Call of the Sirens
Call of the Sirens
Water fills my lungs as I plunge further down into the frozen waters. The shore is but a few hundred yards, but I am no swimmer. Accepting my fate I stop kicking and let it take me to my watery grave.
Suddenly, I feel something wrap around my waist, then hands, then a huge tug. My head rips through the top of the water and I’m dangling from a human fishing pole several feet in the air; beside me floating in the tide is a ship.
“Not much o’ a swimmer be you?” said a man.
Blinking the water out of my eyes I focus on his face. He’s tall, muscular with dark black hair that flows sweetly in the sun. Covered in tattoos and armed with a sword, I knew right away he was a jack tar.
“You saved my life,” I gasp, coughing water out of my lungs.
“It would be rude o’ me t’ let a vixen like you wind up in Davey Jones Locker”
Pulling the rope towards the boat, he lowers me gently onto the ship, and then puts out his hand.
“Name’s Marcus. This be me ship and that man thar, climbin’ up t’ boat is me mate Angus”
Slowly spinning me around, he stops, then points to the island behind me.
“And that starboard thar be our island”
“You’re island? Impressive.”
“That’s right. Just me and me bucko Angus livin’ off t’ spoils o’ this place since t’ rest o’ t’ crew went t’ Davy Jones’ locker when t’ second ship capsized,”
“How awful. So you are here all alone? Just the two of you?” I asked.
“Aye, just t’ two o’ us. So, little lady, what might be yer name and what you be doin’ out here, bravin’ these waters?”
“My name is Anna. I’m a scientist. My crew and I were on an expedition to find raw materials, when we heard this enchanting music. It drew us right in, like we had no say in the matter.”
“Ah aye, t’ siren’s call. Always drawin’ men in and sinkin’ their ships just before they reach shore. Them beauties be devils.”
“I don’t remember seeing this island on any of my maps,” I said.
“No you won’t find this island on any map. It be t’ secret island o’ lost mates. Years ago all t’ rum runners, treaaye hunters and jack tars o’ t’ high seas stored their riches here. Now it’s just me and Angus port t’ inherit it all.”
Leaning in closely, pressing his body against mine, he whispered in my ear.
“Nobody will ever find ya here. It will be nice t’ have a beauty around t’ keep me warm at night.”
Playing along, I slide my hand down the small of his back until I feel the bottom of a revolver buried in the belt of his pants. Continuing to kiss my neck, I don’t move, but my eyes follow Angus as he strolls away towards the other side of the ship.
A gun goes off. Marcus pulls away at the sound, just in time for me to relieve him of his weapon.
“What was that?” he reaches for his gun.
“Looking for this?”
I point the gun at his head and watch as Serena appears on the aft of the boat.
“The fat man’s dead” she said.
“Who be you, Anna?” asks Marcus.
“Actually, you might know me better as Avielle, Queen of the Sirens.”
Eyes wide, Marcus gasps.
“I can see by the look in your eyes that my reputation precedes me.”
“I thought you were just a legend… A ghost story made up by other jack tars t’ keep us away from the island… No, you can’t be real!”
Sticking the gun in his groin, I lean in, grab his hand and place it on my bosom.
“Does this feel real enough to you?”
“What be my fate here?” he asks.
Leaning in again even closer this time, I press my hips into his, running my fingers through his soft black hair.
“Me and t’ lasss will be takin’ your ship, your island and your treayes…and maybe if you’re a real good lad, I’ll let YOU keep ME warm at night.”
With his hands now behind his back, I tie off the rope, leaving him to sit as Serena approaches.
“Serena, call the other sirens, let them know that it’s safe to come back home…and that I have a present for them.”
