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The Eyrie Building was a shining glittering tower, the tallest in the Manhattan skyline, triumphing over all the others in its height and style. A tasteful modern metal mixed in with a beautiful olden gothic style. The top level of the tower was unmistakable as a castle, stone battlements of a fortress of old were certainly an interesting sight to those in manhattan. Many gazed up, wondering what was behind those elusive stone walls and why they chose such ancient structures as the pinnacle of the modern world.
Underneath that colossal castle, which was the multi Billionaire David Xanatos’ private residence were the floors of his company business space, but they were the Levels closer to the ground that saw his workers toiling in cubicles and offices. The levels directly below Mr.Xanatos’ home were a mystery to many. Within the sprawling windows high above was a level of the willing prisoner of a different sort. A sort as mysterious and as old as the castle itself, one that was bathed in legend and of magic beyond simple lore.
The top half of a brown woman above the water leaned against the walls of the pool. She stared out the floor-to-ceiling windows, the world beyond them was losing its light, the sun was going down and soon the gold light would be gone. Alleluia, this room’s resident, was a mysterious creature. She came from the warm waters of a place now known as the Caribbean, fished out from those lands, and brought here in a tank by the behest of David Xanatos. Her mystery intrigued him and Alleluia didn't really mind the questions, about the residing in his castle.
If he wanted to know the secrets of the sea then so be it, Alleluia could evade whenever she wished the world beyond the land was of water. That she could traverse and escape too. But for now, she remained content in these walls for the last year, she was fed, had no competition, had entertainment, and a wonderful view. She could sing as loud as she wanted, as long as it wasn't to lure prey. It was a fairly good deal to Alleluia; a superior, mischievous siren of the sea.
As a siren of the ocean, she was a creature of a fickle, whimsical lot. Most of her siblings and sires were now a part of the land rather than the sea. They took to their human legs in this new world, rarely did they use their gift of voice and sea. They would much rather remain in the human world than in the polluted seas building their own lives in a much more interesting world. Alleluia found enjoyment in switching every now and then, her siren principles still close to her heart. To her. It wasn't a big deal she was a siren, all she did was the lure and devour, trick and get treats.
Alleluia was sunbathing, She sprawled out her arms, her tails behind her swayed on the surface of the water. Her top half may be human flesh, tiny pores, beautiful flawless dark brown skin, but if she chose the illusion of a human to disappear and her true form would metamorphose before anyone's eyes with a mere thought. It was her deception and her species’ second nature as easy as blinking, she could hide from Xanatos’ forever if she so wanted with her progenitor powers. But she made a deal with the Human and she will keep the charade up, she's enjoyed herself so far.
She was of a human woman's skin right now, long flowing black hair that went to her ankles - now tied up in a bun- gorgeous shapely face, the envy of the ocean. It wasn't her fault she was so beautiful, it was her nature to be alluring in every way, but her core was fickle and capricious, violent. Unsightly to those who could truly see Alleluia's true form.
There was a sound beyond the glass sliding doors to her pool. Within her -human- residency, it was a modern home by human standards, very spacious but drab and dull in its coloring. Slate blacks and shining whites. Unlike her pool, filtered and warmed to her liking. Sadly, the rocks she used to rest upon in the seas were now replaced with inferior concrete slabs that Xanatos’ claimed as ‘artistically’ and ‘aesthetically’ superior to her rocky home: were all she had. Her pool was small compared to her once domain, rectangular, tiled with blue to act as a deep ocean. Artificial But she had a beautiful waterfall by her concrete slabs.
The front door to the human home closed and she heard the footfalls of a familiar human. One that visited daily.
“Is that you my Owen..” Alleluia turned her head to the open sliding doors, watching for him. her gatherer source - A human that would do her will, usually by spell-but, not this one was not bound by her will or spell. It was Xanatos’ right hand, the human Owen Burnett . The moment she saw him that night the Xanatos’ metal atrocity yacht had stumbled upon her domain of sharp rocks, she believed she lured them into her trap as she had to countless others but she had no idea they were actually looking for her. She sang to them, but Xanatos’ and his men had made a fool of her. Wearing earplugs to her luring song. Except. Him . Owen Burnett wore none, her song didn't affect him. That was a sign of a human with a very strong will. ‘ A special soul’ and Alleluia had to have him before competition tried to steal him away from her.
