Mermaids curse

-Lillian- I fix the crooked bow on my uniform and give myself a once-over in the mirror. My long black hair remains loose in waves draping down my back. My unblemished porcelain skin seems to glow under the s**** fluorescent lights they have here. I can’t help but stare back at the dark blue lagoon eyes that nearly put even me into a hypnotic stare. I snap out of my trance at the sound of a knock on the door. This is new- in the crappy 2 bedroom me and my sister were left in with our great aunt we weren’t ever allowed privacy. I opened the door to the headmistress. She looks stern and tough but I see the underlying sadness in her eyes. She knows what I am and why I’m here and she doesn’t want this for me. Me? Who cares. I signed the contract and the payment was sent. If this promises my sister a better life than I am simply inconsequential. I promised my parents I would take care of her. It was the last thing I ever said to them. ‘Ms Starlet if you would come I will show you to your classes’ The headmistress opens the door fully and extends her hand. Why do I need to take classes since I’m to die before the semester is even out? While I’m to be sacrificed, the school believes that if you don’t take care of the siren beforehand they curse the school instead. So instead they bore me with classes that I by far surpass. The headmistress drones on and on about some advanced classes she pulled some strings to get me into as we pass through the corridors. It isn’t until we stop on the third floor balcony that I actually care for what she’s saying. ‘As you can see we have a pool up here for your comfort. Salt water fresh from the sea. The pool will be left to you from the hours of 8 p.m to 12 p.m.. you aren’t to be out here before or…’ I’ve already tuned her out as I’m not at all focused on this pool. This pool isn’t meant for the kind of siren I am but that’s unimportant as I spot what I actually need- a lake located deep into the woods. I can smell the water from here. I feel the ever knowing itch start on my hand telling me I’ve been from the water too long. It will have to wait til tonight. ‘Mrs…’ I stop her with a hand waiting for her to actually announce her name- something she failed to bother doing in the beginning. ‘Ah I’m Mrs Laurent but most children just call me headmistress’ she straightens me with her most stern glare but I’m unperturbed. ‘Okay headmistress- I’m sure all of this information would be vital to someone who plans to do more here than just wait for death but all I really needed to know was where my classes are and where the pool was. If you don’t mind I’ll take my leave til the ball tonight’ I turn on my heel and make my way back to the girls dormitory. I know the headmistress is likely to loose her head in the next couple of seconds but I don’t need fake niceties with a staff member who plans to watch me be burned at the stake. ‘Um excuse me’ I turn to see a small red headed girl stood next to my door. I sniff the air- she’s some kind of hybrid not one that’s of any danger to me. Likely a small animal shifter. ‘Can I help you?’ I keep my eyes everted for the most part. Weak shifters fall prey to my siren eyes easily. We used to have to sing but a sea witch cursed all of mermaid kind by making it so we never truly knew if someone liked us or not. ‘Well kind of- you’re the siren right?’ She fiddled with her fingers until I give a slight nod and she continues ‘there’s this boy in my class and I was hoping you could tell me if he likes me.’ Poor thing actually believes the tales of the sea. Merfolk are selfish creatures. The things we can do are only things that would benefit ourselves. ‘It’s actually a myth that we can see strings of fate. I can only scent if two people may be compatible’ I say and go about pulling my keys out. Before I can even grab them the girl has latched her hands around my arm and is dragging me down the corridor. ‘That’s fine! Anything I just feel a pull to him and think we’d be perfect. Please just help me’ she pleads and I feel a soft spot in my heart. She reminds me of Tilly. ‘Maybe you could at least let me know your name first?’ I ask detaching her hands from my arm. ‘Oh Duh! I’m Megan. I’m a fox shifter’ she says giving me a little salute. ‘Sorry if I come off a little rude… we don’t have a lot of personal space back where I’m from. I have 8 siblings.’ She explains cringing a little. ‘It’s alright. My names Lillian by the way if you’d prefer that over ‘the siren’’ I say extending my hand. We shake hands and proceed to walk to what I assume is a courtyard. Megan prattles on about the dynamics of groups but it matters little to me. There isn’t a point in getting close to others. Not now anyways. ‘That’s him’ she says pointing to a golden haired boy surrounded by other girls and a few other boys. ‘Are you sure you think he’s right for you? Based off looks he seems like he may already have a girlfriend’ I say pointing at the girl practically laying on his lap. ‘No I’m sure. He’s the one for me’ Megan practically is salivating at the boy. I never understood crushes. The boy couldn’t be older than 17 and he oozed bad vibes already. I could practically smell the cheap cologne he used and I knew he didn’t brush his teeth this morning. As I was sizing him up I felt his eyes snap to mine. Oh no. ‘Megan he saw my eyes.’ I tried to be quiet but we were in a room of shifters and it seems like one of the most popular boys was suddenly walking in strides to me. Nobody was looking away. ‘I’m Rick.’ The boy at least he knew how to offer a handshake but it wasn’t important. I wasn’t interested. ‘Lillian.’ I stared at his hand until he dropped it. He gave a little sneer and suddenly I understood what Megan liked about him. He gave off stronger shifter vibes. My eyes still worked slightly but he actually came over here because of interest not illusion. ‘Lillian- didn’t anyone teach you it’s rude to not shake someone’s hand?’ He let a slide edge of aggression out in his voice and I could feel my teeth start to retract into their siren form for protection. ‘It would be best for us to not interact I think’ I said letting some of my own venom out. Megan was grabbing onto my sleeve for dear life and I realized half the crowd was also bowed down in fear. ‘CHILDREN’ we were broken out of our little showdown at the sound of the headmistress strutting in. She leveled us with a gaze until Rick backtracked to his original spot. The girls on the table giving me a look of disdain. Great. ‘Everyone the ball will start at 6 on sharp. Everyone will be in formal attire and will not be late or you will receive a demerit.’ She offered me one last glance and turned on her heel. ‘Well that went badly but…at least now we can get ready together’ Megan bounced on her toes. The whole Rick thing completely forgotten about. She whirled me off into her room filled with make up, dresses, hair rods, pointy shoes, and lots of lingerie. Is this h***?