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sarifinasnightmare · 5 months

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The Vengeful Bride

Pairing: Sarah x Bucky

Rating: Teen and Up (I think). The pirates aren't nice and neither are the mermaids actually. Mentions of violence, gore and sexual harassment. Bad ass Sarah Wilson. 💪🏾

Summary: On an island somewhere in the Caribbean, there is a story about a town that nearly got destroyed by a greedy mayor and some pirates and were saved by the vengeful ghost of a bride who had drowned on her wedding day.

Prompt: Pirates/Mermaid AU

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On an island somewhere in the Caribbean, there is a story about a town that nearly got destroyed by a greedy mayor and some pirates and were saved by the vengeful ghost of a bride who had drowned on her wedding day.

The Widow Sarah Wilson had always been a strong, beautiful wild creature. Her parents had three children, two sons who prospered elsewhere and their daughter. When she was a child, she’d run barefoot all over the town and spend hours splashing and swimming in the sea. Other mothers would’ve considered her unmanageable, but she was also an intelligent girl who could perform the maidenly duties required of her very well, she just didn’t care for them. Her embroidery skills were flawless, her fingers flew cleanly over the piano playing dulcet music, she danced like a flower in the wind and her penmanship was enviable. However, she would much rather be at sea, on the family boat, reading books, caring for the wildlife and basking in the waves.

When she reached her majority, it seemed like no one was good enough for her. Amongst the swath of rosy maidens looking to find husbands, she was the bird of paradise who lured them without even trying. It seemed no one would tame her, but to everyone’s surprise she married! Her mother made the match to Mr. Ashley Wilson, a man who was nearly twice her age, recently widowed, very rich and looking for a fresh young bride. Many thought Sarah would put up a fight, but she obediently acquiesced to her mother’s desires and married the older man. She had been a resplendent bride and Mr. Wilson was said to have been gleeful at the fact that he got himself the untamable Sarah for a wife.

They were pleasantly married for a few years until the day came that Mr. Wilson was stricken with a stroke and became a bed-ridden invalid. Now the wild, beautiful Sarah became her husband’s nursemaid and the whole town clicked their tongues in sympathy. What a waste of beauty! Then after struggling for a year more, Mr. Wilson died, leaving his wife a young widow. What a shame! Now she lived alone in the huge house by the sea with all the wealth her old husband had left behind. She moved her now ailing mother into the house so she could see to her needs like a good diligent daughter. Poor Sarah, people murmured, so wealthy but bound to her ill relations.

What the people didn’t know was that for as long as Sarah had the sea, she had never once been alone nor neglected.

Her father had been from a world of water, filled with people called by many names: the Aycayia, the Maneli, Njuzu, or Sirenas; mermaids in simple English. He fell in love with her mother and sacrificed his home to be with her. Their children had a rare choice when they reached their majority, to become a part of the merfolk or to stay human. Her elder brother chose humans, her second took to the sea. Sarah herself loved the sea as well, because it was the sea that held her greatest love.

As a child she encountered a merboy called Bucky who had first been her dearest friend and playmate. He taught her to swim, to turn her legs into a sleek tail, to hold her breath, and they explored many of the inaccessible places around the island. Later as they grew, they became sweethearts, exchanging words of unending affection. He’d become a tall, broad shouldered, handsome warrior, with long dark hair and blazing blue eyes. She ripened into curves, balanced by fierce brown eyes and generous lips that had become irresistible to him. He wanted her to join him in the waters and she was more than willing. However, she was her mother’s only girl and she loved her deeply. So much so that she begged her daughter to stay with her at least until she died. After having lost his father, Sarah found she couldn’t find it in her to abandon her mother and despite her desire to be in the sea with Bucky she decided to be a dutiful daughter first.

Her mother never liked Bucky, thinking him wild and dangerous, so it was rather mean-spirited of her to make Sarah marry another man. She had hoped that by providing her daughter with every earthly comfort that she would be satisfied, but the old woman underestimated how passionately they loved each other.

In a secret cavern she quietly told him what would occur, and he of course did not take it well.

