Siren's Song
1133 Words
Time was running out and it wouldn't be long before I'd be forced into my other form which would make crossing a rickety bridge in the pitch black even more difficult.
Quix stood at the post, surveying the bridge and inspecting the damage to it. "We should be able to cross…" He frowned. "But from what I see the visibility cuts out in the center of the bridge." He pointed to a dark fog. "One wrong step would be death."
If only I hadn't insisted on coming here, if only I hadn't pushed Quix into this situation. He was my mate and in my desire to return his and everyone's memories, I'd been far too selfish.
Their lives were worth so much more. "I'm sorry," I mumbled. "If there's a way to go back, we need to go back. There has to be some way."
Quix looked over his shoulder, studying me. "No, there's no way to go back. You remember that." He turned and nodded to the bridge. "That's the path forward." He sighed and grabbed onto the post. "This should hold, but I"m heavier. Let me go first. If it can hold me, I know you'll be okay."
"You almost died," I pointed out. "It's too dark to move."
"Better I die than you. Maxwell will do whatever it takes to save you… Though I know it'll bring him in danger too. Just let him know that if anything happens to me, it was an honor to serve him."
"No!" I reached out, grabbing his shirt and pulling backward again. "You can't go. Let me go first, if it breaks with me we'll know that you can't make it."
"But if I can't make it, there's no hope anyway," Quix pointed out. "At least if I call first you can learn from it."
He put his hand on the top of my head and patted me like I was some pet. "Oliver," I whispered.
"Wait here, Coral," he ordered with a final pat and then he turned and stepped onto the bridge. The wood creaked beneath his weight but he didn't look back.
He was taking it one step at a time making slow and steady progress, but from the way he clung to the ropes I knew without a doubt if he ran into any trouble on the darkened area of the bridge he would be lost.
But what could I do?
I put my hands to my chest and prayed with all of my heart that my ancestors could help him.
Quix was only a few feet away from the murky darkness from before when the melody stirred within me. Just like it was back at the strange museum, my mouth opened of its own accord to let the song desperate to escape me out.
Quix froze in place as my song drifted through the air. Little golden motes of light shimmered to life and hovered idly around me, increasing their brilliance with my song.
The golden glow covered the area in front of me.
He might have told me to wait, but I wasn't going to let my mate fall to his death in front of me. I sang louder, and the lights grew brighter. Step by step, I made my way across the bridge and over to him.
He still hadn't moved, frozen in place by my voice. "Coral?" he called.
I dare not stop the song, and so I continued my light steps until I was just behind him. The golden dots of light surrounded the two of us and pulsed in time with the beat, illuminating the darkness ahead of us.
Quix took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze before he led the two of us forward. The lights danced around us and I kept the melody going until we reached the very end of the bridge.
Once we got to the land I collapsed on my knees and gasped. My body trembled and I gasped for breath. What happened? How could singing have worn me down like this?
Quix knelt beside me. His hand was warm as he rubbed my back and the usual coldness was gone from his eyes. "Coral… what did you do?"
I put a hand to my aching throat. "I don't understand it, but I just had to sing that. It was begging for me to release it."
"Have you always been able to do that?" He gestured towards the lights that were dimming around us. "You're more than a mermaid."
He was right. "I think…" I frowned. As much as I wanted to say what my belief was, doing so would mean that I was agreeing with part of what Dagon said, and that's the last thing I wanted to do.
"A siren," Quix added. "Coral, you're a siren."
But instead of luring a man to death with my voice, I had saved him with it. "I think I am," I agreed.
Quix gave me a half smile. "That will make things easier for this little trip at least. We should find our way off this island and back to the ship."
"Wait, we've come this far. Maybe…" I trailed off. It was selfish to ask more of him when he could have died.
"Maybe we can find this treasure of yours first?" He questioned with a sigh and a running of his hand through his hair. "I suppose I owe you that much, and if we do find it then Maxwell has no reason to step foot on this place." He turned and inspected the area. This central island was connected to a dozen other rickety bridges all around it. But which was the answer?
"Little mermaid," crooned a voice.
I lifted my head, searching for its owner.
"Only you can hear me. You want to leave this island don't you? Then come to me alone. I will not touch your little companion as long as you listen. Cross the third bridge to your right and come to me, all I want to do is have a little talk with you."
There was no doubt about it, whoever it was, had to be one of the sins and this little talk of his would no doubt be a trap.
But at least it would be a trap that I sprung myself and saved Quix from. "Oliver, I'm going to cross this bridge and investigate, you gather your strength, I promise to be quick."
Quix nodded and with a yawn he curled up on the grass like a great silver kitten, and fell asleep.
"There's nothing keeping you away now. Come to me, little mermaid, and we'll discuss our conditions on his safe return to you. Ignore me, and he'll never wake up again."
- Writer
