Lena smiled, "I do understand. I believe everyone of us here would give the world to have our lives back, to have our families back. Most people who joined this coven did so out of necessity, but that doesn't mean we don't like it either."
Erin nodded in understanding. "Can I ask what brought you here?"
Lena smiled, "Absolutely!"
Myrtle nodded, "of course, you will after all be our sister in a few days time. It is your right to know."
"Me! I'll go first!!" Lena slapped the water splashing Myrtle and Flora.
"Our stories are interlinked, why don't we talk together!?," Myrtle replied. Sometimes she acted like a child, thought Myrtle to herself.
"Okay."
Lena began her story, "My mother was an undine, water nymph, and she was absolutely beautiful. She had wavy blue green hair that cascaded down her pearl-like complexion. She was born in the cold waters of Lake Superior and that was her home. She was a powerful water nymph and her voice was pure bliss to listen to."
Lena paused for a moment, "We have voices similar to siren's, but unlike siren's, undine's do not use their voices to lure men to a grisly maritime death. Rather, we use our voices to find our mates."
Lena looked over and smiled at Erin before continuing her story. "My mother fell in love with my father, a human from a local tribe. My mother saved him from the icy depths of Lake Superior after his canoe had capsized. She brought him back to shore and nursed him back to health before she returned him to his people. It was a pure form of love. I was their first child from their union. After her union and birth of me with the human, she lost her water nature and became human. Being born an undine she set me free in the water when I was old enough."
Lena tilted her head to the side and considered something for the first time. "I didn't feel abandoned. My mother loved me dearly. But, as she was no longer an undine she couldn't handle the icy waters of Lake Superior any longer. When I was released into the water, I still kept close to the shore. I watched their tribe, my tribe. I watched my mother and father and my siblings grow up. But, they were all human. Them being human, they had human lifespans and I would watch them all grow old and die. The day my mother died the waters of Lake Superior were dangerous as I mourned my mother. Not too longer after I mourned the death of my father. I continued to stay near the tribe and my siblings. They kept my secret and I protected my tribe. Nobody perished from the water when I was there. Many years after the death of my youngest sibling the tribe was sent West. I couldn't go with them and for the first time in such a long time I was alone. I spent my time in the vast depths of the water and traveled between the lakes, but Lake Superior was always my home and it was where I would always come back to."
Lena looked up and her eyes had misted with tears. She then let out a beaming smile that was like a beacon of hope. "While recalling my family is sad it is also makes me happy to be able to remember them. One day I hope to find my mate too!"
Erin smiled. She struggled with what she should say to the mermaid floating on the creek in front of her. But before she had too much time to think about it Myrtle began to speak.
"I think it is my turn, no?"
Lena waved the other mermaid on, "yes, yes, your turn now." Lena spoke impatiently.
Myrtle smiled and sent a small way over towards Lena, drenching the already wet girl.
"Where to begin? My sisters and I were born in the Baltic Sea. My mother of course was a Siren. My father, I suppose he was human? I don't really know? Probably some sailor my mother seduced before he sank to the bottom of the sea." Myrtle titled her head up thinking about her father, but then shrugged her shoulders.
"Siren's aren't known for our take on 'love'. My mother and sisters stayed in the Baltic Sea for many years. Happily killing sailors as they crossed into our paths."
Myrtle noticed Erin's raised brows and clearly shocked face.
"Yes, I know I am speaking of death so nonchalantly, but remember it is what I grew up with. All of us Sirens. All the women in my family used their voices to lure men to their deaths."
"Anyways," Myrtle continued. "The local village men and women in the town of Gdansk discovered our presence and were determined to eradicate us. Since women do not fall victims to our charms. The women came after us. I witnessed the horrid death of my mother and sisters at the hands of the village woman. I barely managed to get away and I was bleeding badly. But as I swam away my heart was hardened and I was determined to kill as many of the humans as possible. They had taken my family from me. I swam far away from the Baltic Sea and I made my way towards the harbor near what is currently known as New York City. However, after many years and out of caution; I made my way further inland to the chilly waters of Lake Superior. I sat upon my perch and I let my voice ring out desperately wanting the sailors to meet their watery grave, as my right as a siren."
"But then!" Lena jumped up splashing everyone, including Erin.
Myrtle shook her head, "Fine, you can continue," letting out a sigh.
"Like a 120 years ago, I was spending my time at the bottom of the lake, the world had changed so much. But then, one day I hear this beautiful singing. It sounded like my mother's voice. But, I knew it couldn't be here. I swam quickly to the surface heading toward Lafayette Bluff, where I heard the singing."
"Sitting upon her perch along the jagged rocks was Myrtle. Singing like a goddess with the heart of a demon."
"'What are you doing? STOP!' I called out. I pulled on her fin and dragged her into the water."
"Don't exaggerate Lena!"
"Well, that is what happened!!" Lena retorted.
"Guys!" Flora called out, "No reason to embellish!"
Lena rolled her eyes and Myrtle continued the story. "She called out to me, reaching out to me. I met the fellow mermaid in the water, 'Why?' I asked 'Or is it that you care to join me?' I had questioned."
Myrtle then turned to Lena, "You made me a better being." A small smile crept up her face before she turned to Erin. "She taught me it was wrong and I didn't have to that. For that I am eternally grateful!"
Lena smiled and swam up to Myrtle hugging her.
Erin furrowed her brows, thinking that they had concluded their story. "But, wait! How did you get here? You know, in the coven."
Lena grinned, "our story doesn't stop there."