Natasha Luepke - Blood Innocence

Fenris sat on top of an abandoned crate overlooking the Bokkan harbor. In his black leather-bound notebook, he sketched the gulls, waves, and people. The harbor was noisy, as overseers yelled out orders and merchants peddled their wares. The overpowering smell of fish was making Fenris slightly ill; they hadn't eaten much seafood back home. He looked out over the water. Something about the open sea frightened him. The waters seemed to sing to him. Leonida intended to sail away from land? He shuddered.
"Fenris!" He stood up and caught site of her red hair. She stopped in front of him, slightly out of breath.
"Well...I was supposed to find a boat with a female crew, but no luck. There are gonna' be storms for the next few days, so we have to leave today. I got us a little boat. Maybe, though, you should stay behind."
Fenris glanced out at the water, then gulped. "Why?"
"I mean, I'm sure you could find your parents and help them."
"Little Vixen, what is it?"
Leonida sighed. "Sirens."
"What are sirens?"
She crossed her arms and shifted her weight. "That's why I can't get a boat. Sirens look like beautiful women, but have long serpents' tails and great butterfly wings. They drown men for fun, luring them with the gold of their wings and the promises of their song. Human women are immune from them. They never stay in any one place for long, but they've been reported several times in the waters we need to travel."
Fenris looked at his feet. Maybe the water had been singing to him. "Surely there's a way to defeat them."
Leonida nodded. "Fire. That's the only way."
Fenris nodded. "Show me to the boat."

It was a tiny thing, barely enough room for the two of them and their belongings. A dragon carving adorned the bow. Oars were stored on the bottom, beneath the low planks that served as seats. Leonida hung a lighted lantern from the dragon's mouth.
"Ever rowed before?" she asked.
"I don't think so," Fenris replied distractedly, trying to get his balance.
Leonida didn't say anything. She took up both oars and pushed off from shore.

They took turns rowing. Storm clouds loomed behind them and the current of the water pushed them along. Leonida had no idea how long it would take to reach the island in the east, but her arms already ached. Land had long since disappeared, but no sirens had made themselves known. Leonida poked Fenris, who'd been dozing.
"Hmm?" he murmured, trying to open his eyes.
"Look, it's almost dark out. Now is when it's most dangerous."
Fenris nodded, still groggy. He snapped awake at the sound of the water's surface being broken. He felt dread in the pit of his stomach, as he realized only a thin layer of wood kept him from the bottom of the sea.
"Did you hear that?" he asked Leonida.
"Yeah. It was probably a dolphin come up to take a breath."
"Dolphin?"
Leonida peaked around Fenris to see if the lantern was still lit.
"Dolphins are these big fish that breath air like us. Mermaids are part dolphin, actually."
The boat gently rocked in the waves, then was pushed violently to the right.
Fenris gasped and grasped the sides of the boat; Leonida used the oars to steady them.
"It'll be okay," she said through gritted teeth. They were both distracted by the sound of another voice. To Leonida, it sounded like a lost sailor calling for help; to Fenris, it was a lovely voice describing the riches of the sea.
Fenris's eyes were becoming glazed. Leonida snapped her fingers. "Fenris! 'Ris! Don't you hear someone calling for help?"
He shook his head. The boat rocked violently again, as a hand appeared over the side. The movement caused the flame in the lantern to sputter and die out.
Leonida swore. "I got it," Fenris muttered, producing a spark of fire in his palm, one of his few handy magical tricks as far as Leonida was concerned. Fire and healing were all that he did well.
The lantern relit, the two discovered a young girl clinging to the side of their boat. Her long hair floated in the water behind her and the flickering light illuminated the harsh planes of her face. Water dripped from the end of her pointed nose and her eyes shone black.
"Who are you?" Leonida asked, trying to keep the boat afloat.
"You have to help me! My boat capsized-the sirens did it! And now I'm lost!"
"Vixen, I'm sure we can help her," Fenris said.
Leonida thought for a moment. "Can you row?"
The girl nodded.
Bracing their weight carefully, Leonida and Fenris were able to pull her aboard. Leonida was relieved to see the girl was, indeed, human.
"Leonida, Fenris. What's your name?" Leonida asked as they settled into the cramped space.
"Oh! Ran."
Fenris was concentrating on improving the light in the lantern, so he didn't see Leonida raise an eyebrow. "Ran? Strange name for a sailor."
Ran shrugged. "Where you two headed?"
"Island in the east. Where do you come from?"
"Oh...Fish Town."
"Fish Town?"
Ran nodded. "West of here. Maybe we should go there first."
"No...I have an island to find."

