Siren's Song

Chapter 2

Serenity ~~~

The water was warm. Peaceful. I lay at the bottom of the ocean gently sprawled on the sand watching the seaweed sway and the fish swim around me. It was rare that I had these days to myself. I never had time to think or daydream since my 18th birthday. I had inherited the kingdom from my father and mother, the king and queen of the Atlantic Ocean. My entire life I had been prepared and taught to know everything I was allowed to know about our kingdom and ocean. The amount of responsibility that was being passed down to me was remarkably large since my mother only had daughters and no sons. The line of the throne went directly to me seeing as I was the eldest.

I had two younger sisters : Valerie, and Aria. Aria being 5 was the youngest and Valerie was 11. I loved my sisters, they meant everything to me.

I continued my swim through the reefs and smiled at the dolphins that were chirping off in the distance. I searched through the sand to find a shell to make a necklace with. It was tradition for the eldest daughter to find a shell or piece of coral to add on to a necklace that was passed down through their mothers side of the family when that daughter comes of age.

I swam past a reef when I saw something shine in the light. Reaching out I grabbed a handful of sand watching it filter through my fingertips leaving an iridescent rock in the center of my hand. It was small enough to hold between my thumb and forefinger but big enough to be cut and shaped. I smiled a toothless smile and with a flick of my tail I shot up, breaching the surface. The sun was shining still but there were clouds in the distance. I placed a palm gently on the waters surface and closed my eyes. A vibration tingled my fingers. A storm was coming and I had just enough time to get to the kingdom.

~~~~~~~~~~

I quickly arrived at the castle stopping to ask a servant for a sharp object to cut the rock I had found.

"Be careful Princess I don't want you harmed," said the servant

"Thank you for your concern but I'll be fine." I smiled "Please call me Serenity."

"Sorry Princess, but the Queen said to not listen to you because you needed the practice of being called something other than your name." the servant said giving me a small smile before walking off

My mother

I sighed and made my way towards my chambers. I placed the stone on my vanity and settled myself by my window. Wondering to myself what an actual window would be like. Breathing air without water in the way. To see the sun and not just a shimmer. To walk on legs. I sighed once more and leaned my head against the sculpted rock that was the castle

"Serenity,"

I turned slowly and saw my mother the Queen floating gracefully by the entrance to my room.

Alejandra, my mother, the queen, was beautiful. Shoulder length black hair, soft brown eyes with tints of purple, with tan skin. Everyone said I was the spitting image of my mother. The only difference was my hair was longer and and her tail was a deep purple where as mine was an emerald green. My mother was wearing her crown. A crown forged of white coral with garnets and amethysts embedded in it along with the necklace that was passed on to her from my grandmother.

"Yes mother?" I glided down towards her until I was face to face. I towered over her small frame. Taking notice of her graying hair and the tiny wrinkles near her eyes made from smiling.

She reached behind her neck and unclasped the necklace and gently handed it to me. "This is yours now."

I reached for it and held it. It felt so delicate. I remembered when I was younger my my mother had always worn this necklace, never taking it off.

"Have you found something you'd like to add onto it yet?" she asked as she glided around my room

"I did," I said excitedly "It's on the vanity."

My mother swam towards my vanity and picked up the stone I had found while I was swimming. She examined it carefully.

"Where did you find this?" she asked

"Along the reef." I said as I swam towards her

"This is Ethiopian Opal."

"It's beautiful isn't it?" I asked her

"It suits you perfectly." she smiled "Well I need to go check on your sisters, they should be done with their lessons by now."

"What are they studying?" I asked. I remembered when I had studies like every other Merperson in the kingdom. We were taught everything we needed to know in case of emergency.

"Languages. French mostly but they're on their way to Spanish."

"I'm going to cut the stone so I can fit it perfectly, but I'll see them in a little while" I said as my mother swam away

~~~~~~

When I had made the final cut on the Opal, I looked at it to make sure everything was how I wanted it before I positioned it in the center of the necklace. I had shaped the Opal so it would fit with the gold of the chain holding it in position. I put the necklace on and beamed at how it made me look much more mature. I loved how it rested against my chest.

I swam to the dining area and found my sisters Valerie and Aria lounging on the seas sponges we sat and slept on

"How were your studies?" I asked them

"They were an absolute bore. Who needs to learn all of those languages? I don't understand what's so great about it. I live here. Why do I need to learn a language when we don't even speak it?" Valerie asked

"Well maybe one day when you're of age to be married you'll meet someone who speaks a different language and you need to communicate with them." I explained

"I suppose." she said watching me as I swam towards the door

"Where are you going?" Aria asked

"I'm going to swim for a while." I told her

"But there's going to be a storm."

I could hear the worry in her voice. I smiled at her and swam to her kissing her and Valerie's cheeks "I'll be back soon don't worry."

As I swam out of the castle I headed towards the reefs close to shore and looked to see if I could find anymore Opal. I liked the colors and I wanted to see if I could make a ring and perhaps one for Aria and Valerie.

I heard the pattering of rain droplets on the surface of the water as the rain began to pour.

I continued to swim until I noticed all of the fish were hiding and taking shelter. The sea itself was dark and I could hardly see through the dark water without the moonlight guiding me. I swam towards the surface and tried to see through the darkness but a wave crashed on top of me. I was used to waves crashing like that but that one was rough compared to the ones I have endured before. I breached the surface again only to be pummeled by another wave. This wave rolled towards the reef. I couldn't swim fast enough and the waves were too strong. I tried again to reach the surface but the waves crashed on me once more. I was pushed against the reef and I knocked my head against the coral. The pain was unbearable and my eyes were struggling to stay open. I felt myself fall against the reef and be dragged with the waves before I was succumbed to darkness.