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4- Surface

We are sirens from the celestial realm - says Yryhnna, calming my fears, as if she could hear

my fears in her mind - We are of pure blood, and our marine guards are already in the sea

waiting for our signal to either finish you off or erase your memory, for no one can know

about our species.

  • I hate to disappoint you, but that won't be possible, no one here will forget what happened.

This is the second werewolf attack on this coast this year.

  • Werewolves flee from the sea, we both know they are forbidden from reaching where the

moonlight touches the ocean because they lose their power - explains the man named Edgar -

So there is something that is making them risk attacking on the coast.

  • And we believe it has to do with the sirens - says the guy who was at the bar with fiery eyes

locked on me. I feel as fragile as a piece of glass about to break in his gaze, when he says the

word "siren" I feel that he takes over me, my secrets and my life.

  • Who are you guys? - Seila asks in a seductive tone, staring at her savior.

  • My name is Matias, and I will never forget you.

  • Darling, I am eternally grateful to you. You have saved a siren's life - says Seila, caressing his

long and blonde hair and staring at his face, with her chin slightly tilted up as Matias is much

taller. - But now I must go to the sea, and you will never forget me, but you will not remember

who I am. - Seila begins to sing. Immediately, I cover my ears just like Yrynna - None of you will

remember who we are - Seila continues singing.

Surface. Weeks had passed since the attack of the werewolves, the mermaid guard, alarmed

by the frequent attacks near the sea, had prohibited the sirens from interacting with humans

until further notice. They could only surface if they stayed close enough to the ocean and

always had to inform the mermaid guard to be aware of their return to the sea.

There was no curfew for the moment, as the reason for the attacks was still being

investigated, whether they had been planned by the syrens or if the werewolves had a plan to

access the kingdom of the sea.

After the accident on the beach, people were closing their establishments early. The police's

official version was that a gang of killers had arrived in the city and attacked the party, with

the only survivors being three boys who vaguely remembered what had happened. Due to the

trauma they had witnessed, they couldn't provide more details to the authorities. Upon

hearing the news, we confirmed that Seila's spell had worked and the werewolf hunters barely

remembered how they had survived the attack; obviously, being hunters themselves, they

would draw their own conclusions about what had happened. I hoped they wouldn't associate

the attack with the mermaid world and leave us in peace. I hadn't heard from those men

again, and a part of me, conflicted and disappointed, wished to see that human man with

whom I had talked before the attack one last time.

Seila continued to apply makeup, now that she had been rescued by a human, she boasted to

her friends about her new hero and how he had been enchanted by her voice, crying and

begging not to be forgotten.

Yryhnna and I laughed every time she told the story, she always contradicted herself and

added qualities to the human named Mathias that Yryhna and I didn't remember.

In the morning, I prepared breakfast, packed my books in my pearl bag, and put on a turquoise

blue floral dress, then swam to the surface. There were guards ascending to the surface now,

registering every mermaid or sea creature leaving the kingdom. I had to arrive before dusk, or

they would send coastal guards to find me. And my father would start worrying.

When I got to the surface, I didn't have to worry about dressing because I was already wearing

the dress, I put on some shoes from my bag and my wet hair waved in the wind. I felt the sun's

rays warming my legs and back. I headed to the beach, that morning full of human visitors

who were bathing peacefully in the water, ignoring our existence. I headed towards the center

of New Orleans, near the coast was a bookstore I used to frequent. Upon arrival, the

receptionist greeted me with a smile.

Beautiful Mia, so nice to see you here - greeted me a girl with black eyes and curly hair falling

on both sides of her cheeks - Hi Tatiana, glad to see you. I left my identification card on the

table and she brought me the books by Hakumi Murakami that I had been reading for weeks.

  • It's lucky that you prefer physical books - Tatiana said - with the advancement of artificial

intelligence, I wouldn't be surprised if in a couple of years everyone forgets the pleasure that

reading an old book brings.

  • Couldn't agree more - I said with a smile. Tatiana looked at me puzzled, captivated, she was

used to men and women looking at me that way. I took my books and walked holding them

with both arms and resting them on my chest. I sat at one of the tables in front of a huge

bookshelf and looked for the page where I had left off my reading.

Shortly before dusk, I started feeling Yryhnna's unsettling thoughts.

"Come back soon, dad will be worried, you know he doesn't like you being there."

