The Mermaids Curse
Chapter 1: From the Sea
"Upon one summer's morning, I carefully did stray," a young Amelia sings at the ship's bow. The small Seyruun family is on their way to their new home across the sea. Her voice carries softly with the gentle breeze as she continues the mysterious tune. "Down by the Walls of Wapping, Where I met a sailor gay."
The waves crash against the hull and Amelia takes a deep breath as she continues to sing. The mournful song fits her mood at the moment. She fights back a tear as her thoughts brush upon the memory of her mother. At just nine years of age her feelings are perhaps heavier than the mast that carries the ship forward.
"Conversing with a young lass, Who seem'd to be in pain," Amelia continues as her elder sister, a young teen comes behind her and drapes her arms around her. "Saying, William, when you go . . ." at this point Amelia can barley continue but she manages to say the words softly. "I fear you'll ne'er return again."
"Please conclude your song young lady," a young man says from behind the two girls. Even though he is young, the man Xellos holds a prestigious rank. He is a general priest of the nations order and magic guild.
However, Amelia's sister Gracia, does not care how prestigious the man is and proceeds to give him a piece of her mind. "And why in heavens name should she cease, can you not see the burden she feels."
"And that is precisely the reason for my interruption," Xellos calmly answers. "A deep hurt has right to grieve but singing a song of mourning will not heal the wound where comfort is needed."
"And what would a general priest know?" Gracia spits clutching her sister close. "You aren't human."
"But I have been around humans long enough to have learned a thing or two," Xellos's closed eyes gaze deep into Amelia, with a smile that doesn't reach anywhere close to his heart. If he has one that is.
"There wouldn't happen to be another reason would there?" Gracia laughs. "After all, everyone who is anyone would know that you're wizardry weakens from thoughts of love."
"I can assure you that is not the reason and I have never told a lie," Xellos wags a finger and comes to stand beside the girls. His closed lids somehow gaze into the briny sea as Amelia watches nervously. Gracia stands her ground and continues to glare at him. "Although it is said that mermaid's infest these waters. These ancient magicians of the dark unknown are said to draw power from words and song." Breaking his line of sight with the sea he once again turns towards Amelia and Gracia. This time he opens his eyes and looks directly at Amelia. "Your song is both beautiful and powerful dear lady, especially in your current state. I merely wish to fulfill my job and see that you are protected."
"You could protect us from a lady of the sea," Amelia asks becoming lost in Xellos's violet eyes.
"I would see that every sea witch got what's coming to them," Xellos smiles cruelly and both girls feel a shiver go down their spine. "Left to dry in the heat of the sun's rays would be a kind way to die."
"Excuse me Sir Xellos I'm afraid that is enough for today," the girl's father, Philionel, comes beside them defensively and the general priest politely leaves. A quick bow and dashing smile is what he leaves the girls as a closing thought to their discussion.
"Don't worry Daddy he didn't do anything wrong," Amelia says with crystal blue eyes void of deceit and full of naivety. "I was the one who shouldn't have been singing."
"Never stop singing my dear Amelia, but perhaps you can sing a happier song," Philionel pats her heartily on the head. With that he walks briskly away in order to help some of the sailors. He isn't one to sit by and be waited on like others of his high station.
"He is much too doting," Gracia complains with a scowl. "Doesn't he really care?"
"Gracia," Amelia asks with a large question mark above her head.
The older girl sighs but manages to smile, "It's nothing, just a young woman's longings for justice that's all."
Confusion still reigns in Amelia's thoughts but she nods her head pretending to understand her sister's behavior. The two settle upon studying the sea once more as the song continues to play in Amelia's mind.
After some time, she begins to hear the lonely notes float by her rather than stay trapped inside her mind.
"My heart is pierced by Cupid,
I disdain all glittering gold,
There is nothing can console me,
But my jolly sailor bold."
Immediately, Gracia turns towards Amelia and the later does likewise. Gracia's eyebrows are curled tight to the ridge of her nose with her mouth slightly open. Like a reflection, Amelia's face expresses the same wonder and confusion.
"That wasn't you singing? Was it?" Gracia asks.
Quickly, Amelia shakes her head vigorously. She doesn't want to be accused of doing something wrong, especially when she hasn't done anything.
In unison both girls grip the ships rim and search the dark waters. Overhead they can hear the man in the crow's nest shouting down at the others, but Gracia and Amelia don't listen to him. Their entire focus is being used by their eyes as they search for the beautiful voice that was singing.
Amelia is the first to spot a young boy close by who is desperately swimming towards them. He is trying to carry another boy through the churning waves beside him.
"There's someone in the water," Gracia screams across the deck with Amelia echoing her every word.
