Song of the Sirens

Asta watched the storm snarl behind her, the thunder bounding off the cave walls and pounding into the water. The perfect weather for tonight. She watched her kin as they prepared to perform the ritual, hundreds of jewel-colored tails darting around her. Asta was not the only one to observe this. Another woman floated next to her. She had hair that flowed and curled like spilled ink. Her black tail glinted with an occasional glimpse of violet. She seemed like a gentle nightmare compared to how dream-like Asta was with her soft golden scales. They stared at each other. Their appearances contrasted but they both had the determination to survive thirteen years in the unforgiving ocean. The woman gave her a nod. Hopefully, she and Asta would both survive the ritual.

As the clan started to settle into their roles, Asta caught the eyes of a siren with a coral blue tail. The sharp smirk she gave Asta made her run her tongue over her dull teeth. After the ritual, she would be a true siren. Her voice would become a weapon that she would harness to defend herself and her clan. One day, Asta would be one of the sirens that sang the song.

They silently watched as they gathered into a formation. The woman and Asta were in the middle of the diamond-shaped arrangement, surrounded by their kin. Their leader was in the front, her tail glimmering a dark red. Asta and the woman watched in anticipation, waiting for the ceremony to begin.

All was silent when the leader's voice started to sing. It was a silky sound, comforting but chilling. The following two voices that rang out were smooth and serene, strengthening the song. After that, the voices started flooding in and were hopeless to tell apart, creating an unearthly melody with the deafening thunder. Shimmers and shadows from scales and lightning contrasted each other to create a ghostly display.

Watching the scene before her, Asta swore she saw whispers manifesting themselves, clawing themselves towards her. She felt a pain in her throat grow more and more intense, stirring something inside Asta awake.

Something ancient.

It grew more and more, desperate to get out. Finally, she let it control her.

Asta closed her eyes and felt the sleeping siren inside her awaken, her voice spilling out of herself to join the song. Strength flowed through her, clarifying her voice as anything human inside her was poured out and devoured by the song of the sirens. She felt her teeth sharpen, her nails get longer. Asta heard the song get clearer. She listened and heard what seemed to be the whole world singing to her very soul. What felt like hours still wasn’t enough as she felt the sunrise and light beginning to spill into the cave. The thunder soon vanished and slowly, one by one, the voices started to disappear.

As the number of voices reduced to one, Asta's voice eventually fell back into a slumber. Her change was welcomed by the sea, warmth surrounding her where a chill had previously been. Blinking her eyes open to see her leader still singing with her velvety voice, she turned and looked next to her where the black-haired woman had been. They stared at each other once again. The woman looked sharper, more vivid. Her hair looked even darker than before. She looked beautiful. Asta looked down at herself. Her scales looked more golden, like the coins she would find in the pockets of fallen sailors. The fins at the bottom of her tail seemed to have gotten longer. A smile crept onto her face. Thirteen years after being thrown into the cold sea, Asta was done surviving. She could now live.