Song of the Siren

● Chapter One

(Pic is Elthea)

My name is Elthea. I am a daughter of King Huren, who rules over the ocean. No one knows how my father manages to rule here, while he's the only male. I mean, it would be weird if there were male sirens. Such a thing is unheard of. I have seven sisters. 

There's Aela, the eldest. She's the one who seems to be the most powerful with her siren song. That's because she feeds the most, out of all of us. Also, feeding increases our beauty. 

Then comes Gem, the second. She can be quirky, but she's not as much of a kiss up to Dad, as Aela is. 

There's Em, the third. I call her that when really, her name is Emerald for short. She's the sister I get along with the most. She's sweet, and doesn't relish in feeding, but no one hates it like I do. Sometimes the hunger can get unbearable. That's only because my body is so used to feeding. 

Diamond is the fourth child. She's quiet, but not when it comes to feeding. Boy, can that girl sing. When she's not feeding, she likes to study up on the history of how we came to be. She says that we apparently were created by "Greek Gods." Whatever that means. 

Ruby is the fifth. Oddly enough, her hair is a blood red. It's scary when she gets angry, her eyes turn red. Or at least, that's what it looks like. 

Sapphire's the sixth. She spends a lot of time out in the open ocean. When I wake up, she's hardly at home. Sometimes I get lucky enough to spend time with her. 

The seventh is Pearl. She's even sweeter then Em. But don't underestimate her. If you piss her off, she'll glare at you with a death stare. Her hair is almost completely white, even though it's platinum blonde. It's so platinum though, it's like staring straight at the sun. Weirdly enough, when she sings, her hair lights up. 

I guess you can say that each of us possesses a talent, or, an ability. I wouldn't really know what mine is. At least, not yet. 

Em's talent is to glow in the dark, whenever she wants to. Aela's talent would be manipulating people, I don't think it goes for sirens. At least that's what I figured. 

I forgot to mention that Gem's full name, is "Gemma." We figured that "Gem" seemed more like a gemstone, than weird, old "Gemma." So that's we all call her. Sometimes I forget that's just her nickname. Her talent would be tricking the men into thinking she's whoever they desire. Kind of sickening, if you ask me. 

Diamond's talent would be her singing. Even though Aela feeds more than her, even Aela can't beat her singing. Diamond's singing is almost the deadliest voice, known to any siren. Of course, all our voices lead men to their deaths, but hers is the most powerful. Never mind, I think you know what I'm trying to say.

Ruby's would be her eyes changing into red, whenever she's angry. Or it could also be that her skin is like a furnace while she's mad. Maybe it's just two in one, I've never been able to figure that one out. 

Sapphire controls all the plant life in the sea. If she's angry, she could choke you with a vine that sprouted out of the ground, just by her train of thought. It's not like the plants would die if she's sad though, they remain normal. They only die when she wants them to. 

And I'm sure you already know Pearl's talent, which is her hair lighting up like a star when she sings. I guess that's useful when you're luring your prey to you. And if you haven't assumed by now, our Mother died when I was young. I barely have any memory of her. 

                                                                                                           **

"Feeding time!" Aela chirps, swimming throughout the castle walls, made of coral. Some of the girls make excited noises, while I just huff, glance out the 'window,' which is really a neat hole in the wall, and reluctantly follow the train of my sisters. Of course, Aela's in the lead. 

I sit on the rock, while Diamond leads us in our singing. We direct our singing at a near boat, the capacity, a small group of men. As we dive into the water, Alea sticks behind to give me some kind of look. "What?" I snap at her, my eyes wide and paranoid. 

"Come with us, you need to get your traits improved." She advises. 

I roll my eyes, my tail slipping off the boulder. "Fine," I grumble. 

"Don't be like that, I'm doing this to help you, El." Aela assures me. 

"Sure you are," I mutter, my arms crossed, as soon as she dives under. 

Half of us wait underwater, as the other four tip the ship over. Once the men start falling into the water, Aela comes over and gestures toward them. "You first," she permits. I give her a look as if she's serious. She nods, reading my face, and I shrug, picking up speed, as I dive for my target. 

My teeth become razor-sharp as I bite into his neck. I finish him off quickly, starting to feel a little disgusted afterward. I continue feeding because I know I need to, but oddly enough, the disgusting feeling starts to lessen. A satisfying feeling replaces it, and I don't like it, even though my body craves feeding on them. 

Once I finished on my last prey, it seemed all my sisters were finishing their last one too. We decided to head home, and apparently, that was our dinner. As I went to bed, I couldn't sleep somewhat, knowing this guilt that I, myself, almost took pleasure in taking innocent lives. 

I did feel my body get refreshed though. My hair feels softer, and my voice feels stronger when I talk. I'm sure my singing voice will be better too. I look out our window, watching the moonlight's reflection on the surface until my eyes close. 

                                                                                           **

We came back from feeding the following day, and the guilt returns again. I realize what this means. It means that I don't want to feed anymore. Most of my sisters interact with one another, while I sit off in the corner. Emerald notices me and comes over. "What's wrong, El? You look glum." She states.

"When I feed, I just feel guilter each time," I say. 

Emerald's brows furrow, "what do you mean?" She asks, taking a seat across from me. 

I scoff, "what else do I mean, Em? I don't want to feed anymore!" I exasperate, the room becoming quiet, and I instantly wish I could take that back. 

Aela swims over to me, anxiety rising in me. "You don't want to feed anymore?" Aela asks, her voice rising. 

"Well... I..." I stammer, rubbing my neck. 

"Father will hear of this." She hisses in my face before swimming away. At first, I'm in shock, but then I come to my senses and chase after her. 

"No! Aela! Wait!" I call, but I'm too late when I reach the throne room. My heart shatters when I see her conversing with Father. Father notices me and motions for me to come over. I try not to gulp, as I obey, and Aela leaves. 

"What's this I hear, about you not liking to feed?" He asks, a brow raised. 

"Well, I don't think it's right." I reason. 

"Elthea, you're a siren! It's what you do!" Father counters, and I sigh. 

"But Father..." I start. 

"No! You need to feed, Elthea! Don't you want to become beautiful and powerful, like Aela? She's the perfect example of a well-nourished siren!" Father interrupts. Father leans forward, raising up a finger along with his brows. "And do you know why?" He asks. 

"Because she feeds," I mutter, my eyes avoiding him. 

"Because she feeds!" He bellows, and I flinch at his volume. 

"Father, it's MY choice!" I yell, and he seems taken back by my sudden outburst.

"Well I am the king, and I say you must feed!" He yells back, and my shoulders slump. He sighs, "Elthea, I'm only trying to help you." He assures me. 

"Then stop pressuring me into doing what you want!" I yell, and swim away before he could say another word.