With amazingly steady steps, Xellos races to the bow with a grace and ease that defies the waves rocking beneath him. Xellos gazes down to where the girls are pointing right as the conscious boy dips below the water's surface. He is struggling with the smaller boy on his back, desperately trying to keep the unconscious boy's head out of the water.
"Man over board," Xellos calls out in a steady voice and begins to dispatch orders.
The girls watch in silence as the long boats are brought out and they continue to track the two boys with their eyes. Only once does Amelia take the time to look up across the ocean, making her wish she hadn't. Dead men and pieces of ship float across the foaming sea not too far away. Amelia turns away and grabs her sister's dress tight. Gracia does not look away and continues to holler out to the sailors where the two boys are.
When the two boys are hoisted and carried by larger men onto the deck, Amelia and Gracia race towards them. At first they are not allowed through because of the crowd of sailors pressing in until Xellos orders them to search of more survivors. The smaller of the boys is the first to be laid down, the larger boy seems to be putting up a weak fight as Xellos tightly wraps a large blanket around him. The boy with sharp violet hair is choking violently and is far too weak to cause any trouble for Xellos. His skin appears almost blue, and Amelia assumes it is from the cold of the sea.
After the exhausted boy is tightly bundled up he is set beside the other.
"Gracia and Amelia," Pillionel comes beside his daughters and guides them towards the two soaking wet survivors. "Look after them; I leave the lads in your care."
Xellos nods in agreement as the two men leave to join the search with the rest of the crew.
Both girls immediately kneel beside them. Gracia set's about feeling the smaller boys face and leans over to check and see that he is breathing. The unmoving boy has long matted violet hair with a tan complexion. His conscious companion is quite pale in comparison, only sharing a similar hair color.
"Is he breathing?" the boy asks as he bend over and begins another round of harsh coughing. He is shaking furiously, and Amelia can tell that it's not from the cold, but is a tremor pain. When he does happen to glance up at Gracia, Amelia is shocked at the sight of his eyes. It might be a trick, but they appear completely black to her.
With a small smile Gracia looks up at him and smiles. "He's still breathing; you kept his head out of the water."
A shaky sigh can be heard escaping his trembling form.
"I'm Gracia Seyruun and this is my sister Amelia Seyruun," Gracia leans forward in order to get a better look at who she is talking to. She wants to make sure that he is alright.
Immediately the boy shy's away, but he answers her in kind. "I am Zelgadis Greywards and my companion is Posel . . . Greywards." As he says this Zelgadis begins to sway from side to side.
Noticing this, Gracia leans forward and grabs Zelgadis before he nearly topples over.
"Is he okay," Amelia asks in shock as Gracia carefully lowers him to lie beside his brother.
"Considering what they've been through yes," Gracia assures her. "He's exhausted; I'm surprised he remained conscious as long as he did. He should be dead, after carrying his bother all the way to us." She spots a ring around Zelgadis's neck; it is silver and hanging from a chain around his neck. Without giving it much thought, Gracia takes the necklace and unclasps it from his neck. Amelia isn't watching, momentarily distracted as a large sailor teeters by, so is oblivious to her sister's theft, otherwise she would say something to dissuade her.
"He's in pain, sister, do you think he's hurt?" Amelia asks as she searches the numerous sailors bustling about. Perhaps one of them can heal him?
"It's best that a doctor looks them over."
"I can try to heal them by . . ." she raises her hands.
"NO!" Gracia bats them away.
Amelia's grabs at her stinging hand as her wide eyes stare at Gracia.
Her sister cannot meet her eyes and turns away saying, "Best to let the adults handle this."
Amelia nods slowly, her eyes naturally gazing down at Posel and Zelgadis. They are both around her age, roughly eight and eleven. On the sea, Amelia's ears begin to tickle as soft familiar words float by.
"Many a pretty blooming
Young girl we did behold
Reclining on the bosom
Of her jolly sailor bold."
"Did he say anything?" Xellos asks breaking Amelia from the haunting song.
"His name is Zelgadis Greywards and the other is Posel Greyward, I assume they are brothers, but he didn't say as much," Gracia answers. "That's all we found out, except Zelgadis did seem to be in pain."
"Thank you girl's, you can speak with them again after they have recovered from this unfortunate event," Xellos continues to smile as he motions for two men to take the unconscious children away.
As if in a dream, Amelia wanders to the edge of the ship and gazes past the destruction floating around her. Past it all, Amelia watches a large frigate ship disappear behind dense storm clouds. The dark vapors rising from the sea envelop the ship leaving no trace behind.
She will wonder for the days and years to come if she really did see that ship. But even with the passage of time she will be unable to forget the blood red sails that hung above that mysterious bow.
Author's Note: Hope I've caught your interest. This will be the shortest chapter in this story.