Chapter Text
The beach house is just a few miles away from the ocean, lined with a nearby cliff to the right and few sea stumps. Along with the coastal forest that almost surrounded them, was one of the very few things Adaine was thankful for from her parents.
Along with Aelwyn (even though the relationship was touch and go for the first year after father’s death and their mother’s disappearance) being her sister. The inheritance they both received which essentially set them for life. Adaine for her college tuition and Aelwyn for an added support while working at the library.
For the first time since the summer heat started, Adaine is glad for the sun to be beating down on her. With the added sunscreen so she doesn’t get another sunburn, she had learned her lesson when she was seven and her skin was nearly peeling. Sensitive to the touch while nine year old Aelwyn laughed her ass off. Poking fun at her and literally poking her, ignoring Adaine’s pained cries.
Though, she loves the beach house and her summer visits for another reason.
“God, I’d never thought I’d actually like your parents for this Adaine,” Kristen stretches an arm in front of her face, knocking Adaine out of her trance. She twists her head towards the pointed finger and already knows the sight to be greeted with.
The beautiful white house (mansion Kristen once called it) stands out in the stretch of road and forest lines even with the large distance between them. Its two story figure painted with black accents, the radiant sunlight beaming down on the building.
Perfect place to sit outside on the hammock seated on the front porch, read her newly bought book. Watch from afar while the others play in the water.
“Maybe Kristen wasn’t that exaggerating when she said it looked like some type of mansion,” Tracker says, Adaine’s gaze is still locked onto the ocean that she can barely see. A familiar sense of fear that crawls up her spine slowly.
“Finally gonna jump in the water with us?” Kristen nudges Adaine’s shoulder with her own just as Adaine turns back around. Her freckled face is a small flush of red from the heat inside the van, reaching down to her shoulders that keep the same pattern, exposed by her tank top. “Maybe I’ll drag you out the house this time."
“You do that and I’ll never invite any of you again here,” Adaine scoffs, though her threat lacks the usual bite.
“And I barely got to see this place, don’t make me lose beach house privileges Kristen,” Tracker exaggerates a heavy sigh, leaning her head on the opposite window Adaine is by.
“Kristen I swear to god if you make us lose beach house privileges I’ll drown you in the damn ocean,” Fabian remarks just a seat ahead of them. Adaine can hear the seatbelt unbuckle and Fabian pop up from the cat seat, his arms resting on the head rest while his chin is popped on his forearms. “I’ll never force you in the water Adaine if it means we get to come here every summer.”
“Stop sucking up and get back in your seat. Last time you didn’t wear it you flew forward and broke your nose.” Even while out of view, Adaine can paint the vision of Mazey’s stern glare. A hand reaches up and tugs on Fabian’s shirt collar.
“Alright, alright don’t bring that up again,” Fabian grumbles, halfheartedly glaring at Kristen who stuck her tongue out like a toddler as he climbs back down.
“We’re like fifteen minutes away just so you guys know!” Gorgug exclaims from the drivers seat. Which, to be fair, is essentially his reserved seat.
As the van owner and the only person in the group reliable enough to drive. (Adaine’s stream of visions hitting her plus the fact they are impossible to predict make her a hazard on the road. Even with her driver’s license in hand, she prefers back seat driving over actually driving.)
“I'm trying my best to get you to swim with us Adaine!” Kristen grins with a bright smile that competes with the sun. Wrapping her arms around her, squeezing the air out of Adaine’s lungs with an awkward wheeze.
“Never happening,” Adaine coughs out when Kristen finally lets go. “Not in a million years.”
Though, the one thing she hates the most is how much luggage she has to drag up the stairs. The four bedrooms are split between two placed in the first floor with the other two remaining on the second.
To which Adaine almost immediately called a room on the first floor dibs on with Gorgug and Riz sharing the other one next to hers.
Even with her added protests to not helping, trying to sneak herself on the hammock with headphones and book in hand. Adaine is forced to hard labor when carrying one of Fabian’s many bags with Mazey’s help.
“I swear to god,” Mazey heaves out. “I’m gonna throw this suitcase down the stairs if we don’t get this up in the next minute.”
“Just call Gorgug—you know what? Get Fabian over here, these are his bags!” Adaine screams the last words over her shoulder. Her arms stretch to pull the suitcase over the steps even with Mazey on the other side aiding.
With a final push (and Adaine casting Unseen Servant) the suitcase lands with a hard thud onto the wooden floorboards. “I’m not helping with Fabian’s bag just so you know.”
