Sirens and Scales

by Kellie McAllen

  I curled into myself and closed my eyes. My heart clenched with loneliness and drifting off to sleep was almost impossible. Almost. Exhaustion won out in the end.

  The sunlight beamed through the water and my eyes peeked open in response. They felt heavy from all of the crying last night, but at least I made it to see the next morning. I was correct with my assumption that the other sirens wouldn’t think to look for me in a reef closer to the surface.

  I poked my head around the coral but didn’t see any threats. Only blue water and fish. A little parrotfish swam around my head and its vibrant yellow, blue, and orange colors distracted me. It was adorable and looked like it wanted to play or have a conversation. Unfortunately, sirens couldn’t communicate with sea creatures like mermaids could. So, I smiled and nodded my head at it in return.

  My dad knew the name of every sea creature in existence. It amazed me when he used to point out each different type of fish when I was younger. He and I would venture out to the coral reefs whenever he felt it was safe enough. It was another reason the coral reef was my go-to. The reef reminded me of the comfort Dad provided.

  When the parrotfish understood that I wasn’t going to play, it swam away as quickly as its fins would allow it. Craving the sky, my feet kicked me forward until I broke the surface of the water. Breathing the free air was much sweeter compared to breathing underwater. I preferred the surface’s breeze that whipped at my face.

  My eyes landed on a spot in the distance and I realized it was a ship. I hadn’t seen one up close before. Humans were dangerous to me since I wasn’t the killing type. They would probably harm me before I ever attacked them. Fear swirled in my gut. What if they were fisherman hunting sirens?

  Indecision flickered within my troubled thoughts. I couldn’t remain in this water for too much longer because the sirens would find me eventually. Somewhere, deep below the fear, a flash of excitement came. I’d always wanted to see a human up close to see how different they truly were and it wasn’t like I was a reckless person. I would be cautious about it and keep out of sight.

  Against my better judgment, I moved towards it. The ship was made of solid wood and way larger up close than I was anticipating. It was massive and it occurred to me that the sirens would never think to look on an intimidating boat like this one. The plan formulated quickly and I knew I could use this vessel to get away without any chance of being caught. Mom and Dad had always wanted to ride on a ship so I would be doing it for them too.

  I crinkled my nose in thought. It wouldn’t be wise to climb onto a ship in broad daylight. I needed to wait until nightfall, when most of the humans were sleeping. I wasn’t good at the whole “entrancing them with my voice” thing since I was out of practice and I’d heard sirens usually attacked in groups with a ship this large.

  There was nowhere for me to hide above water without being seen by the humans, so I remained under the ship with my back nearly touching it as I swam. Hopefully, the sirens wouldn’t choose the sailors of this vessel for their next victims. I would be totally screwed if so.

  It took the humans forever before they settled down for the night. They stumbled around for the longest time and one came close to tumbling off. I wondered if they were ill from seasickness, but that would make for terrible sailors.

  As quietly as I could, I slipped onto the ship and went below deck. I thanked the gods for looking out for me as I went unnoticed. Nobody was below deck—which I’d hoped for—and I was able to hide behind a pile of wooden crates. I recognized them from my dad’s adventures while he was out searching for food. He’d returned with boxes like these on multiple occasions.

  My stomach growled from the absence of food all day. It was painful and almost forced me to double over. Instead, I kept my mind clear and found a crate opened nearby. It held vegetables that I recognized as zucchini and squash. The joy at my discovery threatened to overwhelm me as I dug in. I shoveled vegetables into my mouth and only wished that I could chew faster to indulge more. Then, I found the fruits underneath the vegetables and ate until I felt sick.

  A creak sounded from the entryway and I ducked down. Footsteps of two people clambered down the stairs that led to my hiding place. I peered around the crates to get a view of the humans. They were dressed in ragged clothes and looked fairly similar to male sirens, except they weren’t as pretty. Instead, they were dirty and rough around all of the edges. Humans… this was my first time seeing one so close and it amazed me that they weren’t that different in shape.

  “I can’t believe the captain is hungry this late at night,” the dark-haired human said with a rough voice. It was the complete opposite of what I was used to hearing from my mother and father.

  “Rum will do that to ye.” The red-haired guy laughed and I continued to listen to their conversation.

  “Captain Steel warned me that if I didn’t decide where I wanted to be soon, he would personally throw me overboard.”

  “How did he find out ye were questioning the pirate life?”

  “Stan told him.”

  “Stan? Why were ye talking to him?”

  “Because he’s a good listener and isn’t scared to tell you what’s what.”

  “Stan is as treacherous as the ocean during a raging hurricane. Ye know ye shouldn’t ‘ave trusted him.”

  “I know, but I just miss my home and my family and he was there after I’d had some rum.”

  “Aye, rum will do that to ye too.”

  The two of them exited with their basket of fruit and I understood how he felt. I missed both my home and my family too. This dark, smelly ship wasn’t cutting it, but it was all I had until I could think of a new plan. At least there was food for me to eat here.

  As I sat in the dark, my mind wandered to what rum was. I had never heard that word before, but it sounded interesting. I couldn’t find water and wound up falling asleep with a dry throat. Hopefully, the morning would bring something to drink because the juice of fruits wouldn’t cut it for much longer.

