I vaguely remember a time before I knew of Sirens and their existence. Those moments of innocence during childhood, where I looked at the sea differently too. I saw fish as fish and man as man. I did not know there existed beings between the two worlds. I was a kid then, and as nature intended, most visions and thoughts of a child fade with the passage of time, leaving behind the eyes of an adult too damaged by the truth.

I had, like the rest, once stared at the sea, witnessing the purity in it that I would never perceive again in my life. Today, knowing what I do, I see a mix of emotions, rage under the mask of cold beauty, the waters gray and chilly, with the underlying cruelty to them. The frigid winds that blow across them, churning these waters, are the ones from different lands, and I could almost taste on my tongue the foreign soil from where they originated. I wish I could breathe in more to bask in it and fantasize about these strange worlds, but I feel discomfited by the way the others now stare at me.

When the people of Gimgar first saw the gift around my neck, it caused quite a stir. The elders were most delighted when they pulled me back to the docks by the rope tied to the boat, it being my only lifeline to land. I knew not how to use oars or maneuver the boat, nor had they given me one, insisting I did not need them, the rope being strong enough to keep me anchored.

But what if it wasn't?

Many thoughts had come to me, much like that one, when I undulated back and forth in the waters long after the Siren had gone, waiting for them to pull me in. I could have tugged on the rope, which was below the dark surface of the water, but fear held me back. What if he had still been lurking or if something else entirely was hanging around to prey on me. So, I waited.

Now everyone back home stares at me and most importantly at his gift that falls just above the crevice between the valley of my breasts. As I walk through the village, it is a heavy reminder of the night before and my future. The red coral, as the elders had explained, is precious to the Gods. The Sirens believe it to be one of the many hearts of the sea, and by giving me such a necklace, he is thought to have shown me not only his heart but also his generosity, large enough to give up one from his home.

To think he would give me something so special during the first ceremony.

I cannot meet the eyes of those who stare at me; instead, I look at my sandaled feet and the path I traverse. All are so curious about me, or perhaps it is the Siren who holds their interest, as not once have they gazed at me like this. I usually tried to blend in with the crowd, my red hair the only thing marking me different. I can hear their gossip; some don't even make an attempt to hide their words.

"She's nothing special... just a fisherman's daughter," an older woman whispers, her voice not hushed enough when I pass by her. "Her hair is her only redeeming quality."

"Perhaps that is why Pamela chose her to be our next bride. But it seems he liked her, and that is all that matters," the person standing next to her replies, a woman seeming to be younger and full of life.

Pamela is the current leader of the elders. A woman well respected.

I frown at their words. My red hair has always been special to the people in the village, especially to the elders. I did not think it was, but my opinion did not matter. I am forced to keep it long, so I have only ever known it as such. It falls below my shoulders, in many waves and curling trestles.

I want to cut it short, but perhaps my reason lies in my memories. As a child, the other girls always pulled it in fits of jealousy while the boys, young and old, liked reaching out and running their fingers through it in awe and fascination. And because of that, I was nicknamed the 'sea witch.' I do not remember who had first deemed me as that, but I do remember the bullying did not end with name-calling or hair tugging. I would get stones pelted at me, though that ended when I became an adult.

As I grew up, the torments became more ruthless, and nothing stopped these girls. The only difference was that they discovered they did not need to throw stones to wound me anymore, their words did the trick, sharper and deeper, scraping me raw.

When I turned a woman, the men wanted nothing more than to lay with me, but again the elders forbade it. To date, they are adamant I must remain pure for my husband, the Siren, who would then take me as his wife. They use the word sully many times during our talks. It is frustrating, seeing as everything is practically forbidden to me.

But their warnings did not stop me from stealing kisses or small caresses from time to time. My lips know another set very well, a certain boy I have grown up with. However, this is done in secret, and no one can ever find out. His name is Laki, a dark-haired, olive-skinned boy with green eyes much like my own, except mine are darker than his. He is also a fisherman's son, a friend of my father. Recently Laki has begun to go out on fishing trips with the two, learning to become a man. Our parents do not know we sneak off together to kiss and take small pleasures in private. If my father knew, he probably wouldn't be too happy with me. I have never rebelled, never argued about being a woman and not a child.

I eventually make my way to my mother's hut, ignoring the whispers and talks amongst the villagers. However nice or cruel their words may be, I have just come to visit her and that is all, else I wouldn't have ever gone through the heart of the village. Opening the door to the hut, I place a woven basket full of fruit on the table, a gift given to me earlier this morning by the elders. They had left it at my doorstep, the basket containing all kinds of exotic foods that have come from other islands. There were some I had seen the elders eating during celebrations but never once sharing the delicacy with anyone else, even regular brides.

The fruit is tempting, but I ignore the empty pit in my stomach and find my mother's room. I stare at the wooden door and raise my closed fist before rapping softly on it. It should have been Uncle Krill's turn to watch over her, but I don't see him.

