Once, there was a dying girl, her sister, and their local legend of a magical lake.
“How are you feeling today?” one Octavia Philharmonic asked her sick sister as she ringed out a wet rag.
Vinyl Philharmonic, groaned from her bed. “You know, likely going to be dead soon. Otherwise,” she let out a cough, “I’m feeling in the mood for pancakes this morning.”
Octavia held in a laugh as she brought the damp cloth to Viny’s forehead. Leave it to her older sister to be humorous no matter the circumstances. Which indeed, these were rather dire circumstances. No one was sure what had happened. It started with a cough, then, Vinyl would complain of chest pains until finally, she started to spit up blood. After that, she became to weak to move. Over a week had passed since Vinyl last left her bed, and regardless of if you believed it was dark magic, or knew it was some sickness that the science of the time couldn’t identify, the prospects were bleak for the older sister.
“Any news from the latest of brave,” Vinyl took in a breath, “idiotic knight, trying to impress me?”
Octavia’s lack of an immediate reply was all she needed to know.
“I mean,” Octavia stared with a gulp. “No news doesn’t mean-
“It’s okay, Octy,” Vinyl assured, reaching an arm up to her. “Thank you.” If there was one small blessing out of all of this, is that it didn’t seem Vinyl’s illness was contagious. As such, Octavia had been allowed to take care of her sister, much in the same way Vinyl had.
“That one boy is still giving you grief?” Vinyl asked. “What was his name…?
Octavia smiled, shook her head, and simply named one of the first to come to mind. “Jet Set?”
“Ah yes,” Vinyl nodded. “Hell of a brat he was.” She let out a weak laugh. “I wonder if he still feels that wedge I gave him after her tried looking under your skirt.”
“I’m sure he remembers.” Octavia smiled, even as her insides ached. Honestly, why did it have to be Vinyl? She was always the stronger of the two, a bit too strong for her parents taste truth be told. “You know, you’re never going to get a boy to like you if you’re always beating them up.”
Vinyl did her best to shrug. “Hey, completing a dangerous, no survivor so far, type of quest just to save my sorry ass sounds like a good start.” She laughed and let out another cough. “You think heaven and hell are real? Cause I’ve been thinking. Just between you and me, Tavi, heaven sounds like a real borefest. Although personally, I think it’s just some BS the adults make up to scare us. Then again, maybe there’s an option to be re… recar… reborn. Makes more sense than having to make hundreds of souls on a daily basis.”
That very nearly broke Octavia down. However, she kept her tears on the inside for the moment. “Get some rest.” She insisted, pulling Vinyl’s blanks up to her neck, and standing up to leave.
“Hey, Tavi,” Vinyl said, stopping her. “Could you… Play me something?”
Octavia let out a breath, and smiled. “Of course. After you take your medicine.”
“Ugh,” Vinyl groaned. “Do I have to, mommy?”
Octavia rolled her eyes as she poured the mixture into a cup of water. “Yes, sis, you need your rest. But then I’ll play you anything you want.” She said, handing the medicine to her stubborn sister who, bravely, gulped it down with a scrunched up face.
“Huh, tasteless today.” Vinyl mused. “Think that’s bad?”
“Um,” Octavia thought, changing the topic as she walked to the corner of the room, and picked up her older violin. “Any request?”
Vinyl let out a yawn. “Nothing too sappy, okay? I don’t want you flooding the house when you leave.”
Octavia tried to say something once she figured out what that meant, but simply nodded and began to play. While she wasn’t confident enough in her singing, she played the instrument to a rather popular number about spring, of life, and joy, and unintentional, saying goodbye to winter. Fortunately for her, Vinyl had drifted off to sleep before she started to cry.
‘How much longer before she never wakes up.’ Octavia thought bitterly to herself as she placed the violin down.
“Increase the reward,” she heard someone shout. Perking her ears, she put her meltdown on hold to see what all the shouting was about. As she made her out of Vinyl’s room, it quickly became obvious to her.
“Well there must be something we haven’t tried!” her mother fumed at someone. Despite herself, on how rude eavesdropping is, which to be fair, they weren’t making things very quiet anyways.
“My lady,” someone in the court said, “you know we’re doing our best.
“Doctor?” she heard her ask.
There was silence.
Finally, her father let out a sigh, and said, “You have permission to speak freely you know.”
“Yes, of course,” their doctor hesitated to say. “Thank you, my lord, for, I’m afraid, the only honest words I can speak are bad ones.”
“No!” her mother sobbed.
“I know dear, I know.” Her father comforted.
“I’m sorry.” The doctor said.
“Surely there must be some way to get to that lake?” someone else commented.
“Oh what? Was your son's death not enough for you?”
“That’s not what I meant!”
