The Lady of the Sea;

I call upon thee to aid me—-

The ages rough—-

Life and work far too tough.

Fate's just cruel, all punishment and no fluff—-

Haven't thee suffered enough?

~~~~

"And where exactly, pray tell, do you think you're going, my lady?" the first man asked as he had a hold of Evin.

"Home," Evin responded, swallowing nervously. "...to my own dwelling."

"And miss out on all the lovely festivities we have planned for tonight? Tsk," the first man said, running the outer part of his hand down the side of Evin's face.

"Get your hands off me," Evin growled.

"Or what?" The first man kept his hand in place. "What exactly do you plan to do, my dear? There's only one of you... And three of us." He lowered his voice. "It seems you're out-matched... And out-numbered, MacFadyen."

"I know." Evin swallowed once more, tensing up even more than they thought previously possible. "But, I can still try to hold my ground. I can still put my best forward."

The first man yanked them closer, aggressively, making Evin wince.

"Hey! Watch it, you wantwit!" Evin growled. "You're bound to rip it right out of the socket if you keep pulling like that!"

"And maybe that's what I want. Ever thought about that, my dear?" He spat. "One less arm means one less way for you to break away, you know."

Evin could feel the panic steadily rising within them. "You're sick."

"Maybe," he mused.

Gods above, someone just step in and help me, Evin thought.

"Hey!" a voice called out a little ways away from them. "Which one of you monstrosities wants a ride to the underworld first?"

A young woman stepped into view—-she was dressed in a dark, lacey dress. Black and red makeup illuminating her face. Her eyes were like a piercing fire.

"Stay out of this, wench," the first man said. "This is between me and MacFadyen. If you have a problem with that, you can take it up with my lads."

The woman raised an eyebrow. "Your 'lads'? You mean the men I just wasted mere moments ago? Before you noticed me here? Them?"

The man's eyes widened upon seeing his allies' nonmoving bodies and blood that sank into the sand and gravel below. "You conniving little harlot!" he hissed. "You'll pay for that!"

"Hmm... Will I? Or will you pay your penitence for all your unwanted words towards that gentle fellow there?" she gestured to Evin.

The man snarled, letting go of Evin and charging straight towards the woman, fully prepared to strike if necessary.

The woman dodged his blows with ease before wrapping him up in a headlock, forearm to his throat and hand against the back of his head. "Shh... Shh. Relax. Just relax," she beckoned before jerking his head quickly and letting him drop to the ground.

The woman stepped over the three bodies and approached Evin. Both her tone and expression softened as she addressed them. "Are you alright?"

Evin dropped the rock, rubbed their arm, and nodded. "Thanks to your intervention, yeah."

The woman looked away, seemingly about to depart.

"And you are...?" Evin eyed her, as if they wanted her to stay.

"Some call me 'the Lady of the Sea'," she droned. "Friends, though, call me Alice."

The Lady of the Sea... Evin had heard the most curious tales of her. "Well, thank you, Alice. If it weren't for you, things would've gotten a lot messier."

Alice cast a glance over to the bodies—-where their blood met and merged with the water. "They already have." She paused, before looking over at Evin once again. "What's your name?"

"Evin," they replied, softly.

"Evin," Alice tried out. "A beautiful name."

Evin nodded. "I picked it out myself."

"Then you have chosen well." Alice then offered a hand. "Would you like to accompany me? Leave this toxic, disgusting world behind, in trade for something far greater? My own realm?"

To Evin, this offer sounded amazing. They had nothing going for them. No friends. No familial support. And altercations like this happened all the time for them unfortunately. "Yes." They took Alice's hand.

Alice smiled gently at them. "Excellent." With that, Alice led Evin to the sea.

Evin was free.

~~~~

The Lady of the Sea;

One kiss shall set me free—-

To break free and cast myself to the maritime—--

Far, far away from the landlubber's whine.

I revoke the claim of the land—-

And I beg to take thee's hand.