The sea called to him like a Siren’s song, beautiful and serene, a gentle voice whispering his name; painting it wordlessly onto the sand with every crash of waves against the shore. Soft and irresistible it tempted him in. It plagued his dreams and fantasies when he was awake. He could feel the salt on his skin and the gentle breeze against his face. So beautiful, the sea. Blue just like the eyes of his mother eyes…blue as sky that caught the rising sun’s rays. How Asher wished to swim into the tides, pulled by the moon, to be cradled by the water as if by a lover.

Those around him say it’s a silly dream. They call him a stupid boy with a wild imagination.

They tell him it’s wrong but Asher couldn’t fight the feeling he had. Sometimes, when he looked out into the ocean, he could feel as if he was alive. Everyone had a dream; so why couldn’t he? There was magic in the air and spells were on the breeze as the sun sank over the horizon. He stood there at the edge where water met sand, relishing the feel of wetness against his skin. The pull of the ocean, the call of the waves was stronger now.

Asher could hear the beating of his heart in his ears.

"Come in, my love! Come in. We will never berate you!" The waves seemed to speak, crashing about his waist as they drew him in further.

If he focused, he could hear her sweet voice. Playful and encouraging to his plight and only wishing to help ease the heavy weight in his heart.

It wanted him…the longing in that dear voice was almost painful… how could he resist it for another moment?

A huge wave crashed over Asher, yet he didn’t pull away from it. He welcomed the water. The wave that had crashed over him was rushing back into the ocean. He should stop walking and allow the currents to pull his upper body forward. With a loud, almost triumphant rush of water and voices chanting spells, Asher was underwater.

Salt and sand poured into his nasal passages and down his throat. The current pushed him sideways and deeper, and he lost contact with the world.

Sinking.

His ears were full of voices. There was only one he wanted to hear, so soft, so comforting. It lulled him deeper into her midst.

Breathless.

His lungs were bursting with what little air remained in them.

Deeper.

His mind went blank. The voices of the water sounded very far away now; Asher could hardly hear anything but the slow beating of his heart.

He sank further, the last remaining light of the sun disappearing from his vision. I have finally become a part of the beauty of the tides and the wild fury that was the sea. I am now a part of you.

This was where he belonged…

“Your time has not come pitiful human.”

Suddenly, Asher is gasping for air. The salt burns his lungs as he was forced upward out of the ocean’s embrace into a pair of strong arms. He doesn’t know what was going on. He can’t open his eyes to see the person or believe what was happening.

The grip on his body tightens and the voice, this time a male, growled in his ear.

"The sea cannot have you yet. Not until I collect my payment from you and your family."

Asher wanted to tell him he had no idea what he was talking about, but a gentle hand against his forehead silenced whatever words were about to come forth and he slipped into unconsciousness.