the siren's call | felix lee

ii.

"Come back! Please?" you yelled, standing awkwardly still. You didn't want to wade further into the water, as you were only two steps in and the feeling of squelching sand under your feet had already made you nauseous.

The only response to your desperate call was the whooshing of the wind, and the violent dark waves crashing against the cliffside again. You sighed, wondering if you were truly losing it, and carefully stepped back onto the sand. You dropped your soaked skirts, letting them drag behind you as you walked back to the path, disappointed by the lack of siren interaction, but excited by another sighting of one. It was enough hope to keep you going, and gave you the courage to confront your family again.
The sun was setting, the dim glow of the large star faint from behind the clouds, but the sky still turned a pale orange as evening started to settle comfortably, and you hurried to make it back before dark. You had failed to find your slippers that you had carelessly tossed aside before walking towards the water, and cursed yourself as you walked down the path back to the forest, pebbles gouging your bare feet and making you wince.

After a while your feet grew numb, from both the cold and the constant pain, and you increased your speed, arriving back at the castle just as the last of the orange light faded from the sky. You awkwardly nodded to the gate workers, who exchanged judgmental looks at the sight of the state you were in. You tried to ignore that, and hid your burning face from them while walking into the castle, a sudden emotional chill making you shiver. You felt colder than you had felt when you were outside. "So, you've returned?" a smug voice said from behind you. You turned around slowly, not wanting to face your mother.

"Yes, I am," you said slowly, watching as your mother emerged from the shadows. She slunk over to you, tutting over your torn dress, and tugging on tangled strands of your hair.

"My, my, what happened to you?" she said, voice high-pitched with mock surprise and concern.

"I went for a walk," you said lamely, and she gripped your hair close to your scalp, pulling your head backwards towards her. You yelped, scrabbling at her hands, but she refused to lessen her grip.

"A walk?" she asked, voice dangerously soft.

"Yes," you said stubbornly, "I climbed a tree too to see over the low fog."

She narrowed her eyes before letting go of your hair, and her icy gaze raked over your filthy body, pausing when she looked at your sand covered feet and legs. You looked away, not wanting to admit that you went to the beach, especially after her new law. There was only one reason you would go to the beach, and she knew that. "And what an interesting walk it must have been," she said, running her fingers down your arm oddly gently, before exiting the room without another word, leaving you stunned. You stood there for a moment silently, cheeks burning from the subtle humiliation of your mother obviously knowing where you had been, but having the gall to pretend like she didn't.

"Excuse me, your highness," a maid squeaked, peeking out from behind the door frame. "Would you like some help cleaning up?"

Your shoulders sagged in defeat. "No," you said, waving the maid away, and she bowed to you deeply before departing, her quick, light footsteps barely tapping on the hard floor.

You walked to the bathing room alone, and once you reached it you locked the heavy wooden door and stripped off the remains of your dress, filling up a large tub with warmed water that had been left for you. You sunk into the tub, wrapping your arms around yourself in a somewhat comforting way, and leaned your head against the wooden tub wall, feeling a headache beginning to come on. You scrubbed your filthy legs, watching the water turn cloudy from dirt, and seeing grains of sand settle at the bottom of the tub, making it gritty under your step as you exited the tub, feeling very tired from the day's events.