Nightshade: A SimLit | Chapter 78: The Siren's Song

The days in Sulani seemed to breeze by. Onyx and Amelia had honestly never felt more at peace than they did in their tropical paradise, and if it were up to them, they'd probably never go home. But all good things eventually come to an end, and that was soon to include their vacation. It was a bit disheartening that they had to leave so soon, but regardless, they were going to make sure to spend their last few days thoroughly enjoying every last second. Perhaps the best habit they'd picked up while staying here was spending hours on end just enjoying each other's presence, talking and discussing the most trivial things they could think of, finally able to just live in the moment instead of always wondering about what was to come next. 

"So, what do you want to do tomorrow?" Onyx smiled at Amelia as he questioned her, resting his arms on the dining table underneath them. Although they didn't exactly need food, they enjoyed visiting the local diners to taste Sulani cuisine, which included plenty of things they'd never tried before. "I was thinking we should try scuba diving or snorkeling."

She raise an eyebrow, giving him a side glance before averting her gaze. "You? Going down into the water with giant sharks and probably piranhas and... whatever else has big teeth? When did you get so daring?"

He laughed. "You're starting to rub off on me."

"And I'm starting to miss the Onyx that would lecture me for suggesting something to get us killed," Amelia grinned playfully. 

"Hey, it's supposed to be safe!"

"Sure it is. We'll see if you're still saying that tomorrow." Amelia rolled her eyes and turned her attention to the only other person in the diner, sitting all alone at a table by the window and gazing out into the ocean longingly. His tousled blond hair blew softly in the breeze and he huffed out a heavy sigh, propping his head on his hand. There was a feeling of emptiness that seemed to radiate from him, as though those waters held whatever once completed him, long since washed away by the tide.

"Is it just me or has he been moping over there the whole time we've been here?" Amelia whispered. "He seems so... I don't know, depressed." 

Onyx nodded. "I noticed, too..."

Her eyes wandered to the feature that stood out the most to her: just below his right knee, clearly visible thanks to his cuffed shorts, was a prosthetic leg. It wasn't something she saw often and she couldn't help wondering the story behind it. After all, he looked so young, barely out of his teenage years... "Maybe we should go talk to him. He looks like he needs a friend."

"You're right." Onyx stood from his seat. "Obviously something has him feeling down. He could use some cheering up."

The two didn't even receive so much as a glance in their direction as they approached him.

"Hey there," Onyx said gently. "We couldn't help noticing that you seem like you need some company..."

It was then that he finally glanced in their direction, trying to hide his sadness. "Nah, I'm fine..."

Amelia frowned. "You're not fooling us. I know we're complete strangers, but if you need to get something off your shoulders, we'll listen."

"Well... it's cool of you to worry about me. I guess I just kinda need a distraction or something. Got a lot on my mind," he sighed. "...I'm Marino. Who are you?"

"Amelia, and this is my husband, Onyx," she replied. "Are you on vacation here too?"

"No, I've lived here for the past year." Marino forced a smile. "Sulani's pretty rad, don't you think?"

Onyx smiled. "It's amazing."

"Hey, uh..." Amelia hesitated. "Nice leg, by the way. How'd that happen? If you don't mind me asking. I don't mean to get personal--"

"You're good, don't worry." Marino interrupted. "I get a lot of questions about it. Really, the story behind it is long as heck though, so... I don't wanna bother you with that."

"Well, we have plenty of time if you'd like to tell us." She smiled. "Right, Onyx?"

"Of course." He nodded. "If it's that long it must be interesting."

"Oh, it is." Marino averted his gaze, back out the window to fixate on he ocean view. "...It happened a year ago today, actually, right here in Sulani on a sunny day..."

---

One Year Ago...

"Ever since I was young, I dreamed of being a surfer. My family took a vacation to Sulani every summer for as long as I can remember, and I was always excited to come back. This time, though, I wasn't just here for a vacation; I was here to compete in the annual surfing competition..."

