Dark Ocean

Part 1

Do you know what it's like, when a good friend only has to say "hi" on the phone, and you know immediately that something's wrong?

Do you know the feeling of being manipulated, the feeling that you're picking up two sets of signals, when the words say one thing and the voice says something else?

Our conscious mind reacts to words, but our emotions react to the voice. The voice is a powerful tool for those who understand how to use it deliberately.

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Prologue

Legends. We've all heard them. Usually, they happened to a friend of a friend's third cousin, and in almost every case they're completely untrue. Still, some urban legends, have managed to gain a remarkable amount of credibility.

Seaside, a sleepy city on the west coast of Mexico, has one of its own. In the early 1800s, travelers reported hearing beautiful, ghostly singing emanating from the beach. A legend grew up that this was the place where mermaids would gather under a full moon, keening their siren song in a lovely, mesmerizing language no human ear could comprehend.

Over the years, more and more people claimed to have heard the song, but no man has ever seen a shred of physical evidence that they really exist. Stories about these creatures have been passed down to children in many generations.

Valentina's mother always believed there was much, much more to the story than anyone knew. She was a marine biologist, and studied life in the sea. She never truly believed there were mermaids, but she did believe in the existence of extraordinary creatures totally unknown to man. Valentina can still hear her say, "In the ocean many things are hidden."

Her mother told her the basics. "Sirens" might not have tails like mermaids, but they're still linked to the ocean. They are dangerous creatures who lure nearby sailors with their enchanting music, and somehow only affect male humans.

They are beautiful women whose bodies, not only their voices, are seductive. They have the power to enchant men and once they are under their spell, a siren can order them to do anything. Their powers are stronger when closer to the ocean. They live for a long time, longer than humans.

Valentina had always been intrigued by her mother's stories about this specific topic, intrigued by the possibility of their existence. She pictured their angelic faces, far too beautiful to be real. Mostly, though, she pictured what it would be like to have the ability to control people. What could she make them do? What would she make them do?

Ever since her mother passed away, Valentina's desire for control intensified. She felt lost and alone, drowning her misery in alcohol. She longed to have some degree of control over her life.

Each day without her mother passed so agonizing slowly, and she just couldn't cope. She felt that life was meaningless. Food lost taste. Smiles were forced. She grew paler and thinner, and she was always cold, like permanent winter had settled into her bones.

She dreamed about her mother every night, for the last six months. She would see her face. Feel her skin that was warm again, that had blood running underneath. Hear her breathing. And then she would wake up and the loneliness would be unbearable.

The sense of loss was always with her. Valentina struggled through life, no longer feeling like she had a purpose.

She couldn't find peace in her home, couldn't find comfort with her family or friends. They all seemed to have found some degree of closure and were ready to move on with their lives. But she wasn't ready to move on, much to her boyfriend's chagrin. Lucho never suffered a similar loss, so while he initially tried to offer comfort, he couldn't really understand the depth of her pain. He stopped trying after a while, and they sort of ignored each other for a weeks. Valentina couldn't bring herself to care. Her feelings for him were long gone. She wondered if she had ever truly loved him.