Bucky had been furious. “Your mother is a menace! Why would you agree to this!! I will kill that old fool before I let him have an inch of you!”

“Bucky-” She tried to explain.

“You think I would sit and allow myself to be set aside??”

“No! I will not leave you!” She protested.

“You are!!” He snapped, his eyes growing watery. “How would you feel if I set you aside?”

Sarah knew that abandonment meant death to a merfolk, because once love was given it could not be returned, so he could waste away, starved of her love. “Please Bucky don’t leave me! I take no pleasure in this but what can I do? Leave my mother to her misery? She lost her love too and clings to ways to keep me close.”

“She means to kill us.” He growled as jealousy seized him and he began to ravish her with kisses and love bites. Sarah clutched him, urging him on, wanting only the pleasure he could give her.

“I won’t let us part,” She panted, moaning as he tongued her breasts. “I will keep us together.”

Together they came up with a plan that while not perfect would be enough to satisfy their needs.

On her wedding night, a wild, beautiful Sarah Wilson waited with bated breath as Bucky, on two human feet, nude and wet with the salt of the sea on his skin, slipped into her new house, entered her room and deflowered his darling love. It was everything they had imagined it would be. She did away with her robe and threw herself naked into his arms. He carried her to the bed and let the netting wrap around them as they made love for the first time. They had played and touched before, but their first joining was infinitely sweeter than that. While the servants thought that the grunts and moans were of the newly wed couple, it was Bucky between her thighs, muscles flexing, tightening as he thrust between her silky thighs. Sarah writhed and arched against him, swimming in ecstasy and clutching him tight as the pleasure waves of their orgasm drowned them both.

Where was her husband in all this? Drugged and deep in the throes of a hallucinogenic sleep that brought him sweet dreams of his new wife. That was how it went for years. Encouraged by his wife to have a drink before laying with her, he never knew that all those times he dreamt his encounters with her when in reality it was another man, a creature from the sea, that lay with his wife and pleasured her throughout the night. When he had his stroke, it made their life much easier. She no longer had to drug him to be with Bucky and when he died it was all the better. Her mother suspected something amiss but dared not voice it, least it fell into the wrong ears. The servants were perplexed by the odd wet spots that appeared occasionally around the house. One overly curious man tried to find the source of the spots and was discovered dead at the foot of the stairs, his neck broken and a look of utter shock on his pale face.

Bucky would allow no one to come between him and his love.

Now Sarah was a widow and a wealthy one at that. Free once more she resumed doing the things she loved, and no one gave it any thought. After all she was a rich, respectable widow dutifully caring for her mother; it was admirable.

“I tire of this half-life, Sarah.” Bucky said to her one night as they lay in her bed. “I want you home.”

Sarah caressed the long, wet hair from his face. “I want to, Bucky, you know I do, but I promised my mother to wait until she passed.”

“So it’s her death I require.” He growled, a hint of sharp teeth catching in the candlelight.

“Please don’t!”

He calmed himself. “I won’t, but I just love you so much and this waiting hurts me. To be so far from you is torture.”

She understood. Merfolk suffered when parted from their loved ones and she felt the painful ache just being half. The ache in her lover must have felt worse. “I do not wish for my mother’s death, but she is becoming frailer. It won’t be long.”

They held each other close during the night until dawn came, and Bucky reluctantly slipped away back to the sea. Sarah watched him go, conflicted by the burdens in her heart.

______________________-----

It happened that the governor of their town passed away and the homeland sent a new mayor to watch over them. Upon the arrival of Mayor Forks, the people knew they were in for some trouble. He was large, fat with grasping fingers and a wandering stare. The way his eyes trailed over everything of value and every pretty face instantly made the citizens wary.

Tax money immediately started to go missing, causing Forks to raise them to meet the quota. Unsavory looking men were permitted to enter the town and the mayor’s palace suddenly acquired some ugly guards. People grumbled and began to lament. The mayor had always been the guest of honor at the first dance of the season, and it was with gritted teeth that the young ladies were forced to dance with him, his hands pawing around.