 "Hey, are you in the competition, too?"

"To say that I was left breathless when I turned to look at the girl who spoke to me would be an understatement. Her figure was so beautifully sculpted, like an artist had formed her with his own two hands, wrapped seductively by the cloth of her dress. Her eyes were like the deep ocean. Her hair cascaded down her body, contouring to every curve underneath it... her voice was chilling, maybe even haunting, and sounded almost like a song... every inch of her was pure perfection."

"Y-Yeah, I am." Marino stammered out, his cheeks heating up as he gazed intensely at her. For a moment it felt as though he couldn't force himself to look away. "Are you?"

"No, I just... know some of the other surfers here..." Her words rolled off of her tongue with ease. "Tell me, what's your name?"

 "...It's Marino, what about yours?"

"Lorelei," she replied. "You know, you seem to be in... excellent physical condition."

"W-What?" One of his eyebrows raised.

Lorelei stepped closer, her hips swaying as she moved. "I mean... you have nice muscles. Strong legs. I bet you'll easily win the surfing competition..." 

There was a sultriness to her voice that made his heart pound. "T-Thanks. That's, uh... totally rad of you to say."

She winked. "I won't be the only one giving you compliments. The women here will go wild for you... but perhaps I can be the one that's lucky enough to get to know you better?"

"It was then that I realized I was being seduced. I mean, she was totally great at it, but I didn't really have the time for dating and relationships. My whole life was focused on keeping my surfing and swimming skills sharp so that I could continue to improve, y'know? Not to mention that I was planning to return home to Brindleton Bay the next day, so going out with girls in Sulani wasn't going to do me any good..."

"Wow, uh... you seem like a totally awesome girl and all, but unfortunately you're not gonna get that chance. I'm going back home to Brindleton Bay tomorrow."

"Oh?" Lorelei frowned. "Well, that's certainly unfortunate... but how about you treat me to dinner tonight? I'm sure once you win the surfing competition you'll want a way to celebrate, right?"

'Wait, she thinks that celebrating for me is treating HER to dinner?' Marino forced a smile. "Look, you're sweet. Really. But I don't wanna lead you on and send you tumbling head over heels just for me to leave you behind. You understand, right?" Before she could respond, a group of surfers ahead called for him to come over. The competition was about to start, and this was his ticket to escape the awkward encounter. "Sorry, gotta go. I'll catch ya later, dudette!"

As he scurried off toward the shoreline, Lorelei wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Dudette?" she murmured. "...Trust me, it isn't you who will do the catching..."

"I never felt more alive than when I was riding those crystal clear waves. The wind blowing through your hair, your face being kissed by the mist that rose up from the water... I miss those sensations so much, man. Everything was going fine. I was totally lost in the moment, staring out into the clear blue skies..."

"But then everything went wrong. I don't know how it happened..."

"Something came up underneath me and knocked me off my board. I plunged into the water, disoriented and honestly a little scared. I heard everybody on the beach yelling..."

"Shark!"

"The surfers around me were turning to head back to the shore. The pain happened before I could even regain my composure. It shot up my leg like a thousand knives. I remember screaming as I was pulled below the surface..."

"I was thrashing and struggling with every bit of strength I had. I couldn't hold my breath very long and my chest felt like it was on fire as I inhaled the water mixed with my own blood. The shark was pulling me further and further away from the light that I could still see in the distance... I remember thinking that it was the end for me. But what happened next is something that I can't explain... I was barely conscious, slowly drifting away when the shark left. I was losing too much blood. The only awareness that I still had was the unbearable pain that had overcome my body... and a voice."

"Don't worry. I've got you..."

"I felt her arms wrap around me and begin to pull me up toward the surface. I could make out the sounds of lifeguards attempting to locate me in the water. I forced my eyes to open, and although my vision was blurred, I remember what I saw vividly. She had the most... marvelous tail. It was golden and covered in glistening scales... she... she was a mermaid. I'm sure of it."

