A/N Have you ever had something nag at the back of your brain so much that it makes it hard to concentrate on anything else? Well that is what's happening with the story you are about to read, so I am putting my other story, As Time Goes By, on a brief hiatus so I can get this whole story down on paper.
This story, Song of the Siren, is my take on Hans Christian Anderson's original story of The Little Mermaid. So any credit to the basic plotline I give to him. I'm a bit nervous about posting Song of the Siren because it is taking me a bit out of my comfort zone. I've never written a story that doesn't take place in current times, and it's my worry that it won't come off sounding right. I am doing my best to get the speech patterns correct, but if it jumps back and forth between current times, the renaissance era, and old Keltic speech, please forgive me and just go with it.
I am really curious on your reaction to this first chapter and about how many of you would like to see it continued. So if you could, please let me know by liking and favoring the story, and leaving a comment in the reviews below. I really would appreciate it. As for sirens themselves, I use this link for my definition, specifically this excerpt:
Some authors seesawed on the subject. Guillame le Clerc, in his Bestiaire (c. 1210) said that the beautiful, murderous siren has the lower body of "a fish or a bird." Bartholomaeus Anglicus, in De proprietatibus rerum, "On the Properties of Things" (1240), was careful to cover all his bases. "The Mermayden, hyghte Sirena, is a see beaste wonderly shape," he said, and proceeded to describe fish-women, fowl-women, crested serpents, and pretty much everything in between.
home/fish-or-fowl-how-did-sirens-become-mermaids
Now, without further ado, it is with my greatest hopes that you enjoy what you are about to read.
Song of the Siren
Chapter 1
Bartlett Harbor, 1807
A shiver runs down five-year-old Helga Pataki's spine as a cold current flows through the family's coral mansion. Shifting positions, she pulls a thick strand of seaweed up to her chin in an effort to block out the chilling water. Her eyes shift back and forth as the dream she is having plays out before her.
In this dream she watches as a blonde haired human, who is roughly the same age as her, plays at the water's edge, unaware of her watchful eyes. She envies him as he runs about, dodging the waves as they lap upon the shore, his laugh is like soft music to her ears. The boy is not unfamiliar to her, for she has seen him often in her waking life, each time she has allowed herself to stray further than she should from the protection of her home.
On this occasion she has finally gathered up enough nerve to come out from her hiding spot behind the big rock that sits far enough off shore for her to be no more than a spot on the water if she was to be seen. Ducking under the water's surface to fill her gills with enough life sustaining oxygen to last her a good while above water, she comes out from hiding and swims towards the child.
Sleeping Helga unconsciously smiles as dream human looks up from the sand castle that the odd-headed boy is building. As she draws nearer their eyes meet and the boy stands and walks towards the water, his castle of sand forgotten for the time being. She stops swimming when his toes touch the water, and she hovers in place and calls to him.
Like metal to a magnet he is drawn to her, unable to resist her pull. The water is up to his chest now and he reaches out one small hand to her. Lifting her own arm, she closes the gap between their hands with her outstretched fingers. Just as their fingertips are about to touch she is rudely awakened by the sound of her mother's voice.
"Helga dear, it's time to get up. You don't want to be late for your sister's first calling, do you?"
Opening her eyes, she takes in her surroundings, her heart dropping at the sight of the familiar walls that make up her bedroom. Rolling to her back she answers her mother's call. "Criminy, alright already, I'm up."
Satisfied, her mother smiles and swims away. "That's good, dear. Now hurry and come to breakfast, we don't want the fog to clear before we get to where we're going."
With a grumble Helga untangles herself from the warm seaweed, and uses her tail to slowly glide to a broken piece of mirror that sits atop of her dresser. Picking up a comb made from the skeletal remains of some long dead fish, she runs it through her long blonde hair before affixing a small bow that she found while on a recent scavenger hunt through an old, sunken ship, to the back of her head.
Once she feels put together enough to pass her father's inspection, she joins the rest of her family. Grabbing a handful of kelp, she munches it as she listens to her sister ramble on about the day's events.
"Oh Mommy, Daddy, I'm so excited to finally be able to partake in my very first calling."
Her father replies through a grunt. "Heh, I can't believe you're finally old enough for this stuff."
"Oh, B." Their mother replies, "I know what you mean. It won't be much longer before we'll be marrying her off to that nice merboy the matchmaker paired her with."
This statement is met with a huff from Helga. "Ha! What a load of sea sludge. There's no way you'll ever find me hooking up with some loser that old Sea Hag picks out for me."
Helga's comment garner's her father's attention. "Hey, hey, hey, hey, little girl. Just watch what comes out of that mouth of yours. No five-year-old should be talking like that. Criminy, I blame you, Miriam, for her attitude you know."
Wanting to avoid a family fight on her big day, Olga is quick to cut her mother off before she has a chance to reply. "Oh, daddy, I do so wish you could join us for my calling."
