Water Gods

     Tell me your story child.

The first time I heard of the Water Gods was when I was nine years old. I had a seashell in my hand and four on the ground next to me when my grandpa, Ellios came running after me. He was setting up the ceremonial fire on the white sandy beaches of our island. Four big logs forming a cross pattern were laid in each direction. One to the sun, to the night sun, to the big island, and one to the Sea. I heard him yelling and the soft sound of footsteps running through sand after I heard the plop. I grabbed another one.

     “Lias, put down those shells.” He tried to scream above the crashing waves.

I couldn’t hear him.

I was too enamored with the magnetic pull I could feel growing behind my eyes. My vision was locked on to the white caps as they rushed toward me with the relentless force then ceased before me as they kissed my bare feet. The salt spray felt like soft needles as it pricked my skin then sank inward.

“Lias what are you doing?” Grandpa asked as he inspected my body as if he were looking for something he had lost or would find.

“I’m just looking at the sea poppa.” I said still staring at the now golden caps amongst the orange filled horizon.

“Then what is this?” He demanded as he turned my face to the pile of shells next to me.

“Shells for momma.”

“You didn’t throw any,” he gulped, “out there did you?”

     I turned my head back to the sea then back to him.

     “Did you?” He asked with big white eyes. I shook my head making my curly brown hair flip from side to side. To his satisfaction, Grandpa set down and let out a relieving sigh. For a moment I thought time stood still. His breathing had stilled. All I could hear were those wonderful, terrible, and harmonious sounds of waves lashing together creating a gorgeous composition of beauty and chaos. Then at once I was in the sea. Alone. There was nothing separating me from the blackness of the heavens above and the pit of the abyss below, Sky and Sea had met and I could not discern the two. I was floating on my back watching the lights in the sky turn with the night sun. Something about me felt different. Like my body was carrying more weight than usual. All I could hear was my heart beating, in rhythm with the waves Sea. Then the rumble below came.

I began to smell the salt on my Grandpas hair mixed with the faint scent of the traditional wash of orange mango and coconut. Then I was back on the beach. His breathing had returned. He looked up at me with deep brown eyes that shone against the setting sun.

      “Listen to me Ellias.” He never called me that. “You must not throw anything from the island into the Sea. The Sea takes what it needs from the island when it crashes through our island with screaming winds and piercing water. We do not give it more than that.”

        "Why not Poppa? Shouldn’t we give it something? We give the sun our songs, the island our food, and the night sun our smoke from the fire, so shouldn’t the water get something?” I asked.

         “No, I said it takes what it wants.” He stood up and brushed white sand from his leather shorts and began to walk but then stopped and turned his head towards me.

          “When you give it something, it awakens something that wants more. It awakes the Water Gods.” He looked down at the pile of shells beside me. I could see him counting with his eyes as they traced each white and pink shell then he smiled. “That’s a good sign. Four shells for the Four Creators.” He began to walk away back towards the big island while motioning for me to follow. I did as he wanted but still couldn’t take my eyes away from the water. Each step further away from the shore was a tug at my heart begging me to return. I knew one day I would.

         Seven years later I became a woman. Our tribe performed the ceremonial rite that was custom for each woman to undertake. For four days the elder women would take us girls to the edge of the jungle and live amongst ourselves. We would fast for those four days, only allowed to drink the life water from the thick brown fruit that the island gives us, mixed with special herbs we hold sacred to us. We would also sing songs of love and family while weaving our mother blankets, the only blanket we would swaddle our future children with. The blanket was supposed to be strong and warm like a mother’s love. At night we would dance under the night sun naked to give thanks for giving us the ability to create life, the most precious gift of all. It was a wonderful time, and I learned a lot from my grandmother and the other four elders. But even though I was occupied with learning and focusing on entering motherhood, I would catch myself lost in a trance at the lapping waves of the Sea. The constant sound was a reminder that it wanted me, and I wanted it.

         After the ceremony I was alone in my room staring at the lights that accompanied the night sun. They would twinkle every now and then. I even saw one racing across the sky. If I would’ve told my sister that she would’ve thought I was crazy. What does she know she’s only eight. That’s when I heard it. It sounded like the beating of the drum but there wasn’t a full night sun tonight so there was no dance. I poked my head out of the opening next to my bed to listen. Nothing. I waited for what felt like years and just when I was about to give up. Boom. There it was again.

          I crept through the house mainly trying to not wake up my grandparents. When I was outside the salty breeze filled my breath and sent a shudder down my back. The tug at my heart was even greater now. Boom. The rumble came again. I knew what it was. It was the sea calling me, needing me, and I needed it. I walked to the edge of the shore feeling the grainy sand between my toes. I looked to both sides of me. To my right was the beach disappearing into the night sky, and to my left was the square ground, where we performed our dances and ceremonies. Most of the houses were lined up around it except for the four spaces that gave way to the Four Creators in each direction. I couldn’t say but something told me this was to be my last time amongst my people. Apart of me grew sad but it was overshadowed by the pull of the sea. I took a deep breath and put my foot out into the sea for the first time.

          The water was colder than I expected. A chill ran up my leg. No. A shudder went up my leg and into my chest. I stuck the other leg into the water and now my whole body was shivering. My heart began to race. Boom. The rumble began to grow louder. I looked back thinking someone was going to hear it and pull me back in, but nothing and no one moved. It was dark and silent like the night. I was knee deep when the thought of leaving my family made me cry. I tried to turn back but the waves of the sea pulled me in. Before I knew it, I was on my back. Floating. Staring up at the night sun and bright lights above. Nothing was separating the Sky from the Sea. I felt at one with the water. I laid there just staring up above and thinking about my grandpa. I looked up to see if I could see the island, but there was nothing. I was alone. The rumble began to grow louder and faster. It mimicked my heartbeat. Boom-boom. Boom-boom. Boom-boom. Then that is when you showed up.

           Mmmm, yes my child. I brought you here because you gave me something. Now I’m going to give you something else.

           “My Poppa said that you would want something else though.” Ellias spoke to the water beneath her.

           It’s too late for specifics now child. You are here. You came to me. You wanted me. You needed me. And it is my responsibility to take care of those that seek me out. Now I will grant you something your heart desires. To be with me forever.

           “Thank you.” Ellias spoke with earnest. “What is it that you are granting me?”

           You’re people are gifted at singing songs. They pull and push the waves with each incantation. They move the sun and stars across the sky. Now you will use that gift to bring us more children. Your beauty and voice will draw those lost at sea to us. To be with us. To stay with us. To live with us forever. You and those you bring to us will be know as Sirens.