“No, no I get it. I’m going to join Tracker and Kristen later to get a look around outside—”
“Be careful if you guys think of going near the cliff,” Adaine cuts her off without thinking. Her voice is much too close to the edge of outright yelling, with that same chill on her spine crawling up on her.
Mazey looks at her with wide eyes, her tail slightly flickering behind her. Adaine could suddenly feel her face burn, not from the summer heat that made the house feel stuffy. “Sorry, I just—”
“All good Adaine, don’t stress,” Mazey smiles, her eyes conveying the slight pity from poking out from the tuft of hair that flopped in front of her face. Amazingly, Mazey knew as well. Just Adaine’s luck.
She mentally jots down the reminder to question Fabian for later.
“I’m gonna check up on Riz and Gorgug, see what they're helping with,” Adaine mumbles, already turning on her heel and darting away. Damn her own fears, it shouldn’t prevent or ruin someone else’s chance at fun. Well, if someone’s fun was going near that deathtrap of a cliff by the raging ocean and hard rocks.
She has the scar and fear to prove its deathtrap reputation as well. Adaine tugs the collar of her shirt higher, no need for anyone to question.
Her wanted people are both gathered in the kitchen. Whispering under their breaths while they rummage through the cabinets. Riz perched on top of Gorgug’s shoulders, narrowing his eyes into each space while Gorgug opened them.
“What’s going on?” Adaine stepped up to Gorgug’s side.
“We’re trying to find the cups again. I think Aelwyn rearranged this place or I’m starting to forget where everything is in this stupid house,” Riz groans just as Gorgug moves to another cabinet.
“I’m pretty sure Aelwyn reorganizes everything to keep us on our toes every time we visit. Plus the dozen or so stray cats we have to help feed cause she feeds the nearby cat population with automatic feeders.” Adaine leans on the island counter, the marble digging into her lower back.
“Do you think Seacaster The Fourth still lives around here?” Gorgug asks, taking a set can of unopened tuna from one of the cabinets. Taking the sticky note that read “Expires on August 7th—feed cats the tuna I bought while you’re all here—yes I moved where the cups are losers—Aelwyn.” The perfect handwritten note crumpled into Adaine’s palm when she snatched it away.
“Seacaster The Fourth probably still lives here, with Gukgak The Seventh and Abernant the Third.” Riz says, the mouthful of names makes Adaine snicker. Poorly covering it with a cough before she spots a figure outside.
Walking over, she can barely make out Fabian by the beach. The small dot of himself miles away from the kitchen window that faces the ocean side. “I thought we weren’t going to the ocean until later?” Gorgug comments from over her shoulder.
Adaine can’t help but ignore his words, with her chest rising and falling much quicker. Ignoring the way everything screamed at her to pull her friend back to the house. Where multiple eyes can be on each other and with available help is nearby.
“Fabian’s always doing his own thing. Like how we went on that spring break trip and he got lost in the city?"
“Lost his jacket and everything, fought some old Mind flayer dude as well.”
Adaine can hear from behind Riz’s feet planting onto the tiled floors of the kitchen. The sound partially knocked her back into the real world. Turning her head back, she just prays for the same seconds that someone is looking away, not paying attention when they should have. The fate that she had years ago doesn’t happen to Fabian.
Fabian’s a fighter, practiced swimming due to his years on the seas with his dad. There should be no fear, Adaine tries to reassure herself. Even with her own internal thoughts being louder than Riz and Gorgug’s conversation.
“Adaine?” Gorgug’s voice grounds her just enough to respond.
“Yep?” Adaine’s voice is unsteady. She clenches her fists, trying to bury her dread.
“We’re gonna get the rest of the luggage—”
“I’ll help! Totally,” Adaine’s quick response shocks them enough for her to speed back to the car. Heart racing out of control, her breathing already picking up. No, no, she’ll be fine, the sea is far away and by no means is she ever getting that close to it ever again.
Tracker is trying to untie a surfboard off from the roof of the Hangvan. Kristen on the side with the sliding door wide open, rummaging through the many bags for something with a few grumbles underneath her breath.
“Hey Adaine!” Tracker exclaims from the top of the roof.
“Need help?” Adaine pushes out her response even though the words are almost lodged in her throat.
“I’ve got this thing, you might want to help her though.”
“Help me?” Kristen remarks from the side. She sighs before chucking what seems to be another one of Fabian's endless amount of bags to the side. “Can’t find my stupid bag under all of these.”
