A Siren at the Helm

Chapter V: A Scarring Past

*Dedicated to Aneesha and Corné, my two most enthusiastic readers.*

The water embraced her. It was cold and blue and perfect. Below her the inky black-blue depths lay mysterious, penetrated occasionally by spears of sun. In front of her she could see the faint outlines of the shore, but to her sides the sea seemed to go on forever. Amina watched as little bubbles floated to the surface, only to burst when they got there. This was world few humans got to see. This was home.

Above her The Vengaza slowly sailed away. She smiled up at it and turned away. It had been a long time since she had been on a ship and she had to admit that some parts were enjoyable.

Amina took a deep breath. Seawater flooded her nose and lungs. Her eyes glowed as she felt the wet oxygen creep into her bloodstream and her body began to change. Below her dress her legs fused into one and scales covered where there had once been skin. Her feet were replaced by a multiple finned fluke. Every finn was the same Caribbean blue as her tail with navy streaks at the top. A few white scales were dotted between the blue ones, each glinting in the faint sunlight.

Her legs weren't the only thing that morphed. Her lateral incisors and canines grew longer and sharper to create fangs, the upper ones protruding slightly as she grinned.

There was a common misconception among humans that sirens and mermaids were the same thing. While both had tales and beautiful voices, mermaids were gentle and weak. Or at least that is what Amina had been told. She had met very few mermaids in her lifetime.

Sirens were predators, vicious and unpredictable. They were powerful. With the ability to controll the ocean itself they were the mightiest of the mers.

Amina didn't like to think of herself as a predator though. She did not hunt humans as she knew some of the rogue sirens did. On the contrary she would often be the one to save them during storms when the others turned their backs. Among the magic wielding nations humans were seen as dirty. Creatures without respect or self control. She did not blame them either. Humans seemed to fear what they didn't understand and kill what they feared. Humans definitely did not understand sirens.

With a flick of her tail Amina sent herself towards the shore. For a few seconds she could swim at full speed, before having to slow down to avoid the coastal rocks. She maneuvered between them, gracefully slipping into the gaps where water flowed. It wasn't easy, around her the sea churned and crashed with the incoming waves, but she made it to the other side.

Amina hauled herself up onto the beach and watched as her tail shifted back into legs. She was sad to see it go, but it wasn't very practical on land. Her dress was wet and caked in sand, her hair was an absolute mess and somewhere along the way she had lost her shoes. Amina huffed, Mrs. Evans had bought them for her and what's more they had been the most comfortable pair she had owned.

In the distance she could see Esteban's ship heading South. She wondered what it would be like to captain her own ship. To be free of anything tying you back and to sail where you want. She quickly put the idea out of her head. Whatever chance she had once had at that was taken away ten years ago.

She was glad to be rid of the arrogant Captain Esteban though, yet she wondered if she would ever see him again. He certainly was fun to irritate.

*

"No, absolutely not!"
"But Amina, it will look beautiful on you. Besides it's Isabella's last performance tomorrow, it would be rude not to make an effort."
"Thank you Mrs Evans, but I have plenty of dresses of my own," Amina eyed the dress that Mrs Evans held out for her. It was white with a beautiful bell skirt, a v-shaped necklace and lace covering the bodice. It was beautiful and it would suit her figure well, but it had short sleeves. She never wore things with short sleeves and with good reason too.
"Amina, I bought this especially for you, can't you at least try it on?"
"Annie can wear it when she's older."
"By that time it will be long out of date. Please?" Mrs Evans looked at her with pleading eyes.
"Oh, very well," Amina reluctantly took the dress from Mrs Evans and slipped behind the changing screen in her room.