The war between the merfolk and the sirens had been going on for centuries, peace was something long forgotten under the sea.
One day Rey, a mermaid ventured into the dark depths where the sirens dwelt. She collected things from the human world and a shipwreck had occurred here a few days ago, it was a good opportunity to find lost objects to add to her collection. She loved using them to build new things, things the merfolk could use.
She knew the depths were a dangerous place for a mermaid to go, but she needed more supplies for her latest project. She armed herself with the staff she had made of something she had found aboard a wrecked ship. She wasn't helpless, she was a warrior.
~🐚~
As soon as she had gathered everything that she needed, she left the ship. But as she entered the open water, she sense feel someone watching her, she could feel their eyes piercing her.
She looked around, scanning the dark water that surrounded her. Suddenly a figure swam towards her...a siren.
He was handsome with long black hair that fell to his shoulders and dark eyes that were almost hypnotizing. Merfolk were immune to the beauty and songs of the sirens, but she couldn't pull her eyes away from his. She shook her head trying to ignore the attraction she felt, he was her most hated enemy, a siren.
She lifted her staff to defend herself.
"You don't belong here," he told her, as he continued to swim closer.
"And you don't own the sea," she retorted.
"No, but this is the sirens' kingdom, merfolk aren't welcome here."
Rey glared at him as he swam up next to her.
"But then again, maybe I'm mistaken, maybe you are a siren after all," he whispered as he gently caressed her cheek.
Anger filled her, she hated sirens. Sirens killed her parents when she was little. She pushed him away with the end of her staff. "Why would you say that?" she demanded angrily.
He smirked. "Because you're so beautiful. If I were a human, I would drawn to be with you."
She blushed fiercely, taken aback by his response. "Prove it."
"I will, it's forbidden for a siren to be friends with a mermaid, but I will meet you here tomorrow...not as an enemy, but as a friend."
"I want to, but I can't. Sirens killed my parents, I vowed to kill every siren I met," she answered sadly.
He swam closer to her. "Then kill me."
She looked into his dark eyes. "I can't," she whispered.
"Why not?"
"You're not like the others," she answered after a long moment.
"Meet me tomorrow please."
"Fine, I will. I need to collect more things from the shipwreck anyway."
He smiled at her. "I'm already waiting for tomorrow."
~🐚~
The next day Rey swam out to into the water just above the shipwreck, the handsome young siren was waiting there for her.
"You know, you never told me your name," she said.
"Ben," he answered. "What's your's?"
"Rey."
He smiled before swimming over to her and taking her hand. "Come on Rey, let's see this ship of yours."
Rey smiled and led him into the shipwreck, showing him the different trinkets that she was looking for. He helped her search until her bag was full. Normally she would head home as soon as she'd collected all that she could, but she was having too much fun with Ben. She didn't want to leave yet, he was the only one who cared about the objects she collected.
"Do you want to swim up to the surface and see if there are any ships passing?" she asked him.
"The surface? It's too dangerous," he replied.
"What do you mean? Why?" she asked, she'd been to the surface many times and faced no danger.
"The others are there," he answered after a long pause.
"Others?"
"The other sirens, they'll kill you on sight...and they'll...they'll kill me for being with you."
"Then why did you want to meet me here today?" she asked.
"You know why..."
She swallowed hard. "You have feelings for me?"
He nodded. "I'm falling in love with you, Rey."
"We can't, we can't be together. I don't want you to risk your life for me."
"But you're worth it," he answered honestly.
"No, you have to move on. Pretend that you never saw me," she answered desperately.
"I can't. Often times power comes with a curse. Many will fall in love with a siren, but siren can only fall in love once," he told her.
"Then don't fall in love with me!" she commanded. "I won't become your curse."
"You'll only become my curse if you leave me, Rey. I've already fallen in love with you, when a siren meets the one they're meant to be with, they know right away. It's you, I know it's you."
She felt her heart erupt with affection, he really loved her. "Some spend their whole lives searching for true love, knowing right away doesn't seem like a curse," she whispered, taking his hand. "But are you sure that I'm the one?"
"I know you are, with all of my heart," he answered.
She smiled then leaned towards him, pressing her lips against his. They shared a passionate kiss before she pulled away. "Run away with me," she whispered against his lips, it was the only way they could be together, if he went into her world the merfolk would kill him.
"I will." He smiled, then he kissed her again.
