Yumi the Prison Warden.
(Siren Prisoner POV)
“When I get out of this cage I am going to claw your eyes out!” I shout out of the box I'm chained in.
“Quiet down dear, don't get so worked up. It will all be over soon...” [Yumi smiling brightly]
“You whore!” [Siren]
“First of all... lets explore why you are the way you are.” [Yumi calmly]
“I won't say a word!” [Siren]
No... she's singing again...
“Now why don't you tell me why you want to kill people.” [Yumi]
Argh... no...
“When I was a young girl my mother and I lived in a small village far away to the East.
Back then I had never seen the sea. One day Mother died... a congenital illness we couldn't afford to have cured. I was an orphan. A passing merchant saw me... I was only twelve at the time... and 'adopted' me. In truth I was just merchandise.” I reply against my will.
“We passed through a lot of cities as we travelled, my false father and I. I was scared of being abandoned and so I spent my days working more as a servant than a daughter... which really should have told me all I needed to know about him.” [Siren] “I suppose his ambivalence made me insecure.”
“Go on...” [Yumi]
“When we reached the Port City of Granil two years later he had me dress up and bathe... he told me I was to meet my husband... I met a slave trader. I was sold for four pieces of silver bullion and passage for the merchant aboard the slaver's vessel to their next destination.” [Siren] “I was beaten to show me my place, chained and starved for days to make me submissive... and thrown in the galley of the same ship.”
“Finally once I was showing a proper servile attitude I was let out to roam the ship, so that I could remain healthy and thus bring a better price on arrival.” [Siren bitterly.] “They told me I was worthless as anything but a sex slave. I had heard stories... but the ones I heard from the other slaves and the guards were so much worse.”
“On one windy day I had the fortune of meeting my 'father' as he leaned over the side, sea sick. I shoved the bastard overboard and smiled as he drowned, begging for my help.” [Siren]
“Yes common threads for all of us... the sea, hatred, death by drowning and murder.” [Yumi]
“I was to be made example of... it was obvious I had killed him and they were going to have the guards take turns... until they got bored and killed me.” [Siren] “So I jumped overboard as they grabbed at me. I found myself drowning and wishing for revenge, as I cursed my fate. Of course they left me to drown.”
“But instead you found a way to evolve and became a siren. What did you do then?” [Yumi]
“I followed the ship of course, sneaking close enough to capture the people on board with my song. I had them jump one by one, to drown. All except the Slave Trader. I had him unchain the rest of the slaves and then forget what he had just done. Then I waited to watch as he was beaten to death with oars.” [Siren]
“You let the slaves live?” [Yumi]
“I felt nothing for them.” [Siren]
“Then we have a lot of material to work with.” [Yumi]
“You're going to change me again, aren't you?!” I was afraid. She had already done so much... she had put a block on my own songs against her, she had made me unable to resist answering questions... what would she do next?!
“Don't worry... deep down this is what you really want...” [Yumi]
I feel better after the song...
Later Yumi takes me out for a swim. We are going somewhere but I'm not sure where...
We meet an old man on a boat. Yumi seems to have known he was here.
She sings to him, just enough that he will forget her once the questions are answered.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
“You're lonely aren't you?” [Yumi]
“Yeah... I ain't got no family... all I's got is the boat fer to catch food and me old shack.” [Old Man]
“Would you hurt someone who loved you, if they weren't human?” [Yumi]
“Lady, I'd cherish 'em till the day I died.” [Old Man] “If'n they love me... I'd die fer 'em.”
She sinks underwater and motions me closer.
“All I want you to do is simply talk to the man on the boat. Ask him for the one thing you really want... after that everything will be simple.” [Yumi]
I hesitate... I want to... but I can't...
“Don't worry... give it time. After all... you need to trust him.” [Yumi]
So I spend the days following him around.
Occasionally I scare fish into his net.
Once I fetched a lost oar for him and left it in the boat.
He prayed to some god of ice in thanks for that... and somehow it made me jealous.
Finally after a week I screwed up my courage and met him.
He took my appearing fairly well, he just stared a bit.
I was too nervous to speak but he did instead.
“Uh... hello young missy... if'n I'm in yer way I'll move...” [Old Man]
…
“Um... no... you aren't in my way.” [Siren]
“I hope yer haven't come to drown me but if'n it's by the hand of a pretty thing like yer... I don't mind so much.” [Old Man]
“No... I'm not going to hurt you.” [Siren]
“Then I fer one am stumped.” [Old Man]
“I just wanted to talk to you.” [Siren]
“Why would yer wanna talk to me. I's about as common as sand on a beach.” [Old Man]
…
“Can I stay like this for a while?” [Siren]
“Like this? Floatin near me boat?” [Old Man] “Knock yer self out. Go right ahead. I don't mind a jot.”
…
…
“Yer a strange one... why are yer here?” The Old Man asks as he hauls in his empty net.
“... I like you.” [Siren]
“Like me?! Yer don't know me. I be as lovable as a rotten seagull.” [Old Man]
“That isn't true. I've been watching you for a week now.” [Siren]
“Why? I just fish an' sleep.” [Old Man]
“... because I feel safe near you.” [Siren]
“...” [Old Man]
“You always speak your mind. You're alone and so am I.” [Siren]
“Ah... I see. I's safe an' predictable.” [Old Man]
“No... you're kind.” [Siren]
“Yer want somethin' don't cha? Well out with it. I'll do it if'n I'm able.” [Old Man]
“I want to... but I'm embarrassed...” [Siren]
“Spit it out Girlie. I'll not say no, even if'n you ask to eat me throat.” [Old Man]
“Can I... can I call you Daddy?” [Siren]
“...?!” The Old Man falls off his seat in the boat.
“You don't like it? How about Dad? Or Father? I like the sound of Papa...” [Siren getting excited]
“If'n you want an old goat like me callin' yer me daughter... I'll not say no.” [Old Man]
“I love you Papa!” [Siren]
“Wha... yer serious? (sigh) … Alright, calm down Daughter o' mine. I ain't goin' nowhere.” [Old Man]
“Can I ask you for one more thing, Papa?” [Siren]
“Sure me darlin' anythin'.” [Old Man]
“Can you give me a baby... I want to be a mother...” [Siren Shyly]
What we learned this chapter:
Pervert Sirens come in all forms!
Daddy complexes included!
Yumi has unleashed havoc upon the world!
What we missed:
You'll never know...
Next chapter: Godhood...