Enchanted by a Siren

Chapter 2: Her Song

Zen sat on pool deck in the school gym later that day watching her feet as they played in the water. The chlorine in the pool did not call to her magic the way the salt of the ocean did, but she still felt a strong pull towards water of any kind. She hadn’t had a chance to give her magic an outlet back in Canada. Things had been so hectic in preparation for her trip and the trip itself had placed a lot of stress on her body. She scratched at her skin as her magic ate away at her human form making it itch something fierce.

The school was quiet since there was no one there. It was already around seven p.m. and everyone had gone home. She’d hidden in the girl’s bathroom after swim practice, needing some time alone with the water, away from prying eyes. She couldn’t go into the ocean, not yet. She hadn’t found a safe enough spot and honestly, she wouldn’t even know which way to go to find one.

There was also the whole reason why she had come to San Diego in the first place. Getting to see a new city was great and all, but it wasn’t her real reason for signing up for the exchange program. She wondered… Would her mere presence in the ocean when she unleashed her magic fully, call them to her? Or would she need to look for them as she’d always done before? Fruitless… After all the years of searching, every single one of her attempts had been fruitless.

She didn’t know why she thought this time would be different, it was a long shot, but one she needed to take. She could never stop searching. She could never give up on the idea that there were others like her, others that might understand.

Her magic was crawling in her bones, struggling to stay within the boundaries of her skin. She needed to release it, and soon, before it started eating at her from the inside out like it had when she was younger. Back then she hadn’t known what was going on, she hadn’t known that she was different. They had transferred her to an orphanage further away from the sea and it took its toll on her health. 

Her hair had turned a sickly brown color, like rotting tree roots and she was always ill. They thought she had a sort of autoimmune disease with the way her body was eating away at itself. Her lungs were failing, her kidneys, her heart. She’ll never forget the day they took her to the ocean for the first time and she could literally feel her heartbeat getting stronger as the waves crashed over her feet, by the time she was fully submerged her hair had turned bright blue and it had been that way ever since.

Before that day she had no clue about her magic, and the only other person that knew now was the Sister that took her there in the first place, Sister Gale. The Sister had always protected Zen and kept the questions at bay by saying that it was a pure miracle and God had healed her and left her hair blue as a sign of his act. Though they’d never again spoken about what really happened that day, Zen had started to think that maybe after all this time Sister Gale believed her own lie.

After they returned to the orphanage her hair soon started losing its color again and she developed a nasty cough. Every time this would happen Sister Gale would drive her down to the ocean to recuperate, but after a while that became too hard to explain. Eventually she figured out that it was only the water that she needed and she started releasing her magic when no one was around, only very small amounts at a time. Although the older she got, the more it demanded.

It was rubbing at her now, her magic kept getting stronger as she aged. It screamed inside of her, needing to be let out. She scanned the room to be sure there was no one around. It should be fine, she had checked that every room was empty before coming here. From the janitor’s closet to the principal’s office. She was locked inside the school alone, but she could find her way out easily enough. 

She had started doing research when she was old enough to read and wander around town by herself. From folklore to supposed truths she learnt as much as she could. She decided to try to use her song as a way to keep her magic at bay, but knew the terrible effect it could have on humans. She had learned that the hard way, though it was still the safest way to channel her energy.

She took a deep breath and allowed herself to slide into the water. Opening her mouth she sang and allowed her song to break free into the dim water. As she continued the water lit up, it was bright, almost alive around her. She missed the ocean, and though her song was beautiful, it was a sad one, filled with longing. She swam around and around the pool. Letting it pour out of her.

Meanwhile, at the front door of the school the janitor was turning the key to allow Calum to go get his cell phone which he had very carelessly forgotten in his locker. He had walked down to the beach after swim practice and his Mother went ballistic when she couldn’t reach him on his cell. He had his backpack with him and thought it was still inside, possibly on silent since he never took it off after class finished. 

He wanted to watch the sunset and his Mother had found him at his favorite spot doing just that. She then called the principal to have someone open the school for them so that Calum could go get his phone straight away. She wasn’t the kind of woman you argued with. She drove Calum to the school directly after that, where the Janitor had been instructed to open for them.

“Sorry, Mr. Samuels. I told my Mom I could get it in the morning, but you know how Moms can be. Thank you so much for coming.” Calum apologized to the Janitor, Mr. Samuels, a balding old man with a beer belly and a friendly face. He wasn't in his usual uniform, instead he was in casual jeans and T-shirt.

