Chapter 1: First Meeting
Long ago, men at sea had written legends about creatures far from their homelands. The creatures were full of wonder and magic and they were often women with animal-like features. Although the creatures were very beautiful and kind but very deceitful, the men could not be fooled and legend tells that the men escaped with their lives. Some say that sirens protect the riches if Treasure Planet, but that is only a legend that has not been discovered. In a time of peace in the waters of the land, there lived many sirens, male & female, but one would change the course of their traditions and history forever...
On a sunny-side, sandy beach not far from the sea was housed, a wooden inn that harbored many paying customers. Also in this inn lived a family, a mother and son to be exact. The son was 17 years old and was very handsome and kind, yet adventurous and he longed to go on adventures by himself to prove his worth. But, he was a delinquent and often got in trouble with the law, making his mother worry for his future. Nevertheless, mother and son loved one another even though they had been torn apart by the loss of the boy's father and because the boy grew up without a father's guidance, he didn't know how a fatherless family could function. The boy hated his father and always tried to find new ways to escape his home life, even if it meant going on adventures far from the shores he called home, and boy, would that change his life!
The boy started to walk along the sandy beach, kicking sand to and fro with his boot-covered feet as he stuck his hands in his pockets. The boy seemed upset about something and needed an escape, so he decided to take a short walk along the beach to clear his mind. As he kept walking, he noticed a small object upon the sand. The boy stopped and cupped his hands over his eyes, trying to make out what the object was until he saw a human hand, loud and clear. Starting off onto the beach with a fast power-walk, the boy ran with a sprint up the beach, almost tripping on his own feet. He ran until he screeched to a stop, kneeling down to see the human on land. To the boy, the figure on the sand was a human girl with her upper body on land and lower body in the water, so naturally, he thought at first that she was sunbathing. It wasn't until he touched her arm that he released that she was unconscious and had been for a while, but he also noticed that he saw the glimmer of a shining, blue tail.
'A Siren,' He gasped in his head, to himself, as he backed away, stumbling over himself in a comical way. However, he noticed she was harmless and unconscious, so he decided to do one thing and one thing only: Offer her help by taking her back to the inn. The boy took off his coat, wrapping it around her bare breasts and body before lifting her into his arms bridal-style. After getting her off the ground, he lifted himself from the ground and saw her sapphire tail fade away until it turned into two, long legs that hung limply over his arms. As the boy readjusted his burden, he looked to make sure no one followed him before he made his way back to the inn, constantly looking at the girl in his arms. The girl was most definitely a siren because of her tail and enchanting beauty. Never in his life had the boy been entranced by someone so fair. The girl had a petite hour-glass figure and long legs to show off large breasts that made even the boy doubt her existence, hair as rich brown as garden soil that was so long that she could barely sit on it, and skin that glowed light olive with a golden hue. The girl even wore a strange charm on a long, brass chain around her neck: The charm was a brass circular charm with the image of a female mermaid imprinted on it, along with a sapphire stone hanging from a small ring under the charm. The boy noticed, as he walked along the path, that the girl had a deep, scarred gash in her right leg, most likely from a stab wound by a sword. The boy knew that from the looks of this girl that she needed help and decided to make haste back to the inn, determined to find out where she came from and if she needed help.
The boy made it back just as the inn's activity began to wind down before a voice was heard from afar, "James Pleiades Hawkins! Where have you been?"
"Hey, Mom. How did your day go?"
"Don't 'Hey, Mom' me! You're in big trouble, young man!"
"Relax, okay? I'm not hurt and besides, you're making too much racket."
"Jim, who's the girl?"
"I found her on the beach. She's harmless and needs help."
"Did she ask you for help?"
"How could she? She was unconscious, but she definitely needs my help." The woman stared at the girl, pitying her, before the elder woman sighed and with a gentle hand in Jim's shoulder, she commanded, "Take her to your bedroom and I'll get the doctor if he hasn't gone home yet. Just make sure she's all right."
"I will and thanks."
"Anything for a guest." Jim's mother ran off to find the doctor while Jim treaded the stairs to get to his bedroom, still carrying the girl in his arms. The girl never woke up or stirred once ever since she was found and finally when Jim got her to the room, he laid her down on the bed gently before covering her up with a blanket. He then watched from the stairs, making sure no one harmed her as he saw his mother and the doctor approaching. "Right this way, Doctor." Jim's mother, Sarah, led the way as she and the doctor treaded the stairs. Jim followed the two adults as the doctor sat down in the wooden chair beside the bed, examining the unconscious girl, siren, meticulously as the two Hawkins watched. After careful examination, the doctor told the two that the girl would be fine but should stay bed-ridden for at least two days or until she was able to stand and move about. Mother and son agreed to the doctor's words as he continued the exam, until he saw the wound on thebgirl's leg, "This is no good, no good at all! This wound needs to be cleaned with soap and water at once!"
"NO!" Jim shouted before the glancing eyes of the adults peered at him as he stuttered, "Umm-I-Umm-I think disinfectant would be better for her. Any more water and she'll get a cold."
"Yes, there is a chance of hypothermia. Very well, Jimmie. May you get the disinfectant?"
"Yes, sir!" Jim ran off to get the burning liquid while Sarah laughed, "Children!"
"They're cute at any age until they become adults. One day, Jim will be on his own and then he'll have a family of his own."
"Let's hope it's not too soon. He would need to settle down first."
