Tidal Vortex-Book One

Chapter Six

Connor:

Dusk has just settled as we gather around the communal fires on the beachfront. The fire crackles in the middle of the pit as little embers fly into the air. We gather every other evening to hear more legends about how our ancestors had made a deal with the Gods. This was how our histories are taught and passed down to the newer generations. I sit on the stone benches built into the ground in the shape of a spiral surrounding the fire pit. Even though I'm twenty, I still enjoyed hearing the stories. I run a hand through my dark black hair that stops just at ear level. One kid nearby stares at my tribal tattoos all over my stomach and back. I smile back at the little one. Most male sirens never bother with shirts. Too much clothing is a hindrance. They built the spiral seating area into the ground in the shape of a giant spiral, with steps that serve as seating. Spirals were very symbolic in our culture. I stare deep into the flames as I listen intently to our wise elder merwoman's words. Off to the right of the fire, one of many islands dragon's lays soaking up the warmth from the fire. It's red scales gleam in the flickering firelight as it adjusts its wings, settling them over its enormous body, before resting its head on the ground.

"The ten kings assembled every five or six years to attend to public affairs, delivering judgment according to our laws. Our people were wealthy, surrounded by such an endless abundance of metals, timber, jewels, animals, fruits, and vegetables and other things, but our people became greedy in their need for power. The advanced technology, armies, and knowledge was not enough for Atlas," Bianca explains.

Bianca is our elder merwoman who also serves as one of our healers and seers on our small Atlantis Island. The island is the only part of Atlantis left above the sea's surface. She stands in the middle of the pit beside the fire, a skinny, caramel skinned woman who looks half her actual age. Her hair is woven into long dreadlocks of dark brown, sun-kissed hair, with small blond highlights here and there. Her hair is tied back, the tips dancing along her lower back as she talks about our ancestors. We sirens don't age like humans. We live for centuries and age much slower.

"Does anyone know what caused the downfall of Atlantis, as our ancestors knew it?" asks Bianca.

The crowd of sirens, young and old, who sit listening all whisper as they look around at each other.

No one would have pegged us all for anything but human. Contrary to most legends and myths, we can choose between legs or tails after our first shift. Then when changing for the first time, many never grew tails until later. Some speculated that many of us on the island not being full-blooded sirens needed a fight-or-flight response to trigger the change from legs to tails. We did inherit speed, strength, sonar abilities, and other powers. What we can't do is stay away from the sea for too long. Our bodies need the sea like a human needs food to nourish their body. A long blond-haired siren who sits in the front lower row raised her slender hand.

Bianca nods at her and points at her. "Yes, Meris, what would you say was our ancestors' downfall?"

Bianca patiently waits as everyone looks towards Meris, who stands tall in her long white chiton dress.

It is a common dress among our people, the top was much like a halter top. It tied around the neck with a long skirt similar in fashion to what the roman empire wore long ago.

"If I remember correctly, it was the greed for more knowledge that corrupted our ancestors and angered the Gods, Zeus and Poseidon," Meris says as she gathers her hands into her lap as she sits again.

"Yes, you are partly right. It all started with a greed for knowledge and a need to be the best advanced city in the world. People traveled from across the world to fall at Atlas's feet and beg for knowledge or help with their problems," Bianca explains.