Chapter 100 - Sirens (1/2)

The enchanting song of the sirens, known to bring the strongest willed men crawling on their knees begging for more. Ethereal music, so pleasing to man, that he has no choice but to seek it out.

The eyes of the men on the ship lost focus as their consciousness left them.

As if possessed, the less intelligent began to wander over in the direction of the song, a couple even jumping in prem.a.t.u.r.ely, forcing them to swim for much longer to reach the island. The others remained above bouncing against the railing with their arms extended outwards like zombies waiting until they were within reach as they drifted ever closer.

The smarter ones helped sail closer with Caius back on the wheel driving the ship faster towards their doom.

Anna and Io remained unaffected as they watched in horror at how easily the song could turn them.

”Anna, we have to stop them!” An alarmed Io yelled when she saw a few go over the side.

”We have to knock them out just like the man in the story,” said Anna snapping into action, taking out the closest man before moving on to the next.

Io tried to help but was lacking in strength when compared to Anna, opting to use what rope she could find on hand to tie up men and drag them back. Only stopping when she noticed the island coming ever closer, the rocky barrier mere feet away.

”Anna! The Boat! Stop The Captain!” Shouted Io.

Anna cursed herself for forgetting something so important, by becoming distracted with the men below who looked like they were all about to jump over, but if they didn't have a ship then they would all die anyway.

Jumping to action she cleared the distance within seconds as she scaled the stairs to get at Caius. Knocking him to the side, she took the wheel trying to turn away from the disaster, a little too late, they crashed into an unseen rock formation that pierced the haul of the ship.

Men flung overboard began to swim to the island while being picked off by unknown creatures swimming just below.

Io was desperately hanging on the side of the ship trying to pull herself back up after almost being sent into the water. She looked below at the unknown creatures circling just underneath the water waiting for her to fall.

It wasn't until one jumped up did she finally see what they were up against. A monstrous blue colored fishy mermaid-like creature, it had the fishtail with a fishy woman's body, webbed hands, nude b.r.e.a.s.ts, a monster fish mouth with razor-sharp teeth, fish eyes, and gills located behind ear flaps, some with no hair, replaced by a mohawk fin.

Knowing she was almost a goner, Io hugged Anna in relief- ”Thank you, thank you, I was almost fish food back there.”

Anna- ”What do we do now? All the men are already in the water while we were incapacitated by the crash, even the ones you tied up used their weapons to cut themselves free and jump over.”

Io frowned- ”I don't know, going into the water will be suicide for us, maybe Theo... Shit! we forgot about Theo! what will we do if he gets entranced?” she asked in worry.

Both of their eyes widened, instantly looking towards the stairs that led down to their quarters when they heard a concerned voice, ”Theo, where are you going?”

Theoric just before the crash was sleeping soundly with his skin barrier up, a habit that he always does now before lying down to rest, even blocking off the ears so nothing could disturb him.

The crash woke him up as he and Sigyn were flung off their bed. Alarmed, he looked around making sure nothing was right upon them before he lowered the skin barrier around the ears. Allowing him to hear if anything was going on above, knowing he would hear about most things that were happening before he made his way up.

The song that never stopped instantly invaded his senses as he stumbled to the wall and leaned against it, attempting to fight whatever was going on, not clear why this was happening, and with the song messing with his reasoning, he didn't immediately put the barrier back up.

Sigyn who was healing a bruise failed to notice Theoric's struggles as he began to lose his reasoning and head up in a dazed state. Finishing she looked around catching a glimpse of him on the stairs.

Paying more attention she could feel something was wrong as she called out to him- ”Theo?”

”Theeeeooo”

Sigyn pouted at not receiving a response- ”Theo? Where are you going?” she asked following behind. ”Theo, why aren't you responding? This isn't funny.”

Anna terrified of what might happen to Theo should he jump in the water in such a state ran over to stop him.

Io yelled- ”Sigyn! Theo is being mind-controlled by the song, we have to stop him before it's too late!”

