In too deep

Part I

The cold saltwater numbs my feet as I stand in the ocean in the shallows of Rea, one of the Islands of Palea. The fish I came to collect lay in a net back on shore. Ysac will be expecting me, I’ve stayed much too long. I take a deep breath and trudge back to shore. As I heft the net full of fish over my shoulder, a soft, clear voice drifts across the water. The sound is so sweet, so lovely that I find myself walking unconsciously towards it. I wade back into the water, dropping the fish. I’m up to my waist in the water when the singing stops abruptly. I frown. The feeling of peace washes away and I shuffle back to shore, collecting the fish as I go. I allow myself one last glance at the calm ocean, then make my way inland to the bustling town of Rea.

That night the singing voice engulfs me in its sweet sound. The music warms me and suddenly I find I want nothing more than to find the owner of that voice, for they must be as lovely as their song.

In the morning I leave without breakfast and leave Ysac wondering in the small shack we share. Not long after our father got the job of the palace guard and moved out, Ysac became the man of the house. Although I appreciate his dedication to his family and his job, never late, always selfless, he expects me to do the same, but I’m not like him. The morning light refracts off the water, creating web-like patterns on the surface. I drop my net, which is more of an excuse to come to the ocean. I wade out into the water and let the cold wash away any traces of sleep. After a few minutes, when the voice doesn’t come, I suddenly worry I’ll never hear it again. Desperate, I cup my hands around my mouth and yell.

“Hello! I know you’re out there! Please, don’t be scared!” My voice echoes over the waves. Suddenly, about 20 feet in front of me, what looks like a human face pops out of the water. The face is distinctly feminine and beautiful. Beyond anything I’ve ever seen. Her cheekbones are high and graceful, lips so smooth it’s as though they’ve been carved from marble. Her long black hair spills into the ocean like oil. I gaze into her bright green eyes for another moment, then she disappears beneath the water. A second later she resurfaces 5 feet to my right, so close that if we both reached out our hands might touch. I wanted to know how her skin would feel against mine. Slowly, determined not to scare her away, I reached out a hand, pleading with my eyes for her to take it. Tentatively she lifted her hand as if she were using the same caution not to scare me. When her hand slid into mine I realized with great fascination that her skin was a pale grayish color. Her skin was cold but somehow dry despite her time underwater. I closed my fingers around hers and gently pulled her to me. Her hand stiffens and her eyes widen in fear. I stop pulling and smile what I hope is a non-threatening smile. She furrowed her brows but relaxed her hand. I took this as permission and pulled her through the water until she was a foot away from me.

“Hello,” I say. Her green eyes stare up at me from the dark blue. It occurred to me that she might not understand. “Can you understand me?” She nodded her head. I smiled. “My name is Tobias. What’s yours?” She lifted her face from the water revealing her other features. Without breaking eye contact she says.

“I am Andrema.” Her voice, though speaking, is melodious. I realize I’m staring at her when she finally looks away.

“I must go.” She says, slipping her hand out of mine. A sudden and powerful fear grips my heart.

“Why? Why must you leave?” I ask, trying to regain my hold on her hand but she’s already moved a few feet away from me.

“It’s dangerous for you. I’m dangerous.” I can feel tears welling up in my eyes and can’t understand why I feel so strongly about this woman I only just met.

“No, no, you aren’t dangerous to me. Please.” I whisper the last part. She shakes her head.

“Watch.” She says and dives underwater. She curls around and puts her legs in the air, only where her legs should be, a greenish-blue tail emerges. The scales sparkled in the afternoon sun and the fins, a pale clear green, flip in the air, flicking salty water into my face. My initial shock of her very inhuman feature quickly changed to interest and joy. So when her head resurfaced the first thing I said was: “Tell me everything.”