  2

  A bang jolted me awake. The sound of footsteps invaded my delirious mind as I wondered where I was for a moment. Nothing was recognizable.

  “Who’s there?” A callous voice called from above me.

  I blinked and the memory of last night returned.

  How could I let myself be discovered so quickly?

  The steps came nearer and I shot up in a defensive position, or at least it was what I assumed a defensive position would look like. I had my palms up towards the male who was approaching and an icy glare set on my face. I didn’t say anything but that didn't deter his loud voice.

  “What the Hades are you doing on my ship? Women don’t belong on the sea. It’s bad luck and you’re going to cause our ship to wreck.”

  “That’s preposterous. The captain would be at fault, not the woman. But that’s besides the point because I’m not a woman.”

  “Now who’s preposterous, because you certainly look like a female to me.”

  “I’m a female, but not in your sense of the word because I’m a siren.”

  “That’s ridiculous. I thought sirens were supposed to be part bird. That’s what a sailor I once knew always boasted about.”

  “Do I look part bird?”

  “Well, no, you look mostly human except for your beauty. It’s more animal-like.”

  “That sailor probably had us confused with harpies.”

  “Harpies are real too?”

  I nodded. “Humans hunt sirens, so how can you not know what we look like? I know most humans believe that sirens are only females, but we have males too. Our looks should be a given though.”

  “Well, I’ve never hunted sirens, but I know a siren wouldn’t be hiding on a ship unless you were planning to kill us all. Come on.”

  His hand shot forward quicker than I imagined a human could and grabbed ahold of my arm. He yanked me towards the deck, but I struggled to pull away.

  “Unhand me.”

  “Stop it, wen
ch. You’re going overboard whether you struggle or not. If you claim to be a siren, then you should be able to swim.”

  “No, please, they’ll find me and kill me.”

  The sunlight nearly blinded me, but I sat on the wood floor to keep him from pulling me any farther. It worked because he paused and his fingers loosened slightly. The other sailors were muttering around us.

  “Who’s going to kill you?” His eyes narrowed as they scrutinized me.

  “The other sirens.”

  “That’s a pretty wench. We should have some fun with her before she’s sent to her watery grave,” someone yelled.

  The man who was holding me smirked. “That sounds like a good plan, but I’m going first.”

  I fought to pull away, but he yanked me into a room and banged the door shut behind us. He pushed me forward, but instead of landing on the hard floor, something soft connected with my bottom. My gaze remained on the guy in front of me and I realized his cold eyes were the color of steel. He had a fresh stubble of hair on his face and honey-colored hair that held soft waves. He was more attractive than I expected since he was human. Compared to sirens, I’d heard most male humans were dull, but this guy could hold his ground next to one of them with his looks.

  “Well, I’m waiting,” his voice broke my dangerous thoughts.

  I swallowed hard. “Waiting for what exactly?”

  “An explanation as to why you’re on my ship as a stowaway rather than trying to overtake it?”

  “I had nowhere else to go. I was hoping this ship would take me far away from those who seek my head.”

  “Why would the others want to kill you? What did you do to piss them off?”

  “I was born from a half-human mother. Sirens are only supposed to reproduce with one another. It’s considered to be an abomination to have children with mortals.”

  “You don’t look like an abomination to me. Only a liar.”

  “Think what you want, but I’m no liar.”

  “Then, prove it.”

  I quirked my eyebrows at him. Was this human insane? “How? You want me to make you walk off the ship and fall to your death?”

  “If you’re capable of doing so, then why haven’t you already?”

  A defeated sigh escaped my lips. “Because I don’t know how. I’ve never used that skill before because I had no reason to. My parents and I lived in seclusion.”

  “You’re going to have to try because my patience is wearing thin.”

  I recalled the day Dad taught me a few pointers about entrancing humans, but I didn’t think it would ever come in handy. I sent a prayer to the gods and took a deep breath. He stood still as I rose to my feet and closed the space between us. Holding his stare, I focused on making my voice sound melodic.

  “Remove your sword and toss it aside,” I said.

  “Not a chance.”

  I groaned. “Did you feel anything?”

  “I felt something, but it isn’t what you were hoping for.”

  “What did you feel?”

  He chuckled and shook his head as if I made some type of joke. “Look, I love killing people. It’s what I’m good at, so I’m not usually one to be lied to. Many of my crew also know that I’m superstitious. I believe in karma and the wrath of the gods, so I’ll make a deal with you. I’ll let you remain on this ship until I decide what to do with you. If I find out you’re lying, then—pretty face or not—you’ll feel the cold bite of my blade.”

  “What made you change your mind?”

  “As I said, I’m superstitious. I wouldn’t want to cast aside one of Zeus’s children. That would surely bring bad luck.”

  “Poseidon.”

  “What?”

  “Contrary to what most people believe, sirens were created by Poseidon to emphasize the beautiful, but deadly ocean.”

  “Well, I definitely don’t want to piss him off since the majority of my life is spent sailing on a ship. Because of that, you can stay. For now. First, we need to lay down some ground rules though. You must remain in this room at all times unless I have someone escorting you out.”

