Romance with the Cursed Siren

CHAPTER 17. Awful Guests

It was almost late in the afternoon when they arrived at the Caro island while their siren daughter had already jumped into the water to stretch her numb body because of being stuck in the bathtub for hours. But just when they arrived at their cabin, a group of three men and two women gathered around the wooden table outside their house and welcomed them.

“Who are you!?” Christian hastily moves to hide his wife behind him.

“Don’t be scared. We are just a group of travelers that accidentally found this charming island. So, I believe this house is yours, correct?” a nasty man with a big belly inquired.

“Yes, that’s right. And I own this island so you don’t have the right to stay here.” Christian firmly responded showing that he was tough in front of them.

“Oh, don’t worry, my friend. We mean no harm, we only need somewhere to rest for the night and luckily we discover this island and your house. So, I guess it’s best, besides, don’t worry about the food because we have caught meaty fishes in the sea earlier.” he declares, showing the basin full of waggling bodies of the water creatures. Aya’s breath hitched and clutched her husband’s shirt on the back, feeling pity for the helpless fishes.

“Or, if you want we can trade it to your poultry here, besides I‘m already sick of eating stinky fishes whenever we are on the journey, you know.” He said, dropping the basin back on the ground.

“By the way, my name is Roco, and these are my comrades. I’m certain that my stay here would be nice as a five-star hotel,” he commented with a vicious smirk.

Christian only ignored and just walked past the man, heading to their house. But just before he stepped closer, he noticed the door was already open. They are still standing on the porch when suddenly the tall lady with black hair and a piercing on the corner of her eyebrow speaks.

“Oh! and by the way, we have checked inside your house because we thought there is no one living here. I’m sorry about that, I hope you don’t mind.” She casually informed them while the couple only sighed in annoyance but didn’t show it to them to avoid any trouble, even though she is wearing Crystal’s dress that makes Aya frown in disgust.

It shocked them when they finally stepped inside the house and revealed all of their scattered things around, including the fruits they had harvested before they left.

"How can we get rid of them?" Aya anxiously whispers to her husband while Christian notices her trembling hands. He grabbed and squeezed them, trying to soothe her feelings.

"Hey, calm down. I'll do everything to make them go away, I promise." He swore and kissed her on the forehead.

The guests continue strolling around their premises like they owned the place while Aya and Christian start cleaning up their mess. Until it's time for their daughter's transformation.

Aya hurriedly went to the shore while her husband made sure that she was not being pursued by anyone from the group. She arrived at the spot where Crystal is supposed to have her switch and luckily she quickly had a glimpse of her.

“Crystal!” She called for her, but the siren couldn't hear her and dive again.

“Where is she?” Christian followed, looking around.

“In the water, what should we do? They can’t see our daughter in this condition!” Aya is feeling frightened for her daughter’s safety. Her husband quickly gets into the water to follow Crystal to warn her not to go back to their house yet.

Christian dived in, and it didn’t take long for him to see his daughter swaying gracefully under the water. He followed her and when their eyes met, he gestured her to swim closer to him while he swam up to the surface to fill his lungs again before he dived down and signaled her to swim to the direction he pointed and not to rise from the water yet. Until they have arrived at where their yacht is being docked.

“What is happening?” Crystal was confused, looking at his father with furrowed eyebrows.

“There are a group of men and women in our house, you can’t go back yet.”

“What? Who are they?” she asked again, horrified.

“I don’t know, sweetheart. But you have to hide in here for the meantime. You understand?” and Crystal nodded in response.

“I need to go back to your mother after you turn. You have clothes inside and food, take care of yourself. Okay?” she nodded again.

Just a few minutes later, Crystal’s tail split into feet. Christian quickly moves to get her a dry towel and puts it over her shoulders. He helps Crystal to get inside the interior and leaves her on the couch to fish out something on the hidden storage on their kitchen floor. 

“Sweetheart, listen to me carefully. Don’t you ever open any lights, just let the curtains up so the brightness from the moon could pierce through the window, okay? And take this.” he handed her a gun and hid the other on his waistband, making sure it wasn't obvious.

