A Sirens Future

Hidden World

Lyris

I've been swimming for a couple hours now, the blue water turning black with night. A faint glow from the moon lights up the water eerily, fitting my mood exactly. My sharp eyes scan the ocean floor until they find drop-off, indicating the underwater cliff giving way and disappearing in a slant into the dark abyss.

There are places like this all over the world, leading to the deep, hidden, watery homes of sirens. We use to swim the oceans freely, but since all the advances in human technology and science, we have had to retreat deeper. Trying to avoid detection.

I drop down into the dark, swimming quickly through the cool water. My scales tighten as the water grows colder, and my eyes grow larger, turning opaque as they adjust to the pitch black water that now surrounds me.

Humans can see nothing down here. Their weak eyes and lights can barely break through the darkness. I glance around, appreciating the beauty hidden here for a moment. Tiny glowing specks of life, invisible to ordinary eyes, swirl in a rainbow of colors. Like glitter being poured into a glass of water and stirred.

I reach the bottom of the pit and dig my webbed hands into the soft silt there, tunneling my way through what the humans believe to be the bottom of the ocean. I break through the other side and the hole I've just come through fills up quickly. I look around at the whole new world before me, separate from the one above. The water is warm here, and my scales relax back into their feathery shape, my eyes returning to their usual blue flames in the glowing light that surrounds me now.

Every rock and stone, cliff and wall, of any sort is lined with softly glowing veins of silver metal, casting light everywhere. Large bright fish, ones we do not eat because of the toxic blood they hold, dart restlessly arround. Their bodies light up the hidden world even more. Small caves are scattered all around the large space, lit by the glowing metal in their stone walls. There are pockets like this all over the world, the only safe place left for a Siren anymore.

I head for largest cave in the back of the huge cavern. A long bent shape floats outside the mouth and I grimace when I see who it is.

"Hello Lyris," Cato says, leering at me with his watery pale-colored eyes. His slimey voice sends a shudder up my spine and I nod at him quickly, trying to swim by.

His hand darts out and grabs me by my arm, digging is nails into my skin. I hold back a hiss, resisting the urge to s***h my own nails across his face.

Cato is my mothers advisor, second in power, and temporary leader until I would be able to take over, in the event that something should ever happen to my mother. I try my best to not ever anger the snake.

I turn back to the old Siren and he smiles disgustingly, showing all his teeth and setting my stomach to churning.

"I need to see my mother, please, Cato," I try to spit out respectfully. He smiles wider and shakes his head.

"I'm very sorry, my dear, but your mother is resting. She had another very troubling day. It seems as if her episodes are getting worse, as well as more frequent. You should let her rest now.

By the time he finishes speaking, I can barely hear him over the ringing in my ears. I furrow my brow in worry, completely unbothered now about the wrinkled hand still clinging to my arm, and momentarily forgetting my own problems. I peel Cato's finger off, no longer concerned with being polite and dart into the cave. I hear him hiss and curse behind me, but he does not follow.

I swim quickly through the cave, darting up after a moment, until my head breaks the surface of a small pool. I pull myself up onto the stone lip that juts out over the glittering pool, dragging my heavy tail out of the water after me.

I close my eyes and call on the Change.

Nikolas

I toss and turn in my bed. Like I have been for the past few hours. I've been restless since I got home.

After dropping Larrissa at her home, kissing her goodnight deeply, ther had been nothing to keep the strange eyes from my head. One set, a beautiful blue, like nothing I have ever seen, glowing with fire. The others, a steady bright green.

I lay in my bed, switching between images of both eyes. They are definitely two different pairs of eyes, but eyes of what? They looked almost human, but not quite. Too large.

I think again of the firey blue eyes and this time the sharp burning pain returns, shooting through my chest, more intense than the first time. I gasp and choke on my next breath, clutching my chest in pain and groaning. Then just like before, it's gone, leaving only a faint but uncomfortable burning behind.

I sit up, breathing hard, rolling out of bed, and head for my small bathroom. I flip the light switch and the bright white light fills the tiny space. I turn the faucet to the sink and splash my face with cool water. I grab a glass next to the sink and fill it, reaching for the bottle of advil I keep. I pop two in my mouth and wash them down. I set the glass aside, turn off the water and stare at my reflection in the small mirror, contemplating my own sanity for a moment.

My own muti-colored eyes stare back at me from my usually olive toned face, but pale now with a light sheen of sweat still at my temples. My face is framed by dark curls, matted slightly and standing up in places from my restless night.

The burning is still there in my chest, only slightly painful, like burning yourself quickly on a pan while cooking. I look down, pulling my damp white t-shirt to the side. I stare down at my chest, completely shocked, unable to move or process exactly what I am seeing.

There, burned into my skin, although how I have no idea, is a small dark symbol.

Its a deep blue, and looks like its almost glowing, as if its on fire and still burning. It looks similar to a music note, but not one I have ever seen, with strange swirls and sharp edges. I just stare, frightened.

In the back of my mind I note that the strange mark is exactly the same shade as the beautiful, firey, blue eyes that I saw.