The next few days pass in a blur. I can see that Ysac grows increasingly confused at my sudden interest in my profession, but I can’t bring myself to care. Andrema consumes my waking hours as well as my sleeping ones. I get up earlier and get home later. Most days I forget to catch anything, I spend my time at the ocean talking to Andrema. Asking questions, answering hers, swimming with her, racing, though of course she always won. I was very excited when I was able to make her smile. She laughed openly now and I couldn’t imagine a more beautiful sound. I tell her of my life as a human, life with Ysac, and the history of Galea. She tells me of her life as a siren, of her overbearing father and her sisters. One day I brought her chocolate I had saved from my birthday. When she tried the sweet her eyes lit up and a smile spread across her face. I want so badly to kiss her, but I don’t. I dream I am a siren and I follow Andrema to her home. I met her father and sisters and tried their food. The thought that I will never be able to be with her wakes me up with overpowering grief.

Part II

Tobias leaves early again. His sudden and inexplicable lust for fishing gives me hope that one day he’ll be able to live alone. I smile into my tea as I watch home run down to the ocean. After breakfast, I go to the closet where we keep the fishing net and the cooler full of frozen fish to sell at the market. As I reach for the cooler, I notice Tobias’s net hangs from its hook. This confuses me. Has he gone fishing without his net? How does he hope to catch anything? All this and more churns in my head as I reach for my jacket. My stomach clenches with worry as I follow the path down to the ocean. When I see Tobias standing knee-deep in the water I relax for a moment. He must have forgotten his net by mistake. Then what had escaped my notice before suddenly catches my eye, a human head bobs above the water. As I watch in horror, Tobias leans down and kisses her. Grayish arms reach up from the ocean and wrap around Tobias’ neck. They stand like this for a few moments, then the woman pulls Tobias under the water with her. I barely stifle a scream as I realize what she is.

“A siren,” I whisper. I’d once read about them in a book titled: “The Historical Facts of Galea.” They were seductive monsters who would sing to sailors and then drown them. I am surprised Tobias has lived this long. They emerge from the water laughing. I gaze protectively at my younger brother and I know what I must do.

I run back to the house and grab the spear hidden under my mattress, then I run to the market. The market is arranged around a circular platform in the town square. I position myself on it, ignoring the greetings and questions. With as loud of a voice I can conjure up I yell: “Sirens! Sirens near the southwest shore!” The effect on the crowd is immediate. People grab what they can to be weapons. Sticks, vases, large gourds. They raise their weapons in the air and shout what we’ve been taught since childhood.

“Down with the sirens!”

Part III

Andrema and I float on our backs, our fingers twined together. I’m still full of excitement over our kids this morning. The feel of her salty lips against mine. I turn to look at her. She watches the sky, a small smile playing on her lips. She glances at me, when she sees I’m looking, her smile widens. She inches closer so our shoulders are touching and leans her head down in the crook of my neck. Her other hand traces small circles on my chest. I close my eyes, taking in the peace of laying next to Andrema in silence. Only now it’s not silent, the air is filled with the sound of distant chanting. Andrema raises her head, a look of worry on her face. I jump to my feet and look around. Far away I can just make out a large mob of people, as they march closer I understand their chant. “Down with the sirens!” Again and again. I glance down at Andrema and see her worry has turned to terror.

“They’ve come to kill me.” She says, her voice incredibly calm. I just nod, not trusting my voice. “I must warn my people we must get far away.” I nod again. The meaning of her words doesn’t sink in.

“Tobias, I have to leave.” She says slowly. I nod again.

“No, you’re not listening. I have to go away. Forever, Tobias.” The reality of the situation crashes over me and I fall to my knees. My chest feels waterlogged.

“ No,” I say feebly, though I know she won’t change her mind.

“I’m sorry.” Her eyes are filled with tears. We both look as the chanting gets louder. When I look back, tears roll freely down her face. Gently, she places her hands on either side of my face.

“I wish I could come with you,” I whisper.

“I know.” She mouths as she draws my face to hers and kisses me softly. When she pulls away she smiles.

“I love you.” She says, and before I can say anything she releases me and leaps into the ocean, disappearing under the waves.