Nalu: The Siren's Song

Chapter 6

   Eerie silence drifts along with the fog as we slowly make our way through the murky water. The first ten minutes of our venture back through the fog is peaceful and quiet. But before we can reach the end of it, I hear a large splash in the water just a few meters away.
   Suddenly, a sweet, luring song drifts through the current, wrapping around me and my boat. My body moves on it's own, readjusting our course towards the voice.
   "Natsu! What are you doing?" I can faintly hear Lucy yell as she tries to grab my arm, but I push her away.
   "Natsu." A voice sings, but this time it's not Lucy. "What a beautiful name." She sighs.
   My sailboat stops just before a large rock with a silhouette of a mermaid sitting on top of it. She lets out a deep, long breath, clearing a small patch in the fog and smiles at me. The mermaid has short white hair, sneaky blue eyes, and a shiny green tail.
   "Lisanna," Lucy growls. "Leave us alone."
    The mermaid only sends her a wide, fake smile while tilting her head to look down at her. "Oh, Lucy, what happened to you? Lost your tail, I see." She laughs. "So, this sailor's already taken, huh? Well, there isn't much you can do without your tail or powers. He's mine now."
   Leaping gracefully from the rock, Lisanna dives into the water and resurfaces next to the boat. "Come on, Natsu." She says sweetly and begins singing her soft song again. Following the enchanting voice, I steer the boat after her as she leads us back into the thick fog.
  "Natsu, stop! Don't follow her!" Lucy yells, but I ignore her. Suddenly, a splash sends ripples through the water and I vaguely notice the absence of Lucy beside me. "I won't let you take him." Lucy says as she swims to Lisanna.
   The mermaid hesitates and turns around to find Lucy right behind her, struggling to stay afloat. "But you can't even swim. What are you going to do?" She laughs.
   Reaching for the shell necklace around the mermaid's neck, the girl pulls down hard and presses it against her, sending out electric sparks through the water that shocks both of them.
   Lisanna lets out a sharp shriek and pushes Lucy away harshly with her heavy tail. Being back to my senses, I quickly go to Lucy's aid and pull her up onto the boat just before Lisanna can lunge at her.
   "Are you okay?" I ask as I check her for any injuries. Happy sits in her lap, licking her hand and purring, causing her to smile.
    "I'm fine." She says.
    "I'm sorry." I apologize, but she quickly stops me from saying anything else as she impatiently squeezes my hand.
    "Let's save that for later. We need to get out of here." She says.
   I adjust the boat yet again and fix the sail to catch the wind, but before we can get too far, Lisanna stops us. "No!" She screams, sending out a shrilling sound wave that freezes our sailboat in place. "You aren't getting away."
   "Lisanna, you don't have to do this. You can break the curse! Come with us." Lucy offers, but the mermaid stays as cold as stone.
    "You're a trader, Lucy, and the Queen will deal with you as she sees fit!"
    "No Lisanna-." Lucy starts but she cuts her off.
    "It's too late." Lisanna smirks.
   Suddenly, the still water begins to grow choppy as Lisanna starts laughing, but not in a good way. It was is a way that makes us both nervous as we glance at the water cautiously. Murky shadows grow in the water and from them emerges seven tall mermaids all holding sharp spears made of spiky shells.
   A gold glow erupts in the water in the middle of the group of mermaids and from it rises the Queen, dressed in all gold with a shiny coral crown in her blonde hair. She is the spitting image of Lucy, just older and does not look as kind. Her eyes hold the gaze of a stern leader who would do anything for her people, but does not tolerate outsiders or traders.
  "Mother-." Lucy starts, but gets cut off.
    "Lucy, what have you done?" Queen Layla's voice booms over the waves.
    "Mother, I can explain." Lucy tries to say, but the Queen does not listen.
    "There is nothing to explain." She says, then addresses the group of mermaids. "Capture this trader and bring the boy"
   The other mermaids surround us and Happy hisses angrily as two try to grab Lucy. But they push him aside as one traps each of us in giant blue bubbles and another fills them with a sort of sleeping magic that begins to make us drowsy.
   The last thing I see is the mermaids guiding our boat towards the island before everything goes black.