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The trading ship’s crew threw the anchor overboard, locking it in place for the next few nights. The crew of men grunted and shivered from the cold saltwater. The captain stepped aboard, forcing the men to stand straight and give all their attention to him. One of the men looked to the back seeing a fog bank. It covered an island, known as the Haunted Western Air Temple. The sea crashed against the boat, he had heard of the old Air Nation rumors, the Air Nation people went into hiding after the Fire Nation invaded them. Most likely dead, the air temples and monuments were left to collect dust, rust, and mold.
“And thank you Kai for showing interest in my next topic.” The captain stomped his foot down on the ship. Getting Kai’s attention. “No one steps foot, or rows over to that island. It's rumored to hold the ancient Air Nation legend of Sirens.” The captain ordered.
“What is a siren, sir?” Kai questioned. He’d never heard of a Siren.
“Sirens are beautiful women who have the upper body of a human but on the lower body are part fish. They lure sailors in by singing a beautiful tune that hypnotizes them, then they tear our throats out with their teeth.” The captain revealed some cotton. “I’m keeping these in my ears so I don't get lured in.”
The crew began searching through their satchels, unlike Kai. “I’m not gonna need any, it's just a stupid children’s tale. The Air Nation’s legends are dead, just like the people.”
“Kai, mark my words; you go over there, I’ll throw you overboard and feed you to the sharks.” The captain turned on his heel, going to his cabin below decks, the crew followed to their bunks. It looked like Kai was stuck in the crow’s nest for the night.
He turned to the fog, swearing he heard an elegant voice, a voice of an angel. Shivering from the cold, he went outside and climbed up the mast, bracing himself for a long night.
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It was cold. Kai sat in the rowboat smoking a cigarette. He looked at the drawing of his fiance. A trader girl from the Eastern Earth Kingdom. Once he returned they would marry. They only needed to catch some fish and collect some scary tales and they would be able to return home… A rotten fish smell caught his attention. Grabbing a net and looking down with his lantern in hand, hundreds of dead fish lay dead. Guts ripped out. He looked out to the sea seeing a tail go under the water and to the island. An orange scale tale, he remembered it. The yellowfins were enchanting, almost luring him into a trance.
Then he swore he felt the boat move closer to the island, seeing the fog and the trees more clear.
“No way... “ Kai shook his head, he was being stupid, superstitious. He shrugged, picking up the net and casting it overboard, and catching fish. He would look at this with the crew the next morning.
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“Tickle my left boat, no way.” Daw looked at the fish turning them over.
“I don’t know what happened. I looked overboard after smelling it and there they were.” Kai rocked back and forth on his heels.
“It’s the Sirens! They're coming to kill us!” Bolin panicked, latching onto the captain. “Mako we need to kill them!”
“It’s a child's tale, just stay away. We’ll leave tomorrow at dawn break.” Even Mako looked nervous. “I promise we'll be alright.”
“And isn’t the island closer?” One of the crew members pointed out.
“It does, alright we’ll wrap up tomorrow and get a move on.” Mako looked at the Island. “Kai, you’re on the lookout tonight.”
—————-
The night was cold and he sat in the same rowboat as last time. His cigarette dangling in his mouth, he didn’t care to light it. He held something in his hand, a single strand of pearls. It was supposed to be for his fiancé, but he needed to find out who’s or what tail that was.
Then he heard it. An elegant voice was calling him to the side of the ship. He picked the rowboat up and pulled it with him.
Upon one summer's morning
It was a siren, he saw her too. She sat on a rock, her tail shimmering in the moonlight, she pushed her hair behind her shoulders showing off her chest.
He put the boat into the sea, jumped into the water, and began rowing to the rock, staying a distance.
I carefully did stray
She got closer, her brown eyes becoming more clear, she was gorgeous. He put some cotton in one of his ears, he still wanted to hear her.
Down By the walls of Wapping
“Here.” He held the necklace out to her. “Take it.”
She stopped singing, still looking human. He threw it to her.
“It’s a gift, I'm Kai.” He introduced himself. “I’m from the trading ship, we mean no harm.”
She took the necklace, clipped it around her neck, admiring it, she smiled at him and jumped into the water, leaving Kai breathless.
—————
“The anchor is stuck on the sand, we’ll let it sit for a few more days,” Mako said after they couldn’t hoist the anchor up.
“B-But the siren!” Bolin exclaimed.
“It’s fine Bo, nothing happened last night!” Kai exclaimed. “I was fine!”
“Yeah we caught your fly down and your pants unbuckled.” Mako pointed out. “Thinking of Zeila again?”
