The days after the announcement felt strange. Everyone was talking about the Sirens. Even the younger kids, the ones who didn't fully understand what it meant, were caught up in the rush. I'd overhear them in the hallways, pretending to be Sirens, diving off the furniture and "swimming" across the floors.
Eleri, of course, was more obsessed than ever. She spends hours over at the library, reading everything she could about them- books, papers, even old news clippings. Her eyes sparkling as she shared everything with me.
"Did you know they can communicate underwater?" she said one night, lying on her stomach on my bed. "They've developed this whole system of hand signals and vocalizations that work even in the deep, deep sea."
I sat on the floor, leaning against the wall, pretending to listen. "That's… cool," I said, trying to keep my voice from sounding too flat.
She didn't seem to notice, or care if she did. She flipped through the pages of her latest book, her brow furrowing in concentration. "And they can dive deeper than any human, Adapting to withstand the pressure!"
I nodded, staring at the ceiling. The idea of becoming something inhuman at all still made me uncomfortable, but she was still invested in it. I didn't want to ruin her excitement.
I can't help but to think about stories I heard. Stories about how people who joined their ranks sometimes never come back. They disappear into the ocean, leaving behind their human lives, their families, everything. It was like a one way ticket to a new life. A life I'm not sure I want.
But Eleri isn't afraid, so maybe I shouldn't be either. She never seems to be afraid of anything,
A week later, the day finally arrived and my hands are sweating like crazy. The Tidecallers are finally here to visit. The air is buzzing with excitement, or maybe it's just me and my nervousness. The headmistress had told us to be on our best behavior, which only made the younger kids more chaotic.
"They'll be here soon," Eleri whispered to me that morning, her bug eyes wide with anticipation. "Aren't you excited?"
"Yeah," I lied, "A little nervous, though."
Eleri Just smiled, her usually bubbly self. "Don't worry, Sera. You'll see- it's going to be amazing."
I followed her to the common room, where everyone else was already gathered. We sat in rows, waiting for the Tidecallers to arrive. My stomach twisted in knots, and I couldn't tell if it was fear or something else.
When the door finally opened, and the Sirens entered, the room fell silent.
There were three of them- two women and a man, all tall, graceful, with an otherworldly elegance about them. Their skin had a faint shimmer, dusted like pearls, and their hair moved in soft waves, almost as if it was still submerged in water. One woman even had freckled scales on her cheeks. Their eyes though- those were the most striking. Deep, sea colored, and ancient. They didn't seem like the kind of eyes that belonged to anyone who lived on land.
Eleri squeezed my hand, barely able to contain her excitement. "Look at them," she whispered. "They're… beautiful."
I couldn't deny it. There was something captivating about them, something that made you want to look and keep looking, like staring into the depths of the ocean and wondering what lay beneath.
The headmistress introduced them, and they spoke to us, explaining what it meant to be a Siren. They talked about the transformation process, the difference between siren born and transitioning, how it isn't just physical- it was mental and emotional, too. They spoke about the commitment it required, how once you became a Siren, your life would never be the same. It wasn't all technical though, they even talked about the traditions and fun events like the Coral Harvest Festival.
I'd have to admit, that does sound fun, but unlike me, my other half hung onto every word. I could feel Eleri vibrating to her core beside me, like she was barely keeping herself from jumping out her seat.
When they finished speaking, they opened the floor to questions. Eleris hand shot straight up immediately.
"What was it like?" she asked, her voice trembling with awe. "Living in the ocean, or at least partly in the ocean? What's it really like?"
One of the women spoke up- the one who transitioned, her lips curving like the edge of a wave into a smile. "It's unlike anything you can imagine. The ocean is vast, endless. It's both beautiful and dangerous, peaceful and wild. But it's home to me now, you, us, and hopefully some of you as well. Once you become a part of it, you'll understand.
This deer beside me practically melted beside me. I stayed quiet, not wanting to draw attention to myself.
After the Q&A session, we were allowed to approach them, talk one on one if we wanted and Eleri practically dragged me towards them. I resisted for a moment, but she was stronger than she looked. And trust me, she looks like a pipsqueak.
"We have to talk to them before they leave, Sera," she said. "This is our chance!"
Reluctantly I followed her, though my stomach twisted tighter and tighter with every step.
She introduced herself first, of course. She was fearless, asking questions a bunch of different questions, droning and gushing about how cool they are.
I stood there, silent, my mind racing with everything I wanted to ask but couldn't bring myself today. When they turned to me, waiting for me to ask something, I froze.
"U-um," I stammered, feeling the heat rising to my face. "I- well, I guess, I just want to know… do you ever miss it? Being human, I mean."
They just looked at me and laughed softly, and for a moment, I thought she might say yes. But then she smiled, shaking her head.
"No," she said softly. "Once you become a siren, you realize that the ocean is always calling you. It's where you belong. You won't miss the surface because you'll finally be home, in fact depending on how you transition, you can still live on the surface."
Her words sent a chill down my spine. I wasn't sure I believed her, or rather wanted to believe her.
Later, as we walked back to my room, Eleri couldn't stop talking about the visit. "I'm going to do it," she said, her voice filled with certainty. "I'm going to become a Siren. I can feel it, Sera. it's where I'm supposed to be, and If I'm there, you definitely belong there too!"
The idea still scared me a little, but her enthusiasm was infectious. Maybe she was right. Maybe the ocean really was calling her
But me? I'm not so sure.
As I lay in bed that night, staring up at the sealing, I tried to imagine it- living in the ocean, leaving everything behind. My parents' faces flickered in my mind, a memory from a time when my life was different, simpler.
Could I leave that behind? Could I leave them behind?
I don't know.
All I know is that the world felt too big, and I still wasn't sure where I fit in. Sometimes, I wish I was just floating in the deep abyss.