Sigyn alarmed- ”Theo is what?” She then called upon her power to bring the ship's planks to life, growing plants out of them to wrap around Theoric.

”He's fighting me, I don't know how long I'll be able to hold,” Sigyn said struggling.

Anna seeing Sigyn had everything under control for the moment was aloud a breather as she thought about what to do.- ”Song! That's it!” she said having an epiphany.- ”We have to block his ears!”

Sigyn- ”Ears huh, I got it.” she said sending plants to wrap around his head.

Theoric wasn't just going to sit there and take it though as he powered up and created blades to slice through all the plant matter, deciding he wasn't going to waste any more time as he prevented his head from being encased. He then casually waved his hands, pinning the women to the ground, trapping them behind energy restraints so they couldn't move.

”Noooo, Theo, don't go, please.” said a panicking Sigyn as Theoric neared the edge.

Anna could be seen struggling as Io next to her yelled out in frustration- ”Are you that weak Theoric? I thought you a better man than that.” trying her best to get him to wake up.

Anna then screamed- ”Noooo!” as she watched Theoric jumping over into the water, knowing how dangerous it was.

Sigyn seeing how distressed Anna was because he dropped over didn't have a good feeling as she desperately called on her powers to help free her. Forcing the planks to give way that she and her fellow sisters were trapped too.

Quickly climbing to their feet they ran over to look down sighing in relief when they saw Theoric walking on an energy pathway he created so he didn't have to swim.

Anna didn't hesitate to follow as she jumped down- ”Come on, we can use this to stay out of the water like him, but be on guard in case they decide to jump out and grab you.”

Sigyn hesitated briefly before following along with Io who was the least comfortable of the three being in such a dangerous situation. She was still mostly mortal compared to them and likely wouldn't fare well if she was dragged under, but she would never let Anna go at it alone, especially Sigyn who would more than likely need her guidance.

They kept their guard up, constantly watching the waters around them for any sign of attack as the creatures swam around them, growling and hissing at them as they cautiously watched the 4 humanoids who walked on a strange energy bridge, unsure if they should attack.

The growing clouds above darkened the landscape as they approached evening causing tensions to rise as the eerie atmosphere settled in.

The girls caught up to Theoric, but had no way to stop him in such circ.u.mstance and could only settle for trying to plead with him to stop, only to get the cold shoulder as he ignored them and continued towards the island.

Io commenting- ”That damn song is still going, do they not need rest?”

Anna thought about it while looking around at the ones swimming next to them- ”Well if they all can sing and are just taking turns? Then again we're heading to the island and these creatures don't look land friendly.”

Sigyn stopping her attempts with Theoric, gasped in horror as they grew closer to land and bore witness to the feeding frenzy taking place.

The missing men were scattered around the rocky alcove being torn apart and feasted upon. The scariest part was that they just let them without fighting back, not even a scream of protest or one of agony as limbs were torn and flesh was peeled while still under the songs hypnotism.

Nearing the beach some of the creatures grew impatient and attacked while still riding their earlier high during the blood frenzy.

Sigyn and Io still mortified by what they witnessed didn't react as Anna pushed and pulled Sigyn and Io forward dodging one that jumped at them intending to tackle them into the water.

After one attacked the rest began to take the initiative as Anna took out her dagger and chopped off a head that poked out of the water near her while kicking one from behind. Io back on her feet took out her bow and started a dance of dodging hands and shooting arrows.

With no plant life around Sigyn got up and ran behind Theoric, staying near the man she always trusted in such situations. She did have some seeds on her just in case, but she didn't think it would work well here. Surprisingly they ignored Theoric and by default her since she was clinging so close to him.

Anna ducked under another one that jumped at her, holding her dagger up so it was run through from head to tail.

Io slipped on some water and hands instantly popped out all around trying to drag her down.

Hearing the scream Anna ran back and began to chop left and right to help, only to also come under attack.