Sarah had heard about this mayor but had studiously avoided him. She usually stood amongst the married and widowed ladies commenting on the matches although she was still young. The mayor took one look at her and was instantly arrested. A rich, beautiful widow! How could he pass her up?

Much to Sarah’s horror and disgust, Mayor Forks began to pursue her, and she absolutely refused him. It was the talk of the town. The mayor would send letters, flowers and gifts to her house and she’d send every item back. Twice he’d tried to enter her house only to be told her was either not at home (she was) or indisposed (she wasn’t). The one time he got close to her during a tea party, he slipped his hand onto her thigh, and she “accidentally” spilled hot tea on his hand. Using her ruined dress as an excuse to leave early she complained heatedly to her mother about it.

“We should leave this place before he does something worse to get you alone with him.” Her mother suggested.

“Mother, you wouldn’t be able to make such a journey. Plus, everything I need is here. I shan’t leave just because of him!”

“That’s because you won’t leave…because of him.”

Sarah gave her a hooded glare. “I love Bucky. I gave into your wishes to marry, and I obeyed, mother, but he is the only one I will ever allow to truly have me.”

“Have you told him about this mayor?”

“Indeed. It has become a sore subject.”

Bucky barely tolerated her first husband and was furious at the realization that now there was another suitor. Sarah was more than fine with him killing the fat pig, but it proved to be more difficult than assumed.

“Those men he has around his house are always patrolling and they’re not just anyone, they’re pirates.”

Pirates and merfolk shared the oceans but that did not make them allies. Thieves, rapists, opportunists, they would gladly take advantage of any mermaid or merman they found. Therefore, it was in a merfolk’s best interest to kill them. Seasoned pirates scoffed at the fantasy of beautiful, playful mermaids; they knew the truth, some had the scars to prove it.

Bucky was a warrior and was not shy about spilling blood but doing it alone amongst a band of unscrupulous pirates was risky. He urged caution and she agreed, sensing that eventually her rejections would cause Mayor Forks to do something more diabolical.

Then, on a beautiful festival day, the mayor revealed his grand gesture. During his speech he publicly proposed to Sarah thinking that having an audience would finally force her to agree, but she sneered at him and openly refused in front of the whole town. At that point the mayor’s thin veneer of civility fell and his true monstrosity emerged.

Slowly more unsavory pirates were permitted into the town, they menaced the people but were momentarily held back and the people were scared at what would happen next. Finally at a dinner party Mayor Forks made his announcement.

“I want you all to spread the word. I want to make sure everyone knows.” He began. “That I will not be humiliated by a woman in such a way. Since she cannot acquiesce kindly then force shall be necessary. If the Widow Sarah Wilson does not marry me within a fortnight, then my companions will gather all the ladies of the town, rich or poor and I shall let them have a grand time with them as they see fit. If any survive the event, they can return to their families. Do not attempt to leave as I have the ports well watched. Instead, may I suggest the good people focus on getting the good widow to prepare for her wedding day and resign herself to be my obedient little wife.”

The horror swept throughout the entire town. Cries and wailings echoed everywhere. Instantly the town turned on Sarah, demanding that she submit herself to the mayor. Then sensing she might try to flee he took it one step further. Upon his orders the pirates attacked, grabbing the girls and taking them into the local prisons. Screams and prayers could be heard as the mayor decided to hold the girls ransom to ensure that Sarah would appear. She was stunned by the outcry and for the first time felt a finger of fear up her spine.

Bucky had enough. “Come with me now. He’s given you no option but the sea.”

“And leave all these maidens to be made whores of?? I cannot be so heartless!” She argued.

“The town is against you!”

“The town is afraid! You cannot blame them for trying to save their daughters!”

“So you will do this? You’ll give yourself to that pig??” he asked, almost trembling with rage.

“I must and yet I cannot endure it. I must kill him and his pirates.” She declared coldly.

Bucky was surprised. Sarah had always been gentle despite her fieriness so to hear her speak of bloodshed was new.

