Young Writers Society

*Part four of my series “Siren’s Desire”. You can read the rest of the stories under my folder “Siren’s Desire”. Gacha Club character designs are on my wall. Enjoy!*

It had been a good stretch of minutes since Lorelei left Eunice at the island. She was holding Israfel’s hand, her complete trust in him.

The sun was starting to set on the horizon. The sea was a constant rolling of waves, cool and whooshing. Her nightgown stuck on her feeble skin. How easily Israfel could tear her apart if her wanted to, with those sharp, deadly claws.

Images fell into Lorelei’s mind like a perfect story:

A ship full of many people, royalty and known, each with glasses that clinked and eyes that shone.

But no eyes were brighter than that of the girl with sparkling green eyes.

She swished and swayed in her light blue gown, blond hair curled. She was carefree, dimples on her face.

A boy in the water sang to her. He had long, silver hair that seemed to be made of the moon. He was gaunt and pale, beautiful in a dead way. His eyes were a darkened green, framed by black lashes.

The soundfrequencies flew out of his mouth in waves greater than the ocean’s, right to the ship.

It rocked side to side on the water. Everyone on the boat screamed and held on desperately to anything they could.

But the girl only rushed to the outside of the ship, pleading in a shaking voice:

“Israfel, stop! Let us go! Please?!”

The boy did not cease his song. He held out his arms as if to embrace. The girl lost her balance and fell into them. He opened his mouth, revealing sharp, jagged teeth.

He started to eat her face, blood decorating the murky water. The ship sank hopelessly to the bottom, taking the humans trapped inside with it.

As quickly as it came, Lorelei was shot back into reality. Israfel still held on her hand, the sky was alight with night stars.

“A Princess fair lies here, Princess Magdalena Winston with curled blond hair.” Israfel sing-sang in his lilting voice.

Lorelei swallowed hard. She knew who he was talking about. The girl from the boat, that was her ancestor. Magdalena Winston lay at the bottom of the ocean.

If they wanted to stop the world from flooding, they had to keep going.

……………………………………………………

“Stay and wait, I will save.” Israfel said. He let go of Lorelei’s hand and swam away, far away.

Why was he leaving her? He didn’t leave her when he was getting Eunice. How many miles was Lorelei from home? Did anyone miss her? Her friends? Her family?

Lorelei took a deep breath. She had to stop thinking so much, she’d go insane. She was doing it for humanity, so the entire world wouldn’t be an ocean. She was also doing it for the thrill of an adventure with a siren, with the thought that she’d die any moment to a boy with unearthly beauty.

Do you want to fall in love? Are you here for selfish reasons?

No, no she wasn’t. Lorelei just wanted to help people, was it a crime to have a small fluttering feeling with Israfel? It wasn’t like he noticed and it wasn’t like she’d tell him.

A few minutes later, Israfel broke out of the water, holding a young girl in his arms, only half rotting.

“Even in death, Magdalena is still a Princess. I shall let her rest in an island until we find them. Stay, dearest Lorelei, it will only be a few minutes.” He said.

And then, he did a thing Lorelei never forgot.

He placed one hand on her cheek lovingly, his eyes were wide and searching her soul, fanned by black lashes. Cold sparks flew through her veins, colder than the ocean. He held it for a good fifteen minutes before abruptly letting go, Magdalena in his arms.

When Israfel was gone, Lorelei felt the emptiness of the sea and the sky descend upon her, swallow her whole. How long would he be gone? He’d said that he would come back. She didn’t know the ocean like he did, so easily she could get lost. How many bodies had died in the water? How many spirits were trapped, grasping at the thin, gauzy edges of the ocean?

Was it just Lorelei’s overthinking mind or was the water getting higher?

No, it wasn’t her mind. It was reaching her neck, about to submerge her.

“Israfel!” Lorelei called out in a gargled voice before the wave swallowed her whole.