A Transformation

Nix was gasping for breath as the captain barked his order to throw her overboard. Fear took over, threatening to swallow her whole. Heart racing, unable to breathe, eyes blurred with tears - she shakily stood up, unsure of how to react. If she allowed herself to be bound, she would surely drown, but if she tried to swim in the open ocean there was almost no chance she would survive. “I’m sorry,” she softly cried, “if you’re going to kill me, please just do it yourself, I don’t want to drown.” The captain smirked and walked up to her. He lifted her face and whispered, “Aye, and I wanted to keep me coin.” 

    He walked away from her and with a wave of his hand, dismissed her. His crew then advanced upon her, crooked teeth showing. She let out a whimper and looked to the sea. A light rain began to fall accompanied by the brisk cold of a fresh breeze. As she stared at the flourishing crests of the water, she knew she would have no chance whatever she decided. 

    “Well, then. I’ll test my luck with the sea,” she breathed before darting to the starboard side of the ship. She paused briefly, the wind beginning to pick up as she took one last look behind her, solidifying her resolve as she watched her assailants advance. Before anything else could be said, she jumped into the water.

    An icy chill engulfed her, the shock of the sudden change in temperature causing her to let out the breath she had been holding in. The injuries from being abused by the crew members stung from the salt, the sensation of pins and needles stabbing her entire body. She struggled to move her limbs, the cold making them numb. Water flooded her lungs, taking away the last bit of energy she had left. “This is it,” she thought to herself, allowing the darkness of the ocean to take her.

    As she sank, the life leaving her body, a light began to glow beneath her. Suddenly, as if the water was home, she could breathe. The coin that had caused her misfortune floated up to her eye level, slowly spinning, emitting a light that seemed to call to her. She reached out to it, curious about the effect it was having. “I’m hallucinating,” she challenged. The words she spoke were clear as day, even under water as she was, her voice now coated in a raspy tone. She did not sound like herself, but this was the least of her worries. 

    The coin halted, the woman embossed upon it facing her. She stared in wonder, curious as to what would happen next. The eyes of the woman opened as if she had awoke and a spectre in her image emerged from the coin. She came towards Nix, arms stretched out and pulled her into an embrace. The sapphires in her hair lit up, flowering and begining to slowly twirl around the perimeter of the pair. “Sing.” The word rang in Nix’s ears, seemingly coming from nowhere. 

    “Sing.” She was prompted again, after remaining silent. Realizing this command was coming from the coin, she opened her mouth and began to sing. The chords that left her lips were husky, but beautiful. The sound of her song drifted above the water, echoing above the ship she had escaped. As she continued to sing, her rough notes rounded out and the waves above picked up, becoming more violent as she became more confident with her tune. The drizzling rain became a downpour, the wind becoming strong and rough like her voice. 

    The crew began to panic as they lost control of the ship, the storm gaining strength the longer Nix’s song rang out in the night. The storm crescendoed and finally, as Nix was ending her song, a rogue wave towered over and crashed into the ship, completely destroying it. As the captain and crew drowned, the song now over, Nix’s legs merged together into a long and beautiful tail, the spectre and flowers dissolving around her. The coin grew dim, returning to its original state, and sank leaving Nix alone with the corpses of her abusers floating around her. 

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