“No problem, Mr. Gregory. Let us not make a habit of it though.” Mr. Samuels replied, raising his eyebrows at Calum.

“No, Sir, it won't happen again, I promise.” Calum said to the old man as he ran down the hall making his way to his locker.

As he approached his locker a strange sound caught his attention. It almost sounded like singing, but distant and sort of muffled by something. He quickly spun his lock and rummaged through his locker until he found his phone and shoved it into his pocket. 

He could swear the singing was getting louder even if it was still somewhat muffled. The sound wasn’t like anything he had ever heard before, it felt angelic… possibly even magical.

He slammed his locker shut and looked back the way he came. His Mother and Mr. Samuels was waiting for him. He should go. 

Although, whoever was making that sound would be locked in the school until tomorrow morning. It was only right that he should rescue them. The truth was he wasn’t sure he could turn away from the beautiful sound even if he wanted to. He gave in and followed it down the deserted hallway, until it lead him straight to the gym. 

The gym door was closed, but the singing was louder now. He could almost feel it, it was an addictive song. He felt sure that when he opened those doors he would find whatever was making that glorious sound. 

He threw them open, almost unable to stop himself, but all he saw was a figure moving underneath the water in the pool and the pool itself was glowing. He instinctively moved closer, almost pulled forward by the song.

Zen sang and sang and sang as she felt her magic unwind itself within her. Her skin started to itch for the salt water of the ocean and her breath, though longer than most, was running out. The song that poured from her mouth kept the water from entering her lungs. 

Suddenly, she planted her feet on the bottom of the pool and propelled herself upwards, diving over the water like a dolphin, catching her breath. She swirled and spun and released herself as she re-entered the water. 

As the last notes of her song approached she slowly broke through the water’s surface, rising into the air. It was dangerous, but she wanted to feel the breath escape her throat as her song came to its spellbinding conclusion. 

She let her heart lose on the last note and sang it at the top of her lungs as it filled the school with the echo of its spell. As she finished she felt someone’s eyes on her and she whirled around. 

Her heart sank as she saw Calum staring at her from the side of the pool. She'd done it, what she had vowed to never do again, she had enchanted a human.

Zen pulled herself out of the pool in front of him. “Calum, you need to leave.” Zen said in a panic as she pushed him towards the gym doors, still soaking wet from her swim.

“You’re beautiful. I don’t know why I didn’t see it before.” Calum said in a dazed state.

“This isn’t you talking, Calum. Please, snap out of it.” She shook him lightly.

“No, I’ve never felt like this before. Zen, I-“ Zen slapped him across the face. “Wake up, Calum!” She yelled at him to no avail.

“I don’t understand. I’m already awake. In fact, I've never felt so awake before in my life.” He looked into her eyes, worry and confusion playing in his. “I don’t understand what you want me to do? Please tell me. I’ll do anything you ask.” Then Zen realized what she had to do. As far as she knew enchantment was a sort of mind control and right now she had to make sure he kept her secret.

She grabbed his face in both her hands and looked straight into his eyes. “I need you to go and act like nothing happened. Forget that you saw me here, forget what happened and do not under any circumstances talk to anyone about this.”

He smiled at her as a blue glaze seemed to pass over his eyes and vanish again. One moment there, the next gone. “I will forget that I saw you here. I will forget what happened. I will not talk to anyone about it.” He repeated like a parrot.

Zen let out a sigh of relief. “You need to leave, Calum. Please go.” She pleaded, turning away from him. At her words he walked straight out of the gym. 

As the doors closed behind him she let out an inhumane screech of frustration. What had she done? Why was he in the school this late? She had to fix it, fix him, but she didn’t really know the first thing about enchantments. Only what she had read, and that was unreliable at best.

Calum made it back to the front door of the school where Mr. Samuels was leaning against the door frame, waiting for him. “What took you so long, Boy? Used the little girl’s room, did you?”

Calum laughed at his accusation. “No, nothing like that.” He frowned as he tried to remember why he might have taken longer than he should have, but everything felt fuzzy. He remembered getting his phone out of his locker. 

“I don’t remember,” He said and grabbed the phone from his pocket. “I got my phone though.” He beamed at Mr. Samuels, who was eyeing him suspiciously.

“Thanks again, Mr. Samuels.” Calum said as he made his way back to where his Mother was waiting in the driver’s seat of their SUV.