Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #19 October 2015 | Page 60

instinctively performed an ancient, and forbidden ritual. She leaned toward his mouth and kissed his lips,
soft and sweet.

“Hmm,” replied the old man as he stroked his
short, white beard, “if it was just a dream, what’s that
odd trinket around your neck? I don’t recall you wearing it earlier.”

In a matter of a moment, her breath became
his, and they joined souls through her silent song of
life.

Looking down, Brandon was shocked to see
what he was now wearing. It was a silver pendant
shaped like two fish that shone in the moonlight.
Slowly shaking his head, he touched it and felt its
warmth. “I have no idea what this is,” he said quietly,
“or even how I got it.”

“Live… live for me, my true love,” he heard
her singing in his mind.
Then, Brandon awoke, startled and needing
air more than he could imagine. He grabbed Luna by
the arms, and she swam with his hand in hers, fast and
true until they reached the surface.

Gardener John rose to his feet, then looked
over the railing. He couldn’t make out much, but
he thought he saw ripples on the water. Though he
couldn’t see her, he felt her presence.

He quickly grabbed onto the side of the ship
where he reached the rope that hung by the nearby
lifeboat. Feeling as though something was pushing
him up by his feet, he flung himself onto the deck and
grasped for air.

Smiling, the old man turned around and helped
Brandon to his feet. “You’re lucky, my boy,” he said
with a pat to the young sailor’s back. “I think you met
a kinder siren than most. Even though you fell to her
charms and almost died, she must have saved your
life, then gave you this gift as well.”

Coughing up water in between short, manic
breaths, he finally gathered his wits. As he looked
around, he saw Gardener John approaching him.
“What happened, my boy?” asked the old man.
“Did you slip and fall?”
Brandon shook his head as he struggled to
remember. “I saw… I heard…” he muttered.
The old man’s weathered eyes widened. “You
saw one of them sirens, didn’t you?” he asked, helping
Brandon to sit up.
“I… don’t know,” he replied in a haze. “I
heard a beautiful voice… and then, I somehow lost
control of my body… as if I slipped into a strange,
waking dream.”
“Aye,” said Gardener John, “that was a siren,
alright. She must ‘ave called you into the night sea!
Was she blue or green? Can you remember?”
“I… think she had hair of blue and eyes of
sapphire. But… it was a dream. It had to have been.”

Looking down at the silver pendant, Brandon
took a deep breath and said, “If I really did meet such
a magical water creature, why would she give a gift
like this to me?”
Gardener John smiled and said, “That, I cannot say, but methinks you should treasure it, and not
question the will of Poseidon’s children.” Patting
Brandon’s shoulder, he said, “I think it’s my turn to
take the watch, my boy. The sun will be up soon, and
you’ve had a busy night. Go get some rest, and let me
deal with the ocean’s mistresses for what is left of the
evening.”
Brandon nodded and thanked him. As he
headed for the under-quarters of the ship, he held his
pendant and turned around once more to look upon the
sea.
Are you out there, beautiful, blue-haired siren?
he silently asked the still of the night’s deep and mysterious waters.

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