Look into Her Eyes

Down in the reef, one of the Wrens, named Aoide, completed a dead stop when she heard Liriope scream. She hissed as she noticed her host's face was exposed.

"The King won't be happy," one of the other Wren's said to her.

"I'll find her, just get this one inside quickly before anyone else notices your mistake." Aoide swam away as she scanned the colony. The other Wrens continued quickly with the haphazardly wrapped human host. They darted straight into the inner chamber of the Incubation Centre where they would begin the preparations for the transmutation, the details only known to a select few.

Examining the gorge and the caves within, Aoide watched for any signs of movement, anything out of place, but she saw nothing. Only the waves of weeds were visible, the sparkling diamonds and crystals, and the pink coral rock that shot up like miniature towers, reaching for the surface. Some sea-life stirred, but most were resting, waiting for the morning schedule to begin. She tsked, knew there was only one thing to do; a full colony search and scan. She sent out a telepathic message to her familiars who sped to her aid. She commanded the damselfish and the seahorses to search for any others who were awake, and then headed toward to caverns where the scream had originated.

Liriope lay inside her anemone bed. Shaking and shivering, she never thought her first look at a real human would be so horrific, so utterly grotesque. She'd been taught the human hosts wanted a transmutation so they could be born again as merfolk, but they needed to be alive in order for it to work. She wondered why the human looked dead. If their spirit was gone, why bring them back to the colony at all?

She fought back the urge to vomit. She'd seen dead fish before, even a dead humpback whale sank to their depths when she was young, but they had never looked much different; lifeless eyes perhaps, but never like... She pushed the image of the dead human out of her head. Her mind still raced. She didn't notice the small sea horse who swam into her room, looked at her, and then quickly swam away.

Maybe she was wrong about the Wrens. Maybe they were dangerous behind all their mystery. Maybe she should be swimming out of there as fast as she could, but she was frozen, immobile like a giant boulder fell on her chest and stole her breath. I have to leave, she thought over and over again. She knew if she stayed the Wrens would come and take this memory away. For a moment, she thought maybe it wouldn't be a bad thing. She could go back to dreaming about becoming a beautiful and exotic Wren herself. She could help the colonies continue to survive as they had. She could visit the surface with them and see real humans and be happy.

No, no, I can't let them make me forget!

"It was you, wasn't it?" An angelic voice suddenly asked from her doorway.

Liriope gasped. It was Aoide, the King's most beloved Wren.

Liriope's eyes widened and her heart felt like it stopped as the Wren entered her room, looking around at all of Liriope's belongings. She eyed the serpentine sculpture. "That's a beautiful piece. It takes much creativity to get the face so smooth and detailed. You have a gift."

Liriope did not look up at the Wren's face. She was terrified that the moment she did, she'd forget everything. "Thank you," she managed to softly muster.

A large red octopus jetted into her room and wrapped itself delicately around Aoide as it reached a tentacle out to grope Liriope's face. The young mermaid swam back into the corner of her room, out of its reach. Several seahorses followed behind it, then swam off once released by the Wren. They'd found no one else.

"Come now, my child, there is no need to be shy. He's just a pet, and I am not so different from you, Liriope. I know your desires, we all do."

How does she know me? The young mermaid thought.

"We know of all who wish to follow our path to the surface. Is that not what you want Liriope, to see the surface?"

Liriope did look up then. Aoide was more beautiful than Liriope had ever imagined, especially this close. The ageless Wren's sparkling emerald eyes danced with the light of the crystals in the walls. Her skin glowed like a soft pink pastel pearl. Her golden hair flowed fluidly with her every move, though it was her tail that was most exquisite. It shimmered luminescent, a tangle of many colors; silver, green, blue, pink, purple, yellow, black and gold. Her pet seemed harmless too. It squirmed underneath her and wrapped his tentacles around her tail.

"How could you know that about me?" Liriope asked the Wren.

"We know everything," joked the Wren with a smirk.

Liriope didn't think she was really joking, but it was most likely true. Could she read her thoughts?

The Wren laughed and began to softly sing, "Come with me child, we have much to discuss." Her words seemed simple, but the melodic tone induced a calm feeling inside Liriope.

Though she couldn't think of a reason why she shouldn't go with the Wren, Liriope was hesitant. Had something frightened her? What was it? She could not remember. What she did remember was she had always wanted to be a Wren, and always wanted to see the surface.

Aoide began to hum softly as she held out her hand to Liriope, then she sang again. "My name is Aoide, I am your muse, your light, come, come with me, and I'll make sure all your dreams come true."

Now Liriope was under a deep amnesic spell. Though Aoide had no intention of harming the young mermaid, she wanted to get her away from the colony as quickly as possible, before she could spread the tale of what she had seen. No good would come from a rumor of a dead host, and at her age, there was no telling how long Aoide could keep Liriope's memories at bay. The young were always fickle. More drastic measures may be needed.

Liriope slowly reached out and took Aoide's hand. The Wren smiled and led her out of her room and right out of the colony, the red octopus following obediently.

"Don't worry at all, my child," reassured Aoide as she led the unsuspecting young mermaid to the Incubation Centre, "I have big plans for you."