---

"When they pulled me up onto the beach, she was nowhere to be seen. That's the last thing I remember before I slipped into unconsciousness. And when I woke up in the hospital... dude, my lower leg was totally gone," Marino said. "And with it went my lifelong dream of being a surfer. Since I was kinda stuck here during recovery, I moved in with a surfer friend and I've lived in Sulani ever since."

"Oh my gosh..." Amelia frowned, averting her gaze to the floor. "That's terrible. I'm so sorry that happened to you... I know it has to be hard adjusting to the change."

"I'm sorry to hear it, too. But I guess it's just time for you to find a new dream, right? There has to be something else in store for you. Your life isn't over just because your surfing career is," Onyx said.

"Don't feel sorry for me. It has been hard adjusting to everything, but you're right." Marino sighed. "My life isn't over. There's a reason I'm still here, I guess... I should have died that day."

"Well, you're tough, that's for sure." Amelia grinned. "We should really get going, but tonight we're going to go for a walk on the beach. Maybe you should join us. You can tell us all about your surfing stuff... since it's been a year, you should take some time to remember the good things, right?"

"...I'd really like that." Marino smiled. "Thank you..."

She nodded. "Then we'll see you tonight. You can meet us outside the hotel we're staying in. I'm sure you know where it is."

"Of course I do. It's the only one in Sulani." He chuckled. "I'll see you then."

---

As planned, the three took a long walk together on the beach that night. Their conversation regarded surfing at first, but it quickly transformed into no particular topic at all. They'd been blabbering for what felt like ages when Amelia suddenly stopped, motioning for Onyx and Marino to stop walking as she did so. "...do you hear that?"

"Hear what?" Onyx whispered. 

"Just listen." Amelia looked up ahead, squinting to see what was in the distance and listening closely, She could hear something splashing in the water, but the sound was far louder than any fish would make. Careful not to make any noise, she edged closer to the source of the sound, motioning for the boys to follow her.

Their eyes finally began to focus on the source of the noise: people swimming in the water. Or, upon closer inspection, perhaps they weren't exactly people at all...

Amelia's eyes widened. "Wait, is it just me or do they have--"

"Shhh, look!" Marino silenced her and pointed to a girl wading waist-deep in the water. There was something about her that gave him a sense of deja vu. Her dark brown curls and tanned skin felt so familiar to him...

The ocean was rippling as she walked in deeper. And then, without hesitation, she dived into the deep darkness below the surface.

She leaped back out of the water moments later with a great splash, stretching out her long, golden tail that glistened in the moonlight. Droplets of water danced around her, and when she plunged back into the sea, Marino realized who she was.

"I-It's her," he gasped, his hand shooting upward to cover his mouth. "I can't believe it..."

"No way! T-That's... that's Leilani! The girl we met on the beach the day we came here!" Amelia glanced at Onyx, who seemed equally as shocked. 

It took him a moment to respond. "...well, she isn't the only mermaid."

"Um, not to kill our conversation, but we have company..." Waiola frowned. "Human company."

Kai gasped. "Wait, crap, people saw us!? What should we do?"

"Drown them," Ahe said.

"We can't just--"

Waiola cut him off. "N-No, I think it's okay. It's the tourists from the beach we were talking to a few days ago. And... a friend of theirs, I assume?" 

Ahe raised an eyebrow. "How are human intruders okay? They probably want to kill us!" 

Leilani turned to look at the supposed intruders, having overhead her friends' conversation. "Wait, Waiola's right. I think it's safe. That man... he's the one that I..."

"That you what?" Kai questioned, watching as she swam closer to the people. 

By the time she reached the shoreline, Marino was waiting there for her, stooped down closer to her level. "A-Are you... are you the girl who saved me?"

"You remember?" Leilani smiled, resting her chin on her hands. "I'm so glad to see that you're doing better... you really scared me that day. I thought you were a goner."