“Do you plan to drug him?” He asked tentatively.

“No, he requires something much crueler.” She replied.

_______________________----

The mayor arranged the whole event, spending lavishly as he soon expected to have all of Sarah’s wealth in his coffers by the end of the night. The whole town showed up to this wedding, though there was no joy amongst anyone except the mayor, who looked at his intended bride garishly dressed in a gown he ordered her to wear with lewd anticipation. Sarah barely gave her consent and refused to offer her lips for a kiss and frowned at the sloppy feel of his mouth against her cheek. He tried to paw at her on the carriage ride to their reception. She slapped him and he slapped her back. Enraged, she struck him hard across the face with the back of her hand and he sat back stunned by the violence and strength. She hissed at him, and he swore he saw sharp teeth, but before he could question her they reached the governor’s palace and she nearly leapt out of the carriage to avoid him.

The festivities were hardly that. People didn’t want to dance to the music and hardly anyone ate; their minds preoccupied with their daughters and ashamed to look at the unfortunate bride in the eye. A few even apologized but Sarah paid them no mind, focused on what she’d have to do to survive the night with her grotesque new husband.

Getting drunk and feeling good, Forks decided to find his wife for a dance. Sarah refused him, but he grabbed her waist and forced her against him.

“You’re mine now. You do what I say like a good little wife.”

“You are mistaken if you think I’ll be so submissive to a pig like you.” She snapped.

The man chuckled drunkenly. “You forgot that everything that was once yours is now mine.” He hiccupped and she could smell the alcohol in his breath. “In fact, I already sent my men to your house to empty it of all your fine things. I plan to make a profitable sale of the property afterward.”

“How dare you! My mother will be scared to death!” she said, gritting her teeth as he grabbed her buttock.

“No, your mother will be dead. I have no patience for a dying old hag, so I told my men to deal with her quietly.”

“NO!” she cried, and all her careful planning came to a grinding halt as she picked up a dinner knife and stabbed him in the chest in front of all their guests. He cried out in agony, and everyone gasped, but Sarah didn’t care as she picked up her skirts and ran out of the palace to go save her mother.

Spotting a carriage, she pushed away the driver before climbing onto the seat and urged the pair of horses to gallop through the night streets.

Meanwhile, her mother was gasping for breath as she tried to flee her assailants. The horrible men had broken into the house, killed the butler and started ransacking the place. The servants fled, screaming, leaving the old woman to fend for herself. Terrified, the lady stumbled down the stairs, hurting her ankles, but she could not stop. Desperately she tried to escape to the beach only for two men to give chase, hooting and laughing as she stumbled and fell on the uneven sand. They grabbed her, dragging her into the cold water and started to dunk her in, enjoying her cries of distress.

A sudden unnatural swish of the water distracted them momentarily, then a manlike creature jumped out of the waves, grabbed one of the pirates and pulled him effortlessly into the sea. Terrified the other man released the old woman, who gasped and stumbled, and pulled out a knife, staring wildly into the dark waters. Kelp suddenly flew at him, wrapping around his neck, yanking him into the waves. There was a momentary struggle before his head, and only his head, bobbed up to the surface.

Sarah made it to the house, saw the disaster, but the moonlight reflected the pale gown her mother was dressed in, laying in the sand in the distance and she ran down to her side.

“Mama! Mama!” She cried in despair as she reached the beach and turned her mother over to check on her.

The old woman sighed weakly, wet, sticky with sand but very much alive. “My baby.”

“Mama! Oh God I was so scared!” She wept even as she smiled in relief.

“What happened to the mayor?”

“I stuck a knife in him. Hopefully he’s bleeding out like-”

A hand reached out, grabbing the back of Sarah’s neck and began to strangle her. It was Mayor Forks, bleeding but still very much alive.

“You bitch!! You thought you could get rid of me! I’m your husband! I’ll teach you how to behave! I’ll make an example of you!”

Her mother tried to rise and get him off her daughter, but he kicked her aside and dragged Sarah into the waves, still strangling her.