“Enough,” her father said. “Your son, and all the others who’ve tried, knew what they were getting into when they went into those cursed woods.”
“May… Maybe the army?” her mom offered weakly, already aware of how foolish it sounded as she continued to beg.
“If I may,” the doctor added again, “I wouldn’t count on any kind of medical. The best you can do, is ready yourselves for-
He couldn’t finish. Octavia thought, as she held back her own tears.
*****
By the light of the candle that night, unable to sleep, Octavia read through the book that contained the local legend. Supposedly, deep in the woods of a town a two day ride away, there was a lake hidden within. The waters, it said, could heal any alignment. Magical or otherwise. However, the lake was guarded by… Something. What honestly, was anybody guess. What wasn’t a myth was how everyone who went into those woods to find the lake never returned. Which spawned countless stories of what protected it. Turning the page, she shivered at a werewolf-like creature next to a body of water slaughtering a group of eight men.
“There has to be something,” she thought to herself. “I mean, someone had to have made it if everyone is so sure a healing lake is in the center.”
That, along with Vinyl’s coughing, had been the source of her sleeplessness. Indeed, it seemed as if the only two things all the legends she heard of or could look up said there was a magical lake, and something kept anyone from making it back alive.
“So what makes everyone so sure that if no one’s come back alive?” she began to think this was a waste of time. What was she hoping to find that no one else had? What could she-
Octavia shook her head and closed the book as the next page dropped off from the lake and went into some fairy tale about a lost girl by the sea and a mermaid.
“Stop it,” she said, trying to clear the thought from her mind. “You really think you could do what all those other idiots could not?” she huffed, and went to her bed, only to pause as Vinyl let out a weak groan. “You can’t leave her either.” And with that, she tried to curl up into bed.
‘And, if you were the one dying, wouldn’t Vinyl have already snuck out by now?’
Octavia let out a sigh at the thought, and looked to her sister, thinking of all the times she had protected her. She concluded with resolution as she got out of bed. It was about time she returned the favor. The gods help on what a horrible influence Vinyl was on her.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered to her family, and left before she could think twice about it…
***
The people of Trot were very used to and very welcoming to strangers. After all, it was a rather well off to do village because of them. Which you think wouldn’t be the case so close to a cursed woods. Quite the opposite, as all the travelers over the centuries had turned into what could only be described as a medieval tourist trap. The era, not the theme. So, when Octavia rode into town, she was quickly met with warm smiles and offers of fresh fruits, breads, meats, and other trinkets that would, in theory, protect her. Even one or two merchants had the gaul to claim they actually had water from the lake. She, or rather, he, paid them no mind as Octa- Serenade, she-he! Reminded himself, thought, as he adjusted his hat that kept his long hair in, as well as filled over the wrapping around his chest for good measure, as he made his way to the local tavern.
Well, it was less of a tavern, and more of what could be described as the earliest form of a five star hotel. Rising well above the other buildings and made entirely of stone. Not a cheap material to build with as people would think.
“Excuse me,” Serenade said, reaching the front desk of the beautifully decorated lobby. “Is this,” he coughed, deeping his voice. “is this Wellspring Tavern?”
“Indeed it is,” the owner, a rather plump man, smiled as he cleaned out a glass. “Let me guess, you’re here to be the first person to reach the mythical lake at the center of the woods?” he looked at Serenade up and down. “Can I also take a second guess that the name, Philharmonica, means something to you?”
He rolled his eyes at Serenade’s reaction. “You another one of those suitors who wanted to try and win Lady Philharmoica’s heart.”
Serenade took a step back, before realizing he wasn’t guessing her-his name. “Yeah, I know I’m not the first to try to save lady Vinyl.”
The man shook his head. ‘Kid, as much as I would just like another horse to my herd and be done with this, I still have enough conscience to try and tell you; go home. And before you say something along the lines of; my love for her will carry me through, I’ve had twenty men alone in the last fortnight claim that. So far, I’ve never seen any of those men again.”
Octavia clenched her fist. “Well,” Serenade said, trying to act confident. “I suppose 21 will be the lucky number of the day. Hang on, what was that? You mentioned something about my horse?”
The man let out a breath. “Well, seeing as you’ve already made up your mind.” He straightened up, and put on a more professional face. “The woods are too dense for your horse to be of any use. So, I’d say lease me the one you used to travel here, and anything else by chance you can’t take with you, and I’ll give you a free room and meals for your stay. Then, once, er, if you make it back, simply trade me some of that lake water for your stuff.”
Octavia, and Serenade, gulped, looking around the fancy building. “I suppose that would better explain your wealth.”
He shrugged. “Would be a waste of a good horse otherwise. Honestly, it’s just as much my herd, and the nobles who come to buy them, that generates this town's wealth as much as our magical lake legend. Lots of princes with the finest breeds who never come back to claim them. But think of it more as a win win for yourself then me since you’re confident you’ll be back.”
