[Choice C (music): Seek out sirens to use their magical music to fight against the morgen.]

The morgen lashed out, cracking Tarah on the back of her hand. Hissing in pain, Tarah stared in horror as the djinn's black-flame scimitar dropped into the ocean, sinking beyond her reach. The creature bared needle-sharp teeth and dragged Tarah off the rock and into the turbulent sea.

Tarah screamed, bubbles billowing from her open mouth. She kicked at the morgen with all of her strength, but the water dragged at her leg, rendering the attack ineffectual.

More morgen swarmed around her, one grabbing her arms and hauling them behind her back, while another put a breathing bubble over Tarah's head. A grey-scaled, fishlike face hovered in front of Tarah's nose.

"Foolish girl," the creature growled. "You're lucky we need you alive. Take her!" it ordered the other morgen.

The front of the breathing bubble pressed up against Tarah's face as the morgen sped through the water. A massive cave loomed in the distance, guarded by two monstrous red octopi. The morgen dragged Tarah inside and broke through to the surface of a pool, throwing her unceremoniously onto a landing.

A thin morgen picked Tarah up from the floor. Immediately, Tarah lashed out, kicking at the creature's knee.

"Don't!" the creature hissed, ramming Tarah into a nearby wall and pinning her there. Slimy wet stone scraped her cheek, drawing blood.

Footsteps echoed on stone and a second morgen appeared around the corner. "Is everything in order, Sabba?"

"I'm sorry," the morgen whispered in Tarah's ear before pressing her forcefully against the wall. "Yes!" it called out. "Just teaching our guest a lesson."

"Hmph," the other morgen snorted, but turned around and disappeared down a hallway.

Tarah struggled, but the morgen's strength was greater than hers. As soon as the other guard's footsteps receded, her jailer pulled Tarah away from the wall.

"Listen quickly," the morgen murmured as it led Tarah down another corridor. "Only someone with great magical ability can wield the sword of a djinn."

"So?" Tarah spat, her cheek on fire.

Those flat fish eyes regarded Tarah with pity. "The king will drain you of your powers and use that ability to wage war across the seven seas."

Tarah stumbled, but the morgen kept her upright. "And why are you telling me this?"

"Because I don't like what we've become. We were beautiful, once, and I want to be like that again."

Tarah frowned. "What do you plan for me to do?"

The morgen hustled her into an alcove. "You must bring the song of the sirens to us."

"What?"

"I once swam past them while they were singing ... They gave me back my mind, but I couldn't stay long enough for my body to return. Please," the morgen begged, "you need to help us."

Tarah sighed. "Fine. But how do you propose I escape?"

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Getting smuggled out of a morgen prison in the carcass of a shark was not high on Tarah's list, but it ended up working. Her not-so-evil friend provided her with a breathing bubble and directions to the siren's island.

As her head poked through the surface of the ocean, a soft melody filled the air. A trio of beautiful, blonde, naked women lay on a white sand beach, combing their hair and eating fruit from hollowed-out coconuts.

"Well, what do we have here?" one of the women asked as Tarah hauled herself onto the beach. The song abruptly cut off as three pairs of ocean-blue eyes stared at her.

"A pirate," another siren exclaimed.

"Shoo! Go!" the first siren shouted, picking up her coconut and hurling it at Tarah's head.

This was getting annoying, Tarah thought, stepping out of its way. "Hold on!" she called out. "I just need a song from you to set the morgen free."

"The morgen?" the third siren repeated, curling her perfect lip. "Those ugly creatures?"

"They need it to turn back into mermaids," Tarah explained.

"They're mermaids?" the women exclaimed in unison.

The three sirens huddled together, their voices so quiet Tarah couldn't make out a word. Suddenly, they turned back around. "Well, you must be blessed by Amphitrite, because we're going to help you," the first siren said.

"Because I want those vile beasts out of the sea," the third siren explained.

The second siren reached down and pulled a large pink conch shell from the beach. The three women stood around it and began to sing, ripples flowing from their lips and into the shell.

"Here," the second siren announced, handing the conch shell to Tarah. "Simply blow it once you get back to their den."

Tarah nodded and turned around, but the first siren stopped her. "We could craft a song to help you," she said. "It must be difficult with two souls in one body."

All trappings of Annabelle Zhao fell away, leaving small, insecure Tarah in her place. "N-no," she stammered and raced towards the beach, hurriedly pulling Annabelle's personality back on like a discarded coat.

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The morgen swarmed Tarah as she entered their territory, leveling tridents and barnacle-crusted spears in her face. Behind the breathing bubble, Tarah smiled and lifted the conch shell to her lips, breaking the barrier. Water rushed across her face, but she had enough air in her lungs to blow into the shell.

A glorious melody, like a symphony of heavenly angels, swept through the deep. It rolled over the gathered morgen like an undersea wave, causing them to drop their weapons and shake with convulsions.

When all the air left Tarah's lungs, she dropped the conch shell and floated there, watching as the morgen began to transform. Grey, bony bodies filled out, skin flushing a warm, golden brown. Their legs fused, forming sparkling tails rippling with greens, blues, and purples. The monstrous faces smoothed and grew beautiful.

Tarah smiled as she began to sink. This adventure was nice while it lasted.

Suddenly, a new breathing bubble formed around her head. A mermaid with streaming golden hair floated next to her, smiling. "Thank you," she whispered. "Now, where can we take you?"

"Atlantis," Tarah replied. "I need my crew."

"We'll go now."