Adaine takes a deep breath in, calming the rushing nerves that stream through her veins. “Yeah I can, also, you guys don’t mind checking up on Fabian by the ocean when you’re walking around right? Mazey told me that you were and I just want to make sure he isn’t doing something that could make him lost for the entire day—”
“Like last time?” Kristen snickers at the memory. “I’ll make sure he isn’t drowning at sea, don’t worry girl I’ve got you.”
It’s something. Enough for the chill that is persistent in her spine to go away for Adaine to function properly.
The sun falls quicker than she can comprehend. Her bed is already rustled from lying her suitcase down on it while organizing her clothes. Boggy who was now resummoned making his own spot around the pillows. Kristen comes in and tries to nag her to join in the waters before the sun would fall in the West.
Alongside does the chill of the summer air, wrapping around the house in each corner like shadow. Not one spot spared from the cold that causes goosebumps all over the skin of her arms.
It’s already long past the reasonable time everyone should be asleep. Heck, even Boggy, a magical familiar who doesn’t truly need sleep, rests his eyes alongside her head among the soft pillows. Adaine chooses to instead, stare up at the ceiling as if she has a personal grudge against the endless whiteness with the turned off lights.
Adaine’s mouth is dry (her throat was filled with water, seeping into her lungs. Unable to spare a single gasp of air)
Blinking away the exhaustion that creeps up (she can’t blink away the salt of the sea that burns her eyes)
Gripping the blanket tighter (she could only feel the water surrounding her on all sides. The rocky terrain she was clinging on for dear life, gone when the waves swept her away)
She shouldn’t be here. Not anywhere near the sea for fuck’s sake. That cursed promise to never come back, broken each time when she visited. Adaine has half the mind to grab her suitcase, chuck every organized piece of clothing in the drawers and shake Gorgug awake to drive her back to the landlocked city.
The other somewhat rational part pulls her back to the reality that she is not running away nor drowning again. Back on the bed with Boggy, the distant sounds that play in her ears. A few stray cats that meow into the night around the house. Probably feeding on the automatic feeders that Aelwyn leaves around.
Crickets that continue their song, wind softly blowing past the windows. If her hearing were exceptional enough, maybe the waves crashing on the beach. Connecting with the sand and dragging it back.
Adaine takes a deep breath in, she isn’t anywhere near the ocean for now. Clear air fills her lungs unlike the ocean years ago.
And for once in this hellish living nightmare that is reoccurring, Adaine needs water. More specifically, a cup of it. Boggy is stirred awake when she climbs out of bed, fighting a shiver from the cold floorboards and tiles.
Using the old habit that was once used during her years in the Abernant house, Adaine quietly sneaks through the halls. Boggy perched on her shoulder as a makeshift lookout, turning the corner to reveal the kitchen.
Darkvision aids in her small quest, Adaine steps between the cracks of the floorboards before stepping onto the tiles. Already locating the glass cups in one of the upper cabinets. Boggy gives a soft supportive croak before nuzzling into her face.
Adaine closes the cabinet with a soft click, turning around with the achieved item. It’s when she finally hears it.
The cricketing stopped. Leaving her with the sound of wind rushing by and a song.
A song?
Adaine sets down the cup, straining her sharp ears. Boggy stops his soft noises for now, trying to listen alongside. No, its not a song but a small melody. Enchantingly haunted when it seemingly surrounds the entire silent house. Bouncing off the walls.
Her breath catches in her throat. Some part of her mind screams familiarity yet not a single memory of hers can pinpoint exactly where from. Perhaps an old song she heard passing by? A radio that once played it? Movie? Show?
She follows the song, trying to strain her hearing even more. Passing through the kitchen into the living room. There isn’t a single lyric, just a tune that echoes. If she were to follow it more, Adaine would soon be outside with only the bright stars to illuminate her path.
The song is alluring, trying to reel her into the unknown.
Adaine should stay.
She should already be turning on her heel, getting far away from whatever was trying to catch her.
She should not be walking towards it.
She should not be already fumbling with the front door while a faint sense of something on her shoulder trying to pull her.
She should not—no, she should be doing this. Right?
Her feet are no longer against the tiles of the kitchen or even of the hardwood floors. Rough concrete against her skin. The song somehow grows louder with each step, an irresistible pull tugging her forwards.