Sarah hissed and fought, but the weight of the now wet dress was heavy and from the angle she was at she could not fight him as he forced her head into the waters.

“I’ll teach you! You stupid bitch!” He shouted as he tried to drown her. Unexpectedly there was a yank as if something was pulling on his bride. Startled, the mayor loosened his hold on her, which was a mistake because the moment he did, she was abruptly taken from him and dragged further into the sea.

Frantically he tried to seek her, hoping to catch onto the heavy skirts. “No! No! You don’t get to slip that easy from me! You’re mine! MINE!” Eventually he felt the fabric and pulled it up with all his might, only to find it empty of its owner.

Forks was mystified, then heard a splash. Looking up he saw a pale-skinned, nude, dark haired man glaring at him with deadly intentions. Before he could make demands, Sarah rose beside the man in her shift that clung like thin tissue over her beautiful body, and she too looked at him cruelly.

“Get back here. I’m not done with you.” The fat man snarled.

“I’m not done with you either.” She hissed, revealing sharp teeth. “My plan was to see you dead tonight and I intend for that to happen.”

“You…I will have every woman violated if you touch me!” He threatened, a surge of fear rearing his head when he realized that the pair were approaching him menacingly, and he had no real way to protect himself.

“The only one who’s going to be violated is you little pig.” Bucky growled, large hands revealing long claws. “You’ve fattened yourself plenty. Time to carve you up.”

The man now looked over at his bride and saw as hint of sharp teeth he thought he’d glimpsed earlier were now on full display. “Still want that kiss?”

He turned and ran and promptly lost his footing in the waves. Sharp hands grabbed his ankles, pulling him into the sea, dragging him to and fro until he was crying for mercy. He managed to scramble to the beach, his clothes in tatters, but they shot out of the water, like an orca catching prey. Pulled close, he was turned onto his back, giving him only a glimpse of the sleek, dark, tails and fins before they ripped him open. He screamed and screamed until he died with a pathetic whimper.

Sarah wanted his body to be found on the beach, so they left him there to rot. Glancing up she then observed the jail where the girls were being held. “I need to go save them. Once these pirates realize that he is dead they will run wild and do as they please.”

“You are free, and your mother is safe. You’ve risked enough for these people.” Bucky protested.

“I love you, Bucky, but you either help me or stay out of my way.” She replied before diving into the water.

He growled before dutifully following his beloved mate.

___________________------

The tension in the prison was high. Word had spread that the bride had stabbed the groom and now no one could find either of them. The girls didn’t know what that meant, but the loud arguments going on did not put them at ease.

“What do we do?”

“Are we still getting paid??”

“Fuck it all! I’ve been itching for that one all day!” A particularly ugly pirate approached the cells, causing the girls to huddle themselves in one corner.

“Ain’t no one saving you now little girls! Time to pay up!”

They cried and whimpered in fear.

A harsh breeze suddenly ran through the corridors of the jail, blowing the flames out, leaving them all in darkness with only the pale moonlight. A soft, dulcet voice echoed through the halls and the pirates began to unsheathe their swords.

“We need to get out of here, now!” And older pirate ordered.

“The fuck?? Why? What’s going on??”

A noise echoed down a darkened hall, sending several of the girls scrambling to the other side of their cells to avoid whatever was coming.

“Out! Out now!” The old man’s throat suddenly opened up as a dark-skinned, clawed hand dug through it and yanked the man violently against the wall, smashing his face on the stone. The younger man fumbled his pistol and tried to aim it, but a pale creature attacked him from the side and ripped him open.

The girls huddled, frightened as the sound of screams and muscles being ripped apart echoed throughout the prison. Those who were brave enough to look were shocked to see the nearly naked form of the Widow Sarah, killing the pirates in horrendous fashion. She looked nothing like the dignified widow, but like a demoness, her hair long and free, her white shift blood stained and her eyes burned with rage.

