Your Sweet Siren Song

Chapter 3: Ophie

"Damnit," I muttered. Why sirens and why now? I rarely ever had to deal with sirens because I did everything in my power to avoid them. 

  Sirens don't affect me. Their songs are meant to lure those with sexual desires towards women. While I am attracted to women, I'm not attracted to them in that way.  

  Unfortunately, my crew wasn't. Kai and I quickly started shoving our crew down and keeping them from jumping off of the sides. Kai wasn't affected by their song either because he just didn't like women.

  Sorry, that sounded sexist. I meant that he's gay.

  "We need to tie them down," I yelled at Kai over the singing. He nodded and I ran to grab some ropes. As the sirens kept trying to lure my crew over, Kai and I tied everyone around the mast. 

  "Good work, Kai," I smiled at him. He nodded, but said nothing. I guess he was still upset with me. I understood why but it still hurt. I was just trying to protect him. Why couldn't he understand that?

  The singing hadn't stopped yet, so I went to the side of the boat. I saw about twelve sirens grinning up at me. One stood out as their leader. She had long locs and beautiful silver eyes. She had scars all over her, and a chip in her tail. Her skin was an icy blue.

  "Yes, come in. The water is nice," she said. Her voice was sickly sweet. I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, no thanks, sweetheart. I'm not falling for that."

  She bared her razor sharp teeth at me. "Why isn't this working," she hissed. I laughed.

  "Because, I'm not into what you think I'm into." I rested my chin on my hands and stared down at her. She sighed. Kai walked up next to me. "Are they going to leave soon?" he asked.

  "I can hear you," the siren grumbled.

  I laughed. "I would think so, seeing as they haven't gotten any meat yet, and they're not going to."

  The leader turned to another siren and whispered something in their direction. This one didn't look like a normal siren. They almost looked like-

  "Kai, cover your ears," I started to say, but it was too late. The male siren started singing. Kai automatically dived into the water.

  "Kai!" I screamed. I jumped in after him. The sirens bit into his arm. I stabbed one with a dagger and pulled Kai away.

  One siren tried to bite my leg, but I kicked her in the face. They kept swarming me. I swam to the surface and let out a heavy breath.

  Another siren tried dragging me down, but I managed to bite her arm. She let out a screech and retreated.

  I quickly scrambled up the ladder on the side of the ship with Kai in my arms. When we got to the top, I laid him on deck. "Kai?" I asked. I kneeled over him. He coughed up some water. He was still knocked out, but at least he was alive. I let out a sigh of relief. I hugged him tight in my arms, trying not to sob. I couldn't lose him. I couldn't lose him.

  I stood up and walked over to the side of the ship. I was about to jump over and attack the sirens, but I could no longer see them. They must have swam away, I thought.

  I was so absorbed with looking for them I didn't hear the ship quickly approaching. When I turned around, I saw a ship next to mine. A couple of pirates were laying down a plank from their ship to mine.

  A tall man hopped onto my deck. He looked to be about Kai's age, with dark violet hair and hazel eyes. His skin was the color of rich cocoa and his jawline was sharp. He had a dark velvet coat over his simple outfit. He didn't look like your average pirate. Unfortunately, I knew exactly who he was.

  "Vaxray," I scowled. He smiled. "It is good to see you, Ophie." His voice sounded like honey, smooth and rich. Most would probably fall for his words. I wasn't one of those people.

  "Why are you here?" I managed to say. I was furious. Those dumb sirens had distracted me, and now my crew was tied up and my brother was passed out. I was alone.

  "You know exactly why. I need you to come with me. Your crew can stay. If you come with me, then I can keep you from being executed. You and Kai," Vaxray said. I let out a laugh that came out as more of a harsh bark. "I don't think so."

  "Please, I don't want to have to use force," he pleaded. There was an odd look in his eyes. I realized that he almost seemed tired.

  "Too bad," I said. I started to run at him. I tried to grab my dagger, but two men came up behind me and held me back. I tried to fight, my arms and legs were weak from the sirens biting them and trying to tear me apart.

  "I am sorry, Ophie," Vaxray said. He grabbed Kai.

  "No!" I screamed. I did my best to wrestle the men's grip, but they hit my head. Dizzy, I managed to escape their grip. I tried to run after Kai but it was too late. The other pirates were removing the plank from my ship. I fell to the ground.

  Come on, get up Ophie, I thought. I grabbed the railings. Get up. I saw my knuckles turn white. I finally managed to stand, leaning heavily against the railing. I scanned the seat, but the ship was already well on its way.

  Kai was gone, and I was alone. I thought back to when my parents died. I stood there squeezing Kai's hand.

  "I'll protect you," I said, squeezing harder.

  "I'll protect you."