Its song made a rush of emotions swim in Adaine’s veins. Euphoria? A deep sense of devotion—she needed to find the source of the song. Needed to ignore everything else, ignore whatever was trying to pull on her neck. Some animal? Perhaps it's a frog.
Her surroundings are too blurred, her mind too focused on the song that has captured her in a net.
Adaine’s feet aren’t on the concrete but soon enough are stepping on sand. Sand that clings onto her skin, the wind blowing against her hair. Blonde locks flowing in front of her face, making her already hazed vision worse.
The melody is ringing in her ears, almost painful if it weren’t so beautiful, so enchanting. Adaine’s heart is running miles as she rushes forward, the blue in front of her now apparent to be the seawater even in the dead of night with the moonlight shining down on her.
Waves crash into her shins, the cold temperature nearly enough to snap her awake from this trance.
Though, why would she want to wake up? The song that is a strangling net around her consciousness, is oh so lovely.
It’s beautiful—no more than that. Adaine can’t put her love for the song into any language. It forces her forward even more, the water slowly rising up her body. Waves crash on her thighs, the cloth of her shorts sticking to her skin. The water’s base level rises quickly enough for it to be above her ankles.
Then above her knees. Waves of cold water knock the hazy figure off her shoulder with a distinct sound of a croak. Adaine can’t take in her surroundings, all she knows is the song growing louder. Piercing through the air straight into her eardrums, nearly enough to explode them from the sheer pain that grows. Vibrating, ear-splitting.
Frigid water splashing onto her face, soaking through her clothes thoroughly. The sheer power of the waves were enough to cause her heavy steps to falter. Nearly knocking her backwards into the freezing water.
Adaine raised her hand, trying to reach out. The song was so close, just a little further, she was—
One wave proved to be finally strong enough against her haze of illusion. Coldness swept all over her body as the force of water pushed Adaine back. Her unsteady stance is weak enough for waves to nearly throw her backwards.
The chilly air that pricked her lungs was suddenly replaced by the saltwater of the cold air. The inhale for oxygen made her nose breathe in the water, rushing down into her body. Through the windpipe, steadily making its way to her lungs.
Song immediately drowned out by the water rushing into her ears. Water filled her mouth when gasps of air turned into gulps of water.
Adaine’s eyes widened, the salt burning her vision.
What? Water? No, no, no, no!
Adaine scrambled, her limbs flailing. Trying to wade through the waves, she pushed upwards. Momentarily, her head popped out of the water. Pushing through to the chilly air—better than the disgusting water.
She gasped for air, sputtering—nearly puking the water that had rushed into her throat. Roars of water interrupted her small moment of victory before she even had the chance to celebrate it.
A wave larger than Adaine could comprehend crashed onto her, pushing her back into the unforgiving sea. Such force pushed her, nearly onto the seafloor.
Vision blurry, Adaine forced her mouth closed. The least she needed was taking in more of the water, drowning herself.
How? Why was she here? Never in a million years would she have even gotten close to the shore, let alone in the water—
No. It was that damned fucking song! Adaine mentally screamed. Both out of fear and pure anger.
Adaine coughed, bubbles of her remaining air flowing out. She needed to surface, find shore and swim as fast as she could. Scramble back to the house and—
Claws, the tips of them digging into her ankle. Nearly piercing her skin with such ease. The rest of the hand, smooth skin as if they never had the displeasure of being calloused, wrapped around her ankle.
Barely even having the chance to acknowledge the hand. It dug into her skin, cutting deep before Adaine was promptly yanked. Water rushed past her ears, whooshing while the rest of her body was left to the mercy of the insane speed.
Adaine couldn’t even lift or twist her head to look at what or who was grabbing her. Not to mention the inescapable force pulled her not only further from the shoreline, but also deeper.
The world becomes a mix of dark blues, her sense of direction lost. Could she even tell which way was up anymore?
Just like how she was so twisted and turned, the current sweeping her faster than Adaine could comprehend even being caught in the water? The living nightmare of a memory threatens to break through the mental barrier Adaine tossed it in.
Darkvision barely aided her as the moonlight that shone through the clear waters was getting dimmer and dimmer. Oh, she felt pain rock her as well. The pressure built up in her ears, threatening to burst.
Claws dug further into her skin, piercing with blood being drawn. Adaine strained her strength, forcing her other leg to fight against the speed. One kick landed on the person’s wrist, another kick landed on their fingers.
Adaine came to a sudden stop, the ringing finally no longer getting worse. Darkvision clearing the deep of the sea.