She can remember Xanatos as he spoke to her, a lone Siren surrounded by armed men. Her home was besieged. She asked one thing of Xanatos while they conversed in private and she would willingly go with him, to allow the human to know her secrets but she wanted Owen to be at her side. Xanatos smiled, it wasn't a friendly smile, it was a suspiciously calculated smile. Alleluia clearly got the better deal because she went along with it…
Owen walked into her sight, a tall human man. White skin, flawless blonde hair. He carried himself with a sophisticated light, calculated, and resourceful. A strong will, the perfect gatherer to her. and he wasn’t that bad of a view for Alleluia. It was better than staring at Xanatos’ repulsive face. He wore glasses with eyes that reminded Alleluia of a calm sea, bright blue.
“ Hello, Alleluia.” Owen took his human blazer off, hanging up at the door’s coat rack next to her robes. Owen was an enigma to her, he resisted her spell and song every time. A definite boulder that would never move or break to her will. Devouring him was a faraway impossibility, Xanatos, unfortunately, forbid it as well. Alleluia didn't care, as long as he kept bringing her food and staying nearby then she had nothing to worry about. The competition would never have him and that was enough.
“What did you bring me today.” Alleluia drawls, her voice was beautiful and womanly. She was the ‘tenor’ of her lot/Family- when her family did not abandon her to walk among humans. Their voices used to be strong together... Alleluia swam easily to where Owen stood at the edge of her pool. Her tails propelled her forward effortlessly. The water splashed and ebbed with her smooth movements under the water. She gracefully propped herself up on the edge of her pool near Owen’s black slick shoes. Looked up at him expectantly with unnaturally yellow eyes. Slitted irises, eyes that a human would get lost in if they stared for too long.
“Your meal for today.” Owen held up a plastic bag, and Alleluia could smell fish. Owen was the perfect Gatherer, bringing her fish to eat every single day since she first arrived. A diligent hand for her and Xanatos combined. He may be all business and vary one note. Trained. But Alleluia preferred him overall. Owen took out a square and cylinder plastic container with clear lids; she couldn't see what was within them. They weren't wax paper-wrapped fish from a fish market this time…
“What did you bring me?” She reached her hand out, reaching for the plastic containers that Owen held above her head.
“I’m starving.” She reached her hand out, her fingernails long and pointed sharp Painted bright purple grabbed at his pants. Leaving wet handprints on the calf of his pants. He took a step back with a frown that Alleluia ignored. Sometimes she was sure Owen disliked her, he wasn’t afraid to show contempt for things she did. But other times welcomed her conversations with him and would be an active conversationalist when he wanted to be. One note and dry was his nature, but there was a sliver of friendliness within at times. He may not be fond of her, but she was of him.
She was a lonely siren before Owen.
“Miso soup.” Owen placed the plastic bowl down, took the lid off, and set it down in front of her. It was enough to make Alleluia stop and go right for her food instead of him. she leaned farther over the edge, her twin tails flicking above the water curiously, splashing the water around behind her.
“A salmon and California roll.” He placed the lids off to the side and tilted it for her to see. There were 6 slices of the salmon and6 of the California roll. Both are equally different. The salmon was a warm orange wrapped around the rice, with a white and green center. The Sushi reminded her of the He placed the food down and began rolling up his sleeves on his white button-up to his elbows.
“Hm. I’ve never had sushi,” Alleluia observed the food swishing around within the tan broth. The soup wasn't the most appealing-looking thing she's ever eaten, with strips of noodle and bits of what she hoped was fish. She looked up at Owen, he always brought her peculiar human foods on rare occasions. they were often disgusting to her. Raw dead fish were all she ate, live fish weren't allowed in her pool, it was far too small for an ecosystem that Alleluia was used to.
“It has fish-“ Owen spoke offhandedly as he prepared the rolls to be served. Alleluia pulls away from the bowl of Miso, she regards it with clear distaste. She sniffed at it, sticking a wet finger into the bowl. She swirled the hot liquid around, unperturbed by the heat that would normally burn others. She flicked the liquid off of her fingers, pleased with it consistently. she grabbed both edges of the bowl. She raised it up and took a drink from the side of the bowl.
“-ew.” Alleluia was disgusted by the taste, She tossed the bowl carelessly. It didn’t appeal to her tastes and she wished to never see it again. The plastic clattered and spilled on the tiles near Owen’s shoes. She heard Owen grumble lowly as he regarded the mess with a deep frown. His eyes lowered.
