The Siren Of Sequira

There I was, about to reach the surface. I swam as fast as I possibly could but my fin was tiring out. I thought I lost them. My head came out of the water and I breathed in the air, looking at the green-ness that I saw ahead. I needed to go to the shore though, or else they may just catch up to me.

Yesterday, I was assigned to pick another human life for our Queen so she could drown them with a mesmalistic song. This would be my first time picking a human. I couldn't pick anyone, it was too hard, I was too nice.

Then there I was, trying to run away after the Queen sentenced me to death for not choosing. Her guards followed me for ten minutes before I lost them in the coral reef. My tail could barely go on any longer, but I needed to keep pushing. I didn't want to die.

When I reached the surface, it was almost blinding. The golden sand against my wet fishy half, the sunlight piercing on my very pale skin, the waves washing behind me. It was a very peaceful place, I saw why the humans liked to live on land.

My tail slowly turned into legs, a skirt came with them, one made of scales, my hair let itself down and dried off in seconds, my bra turned into a green top, and my face magically had a full face of makeup. I was no longer wet because the magic had dried me off from head-to-toe. I had no shoes, but I liked the feeling of the sand in between my toes, unfortunately, this transformation came with socks.

I walked towards the village, which knew me quite well (posing as a girl named Rena). Most people believed me to be a commoner who was very kind and easy to manipulate, but I was not. Nodding and smiling at everyone, I walked past the village people heading towards a restaurant that I love.

I entered the place where I waited to see Shelby, my favourite waitress. Shelby did not come but a new waitress did, "I'm sorry Ma'am but all the seats are taken. There is one that can fit you but there is another woman there. She has agreed for you to sit with her if you accept to?" I needed food desperately, I hadn't eaten for about two days. I accepted the offer with a nod.

She took me towards the booth where I saw a beautiful maiden waiting there. The waitress bowed and strolled off to another booth as I sat parallel of the woman. It was a very awkward moment before she was brave enough to start a conversation, "So, what is your name?" I wanted to look away, to be shy, but the sparkle in her eye held me to gaze into them longer.

"Rena," I mumbled, "and you Madam?"

She laughed, "Please don't refer to me as 'Madam'. I am actually quite young. My name is Saline." I smiled and the light in her eye just gleamed brighter and brighter. I recognized the name Saline, but from where had I heard of it?

We talked for hours more, until many of the other seats were unused. We bonded, and formed a small friendship. I felt as if I knew everything about her already.

"So when will I see you again, Saline?"

"I am not sure. Where are you staying tonight?"

I thought about that for a moment, I usually stay here because Shelby lets me, but she isn't here today.

I explained my situation to her. I looked around once again to see any sign that Shelby was indeed there, but I saw nothing. I returned to her face, "Oh, I see. You can come stay with me if you'd like, although I am not sure how my mother would respond."

That would have been lovely, except I did not wish to intrude. "I insist," it was like she read my mind. "A very kind offer indeed. Thank you. I would love to stay for a while."

We walked on the sidewalk of the dimly lit street. She talked, and I mostly listened. We turned the block and we walked towards the palace gates. I loved passing the castle, it's beauty bewildered me.

Then something happened that I never thought would, she opened the gates. She looked at me with a smile in her eye, but mouth neutral. She was on the walkway towards the doors, and then looked back at me, "Are you coming Miss. Rena?"

I hurried towards her in awe as we entered the castle. "Why do you live here Saline? This is the palace, this is where all the royals are." I whispered as if it was a private matter. She laughed, "Well not many people know of how the princess looks. 'Tis why I am allowed to go out into the town without being recognized."

What had she meant? That she was the princess? "Y-you-" I stuttered, "You're princess Saline. That's where I recognized the name-" She smiled and gestured to follow her up the side stairs.

Not a moment later she led me into a grand bedroom. It had white bedding and golden accents, red curtains, and a diamond chandelier, soft furry carpet, and a walk-in closet full of long flowing dresses. My mouth felt as if it dropped to the floor. She was still beside me gleaming with light.

"I will let you get settled in and rest. Tomorrow perhaps you may meet my mother," and just like that, she left the room.

Meet the Queen? It must have been a dream, no, it felt too real. I sighed, having no shoes on meant I didn't have to take anything off. I jumped on the bed. It was soft and plush. My body sunk into it. I had never felt this amount of comfort in the whole seventeen years of my life.

In a minute I was fast asleep, despite me having my Queen wanting me dead.