Slit pupils, hair flowing through the water above her head. A deep blue hair color, scales from the bottom of the tail shining right above her chest nearly touching her collarbone. Fin like ears longer than normal humans. Arms bare with human skin, the tips of her fingers colored with a dark ocean blue, claws extending. Webbing spread between each finger. The sides of her neck are lined with openings—gills now that she has a clear view.
Blood flowing steadily from her ankle, the thing—no, siren. This siren stared back at Adaine, a tight lipped smile turned into a teeth bared one. Sharper than an animal's canines on the rows of teeth.
Adaine winced at her ankle finally being let go, claws releasing her before they pounced.
The siren opened her jaw, hands grabbing at her shoulder. Adaine’s eyes widened, fear rushing through her veins. Hands scrambling, she grabbed the wrists of the siren, trying to pull them away. Claws froze dead in the water, trying to dug into her skin once more.
She snapped forward, her teeth catching onto the webbing. Pulling her head back to pierce and tear off a piece of the webbing. The taste of rubber, almost chewy between her teeth. The siren gritted her teeth, flashes of pain crossing her face.
A leg raised, her foot pushing against the siren’s abdomen. Another desperate attempt to push away the monster as she pushed forward. Her rows of teeth threatening Adaine, any wrong move could mean bleeding out here and now.
There was no advantage Adaine had, however many meters deep without a proper sense of direction, she was on the siren’s home court with the water surrounding her. Air quickly running out—was this it? Adaine’s second time facing death and it was in the same place. Deep underwater, stranded, alone—minus the siren facing in front of her.
No, no.
Not today.
She still had Aelwyn, still had her friends.
And no way in hell she wasn’t going to die in this fucking sea.
Adaine extended her leg, ramming her heel into the center of the monster and letting go of the siren’s wrists. Her other leg raised up, landing a harsh blow on the siren’s face. Making her eyes widen and a wince. Adaine swam up—was she even going up? Or was she diving deeper into her own doom?
It was better than staying at this water level anyway. Adaine pushed with all her might, her dying strength from the lack of oxygen and fear pushed through with the running adrenaline.
Adaine kicked her legs, glancing towards what she thought was up and back down to the siren. Still nursing her nose and her stomach from the kicks, though the corners of her eyes shined with pure anger.
She drove herself faster, lungs burning from the lack of oxygen. Eyes burning from the sea salt, corners slowly turning darker than the night sky. One more glance downward, she locked eyes with the siren once more.
Adaine already made a decent amount of distance. Yet compared to the sheer speed a siren could do? Adaine’s swim speed was like a bicycle going against a race car.
The siren swam with a whoosh, dashing forward, speeding for Adaine. Claws extended and teeth bared once more. Adaine continued making more distance, using her weak swimming skills to try to beat the siren. Anything to break the water onto the surface.
She swam around Adaine, aiming for her blind spot while she was distracted by her attempts to swim away. Adaine felt the claws dig into her back between her shoulder blades, tearing into the fabric of her drenched shirt. She could barely make out the deep red mixing with the deep ocean blues.
Only thing on her mind was getting more air to fill her desperate lungs. See the stars and bright moon not blurred from the waves.
An open opportunity that the siren had when Adaine continued swimming was taken. Another deep claw pierced her skin on her lower back, more blood mixing into the water.
Adaine could see the moon’s bright glow with the starry painted night blurred through the waves. Her legs kicked further, arms wading through the water even faster. Her vision went blurry from the sheer pain.
Please—all she needed was one gasp of air and that was it.
The incessant ringing was slowly giving up. Gradually released from the heavy pressure from Adaine going up, she could scream out of victory of trusting her instinct of swimming if she had the air to do so.
Yet, with her quick ascend, the dizziness grew. A steady growing of prickling pain shooting across her body as she swam faster. More damming pain in the areas around her joints—fuck, she was rising to quickly.
The whoosh of the siren swimming by erased all hesitation to keep at this pace in Adaine however. She could worry about the consequences later.
Two more claws dug into her thigh, trying to gain a firm grip on her no less. Adaine considers fighting, not an amazing option with her lack of strength. Growing weaker by the second as well.
Breaking from the grapple attempt, Adaine could nearly see the entire moon from a few feet from shining on the other side of the water. Just a little more, that’s all she needed.
Adaine heard the siren circle around her once more, the blood flowing from her wounds into the ocean. Red mixing with blue, the scent enough for the siren to keep on going.