While it didn’t inspire much self confidence, seeing as she had come this far, Serenade agreed to the terms, and signed his name on the lease papers. Finding a brief moment of humor at the devil deal works Vinyls would make of it.
*****
After putting his horse in the stable, the sight of the hundreds of others causing Octavia’s knees to shake, Serenade helped himself to a very hearty meal. Not lost that this was more akin to a last meal when compared to everyone else's, she noticed. Then, after a good night’s sleep, he took his bow, the weapon sort as opposed to the instrument kind Octavia was used to, and arrows, and headed off. Many of the villagers saw him off, either to wish him luck, or swindle some gold while they still had the chance with charms or weapons.
“Vultures,” Serenade hissed as he pushed away a man trying to sell her holy crosses. Until finally, he made it to the edge of the town's wheat fields, and the crowds backed off of him with surprising speed. Serenade waved them a final farewell, as Octavia nervously made her way towards the trees. Stopping, right as the line between field, and the dark forest ahead. It’s branches reach out as if to shallow her.
Turn back, the last stalks of grain seemed to tell her. Your family needs you. The trees whispered as the wind blew by.
“I know.” Octavia breathed, and her way into the woods.
*****
At first, she was rather surprised at how manageable the forest was. This was, she realized as the foliage got denser, in part of a few brave souls that would come to the edge of the woods from time to time, possibly for lumber or firewood if they were desperate enough. More evident of the tracks that both lead in and out. However, after only a few minutes of walking, all human footprints went in only one direction.
“You’re an idiot, Octavia,” she cursed, readying an arrow for whatever she might soon face.
For the first of many times that day, Octavia kept chastising herself for that. What made her think she could achieve what hundreds of brave men before her could not?! This was stupid, but it was the only chance her sister had. And of course, the moment it became too dangerous, or she realized she couldn’t make it, she would turn back. Which was also likely what everyone else said-
Her heart nearly leapt out of her chest as she tripped on something. Spinning around, she let loose an arrow, which embedded itself into a rusty rectangular shield. Squinting, she lifted her head, and noticed a dagger had been embedded into it. Looking forward, she could see many of the trees had both arrows, knives, and even the occasional spear, lunged into them. Not only that, as she continued forward, a fresh arrow held tightly in her bow, there were just as many that littered the ground. Along with countless swords, shields, and bows not unlike her own, dropped by their previous owners over the course of who knew how many years.
“This paints a fine picture,” Octavia gulped. And yet, something stood out as she continued on. Or rather, a lack of something. Despite all the discarded weapons, she had not seen a single body. Indeed, she had yet to see signs of any sort of fight or struggle with their previous owners. It was as if they simply had discarded their weapons out of fear and ran away.
“If they were scared enough to drop their weapons at whatever they saw,” Octavia thought out loud, “why didn’t they just run back?” However, both the legend, and all of the footprints that keep going forward, told her otherwise. “What kind of beast is this?” she pondered if this qualified as enough of a danger to justify turning back.
Then, she heard it.
Up to then, the forest had been quiet save for the occasional singing of birds. This was no bird. Eyes widened, she held up her bow shakily towards the sounds. However, nothing came at her. Nothing approached or made itself known. There was only the sound of a sweet and beautiful noise.
No, she realized. It was singing. Human singing. Or at least, the type of singing that had an intelligence behind it. And it was calling out to her. Trying to, enchant her? She raised an eyebrow as the word crossed her mind, and she lowered her bow.
“So, this thing enchants travels, and that’s how it kills them?” she mused. Would explain all the discarded weapons. Having been dropped, not out of fear, but by a hypnotic spell that made them not care about what they might have been holding on to. Still, that left the bigger, and possibly more important question at the moment; why wasn’t she being entranced?
Thinking it was a matter of needing to listen to the song for long enough, she dropped her bow, ripped at her cloak, and jammed the scraps into her ear. It didn’t silence the sound, but it would be better than nothing. While the sensible part told her to run away, the foolish love for her sister, caused her to pick up her bow, and walk towards the now muffled song.
However, as she continued, the less and less things made sense. The weapons became fewer and more far between, until the forest became clean of litter. The only sign of human life were the footprints heading in the same direction as she. Surely someone would have been smart enough to retreat and get some better noise canceling objects if the enchantment took this long to take effect.
Well, what did that make her for not thinking so back when she first figured that out for herself?! Then again, she had already come this far and the spell seemed not to have affected her. The closer, and louder, it grew, the surer Octavia was that it wouldn’t have affected her. Even without the ear coverings. Not that she was willing to put the theory to the test. She wasn’t that stupid. Still, what was she doing that all the others hadn’t before her?
