unwell
Drunken fools leaned off the sides
Their fingers grazing sea
The Siren's fingers grasped the heads
Of victims soon-to-be
And with a kiss that hid sharp teeth
The men's eyes turned to white
These monsters sucked the souls of those
Who sailed in the night
Now alone, the cobalt man
Kneeled on his sunken ship
Surrounded by the women who
Would take him down with it
And finally, the man would raise
His scathing ocean eyes
And refuse a kiss from angels
Who had bid their wings goodbye
"But how did you escape?" I asked
At the edge of my seat
The cobalt man just looked through me
For a while, he did not speak
He threw some coins and left the bar
I followed him in kind
We made our way down to the beach
The stars, oh how they shined
"For listening to my story,
The truth I now will tell
I once was a young sailor
And now I'm damned to hell.
They turned me to an angel
And then tore off my wings
I live now in these waters
Where men will hear me sing.
My husband lived in Blackwall
Was killed for loving men
And now I haunt the ocean
To enact my revenge.
I hope you will forgive me
I know that you will not
But since you've heard my story
It is here you will rot."
- Aria
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