Sirens

Sirens

Prologue: The Enchanted Sea

The air was cool, the wind carrying the scent of seaweed and salt to the shore. Nix stepped up to the edge of the water, letting it cover her ankles as she watched the horizon, digging her toes in the sand. The beach was her home away from home. She spent most of her time wishing she was out on the waves, away from the house she was afraid to go back to. 

As she stood mesmerized by the glimmer of the water, a ship faded into view. She watched as it grew in size. As the details became more prominent, she noticed that this was not one of the ships owned by any around the area. She had seen them all come and go for years. This ship was different somehow; it was larger than most privately owned and similar in size to the war ships that belonged to the King. She was confused at this new arrival, but curious to see who it belonged to. She quickly grabbed her socks and boots and ran to the docks which were bustling with people buying fresh seafood, all seemingly oblivious to the oncoming ship.

Nix pushed her way passed the populace to stand at the edge of the dock. “Hey, girl!” Someone yelled. She whipped around to face a large muscularly built man who towered over her. “What are you doing on the docks?” He demanded. She was in awe, never having been so close to someone so enormous.

 “I - I’m watching the ship.” she replied, pointing behind her. He looked up, seemingly unenthused by her claim. She watched his eyes widen and jaw drop, face turn pale. She turned around and gasped. The ship had let free a giant black flag with a skull and crossbone. “Pirates,” she whispered trembling in fear. The man turned her around to face him and clamped his massive hands on her shoulders.

“Listen,” he breathed, “the people on that ship are going to come here and kill every one of us they can. They will take some prisoners but very few. You need to get out of here as fast as you can and hide somewhere they won’t be able to find you. Do not keep a weapon. If they see you have one, you won’t survive the night.”

Nix nodded and ran through the crowd as quickly as her legs would move, coming to a halt halfway through. She knew there was nowhere safe to hide that she could get to quickly enough. Thinking swiftly, she turned back towards the docks. The man she had met disappeared within the multitude. Without stopping, she took a sharp left and dove into the water. The cold embraced her as she broke the surface to breathe, the sensation of pin needles all over her body. She swam under the docks and waited.

The ship was close enough now the rest of the congregation had noticed what was coming towards them. Panic broke loose with the first terrified shriek of “Pirates”. They had almost reached the mainland and could certainly hear the cries of fear which engulfed the area. Six smaller boats were lowered to the water full of shouting men. 

Upon arrival they tied their vessels to the anchorage and climbed on the dock, stretching their legs and brandishing their swords. A large man addressed the group, “‘Aight you pickaroons, let’s get to finding our loot and taking what’s ours. This be but a pit stop on our way to greater treasure.” To this, the men raised their swords and cheered. They rushed off the deck, save for the addressor. He chuckled at their enthusiasm, standing to observe their wake. 

It didn’t take long for the fires to start or for the screams of terror to begin to die down. Nix waited silently, shivering in the cold of the water, watching the scene from under the dock aware that if she made a sound she would be found. The large man stayed planted in place, silently fiddling with a coin in his right hand, letting it flow through his fingers. He stood, playing with the novelty until his men began to return to the docks, blood soaking their bodies and yellow teeth showing. He tossed the coin in the air as a sign of triumph. He missed the catch and it fell through a crack in the wood, sinking in the water. 

“Get me mah coin ya filthy knaves!” The man shouted, now suddenly bubbling with rage. Nix could see it sitting in the sand, a golden coin with sapphires. She quickly submerged herself to grab it and moved to hide behind one of the small boats. Just as she reached cover, two of the men jumped in the water, frantically searching for what was no longer there. After several moments of splashing and shouting the men yelled up, “Captain it’s gone!”

Nix’s heart was racing, she was afraid of what would happen to her if she was discovered. The large man didn’t say another word. He stepped off the dock into the water and violently sifted through the sand below where he had been standing. After lots of angrily shouted insults at his men and furiously throwing water and sand, he abruptly stopped. “Snagged by a wench of the sea.” He mumbled, barely audible. 

There were a few beats of silence, the only sounds coming from the fires of what used to be and the waves of the water. The man climbed into the nearest boat and looked at those in observance. “Back to the ship!” He barked out. Nix hid herself with the boats, unable to get back under the docks. The men loaded up and immediately started rowing back to their abode. 

Fear welled up inside her, gaining prominence as she was taken further into the sea. When they reached the ship, she knew she would be found if she went up with one of the boats. She was too far out to swim back to land. She frantically searched for another place to hide, frightened at the thought of her impending doom. The only thing she could find was a very large chain that sprouted from a small opening in the woodwork and dipped into the water. Based on what she knew from all her time watching vessels from the beach and docks, this was the anchor. The thought of being trapped on the vessel with so many hostile men was terrifying for her. She did not want to sneak aboard but had no other options with the absence of a way to get back to shore. Her only hope was to escape the next time they docked. When nobody was looking, she swam over to the chain, ready to hang on when it was brought up.

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