She smelled the water before she saw it. Water. Hard to miss, as this was the cleanest smelling water to ever grace her nose. Surely it must be the lake! Her excitement wavered as it was also where the singing was coming from. She paused as she saw the first hint of blue in the distance, heart pounding.
“Okay, Octavia,” she said, hiding herself from view of the lake behind a tree. “You’re probably the first human to ever get this far.” She looked down at all the footprints that continued in only one direction. “Alive and or unenchanted anyways.”
She mulled over two different approaches to take. On one hand, she could try to creep quietly towards the lake. Try to not be noticed by the creature, and figure out what it was before she approached the water. Then again, she could also just make a run for it. Try to get the flask strapped to her leg into the water, and then turn tail before the thing has a chance to react. Not that the former didn’t seem like the smarter option, although she also had no idea if, the longer she waited, the more likely this enchanter's spell would take effect.
Seeing as staying in one place was the worst option, she opted to at least creep closer to the lake before making up her mind. The music and water growing closer and closer, she unhooked her flask and kept it on her bow hand as her arrow hand shook the tensed arrow. Closer and closer, until the lake came into full view. What a sight it was, even if it was only a body of water with a rock in the center, it was the most beautiful shade of blue she had ever seen. To her dismay, however, the entire perimeter was surrounded by sand, separating the cover of forest and open shore by at least twenty meters.
As she cautiously looked out from behind the last tree to the water line, trying to come up with a plan and possibly see what the creature was, it stopped it’s singing, and spoke.
“I know you’re there, human. So why do you not come out? Go for a swim? The water’s lovely.” A clearly feminine voice said. “You must be tired from your quest, young man. Please, you have nothing to fear of me. Perhaps we can even have some fun?” It asked in a flirty voice.
Octavia let out a breath. The part where it had misgendered her made her guess that it at least wasn’t an all knowing monster. For the time being, though, it didn’t know where she was. Just that she was somewhere in its woods. Giving Octavia somewhat of an element of surprise she wasn’t about to waste.
“Hum,” the creature said after several minutes before returning to its song while Octavia remained silent. Waiting to see what it would do first. Then, Octavia saw it’s- No, her, head. Hair as blue as the water she protected, poking out of the water, scanning the trees.
“I know there’s a human out there.” She said, still in a soothing, but now a tad bitter, voice. ‘Somewhere… Come out, come out, wherever you are, boy.”
If by knowledge of the general direction, or by luck, the thing swam towards the tree’s Octavia was hidden behind. Which, Octavia realized, as it slowly swam closer, lifting itself nearly to its waist, gave her the perfect opportunity to end this here and now. While she was hardly a good shot, the time Vinyl made her play archery left her confident enough that even a noob could hit the girl square from that distance. She looked through a bush, and pulled back the string, one eye closed, the other on its mark, ready to make her shot the next time the thing lifted enough of its body out of the water.
However, before she let loose, she gazed upon it-her face. Which, to Octavia’s dismay, didn’t seem to be one out of malice. Of a hungry wolf, or a cat playing with it’s prey. Rather, it was a look of… Fear wasn’t quite the right word. Nervousness? Uncertainty at the fact it’s spell was ineffective? that its identity was in jeopardy?
Unfortunately, Octavia’s momentary hesitation gave the creature the chance it needed to spot her. Caught off guard as its eyes stared back at her, Octavia immediately let the arrow loose. The combination of the two seeing each other caused the arrow to miss a direct hit. However, the tips of the blade did slide across the creature's shoulder, causing it to cry out in pain and dive beneath the surf.
The turn of events kept Octavia rooted in place for a few seconds. Precious seconds she cursed herself for wasting as she leapt out of the trees and raced towards the lake. However, she wasn’t fast enough. The creature resurfaced a moment later and threw a knife at her. Which fortunately missed, to which Octavia dove behind a rock and tried to fire an arrow, only for the creature to disappear.
What saved her was the sun. Had she been there an hour or two later earlier, she would not have seen the shadow until after her heart had been stabbed. Since she did, Octavia rolled onto her back, Arrow tensed as the thing, a human looking woman, dressed in a slik white single piece dress, had a knife, ready to throw at her.
The two paused, their weapons at the ready, but not wishing to make the first move, else they miss and give the other an advantage.
“Seems we are at a bit of an impasse, human,” the girl huffed, walking slowly back towards the lake.
“No, No, No!” Octavia breathed, pulling back further and allowing only for a little slack as the girl took a step away from the waters. “Yes,” she added, using the rock to pull herself up as her hands kept the bow and arrow firmly in her grasp. “I suppose you’re not? Human, that is.”
The girl pursed her lips.
