Soft music flowed through the trees. The hauntingly beautiful sound of a woman singing.
The woman, one of the humans from town, took her courage in hand and followed the voice.
It led her to a beautiful glade. It was small and private, surrounded by trees and rocks. A pool of crystal water glimmered enticingly.
The human cleared her throat. "I know you're here. Show yourself."
The voice changed from singing to laughter. From under the branches of a weeping willow the water began to glow and ripple. It moved forward, towards the human. Something started coming up out of the water. An ethereal beauty with large eyes the color of the sea and flowing white hair.
The human woman shook with fear, but stood her ground. "Give him back."
The creature cocked it's head, a small curious smile on her face.
The human started to become angry. "You heard me monster. I know you have him."
The creature spoke, her voice was gentle like falling rain, alluring like the sound of a stream, and as seductive as the sea. "I find it amusing that you think calling me names will make me do what you ask."
"Do not play your games with me," the human ordered. "Give me back my son."
"You didn't say please," the creature said playfully, wagging her finger at the woman.
"Damn you to whatever hell you spawned from!" the human cried. "Give me my baby!"
The creature sighed and waved her hand over the water. Another figure appeared, a small boy no more then five. The human woman, overcome with emotion reached for the child, nearly touching the water but stepping back at the last moment.
"Ben... Ben my baby, mommy's here. Mommy's here baby. Come here sweetheart."
The child did not move, merely stared at his mother like he was staring through her.
"What have you done to him?!" the woman demanded. "Give him back! He's mine! Give him back!"
"It doesn't appear he wants to return to you," the creature said, kissing the child on the head. The child in turn wrapped his arms around her legs, hugging her as he stared at the crazed woman on the shore.
"Ben! Ben!" the woman screamed in agnoy, being so close and yet unable to reach him. "You stole him from me! You entranced him with that cursed voice!"
"Now now, there's no need to be so upset," the creature said. "It's not good for your health. You have come here, to my home, called me horrible names, disrespected me, demanded things of me, and as of yet have given me no reason to pity or help you in any way."
The human, reduced to groveling, got on her knees. "I beg you. Give him back to me. He is my child, my baby boy. Please. I beg you. I'll do whatever you wish."
The creature smiled. "Now, that wasn't so hard was it? That is a much better attitude to have."
"Then you will return him to me?" the woman asked hopefully.
"For a price," the creature said. "You can't get something for nothing you know."
"What price? Name it! Whatever it is, you can have it! As long as you stay away from my family!"
The creature laughed and waved a hand. Water bubbled up into a pillar in front of the woman. At the top was a shell of some kind with sharp spikes.
"Cut your hand and place your blood in the shell," the creature ordered.
The woman did so without hesitation. The water pulled back, bringing the shell to the creature. Once the shell was in her hand, the creature sang and short melody. The boy closed his eyes and collapsed in the water. His mother hurried into the water to retrieve him. Holding him tightly, she carried him back to shore. The creature in the water poured the blood into the pool.
Suddenly the human woman was struck with a terrible pain. Screaming she looked into the water. Her reflection showed the horrible truth : her youth was fading away. Where once stood a young mother in her thirties now stood an elderly woman in her seventies.
"What have you done to me?" she demanded in horror.
The creature laughed. "You said you would pay any price to get your son back and for me to stay away from your family. Well you have paid it. Your youth for the child. I think it quite a fair trade."
"You monster! You demon! You-! You-!"
"Siren," the creature supplied with a smile. "If you ever want your youth back, return here. You will be young again and the child will be mine."
She turned the leave, then looked over her shoulder. "Oh, I certainly hope your child recognizes you. It would be truly awful if he didn't."
Laughing, the Siren disappeared beneath the water.
Sarina settled underneath the water, letting the newly added blood and youth revitalize her. The child had been cute and cuddly and amusing, but Sarina had a hunger for more... adult things. In a decade or so, which would seem short to a siren, the boy would be ripe for becoming her lover. By then his mother would be dead and gone. Unless she decided her youth was more important to her. Then Sarina would get the child back and be able to groom him to her liking, making him the perfect servant. Or perhaps the fae would want him. They seemed fond of human children. Sarina was always open to a good trade.
Either way, she had won. She always won.
Never play a game unless you would somehow win.