"I was totally a goner until you rescued me!" He frowned. "I've been hoping that I'd find you someday so I could at least say thanks. I owe you my life... I have no idea why that shark attacked me, but--"

"Actually, I do." She paused, searching for the right words. "You were talking to a woman named Lorelei before it happened, right...? I saw her approach you on the beach."

"Yeah, that was her name... why do you ask?"

"Oh, well, that explains it. She's a siren, so attempting to drown people is kind of her thing. She just summoned a shark to do it for her."

There was an awkward silence between them.

"Wait, you're saying she tried to kill me!?" Marino exclaimed. "That is not cool!"

"Her story is kind of a long one," Leilani sighed. "We have a lot of catching up to do. I'll tell you and your friends more about your attempted murderer if you want?"

"I-I mean, I guess I'd like to know why she'd do that." Marino walked further onto the beach and sat down, patting the sand beside him. "...And I'd also like to get to know you and your friends."

"We would, too," Amelia added, sitting down as well. "I'm so fascinated. I'd never seen a mermaid before..."

 Leilani curled up beside Marino. "Of course. I'll tell you all everything you want to know about mermaids. You're not exactly humans either, are you?"

"We aren't, actually. We're--" Onyx paused and gave a nervous glance to Marino. "...I'm not entirely sure if we should say..."

"Dude, it's no big deal. Whatever you are, you've been nice to me, so... I'm chill with it." Marino smiled.

"...vampires," Onyx hesitantly finished the sentence.

Marino gasped. "Like... with the big sharp teeth!? No way!" 

Amelia chuckled as the others gathered around. "Yes way."

Waiola sat down beside of her. "Sorry if we seemed a little hostile. It's hard to know who to trust when you're like us..."

"Isn't that the truth," Amelia sighed. "We get it, don't worry. By the way, I love your scales... that color of blue is so pretty--"

"Sorry to interrupt, but weren't we going to talk about the siren?" Ahe frowned.

"Can't you be patient for ten seconds?" Leilani teased him, then sighed. "The thing is... when a woman drowns at sea, she becomes a siren -- a vengeful mermaid who murders men by luring them to the sea to be drowned. Lorelei became one a really long time ago. I know this is going to sound weird, but... she isn't... I mean, she's evil in a way, but her entire purpose now is to avenge all of the women who have been hurt before. So, uh,  don't take it personally. If she gets irritated by any guy, he's fish food."

"Well, it's certainly comforting to know that my leg went to a noble cause," Marino shook his head. "I-I wasn't even doing anything wrong! I don't want to hurt any mermaids or women or anybody else."

"Yeah, but you're a man," Waiola chimed in. "And men are..."

"Men are what?" Kai raised an eyebrow. "Don't you like me?"

"Well, yeah, but--"

"I think what she means is that men are good at doing things worthy of drowning them and thanks to the fact she's a siren, in her mind, every man is evil," Onyx said.

"Yeah." Leilani nodded. "It isn't that you did anything wrong, you just... existed."

Marino sighed. "Is this supposed to make me feel sorry for her?"

Leilani frowned. "No! I just wanted you to know why she did what she did. Maybe it will help you move on from the whole thing. I don't condone what sirens do, but... it's just their instinct."

Kai grinned. "Yeah, so you should stay away from them for your own good. We don't want you losing your other leg now, right?"

"If I'd known she was a murderous seductress, I'd likely have avoided her," Marino laughed.

"How do you know there isn't a siren among us?" Leilani chuckled. "Ahe seems pretty grumpy lately. Maybe he's going to try to drown you next."

Waiola raised an eyebrow. "Well, he did make that drowning comment..."

Ahe scowled. "Only women can become sirens! Last time I checked, I'm clearly not one."

Marino's face fell. "Wait, what drowning comment!?"

The group broke into laughter and wasted the night away lost in conversation. Although Onyx and Amelia were disappointed that they'd have to return home in a few days, they knew that they'd always have friends here should they ever decide to return to Sulani.