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The compulsion was getting stronger, dangerously so. Eridan found herself watching cars driving past her house, humming under her breath. She needed to sing, it couldn't be ignored. It didn't matter what Fef said, if she didn't find an outlet for her voice, she was going to lose it, and then someone would really get hurt. Just like the old days.
Besides. Eridan knew how to control her voice. She'd honed that skill to perfection, back when she'd been the one assigned to feed Scylla and Charybdis. She knew what she was doing, better than Fef did anyway.
And it wasn't like Fef was even here right now. She was off at some stupid Halloween party with her human friends. Leaving Eridan behind again.
They were the only ones left of their old flock, and Eridan was tired of being alone, of being told she was too dangerous to be around humans. So with the house to herself for the night yet again, she pulled a chair over to the window. Every night for the last year, once the sun went down and the street emptied, she walked by. The girl with the tattered jeans and the mismatched shoes.
Eridan wanted to learn her name. She wanted to kiss her, to have her as a companion to help keep the horrible loneliness at bay.
There were more people out than usual tonight, for the holiday, and Eridan wondered if she would walk by later than normal, or if she would miss her in the crowds. She wanted her to come by later, alone.
While she waited, she looked at the costumes the humans wore, and passed out candy to whoever ventured to their door. She got plenty of compliments on her own ‘costume’. This year, she'd gone with a classic.
Angel.
It was easy enough to pull off, despite her wings being a vibrant violet gradient. Most humans expected white wings for an angel, or black to signify an evil angel. But she'd found that if she adorned the feathers with golden chains, diamonds, and amethysts, they would gush over how pretty the wings were, what a perfect angel she looked like. The fools even believed her violet eyes were contacts, to match the wings.
It was the one night a year she didn't need to use her magic to hide, so she'd gone all out, with an eye catching gown, heels, makeup and hair, and of course the little plastic halo.
All night long, she passed out candy to everyone who asked, judging the adults’ costumes, gathering praise for her own, and keeping an eye out for her. Eventually, people stopped coming by, the crowds vanished, and the street, strewn with candy wrappers and dying glow sticks, was empty. She could hardly sit still from the anticipation.
She paced from the window to the door and back again, humming under her breath. It felt like forever before Eridan finally spotted her walking down the street. Checking one more time that the door was unlocked and the street was empty, she cracked the window open and began to sing.
The melody was harsh, sad and full of anger and loneliness, right from Eridan's heart. Her eyes were locked on the girl, so she spotted the moment the song pierced her soul.
She stopped dead in her tracks, straightening up and taking an earbud out.
Eridan kept singing, willing her to come to her, promising her deepest desires. It was a sense she had, part of being a siren. She could look at humans and tell what they wanted most, of course.
The other earbud came out and both were stashed in a little plastic case. The girl seemed to look around dreamily, and then began walking to the front door.
Eridan moved away from the window, standing a few feet from the door with her wings spread.
The song continued and the door opened slowly. The girl peered around the room, looking dazed and immediately smitten when her eyes landed on Eridan. “Who are you? What are you?”
With a little more influence poured into the song, the girl shut the door and wandered closer. Eridan's heart was pounding, a thrill filling her. When was the last time she'd met someone? Centuries, at least. Time was hard to track when she wasn't allowed to leave. The song faded, leaving them standing in silence, looking at each other.
The girl didn't leave, even when Eridan approached her. She wondered what she looked like to this human, with her wings, her sharp teeth, her violet eyes. Did she look like a monster?
“What was that?”
“I mean it. Everythin you could ever want. If you just stay with me.” Eridan's words were rushed, pleading. “What's your name?”
“Sollux. What's yours?” The effect of the influence was wearing off, and Sollux glanced at the door and then back at Eridan.
“I’m Eridan. Sollux, that's a pretty name.”
“...Nice costume. What's happening? What was that?” She was edging toward the door, but her eyes lingered on Eridan.
“Magic. But I’m not going to hurt you. I’ve been dyin to meet you.”
Sollux stopped moving, staring at her incredulously. “Magic,” she repeated. “Right. I’m sure.”
Did humans not believe in magic anymore? So much had changed. “It's true. I know the things you want most in the world. Companionship. Love.” There was a suspicious look in Sollux's eyes still, behind her glasses, so Eridan folded her wings. “I want the same things too. We're the same.”
She shook her head a little, the shock back on her face. “How did you- your wings. Are they electronic? Can I see?”
Eridan spread her wings slowly, wondering why that had been what Sollux had focused on rather than her confession. “No, they're real. They're mine. You can touch them if you want.”
Sollux's hand stretched out, brushing gently against Eridan's feathers. The wing fluttered softly under the touch, and Eridan closed her eyes. It had been a long time since anyone else had touched her feathers, and Eridan missed the group preening the flock had practiced.
One violet feather fell out, drifting painlessly to the floor.
“It's so soft… You're not using magic on me again are you?” The voice was soft, halfway between teasing and accusatory, but she was more confidently petting Eridan's wing now.
“No! Sheesh, don't you know anythin? I have to sing to use my magic.” Eridan opened her eyes, rolling them at Sollux. “I’m not singin, am I? Are humans this stupid now?”
“Stupid?” Sollux scoffed, but she was focused on the way Eridan's wing was moving, seemingly in disbelief. “These really are real..?”
Deciding to just show her rather than answer, Eridan flexed both wings forward, around herself and Sollux. Sollux swallowed and looked at Eridan, their bodies almost touching. “Promise you'll come back,” she demanded, trying to put as much longing and intensity into it as she could. “I won't use my magic on you again if you promise.”
There was conflict on Sollux's face, and Eridan's heart sank. She needed this, she needed Sollux. “What's in it for me?” was the reply that finally came.
“Everythin you want. I can be all a that, an I want it too. I’ll be your girlfriend, we can be together an happy.”
“Girlfriend? That's a little fast, don't you think?” Sollux pushed against Eridan's wings gently, until she moved them for the human. When she'd taken a step away, she crouched, picking up one of the dropped feathers. She brushed it against her fingers. It looked like she was thinking.
“I’ve seen into your heart. I know what I want.”
Sollux looked over at her, a playful challenge in her eyes. “And you said you know what I want too. But maybe I need to know it. I need to think about it.”
Eridan watched helplessly as Sollux left, shutting the door behind her. The feather was still clutched between her fingers, and she tapped the melody of Eridan's song against it on her way out.