“Well,” Serenade coughed, deepening his voice. “Don’t suppose we can come to some sort of agreement? I’m guessing from the fact you haven’t already rushed me you can die too.” He motioned to his bow for emphasis. “Now, I don’t want to die any more than you do, but I’m not leaving without some of that water.”
“Yeah, well bad luck. Because I can’t let you leave here alive,” the girl countered. “Or else you will take with you the secret on how to safely approach.” She tilted her head, wobbled on her fight for a bit, nearly dropped her knife. “Since we don’t seem to be going anywhere,’ she continued once she stretched out her legs to find balance. “How come you aren't affected by my magic?”
“I was wondering that myself actually.” To Octavia’s dismay, one of her ear plugs slipped out, although Serenade kept up a confident face. “Cause I’ll be honest, I don’t think those were working.” He added, shaking his head a bit to allow the other to fall out.’
“Not bad,” she tisked. “But you’re not wrong. Might have gotten you far, but without any real coverage, you still should have been hypnotized once you got close enough.” Her eyes widened. “All the more reason I have to kill you.” She pulled back her knife, and Serenade tightened his bow.
The girl shrugged and relaxed her arm a smidge along with Saronaid. “Well, I shared a bit about me, suppose it only be fair if you share a little about yourself. We might even be able to figure out what makes you so special from all the other men who’ve come here.”
Serenade started, and then laughed at having taken this long to figure it out. “Unless I’m mistaken, you’re a siren, aren’t you?” Saying it out loud allowed all the earlier clues to fall in place.
“Yes,” the siren nodded. “So what makes you different from all the other men I’ve lured to their deaths?”
“Well, funny story there.” Smirking, Serenade pulled back his hood, undid the braid, allowing her raven black hair to fall down to her shoulders. “Who said I was a man?” Octavia spoke in her normal voice.
“Shit.” The Siren cursed. “Guess my magic dosnt work on the same sex after all.”
“Oh? I am the first woman youve seen?”
“As a matter of fact, you are.” she nodded. “This mean your society gotten more fair?
Octavia rolled her eyes. “Hardly. I had to sneak out and desquies myself as a man after all.”
“Oh, right! Sorry.” she blushed and shook her head. “Figures things haven’t changed.”
Raising an eyebrow, Octavia asked, “You speak as if you would know.”
“Well,” the girl said, looking around, legs wo belong for a moment, nearly dropping the knife, but balancing herself all the same. “I wasn’t always like this. See, my sisters and I were once mortal, until she did something to anger the gods, so to punish her they punished-
The siren shook her head. “And why am I still telling you this?! It’s not important.” She then added with a grumble. “I’m sure if my sisters could see me I’m sure they’d slap my on the head.”
“Sorry to hear all that,” Octavia said, speaking freely. “I’m guessing you never had the most supporting family?”
“No.” The siren said, sighing before picking herself up. “Stop telling the mortal things you idiot!”
Octavia clicked her tongue. “Now really, I don’t see why we can’t be friends and work something out. I need that water. My sister is dying, and I doubt we can both keep this up all day.”
“I’m sure I can try,” she said, emphasizing ‘human,’ as her knife hand twitched. “I’m sorry for your own sister, but both of your deaths are more important.”
Biting back her tongue at that, Octavia took a different approach. “Okay. My apologies. But, if I may; why can’t I just take a little bit of water? I promise to not bother you after that.”
“Yeah,” the siren huffed. “You say that now, but what happens the next time someone in your family gets sick? When your parents are on their deathbed, or if something were to happen where they cannot walk? Or what if, once it’s known how to get to this lake, you don’t offer to save the kitten boy? Or the baker's daughter, or everyone who gets a minor cut or bruise?”
Octavia raised an eyebrow. “You make that sound like a bad thing, when your water could save hundreds of lives.”
“Yes,” the siren laughed. “But which lives? There is only so much water to go around. Tell me, do you not think, once you humans learn they can reach this place by covering your ears, that entire armies won’t come? Drive me from this place, and then what? Whichever human in charge doesn’t name himself king of this lake. Denying the poor who are death row and instead allowing the rich to heal from the smallest of injuries?”
“You… You don’t know that.” Octavia said, otherwise loss for words.
“Don’t I?” the siren question. Although her voice held a hint of fatigue.
“So, what?” Octavia added, loss for words. The truth was, she was right. She loved her parents, but if she went home, told them about the lake and how it was guarded by a siren who didn’t affected females or anyone who deafened themselves, would the promise of such magic and riches keep them out? Would it mater if it meant draining the lake dry and dooming the poor creature in front of her? Would anyone really not be so tempted if the information became so wide spread of this treasure-
A thought crossed Octavia’s mind. One that had honestly bugged her about how fairies and elves in stories tended to look down on humans for being wicked and greedy creatures. Yet, she could help but ask herself about that. Or rather, she figured she’d try asking the one in front of her.