Bucky took a cutlass and used it to kill any pirates outside the prison, showing no mercy. Merfolk were fine fighters in and out of water, but there was a limit and Bucky knew that he could not remain exposed for too long. In the distance he heard more shouting and peered over a ledge to see it was the town’s people rushing with muskets, pitchforks and torches coming to save their daughters. Quickly he ran back into the building to get Sarah.

“They’ve come for their daughters!” he announced, ignoring the corpses. “We have to leave.”

Sarah agreed, then glanced at one girl still brave enough to look. “See to my mother.”

The lovers turned and fled. Running, they reached the edge of a small cliff and dived into the cool, dark waters. As soon as they reached a certain distance, Sarah gladly removed her shift and allowed her body to make its change, turning limbs into a sleek tail and fin that resembled a dolphin. Bucky smiled, pleased to finally have his beloved all to himself and gathered her in his arms for a kiss.

Home, he urged her, blue eyes blazing with love.

Home, she agreed, smiling back and allowed him to pull her into the comforting darkness of the sea and towards the place she had longed for.

__________________----

The girls told a wild tale about Sarah coming to save them, of ripping pirates to pieces before disappearing like smoke. Men went to the widow’s house and found chaos and Sarah’s poor mother shivering quietly on the stoop. She spoke of her daughter being strangled by Mayor Forks which sent them all to the beach where they found the remains of the political pig being feasted on by the seagulls and wild dogs. Her wedding dress was found clumped against some rocks and they made the tragic conclusion that they had probably killed each other, and her unfortunate corpse was dragged into the sea. How then did it explain what the girls saw? Clearly, they were overwrought and delusional, but that didn’t explain the dozens of dead pirates. The one girl who had been brave enough to look declared that Sarah must’ve returned as a vengeful spirit to save them and they owed her a debt of gratitude. Shocked and a little frightened, the citizens agreed and mobilized.

Quickly they took their daughters home and began to cleanse their town of the mayor and his evil. The elites, not nearly so willing to believe in the supernatural but also not willing to tempt fate, did their part. Craftily they spread the rumor of a pirate attack that killed their mayor and several others including the wealthy widow. Fortunately, her mother lived, and they made sure that her house was restored, that she was safe and even summoned her son to come fetch her.

The old woman was grateful for their kindness but wasn’t a fool. She knew what had become of her daughter and what had transpired. Bittersweetly, she walked the shore of the beach, staring out into the sea knowing that her daughter was now living happily below the cold depths with her true love. Although she did not keep her promise to her mother, it didn’t hurt so much. She was a mother, she understood and in the end all she wanted was her children’s happiness. Her eldest son would be arriving soon to take her with him to his home, so at least she wouldn’t be alone and when the Lord finally took her, she would rest at ease, knowing that all was well with her kin.

The house and all the goods inside were sold and soon the old woman boarded a ship that belonged to her son, who saw to her comfort. Looking back as her island home grew smaller, she and her oldest son noticed something or someone bobbing around in the middle of the sea. It was Sarah. She waved at them and blew her mother a kiss. They waved back and she blew a kiss back, stifling tears.

Sarah watched as the ship disappeared over the horizon. Bucky popped up beside her, glanced at the ship, then kissed her naked shoulder. “We need to go, my love.”

“I know. I just wanted to say good-bye one last time.” she replied, her eyes watery.

“You don’t regret us…do you?” He asked worriedly.

She smiled and wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders. “Never. I regret nothing. I love you, Bucky and there’s no place I’d rather be.”

He smiled triumphantly before kissing his true love and sank them under the cool, blue depths where they could revel in their passion more freely.

The story of the vengeful bride was told amongst the daughters who passed it to their children who then carried it along to their own. A few claimed that on the anniversary of her death one could see her wandering the beach in her wedding gown singing a sad song. Few were brave to see if it was true, the rich preferred to ignore it, but the commoners often left trinkets and food in thanks for her help. Some called her an angel, others a devil, but no one considered her a mermaid which was just fine with the merfolk who didn’t care for human attention. As for Sarah, she didn’t care of what was said, she was safe and loved, wrapped in the arms of her beloved Bucky and that was all that mattered.

The End

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