Fates Intertwined

19. | A Swim

The sun beat down against her skin as she crouched on the pier, reaching a hand over the body of water. Dipping her hand in the water, she found it cool and relaxing compared to the heat. It would be the perfect day to go for a swim.

She heard the sound of footsteps. It was unusual that anyone would come out here; it was her hidden sanctuary. But whoever it was, she wasn't waiting to see who it was.

"Aurora?" A voice called. It was familiar.

She turned to find the man who had saved her from the Butcher boys only a fortnight ago.

A small smile formed at his lips at the sight of her. "I knew it was you."

"Hard not to." She replied.

"I was expecting to see you the day after, but it seems as if you were avoiding me. I mean the city is quite small." He took a step toward her. She took one back.

She had been avoiding him. She refused to see him again. It was dangerous to get close with someone like him. Someone who didn't have the protection Octavia had.

Her gaze snapped behind him, finding a girl walking up to them. He followed her gaze and realization dawned on him. He turned back to her and held his hands up. "It's okay; she's a friend of mine."

She took another step back, but it was too far back. She was falling into the water.

Panic flared to life inside her. She didn't know how to swim. But just as she was attempting to make her way to the surface, something caught hold of her ankle.

The man ran to the pier, looking into the water. "Aurora!" He called. She did not resurface. His friend yelled his name as he ripped off his jacket. Then he was jumping into the water.

He swam abnormally fast, catching up to her with ease. He cut the vine pulling her down and they pushed themselves to the surface. Aurora burst up, coughing and thrashing.

"Aurora! You're okay!" He yelled, grabbing her. Her thrashing calmed. She immediately glued herself to his side as he swam them over to land. She was immediately pulling herself up.

She was still coughing up what little water she had in her. Looks like she went for a swim after all.

"Are you alright?!" His friend asked, rushing to her. She crouched beside her, reaching for her, but before she could touch Aurora, she was flinching away.

"Don't touch me." His friend held her hands up as Aurora moved away.

He climbed up onto land, plopping down and brushing his hair out of his face. "Nice day for a swim, wouldn't you say?" He joked.

Aurora pushed herself up, wiping her hands on her dress. "Maybe if you know how to swim."

"You don't know how?"

She finally looked up at him. "Did what just happened give you the idea that I could swim?" She retorted.

A figure climbed up onto the pier, standing to full height. Aurora took a step back, but he was stepping toward it. "Seriously,...?" Again, her brain couldn't register the names. It was odd, how she could hear everything else perfectly fine.

"I wasn't intending to grab her. I was trying to aim for you." The figure spoke. It walked toward them, revealing a girl with brown, wet hair, teeth razor sharp, eyes sky blue and skin tinted blue. "My apologies, Miss...?"

"Aurora. Just Aurora." She told.

"Uhm...Aurora, this is my other friend," He said her name, but it wasn't registering. She would have to figure out what to call them if she couldn't hear their names.

His friend on the pier rolled her shoulders and her skin changed to normal, her hair drying and a dress falling in place. She was completely dry.

Aurora tilted her head at the sight. How was that possible?

"Hello." She smiled at Aurora.

"What are you...?" Aurora was whispering.

"She's a syren." The man answered. Then he pointed to his other friend at Aurora's side. "... is a witch." She waved.

"Then what are you?"

"I'm a scylla. I can control anything liquid." He smiled. She was staring at him with a confused look. He held a hand toward her and she watched as the water dripping from her formed a ball above her. Then it was hurtling back into the water.

She was completely dry.

"You're a witch, correct?" His friend, the witch, asked. Aurora nodded slowly. "It's nice to have someone else with magic like me."

Aurora was shaking her head. "No. No one has my magic."

"What do you mean?" Her brows furrowed.

"My magic is one of a kind. I don't— No one knows my magic. I don't even know my magic." She explained.

"Don't you have your parents to help you?"

"No. I don't know my parents. I've been on my own since I was a child." She admitted.

The scylla took a step toward her. "You told me your mother needed you home."

She stared. She had told him that. She was caught in a lie.

"Well," Aurora rolled her lips together, wringing her fingers. "I...lied."

"Why?" His brows furrowed.

The syren cut in. "Maybe she didn't feel comfortable." She shrugged, then she was walking toward Aurora. She held a hand out. "I believe you and I are going to be great friends."

Aurora, hesitantly, shook her hand. "I don't have many of those." She mumbled.

"Well, it's a good thing you've got us." The witch linked their arms and they started walking back to the entrance. "My embroidery is excellent. I'm quite talented with a needle, if I do say so myself. I could...freshen up your wardrobe. You look like you could use a new dress or two."

"Oh..." Aurora frowned, looking down at her dress. It wasn't the best, but it was the best she could afford. She only had two dresses that she wore, only washing them when they got too dirty. Or when they had blood stains on them.

"Relax, Aurora. You'll come to be quite familiar with us. I'm sure...can't wait to meet you." The syren grinned.

"Uhm...who?" Aurora asked, confused.

"Oh," She repeated the name. "He's his brother." She pointed to the man following not far behind.

"Is he a...scylla, too?" She asked, testing the word on her tongue.

"Nope." The witch answered this time. "He's human. But he's also ... brother so he's automatically a part of the group."

"The drunken part." The syren retorted, smiling at her. "I could even teach you how to swim. Oh, this is gonna be the best time of your life!" She squealed.

The witch snorted. "Maybe if you don't scare her away first."

"I'm not that easy to scare." Aurora remarked.

"Good. We don't want you to leave so soon." The syren smiled. "I'm so excited! Ugh, this is going to be the best!"

The two chuckled and Aurora hesitantly joined in. She was afraid to let them in, for their own protection. But maybe she will finally be able to find someone she could relate to. Someone who she could be herself with. Maybe, just maybe, these people were who she needed.