Big Bob answers with a roll of his eyes. "Come on, Olga, you know that no self-respecting Merman would be caught dead partaking in women's work. Besides, I've got a brand new shipment of shells being delivered all the way from the Red Sea today. I'll be too busy at the store to waste my time at a calling."
Olga's shoulders slump a bit at her father's words, the action causing a small smirk to form on Helga's mouth.
Not wanting her eldest daughter to be sad on her big day, Miriam is quick to change the subject. "Okay, well, that's enough chit-chat for now. We'd better be on our way before the fog lifts."
Eager to be anywhere but in the presence of Big Bob, Helga is the first to head for the door. "You don't have to tell me twice. Last one outside is a no good bottom feeder!"
xxxxx
It's a good ten miles or so to the spot that's been picked out for Olga's first calling, but with the current at their backs, the going is smooth and easy. Helga lingers by her mother's side as she wonders just what it is that Merpeople have against humans that they feel the need to constantly lure them to their death.
"Hey, Mom, can I ask you a question?"
Miriam turns to face her child as she swims and gives her a smile. "Why of course, Helga. What is it you want to know?"
"Well, I was just wondering. What is it that us Merfolk have against humans, and when did it all start?"
Miriam rolls her eyes to the top of her head as she ponders the question. "Well, that is a very good question, Helga. You see, for centuries humans have spent their time ravishing the seas, with no regard for the creatures that live within."
"So, they hunt fish. Don't we, ourselves, partake in a shell fish or two on occasion?"
Miriam nods her head. "Why, yes, we do, but you see, we are careful to not take more than what we need, leaving enough to sustain the population. It's different with humans. They just cast their nets out willy-nilly, catching anything that is unfortunate enough to get caught. Dragging them to the surface. Choosing what they want while disregarding what they don't. Leaving the poor souls out of water long enough to suffocate before discarding them back into the sea."
Olga swims up next to the two and adds her two cents. "That's right, Baby Sister, and it's not only fish that they catch. Isn't that right, Mommy?"
Again Miriam nods her head in agreement. "That's right, dear. There have been times when a Merfolk has been caught, and it's a big problem when that happens for you see, it's very important that we keep our identity a secret from the humans."
Helga gives her mother a confused look. "It is? Why?"
Miriam continues on. "Because, for years us Merfolk have been nothing but legend, sought after by selfish humans who want nothing more than to hang us on a wall or stick us in a tank of water to be gawked at. That's why whenever a Merfolk is unlucky enough to be caught in a net it is imperative that they be freed by whatever means possible. If it were to ever be known that we actually do exist it would be open hunting season on us and nowhere under the sea would be safe."
"Not only do our people have to be worried about being caught up in nets." Olga adds, "But there have been times when a Merfolk has been harpooned right through the heart! It's just awful to think about."
"Yes it is." Miriam agrees. "It's also very important that when one of our own is caught we do our best to rescue them before the humans realize what they have. Otherwise that Merperson could find themselves on display or perhaps if the worst has happened, dissected to be studied like some sort of experiment."
"So you see. Baby Sister, this is why we use our song to lure those awful humans to their demise before they can get to us first."
Helga is still filled with questions. "Do all Merpeople sing?"
Olga gives a little giggle. "No, silly. Only we girls do. That's why we are each born with our own special song that is just ours. No two mermaid songs are the same, and those evil human boys always fall for it."
Helga tries to make sense of what she's hearing, and thinks about the blonde boy she's watched from afar. "But surely not all humans are evil."
Miriam slowly shakes her head. "I'm sorry, Helga, but I'm afraid they are. So that is why we call. That is why we use our voices to lure the murders out to sea to crash on the jagged rocks that await them."
Helga shakes her head. "No, I can't believe that all humans are like that. As a matter of fact I'm positive that there has to be some good among the land dwellers. There – there's just got to be."
Miriam smiles as she looks ahead and sees that they've finally reached their destination. "Oh, well, that's enough of that for now. Look, we're here. Come on, Olga and take your position on top of that big rock over there. Your sister and I will be looking out from right behind you."
Dipping down to fill her gills with air, Olga hoists herself up to the top of the rock and looks at the bed of rocks that spread out before her. Casting her eyes beyond them she spies a small sailing ship that bobs up and down in the ocean's swells. "Oh, mother, I see a ship! Should I start my call?"
Miriam peeks over the top of the rock and gauges the distance between them and the unsuspecting ship. "Yes, Olga, I think they are just close enough to hear your call. Start off low and let your voice be carried by the wind. Come here, Helga, and watch your sister."
Pulling herself up so just her forehead and eyes show above the exposed rock, Helga waits for Olga to begin her call.