The next morning, Saline woke me up at 7. "My mother is here. She has arrived from the Kingdom of Resela. I had told her I had company and she thinks you are somewhat of a royal. Please allow me to choose a dress for you. And if you will allow me to teach you how to be a princess?"

I had already known how to act towards a Queen, for I had been serving one for my life. I nodded and smiled, "Of course. Although I have been in the presence of a Queen before, and I know how to act, your Majesty."

"Please no 'your Magesty', just Saline. But in front of my mother, Princess Saline. And which Queen have you appeared before?" she said.

"Ah, you probably wouldn't know. Her name is Queen Chanray," I sweated. What if she had known the Queen of my people, the Sirens? What would I say if she asked why I had been in her very presence? She smiled, indicating she had not known who my Queen was.

She stepped into the closet and not even a minute later stepped out with a high-low skirted, seafoam poofed dress. My eyes sparkled. She draped the beauty of the dress onto the plush bed and stepped right back into the closet.

"Shall I change now?" I asked.

"Yes please," her caring voice came.

My magical outfit came off and I slipped into the dress. It was a perfect fit. The quarter-length sleeves were flowy and embraced with white lace. It was a very polished and intricate design. I couldn't reach the back zipper, I would have to ask Saline to zip me up.

"Are you done, Love?" She called to me. Love? Why would she have called me Love? I blushed a little before answering yes. She came out in a gown of her own, a black sleek one, with black heels. She was wearing a crown in her hair still down, carrying a pair of white stilettos towards me. She put them on the floor and I slid my foot into each one.

"So, you say you know how to act in front of a Queen," I nodded and she continued, "Show me then." I immediately sat up straight in a poised manner and turned my back to her, "Alright, but first zip me up, will you?" I said in the most regal voice I could manage. She zipped the dress up against my skin and when I turned back around politely I saw her blushing.

"Annabelle! Please come here," She beckoned and in a moment a maid came rushing in the room. Saline took off her crown and placed it upon Annabelle's head. "Mistress I-" Saline cut her off with a hand motion.

"Annabelle, I must request that you act like my mother in test to see if this girl is ready to be seen before her." Saline stopped and sat on the vanity about to do her hair while still watching me try and act like a princess. The maid nodded and quickly went into a deadly and stern look.

"This is the girl you have brought before me? Darling Saline, why have you brought her in? No matter, miss. . .?" The 'Queen' was awaiting my answer.

"Your Highness. I am humbled to be here," I got up and curtsied, "My name is Princess Rena of the Westrina Kingdom, very far away from here. I was just traveling to different kingdoms and I stumbled upon the village outside of the palace walls. There I met your daughter, Princess Saline. We talked for quite a while and since I had nowhere to say she was oh-so kind to offer me a place to sleep for a few nights."

Saline looked stunned like she was surprised I actually knew how to act. The maid, who was still playing make-belief, looked quite shocked as well.

"Where-" Saline began but then a bell chimed in a sweet rhythmic sound. "My mother wishes to see us. I hope you are ready, Love. Come now, she does not tolerate tardiness." Again with the Love.

Then in the blink of an eye, she took the crown back, put it on her head, and stumbled up to get me one as well. The maid bowed as we both left the room. She took my hand and galloped towards what I am assuming to be the Queen.

"Mother," Saline bowed, as did I right afterward.

"Your Highness. How wonderful it is to bask in all your glory," I said with a forced smile.

The Queen stood up, and bowed back, "Hello Princess?" She wanted to know my name. "Princess Rena of the Westrina Kingdom, your Majesty." I bowed again.

The Queen nodded, "Saline, how come you've brought her here?" Saline explained in a beautiful voice that I blushed a little too. "Well, in any way we are here to accommodate your needs Princess Rena," The Queen said.

Then the door burst open, my head swung around and I was surprised to see Alex-my best friend from when I still lived with my own kind-standing in the doorway, breathless. "Liana! I tried, I-" He stumbled and fell backward to the ground.

"Alex!" I yelled, tears forming in my eyes.

The Queen and Saline ran after me once I stumbled towards his temporarily motionless body. He had fainted. "Maids! Get him assistance please!" The Queen called.

"Do you know him, Princess Rena?" Saline asked sympathetically, a hand on my shoulder.

I nodded, the hot tears streaming down my face. I watched as the maids took him away. "C-can I go?" I pleaded, even if it was impolite.

"Of course. Hun, go with your friend," The Queen turned to Saline.

Soon after I was in the same room as him. An hour later he darted up from the bed, gasping and sweating. "Liana!" He yelled.

