From the Depths
A Parting Gift

Ren smiled, it seemed that he liked that she was so interested in him. “It depends really, many of us do meet an unornate end, be it by sharks, humans or each other. But I would say in your terms, hundreds of years.”

“Gods, I wouldn’t want to be stuck here for hundreds of years!” Kirea exclaimed suddenly.

He laughed. “Believe me it is much better than the alternative.” He paused, she could tell that he was thinking about what he should say next, or if he should say anything at all.

“The male sirens..." He began hesitantly. "W-We are kept as slaves... prisoners in our own home.”

Kirea shot upright in the water with a loud splash, no longer lying on her back. “What!?”

He nodded. “We are locked up at a young age, from the day we are born, chained by enchanted vines and used as breeding stock. Never allowed out of our cages beside too...” He trailed off, but she could guess.

“Is... Is that why you don’t want to go back to the ocean?” She questioned tenderly.

He nodded. “It is more... pleasant here.”

There was more, she could tell. He wanted to open up to her, so she waited patiently for him to speak again. The only sound in the cavern was the gentle lapping of the water and the splash of the water wheel working to keep the water moving. His eyes were down, his gentle glow making it hard to see his facial expressions as shadows played over his features.

“When a male is born, they are tested. We are left by ourselves, as mere infants, to the wild of the depths. If we survive we are taken to our home, though it's anything but a joyous occasion. Very quickly we learn our place. Then, when we come of age we are used and discarded, no longer having a purpose.” He cringed closing his eyes tight. “We are bound, gagged and dragged to the surface, the females then breed with us, have their fill and dispose of the evidence.”

“Discarded?” She whispered shocked.

“Most don’t survive the breeding process to be honest. We are ripped to shreds as... as our seed is forced from us.”

She wanted to reach for him again, but if she did that she doubted she would be able to stay afloat easily. “But you survived.” She tried to sound encouraging, but honestly, this was horrific.

“Barely, if the humans hadn’t interrupted the process and come across me I would have turned to sea foam in no time at all.”

“Turned to foam?” This was news to her.

He smiled sadly. “Have you ever wondered why no one has ever found a carcass of a siren before?”

“I have pondered the idea.” She admitted.

“When we die our bodies rapidly decay and turn to a white salty substance, combine that with seawater and you get foam.”

Her academic mind was intrigued with this new information but she didn't pry any more. Now was not the time. “I-I won’t push you on the subject of freedom anymore.” She commented gingerly.

“I didn’t mean to upset you.” He drifted slightly closer to her.

“No, no. You didn’t, I just... I understand more now.”

“I could escape if I wanted to, so please, you have nothing to feel sorry for.” He appeared more concerned with her feelings rather than him being the victim.

“You could?” She asked confused.

He nodded. Reaching out, his arms wrapped around her waist pulling her close. She gasped as her body slammed into his, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck to replace an anchor point. She hadn’t noticed she was growing tired from keeping afloat under the water line until he took away her need to kick her legs.

“This is easier for you?” He asked having noticed her struggle.

She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks, he was so innocent in his actions she wasn’t sure how to react. She felt guilty about the fact that she didn’t mind the contact, in fact, she enjoyed it immensely. His hands sliding up her back sent little waves of an unknown sensation up her spine. Her face buried into his shoulder as her blush was becoming too apparent. He chuckled not helping with the situation in the slightest.

“You like it when I do this?” He asked, curiosity plane as day is his tone.

“I do enjoy my back being touched yes.” She responded honestly, her head turned slightly to look up at him. Why did she feel so at ease with him? Was it a power he held over her?

His hooded eyes watched her every motion, their eyes met for what seemed like the hundredth time that night. They gently bobbed above the surface and she could feel the ripple of muscles moving against her abdomen as he moved his tail beneath them.

“I enjoy your touch. It’s calming, smoothing and... inviting. It’s so different to everything I have ever known.” His voice wasn’t inquisitive or childish, it had turned seductive and bold.