He must be running late.

"Mother, it's me... Mayme," I say, but I don't hear anybody on the other side of the door. I know she is there, her body casting its shadow, moving to and from underneath the door. "There is fruit on the table if you want any. The elders gave it to me as a gift."

"Ma, last night..." I stumble over my words, my eyes downcast, watching the reaction of the shadow, "I met a Siren for the first time. He was scary...scarier than what the Elders said he would be."

My parents knew the elders had selected me to be the next bride, and as much as I was elated at the honor, my mother was not. She screamed and protested, refusing their choice of making me the next bride of the sea. I was confused and scared. My father stood helplessly and ultimately, had to lift mother off her feet and half-drag her back to the house, kicking and screeching, with the elders glaring at her from across their plushy cushions on the beach.

My father later told me it was because she didn't want to let me go as I was her only child, and it would be hard on her since it would weaken her mind, allowing the ghostevil to possess her. Since the beginning of time, mother was never to be trusted alone, either father or uncle and as I grew older, I was with her all through the day, understanding the ghostevil that took over her soul. On many occasions, when father made the poor mistake of leaving her alone, thinking she had overcome her malevolent spirit, she had attempted to drown herself in the sea while muttering the name "Tzvi."

Tzvi is a word I have only heard once when I was all but a child, but I had thought she was playing and didn't think anything of it since I was so little. According to the elders, Tzvi is the ghostevil that possessed her. Apparently, she had ventured too close to the sea, and it had turned red like my hair. Though not her fault, the being inside her lulls her in, causing her to behave strangely and erratically most times. Unfortunately, they've told me they could not expel the ghostevil from her since it was so strong. The best we can do, in these circumstances, is to supervise her and keep her away from the ocean where its power is the strongest.

I then hear her speak from the other side of the door, her voice strained, "Did you accept his offer of marriage...?"

She doesn't sound well...

I am hesitant as I run my fingers over the necklace he left for me and mutter softly, "I did, mother."

A hitch of breath... then silence... I hear a creak on the floor.

"Ma?" I question when even more silence follows and before long, the door is whipped open, smacking against the wall harshly, causing pictures to fall.

My heart drops when she puts her hands on my shoulders and shoves me against a wall.

She screams madly, "Are you crazy?! You accepted that monster when you should have just thrown this vile thing back in the ocean where it belongs! That he would have understood! Now you're stuck with him like seaweed coiled around your ankles. Those creatures, those things are obsessive, in water and on land! They are no gods! They're sea devils."

I stare at her with eyes wide as her fingers curl into my shoulder, nails biting in. I try to pull away, the shock fading, my body beginning to register the pain.

"Ma, let go of me! You're hurting me!" I holler, but she doesn't seem to have heard. Then the front door opens, and I see my uncle. He drops his fishing gear and rushes over to us, pulling my mother off me.

My uncle is a tall man, standing well over 6 feet with dark curly hair coming to his shoulders, seemingly wet from the ocean.

"Renad, calm down!" he yells into her ear as he lifts her up.

I have never seen mother act so wildly with me before as she rushes forward and scratches the air around me. Her ghostevil must hate the Sirens. They are, after all, Gods, and it is an abomination.

"Take it off!" she screams. "Maybe it's not too late to refuse him! Marry Laki. He's a good man, and you like each other! I can see it in both your eyes!"

I can only stare at her, bewildered, as my uncle yells, "Mayme, just leave! I can take it from here. Your presence is only going to make it worse!"

I nod, not wanting to be here anymore than I have to be, before swiftly exiting and shutting the door behind me. I can still hear her screams coming from the house, "Let go of me, you stupid prick!! I bet you were with him! Weren't you?"

Him? Mother is talking crazy again...

"LET GO!" she screams louder, and I travel further and further away until I can no longer hear her screams but still feel the remnants of the pain she inflicted on me.

I sigh heavily, sitting down on the hot sand, staring at the ocean waves lapping the shoreline calmly, my heart heavy with rough emotions.

I then untie the cord from around my neck, and I am tempted to throw the necklace back into the ocean, but as I raise my arm above my head, an invisible force stops me, making my eyes well up with tears.

I can't... I would bring dishonor to my family. I would be dishonored....and banished.

My bottom lip trembles, and I drop it in the sand, a frustrated growl leaving my throat.

I would be marrying the Siren. I have already decided; he and I have accepted.

There is nothing I can do.

Mother cannot help it. I'm sure even if I choose to reject the Siren and marry Laki, she will scream and hurt me about that too. Her ghostevil hating happiness and everything that is love.

I stare at the necklace in the sand and pick it up, tying it around my neck once more. I am to wed the Siren, and I will be a dutiful wife.

I cannot see Laki anymore. That much I know for sure.