The Hybrid's Calling

The wind blew as I stood there on the shore watching the waves beat against the rocks. The rain fell in sheets, soaking my yellow sundress within moments, I felt the rumble of thunder off in the distance under my bare feet. As lightning danced across the night sky, I turned and headed towards my house on the hill, telling myself that tomorrow was a new day. Having grown up in the Lough Leane in Ireland, I found comfort in the rain. Curling up on my little porch swing, I pull my grandmother afgahn around my shoulders before reaching for the hot cup of tea I left on the table. Pulling my legs under me I lean back and close my eyes. Breathing in the smell of rain and damp soil.With a deep sigh I open my eyes and glance in the direction of my gravel drive, the crunch of gravel in the distance tells me company will soon be here. Watching as the headlights round the bend and come to a stop infront of my little cottage I can't help but let the smile spread across my face. Placing my cup on the table once more I pull my blanket tighter and rise to my feet, stepping to the edge of the porch. I listen for the tell tale sign that my pappi has come to visit. Before long I hear the groan and curses that come from the driver's side of the 1969 candy aple red chevelle. Skipping down the steps I grin and give my head a shake as I round the front of the car and lean my arms across the top of the driver's door and look down into the wrinkled face of my 80 year old grandfather. "When are you going to give it up and trade this beast in for a motorized scooter?" I chuckle to myself when I hear the answering growl from my pappi. I know he will never part from his beloved car. It's the last thing he has of my grandmother. It was a wedding gift he had gotten for her and every weekend they spent in his garage bringing her back to her original glory. "The day that happens I"ll be 6 foot under, you know that girl. Now give me a hand getting out of this blasted thing." He grambles to me, reaching an old gnarled hand in my direction. Slipping around the door I reach down and haul him to his feet, bringing him in for a tight hug and a kiss to his cheek before he can put up a fuss. Pulling back, I close the door and lead him onto the porch out of the rain. Hustling us into my kitchen I toss another log on the fire before pulling a mug from the cupboard anad pouring him a cup of tea. Turning around I slide the cup across the little island where my pappi has pulled up a stool. Seeing the look on his face,I feel my smile begin to slip,although his visit fills me with happieness, I know its not happy news he's brought with him. "Rumor has it that Ceto might have been spotted by a local fisherman easrlier this week." As the words begin to sink in, I feel my knees weaken as I drup into the nearest seat. My sister has been spoted? I think to myself. Its been well over 12 years since I last saw her.I can't help but think back to the days when my sister and I were close. Growing up in a family with a siren as a mother and a father as a merman, we were often outcasted from the pod. Ceto and I were fraternal twins and couldn't look more different. It wasn't long before the call of the Siren came upon my sister Ceto at the age of 16 and she started to show signs of taking after our mother, Lyra.Ceto's first signs were a short temper, then she would disappear for days at a time coming home with blood on her hands and no explanation for her absence. I on the other hand seemed to take after our father, Dorian. I was more content exploring the sea and learning as many new things as possible. It wasn’t unheard of that different species mated but as it would turn out, my parents were one of the rare ones and were fated mates. Shortly before Ceto turned 18, she came home telling us how she had met her fated mate, Ronan and how happy they were together. Unlike Ceto and I, who had mixed blood Ronan was all siren and a very proud one at that. They had been together for a few months and the two of us and Ronan were often found sitting around playing games. Our favorite game was to dare eachother to do silly things that we knew would make the others uncofortable. It wasn't long before Ronan started boasting that he wasn't scared of anything and that being a siren, he could get anyone to do what he wanted. Calling his bluff I dared him to go to the surface and to enchant the next fisherman that came by. Sirens were known for only casting enchantments on the opposite s*x, being able to sing to their victim's deepest desires and bring them to life before pulling them to the deepest depths of the sea. Bringing the game to an end,we all said our goodnights and headed our seperate ways, heading off to bed. it had to have been close to midnight when I woke to the sounds of Ceto's heart wrenching screams. As she swept into my room, pulling me from my bed, Her once bblue eyes were a deep red as she held me to the wall against my throat. Between her sobbs and shuttering breaths she accused me of sending her mate to his death by daring him to the surface to tempt a fisherman. It wasn't long before I was able to put the pieces together and realize that Ronan must have gotten caught by the fisherman trying to complete the dare I had given him. Shaking my head, not knowing how to sooth my sister's hurt, the look of pure hatred burned into my memory I shuddered as the memory of Ceto's last words to me came back to the forefront of my mind. "The day you find your mate, expect me to be there to show you what pain really feels like." she had wisphered in my ear before shoving me into the wall and swimming away. That was the last time I had seen Ceto, until today when pappi told me that there had been a sighting of her. I could only hope that didn't mean that my mate was in the area as well.