The Khalas Chronicles

1

"Wait, no, don't do this!" I struggled against my mother's grasp, only causing it to tighten even more. Screamed as her nails dig into my wrists. I looked past her. My older sister simply stood there, her eyes red. She looked away, obviously pained to see me like this. My mother's cold blue eyes, meanwhile, glared harshly at me. "Almoura." She paused, and for a second I desperately searched her face for remorse or sorrow. Anything human. But... sirens aren't human. I should've known that there was nothing. Absolutely nothing. Only her angry gaze remained. "You wished this upon yourself." A sob caught in my throat. And just like that, she tossed me into a dark cavern as if I was nothing to her. "Wait, I-" I reached towards the opening but she promptly forced it shut with a boulder. "If you're a true siren, you can tell the ocean to let you out. Otherwise, you can sit there and rot for the rest of your miserable life." I could hear her intentionally mocking tone from in here. I felt her presence leave, and soon, my sister's did, too.

I pounded my fist against the rock blocking my exit. "Please, just let me out!" But it was all for naught. I could feel the skin of my hand scrape away, ever so slightly.

How did this happen? How did I end up like this?

I searched the cavern for another opening. Anything else would do. I hated the dark. If only my sister were here. She had such excellent sight, she could see underwater and in darkness. I, on the other hand, only have the strong ability to hear and smell. My whole life, I've used smelling and hearing as my "sight". I grimaced. None of that could help me here, though. Not now. But I tried to at least use my abilities to my advantage. I listened against the walls and felt the rough stone for an area thinner than the rest. Maybe I could escape that way. I knew, though, deep down inside, that there was nothing I could do. I looked down at my hands. Like my mother said, I had powers, but I wasn't strong when it came to using them. I'm too weak, without a doubt. I've been working to improve my skills for years, but I'm never good enough for my mother. And I'll never be as strong as my sister is. She could probably get out of here in a matter of minutes. Maybe even seconds.

The water down here was colder. I felt the darkness start to envelop me. Perhaps even welcome me into their chilling abode. My eyes started to somewhat adjust to the cavern. I shivered. Anything could be down here. A kraken, for all I know.
But still, the thought prevailed. Why did my mother throw me in here? What could I have done wrong? I started to think. All I was doing was training. Yes, perhaps I wasn't so good at it, and she decided that she needed a way to help me get stronger. I forced down a sob and developing tears. All is fine. Mother would never actually leave me down here. Even then, my sister wouldn't allow her to. Right? In time, I'll be rescued. This is only a method of training, of course. What else would it be?

"A punishment. Or... a death sentence," a voice hissed. I spun around. "Who's there?" I yelled shakily into emptiness. I could've sworn it sounded like someone was right behind me. I blinked, hard. No. This is just a part of my imagination. I'm just hallucinating. The cold must be making me sick and the darkness must be making me crazy. That's the only logical explanation. "You're not hallucinating, Almoura. I'm in your head, remember? This... this is all a death sentence." The voice whispered. Ugh, I hated the hollow sound of that voice. It was creepy and sent chills down my spine every time it appeared. I squinted into the darkness. Mother might be tricking me, I thought. That was foolish of me. "Punishment for what? What did I do wrong?"

Silence.

"Everything. Think about it. You don't meet your mother's expectations. She's disappointed in you. She wants to kill you in a way that's not obvious to your sister. Don't you see? You, Almoura, are loathed by your own mother."
That can't be true. No. I know Mother loves me. She wouldn't dare do such a thing. Or... would she?

She would.
She would, without a doubt in the world. She would do it in a heartbeat. She would do it so quick that the world trembles.

I hated the thought. I shook my head. No. That's not true. She's simply testing my skills. "When will you stop living in denial, little girl?" I flinched. Denial. Something that was constant in my mind, convincing me of things that are false. I could feel the voice stirring... inside of me. That hollow thing is a part of me. I curled up into a ball and rocked myself back and forth in a crevice. It was either to distract myself or to keep my sanity. I wouldn't know which one. Again, the voice returned. "Don't give your mother the satisfaction. Escape. Escape forever, and never return or even look back."

The voice was comforting now. I was willing to follow it. I felt myself abruptly stop rocking. It is my only friend. The only thing I could ever rely on. I left the crevice and started to leave its protection. "Yes child," the voice beckoned. "Follow me. Follow me and you will be satisfied."
Every other noise vanished. Only the voice remained, and it guides me. A calm and warm sensation enveloped me.

"Follow me and you will be satisfied..."

I followed the voice into the light and didn't look back, not once, and not ever. I kept pursuing the voice into the light and then... and then... and then I vanished along with it.