Young Writers Society

*This story is underneath my folder titled “Siren’s Desire”. Gacha Club character designs are under my forum titled “My character designs<33”. Enjoy!*

A long time ago, in a beach town called “Moon’s beach”, where the moonlight reflected like diamonds onto the reflection, rippling water, there was a family of witches. Mr. and Mrs. Winston and their twin daughters, Isadora and Elvira Winston.

Isadora and Elvira both had magical powers, but their magic was different from one another’s. Where Isadora could make the water do such marvelous tricks and speak in song (if she had talked like any other her voice would be painfully off-pitch), Elvira could slightly alter the appearance of living things and objects…and she had a jagged mouth of teeth on her stomach.

But the sisters stayed close for a while, caring not for what made them unique to one another. Isadora would show Elvira the many things she could do with the water and Elvira would turn rocks and seaweed into fish that swam through the curves and curls of the water, their magic coexisting. Isadora could see the outline of teeth on Elvira’s stomach, but she said nothing, for she didn’t want to disturb her sister.

Everything went fine and well with the both of them until they were ten. Until they were old enough to become more aware of the world around them.

Until their differences became too bright, too glaring, to be accepted by the both of them.

…………………………………………………………

Every summer, the royal Bamford family would make a trip to Moon’s Beach, just for the pretty town and the water. The family consisted of Queen Arcana, King Gervase, Prince Rhian, and their servants. Prince Rhian was ten years old, just like Isadora and Elvira.

Both girls had heard of the royal family coming to town every summer, but neither of them ever saw what they looked like. Elvira didn’t particularly desire to see any one of them, but Isadora…

A real life Prince was coming to their little town every summer and Elvira didn’t even care! Any time Isadora asked: “Shall we meet the Prince today?”, Elvira would shake her head and say: “No, no. Let us play.”

Play?! Play?! Watching Elvira turning things into fish wasn’t something exactly exciting or thrilling. They had to be fun when they were so much younger, but they had both become ten. They were supposed to do things that older people did.

Prince Rhian was around her age. That was what Isadora heard. He was a Prince, just like in the fairytales that Isadora read in her spare time, so perhaps they would fall in love, like in the stories she read.

Besides, the only kid she spoke to was her sister. Her sister was nice, but she wasn’t a Prince who could sweep her away and marry her, who could take her to a beautiful castle of many jewels and riches, who could make her feel special, who could make her life mean something more.

One morning, Isadora got up early and set off to town, in search of Prince Rhian. She knew not what Princes did in their spare time, but she hoped that she would be able to find him, that he would be around somewhere.

Does the Prince have soft hair and shining eyes? A smile that could make everything light up? Does the Prince like to dance by the sea? Would he care to dance with me?

There he was. Well, Isadora supposed that the boy with the slicked back black hair, the deep sapphire blue eyes, and the gold-button navy blue uniform with the gold tassels and red scarf was the Prince.

She ran right towards him, swallowing down the fear that was spiraling all around her, twisting her intestines, choking her throat, making each step of her legs feel as though they were trudging through thick, overwhelming sludge.

Yet through Isadora’s screaming second thoughts, she had made it face-to-face with Prince Rhian, who had stopped playing with a flower that he found and put it in his pocket, locking eyes with her.

The twirling and turning in her heart when he looked at her, Isadora attributed that feeling to love. She had locked eyes with a beautiful Prince, how could she feel anything but love?

“I see your eyes for the first time

Your eyes shine brighter than any light

You are the picture of every dream

Mind if I take your hand?

I hope that you understand

I’ll love you more than anyone can imagine

My name is Isadora and I’m a witch

I hope that you don’t mind this”

Prince Rhian looked as though he were thinking through his words, his eyes searching, processing her words, thinking exactly of what to say.

Why can’t he say something NOW? I don’t want to wait here for a long, long TIME! He should say something to me. He should say that he loves me. He SHOULD love me. He’s a Prince and he’s so pretty. If he doesn’t love me then I won’t be a Princess and I won’t be royal and I won’t have somebody lovely to marry like in the fairytales and-

In an instant, Isadora was no longer staring at a Prince, but at a flopping fish, gasping desperately for air.

Her heart just about stopped in her chest. For there was only one person who she knew that could turn things into fish and that was…

“Elvira? Why are you here?” Isadora asked, her head ringing with anger that blared like an alarm.

Elvira stood across from her, her hands shaking, her teal nightgown that matched Isadora's swaying in the wind.