With a final push, Adaine gasped for air. The chill of it pricking her lungs and giving the satisfaction for the corners of her vision to lighten. Bright moonlight shining above her, stars painting the darkness.
Wind howled against her face, Adaine spun around, her eyes trying to find anything that was solid. After doing a full 360 turn, double-taking, she could see the beach a few miles out. Far, but still there.
She sputtered out any remaining water from her system, greedily taking in more air with deep breaths.
The sudden hand gripping her ankle, nails digging into her skin reminded her of the problem at hand. Adaine learned her lesson, she took in a deep breath before she was yanked underwater.
Face to face with the siren once more, her face contorted with anger. Her sharp slit pupils honed in on Adaine. Lunging forward, her hands aiming directly for Adaine’s chest—no, aiming for her heart.
Each wound burned from the sea salt, yet she ignored the pain. Right now, this siren was the main issue.
Adaine was slower and weaker underwater with the pressure and drag. Yet, it didn’t stop her love for a good fight. If this thing were anything like a normal fish, gills were sensitive. If it was anything like the humanoid part it had, eyes and throats were vulnerable parts as well.
She was already at a disadvantage, did it matter that she played dirty?
One hand reached out, her nails digging into the plush skin of the siren. Her fingers scrambling to claw their way into the opening of the gills, feeling the soft flesh gave Adaine enough inspiration. She pierced into the exposed flesh, her nails drawing blood.
The siren screeched, bubbles of air flowing towards the surface. Her hands flew to Adaine’s hand, not bothering to notice the other flying to the other side of her face.
Her thumb pressed against the lower eyelid. Putting enough pressure to feel the softness of the eyeball underneath. Her other fingers dug into the skin behind ears and jaw. Adaine pressed harder, her thumb digging into the eye-socket as the eye itself was being gouged out.
It screamed again, rushing backwards trying to drag Adaine deeper. She barely had the time to react to let go, before the siren swam away. Making distance while it pressed a hand to the bleeding gills, hissing as she swam circles around Adaine.
Lungs already earlier deprived from air, Adaine felt them starting to scream for oxygen.
The siren was too fast, flashes of blue swimming in a blur. Adaine couldn’t dodge quick enough to avoid the hand gripping her throat and squeezing tight. She felt the limited air shorten as she coughed up air. The other clawed hand tore through her drenched shirt, blood drawn as the siren tried to make its way to Adaine’s heart. The nails almost claw deep enough into the sternum.
Her skin tore with ease, blood mixing with the siren’s.
Adaine scrambled, her hands flying to the weak spots once more. Her hand clawed the siren’s face, finding purchase in the eyes. Enough force to slice the soft eye open, tearing at the skin around the eye as well. Four lines from her nails drawing blood.
The siren let go of her throat, coming to cover her face with a grimace. Adaine gritted her teeth, there was no way she was letting this damn siren get away with trying to kill her. Desperate times called for desperate measures.
Both of her hands came to cup the sides of the siren’s face. Adaine lowered her head while she brought the siren closer. The siren wrapped her hands around Adaine, clawing into her back once more, even cutting deeper into one of the original scratches.
Adaine opened her mouth, not caring for the water that she might swallow. While she didn’t have fangs sharp as a siren’s, ones made to eat people, tear through skin and bone. She still had canine teeth to bite.
A vicious bite connected with the siren’s throat. The monster immediately started thrashing as Adaine clamped down harder, her teeth piercing into the flesh. Using the combined force of her own teeth pulling and the siren trying to pull away.
If the water wasn’t covering the sound of flesh tearing, Adaine would have loved hearing the sound of it.
She saw the blood first, slowly spilling from her mouth. She braced herself, both hands placed on pushing on the siren’s shoulders. Hands flew to Adaine’s head, trying to claw her away.
Adaine threw her head back, teeth still dug into the throat. She could feel the skin slowly ripping. Witnessing more blood floating in front of her face. The siren thrashed, her tail trying to push Adaine away. Claws now trying to push her away rather than fighting her anymore.
The burn in her lungs became more apparent. She needed air, otherwise all of her fighting efforts would equal to nothing. Adaine barely hesitated, letting her mouth open and peeling herself away from the siren. Hands on the shoulders used as an elevation to push backwards.
The siren faltered, both hands coming to press against her throat. A whoosh echoing in the sea as she quickly swam away. Apparently, she didn’t like her next meal, clawing her eye and nearly tearing her throat out. Adaine just prayed, her fighting would be enough to scare away the siren enough not to come back for another try.