"His time will come when you least expect it, you'll see." At last, Jim came back with the liquid as the doctor poured it into a cloth and applied it to the girl's flesh, not once hearing her wince or scream in pain. After he had fully examined the girl and cleaned up after himself, the doctor left to go home as Sarah called out, "Be sure to tell your family we said hi!"
"I will, Sarah, and one day, my family will see the inn themselves. Goodbye!"
"Bye!" Sarah called out as she waved before she shut the door, locked it, and followed Jim upstairs as she asked, "All right, what was that all yelling about? Don't lie through your teeth because a mother knows." Jim sighed before he admitted, "Okay, I can tell you behind closed doors, but why just tell you when I can show you?"
"Show me what?"
"You'll see!" Jim ran down the hall with his mother following close behind, awaiting the secret that Jim was about to show. Jim filled up a mug full of water and raised it over the girl's long, bare legs as Sarah yelled, "Are you crazy? You'll give her a cold!"
Jim clicked his tongue before he remarked, "Ah, ah, ah! You followed me here and now you'll watch. Just look and listen." Jim raised the mug before he poured it's contents onto the girl's legs while Sarah watched before she hissed impatiently, "That's it! She's getting dried off and you're going to apologize to-"
"Look!" Jim pointed as Sarah gasped, seeing sapphire scales sprouting out from the girl's legs. The girl still remained unconscious even after all that and before Sarah could utter a sentence, the scales disappeared within a few seconds of water hitting it. When Sarah finally gained the words, she stuttered, "She's a-You found her as a-She's a siren like the legends say!"
"Yep. I didn't know until I pulled her outta the water, but she needs my help, siren or not, and I'm determined to help her. "
"Of course you are! Now, how's about we get some food in our bellies and get some sleep so we can decide what to do with her in the morning? We've had a long day and we need our strength."
"You won't get rid of her, will you?" Sarah ruffled her son's bangs as she soothed, "No, of course not! She'll be safe here and don't worry about her payment to stay here. When she's able, I'll see if I can get her a job here at the inn."
"Thanks, Mom. You're the best!"
"You better believe it!" The two laughed before Sarah departed downstairs to get some food for the two family members, but as she started down, she turned and watched Jim as he remained in the room. She became concerned as she asked, "Are you coming with me?"
"Yeah, but I just want to set up where I'll sleep. I don't want to move the girl."
"What about in one of the guest rooms? They won't mind."
"Nah! I guess I'll get some blankets and pillows and sleep on the floor. I'll be fine, promise!"
"You sure you'll be comfortable on the floor?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine. I've slept down there before."
"We'll, if you insist. When you're done setting up, cone down immediately. Supper won't be but a few minutes."
"Yes, ma'am!" Sarah left to go rustle up some food while Jim grabbed a dark bedroll and a thin blanket, as well as a pillow and laid the bedroll beside the bed. Jim started making everything comfortable for himself as he smelled his Mom's cooking downstairs. When he was satisfied with his 'bed,' Jim ran downstairs to eat some of his Mom's food, filling his belly with her home-cooking before the two went separate ways for the night.
Jim shut his door, leaving a crack open, before he settled down on the bedroll and covered himself up with the thin blanket.
As he drifted off to sleep, he heard a moaning noise and looking up, saw the girl waking up. The girl blinked her eyes and stretched before she scratched her head until she saw Jim and gasped, pulling the bed sheet around her tightly as Jim soothed her, "It's all right. I won't hurt you and I recently found you on the beach. Are you all right?"
"W-Who are you?" The girl trembled as Jim replied, "I'm Jim, Jim Hawkins and so you don't have to ask, you're in my Mom and I's inn."
"Is this the inn I think it is? Is this Benbow inn?"
"Yep, the one and only."
"Where I come from, this inn is a very good one. I've always wanted to come on land and try it out!"
"So you came on the land for your first time to see the inn? Sounds like a corny dream."
"Oh..." The girl sighed sadly before Jim comforted, "But, it's a nice dream too when you think about it. It's not everyday you see a siren washed up on the sand."
"You know what I am?"
"Yeah, my father's a sailor and I read adventure stories. I love adventures with action and treasure."
"Sounds like a good explanation and passion for adventure, at least to me...But, I don't really like sailors nor do I like their stinging weapons."
"Well, I may be an adventurer but I'm no sailor. You have nothing to fear as long as you're here."
"Thanks for saving me."
"What's your name? It must be beautiful for one so fair."
"Do you always flirt like this?"
"Maybe, but who's to say?" The girl laughed innocently at Jim's remark, causing the teenager to smile too before the girl replied, "My name's Linnea."
"Linnea? What a lovely name!"
"Thanks." The girl yawned after blinking her sapphire eyes before Jim chuckled, "You must be tired after such a long journey from home."
"It's better here than back home, but I am tired."
"I'll leave you alone so you can rest. Night, Linnea."
"Night, Jim." Linnea yawned before she settled back down onto the bed, her left hand dangling off the edge of the bed. As soon as she fell asleep, Jim grasped Linnea's hand and shut his eyes with content. Now, he knew her name but he didn't know where she came from or why she really came but something told the adventurer that there was more to the siren than met the eyes and when he found out, would he ever be the same? The more he wondered, the more he thought about Linnea and how her voice and body entranced him. Just thinking about her made him become soothed as he drifted off into a deep sleep.
Now, it's up to you, as the reader, to decide if you want to continue reading this take, so just sit back, relax, and watch the tale of a man and a siren as they find the greatest treasure of them all!