“I woke up from a bad dream and looked for you, but you weren’t around. I went to the beach but I didn’t see you. Now I’m here and…why are you talking to Prince Rhian? Why do you care so much about him?” Elvira asked, her green eyes set into a glare.

How dare Elvira say such things! Isadora wanted to try something new and Elvira wanted to make her feel bad for it! Isadora wanted to see a nice looking Prince and Elvira turned him into a fish!

“Because he’s the Prince of my dreams and you turned him into a fish! Turn him back! TURN HIM BACK NOW!” Isadora screamed, picking up small rocks and throwing them out at Elvira.

Elvira held up her hands in front of her to defend herself, but the rocks still grazed her skin, giving her pink scrapes. Isadora smiled, enjoying how Elvira seemed to be in pain.

What did Elvira want? For them to do the same things every day? To not let her find love? Isadora was going to become older soon and she had to find somebody who would love her as much as the Princesses were loved in the stories.

Did Elvira really expect Isadora to just be happy at the beach? To want only Elvira as a friend?

“You do it! You’re a witch too.” Elvira said.

She do it? But Isadora couldn’t turn anything into something at all! Elvira had to do it and she had to do it soon, or else the Prince would die and Isadora would never want to fall in love ever ever EVER again!

Nevertheless, Isadora ceased throwing the rocks and instead closed her eyes, trying her best to reach deep inside of her and find the energy that flowed within. She tried to think of a spell that would change him back, that would turn him into a Prince again.

But there was nothing inside of her. Just blank darkness, through and through. Usually she was able to come up with an answer to her problem, a solution, yet there was nothing in that instance.

“I can’t do it.” Isadora quivered, tears stinging her eyes. Was she really going to lose the one Prince that she met? Was she stuck with Elvira? Was Elvira going to turn everyone into a fish? No, no. It couldn’t happen. She couldn’t lose Prince Rhian. She couldn’t let Elvira change him into an animal.

Elvira sighed and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath, then right before Isadora’s tear-stained eyes, she saw the fish’s scales morph into human skin, its sideways eyes becoming front-facing and then…

He was back! Her blue-eyed Prince with the lovely outfit, he was back!

But Isadora still felt the aftertaste of disgust in her mouth, disgust of what Elvira had so brazenly done, of who Elvira was trying to ruin.

Wordlessly, she stalked towards Elvira and grabbed her by the wrist, the compressing energy of the sobs making her throat burn as though she spent all her life screeching for peace that wouldn’t come.

…………………………………………………………

When they were back home, Isadora slammed open the front door, still holding onto Elvira’s wrist. Their parents sat at the dining room table, eating a breakfast of cheese, berries, and bread. An assortment of good food, but at the moment, Isadora wasn’t interested.

“Mommy! Daddy! Elvira turned the Prince into a fish! I went out to town to meet him and then she came and made him a fish! She changed him back, but I’m still mad!” Isadora yelled, the tears threatening to spill out again at the thought of what Elvira did.

Elvira tried to wriggle free from her hold, but Isadora held tight, not quite forgiving her.

Mommy and Daddy exchanged looks, seeming to decide what to say and what to do.

“Isadora, going out was irresponsible of you, but Elvira…how do we know that you won’t turn other people into fish? That you won’t turn other people into different animals? Come here, Elvira.” Mommy said softly.

Isadora let go of Elvira’s wrist and watched as her sister hesitantly walked up to their parents.

Both Mommy and Daddy got up, then Daddy said:

“Follow me, Elvira.”

Though Isadora wasn’t told to follow them, she still did anyway, curiosity ebbing and flowing all around her.

Their parents walked up the stairs, the young girls following close behind. Neither of the girls knew what to expect or what would happen once they reached the top, the end of the road.

When they all made it to the top, Mommy and Daddy had led Elvira into a dusty room with only one small window and chains bolted to the walls.

Before any of the girls could ask why, Mommy tied a white cloth around Elvira’s mouth and Daddy forcefully grabbed Elvira by the shoulders, dragging the wriggling girl to the chains, bolting her in place.

Isadora stood there, shell-shocked. Did they just chain her up? Why? Why did they have to do all of that? Wasn’t that going too far?

“It’s what she needs.” Mommy said with a reassuring smile, as though she knew what Isadora was thinking.

But as Isadora watched Elvira struggling with the chains, Isadora wondered:

Did I do something wrong?

…………………………………………………………

At first, Isadora tried opening the locked room with her magic. The guilt of what she said grasped hold of her heart with cold, cruel claws. Her magic was not strong enough to let her out, to break down the door. Their parents were no help, for they always told Isadora to “let it go”.

