The Siren

​Standing at the shore line, Maia breathed in the salty air. The waves crashed against the rocks violently, swallowing up the tide pools and the tiny creatures dwelling in them. A smile spread across her lips as she assimilated in the feeling of the cool wind against her skin. Her white dress swept wildly in the currents of air spinning around her. The wind lifted up her waves of curly hair as if to twine each curl with another.
​She was home.
​Her eyes trailed to the grassy haven, where an age old sign stood proudly against the wild storms and tides. Otter Crest was engraved in its wood, the letters curving placidly on the sign. Memories came flooding back as she stood there, the sand wedged between her toes.
​"Grandma! I did it." She screamed, delight shinning in her eyes. A flock of seagulls came trailing behind her across the sand in tremors of chirps and honks.
​Smiling, Grandma knelt down to Maia and said, "What did you tell them?"
​"I told them I have bread."
​"What are they saying now?"
​"They want bread."
​Grandma laughed and pulled out a puffy loaf from the sack besides her. Breaking the bread, she tossed it out into the sea of birds that had gathered behind Maia. A storm of feathers collected wildly around them as the birds dove for the pieces of bread being flung into the air. Her powerful laugh and Maia's squeals of delight echoed into the funnel of birds, encircling them.
​As the wind died down, it diminished the fleeting memory with it. Maia lifted her arm into the breeze and a lonesome seagull drifted down to her. Its talons engulfed her arm and it settled itself, safe from the wind. Its feathered head turned to her; small eyes peering into her light hazel eyes.
​"Hello." Maia said, her silvery voice hesitantly floating around in the air. The bird chirped back tentatively, "hello."
​"Are you hungry?"
​"Yes," the small bird chirped.
​"If you head up the east winds, you will find a house on the hill with plenty of bread for you. Bring your friends too."
​The small bird shivered with a nod and whiffled its wings into the wind, heading east. Watching it become smaller and smaller in the mist, a small smile spread across her freckled face.
Leaving the lacy waves behind, Maia trudged up the hill, looking back warily at the impervious ocean surfs. The grass tickled under her feet as she walked up towards the small house, her fingers draping around a small item in her palm. Her footsteps pulled her up the wooden porch, through the aged door laced in dust, past the sunlit kitchen, up the stairs that creaked under her weight and into her grandma's bedroom. Her grandma laid on a small bed, covered in pale yellow sheets, with tissues sprinkled around the floor.
"Hey Grandma, how are you feeling? I brought you some herbs that I found growing along the seabed. I read somewhere that they can cure your sickness." Maia said, holding out the bundle of leaves she had collected.
"Thank you Maia, really. Sadly, I didn't come here to get better." Grandma rasped. Clouds filled Maia's once gleaming eyes, reflecting her grandmother's sadness.
"What do you mean?"
"Your family sent us to the beach to spend my last days with you. I'm not going to last the week."
Raindrops slid from her eyes and down her roused cheeks, creating puddles on the floor. A sob escaped her throat and she rushed to her grandma's bedside.
"This can't be happening. You can't be dying." Maia said, her voice threatening to break from the heaviness. She took her grandma's fragile hand and entwined her fingers with hers.
"This is life, Maia. I will always be with you. Oh, there is so much I've yet to tell you."
"What do you mean?" She said, her watery voice burdening her thoughts with the cursed question.
"When I'm gone, your only mentor will be the sea. Run to it. Let your wild spirit free within its waters, Maia. It's your safe hold. Keep that close to your heart." She whispered. And with her last breath, her fingers went limb and the shining joy of her grandma's eyes evanesced beneath the darkened abyss.
"Grandma," she said, pressing down on her palm, "Grandma."
Her heart shattered within her chest; her sobs echoed though out the hillside, the sorrowed wind carrying her melancholy, joining in her burden. Every animal bowed with despair and the powerful waves stilled in the deafening silence.
Three days passed without a single utter. The waves did not dare flow to the shoreline and thousands of animals of every kind crowded around every window and opening of the house to wade at the girl, drenched in sorrow. Her family had left her alone in her grief; they were in the dark, unaware that her grandmother had passed.
A boy, eyes iced with hope ventured over the hills to the silent grounds. The grass was greyed and clouds of fog hung low in the ominous morning. He drew in a chilled breath, goosebumps racing down his arms. His beating heart, drumming with ambition, was infectious. Every step he took, life was restored to the beach. The waves returned to the shores and the song birds began to sing. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted an abandoned house. What was peculiar about it, as he walked up the path, was that all different types of birds, turtles, foxes, stray dogs and cats, and even seals clustered around the frame of the lonesome house, climbing on top of one another to catch a glimpse of what was inside. It was like they were glued to the glass, captured by an awe striking sight.
Curiosity filled his mind and he reached for the doorknob. The door creaked open and almost spontaneously, thousands of beady eyes snapped towards his direction. He froze as rushed chirps and growls of warning snapped in the air. It was like a clatter of people screaming over one another above the din. Covering his ears, Blue walked into the small house and shut the door, leaving the animals to go berserk amongst themselves. Searching the house, he found only a small set of stairs leading to a bedroom. He trudged up the steps as fatigue from his escape finally started to settle in. He grabbed the door knob, and yanked the door open as he reached the top of the stairs. The door shot open and it banged against the wall as Blue's mouth dropped.