“I expect you to clean that later.” His reaction was always her favorite. He never yelled at her and would instead sigh, scoff, or be amused by her actions. His free will was entertaining. He may be a ‘poor’ gatherer by her species terms, but he was a package of honesty and begrudging service at times. She saw why Xanatos kept him around.
“I wouldn’t have thrown it otherwise, now. Feed me.” Alleluia spoke, she lifted herself up out of the water, she sat on the edge, her long tails curled and fell down resting in the warm water. Swaying back and forth slowly. She was relaxed with the temperature out of her pool. She watched Owen take his chair from the wall. Owen was used to the ritual, Alleluia never ate unless he fed her it. It was a Gatherer’s job to do so…
“As you wish.” Owen took the chopsticks, picking up the salmon roll with the two sticks. The act of using those utensils. Any utensil seemed arduous, her bare hands, and claws were enough. Owen regarded the act as barbaric the first time she devoured a fish in front of him. From that day she was fed by him when he could, she didn't have to do anything besides chew as long as Owen did all the work for her. Owen raised it to her mouth and Alleluia took it.
“Hmm.” She chewed, there was fish, a green vegetable she had before - a cucumber, it was the salmon taste she knew of but with an added taste from the rice, cucumber, and the sauce within. It was… nice. Passable by human standards. She swallowed and hummed.
The next slice seemed inside out compared to the salmon roll. The rice was on the outside, small black seeds coated the top, and orange, green and white were the center. Alleluia sniffed at it cautiously when Owen held it out to her. She smelled crab, but everything else was new to her.
“Ahmm!” she hummed loudly, unable to voice the utter explosion of flavor in her mouth. She chewed it up. The question of how this food could taste so heavenly. So good. It was silky and crunchy, unlike anything she ever tasted before. She had to have more of it, it was too good. Alleluia reached over immediately, knocking Owen’s hands, and grabbed another with her bare hands. Throwing it into her mouth.
“Manners.” Owen chided,
“Than Hurry,” Alleluia demanded, her long nails digging into her palm. Owen complied and fed her the California roll. She hummed contently, her eyes closed as she relished the taste.
“Mm! I like that-” she definitely liked the ‘California roll’. She liked Crab, raw was nice. But cooked was better in taste. Cracking open the shell of a crab and eating it raw was inefficient now that she had already prepared and cooked crab. She continued to eat in peace, sighing contently. She was at peace here with her Owen. but there was always something that ruined the peace of the water.
“Knew I’d find you here.” came a smooth voice from behind Owen. Alleluia peeked up over Owen’s shoulder. Her benefactor, Mr. David Xanatos, is the billionaire and seeker of magic. A human with sights set on the heavens itself, he was one Alleluia disliked… mildly. He did have a way with his human words and could convince an army if he wished and he wasn't even a siren. Mr.Xanatos strode in, his saunter was cool and smooth as everything about him. An unconventional businessman, but to Alleluia he was like a shark. A hammerhead shark, because of his big head. But Not to be trifled with.
“Sir…” Owen nodded his head in his direction Alleluia ignored Xanatos, preferring Owen. She didn't pay attention to them as she dreamily hummed to herself. Owen sat up straighter, not hunched over so he could reach Alleluia.
“What a romantic display, Owen. I didn’t know you were capable.” Xanatos said with the ghost of amusement in his expression. He leaned up against the sliding door, watching the two. Owen didn't falter at the insinuation, he put down the California roll slice much to Alleluia’s displeasure and paid more attention to Xanatos than her.
“This what was ordered of me by you, sir ,” Owen spoke dry and raised the food up to Alleluia, who was already leaning over the edge of her pool to close her mouth around the food. Beastly, she ripped back, nearly taking one of those ridiculous sticks with her. It would make a good toothpick..
“ How ladylike. ” Xanatos quipped at the sight. He turned his attention to Owen and Owen lowered his serving hand to focus on Xanatos.
“What have you learned so far? Any changes?”
“She sings consistently now, prefers the water rather than walking on land still. She’s been eating a lot of fish bones. In a few more weeks I’m sure she’ll be ready. ” They were talking as if she weren’t in the room, but Alleluia didn't mind they’d been studying her for months now. While Owen was distracted she reached over and plucked a salmon slice up and began eating without his help.
“Excellent.” Xanatos was pleased with that, one part of their deal was on the horizon. One he wished to study. Alleluia ignored them still, not interested in Xanatos’ trivial human curiosity. In a few weeks… she’ll be ready. That’s all that mattered.