Eventually, she stopped trying. She couldn’t find any keys to unlock the door and her magic was useless. Why would she keep trying if it didn’t work?

So as time went on, Isadora settled on talking to Elvira from the other side about her mundane life, looking at the little window on the door to see if Elvira was still alive. Her sister held on to life, albeit in a shivering, frightful manner, but she still held on.

Going out to the beach no longer felt right for Isadora, as she didn’t have Elvira to accompany her, so she walked off to town, hoping to find some enjoyment in her life.

One bright blue summer’s day at town, when Isadora was sixteen, she had locked eyes with Prince Rhian as they passed each other on the street, his blue eyes as bright as ever, his outfit as sharp as ever, and Isadora’s heart beat evermore from when they crossed paths.

“Isadora! Wondrous witch! I remember you, from when we were young children. Come now, let us be together, oh sweet one!” Prince Rhian called out.

Isadora stopped right in her tracks. Prince Rhian had remembered her. Not only that, but he also wanted to be with her. He wasn’t embarrassed about her.

Who would Isadora be to reject him?

Isadora ran right up to him, her heart swelling with all the love in the world.

Perhaps there would be some good in her life.

…………………………………………………………

Isadora would tell such vividly enchanting stories about Prince Rhian and their dates around town to Elvira, for saying the words seemed to lessen the weight on her heart.

Every day was a dream to Isadora, every night was pure bliss. Prince Rhian would pick flowers for her and talk about the many books that he read, the different worlds he immersed himself in. In turn, Isadora would use her magic to make the scattered flower petals around town fly, all to his delight.

Their days and nights were of the cherry-tinted kind, nothing seemed to haunt her mind. In fact, Isadora began to miss the calming, reassuring waves of the beach and set out to go there one night. After all, she was getting out of the house and experiencing the scares and splendor all her life.

On that night, Isadora was standing right by the water, letting the waves lap at her feet and touch the end of her black nightgown, not minding the cold, biting beach air. In that instance, her mind felt all calm and clear. The terror, the excitement, the misery, the marvels, all of it had simmered down within her. The very moment reminded Isadora of when she used to do magic with Elvira, her mind devoid of any sort of worries.

Nothing could break her resolve, nothing could break her peace of mind, nothing-

“I come out here every night. I live here. But what are you doing here?” A boy’s slightly panicked voice asked.

Isadora pushed down her annoyance, she fought back the sigh that threatened to break from her lips. How dare he have the audacity to ask her that question, to bother her at such a time, to bring such negative feelings up high.

But she simply smiled and tucked a strand of blond, curly hair behind her ear and let her hand run against the water, her sing-song voice flowing rhythmically from her mouth:

“My mother, my father, and me

We are a family of witches three

We live very close to the sea

For the sea is where our power will flow free

For the longest time I hid in my home

But tonight, I wished to go out on my own

I hope I don’t bother you, dear boy

I only wanted to go out for some joy”

The song itself wasn’t entirely true, for she didn’t count in Elvira and she went out to see Prince Rhian, but Elvira didn’t really feel like part of the family for years and it was the first time that Isadora went out to the beach in a while.

Isadora got up from the ground and faced the boy, her heart sparkling inside when she saw that the boy had eyes as green as seaweed, skin as fresh-toned as peach and long, black hair that snaked around his face.

By his white and bland clothes, she could tell that he was a peasant, not middle class like her, but goodness, he was oh so divine to look at!

“I’m Isadora Winston, and I felt like coming out to the beach tonight. Forgive me if my voice sounds a little off pitch, we witches speak easier in song.” Isadora said, thanking the universe that she wasn’t interrupted by an ugly boy.

“In that case, it’s my humble pleasure to meet you, Isadora. My name is Israfel. Israfel Armani. Your magic is truly a spectacular gift, and I hope that you cherish it forever. There’s much beauty in the world, and the presence of witches is part of it.” Israfel said, a smile winking in slightly on his face.

Isadora beamed, flattered by his poetic words. Despite his lack of money, he seemed to know exactly what to say to sway a girl’s heart and-and was he bowing to her?

“Israfel, you need not bow to me. But why, I ask, do you like us witches out by the sea?” Isadora asked, amused at the action.

Israfel got up and smiled sheepishly, saying:

“I’m not sure if I like any of you, because I never met one of you until now. But I don’t think that your kind deserves to be harmed. You know things about the world that we do not, and that is to be respected.”

