by Garry Hicks
DAY 7
Back on Erato Island, Chiron dives from a cliff, forty feet high, into the water. She plays, enjoys the underwater fish and scenery. She raises her head just above the water line, gazes across to Atargatis Island. She smiles, dives under and swims toward the other island. Two sharks follow her, she motions them back, they retreat.
She nears the island, surfaces. Treena sits on a rock. They exchange stares until Chiron speaks.
"I am Chiron, daughter of Nemeritias, Queen of Erato Island."
"I know who you are. Why have you come?"
"The men on your island, we hold their friend, Sean. He is in great danger."
Treena is surprised. "Why do you care?"
"There is little time if they want their friend back."
"I ask again siren, why do you care?"
"I...I don’t know. He must get away, or he dies."
"You know there is only one way."
"I shall return, in one cycle."
Treena watches her swim away.
Nemeritias and Chiron sit at the dinner table. Plates of food sit in front of them but both are distracted, they only pick at the food. Nemeritias finally speaks.
"One more cycle and everything will be perfect. Are you ready Chiron?"
"Yes mother, I am."
Nemeritias pauses, sets her fork down. "Chiron, I sense anxiety, fear. What is it?"
"It’s Sean mother, I don’t want to see him die."
"He is only a human. Once you are with child, you will no longer feel confused. You will have new powers, new visions, rule the island with me."
"I don’t want to rule over human's mother, hold them captive, kill them like a common animal."
"I will excuse your weak mind. What do you want to do, battle against us...against me?"
Chiron shoots an icy stare. "That’s the point mother, I don’t want to battle, against anybody."
"So you would have the mermaids take us over, control us? Let them keep the men so we perish?"
"I want to live my own life, a life where...where I choose to do what I want. I don't want to follow ancient traditional rules laid out by the Gods thousands of moons ago...I want to decide what happens to me."
"Really? So now you want to be this modern, independent person? Run off and live your life like the humans do? Understand one thing Chiron, you are not a mermaid, you are not a human...you are a Siren." Nemeritias stands, angry. "This is the way it has always been and this is the way it shall stay." She shoots a wicked stare at Chiron. "You anger me. Leave!"
Sean and Chiron sit in his hut.
Sean asks. "You seem upset. So what’s going on?"
"Mother senses my weakness."
"Weakness? Chiron, standing up to your mother shows your strength, shows you’re ready to change your life. Your mother would have you believe it’s a weakness. She plays a mind game with you."
"I know not of this ‘mind game’."
Sean smiles. "You are so pure, sooo...so innocent. You are my eight year old."
"And you are so confusing. The time approaches, you must be ready."
"I’ve been ready since I got here. What’s your plan?"
"I am working on it, but know both of us will be in danger."
"You’re going to do this, for me? Put yourself in danger?"
"Listen robber of banks, I told you before, I have to get out of here."
Sean looks down. "That hurts Chiron."
"Can’t you understand? If I don’t get out of here now, I will never get out!"
"You’re a damn eight year old with an attitude."
"And you are a human man who acts like an eight year old!"
She rushes out. Sean slaps his inner right arm at the elbow, clenches and raises his fist defiantly.