kalixtohsera

[kalixtohsera]

Into the Waters

Thunder ripped through the air, its ground-shattering sound spreading like a wildfire. It surrounded Koralis as she stared off into the ocean again. In the distance, she could see the dangerous storm that was looming just over the horizon. The sun was beginning to set. Which mean she needed to be going inside if she wanted to avoid the things that lurked silently in the dark. Things that no mere mortal ever came back from. At least, not sanely. Lightning cracked across the sky, starting to strike too close for Phoebe’s comfort.

“Sis! Come inside. You could get struck by-“ Before her little sister had a chance to finish, there was a bright flash of light. One that was unmistakeable. A lightning strike. Right next to Koralis, who now stood ramrod straight, eyes wide. Her left arm stung, as if it had been burned to the third degree. That sting was spreading in a slow, torturous manner that had tears springing to her eyes despite her eerily calm expression.

“Phoebe…” she swallowed thickly. “I can’t move.” She barely managed to get the words out right as another lightning strike hit. Curse that beach for being so damn flat! And curse the lightning for not going for the umbrellas scattered haphazardly across the length of the shore!

“Oh my god! MOM! MOM! KORALIS HAS BEEN STRUCK BY LIGHTNING!” She could hear her sister yelling, but couldn’t really react. The electricity was spreading all throughout her body, paralysing her in a way that allowed her to move, but kept her from being able to get to safety quick enough. Her muscles were tense. She felt like her brain was going a mile a minute, thrashing around her skull in such a violent way, she was sure her head could have split right open!

“K-Koralis, baby! You’re going to be okay! I’m going to get you to the hospi-“

“A hospital isn’t going to save the human.” A masculine voice spoke, his tone bored and tired. “It’s always the white ones out here doing this. Playing with lightning is not something to take lightly.” Koralis could feel a man’s hand graze her bare shoulder blades. She hissed, but that’s all she really could do. “Let me treat her. And when she comes back, she’ll be good as new.” His voice held an alluring, convincing undercurrent. One that would effortlessly pull you in, should you be unaware of the world he came from.

“And why would I, a witch, ever entrust my daughter to a siren? I will *not* have my daughter be taken into the waters. She doesn’t deserve such a heartless life as that!” Her mother stepped forward, slapping his hand away from her. Koralis could feel the burn returning from where his hand had partially healed it. She whimpered audibly, slowly—too slowly—turning to the man. She gave the man a pitiful excuse of a nod, hoping to have some semblance of relief.

“Good thing for your daughter is… she doesn’t need anyone’s permission but her own.” The masculine siren peered down at her, tilting his head for a moment in thought. “Do you want me to take the pain away?”

“Y…es.” Her throat hurt too much to speak. She felt like a deep fried churro laid out in the afternoon sun in a Texas summer. Her internal temperature was that of an oven after having cooked the family thanksgiving turducken.

“Koralis, baby, you have no idea what you’re agreeing to!”

“You’re…. for..getting……. I’m a…. witch…. too.” She swallowed, begging for the itch in her throat to go away. She needed to speak. She needed to tell her mother to stop worrying about her and the sea man or whatever he was to get her fixed up already!

“It’s settled, then. Koralis Mayer, you will be hereby taken by the sirens for healing purposes. Your mortal rights permit you to travel back here once your healing is complete. Any further rules and requirements will be explained once you have arrived in the designated areas for your operation to begin.” The man—siren?—spoke to her in a professional manner. She could only nod. “Great. Now all you need to do is step into the ocean with me. I will guide you the rest of the way.” He extended his hand.

Koralis didn’t hesitate a second, taking his hand into hers.

Into the waters she went. Would she be seen again? Only time would tell.

All Rights Reserved © 2025 | Kalixtoh Sera

Siren’s Call Pt.2’s Song

[kalixtohsera]

Siren’s Call

It was late in the evening when Koralis first laid her eyes upon the sea. Just beyond its chaotic waves was a masculine figure. One that seemed to beckon her out into the treacherous waters. Someday, she thought, someday I’m going to swim out far enough to have a conversation with whoever it is. Before she could work up the courage to step into the water, a hand grasped her shoulder.

“Kora?” Her little sister peered up at her with curious eyes. “Mom’s been calling your name for a little while. Says dinner’s ready.” Her sweet, tiny voice echoed in her mind, not sounding quite right. “The sea has entranced you again.” Her sister frowned.

“I’m alright, Phoebe. I’m just… searching, is all.”

“Yes… we all are aware of what you’re searching for.” Her sister sighed, remorseful. “Unfortunately for you, there’s nothing to find. Now let’s go eat something, yeah?” Her sister wrapped her small hand around Koralis’ dainty wrist, gently tugging her toward the beach house that the little family was staying in for temporary.

“Did you not see the man in the water?” Phoebe frowned.

“I did.” Koralis looked down at her sister, as if waking from her little spell. “That, dear sister, was not a man. But a creature of the water. An ancient thing that does not care for humans.”

“No. It was a man.” Wasn’t it? He looked like a man. Perhaps maybe a little different. Strangely alluring. But certainly a man! Creatures of the water simply didn’t exist. “Your fairytales are just that, Phoebe. Fairytales.”

“You’ll be wishing you’d listened later tonight.” Her sister warned, filling her own plate up with the very delicious food their mother had worked hard to make that evening.

If only Koralis believed her sister. It would have saved her from the events that were bound to follow. A gaze, lingering too long. A caress, strong enough to lead even the toughest men to their watery grave. A promise, important enough to last an eternity.

All Rights Reserved © 2025 | Kalixtoh Sera

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