The Sirena

Chapter Nine

Katherine tucked ravenously into the stew presented before her in a small wooden bowl. The flavour and texture reminded her of the stew her favourite servant, Elina, used to cook for her when she was a young child. Katherine fiddled with the bracelets on her wrist subconsciously as she did when she was deep in thought.
Rae was across the table from her, watching Katherine with a deep curiosity. It didn't bother Katherine though, when she was little she would often be followed and observed by a maid to make sure she didn't hurt herself or get into trouble.

"How long are you going to stay here?" Rae asked, pursing her lips slightly, "sorry, " she said shaking her head, " that was rude of me."
That thought hadn't yet crossed Katherine's mind. She couldn't go back to Cathwind, that was perfectly obvious. And it was apparent she couldn't stay here either from the way the villagers were acting. Though they had been kind enough to show her some hospitality, they clearly didn't want her around.
"I'm not sure." Katherine admitted spooning herself another mouthful of stew.
"Why?" Rae asked another question.
" They don't want me back." Katherine replied simply.
"How did you get here?" Rae interrogated placing her arms on the table and resting her chin in her hand.
"There was a...creature..a.." She began.
"Merfolk?" Rae finished standing up and walking over to a smaller table supporting a glass bottle with milk inside.
"I guess so," Katherine paused, "but how did you know."
"What did she wear?" Rae asked pouring a glass.
"She..." Katherine hesitated as a pang of realisation struck her like a bolt of lightning-
She had never said that she was a woman.
"Um, if you'll excuse me, Rae." Katherine said, something was wrong she thought as she pushed herself up from the table.

"Drink this first, it's good for you." Rae said, walking over to her obscuring her path.
Katherine took the glass and lifted it to her cracked lips. She sniffed it slightly and swirled it around. It smelled like milk and certainly looked it too. It actually reminded her of the fresh milk she used to drink every Saturday, the kind farmer's son, Callum, used to bring her from his cow Blythe when he was supposed to be with his brother taking care of the pigs.
She was so deep in the blue ocean of her thought that she began playing with her bracelets. She took a swig of the milk and Rae watched her drain the glass of every last drop.
It was quite nice she thought and as a few moments passed couldn't believe she suspected Rae of anything suspicious. She was just being kind.
That was...nice..thank..." Katherine stammered groggily as she felt her eyelids droop. She felt her alarm succumb to sleep as she drifted into a deep and dark unconscious.
She barley felt Rae catch her and didn't notice as others came in and carried her out and down to the beach.
Down to a cave.
Where someone sinister was waiting.