This was happening way too soon after the heavy conversation that had just been shared, but a thought struck her. He had never known comfort or a delicate touch only pain and suffering. She wanted to allow him to know what compassion and caring were, but her body certainly had other ideas. She wanted to push him away to swim to the edge, but that was because she felt conflicted.

She could feel her heart racing, the pounding echoing through her ears as they floated in the pool. Only his glowing skin illuminated their surroundings. It was like a dream, being held so close by a magical siren who was talking sweetly to her, had she died and gone to heaven?

“You don’t just see me as an animal or a pet like other humans.” His voice was barely a whisper. “So, how do you see me then?” He asked.

The question shocked her, had she taken him for granted? She had known he was an intelligent being but had she been reading him wrong all this time? Perhaps her body had been betraying her a little too much and he had noticed. She needed to salvage this and fast!

“You may not be human, but that doesn’t make you any less a person with thoughts and feelings.” She lifted her head and smiled brightly at him. “I see you as Ren, only Ren. An individual in your own right.” There was no reason to tell him that she found him attractive and alluring, that she would keep to herself.

His smile matched her own as his hand slid up her back, his fingers inching over her shoulder and finally down her arm. He freed her limb from his neck and studied her hand for a moment. Then slowly he intertwined his fingers with hers. She blinked at him confused.

“Come, it’s time to get you out of the water, your body has already absorbed too much as it is.” He commented.

Oh! He had been studying her skin, the action of holding her hand didn’t mean what she thought it had. She needed to stop her mind from going to these ungodly places. And yet at the same time she didn’t want to, he was just so... captivating.

She could never have dreamed that her life would go this way. Was it weird to say that she was happy? These moments in time with him were worth all the stress and chaos of the castle.

He glided her to the edge and the nearest lantern. While she hoisted herself out for the pool, he folded his arms on the ledge and placed his head on them watching as she moved to retrieve the small device.

She was grateful for the added light, but as she lit the lantern his beautiful glow dispersed, disappearing completely. It was a shame but she needed the lantern to navigate the darkness to the entrance.

“I should head back, it will only be a few hours before I return with Henry.” Though in truth she was hesitant to leave.

He nodded understanding. “You’ll come visit me alone again?”

She giggled lightly, her heart fluttered in her chest. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world, it’s our little secret.”

She headed for the hidden door at the entrance.

“Wait, Kirea before you go...”

She turned to watch him dive into the water and resurface with a small shell.

“I want to give you this.” He closed his eyes and focused on the small object within his palms.

She could see a small light begin to gleam from within, it slowly grew with intensity until it matched the same beautiful light of his body that had faded only moments ago.

Opening his hand he offered the now glowing treasure to her, it faded out looking like a completely normal shell again. “It will only glow in complete darkness, so if you ever replace yourself in need of light, you will have it.”

She felt her heart skip a beat, the gesture taking her completely by surprise. She took the small object clenching it to her heart. Blowing out the lantern she watched it come to life, it was perfect for her ascent up the stairs to the castle.

“I will treasure it, always.” She smiled down at him before dashing off. The morning sun was fast approaching and she would have to deal with Henry and her scene from earlier in the night all too soon.

Lost in her own world she had heard him whisper his own confession.

“And I will treasure you, always.”

Ren stared at the doorway to the now-empty cavern and let out a sigh. He hadn't lied when he had said that he was happy and content here. But he much preferred it when she was with him.

His life before this had been nothing but pain and suffering. Night time was the worst in here. As the sound of the outside world came alive with the hum of a siren's song, the sound drifted to his ears. It was something that only he could discern on the waves with his in-human hearing even in the protected cove.

Cringing he ducked back under the water, it helped to drown out the noise. But it was still a consent reminder that if he ever tried to leave he wouldn't survive, they would be there, and they would be waiting. They already knew he was here.

At least they couldn't get in... for now.

He tried to sleep, filling his thoughts with only her. He'd see her again soon, that was worth waiting for.