“Yes, a matter of fact I was.” Kai huffed, blushing.
——————
Kai has stuck on the lookout again. It was the fourth night here and it was getting weirder. He waited for the siren, cotton stuffed in one of his ears. He listened, sitting in the rowboat.
He looked at the drawing of his fiancé, her hair flowing down her waist and her smile reaching her ears. He smiled but when he heard the melody of the song he ripped it in half, throwing it into the water and did not stop watch it sink. He began rowing, rowing to the rock where the woman was perched,
Upon one summer's morning
I carefully did stray
Down By the walls of Wapping
where I met a sailor gay
Conversing with a bouncing lass, who seemed to be in pain
Saying Aiko, when you go, I fear you will never return again
Taking the cotton out of his other ear. He began to row faster, his eyes locked on the topless creature. Her hair is perfectly wavy, and her tail complimented her eyes, the pearl necklace adding detail to make her so much more desirable. She began to sing a different story, assuming the story of her and her family.
My name is Jinora, a merchant's daughter fair
And I have left my parents and three thousand yuans a year
Come all you pretty fair maids, whoever you may be
Who loves a jolly sailor that plows the raging sea
While up aloft in a storm, from me his absence mourn
And firmly pray, arrive the day, he's never more to roam
Her song lured him in, he should turn back, he should go back to the shop. Kai should marry Zeila.
“Jinora is your name? Beautiful.” Kai still kept his distance. “You’re breathtaking.”
“Thank you.” She whispered and dove into the water.
—————
This night he was not on lookout, even though he begged Mako to be, but Mako decided they needed all hands on deck for the next morning of traveling. No look out tonight.
Kai did not sleep, not a wink. Instead, he was waiting for the song. A letter rested on his pillow. A letter to Zeila. Then the melody came.
He jumped out of bed, quietly. He didn’t put any shoes or coat on. It would be quick. A quick death for the price to hold the beautiful siren.
Upon one summer's morning
I carefully did stray
Down By the walls of Wapping
where I met a sailor gay
Conversing with a bouncing lass, who seemed to be in pain
Saying William, when you go, I fear you will never return again
He dove in the water, not worrying about a boat. He came up to breathe and saw her, her tail shimmered in the distance.
My heart is pierced by Cupid
I disdain all glittering gold
There is nothing that can console me
But my jolly sailor bold
His hair hangs in ringlets, his eyes as black as coal
My happiness attend him wherever he may go
From Tower Hill to Blackwall, I'll wander, weep and moan
All for my jolly sailor, until he sails home
She was getting closer, her hair becoming more clear, cut to her shoulders now, wet in front
My heart is pierced by Cupid
I disdain all glittering gold
There is nothing that can console me
But my jolly sailor bold
His hair hangs in ringlets, his eyes as black as coal
My name is Jinora, a merchant's daughter fair
And I have left my parents and three thousand yuans a year
Come all you pretty fair maids, whoever you may be
Who loves a jolly sailor that plows the raging sea
While up aloft in a storm, from me his absence mourn
And firmly pray, arrive the day, he's never more to roam
Kai was starting to get tired, he had swan a good eight hundred meters. Just one more push.
My heart is pierced by Cupid
I disdain all glittering gold
There is nothing that can console me
But my jolly sailor bold
He reached the rock, clambering out of the sea and climbing to the top. There sat, she sounded and looked like an angel.
My heart is pierced by Cupid
I disdain all glittering gold
There is nothing that can console me
But my jolly sailor bold
“Hello,” Kai whispered, his hand on her cheek. “I’ve waited so long to do this.”
“Is that so?” Jinora pulled him in for a kiss.
She smelled like the ocean water and her lips tasted like cherries. Then the pain came on, her teeth sinking into his throat, Kai tried to scream but blood came up and he gargled on it.
“Such a shame, you were cute too.” Jinora went for the outside of his neck, latching on and bringing him to the sea.
“Bye-bye.”
Kai saw her eyes and smiled before being pushed and drowned into the water. It was quick, full of pain. But, he had a happier way to die.
—————
My dearest Zeila,
I carry shame from my travels now, I have left and abandoned you. I will never return to you. I have found beauty, her angelic voice, and her smile. She leaves me messages through the sea, the fish we catch, and the trades we make. Her songs fill me with deep torture and longing. I can’t be apart from her. Why yes, she’s a siren and sirens kill sailors. But, she has taught me something valuable, there is no love unless it kills you.
All my love,
Kai
“I’m sorry Zeila, is there anything we can do?”