“Well… How are you any different from me? What dose that make you by hoarding this lake to yourself?” Octavia questioned, tightening her pull on her bow. “Killing all those men instead just sending them home. Can’t you erase their minds or something?”
The siren silence said enough to Octavia.
“Yeah,” Octavia smirked. “I thought so.”
“Oh be quite, mortal,” she answered back. “Your puny mortal mind can’t possibly comprehend what it’s like to be me and what I must sacrifice to survive.”
“Sacrifice?” Octavia asked, trying to understand anyways. “What do you possibly have to ‘sacrifice’ when it’s just you-
The reaction the siren gave it all away. Shattered any illusion Octavia had of being all at fault or in the wrong. The sirens, true weakness.
“You’re all alone out here, aren't you?” Octavia allowed herself to laugh at the realization. “That’s why you’ve been so talkative, been a while since you’ve had anyone to chat with.” Seeing the siren's hardened reaction, she continued her thought, turning it into a taunt. “Nothing to look forward to except for the next person to come around and have fun with?”
“Be quiet.” her opponent hissed.
“Ah, did I hit a nerve?” Octavia smirked.
“I mean it,” the siren said through gritted teeth.
“Or what? Scared because you can’t play around with me as easily as the boys?”
“Shut up!”
“Actually, I am rather curious.” For added effect, Octavia batted her eyelashes. “Do you straight up drown them, or do you entertain your first? I mean, a fish with nothing else to do all day, until some man comes along. I mean, gods if I was so lonely-
The knife flew from the siren’s hand at breakneck speed. However, seeing it coming, Octavia ducked out of the way, and fired an arrow right into the siren's chest. And in her pain, Octavia was able to draw another bow and take several more steps forward before she could draw another knife.
“Just stay down, please.” Octavia pleaded, aiming the arrow at the sirens face. “Believe it or not, I’d rather not have to kill you.”
The siren, taken aback, laughed, and lowered her head. “You already have.” With that, tears started to fall onto the sand. “Well?” she said, pulling herself up to face her killer. “Go ahead, bring the legend full circle! Then, claim your fame and fortune. It will be a mercy, not to see myself proven right.”
Octavia shook. Was this some kind of trick? Maybe. She wouldn’t put it past her-
“Oh, the names Sonata. By the way.”
Octavia blinked.
“When-” Sonata, sniffled. “When they tell this story, make sure they know the monster's name was Sonata. At… At least then, I won’t have to die a second time.” With that, she closed her eyes.
‘Kill her!’ a voice in the back of Octavia’s mind
’‘Why? No, we should save her?’
“Don’t be stupid. Take the advantage before-
‘If this is a trap, she’s really pushing her luck.’
‘… that doesn’t mean-
‘Would Vinyl choose that?’
Cursing to herself, Octavia threw her bow to the ground, and picked a very surprised siren up from the sand, and started to carry her to the lake.
“What are you doing?” Sonata questioned.
“Either setting a good example for humanity, or something very stupid.” Octavia answered as they got to the water’s edge, dipping her flask in. “I dunk you in, but I imagine getting the arrow out will be easier on land.” She took the arrow in one hand, and placed a hand on Sonata’s chest. “On three, I’ll pull, and then you chug, okay?” Sonata simply nodded. “One, two…
With a yank, Octavia pulled the arrow out of Sonata’s chest.
“You said you would do it on three!” Sonata cried out.
“Sorry! I thought,” Octavia quickly pushed the flask to Sonata’s lips. “Healing lake water, NOW!”
“Oh right!” Sonata said, noticing the blood as she downed the whole flask, causing the bleeding to stop right away.
“Did it work?” Octavia asked, leaning in to make sure. To which, she had forgotten about the very sharp arrow within Sonata’s reach.
Sonata slowly reached out for the arrow, but paused as Octavia let out a sigh of relief.
Flustered, Sonata sighed. “You know you left your arrow within arm’s reach of me, right?”
Octavia’s eyes widened as she jumped back. Once her fear had passed, looking from the bloody arrow to Sonata, she said. “Um, no I didn’t… Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.” Sonata muttered, tossing the sharp stick away.
“Right. Octavia nodded, standing to her feet, and offering a hand to Sonata. Who, very hesitantly, took it, and was pulled up to eye level. Only to swing her arms in the air, and feel off balance into Octavia’s arm.
“Seriously?” Octavia laughed. “After all that, you’re going to tell me you don’t know how to walk?”
“No!” Sonata said with a huff as she leaned on Octavia. “Just… Haven’t done this in a while. No need to. The fight doesn’t count since I was in a survival mood.”
