Fae

Chapter 1

It all began as just a day on the ocean. They were common in the Cooper family, especially for the youngest two of the family. Kaden and Leigh loved the water and were known to go off to the beach for several days before they returned. Maybe that is not such a good thing though. Maybe that is why it took several days before anyone knew it happened.

Kaden and Leigh were basically twins. They were five years apart but were born on the same day. They had been inseparable since that twelfth day of February all those years ago.
       Kaden steered the boat with ease as it sliced through the sharp, crystal waves. She laughed as her brother belted out lyrics along with the radio. His amber curls sprayed water into the wind from his swim earlier. Their parents had always joked that he was secretly a fish.
       "Where to now, Fae?" Leigh asked. Four years ago, when she was thirteen, she dressed as a fairy for Halloween and the name stuck.
"That depends, are you done swimming? You, fish." Kaden replied with a smile. She began to turn towards the docks, seeing as Leigh was beginning to turn red from sun exposure. He always refused her offers for sunscreen, even though they were both of a fair complexion.
Leigh laughed and went to get drinks from the cooler under the seats. He didn't argue with her when he knew it was for his own good.
Suddenly a larger boat careened into their path, Kaden jerked the wheel to avoid colliding into them. Leigh screamed as the boat began to capsize. Kaden, barely holding on, ripped her life jacket off and slung it around her brother's shoulders. She prayed that it would be enough as the boat flipped and she released the wheel.

The frigid waters quickly seeped their icy fingers through her clothes, chilling her to the bone. She forced her eyes open, but saw no sign of Leigh amongst all of their sinking belongings. She saw his favorite necklace, which he always stowed in one of the boat's many compartments, sinking to the black depths. She quickly grabbed the golden oak leaf pendant and set about trying to escape from her swiftly sinking tomb.
The boat continued to sink and soon the oxygen at the top was gone, replaced by bone chilling waters. Her lungs began to burn, her vision blurred, and a metallic taste ripped up her throat and scorched her mouth. Kaden felt her limbs turning to lead. She bit back tears and swallowed hard as she felt her heartbeat begin to struggle and slow.
She could almost see the surface, the watery sky streaked with assorted shades of velvety red, pink, and creamy orange as the sun was kissing the day one last time before settling into its western bed. She almost felt the warmth of that vermilion sun on her skin. She swam with all her might, her little brother's face in the back of her mind willing her to make it.

None of it was real.