Chapter 4

Two years later, Calanthe had forgotten all about Leonidas. And her family. In her early days of being a Siren, she went back to her home for one day and had realized, upon seeing their preparations for a funeral for her, that her family believed she was dead – and that there was nothing she could do to convince them otherwise. When they'd seen her, they'd believed she was a ghost and had been terrified out of their minds.

Calanthe had, for the most part, enjoyed being a Siren. Agreed, it was hard to have to sing and murder innocent people, but generally, Calanthe could overlook that (until the next singing, anyway). She enjoyed being carried through different parts of the Ocean faster than any Olympic athlete could swim, adored the beautiful sea-salt dresses that she'd had over the years, and loved that she could never age or get hurt or ill. Often, she would live on and then sleep on the shore of whatever country she'd happened to travel to, even though she knew she didn't need to sleep. The Ocean, however, understood that she liked to indulge in human needs such as food and sleep sometimes.

However, in more recent years, something changed: Calanthe wasn't perfectly happy.

One day, after five years of being a Siren, Calanthe suddenly ran off the cliff she was standing on and threw herself into the Ocean, feeling worse than ever before.

Calanthe! What in the world is the matter? The Ocean sifted through Calanthe's thoughts, trying to solve the evident problem. Slow down; your thoughts are coming on too fast!

Just take my life now, Ocean! Calanthe's thoughts screamed, near tears, as she sank to the Ocean floor. I can't stay in this life another minute; I'd rather die than go on like this!

The Ocean was clearly alarmed. But what's the matter, Calanthe? Settle down and tell me once you're calmer.

Calanthe only calmed down a tad but broke out in open tears as she went on. I can't spend ninety-five more years like this! I can't talk to anyone or befriend anyone since my voice will kill them – I'm so lonely and bored these days that I fear I'm going mad! Just kill me now and put me out of my misery!

Ah. The Ocean paused a moment as She gently soothed Calanthe. I see now; since I'm not in any way human myself, I often forget the ways of humans – even though you're a Siren, part of you is still human. I remember now that humans need interaction and companionship with other humans – and as luck would have it, I happen to have a solution. Since I can tell whenever someone is in My waters, I have found a girl who is in danger of soon drowning; I'll take you to her, and We shall convert her into a Siren, too, if she is willing.

Where are we going? Calanthe asked as the Ocean began swiftly pulling her through the water.

To Africa; this girl was caught in an undertow. I think she'll make a fine Siren. Once we find her, you will have to explain what it'll mean for her to be a Siren. We must move quickly now, though; your new sister is waiting!

A few minutes later, Calanthe had nearly reached the coast of Madagascar. Before long, she spotted both a small boat and a limp figure being pulled deeper and deeper under the water.

That's her! Move quickly now, she's nearly gone!

Calanthe obeyed; she swam close to the girl, and with help from the Ocean, pulled her out of the undertow and swam back to shore upon surfacing. She sat on the beach with her toes in the water for about a minute, cradling the nearly-drowned girl's head in her lap.

Is she dead, Ocean?

No. Just deeply unconscious.

Pretty soon, the girl's breathing grew deeper – although more ragged, also. Shortly after, she gasped and choked as she came to and began coughing up seawater.

Once she could breathe normally again, she turned to Calanthe. "Did you save me?" she asked. "Or am I dead? I've never seen anyone with pale flesh like yours!" She spoke in a language Calanthe had never heard before, but Calanthe, being a Siren, could understand her perfectly.

"I did save you, but you're still alive," Calanthe answered.

The girl squinted. "I have never heard your language," she started, "but I can still understand you! Why is that?"

"I think that's due to the fact that specifically, I'm talking to you," Calanthe answered. "Let me elaborate: my name is Calanthe, and I am what's called a Siren. I serve the Ocean by feeding Her. And now, we want to invite you to work for Her as well."

"What would the Ocean eat?"

Calanthe paused. "Ships. People on those ships. I sing and make them want to come to me, and thus, the Ocean is fed."

"That does not sound like a good life; it sounds terrible!"

"There are good things about it. As a Siren, you can never age or get hurt or sick, and you don't need to eat or sleep. If you decide to become a Siren, you'll serve the Ocean for a hundred years, and then you'll get your voice and your life back. During those hundred years, however, you can't speak to any human the way you normally would, or they'll be under the Ocean's spell. Does this all make sense?"

"A little…" the girl answered, clearly confused.

Calanthe laughed. "Don't worry, you'll understand it more, the longer you serve Her. But during your time as a Siren, all your memories of your human life will eventually fade. I can't even remember what my life was like before I became a Siren."

"You remember nothing?"

"Nothing."

Pause. "It's your choice; you can join us, or return to where you're from."

The girl looked at Calanthe. "I'll do anything to get away from my old life!" she suddenly blurted. "I'll stay!"

"What's your name, and how old are you?"

"Mbali; I'm sixteen."

"What happened to make you want to leave, Mbali?"

"I am the daughter of my clan's chief. Recently, my father betrothed me to a man who I don't even love – and so I stole one of our canoes and ran away. But the ocean gods must have sought to punish me for running away, for they pulled my canoe and me under the water. But I won't go back to my father and my betrothed, never, never!"

"Then you can stay and become a Siren," Calanthe answered. "Follow me, and you'll be transformed into one of us."

With that, Calanthe pulled Mbali to her feet and led her into the water. Before long, the Ocean pulled both girls under Her waters, and the same process that had happened to Calanthe five years earlier happened to Mbali; the Ocean's magic was gently forced down Mbali's throat, her looks were enhanced tenfold, and her clothing and decorative ornaments fell away as sea-salt began clinging to her dark body, forming her first sea-salt gown.

I have been reborn! I am a goddess! she cried out; Calanthe laughed and smiled at her. She herself would never be lonely again.

After Mbali had been a Siren for several years, she and Calanthe recruited another girl to be a Siren, and another girl after her several more years afterward. From then on, the Sirens the Ocean took on would never be alone.

And to this very day, the Ocean still recruits Her Sirens…

So, yeah, that's it! I hope it wasn't too cheesy or corny, I just wanted to create a story explaining when the Ocean started taking Sirens! And it takes place (mostly) in ancient Greece, so how cool is that? I hope you like! :)