“Ah.” Octavia mouth, her mind coming to something. “I'm sorry about what I said back there about… You know.”
“It’s fine,” Sonata waved off as she adjusted to the gravity with Octavia’s help. “I’m sure I would have used that against me too if I were you.” She frowned, still holding Octavia’s hand. “Can’t say you weren’t wrong.”
“Oh.” Octavia said. “So, where do we go from here?”
“Well,” Sonata said, letting go of Octavia’s hand and sitting on a rock. “You make it sound like your sister doesn’t have much time left, so… I’d get some water and hurry back to her.”
Octavia looked at her, and once again, hesitated. “Are you sure? I didn’t mean-
Sonata held up a hand. “Just go before I change my mind.” With that, she turned her back to Octavia, but was surprised when the human sat down next to her.
“Thank you.” She paused. “Sure you’ll be okay? I feel awful after saying all that.”
Perplexed, Sonata cautiously answered, “Oh, no, I’ll, I’ll be good.” Truthfully, she felt emotionally exhausted.
“I’ll try to keep quiet about how I did it.” Octavia added. “Even if I can’t promise all those things won’t happen. Please,” she reached for a coin purse. “I can pay you for the trouble. It’s the least I can do.”
Sonata looked at the shiny coins, then up to Octavia with a warm smile, pushing the gold away.
“I would think the fact you didn’t kill me and, even for what a human promise is worth,” Sonata added dryly, but with a sigh, continue, “still promised.”
Octavia jingled the coins. “I still feel bad about it. Is there, not some other way I could pay you back?”
Sonata was about to say no, when a thought crossed her mind about something she did want.
“You could come back sometime,” she offered, kicking at the sand. “It does get lonely out here.” Sonata let out an awkward laugh.
“You could come with.” Octavia threw out. Just as surprised as Sonata was about the offer. “I mean, no one should have to be alone all the time.”
Sonata shook her head. “I appreciate the offer, but even if I didn’t need to stay near a large source of water, I think my reputation would cause some less than flattery reception with your people. Especially with the busy few weeks I’ve had.”
Octavia laughed nervously. “I suppose so. Sorry.”
“No, No. I appreciate the offer,” sonata beamed. “Really, I do. It means more to me than you think.” With that, she pulled Octavia into a hug, who gladly returned it.
“Will you come back?” Sonata asked, almost in a tone of a child who had to ask it’s parents mother on the steps of the orphanage if they would return one day.
“I think I’m going to be kept a close eye on by my family for a while.” Octavia jokes, pulling at her hair. “But, if that is what you want, I will try to visit when I can.”
“Thank you.” Sonata said, pulling back. “Now, didn’t you have a sister you have to save?”
“Oh, right!” Octavia said, leaping to her feet, reaching the water and, looking to Sonata, chuckling in bemusement, gave a nod of approval.
“Thank you again.” Octavia said, once the pouch was full.
Then, before Sonata could say anything, she was pulled into a hug. Blushing wildly, a feeling of warmth she had long forgotten, Sonata hugged back, and even allowed a few tears to escape.
Octavia found herself enjoying the hug as well. Although she wasn’t sure if it was necessary, it felt right. Sonata had proven to be a unique mythology creature, and she honestly did want to know more about her. However, when she tried to pull back, she found the siren wasn’t too keen to let go. Not that she could blame her in thinking this would be the only time in their lives they would meet.
“Here,” Octavia said, moment of insperation, reaching for her neck and pull off something. “My sister gave this to me as a birthday present. It’s very precious to me, so keep it safe until I,” she let out a cough. “Realize I must drop it on my quest, and need to take a second one to retrieve it.”
Lost in the human sarcasm, Sonata was eventually able to pick up enough to let out a devious smile. “I promise, fair maiden. No harm will come to your treasure.”
“Oh stop!” Octavia said with a playful tease. “I’m sorry, but I really should get going.”
“Of course.” Sonata nodded, trying to hold back a tear. “I understand. I’ll see you around.”
“Looking forward to it.” Octavia added, walking off into the forest, pausing, looking behind her, to catch the siren as she walked back into the water. Sonata, catching her, nervously waved, and Octavia waved back, before disappearing into the trees.
“What a strange, but beautiful human.” Sonata said to herself, holding on tightly to the necklace, now seeing it was in the shape of a music note.
As her legs turned back into a tail, and her dress curled up into a golden seashell bra, she realized she never asked for the human’s name, despite telling her own. Oh well, she thought, carefully placing her new treasure in a secured chest at the bottom of her lake. She could always ask when the human returned. Her sleep that night was the most restful one she had in centuries.