“ Siren ,” Xanatos called to her, he stood straight and walked his way over to the edge of the pool, standing tall and proud. Alleluia ignored his beckoning, she took another piece of salmon roll into her mouth. They waited as Alleluia ate her piece, the room silent as she ate, eyes closed and leaning into her arms. She chewed and then swallowed. Alleluia made a show of it before opening her eyes and gazing up at the two humans looking down at her. Both expectantly.
“ Hm? Yes, Mr. Xana-dose .” Alleluia asked coyly, purposely bastardizing his name much to Owen’s distaste, frowning disapprovingly at her. Xanatos ignored her, he closed in on them and reached into his inner suit pocket.
“I am in need of your talents for a different project.” Xanatos held the piece of paper out, and Alleluia swiped it out of his hands and looked at it. She pulled it close and squinted at the human words. They were the lyrics of a song Alleluia had sung before. The Commercial jingle for his company… it was a scheme Xanatos asked of her when they finalized her deal a year ago, “adds a bit of magic, doesn't it.’ he said.
A siren’s song was indeed powerful, upon the first hearing, after. The effect wore off, only if it were continuous and not 10 seconds- Especially if they were recorded, then her power only worked once. Something about magic not working well with the ‘sciences of the modern world’. Alleluia could make them rot if she wanted, have them fight over the mere idea of her. but most of the time Xanatos asked for ‘happiness’, ‘longing’, and ‘envy’ to come with his faux peppy jingles.
“Another commercial jingle? My power is wasted on these, I could have your subjects bring you their gold and riches, bring you power .” Alleluia spoke sweetly, she found that much more interesting and fun. But of course, Xanatos knew better. The power of a siren’s voice could do such a thing, but it didn't end well for the human asking for the power. Still, it would be fun to see humans bringing their riches and dropping them into a pile for her- Xanatos… but Xanatos preferred her to lure them to his stores, rather than taking everything they are worth.
“Why would I bleed them dry now when I can over their lifetimes,” Xanatos asked, high and mighty like a king… At least he was smart, Alleluia turned her nose up at him sick of his presence already. She could sing them, but that would mean she had to go down to Xanatos' ridiculous recording studio to do it… meaning she had to walk on land… without Owen.
“Very well, now leave, Owen is busy with me.” Alleluia shooed him off. She won’t continue talking to him.
“So he is, siren ,” Xanatos spoke smugly, so sure of himself. turned on a heel, Alleluia’s tails slapped the water, irritable flicking back and forth. Her fins twitched and she turned her head away with a huff. What did he know anyway?
“I’ll see you soon Owen. don’t overwork yourself.” Xanatos patted Owen’s shoulder with a hand and walked off, hands in his pockets. Flouncing off to do gods know what…
“Sir.” Owen mechanically answered, giving Xanatos a nod. Alleluia tossed the paper into the water,
“The lyrics-” Owen looked at them as if he was concerned about them. Alleluia scoffed and rolled her eyes.
“-Are up here. I can memorize perfectly, remember. ''Alleluia spoke, she pointed a bright fingertip to her head. She had a wonderful memory, she could remember vividly and without flaw. Owen hummed and did not comment. He was eyeing her, but he wasn’t staring. He was looking through her. Alleluia’s fickle nature reared its head and she tossed away the plastic containers. They clattered and rolled. That was that.
“I am done with this. What else did you bring me?” Alleluia asked her Gatherer, wondering what prizes he brought to her. Owen sighed softly as he stood up, Alleluia watched him push the chair against the wall and he turned to her.
“ Preferably you have to be up here…” he said. Owen put his hands behind his back.
“No. I like the water.” Alleluia sighed. Petulant on purpose, Owen ignored her and went up to the rack, grabbing her robe. He turned expecting her. He wasn’t playing this game anymore tonight. Alleluia figured he had enough and she smiled.
“Very well.” Alleluia raised the rest of her tail up. Swinging her tails over the edge the long twin tails flapped against the bare floors. Sending water droplets everywhere. Alleluia sighed, she held her arm up, a hand reaching out to Owen. she could get up herself. But Owen was right there. Wordlessly, Owen walked over and helped her up. As she took, Her lower form changed, her twin tails receding with the crackling of scales. It was a fast transformation, her form malleable and quick to become the illusion of human legs. A marvel of her species.
