Happily Ever After

Chapter Seventeen-Some History and Some Fun

"I-I didn't mean to scare you." She said, still looking like a puppy who just did something wrong.

"Uh, hey, it's ok. This whole 'being on Neverland' thing is still freaking me out, you're the least of my worries." I said, trying to sound nonchalant, even though I really was a little spooked by her sudden appearance.

She propped herself up on her elbows, curious. "I'm the least of your worries? But aren't you scared of what I am?"

I remembered what Peter told me, about how she's a siren and that she could basically eat me, but I wasn't going to let that get to me. She seemed nice when I met her, and if she does attack me... Maybe my powers will do something? I was not going to judge this book by its cover.

"Well, uh, no. I mean, yes, the fact that you could eat me and stuff is a little freaky but...you don't seem like you would want to kill me." I answered.

I walked over and sat on a small rock near her, dipping my bare feet in the water. Her tail was still captivating and I can't believe....can't believe... Ugh I know I know someone who has a tail... I just can't remember. Oh well, it'll come back to me later.

"Usually, humans are afraid of us because of what we are...they never take the chance to really talk to us." She said, looking at the moss that started growing on the rock I sat on. I just ignored it, hoping that maybe it'll go away... Which it probably won't but whatever.

Her eyes widened a little, but she didn't say anything. Which, honestly, made me glad. I really don't need people pointing out all the time that "Oh, look! There's grass growing under your feet! Freaky!"... It's annoying.

"Well, I'm that one person that wouldn't mind getting to know you as a person rather than a creature." I said, smiling. Something about today has just put me in a happy mood.

Arista smiled. "So, why are you here, exactly?" I asked, confused.

She shrugged. "I thought you were in trouble so I swam as fast as I could here."

I creased my eyebrows. "Why would I be in trouble?"

She pointed to my necklace, the pearl one she gave me. Oh, I must of forgot that once it touches water, it magically sends Arista a signal or something. Gosh, I'm forgetting a lot these days...

I chuckled. "Oh, sorry, I forgot that I had it on."

We, then, sat in silence, the trickling waterfall being the only music there. I could tell Arista didn't want to leave but I just didn't know what to say or ask, which made it more awkward.

"Soo..." I said. That's when I got a conversation started idea. "So, since you didn't want to kill me...do you kill others? I mean, I don't know if sirens have a choice or not...in fact, I don't know much about sirens at all."

She smirked. "Well...it's all apart of the curse..."

"What curse?"

"A curse the Queen put on us, once she realized what we were doing."

I just raised an eyebrow at her, more confused than ever. She looked up at me, and realized that I must not be understanding. Arista sighed. I could tell this was going to be a long story.

"Before the Queen, there was peace. Not many wars, magic was thriving, and everyone seemed to be nicer...even the pirates. The kingdom of Claroto was the mightiest civilization, boundaries extending to nearly half of Askaria. The King, King Mark, and his wife, Queen Evelon, were the nicest, kindest people around: Not high taxes, helped out the peasants, stuff like that."

The names struck me as familiar, but I couldn't remember when I ever heard of them before.

Arista continued,"But...then...Queen Evelon grew ill. Her death was the first to shatter Claroto's greatness. The King, after mourning, decided he need to remarry in order to keep the kingdom calm. So he took on a new wife, Queen Triceia. Queen Triceia was just as kind as Evelon, except she practiced magic...something usually Queens don't learn. Which made her a bit odd, but no one suspected anything. Until, one night. The king was found dead in his bed, and everyone turned to blame it on the person who could make a knife appear out of thin air. Triceia was supposed to be to death the next day, until she used magic to persuade all the guards that she was innocent.... From that day forward, she was known as the Evil Queen because she tended to kill anyone who messed with her. The kingdom of Claroto fell after that, and now the Queen thrives in her castle on Claroto island, an island connected to the mainland by a thin strip of land."