Chapter 1 (Only 3rd Person POV Chapter)
It was common to see children running freely on the streets of Cavida during the day. The city was always bustling with people coming and going, street vendors shouting their wares for the day, the occasional fortune teller staring into her crystal ball and telling some poor lost soul that their broken heart would be mended, or their lost loved one would soon return.
The salty scent of the ocean could be smelled from every corner of the city. As a port city, this places was constantly filled with expensive wares and all sorts of exotic people. But as the capital city of the kingdom of Cari, that made this city all the rowdier. It wasn't uncommon to see a scuffle every day, or hear the words "Thief!" being shouted after some street urchin who stole some scraps from the food vendors. Nobility was often seen on horses, riding along the main street headed towards the palace. Commoners and sailors would often talk and laugh, while the children would run down the streets playing ball.
But to every bright side of Cari, there was a matching dark side. While the nobles and commoners were often seen on the same street, the way they acted and were treated were vastly different. When it came to the nobles, many offered their wares at lower or sale price, just to stay on their good side. But in order to counter this loss in sales, they charged many of the commoners and sailors double the price of the wares.
The hierarchy of Cavida was extreme. Those who were rich and had power and influence could easily change the lives of many. If you so much as looked at a noble wrong, they could have you thrown in prison, or sell your entire assets without you having a say in the matter. It wasn't uncommon to see stores being closed down simply because the ran out of a certain product that was requested. But for those who were orphans and peasants, it was even worse.
No one cared about the people living on the side of the road, doing whatever they could just to feed their children or themselves. No one noticed the skinny children slipping between the nobles, snatching a moldy apple just to have something to eat. The only time they were noticed, was when someone needed a scapegoat.
Among this group of people was a girl named Serenida. She was no older than 18 years of age, with eyes as blue as the ocean. Her hair was matted and muddy, unkempt from years of sleeping on the streets. She was often unnoticed, simply slipping between people and pick-pocketing whomever she could get close to. She never stole much, just enough to buy some scraps of food for herself and any of the other children she could help.
It was on a normal day, when her life was drastically turned on its axis, dragging her into a whole new world she had no clue how to survive in, with only herself to rely on.
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The morning of her 18 birthday, Serenida woke to the sound of her best friend calling her name. Slowly opening her eyes, she pushed off the tattered old blanket she used to cover herself during the night, only to be surprised by Seth, her friend, standing at her door with a smile on his face.
Seth was 3 years older than her, and often was her only companion, and the only one who knew her secret. Having helped her all of these years, she trusted him more than anyone she had ever known.
"Ser! I don't have long, as old Man brown has me running errands for 3 copper! But I did manage to smuggle you a fresh loaf from Madam Al's Bakery!" Serenida smiled at his energy, watching as he sat down next to her and split the loaf. Taking a bite of his half, he started chowing down, while Serenida held the warm bread in her hands before taking a small bite.
"Seth, I'm going to go for a swim tonight." She said suddenly. Seth choked, looking over at her in shock. "B-but why? You could be seen! Or worse, captured! I am strongly against it!" He shouted at her, shaking his head.
"Shhh! Keep it down! You don't want to wake up the old man next door do you? You remember the lashing he gave us last time." Huffing, Seth went quiet, but sighed and looked at her. "Fine. I know you won't listen to me, so how about this. There's supposed to be only one boat coming in to port tonight, so I recommend using the last dock at the port. You know, the one people say is cursed because pirates use it?"
Nodding her head, Serenida nodded and took another bite of her bread, more excited than ever for night to fall. Seth finished his bread and stood up, kissing her forehead. Serenida blushed, and smiled at the brotherly affection. "I'll see you tomorrow Ser. I have to get going now."
Pushing aside the flax tarp that she used as a door, he waved one last time then ran out, running past the abandoned buildings and back into the bustling city streets.
Looking around, Serenida wondered if her life would ever change. Living in an old abandoned donkey shack, that had partially collapsed due to being unable to withstand the occasional hurricanes that came through the city. It was leaning against another house, that used to have been a townhouse, providing enough shelter to house her from most of the elements.
Shaking her head of her thoughts, she got up and starting grabbing her things, taking her small basket she had weaved herself and grabbing a small bit of the soap she had stolen from a passing merchant.
Leaving her house, she paused as the wind pushed her hair in her face, the smell of the salt tickling her nose and bringing a smile on her face. Hefting her basket again, she continued down to the orphanage she worked at, smiling as she saw the kids she took care of playing. Instead of making her presence known like normal, she continued past, going down to the beach just past the orphanage.
Standing on the sand, she looked around and made sure no one was looking, before taking off the shoes she had put on and stepping into the water. Feeling the water on her skin always made her feel better, especially on days like today. Lifting the skirt of her patched dress, she smiled at the way her skin shimmered in the ocean water, the clear white of the sand making everything feel magical. But most of all, she felt at home.
After all, a siren belongs in the water.