“But dad, I don’t know how to use this.” Crystal refused to touch the cold steel with her trembling hands.

“Just aim it and pull the trigger,” he explained, and grab her hand to make her hold it.

“Crystal, be brave, you have to protect yourself. Okay?” He urges, looking straight into her eyes.

“Yes, dad.” 

“We can’t stay with you, because we don’t want them to follow us to where you are. So you’re on your own,” he explained.

“I love you, sweetheart. Be safe.” He said and kissed his daughter on the forehead before he left the yacht to go back to where his wife is still waiting.

Christian became even more restless when he didn't see his wife at the seashore where he left her. He raced back to their cabin like a madman just to make sure that Aya is there and fine. He released a deep sigh of tension after seeing Aya serving their guests with glasses of water.

"Aya!" He was breathing heavily.

"What happened to you, man!?" Another nasty man approached him but he was busy catching his breath rather than answering him. Aya handed him a glass of water as well, which he finished in one gulp.

“They saw me at the seashore earlier.” Aya shortly explained in a whispering voice.

"You don't have to be paranoid, mister. Because we are sailing away first thing in the morning tomorrow." Roco walked closer to him while holding the cooked fish that was stuck on a thin branch. Aya diverts her eyes in a different direction to avoid seeing the poor fish.

"We only thought that you had abandoned the island, that's why we stayed and intruded your premises." He explained, but never apologized for it.

"It's okay, just make sure that you'll leave as soon as possible.” Christian answered and pulled his wife.

The evening was not peaceful like they usually have. The couple stayed in the room while their guests comfortably let themselves dispersed in the living area. Christian stayed alert as he didn't let himself surrender into slumber and guard his wife. He is also worried about his daughter but strongly believes that they can definitely survive the awful night.

The next morning, before the sun has fully risen. He slowly moved and carefully wrapped his wife's body securely with the thick blanket before he sneaked out from the house, going to the yacht to check on his daughter. But before he could, a man came rushing while panting.

"Roco! Roco! There's a monster! A woman with a fishtail! Her feet turned into a fishtail!" He cried as he hurriedly went to his boss, who was lying on the couch.

"Christian, what's happening?" Aya woke up with the noise and got out of the room.

But her husband was worried about his daughter, clenching his fist after hearing the man's announcement. He quickly ran out of the house to see his daughter while Roco and his comrades immediately moved to follow him while the women stayed with Aya.

“So, you’re keeping a monster, huh?” the lady wearing Crystal’s dress utter.

“My daughter is not a monster!” Aya hissed while her eyes started to well up.

“Ooh! Sounds interesting.”

Christian ran as fast as he could until he reached the shore. He immediately jumped into the water to find his daughter.

"Crystal!" He called her as loud as he could, but the siren seemed not to hear his calls. He dives again and searches underwater, then rises again every time he needs air.

"Crystal!" Until the siren showed up and swam closer to him, sobbing.

"Dad, I'm sorry someone saw me when I turned." Crystal was whimpering as she apologized to her father for not being careful.

"It's okay, it's not your fault, sweetheart. Now go away, go back to Creekwood and find Gabriel.” Christian hurriedly told his daughter, cupping her face.

“No! I can’t leave you guys here.” 

“Don’t be stubborn and listen to me! You need to get away from here. It is not safe here anymore.”

“Now, go!” he whispered in a deep voice, pushing her away.

“Promise me, you’ll be safe and follow me, okay?” Crystal begged as she couldn't stop shedding pearls, but instead of swearing to his daughter, Christian showed her a forced smile.

“I love you, sweetheart. May the good Spirits guide you in your journey. I love you so much, Crystal. Never forget that” He lovingly said then gave his daughter a deep kiss on the forehead before turning back to his wife.

“I love you too, daddy. I love you, mommy.” Crystal mumbled while watching her father getting far from her.

“There they are!” Roco shouted and aimed for Crystal, but her father defended her as he also shot in the men’s direction.

“Crystal, go!” Again her father cried and with a heavy heart Crystal turned and swam away from the Caro island, leaving her family behind.