They sailed on for two more days. Ran tried to persuade Leonida to turn back. Leonida kept an eye out for sirens. Fenris got seasick.
It was at the first hint of red waters that Ran pushed Leonida overboard.
Fenris had been resting while Ran manned the oars. Leonida leaned over the edge of the boat, inspecting the color of the waves. Just as Virginia had said - soon, they would reach the island colored like the dawn sky, and the sword. Ran, possessing more strength than her bony body revealed, dropped one oar into the water and hefted the other up, bringing it down on Leonida's back, pushing her overboard.
Fenris's eyes flew open. The boat spun as he reached for Ran. She shrieked, "I warned you to turn back!" and disappeared into a red mist.
Leonida, meanwhile, was trying to fight her panic below the surface. She opened her eyes, light coming to her in a kaleidoscope of greens and blues and reds. Her back ached as she fought her way back up. Her boots held her down and the long skirt twisted between her ankles. She struggled at her hem and managed to kick off her boots. She broke the surface, a soggy mess, coughing and sputtering. Fenris leaned over and pulled her to the edge of the boat, where she tried to catch her breath.
"Vixen! What happened? That girl-she's gone!"
Leonida coughed, trying to tread water in her heavy skirts. "She knocked me over with an oar." Leonida winced. "My back..."
After she'd calmed down, Fenris pulled her back into the boat. Leonida found her knife, strapped to her side, and immediately began carving up her dress. She kept up her hacking with the little knife until the pain in her back became too much. She let Fenris tend to it. Afterwards, the two fell asleep, letting the water carry them.

...Leonida was startled by a loud Honk! that sounded like a flock of sick geese. She and Fenris were in the back seat of an enclosed horseless carriage. It was dark outside the windows, but the sky was illuminated by thousands...perhaps millions of bright lights, in white and yellow and red and green. They blotted out the stars, which made Leonida nervous. Fenris continued to snooze. Leonida noticed other horseless carriages, of various sizes, on all sides of her. She had to admit it: the ride was very smooth.
She leaned forward. "Virginia, are we in your world?" Leonida looked up, spotting a decorated fir tree. Midwinter already?
Virginia didn't turn around. "Yes. You're taking too long, so I'm just...helping."
Leonida leaned back, sighing as she saw the ripped fabric over her knees. "Will this be long?"
"Enough time for you to fix your dress."
Surprised that she could find her knife in the dream world, Leonida went back to work. "Virginia, is it really Midwinter?"
"Yes. Should I even bother telling you that the waters you were sailing are enchanted?"
Leonida settled back. The seats were quite comfortable. "I see your point."...

When Leonida woke up for real, the boat was beached on a small island colored like sunrise. A cave yawned before them.
"Fenris! Wake up! We finally did it." Leonida let out a breath.
Fenris looked around, dazed. "What? How--?"
Leonida was too busy pulling herself over the side of the boat to answer. The stones of the island jabbed her feet, but her new shortened dress was easier to move in. Fenris followed a few steps behind, both of their belongings in tow.
The cave was bright, lit from within. Leonida shook her head, used to the dark and drippy variety. She ventured slowly into the room, unsure as to kind of guard a magical sword might have. There was nothing in the cave, save bright rocks.
Tripping over another stone, Leonida nearly fell into a small side room. The sword, a string of pearls wrapped around it, hovered in the middle. Two young women stood on either side of it. The girl facing Leonida was green-skinned with darker green hair.
"I am Morja," she was explaining to the second girl, whose back was to Leonida. "I am the guardian of Brisingamen. If you are worthy of the sword, you must first remove the pearls. If you are unworthy, you shall die a horrible death."
Leonida raised her eyebrows. Horrible death? And why was there another girl here?
The second girl flipped her dark hair over her shoulder. "I am worthy." She began to pull away the pearls covering the sword. Leonida stood transfixed, Fenris behind her. The pearls finally removed, the girl grasped the handle-and disappeared in a burst of light, leaving behind only the echo of an agonizing scream. The sword, meanwhile, grew new pearls and realigned itself.
Leonida swallowed hard. "Sure you want to go through with this?" Fenris whispered.
Leonida stepped forward. "Virginia wouldn't send me here without a reason."
"I am Morja," the guardian began.
"I got that," Leonida said.
Morja raised an elegant forest-green eyebrow. Leonida set to work, gasping at first contact: the pearls burned! Leonida needed to know, though, what this sword would bring into her future, so she kept on. Sweat dripped into her eyes and down her back. Her fingers became sore and blistered as she pried the baubles away delicately, so as not to hurt the sword. Her cracked fingernails were of no help. Finally, after hours of meticulous work, the sword was free. Leonida took the handle into her hand. No burst of light, no pain-the sword felt right, the perfect weight.
The blade shone in the light of the cave. Inscribed on the blade were symbols used by sailors for protection. The hilt was of gold, worked with fish and dolphins and other creatures of the deep.
Morja came forward and clapped Leonida on the back. "Congratulations. This sword is quite powerful. Should anyone try to wield it but you, they will be destroyed. Strike true with Brisingamen, and you will be able to defeat your enemies. When the sword's service is over, it will destroy itself."
"Service is over?"
Morja smiled. She ran a hand down the blade. "This sword will bring a people in strife together." Then the guardian disappeared, in a cloud of green smoke and leaves.
Fenris and Leonida looked at one another. "'Bring a people in strife together'? What does that mean?" Leonida asked.
Fenris shook his head. "Well, how are you going to carry that?"
Leonida sighed. "Well, I think I have some strips of cloth..." She dug around in her pocket, looking for the remains of her skirt. She found several large pieces and began wrapping the blade.
Task completed, they wandered out of the cave, though Leonida was sure she heard laughter echoing off the red-tinged walls. They reached the entrance and both travelers steeled themselves for more days at sea.