A woman was jerked from her hiding spot, where she had been tucked neatly behind stacks of supply-filled barrels. Her black hair fell from her once neat bun as she tossed her head back, resisting the bearded man who had grabbed her.

      "Get your hands off of me!" She snapped, jerking away from the strong hand gripping her arm. He caught her again by the collar of her loose white shirt, jerking her back again.

     "A stowaway?" The man guessed, thick eyebrows lowering across almond shaped eyes. "And a woman at that! The cap'n will love to hear about this!"

      She found herself thrown to her knees at the helm of the Windswept, her coal-colored hair falling into her dark eyes. She tossed her head back with an angry his at the man who had deposited her, then looked up to see the captain.

       He wore a fancy coat over a white ruffled shirt, perfectly ironed and smooth as fresh snow. A sword hung from a belt at his hip, engravings made of gold against the fine steel. His eyes were gray, narrow, and cold. There was a look of disgust given away by the slight lift of his upper lift that showed the tips of white teeth. He leaned against the steering wheel as he studied her.

       "A stowaway, sir," the man who had found her reported, smirking at the looks disgust on the regal captain's face.

       "I can see that. And a woman, no less." He rested a hand on the hilt of his sword, smirking at her. "Care to give me your name, stowaway?"

       "Dala Crown," she managed through gritted teeth, her dark eyes regarding him with nothing short of hatred. The wooden deck was pressing into her knees, making her very uncomfortable. Even so, she knew an attempt to stand would be fruitless in front of these men.

       "A slave?"

       "Former slave. I am no longer submissive to those believing they are superior."

       "Yet here you are, on your knees," he sneered, and her lip curled. "An escaped slave, stowing away on a ship bound for Tress. And a woman. Don't you know it is bd luck for women to sail?"

        "I have no reason to dread this ship plunging you to watery graves," Dala replied tersely.

       "I, however, rather that didn't happen." The captain barked an order at a passing sailor before returning his attention to her. His silver eyes glittered with malice. "Thus, you will be removed from our company. Goodbye, Dala Crown."

       The man beside her bound her wrists and feet despite her protests and struggling, and Dala spat a curse at the captain as they dragged her towards the edge of the ship. She refused to scream as she was thrown from the deck into icy waters.

       She couldn't swim, couldn't keep herself above the surface. Her clothes collected water like a sponge, dragging her away from the shimmering light just above her head. She writhed in the water, struggling to keep that light from rising out of reach. In a mere blink of an eye, it was gone, and her breath went with it.

       As her lungs began to ache, her eyes filling with spots, an ethereal voice penetrated the eerie silence. "You have a choice... die like the rest or live with us."

      She was dimly aware of creatures twisting around her. Humanlike creatures with pearly skin, large eyes, and webbed hands. Tails propelled them each through the water, their flowing hair streaming out behind them as they swam.

      Dala knew from the tales that these beautiful creatures were a sailor's worst fear: sirens.

     A siren with glowing green eyes and auburn hair grew closer than the rest, and Dala began to choke on the water. She couldn't hold her breath any longer, and her body began to convulse. The closest siren sliced through her bonds with sharp claws, but it was much too late for Dala to attempt returning to the surface.

       Dala's vision was going black as cold water rushed into her lungs. Panic overwhelmed her, and she reached for the sirens pleadingly. There was no breath left to speak even if she could have dozens of feet beneath the surface. But the plea for help was written clearly on her face.

      The sirens swam forward, curling around her as everything faded to black.

       Dala wasn't sure how long the cold had been burning her lungs until she opened her eyes. Her long, black hair drifted around her in an ethereal fashion, and she felt weightless. She could no longer feel the burn of saltwater in her eyes nor the ropes rubbing against sore wrists.

       She looked down at her hands, finding in shock there was webbing between each brown finger.

       Then a voice penetrated the silence. "Rejected by the land, accepted in the water. You have died, but we brought you back in a form you could live in the sea."

        A siren swam through the water towards her, and Dala stared at her closely. She glanced down at herself, startled. She was no longer her normal self. Her skin was shimmery, her fingers webbed. Breathing in the water around her was no more difficult than breathing air.

