It looms over the bow, powerful and angry. The crew scurry hurriedly around me, focusing on trying to evade the monster from the deep. This is my chance to escape.

I adjust my position against the main mast and pull myself into a squatting position. I look around but nobody’s noticed.

I trust myself enough to stand and my eyes find a young sailor with a dagger sticking carelessly out of his back pocket. Carelessly enough for a light-fingered thief to slip it out of his back pocket and start to work it gently across the ropes binding my hands.

‘Everybody hold onto something, it’s gonna be a bumpy ride!’

I duck behind a barrel as the captain steps put onto the deck. His eyes flash cruelly at the sea creature in front of us and a smirk drifts easily across his face.

My hands are nearly free when the ship rocks violently. I’m thrown against the starboard side and push the oncoming barrel away with my feet.

Flecks of water begin to move up to the storm clouds above. I stare at the columns writhing in awe. But my gazing doesn’t last for long as the ship rocks the other way and I’m sent skidding across the deck as the rain starts falling.

I see the captain’s eyes trained on me when I look up.

‘The prisoner has escaped!’ he bellows. ‘Get them!’

Before anyone has a chance to move, the sea beast raises its tail and smashes it into the water. A giant wave hurtles towards us and soaks the ship in water. I notice a foot as someone is dragged overboard.

Naiads.

Two of them spring up from the starboard side, coral swords in hand. The sailors look terrified as they rush over to the other edge of the ship. I gulp. I know why they’re here, I know why everything has happened.

‘Have you got the trade?’ one of them asks. Its voice is laden with softness yet his face appears twisted.

‘Yes,’ the captain says. He turns to me. ‘They’re right there.’

The whole ship seems to creak and turn to look at me. Two sailors start to move towards me.

No way am I going back.

I rip my hands out of the ropes and climb quickly onto the rail of the ship.

‘Don’t come any closer!’ I say. ‘Or I’ll jump.’

A Naiad cocks their head at me. ‘You wouldn’t.’

‘I would too.’

‘But you humans value life so much.’

I growl. We’ll see about that, I think.

And I leap off the edge and dive into the water