Author's Note- This was never and is never going to be a full story- it was an excerpt to show why the Sirens became evil in my story, Elements. If it doesn't make sense, and it probably won't, there are two reasons- it's easier to understand if you've read Elements, since I explain nothing about the world in this excerpt. And, half of it is missing. I have no idea where the first part is, but the first part was added only after what I'm putting her was written, and isn't too critical. If I find it, I'll add it, otherwise you'll just have to suffer.
“They would kill us if they met us!” Leda shouted. The others stopped and stared, surprised. Her voice had lost its music- she spoke as flatly as the mortals.
“What for? What did we do to them?” Alamere looked about, her eyes sorrowful. Then she glared at Leda with a fury none of the Sirens had ever seen in her before. “How do you know?”
Leda matched Alamere’s glare. She had never feared her friend, as a person or a leader. “They come with weapons and speak of pride and honor. I heard them mention a prophecy, and you know that no good comes of those!"
“What prophecy?”
“How could I know that? I’ve not met with those fortunetellers in years. They’re dead by now, for all I know.” “You know more than that!” Alamere narrowed her eyes, certain that Leda was conspiring against her in some way.
“I know that we are being hunted, and any animal could give us the good advice to run!”
“You traitor!” Alamere grabbed Leda’s ear and forced her to kneel. “ You would relate us, the glorious Sirens, to common animals!? And have us run from friends? Traitor! I should have you hanged!”
“Princess, the mortals are head this way!” shouted one young Siren. Alamere grinned.
“But even better. Leda, you will approach the mortals and welcome them. In fact, it would not be beyond due politeness if you apologize for why we were running.” She ordered.
Leda winced. “ Please, do not make me go. My dear friend, I will repent in any way but that one!”
Alamere shook her head stiffly, her eyes wide with the excitement of power. “ That would not teach you- and Leda, you must be taught.”
“Go! Go!” The Sirens cried, harmonizing their leader’s command.
Leda walked numbly towards the path, her face red, eyes shining.
“Alamere!” she pointed harshly at her old best friend. “ I hope you have not forgotten that my name means Truth, and in that I always speak. You will regret this, and it will be paid for greatly by many generations to come. You may have taken Leda for granted, but after you, no one else will.” She turned and ran through the woods, following the sound of the mortals crashing through bushes.
“Emedia, you fly and watch her. Make sure she does her job.” Alamere ordered the youngest Siren. Emedia nodded and transformed into a snowy white swan, flying high over the trees.
~
“Do you hear something?” the man in charge asked.
“Probably a deer. They can be pretty loud when they want to be.” Replied another. The mortals were bent on ripping through the Emerade forest, searching for the Sirens.
Leda broke through the trees, and all lights shown on her. With her black hair around her face from running and her eyes on fire, Leda did not look very friendly. She looked as the mortals had heard; evil, blood lusting, dangerous. As if her only purpose for living was to destroy the mortals who had immigrated from Estabruk. The mortal gang shrank back for a moment, caught in the shock from being faced with a Siren so unexpectedly. But they quickly recomposed themselves in anger.
“It’s one of those Sirens! The evil ones that cry for death!” a man shouted. “Kill it!”
The mortals raised their weapons and advanced. Leda drooped to the ground and screamed in mourning, for herself and for her friends, who were surely doomed. The scream was so unlike a cry heard before, slightly melodious and haunting. The mortals almost fell under the spell that she had unintentionally cast. But they recovered, and cornered their target.
~
Alamere waited for Emedia to return and say that Leda was with the mortals, and they were on their way. She did not feel bad about what she had made her best friend do, because it wasn’t bad anyway. Alamere had seen Leda stand up to beings much fiercer and deadlier then the mortals, who after all had no natural powers that would harm a Siren. And as the Princess of the Sirens, she had to punish anyone who deserved it. It wasn’t just punishment- it was an example to all the Sirens, that stepping out of line was not tolerated.
A black swam glided down, and transformed into Emedia.
“Emedia, why isn’t you swan white?” Alamere asked, smiling at the young Siren.
Emedia stood trembling, her face pale with fright. “I fear that I can never wear white again, Princess, for I’ve seen the death of Leda, and she was not guilty.”
Alamere jumped up, no longer smiling. “Leda is dead? Why?”
“The mortals killed her, Princess. They surrounded her and without giving her a chance to speak, beheaded her.” Emedia shook more violent. “They said she was only one of the Sirens, and that the rest must be killed as well.” Alamere stared out into the wood. The mortals would not find them before morning, but they were not well hidden.
“We must leave. The mortals must not find us.” She said, her voice monotonous. The Sirens left immediately.