Steadying herself, Olga sits tall upon the rock. Opening her mouth she emits a melody that sounds as if the Heavens themselves have opened up to fill the earth below with its glory. It is light and airy as it gracefully lifts itself upon the wind to be carried to her prey.
There is an old man at the wheel of the ship and Helga watches as he turns his face to where the sound is coming from. He searches the horizon, squinting at the silhouette he sees shrouded in the morning fog. He works on auto-pilot as he turns the ship to head directly into the waiting rocks.
Helga watches in horror as the ship heads towards its demise. She sees two more grown humans, another man and a woman, come up from below deck and run to the older gentleman. He fights to hold onto the wheel as they try to get him to change his course.
Olga sees the battle for control of the ship and ups the volume of her song. The notes catch the ear of the younger male and he freezes in place. Now it is the woman that is left alone to try her best to sway the ship from its ultimate doom but she becomes distracted when a small child appears from below deck.
Helga's eyes widen in shock as she recognizes the unusual shape of the young boy's head, and the shock of blonde hair that sticks up from it. She lets out a loud "NO!" while trying her best to scramble to the top of the rock.
Her efforts are thwarted when her mother places a hand on her shoulder, holding her in place. "Shh, Helga, be quiet. You don't want to interrupt your sister's calling do you?"
Helga nods her head. "Yes, I do. She has to stop. Please, Mommy make her stop. Don't let her call this ship, not this ship, please!"
Miriam lets out a little chuckle. "Oh, Helga, dear, it's too late. Once a calling has begun it can't be stopped. Now pay attention and watch how it's done because some day it will be your turn you know."
Helga violently shakes her head as the tears stream from her eyes. She looks out and notices that the female human has noticed the small boy and runs to grab him. She scoops the child into her arms as the ship hits the first of the rocks. The crew is jolted and knocked off their feet at the impact. The blow causes the boy to be shook loose from the female's arms, and he goes sliding to the stern of the ship as its bow is lifted over the rocks.
A great gust of wind comes up, pushing the ship further onto the rocks and the sound of splintering wood mixes with the call of the Siren. With one last push all four passengers are thrown from the ship and into the waiting arms of the sea.
Neither Miriam nor Olga notice when Helga leaves their hiding spot behind the rock and heads towards the scattered remains of the ship. Kicking her tail as hard as she can, the small mermaid jettisons through the water to where she saw the small boy enter the sea.
She searches the murky water and is about to give up hope when a flash of blonde catches her eye. She sees the small child as he is tumbled about in the undercurrent and rushes to his side. Once she reaches him it takes all her strength to carry him to the water's surface and keep his head held above it.
She knows that she must get him to shore and scans the water for something to help her. Looking to her right, she sees a broken piece of the ship's wood that is just large enough to place him upon it. It takes some doing, but eventually her efforts pay off and she lays him face down on the makeshift raft.
Getting behind it, she uses her tail to push them both towards shore. The child lets out a moan and begins to cry and call for his mother, the sound breaking Helga's heart in two. She does the only thing she can think of to sooth him, and begins to softly hum her own song that is unique to her. The melody works to calm the child and soon his sobs begin to subside. He becomes lulled by the gentle strains of Helga's song, and he cracks his eyes opened just enough to peer into hers. Their eyes meet for one brief second before he closes his again and finally drifts off to sleep.
After another mile of swimming they eventually enter into shallow water. She does her best to push him as far up on shore as she can, flopping her fin like a seal moving along dry land. She makes sure that he is far enough on land so as not to be washed back out to sea and drops a soft kiss to his temple. Saying her good-byes, she crawls back to the water, dipping her head below the surface and taking a deep breath in. She lifts her head up to get one last look at the boy before returning back to the sea, and home.
She never tells her family about what she did while her mother and daughter explored the wrecked ship, keeping it as her own, personal secret.
Thirteen Years Later
He floats alone in a small fishing boat just far enough off shore to where his lobster traps have been set. He works at bringing up the traps and to his delight he finds them laden with the delectable treat. Tonight's special at the Sunset Shores Tavern that he and his grandmother own is going to be a popular one, and he's happy to see that all the traps are full.
When he's finished bringing up the last of the traps he spends a quiet moment in the calm waters. It's early and the fog has not yet lifted off the water's surface. An old melody plays through his head, one that has haunted him for as long as he can remember. Again he tries to recall where he's heard the soft melody, but, as always, he comes up emptyhanded.
He stares out over the horizon, searching for what he does not know, when something catches his eye. He's not sure, but he swears that it is the form of a woman he sees, watching him from a large rock. He closes his eyes, rubbing them to clear them, but by the time he reopens them the image is gone without a trace. A feeling of de je vu overtakes him for a brief moment, then disappears as quickly as it came. He shrugs his shoulders and chalks it up to too much salt air and turns the boat so he can row himself and his bounty back to shore, thinking about all the work that waits for him back at home.
A/N So, what do you think so far?