"Ah, you're awake. Rena said she knew you. Alex was it?" Saline said softly to him. "Yes," I said for Alex, "I, Princess Rena, know Alex." I looked at him, and he understood that I was using a fake name.

"Rena. They're coming here. You need to go back so you can escape. You can't stay here," he paused, "I know something, but it may be a private matter." He stared at Saline.

"There's no time. Saline needs to tend to you, and I need to know. You can tell her anything." I smiled at her, then glanced back at Alex nodding.

"Liana. Queen Chanray is coming for you, and she's brought her guards. Listen, apparently you're posing as a princess right now, but you actually are one. Queen Chanray is your aunt. She's coming because she just found out and you are a threat to her throne. She has been using all of us, and you need to come to Sequira again. It's your kingdom now."

I was the princess? I was going to be the Queen. How would I ever rule a whole place, let alone the Sirens of Sequira? "What will happen here?" I glanced at Saline, her jaw was dropped and the gleam in her eye was gray.

"We can't think of that right now. They are going to kill you if you stay." He shot at me. He got out of bed, grabbed my hand, and started walking towards the door of the room.

"Stop. I won't leave without Saline." I looked at Saline, looking at us with a damp cloth still in her hands. She understood me in her eyes, and I saw that. "I'll go. But promise me my home will be safe?" I suppose that was her condition.

Alex grabbed her hand, "Nothing will happen. They only want Liana." Saline dropped the cloth.

I took steady, deep breaths as we ran silently towards the beach that I came from. Saline was still confused, we hadn't explained to her exactly what I was.

I dipped my foot into the familiar cool water. It felt good against my skin. Then, I transformed back, my legs into a tail, my ears into fins, my shirt into a bra, and my makeup into nothing.

Saline's face was shocked. I was a Siren, and she hadn't seen it coming. Alex had done the same thing while I was making bubbles to help Saline breathe under water.

She dipped into the water, with her beautiful dress still on, it flowed a little when I took her underneath the surface and swam to the home I was trying to escape from.

Nobody was at the palace, I supposed all the guards were with her Majesty. I swam as fast as I could, following Alex.

We were in the Throne room, where I had first been sentenced to death. "Sit down Liana," Alex smiled. I gleamed at him and started swimming towards the coral chair. I looked back at Saline and then sat on it.

I felt tingly, and a weight upon my head. My tail had golden sun-lit jewelry and my head had a crown of thorns. My eyes were golden and I felt powerful.

They both smiled at me. I needed to see Queen Chanray powerless; I wanted to sentence her to death.

We went to the palace as quickly as we could in our human forms. Saline opened the gate again and into the castle, we stormed. We were ready to fight, to battle, for her to give up, and there she was so-

So-

She was having tea with the Queen?

My eye twitched a little. "What the fu-" Alex started but I finished, "What is happening?"

"Oh so glad you could join us! I see you are the Queen of Sequira now. I really needed a break. Thank you, Darling." Queen Chanray took a sip of her tea.

"I thought you wanted to kill me?" I said very, very confused.

"Oh that. That was all but a test dear. Come join us for tea won't you?" The other Queen said patting the seat beside her.

Alex was laughing, "That was hilarious. I can't believe that actually worked. Damn. Let me talk to her for a sec, hey?" He pulled me to the side, "What was all that? You knew Alex?" I was very irritated.

"Of course I knew!"

"I- I can't believe this."

"Yeah. Hey, I saw you guys blushing at each other. You lesbian?"

I paused.

"Y-yeah."

He snorted.

"Come on, let's go back to the little tea party."

After I figured everything out, Saline wanted to talk. She suggested at the beach, 7:00 p.m. I dressed in the same outfit I was wearing when I met her and starting walking to the beach.

She sat there, looking at me as soon as she heard my soft footsteps on the damp sand. "Hello, your Highness." She blushed. I giggled a little, "Hey Princess Saline."

I laid down beside her looking into her glowing blue eyes. We just stare at each other for a minute, blushing.

"I know we've only known each other for two days but..." she paused, "Can I do something?"

"Of course, what do you want to d-"

She leaned in and kissed me. We closed our eyes, and it felt like we have done it so many times before, and every time it would still feel like the first one. It was nice, I liked it.

Once we stopped we looked up at the stars.

"Love at first sight? Like in the fairytales, Love?" She said to me.

"Definitely a happily ever after Princess," I said back.

A moment in the sea, and a moment in the stars, many more moments together.