He respected her! That was quite sweet of him. He was such a wonderful boy, it would be a shame to leave him alone just because she was with someone.

She cocked her head, studying him. The way his eyes glittered made her think that he was naive and polite, that he wanted everything to be nice. He respected her, which she liked, but…would he love her? After all, it had been a while since the Prince came to town.

“Would you ever love a creature such as I? Or do you think that I am better off far and wide?” Isadora asked, her mind already switching to much darker thoughts at the notion of him saying “No.”

“You seem to be a delightful person, but I don’t know much about you, as you do not know much about me. If we were to see each other again, then we might fall in love.” Israfel said, his eyes twinkling merrily.

Love?! He was already jumping right to the conclusion of love? He certainly had the confidence, her heart was sparked with burning excitement, her negative thoughts gone as quickly as they came, just like the jumpiness of flames.

“Very well then. I’ll be out here every night, practicing my magic, and I’ll see you then, Israfel.” Isadora said, more sound and sure than ever of her decision to go out.

Isadora and Israfel stared at each other for a few seconds, then Israfel walked back towards what Isadora assumed was home, and Isadora got back to standing by the water, mentally washing away any spiraling, pesky worries that may come up.

…………………………………………………………

Isadora didn’t tell Elvira about Israfel. She didn’t tell a soul about Israfel. Isadora only saw Prince Rhian in the summer, so it wasn’t that much of a big deal. She had spent many months with just Israfel, ever so swept away by his words. Seeing Prince Rhian in the summer wasn’t enough. Having Israfel around extinguished the lingering loneliness within her. Her heart fluttered just like when she first laid eyes on Prince Rhian and thus, one night at the beach, Isadora sang to Israfel:

“Israfel, oh Israfel, I love you so!

Your endearing presence makes my heart glow!

Is it alright that I steal a kiss?

You may do whatever you wish.”

She didn’t know what he would do once she let the words out, but she figured that it was worth a shot.

“You’re in love with me?” Israfel asked, his eyes glittering in an adorably astonished manner.

Isadora nodded, hardly believing the luck that was bringing itself into her life, that was making itself known in bright bursts of shimmering ecstasy that could only be described as a rainbow within her.

“I love you too. You’re more than your magic, you are a girl with much happiness to give, and I shall do the same for you.” Israfel said with a grin.

Isadora could hardly wait for a word from Israfel, her heart so overflowing with joy that she leaned in for a kiss, overwhelmingly pleased that he kissed her back.

Everything was going just right for her, she was sure of that!

…………………………………………………………

The seasons had passed over to Spring, Isadora and Israfel’s nights at the beach had gotten more delightful with words of love shared with one another, the confirmation that he cared about her more than just a friend would never fail to make her smile. He had parents who cared for him and a little sister he adored, the four of them went on voyages for treasure. Isadora only spoke of practicing her magic by the water, nothing else about her life. She wouldn’t concern him with such burdening knowledge, it was better to watch him smile as he spoke endearingly about his family than to have him run away from her truths.

However, one night at the beach, when Isadora was wearing a blue nightgown, Israfel ran towards her with tears streaming down his face, his green eyes wide and full of horror and in shaking sobs, he said:

“My…my little sister…Eve…she’s sick…please…can you heal her? Can you help her?”

His hands intertwined with hers, holding them so tightly that it felt as though her skin would peel off.

Isadora thought for a moment, for she didn’t want to see him so hurt, so broken, but what could she really do to save him? Was she strong enough? Was she able enough?

Isadora thought and then it occurred to her:

Her parents made potions! She could give him a healing potion!

“There is a potion that can cure all ailments. Hold on, and I will help thee.” Isadora sing-sang.

He didn’t let go of her hands, not once. She had never tried to teleport until that night, so she had reached inside of her, trying to summon some form of power that could take the both of them to her home.

I want to go home I want to go home I want to go home I want to go home I want to go home I want to go home I want to go home I want to go home I want to go home I want to go home I want to go homeI want to go home I want-

Purple smoke rose all around them, purple smoke that she felt all around in her intestines would take them back to her home, back to where her family secrets lay away from sight.

Neither of them said a word as the purple smoke took them to the Winston house.

…………………………………………………………

Once they were both at her house, Isadora let go of his hands and walked inside, hoping that Israfel would have the decency to not go upstairs, that he’d ignore the faint rattling of Elvira’s chains. They were her chains and it was absolutely none of his business.

