The Beckoning

A Myth

Thick dark storm clouds rolled in overhead bringing with it torrential rain that threatened to drown the world above the sea. Water ran in rivers threatening to drag him into dark churning waters. It was hard enough walking in the shifting sand. It sucked in his feet like quicksand and tried dragging him towards the waves.

Shielding his face against the sand blowing in the wind he felt small pieces slice any exposed skin. Accompanied by the languish settling into his muscles he didn't want to fight it anymore. He needed to get out of this storm, but not without her.

He said he'd make sure everyone got off the beach in the sudden hurricane, and he never broke a promise. Shivering in his wet lifeguard jacket he saw her along the edge of the water.

"Ma'am! Everyone has to evacuate the beach!" he tried yelling, but his voice got taken away by the wind.

She didn't move as if she had heard him, in fact, she remained facing the 14 feet high waves crashing before the shore. The water rose to his shins from where he was and hit her at her waist from her position. The downpour prevented him from seeing much, but he saw a few details. A slender frame and long dark hair whipping in the wind around her. The closer he got the more he could make out about the woman. She looked pale in the darkness, and yet her skin held something of akin to a glow. Her hair flew in the wind as if it made of fine strands of silk. Swallowing hard he noticed how much heavier his body now felt and that he had gotten closer than he realized.

"Ma'am please its dangerous out here. Come with me" he yelled standing a few feet away from her now.

He almost thought she didn't hear him again but then she slowly turned around. She was beautiful, anything he thought looked good in a woman was her. Dark almond eyes, perfect full lips, oval shaped face and high cheekbones, she was almost too good to be true. Not only that but her bare body was only covered by her waist length hair. He might've blushed if not for the fact that there was a hurricane raging overhead.

"Please come -," he started asking again.

Those eyes, something about them had him trailing off mid-sentence. Why was he out here again? Who was she? Does she like me? Deep inside he knew these thoughts were wrong but every time he tried grabbing logic it slipped from his mind like water. What was wrong with him? Not only couldn't he focus his thoughts, but it felt as if he couldn't move either.

The woman turned towards him moving slowly as if the storm didn't affect her. Those beautiful eyes roamed his face but never did a smile grace her lips.

"Do you wish for me to like you mortal?" she asked voice ringing.

He swallowed past his tightening throat, while the words he wanted to say died on his tongue making him begin to panic. What was this woman and what was she doing to him? His mouth moved on its own answering her question.

"Yes," he breathed barely audible over the storm raging around them.

But this moment here and now was what mattered to him. If it involved her that's all he cared about. She appraised his face a moment longer then moved her hand away from his chin. He frowned blinking past the fog clouding his brain. What was he doing, or supposed to be doing?

"Come with me Luke, I know what you really desire" she continued as if she were singing the same song.

His thought escaped him again as she slid a soft hand into his own guiding him backward. He couldn't look away from those eyes and lips that quirked up in the corners. Was this making her happy? He'd do anything for her if it made her happy. Waves crashed against their legs threatening to make him fall but she stood unwavering as the water rose around their bodies.

"What's your name human?" she asked voice lilting.

"Luke Haddow" he mumbled feeling his heart beat faster.

Something wasn't right. The water was around his neck now and she swam backward guiding him that same smile plastered on her face. Panic started filling his body before his mind caught up but by that point, he knew it was too late. The woman's grip grew tighter and she pulled him towards her, those same blood red lips twisted in a malicious smile.

"You're beautiful Luke, you'll keep me young and give me legs for a long time" she appraised mouth inches away from his face.

Shivering in the freezing water Luke watched as her once perfect teeth elongated into millions of sharp pointed needles. Her grip was like iron on his forearms as he tried pushing her off of him. A wave passed over them blinding him and robbing him of his breath making him sputter on the water in his lungs. It was that moment that he felt her yank them down under the dark water.

He couldn't see in the darkness except for the woman a few inches away from him. She watched smiling with those fangs as he struggled to hold his breath. His lungs burned and ached for him to take a breath and the saltwater burned his eyes distorting the images in front of his face. Meanwhile, the woman watched on still smiling.

Finally, when he could no longer hold his breath he let the water enter his lungs and the darkness close in around his vision as he drowned. Floating downward in the water the last thing he saw the was beautiful woman's fangs closing in on his throat and a glittering tail.