"Whoa. I am so sorry. I did not know someone was living here." He said, backing away. The girl who was sitting on the bed, didn't utter a word. She just sat there, silently gazing out the window.
"Hey, are you okay?" Blue said, crossing the threshold which seemed somewhat difficult, like there was a sudden force pulling against him.
"I'm fine."
Her watery voice enchanted his ears, drawing him closer. He noticed the small necklace wrapped around her neck that laid perfectly at the nape of her olive skin. Her waves of curls escalated down her back in murky rivers. She looked like she was made straight from the ocean.
Maia's ears perked up at the sound of the strange boy's footsteps and she twisted, her fingers stiffening into a fist. But as she raised her arm, it stopped mid air as she met his gaze. His piercing orbs stared straight through her innocent eyes. She felt as if his eyes could pry any memory or thought from her if he searched bruiting enough.
"I'm Blue." He said hazily, appearing to be almost captivated by her. He stood idle, limb in his stance. Blue like the sea.
"I'm Maia." She said softly.
"It's nice to meet you." He breathed. He had never seen anything like her before. Her deep hazel eyes were as exquisite as a single snowflake in a raging blizzard. The center of her eyes were deep blues and aquas that rippled out in countless patterns. Rich viridescent greens ringed her sea born eyes. He was already lost in her maze of shining orbs that he could not bring himself to speak.
Soon the sun set and rose again, bringing forth a brilliant new morning. The two had shared the house; a girl, whose sorrows were kept at bay by a new warmth that had replaced the old, and a boy who had finally found his place.
The day was spend laughing, flocking along the beach under the arcs of birds, mavens of the salty updrafts. Their essences fit together perfectly, like two puzzle pieces. Maia drew in a breath as she failed to calm her giddiness, the patchy waters mirroring her ripples of laughter. Blue was laying besides her, rolling across the sand in pure joy. His smile was bigger then the sun and his rosy cheeks made the sand burn around him. Maia looked towards the ocean and the waves parted as if to welcome her.
Let your wild spirit free within its waters, Maia. It's your safe hold. Keep that close to your heart.
"I have an idea. Follow me." She smiled, warm tears springing from her shining eyes.
Standing up, Maia leaped into the water and the waves circled protectively around her, splashing Blue on the dry sand. He sprung up, his black hair now stuck to his forehead and he crinkled his nose. She arose from the watery abyss, her hair pouring down her bare back. The white swimsuit, tied around her front was newly doused and sagged against her slender form.
"Thanks." He spat, eyeing her playfully. Her laugh filled the air and he dove in after her. As she slid into the watery world beneath her, it was as if the sea awakened. The water seemed to shine lighter and the murky water cleared. Fish and seals swam to greet her everywhere. Blue just watched dumbfounded. He floated around her, absorbing how life seemed to draw itself to her. When he touched her slippery skin, his lungs would fill with the salty air of the beach. After only a little time in the water, Blue noticed a sudden change in her skin.
"Maia." He mumbled in the water. She twisted towards him and questioned him with her mesmerizing eyes that seemed to only brighten within the water. He pointed to her legs and she looked down at them. By then, her legs were already entwining with another and tiny green scales were spreading up and down her legs. A bubble escaped from her mouth as she released a gasp. Meeting her gaze, Blue mouthed a single word to her.
"Siren."
Her eyes widened as she twisted in the water. Bubbles started to swarm around her in currents and she desperately tried to split her legs, but it was a helpless battle. Blue could only float, dumbfounded, as she twisted and turned in the water, the funnel of bubbles becoming stronger and stronger until they pulled him in with her. As soon as he reached her, the bubbles dispersed and his palms met a silvery and slippery tail. Her tail was veiled in small silver scales all the way up to her stomach and a long fin was bonded to where her feet should have been.
The light from the sun came down in rays through the water and bounced off of her luminous tail in all different directions.
"Where did your bottoms go." Blue said, scrunching his eyebrows. Maia just shrugged as she gaped at the brilliant sight. She flexed her fin and it flapped up and down in the placid sea. She twisted and dipped through the water, her tail swishing around behind her. She swam back to him, floating just where the light illuminated her face, basking her in all her glory. Blinking, Blue swam up to the surface entrapping Maia's hand in his. He bubbled up to the surface and pulled her up with him.
"What just happened?" Blue asked, treading in the water.
"I have no idea. I've always known I have a special connection with the ocean and sea animals, but I never knew that that connection could physically effect me."
"That's incredible."
Maia smiled, but it soon disappeared as she peered over his shoulder. His eyes darkened with warning and he mouthed, "what is it?"
"A couple miles from here, I can see two men in a boat caging otters and turtles."
Blue's eyes widened, "that's illegal right?"
"Ya." She said. She watched him carefully as his expression slid from apprehension to something different... determination. A smirk curved his lip and his eyes returned to their playful state.
"Are you ready to go free some animals?"
Her eyes glazed his playfulness and together they dove back into the ocean, hidden from the cagers. They were unaware of the boy and the girl who swam side by side, with the soft sky above and the clouds caressed with reflected light. As their silvery bodies slipped soundlessly through the clear waters, they were joined by hundreds of dolphins and seals. The breeze flowed over them and blew the tension right out of the water, marking a path ahead of them for their journeys together, under the brilliant azure skies.