Beyond the Tower

| Twelve | To Kill or Not To Kill

"My six sisters and I were just lounging on our singing rocks. We weren't even hungry, or else that ship would not have made it past us. But my oldest sister, Alyna, decided she was bored, or just wanted to be more perfect or something- nobody can understand that witch's mind- and sang the song of his death. And once Richard almost drowned, she changed her about her hunger and left, along with the rest of my sisters. 

"I wasn't going to be one to waste fresh meat, so I stayed. But I took one look at his sky-darned face and made the worst decision of my life. I sang the song of revival, and helped him back ashore. Just, well I mean, that is, to spite Alyna of course. She almost killed him, it would be the perfect way to show her that she's not the most perfect no matter what she insists. And it would have all been fine if he hadn't made the worst mistake of his life; he kissed me."

"What?" demands Snow, her face turning a fierce, angry red. I can see her hands clench to fists and her eyes narrow. I guess I can't blame her; I wouldn't want this crazy siren around my brother, if I had a brother, either. I certainly don't even want myself around her. 

"I know just how you feel, darling," drawls Aysela, shaking her head, an innocent expression on her blue face. Except her eyes- I can see a storm brewing in those animal eyes. 

"One blow to his face fixed that, and once he was knocked out, I left. But Alyna, Alyna, ah!  I guess it isn't enough that she's is heir to the throne and beloved by everyone. Well, by beloved by everyone, I really mean beloved by my father, the king, and all the other nobles that she kisses up to, and hated by everyone else, whom she considers below her and antagonizes. It isn't enough, and she-"

"What?" I interrupt. "What do you mean, your father the king."

"Oh, forgive my manners," says Aysela, mockingly. "I must have forgotten to tell y'all that I am actually princess of the underwater kingdom of Oceania."

I'm a little in shock by her revelation, but don't say anything, and neither does Snow. It seems like I'm meeting a lot of princesses, lately, something I surely never would have dreamed of while cooped up in my stifling tower.

"Anyhow, it wasn't enough for Alyna. Somehow, she got wind of my mistake, and told Father. So then Father was furious, and gave me the ultimate punishment for consorting with humans; banishment. It didn't matter that stupid Richard was the one to kiss me, and not vice versa, nor did it matter that I never wanted to see his face again. Unlike whatever rumors you may have heard, sirens aren't allowed anywhere near humans, lest we dilute the bloodlines, and actually become humans, losing our powers and our heritage.

"So basically, he banished me to the land, meaning I'm stuck with these wretched legs and can't transform back to my tail. And since I can't access my tail, I can't access my voice. Meaning I can't sing. I can't sing. The best asset to the siren, my pride and joy, my favorite thing to do, and I can't sing. How unfair is that! I can't even believe it! And it's all Alyna's fault!"

I'm glad to hear all this, honestly. It proves that Snow's stories were false. I guess that if sirens aren't allowed to be on land consorting with humans, they can't bewitch them with their voices. Hopefully that'll help me sleep better at night.

"So when I'm stuck without song on the stupid, wretched, horrible, awful, human beach, Prince Richard shows up on the beach, and finds me. And he thinks he recognizes me as the girl who saved him, and he asks me to sing for him, just to be sure. But I can't, so he's not sure, but he brings me back to his palace anyways. Humans disgust me. Except to eat, of course. They're actually the most delicious thing in the seven seas. But I wasn't about to turn down a palace room in favor of being homeless, so I accepted. And just when I was thinking that it maybe wasn't that bad, Alyna showed up."