She wasted no time and ran straight to the kitchen, where she searched through all of the cabinets for a healing potion, for she saw her parents make different potions and label them, so that they wouldn’t forget what they were. The single candlestick burning by the window was enough light for the first floor, the perfect light to find what would give Israfel delight!

Cabinet after cabinet, potion after potion, she couldn’t find anything until…

A bottle of brown liquid with the label in scripted letters: “Heaven’s Healing.”

Isadora grabbed the potion, thankful that everything was neatly labeled.

She walked out of the room and looked around the house, searching for Israfel.

Isadora frowned. Why was she searching for him? He was supposed to stay downstairs with her. Why wasn’t he around? Where was he?

Isadora stopped. She still hadn’t checked upstairs, checking upstairs hadn’t crossed her mind.

He wasn’t supposed to be upstairs, but Isadora walked up the steps anyway, clutching the healing potion anxiously in one hand.

Step after step after step…

“Israfel?!” Isadora asked, hardly believing what he had done.

He had not only gone upstairs, but was looking into the room whereElvira was locked up! Out of all the rooms he could have stood next to, why did he pick hers?

Israfel turned around, his green eyes full of frantic panic and boiling judgment, his voice rose as he asked:

“Who is that girl and why is she all chained up? Why does she look like you?”

So was he going to leave her then? Because of her chained-up sister? Because she kept some secrets? Didn’t everybody have secrets? Wasn’t it nice of her to give him a healing potion?

“That’s my twin sister, Elvira. She was not only born with immeasurable power that could change the makeup of living things and objects, but she has a second, monstrous mouth on her stomach. She frightens people, so we keep her in here.” Isadora said calmly, all fright from when she was ten completely gone.

Israfel stared at her, his eyes going wide. He hunched as though he wanted to back away from her, but he approached her and grabbed the potion from her extended hand, walking briskly towards the front door, the way out.

Isadora stood there in silence, her head shrieking with thoughts just like the day everything had changed for her.

Did she really lose Israfel?

…………………………………………………………

The day after that, Isadora didn’t show up to the beach. She didn’t come the day after that, the day after that, and the day after that. She continued to do it over and over and over again, never wanting to see Israfel again after what he discovered, after what he unearthed.

Soon enough, the season had passed onto summer and once Isadora had found her Prince walking around town, she told him to go to the beach in the early morning, when she wouldn’t run into Israfel.

Prince Rhian didn’t ask her to elaborate, Isadora’s heart calmed down. As long as he didn’t ask too many questions, then everything would be okay.

The stretch of summer with Prince Rhian was full of the sweet, romantic bliss that she had missed, her heart becoming full with love that felt as though it would crawl from inside of her and cover her in candy-colored pink gauze, drenching her in dazzling delight.

But the daylight wasn’t as divinely dim as the moon’s glow. She hadn’t seen Israfel in many months and her mind was filled with the promises of love that were so persistent that she asked Prince Rhian one day to come join her at the beach again at night.

“Yes, yes, I’d love to!” Prince Rhian beamed.

His joyous nature, all too glittering and glorious, had flowed right to her. What was there to worry about? Israfel was nice, but he was not Prince Rhian. He would never be Prince Rhian.

The day had seemed to go on much longer and more tedious than usual, but eventually, the time of night had come. The both of them met up at the beach and shared a kiss. In that night, Isadora wore a deep maroon dress, knee-high white socks and black mary janes. Her blond, curly hair was adorned with a rose crown that she had made from paper, roses that she had painted red and gray. It was on that night, the very first night she had gone out to the beach in months, that Isadora had gotten dressed for Prince Rhian, that Isadora had kissed Prince Rhian.

It was also the night that they were pulled apart, pulled to the ocean, pleading for their lives…

Isadora got one look at the person pulling them to the ocean. One look at the person before her vision was clouded by blurry water, before her screams were silenced.

Israfel Armani. His green eyes held resentment that looked as though it could cut through flesh like the blade of a sword.

Isadora’s heart beat faster in her chest as she thought of burning in Hell, of how Prince Rhian had to suffer at Israfel’s hands, at how she didn’t do anything to stay careful.

Her thoughts had wailed in her brain, louder, louder, and louder still:

Why did I talk to him? Why didn’t I tell him to go away? I’m going to Hell, I’m certainly going to Hell, Hell must be real, will Prince Rhian still love me, will he ever find out will will will will will willwillwillwill

Her heart beat faster, faster, too fast for her to think, to scream…

And then it stopped.