  “I’m not going to hurt anyone.”

  “This rule is to protect you more than the men. They go months without the feel of a woman’s touch and who knows what they’ll do with one walking freely on the ship.”

  “You think they would hurt me?”

  “Possibly. That’s actually the only rule I have for now. I never got your name.”

  My cheeks heated. “It’s Sera.”

  “Sera,” he tested my name and it sent a thrill through me. “I’m Steel, also known as Bloody Steel, and you're sailing on my ship The Sea Nymph’s Revenge.”

  “The Sea Nymph’s Revenge? That’s an odd name for a pirate ship.”

  “That’ll be a story for another time. My name didn’t sound familiar to you?”

  “No, should it?”

  “Never mind, just remain here while I go speak to the crew. I’ll post someone outside the door to make sure you comply.”

  He left before I could say anything else and I looked around at my new living quarters. I hoped he didn't expect me to stay in here with him. It would be awkward since we didn’t know each other and even though he was allowing me to remain on this ship, I still didn’t trust him.

  Bloody Steel. He was surprised that I didn’t recognize his name, but I was certain I would’ve remembered something like that. It was an intimidating name, especially for someone who liked to kill others. He seemed civilized while we were talking, but what was hiding underneath his personable attitude?

  I was disappointed in myself for not being able to tap into my siren ability. What should’ve come natural preferred to remain dormant within me. My dad should’ve made me practice it even though he frowned upon it. If these humans changed their mind and decided to kill me, I was incapable of protecting myself.

  Instead of standing in the same place, I snapped out of my thoughts and looked around. There was a drawing of the ocean and local islands on the table that sat along the wall. I ran my finger along it and wondered where we were in this vast world. Which island had once been my home?

  A pang of fear jolted through me. According to my dad, humans would ask for my death just like the sirens. Steel could be leading me into a sense of false security, so I needed to remain on my toes. I was tired from the stressful morning, but couldn’t risk taking a nap. Not right now. I needed something to ensure my safety.

  After rifling through Steel’s things, I discovered a knife and tucked it into my dress. The cold metal wasn't as reassuring as I was hoping for, but it was better than nothing. There was a tiny, circular window that gave me a view of the ocean. The blue was never-ending and no land was within sight. The window didn’t open, much to my dismay. Fresh air would’ve been comforting for this stifling room.

  I was tapping on the glass when the door banged open. My hand went over the knife as if it was visible through the fabric and Steel raised his eyebrows at me. He held out what appeared to be a thick dress.

  “I brought this for you to change into,” Steel said. “Your piece of cloth is very exposing. This will be more appropriate for when you’re allowed on the deck.”

  I took it from him and held it out in front of me for a better view. “This seems… hot. The dress that I’m wearing was made by my mom.” I picked at the silky, pink fabric. “It’s my favorite piece of clothing and the only thing I have left from her. I can’t part with it.”

  “I rather enjoy you in that sheet, so feel free to stay in it while you’re in this room. It’s a nice view before bed.”

  “You mean you’re sleeping in here too?”

  “It’s my room, so yeah.”

  “But I don’t even know you and don't feel comfortable sharing a bed.”

  “Feel free to sleep on the floor then but this is the only room where you’ll be safe. Nobody would dare come in here without my permission. That and there’s no empty rooms available.”

  “The
floor? You can’t be serious?”

  “Dead serious.”

  “I can’t be expected to stay in this hot, smelly room this whole time. I’m a siren. I need fresh ocean air to breathe eventually.”

  “Feel free to leave the ship then. The freedom you seek is waiting for you overboard.”

  “I can’t. Not until there’s more distance from the sirens who are looking for me.”

  “Then, You have to abide by my rules while on this ship. Gregor will be bringing you some food in a moment. He will be your guard when I can’t be around.”

  “Wait, where are you going?”

  He paused at the door. “I’m going to take my place at the Captain’s Wheel. Change your clothes and here comes Gregor now.”

  Steel stepped aside to let a man with blonde hair into the room. He had a scar on his forehead and bright aqua eyes that reminded me of the ocean. A friendly smile was set on his face and it made his eyes crinkle from the width of it. Even though he appeared nice, his bulky muscles made me a little apprehensive. Once Gregor was in the room, Steel left and closed the door behind him.

  “Hello there. You are a vision, but I would expect nothing less from a siren. I’m Gregor, Steel’s first mate, and I’ve brought you some food.”

  He slapped down a tray of vegetables and some type of meat.

  “What is this?” I asked as I poked it.

  “It’s chicken. Haven’t you had chicken before?” Gregor was looking at me like I was crazy and my cheeks warmed.

  “No, the only meat I’ve had is fish.”

  “That ain’t meat. Eat it. You’re in for a treat.”

  “Isn’t a chicken a bird?”

  “Don’t tell me you haven’t seen a chicken either.”

  “If I haven’t eaten it, why would I have seen it?”

  “You really aren’t from the human world. Everyone knows what a chicken is. We keep some aboard the ship for fresh meat. Meat typically spoils on the sea and we get sick of junk.”