I tried to continue reading but it was impossible, I sighed and rolled my eyes. I closed the book

on page 253, and delicately took it to return it. Tatiana was engrossed in her cellphone and

music was playing from the player. I heard a song I recognized, the band playing was "My

Chemical Romance", the song was I don't love you, a classic.

Tatiana looked up and our eyes met, she held her breath briefly and took the books handing

me my identification card.

  • Hey Tatiana, I was wondering about artificial intelligence.

  • Do you want some applications for reading online with audiobooks?

No, actually I was wondering if you know of any place or company in the city that works with

robots - I inquired with my eyes fixed on her, her face was beautiful and natural, but I

suspected she was unaware of her beauty, as was the case with most human women. I

shrugged seeing a hint of resentment in her gaze, at that moment she was also observing my

face.

  • Mia, the city is full of artificial intelligence, I think I will lose my job next month, as the

owners want to install a new voice system to speed up the search for books.

  • I see - I said remorsefully - So, do you have any ideas?

  • Maybe at Mykon Companies, where they develop robot software, there is a wealth of

artificial intelligence there.

  • Yes, I'm sure - I inquired with a somewhat disappointed smile. Tatiana seemed to read my

mind when she added

  • Do you want me to look up the address on the gps? That way you just have to take a taxi to

that address.

  • Oh, that would be great - I affirmed smiling. I took my cell phone out of my bag, an iPhone

latest model, and handed it to Tatiana. She knew I wasn't very familiar with technology,

although she was unaware that it was because I was a mythological creature and my species

had been undergoing years of transformation and development deep in the ocean. Tatiana

liked to help and it pleased her to be good at something that I wasn't, that somehow made her

feel somewhat advantaged over my mermaid beauty.

  • Here you go - She handed me the cell phone

  • Thank you Tatiana

  • Come back soon, lovely.

I left the library and looked at the sun, it was beginning to descend towards the horizon, it was

time to go home. Tomorrow morning I would go to the Artificial Intelligence development

company, I didn't quite understand why, but I had to see that boy again. The way he looked at

me that night, and the passion I felt imagining him making love to a woman, made me desire

to have him for myself. I wanted him for myself, I knew perfectly well the danger that mingling

with human men represented for the sirens, as they easily brought out our animal instincts,

but I couldn't help it, I wanted to see him again.

The sun set completely as I arrived at the beach. I hurried to swim to the reef and dove into

the sea from a pier bordering the beach, instantly diving towards the depths and swimming

towards the guards who allowed me access. I swam back to the house and Seila was lying on

the bed in my room.

  • Where have you been?

  • I was at the Spa, and went out to buy some gemstone bras - I lied to her

Your face has the brightness of the sun's rays, and you don't smell of effusions or fresh mint,

like your hair usually smells when you return from the Spa. Mia, tell me the truth - Her eyes

scan me, she turns over lying face down on my bed. She wears a beautiful turquoise eyeliner

that enhances her gaze.

Okay - I sigh - I was at the bookstore with the humans. Her eyes narrow and she tightens her

lips, ready to hear her sister argue. But she looks at her without expression for a moment.

I want to go with you - She tells me. I look at her confused, I don't understand what she

means.

Do you want to go up to the surface to accompany me? It's not necessary, the guards do a

great job and I always return at dusk.

No, I mean I want to go to the city with you, as a human.

I want to see Mathias again.

The next morning I woke up very early and Seila was in the kitchen preparing breakfast.

Good morning sleepyhead - She says joyfully and lets out a little giggle. I smile sweetly at her.

She places a salad with jam on the table.

Good morning, what time did you wake up? - I ask in surprise.

I could hardly sleep all night, I'm very nervous. - I look at her with compassion. I know what

she means, I have been dreaming every night about humans for weeks.

We went up to the surface, Seila looked especially beautiful that morning, her loose and

brown hair giving off an intense and magnetic aroma like vanilla. That morning the guards

were surprised to see my sister and allowed us access.

It didn't take us long to reach the company marked in my GPS. Seila excited to use her human

money, as it was unusual for her to need to use it, paid for a taxi that dropped us off in front of

the artificial intelligence company. As soon as we got out of the taxi, I knew that was the place,

I could feel messages from the spiritual realm assuring me that I would find a great adventure

that I needed to live there. We entered the ground floor inside the company. Seila entranced

the receptionist to give her all the information she needed.

I wonder if you could tell me the office number of Mr. Mathias...

There they are – I whispered, both of us looked up and found ourselves face to face with two

incredibly handsome men staring at us.

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