“Here, your Robe.” Owen gave her the robe and Alleluia slipped it on. He never stared and he never asked. Alleluia wondered what sorcery he used to never spare a glance or acknowledgment to her as others would. She would happily serenade him, but he never cared or never wanted it. She took a step taking the time to pull her loose long hair out of the robe, she untied her hair. Letting the black hair fall down to her ankles then she wrung out the long strands. Owen stood off to the side, not paying attention to her.
“Well, lead me,” Alleluia spoke, twiddling her fingers at him when he didn't make a move. Owen wordless lead her. They moved into the room beyond the sliding doors. Her human room, or bedroom. The room was carpeted. Soft on her human feet. High ceilings, and the large floor-to-ceiling lights continued on the wall to the left of her. the white lights were long strips around the perimeter of the room. Her bed was up against the wall in front of her, the bed canopy closed with nice white lace curtains. The sheets and the blankets were fancy, softer than anything she’s felt before. She went to it first. She crawled up to the center of the bed and sat down.
“You asked me for this.” Owen reached into the plastic bag, he held out a thin paper book, the paper glossy and bound with metal staples. She recognized the object for what it was. It was more entertainment. She jumped over, pouncing in his direction.
“A magazine!” Alleluia cried out in surprise. Owen hadn’t given her one in a few weeks. This one had a yellow border around the picture of a lion. A lion proudly with its kin near. All looking as proud as the father. She yanked it from Owen’s grip and was on her way to look at it.
She laid down on her stomach, opening the magazine up before her, she put her crossed arms in front of her and looked at the pictures within. There were animals. The magazine was about animals clearly, usually, Alleluia liked the ones that were insipid and shallow that talked about humans of importance. Owen said they were fictitious and not a viable source of human truthfulness. Alleluia liked them for their comments. But the animal ones told her things she never knew about, like polar bears. Or brown bears. Or black bears. Her last Animal Magazine was about bears. Clearly. She flipped through the pages with interest. Squinting at the smaller pictures and leaning close to see them clearly. She looked to her left to ask Owen to look at the pictures but he wasn’t there.
Owen was instead diligently picking up the plastic containers in her pool room. His face with his signature frown. Deeper than it usually was as he cleaned up Alleluia’s mess. He was a good servant… Xanatos agreed after a while that night when they made their agreement. “He is also a good friend.” Alleluia looked down at herself, a friend… not kin that grew sick of you, but a friend. she raised her hand.
“I can do that, Owen,” she said lowly, Owen’s hand stopped and he let the bowl that she spilled go. It didn't make a noise when it hit the tile. He was looking at her. His expression is always unreadable.
“Can you read this to me…” Alleluia asked, holding the magazine out to him. Why did she suddenly have to be afraid to speak? She loved hearing herself talk. It only happened with Owen. the only other human she knew. Or believed she did. Humans were different from SIrens. Siren’s experiences were as vast as a sea. But humans were land-based, experiences unlike her own. Owen stood up, putting the bag back on the floor. He wiped his hands against each other.
“Yes.” he agreed, his voice a tad softer than it usually was. He grabbed the chair against the wall. He lifted it and carried it into the room. He took the magazine Alleluia crossed her human legs. She listened to Owen quietly as he read her facts for the rest of the time he had for her. He always left before the sunset completely. Always.
And Alleluia waited till he came back the next day…
After Owen left, the sun went down, and the smallest flecks of light disappeared behind the horizon and buildings. The home grew dark, the white lights above became brighter and everything soon became washed out without that golden glow to everything. Alleluia could only squint at words for so long on her own before her eyes hurt. Alleluia lifted her head from the magazine
“Owen?” she asked out, there was always a chance he would stay with her? She always hoped that. She looked around, the open door to the kitchen that Owen seemingly just vanished through was empty. Alleluia got up and walked to the threshold of the room. She looked around the living room to the kitchen. The big sliding door that led to the outside world was locked via a keypad that blinked red steadily.
He was gone and she was alone once more. Alleluia slumped, now to wait till the next morning till Owen returned… Alleluia didn't know what Owen did for the rest of the night, did he live out there in the sprawling concrete jungle of ‘Manhattan’ or did he reside here in the tower with Xanatos in his castle? He would show up throughout the day, once in the morning to wake her up, feed her and leave again. Then repeat throughout the day.