       "I'm a siren," she breathed, glancing up with a start at the auburn-haired siren in front of her. "You made me a siren?"

       "Men have brought your downfall. We can help you get revenge."

        Dala stared at her hands, unsure whether to grin or scream. She was now trapped in the sea. But... had the sea ever been something she hated? She swam forward through the water, twisting through the smooth currents that tugged at her hair. They had saved her life.

         "You could live with us now," the siren extended a delicate hand. "We live near, in the kelp forest. No longer will you be subjected to human torment."

       "Yes," Dala whispered, turning to face her again. "Yes, please."

        The other siren held up a thin finger. "But before you are accepted, you must earn your rite of passage."

        Dala hesitated. Earning a place in a group of sirens would not be a simple task. Even so, she gave her head a brisk nod. She would do what she had to.

        "You must choose a human to drown."

       "Any human?"

       "Whichever you choose."

        Dala pressed a finger against her lip thoughtfully. Then a wicked smirk began to play across her face. "Even... a captain?"

       The siren returned the wicked smile.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

     Night had fallen. The Windswept was halted in docking bay of Tress. Tress was a rich city, known for fishing and their gaudy ships of massive size and speed. The docking bay was lit with torches, sailors striding back and forth unloading cargo from the large ship.

      The Windswept's Captain was standing at the edge of the dock, beside the ramp lowered down from the ship. It was the perfect place to bark orders and snide comments, and that was exactly what he was doing.

      He watched with satisfaction the last sailor carry the last barrel out of the ship and called after him "My great grandmother could move that barrel faster than that! What are you, a jelly-legged codfish?"

     He laughed to himself when the man tensed, but had the sense not to reply. The captain shook his head with a chuckle as he watched the last man leave. His job was done. Now he could relax around town until the morning, maybe get a drink to treat himself with.

     He gave a nod of satisfaction at his empty ship, then took a step away from the ship to leave. No sooner had he stepped forward, boot clicking on the wooden dock, then a mellow voice echoed through the night air.

"Churning waves over a lost one's head,

Hands bound tight, heart full of dread.

Found solace in an ocean song

Come to right what was made wrong.

"The song of the sea sings for you

The depths of the deep cry for you

I sing to you now with courage in hand

Show me your secrets, I'll show you depth's sand."

      There was something absolutely enchanting about the voice, and the captain saw a woman with her arms crossed on the edge of the dock. Her dark skin shimmered in the torchlight, smooth and flawless. Long hair rested over her shoulder, streaked with light blue. There was something very familiar about the woman, but she looked much different than how he remembered. Less angry. More perfect.

      Now she reached for him, singing softly but clearly to him. The captain crouched in front of her, his head tilting to the side as he studied her face. He knew her face. But it had not been so perfect, so... unreal.

       She beckoned to him, and he moved closer, breathing "Who... who are you?"

      She just smiled at him, reaching out a hand to beckon him closer once again. His silver eyes were fixed on her, taking in every detail of her face. He leaned closer, as she sang, eyes glowing with infatuation. "Tell me your name."

        She smiled as he came closer, within arms reach. She reached up, touching his pale cheek as she sang

"He sailed on, and left her cold

But she will return for his soul

With light of revenge within her heart

Ready to drag him to the deepest dark."

       With that, her gentle touch on his face turned to a viselike grip on the collar of his fine captain's jacket. "My name is Dala Crown, and I have returned for you." She snarled into his face, and his eyes widened in shock.

        Dala surged away from the edge, and the captain lost his balance. He let out a startled shout as he was plunged into the icy ocean waters. Panicking, he thrashed about, but her grip did not loosen. Bubbles escaped from his mouth, and he watched in anguish as the left his lips. The surface was shrinking away, the cold waters soaking him.

       Dala pulled him down into the deep, not wavering, not sympathetic as she dragged the arrogant sea captain into the darkness. Within moments, they were gone from the sight of the surface.

         There was nothing left except the tiny white bubbles drifting up through black waters for the ever distant surface.