She swam up, finding the ripples of the surface once more. Adaine broke through the water, the adrenaline coursing through her veins enough for the sea salt burning her wounds bearable. Taking in more gasps of air, the chilly air is more welcoming compared to the freezing waters.
Adaine glanced around, her eyes catching onto the distant shoreline. Land, she needed to go back to land and fast.
Her aching limbs from the fighting, burning pains across her back, slashes right above her heart. Deep enough, she thought the bone of her sternum could be seen. Her ankle is still aching and stinging with pain.
Stroking through the water, each push of her arms echoing with soreness. Just a little further, that was all she needed.
Adaine could see the black spots starting to form in her vision. The smell of iron from her blood. Her head even falling under the water level, exhaustion taking over her entire body. Could she even swim for miles? Before her body gave out and infections from the seawater seeped into her injuries?
No—she needed to keep her head above water. Keep swimming until she washed up on the shore. Keep going until her legs were on solid land, bleeding, exhausted, but on land rather than floating on the endless ocean.
The water current grew, starting to push her with the ebb and flow. She needed to keep her will, keep pushing. The mantra repeated inside her mind like a broken record. Perhaps it would be enough to keep herself alive.
Adaine’s head fell underwater, the strength to keep her neck strained withering away. Another wave pushed against her, forcing the rest of her body underwater. Her limbs kept still with the deep sea blue turning into a darker shade—no, they were turning black. Vision giving up with the rest of her body from the exhaustion.
Opening her eyes to the burning sea salt felt like another challenge. Adrenaline wears off for the pain to reverberate through her body, every attempt to move her limbs enough to make her exhaustion tenfold.
This was really her end either way? Rotting away with the sea? Never to be found? After she put up a hell of a fight, all for nothing? Her body is weak enough to no longer have the strength to hold her breath, water rushing in her mouth. Already trying to make its path back into her lungs.
Her body was too weak. She was too weak. With the remaining air leaving her system, Adaine began to sink. Pressure builds up in her eardrums, pushing her further down.
She couldn’t even see the stars in her last moments, each bright and shining dot blurred and washed away with the water above her.
This—
Adaine had to go home—
Aelwyn—her friends—
This can’t be it—
Please.
Something gritty, an almost rough like paste covered the entire right side of Adaine’s face. Her hands clutched the same roughness, the material clinging onto her skin. The soft sound of various calls sounded out, echoing in her ears. It almost sounded like chatter, yet harsh and loud. Sounds of waves crashing on the beach, might explain the wetness that washes over legs.
Extreme heat beat onto her raw skin. Threatening to give her horrible sun burns that would make her skin peel just like a few summers ago. Adaine’s eyes remained shut, but her mind started to catch up.
She was breathing, for one, air. Not taking in the freezing seawater that would fill her lungs.
Second thing, her wounds still burned and ached with pain. Her arms hurt from swimming from the night before. But, she was still miles away from any land when she went unconscious.
So, how the hell was she on sand? Breathing in the summer air and not dead at the sea floor? Her eyes weakly peeled themselves open, greeted with the endless miles of beach. Sand stuck on her entire front as she was lying on her stomach.
“Ow! Mother fucker!” Adaine yelped, a sudden pinching pain echoing from her calf. Her voice strained, having to cough into the sound from her words. Her throat burned, must have been from the drowning—almost drowning now.
Her weak legs scrambled, the pinching persisting while she twisted on her back. Ignoring the sharp pains that felt so tender, screaming in pain as she did so. Lifting her leg to reveal the culprit.
A small crab had one pincer sticking on her skin, the rest of its body dangling in the air.
“Ugh,” Adaine groaned softly, her vocal cords still trying to recover. A trembling hand peeled apart the claws and tossed it aside. The crab scurried away, finally taking Adaine’s not so dead appearance in.
She blinked rapidly, the sun burning her vision. Turning her head down to her legs, her shorts soaked with water even as she returned on shore. Her legs had sand stuck everywhere while waves crashed on her lower body.
Well, she wasn’t that far from the ocean. Barely being away from where the water and sand met.
How the hell did this happen?
Adaine rubbed her eyes, wiping away stray sand sticking to her face. She smelled like fish and salt everywhere, her clothes water logged and—god, she didn’t even want to think about how her back looked with all the claw marks.
Speaking of claw marks, she could feel the dried blood sticking on her back and on her chest. Looking down, the area right above her heart was still throbbing with pain. Though with a short or long rest, however long she was out for, the wound had healed over enough for her bone not to be visible.