****
Needless to say, Octavia, or Serenade’s, return from the forest was met with such fanfare the likes of which were never seen. It was a boy working in the fields who first saw her-him, emerge from the trees. He ran back into town to deliver the news, and a massive crowd had gathered by the field's edge before Serenade was even halfway through to celebrate his victory. Although he figured it would be better to wait until after the parade to let everyone know that he didn’t actually reach the lake. However, for their trouble, he did say he saw the creature which guarded it.
She made sure to keep things vague as possible, of course. Making up details to paint a picture much more of a hideous werewolf type monster that slashed, rather than of a beautiful mermaid who charmed.
When asked how he had survived when so many others hadn’t, he said that the lake must have been like a leash to the beast. Bounding and never allowing the thing to go beyond a certain point and, to his luck, he had caught it patrolling the furthermost edge of its territory. Walking in, and back peddling beyond reach just in the nick of time. For added effect, he said he fired hundreds of arrows of fallen warriors around it’s den at the beast, only for them to bounce off the monster's indestructible skin. While Octavia was under no delusion that it wouldn’t stop a soon to be new wave of brave men from trying their luck, it would at least keep Sonata safe from the masses.
Which led her to a small problem; now she didn’t have any magical water to trade back her horse from the innkeeper. Which funny enough, what she did was part of the reason she had come up with the lie in the first place. It was only when she made it to the line of weapons did the thought cross her mind on maybe not telling anyone she even made it to the lake. Which meant she couldn’t say she had the water, and thus couldn’t trade anything back for her horse. It was then she realized that many of the weapons were still in rather good shape. After a little bit trying to think if a large gem embedded sword was worth the trouble without a hilt, she found a rather large shield that had a sword hilt of sorts to tie it too. Then, thinking she could add to by saying she tried to stab the beast out of range with a weapon that had been flung to the side of a previous owner's fight, she made up her mind to not tell anyone that she made it to the lake.
Which, the inn owner, called the sword and shield a fair trade, praising the fact his story alone, now not having to tell stubborn boys who pestered he knew nothing of what guarded the lake, would have been more than a fair trade.
Which made Octavia feel guiltier as she rode back home. Sure, no doubt more people would have ventured into the woods just to see the beast, thinking it could only travel so far as well as seeing if one or two could distract it or something. Well, she came to terms with it as she thought about it, there was still the fact 99% of people never came out and his survival was only one of the dumbest of luck.
Needless to say, her parents were worried sick. Her mother in particular had looked even paler than when Octavia had left. To which, while she told them the absolute lie as to where she had been, no one raised an eyebrow to her story about running away, too afraid to face her sister's death. Only coming back when she realized how selfish she had been. Well, at least that last part was true enough. In anycase, her parents' happiness outweighed their desire to punish her. For the moment. It turned out Octavia returned just in time. The verdict from the doctor was Vinyl had only a day or two at most with how her condition worsened.
“So,” Vinyl coughed. “Couldn’t find it?”
“Nope.” Octavia said, later that night as she tended to her sister, not even bothering to hide where she had really been with her sister. Vinyl was too smart for that. Although she was able to keep up the act of failure as she slipped some of the lake water into Vinyl’s cup along with her medication that would help her sleep. “I’m sorry I failed you, Vinyl.”
“It’s okay,” Vinyl assured, as Octavia lifted the water to her bloody lips. “I can at least die laughing at the idea of you dressing up as a man.” She let out a hazing laugh that seemed to become a little more energized with each second. “Ah… Huh. Water’s a bit sweeter than usual.” She said, feeling the drugs kick into her mind as the lake's magical powers coursed through her body. While Octavia would be sure her sister would figure it all out once she woke up and realized she wasn’t dying anymore, and what she agreed to with the siren of the lake, well....
“Um, don’t tell mom, but I slipped some honey into it.” Octavia decided to leave that as her future selfs problem.
Vinyl yawned and smiled as the color returned to her face. “Oh Tavi, you’re such a… naughty girl…. Hey, where’s your-
No doubt she was about to ask where her necklace was, but passed out before she could do so.
Octavia let out a relieved sigh as she sat down on her own bed. Now, without the fear of her sister's death, her mind freely drifted to think of her new, unusual friend. Which, for most of the night, consisted of wondering if Sonata would look more beautiful with a mermaid’s tail.
She then shot opened her eyes, realizing she never told Sonata her name. Oh well, next time…
Author's Note
*featured 11/22/2020*
Wow! 😯
Thank you all! 🌟 old fans or brought here by the feature box 
You’re all loved 🥰
Although if you’re interested in seeing more stories I’m writing featuring Sonata and Octavia Check out the group or check out one of these stories:
https://www.fimfiction.net/story/477341/eternal-harmony
https://www.fimfiction.net/story/482791/22-short-stories-about-sontavia
https://www.fimfiction.net/story/473693/sontavia-taking-criticism-octavia-x-sonata-romance