Her ‘living room’, as was its human name, was big and spacious. Furnished with couches and end tables. The living room was located on the corner of the Xanatos Building, the same floor-to-ceiling windows lined the walls, cutting at the wall into the kitchen. The floor was all black tile, her reflection staring back at her as she regarded the cold floor with disdain. She stomped her way over to the kitchen, surrounded by marble countertops and black cabinets. She reached the fridge. Owen left food in the fridge, she saw him put things within or take things out to dispose of. Alleluia only went in there to grab her uncooked fish. As she did now.
Alleluia grabbed it out idly, a trout. Not one of the fish would get from the reefs, but it tasted nice in her species' terms. She walked back to her room. She walked past her bed. fish between her teeth as she untied the robe’s belt around her waist. she threw off the robe, tossing it to the side carelessly.
Alleluia stood at the edge of her pool. She peeled the skin away, Her teeth dug in, her jagged sharp front teeth ripped into the side, She spits the tough dorsal fins out into the water, she particularly despised the texture of it. Hated gnawing on them till they finally broke down enough to be digested.
She jumped in, falling forward. arms outstretched. Her skin turned harsh, and her scales poked upwards and settled. It always appeared as if every part of her body was taking a breath before she turned. Her skin was deep in shade, becoming purple. coated in her natural mucus. She dipped inside. Her twin tails grew out, the sharp ribs of her tails flared and she kicked them.
She swam to each end, easily, back and forth. Her tails keep the brunt of her swimming. She was faster than all of her kin, the strongest in her true form. She swam for miles and miles and could if the pool were as big. She continued to move around, careful of the edges, she banged into them when she got too overzealous.
She could measure her area, measure how many times she could swim back and forth, and she threw the fish up above the water. Playing with her food as she tossed it above the waters only to catch it in her claws. Repeat… It didn't entertain her to throw about the corpse of the fish as she thought it would. She quickly grew bored of it. She instead leaned against the side of the pool and began devouring it. The sad dead eyes of the fish glared back at her.
“ Shut up, you’re dead. ” she gritted out to it as she upturned her chin away from the judgemental stare, mouth full of the half-eaten side. She continued to go at the rest of the fish. Ripping the bits that she disliked, and not leaving a scrap of the flesh. She took the bones and snapped them between her fingers.
Alleluia crunched the fish bones, as her forebearer, Mother, once told her to do to gain nutrients for stronger growth . Alleluia wondered where ‘her mother’ was, she left with her sire long before the rest of her siblings had left. Her Mother went north towards the Gulf and she never returned to their waters, her siblings followed her path soon after and never returned. Alleluia stayed behind…
So quiet. She spits the teeth out of the fish, and they clattered across the tiled floor outside the pool. She tossed away the rest of the fish and it knocked against the wall. Hardly recognizable as a trout.
Alleluia chose to sing instead, to fill her emptiness with song and to put her own misery in the air. The acoustics within the room was interesting, echoing but confined with something Xanatos called Soundproofing. Human ingenuity at its finest, he said. Alleluia wanted to laugh in his face, her song could… theoretically reach those outside the door. if she sang loud enough. But he didn't need to know that. That was a part of her escape plan after all.
‘ How can I, beautiful and decadent as i. Be all on my own, far from the sea. So alone’
Alleluia sang, her soft-toned voice echoing in the room as she hummed the rest of it, it was mournful in its tone. Those that could have heard it would be just as stricken with grief as she was… She thought of her gatherer, Owen, and how he was so cool, he reminded Alleluia of her domain in the morning. Calm, soothing, a morning fog over everything that kept her from view. How her alcove of rocks shielded her from the distant foghorns of ships. The water in her ‘pond’ could never match the calming effects her home had.
Alleluia wondered if anyone tried to stake her domain since Xanatos claimed it. if the humans under his thumb excavated their ships finally? The entrapped ships of old. They would make up the roof of her burrow, the boat’s wooden bulk impaled on the sharp jagged rocks around the burrow. the ship’s tattered fabric sails billowing above their heads. Different colored flags of orange and red captured the light overhead and made the water warm colored.
Alleluia stopped humming, her heart wasn't in her voice, and with playing, also grew bored of it. She sank down under the water. Her head dipped under the water, the black strands of hair got in her face before they retracted back and she was in her true form. She sank down to the bottom of her pool. The tiles never capture the view of her home. She curled into a ball, her tails bent in the middle and pressed against her chest. She closed the lids of her now black eyes and would rather imagine home… and Owen.
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