It’s…something, Adaine guesses. Not actively bleeding out was a step up from bleeding out and nearly drowning over anything.
There was only one problem with her current situation. Even with all the upsides so far.
Just where the hell on the beach was she?
She could see the trees, crashing waves and maybe the cliff if her vision was working correctly. Anything else such as other landmarks, the beach house, road? Nothing. All she had was the cliff in the distance that looked somewhat familiar.
Great. No, this is amazing. Totally not stranded.
Adaine stared at the ocean, what might have just been her grave, now a few feet away from her. The same tightness started to wrap around her sore throat, her hands digging into the sand.
Like she didn’t have enough reasons to hate the ocean. That stupid fucking siren would have been her doom and..whatever else happened after that.
She stared blankly, exhaustion seeping into her bones. Just how many times will she have to fight this damn sea? Adaine took in the view, the underlying feeling of fear making its path.
Seagulls flew over the water, crabs off in the distance scurrying around. The head poking out the water staring at her from afar. The occasional seashell washing up a shore, a few crustaceans poking around. The head poking out the water staring at her from afar. A seagull flew over her, eyeing Adaine with curiosity.
The head that—
Wait. What.
Adaine felt the wind knock out of her, eyes widening with fear slowly crawling up her spine.
A head was poking out the water, staring directly at her direction. The person was a siren by the strange ears with fins, longer and more pointed then the previous one. Though, resting on top of their head laid a pair of horns, curved upwards. Brown hair that stuck to their face from the water. Deep red scales lined the sides of their face, the water hid everything else from right below the nose down.
They were too far to discern any other feature, not the eyes that even from this distance, bore into Adaine’s.
What. The. Fuck.
“Adaine! Adaine is that you?!” Tracker’s voice screamed from the right. Adaine whipped her head, facing the group of three. Tracker, Kristen, and Fabian, all three running towards her. Far but still here.
Adaine turned her head back to the spot where the other person was. Only to be greeted by a splash of water, something diving back underwater no less. Adaine knew what she saw, clear as the sun above her.
Yet, in the meantime, she had wounds to be healed and a beach house with a bed to crash onto. She stumbled to her feet, every step feeling as if a ton was weighing on her shoulders. The hot sand burning underneath her, a slow, nearly crawling like pace she took on. In contrast to the sprinting all three in front of her took on.
Fabian met up with her first, nearly tackling Adaine head on. A hug was immediately given, his arms wrapping around her like a chain. Unwilling to let go again. Adaine’s eyes drifted to Fandrangor tied to his hip, what exactly were they hoping for?
He shot back, eyes wide with concern and slight anger.
“What the fuck Adaine?! One moment we’re all awake—the front door wide is open and you’re gone! Nothing is gone, just you and nothing else! And then—is that blood?” Fabian stopped his rant, letting his arms go to Adaine. Staring at the blood palms, his hands had met the still injured wounds.
His head snapped towards Adaine, eyes latching onto the bloody and ruined mess of where her heart was. The claw marks clear with the blood dried all around it. Minus the small tear that she made while moving around.
“What the hell.”
“Adaine!” Tracker came up second, her voice loud and almost wobbly. Unlike Fabian, she immediately took the blood staining Adaine the moment she came close. “What—we need to get you back to the house. Also, start talking about—”
“I got attacked by a siren,” Adaine mumbled, her legs shaking from the standing. She found herself leaning onto Fabian, a hand finding Tracker’s shirt to cling onto for support. “Can we just go?”
Tracker nodded while Fabian hesitated but caved in. Kristen came to skidding stop in front of them, her staff in hand. Out of breath, a hand came to rest on her shoulder with a slight purple glow. Adaine could feel her flesh regenerate, cells webbing together as Cure Wounds spread over her body.
“Gotta—,” Kristen heaved out, taking in another deep breath. “Get you back to the house. Everyone—gosh how fast do you guys run?—everyone worried.”
“I’ll explain everything, I swear,” Adaine whispered.
“I’ll run ahead and try to get everybody, you guys just heal her okay?” Fabian exchanged places with Kristen. Already taking off with a dead sprint, sand kicking up with each step.
“Come on girlie, lets get you patched up,” Kristen patted her back. Another Cure Wounds that felt like fresh water washing away her sand and blood covered back.
Adaine nodded, carefully walking with the support of both friends on each side.
She’ll have to worry about that other siren later.