Sweet Song

Chapter 9

"How do you know that?" I asked with an astonished look on my face. I was homeschooled and I was hardly out of my father's sight. I didn't talk to many people, I didn't have any real friends. I hadn't told this to anybody. He scoffed and started to pace slightly.

"How do you think?" He had a wide smile on his face, yet he seemed rather interested in what I was going to say. "How else does one get a voice like that if not by magic?" There was a dark gleam in his eyes as I gave an audible gasp. Ula was still holding my hand and she looked around frantically. "Now, there's no need to look for an escape. You won't find one."

The fish who led us here were circling, it was as though they were nervous, sensing danger. They weren't the only ones as my breath became quicker and more frequent. "Why did you do that?" I was trembling and stuttering. I couldn't focus on the lack of exits at the moment. I was too focused on the comment he made about my voice.

"Do what? Transfer this lovely Sirenneyet's voice?" His gesture was rather grand. "Or cover all the exits? Each question could be answered rather simply using common sense." He then turned his attention to Ula. "I would like to know how you are feeling about all this."

She opened her mouth and tried to speak before baring her teeth at him like a dog. He gave a rather loud laugh which echoed around the cave and clapped his hands. "Oh my dear, yes you cannot talk. Well, how about I bring in some people who know you rather well?"

He walked to the back of the cave to a shelf. There were a few test tubes of different coloured liquids. He took a shimmering green liquid off the shelf before turning back to us and putting it into the water. I moved out of the way quickly in fear of what it was. "Don't worry. It's harmless." He seemed to enjoy the fear I showed.

Ula and I backed away to the edge of the pool where we couldn't go any further. I didn't know what I was supposed to be looking at. The water started to bubble and became a green shade. The two fish who were previously circling each other were trying to move out of the way. They moved to where we entered from but they couldn't leave. Then they were led by some force into the middle of the pool.

I couldn't believe my eyes. The fish started to glow slightly. It was golden and subtle and I couldn't move my gaze from them. They started to squirm. The only way I could describe what happened would be magical. One moment there were two squirming fish in front of me and the next there were two more Sirenneyets.

Ula opened and closed her mouth and her eyes were wide in astonishment. She had caught my attention as her grasp weakened significantly on my arm. With only a few glances I could tell that they were related to each other, the physical similarities were too strong.

The one who seemed older had long black hair and blue eyes which were a perfect replica of Ula's. He had a green teal tail which was longer than the others. The other and younger looking Sirenneyet had short blue hair which was the same as Ula's. He shared the same blue eyes as the two but his tail was a darker blue, a navy colour.

"Ula!" They said in unison as they both came over to where we were. They had smiles on their faces but worry was etched deep in their eyes. The older one put his hands on Ula's cheeks and looked her over. I just watched silently, a small pang of something hit me in the chest.

"Isn't it nice seeing a loving family?" Turin said to me with a smirk on his face. He had his arms crossed and was looking down at me. I felt like I stuck out like a sore thumb. I gave a scoff and shook my head. "No need to be so salty." he sputtered out a laugh and slapped his knee. "Sorry I couldn't help myself."

"Ula, I'm so glad you're alright!" The younger man said and backed away. "What happened? Whose this?" They were looking at me now. I felt like swimming to the bottom of the ocean and bury myself in the sand. Their looks weren't judgemental but they certainly weren't positive.

"I'm Mele." I said simply, a lump appearing in my throat. I was nervous for no apparent reason. There were many things to be nervous about. There was a sea witch who had something to do with my voice, who seemed to know all about me and my life. I didn't know what powers they held but from what I had seen, he was dangerous.

"Oh how grand." Turin muttered as he looked around the room. He towered over everyone who was still in the pool. Where he was, he was untouchable. "This wonderful young lady is the one who I transferred your daughter's beautiful voice to." The two Sirenneyets snapped their heads towards me and I instinctively backed away slightly. "Oh don't be so hostile, it wasn't her choice."

"Whose-" The older Sirenneyet was interrupted as Turin groaned loudly and threw the empty vial across the room. My eyes widened and I gave a small shriek. I moved closer to Ula. The other two moved closer to us as well, we were all crowded together away from the sea witch.

"Rudeness!" He shouted and it echoed around the cave. There was something frightening in his eyes.It was the lack of sense and concentration which was represented. It was as though he was somewhere else. "Mele dear, this is Ladon and Kano. Ula's father and brother respectively." He grinned sweetly.

I nodded slowly and tried to give a smile and a wave but honestly that was because I was intimidated. "Whose choice was it?" Ladonr repeated himself with narrowed eyes and a dark tone.

"It was mine." I heard a voice say from the other side of the cave. It was the voice which brought me the most fear that I had felt the entire day. It was a voice which I had heard every day of my life. I looked up slowly and saw my father standing at the other side. With a glare on his face.