Sweet Song

Chapter 7

My frustration was immense with the creature in front of me. Of course it seems to be no fault of her own. Her persistence made me believe that she didn't actually have the ability to speak. It was something unusual and I hadn't seen anything like it before. I had known that people existed who could not speak. Surely creatures who rely on this function would be able to speak.

"So you just...can't?" I asked in a small mannar. I didn't want to be soaked again. She gave a small nod in response and crossed her arms. She leant closer to me, looking at my throat as though it had offended her. I still had it covered with my hand , I hadn't realized that before now so I let my hand fall into my lap.

"You keep glaring at me as though I've done something." She looked at the sky again and rolled her eyes. I made a fist but I ignored it, her expressions were helping me figure things out. "Why is that? I haven't done anything to you." I watched her webbed hands carefully as she raised one to her throat and then to mine.

"Yes. You keep doing that. My voice-" I looked at the water for a moment and then back to her. "Wait, you don't have a voice and you keep pointing to me with a glare. Is it jealousy?" I knew I was being rather blunt. I thought that I may as well be. I wasn't sure if the Sirenneyets understood sarcasm or hidden meanings.

She shook her head but then abruptly stopped. Letting some air out of her mouth and put her hands together. "A little bit?" She gave a nod before her hands made a cupping motion and she gestured to my throat and then herself. "You want my voice?"

Although my tone was slightly appalled, surprised and confused. She widened her eyes and clapped. Her smile increased in size as she gestured for me to give it to her. I gave a small chuckle "I'm not sure that's possible..."Her shoulders sagged. She put a hand on my shoulder and I scooted back slightly. "Okay no need to push me into the sea."

She then crossed her arms again and tilted her head at me. "Well...surely there's a way to ...get you a voice?" I asked meekly. "Where do you guys get your...magical voices from?" she opened her mouth at me in shock before rolling her eyes and gestured to the sky. "God?"

She furrowed her eyebrows at me with a confused expression. I guess it answered that question. I shook my own head. "Nevermind." I pondered over the thought for a minute or two. "So you guys are just born with enchanting voices?" She nodded firmly and gestured to herself. "Apart from you? Only you?"

She nodded once again but this time it was sadder. I moved closer to her and my tone was a little bit softer. I couldn't imagine what it could possibly be like to be the only person who wasn't able to talk. "We'll figure it out..." I put an arm around her, which she looked at oddly but she didn't question it.

Her eyes were questioning. I had a feeling that she was questioning much more than the placement of my arm. She let some air out of her mouth and raised both of her hands. She took my arm off her shoulder and faced me. She put her arms out, her palms facing towards the sky again. I could see the pleading look in her expression.

I could see desperation and pleading. I saw a longing to speak, to communicate. I felt helpless. How on Earth would I be able to help her? I knew nothing of magic or voices. I knew nothing about her world.

"Maybe try ..." I started to say but I cut myself off. She wouldn't be able to tell me anything. I gave a sigh of my own and looked out over the water. It was extremely peaceful here. "How do Sirenneyets get their voices anyway?" It wasn't really directed towards her but she rolled her eyes anyway.

Her arms gestured towards the sky and then fell back to her sides as though she was gesturing to something abstract. It was quite a sarcastic gesture. "Alright, Alright. I was just asking." I raised my hands in surrender. "I mean if something gave you your voice, perhaps it was taken away by that thing too?"

It was foolish of me to think that I actually know anything to do with this. It was magic or supernatural. I didn't know. I guess that magic wasn't out of the ordinary for some. If something can have such an enchanting voice then surely it could be magic. "Don't you guys have stories about the origins and such?"

She nodded slightly but she didn't do anything else. If It were a story, it would be difficult to explain. We just sat there without saying anything for a few more minutes as the waves started to become a little more violent. I wondered what my father thought of this whole ordeal. His daughter was nowhere to be found.

I didn't blame my father for his actions, they were somewhat justified. The fear of the unknown was something natural when it comes to humans. I hoped that it was a fear of the unknown at least. It would make much more sense. I still have hope that my father didn't hide anything else from me.That seemed rather unlikely at this point in time. He had lied to me so much already.

So I sat looking at the crashing waves with a thoughtful look on my face. My thoughts were like the waves crashing into the water as realization came over me. I was tired of the lies. I was tired of the life that I was living, sheltered and forced to do things which I didn't want to do. I was finding no joy in it and honestly. I'd rather be in the sea, free with no worries.