Elna was sitting at the table inside Oline's little kitchen. It was like everything els inside this house, and Elna briefly wondered if this was the normal size house for humans. Or was this even for their standards small, she snorted. It was not that small, just as big as her own grutto. And it was big enough for her, so maybe this was the same for Oline.

Oline had gone out, just before te sun started to rise.

Today was her first day on land, they were not counting yesterday. Because she hadn't even being awake for the most of the day. 

That was something Oline argeed with.

Elna let her head hung slightly, her sister was so strong.

Being away from home, away from her. She was in a strange place, cut away from the sea, her magic and to top it of. She didn't had her voice, to express her thoughts and feelings.

All the things she had, and still she was doing everything in her power to not drown. Not to subcome to dark thoughts, not to fall to pieces. And secretly she had hoped it was the same for Oline. Something, she thought was unfair.

But Oline was not only surviving, she was thriving. She had a small house, had a simple yet effective routine, had learned how to act human. And then there was the small bussiniss that she was running. Something their mother had thought them to do.

Elna smiled softly when she thought back at her tender years, it seemed so long ago, it was only a handfull of years. But it seems longer.

Their mother in the grutto, teaching them how to make simple jewelry with shells, coral and strings of rope. That wasn't the only thing she taught them, she also showed them how to link spells to the pieces of jewelry. 

Elna's hand went to the neckless around her neck, the rounded shell was hanging on her chest. It was the last piece her mother made, and it was the last thing she had of her. And she was so grateful that she hadn't lost it during the typhon.

It didn't have any spell attached to it, that was probaly the whole reason why her father let her keep it. He had taken away everything else, that only had a hint of her mother's magic linked to them. 

Elna's eyes wondered to her sister's tools that lay on the table, the materials next to them. Then towards the cabinet filled with pieces in various stages.

This was Oline's link to their mother, and Elna was slightly grateful for that.

She herself wasn't able to do any of this, because her father will not let her. 

According to him it is a waste of time, and she could do so much more usefull things. And he always made sure that there was an approved list of activities for her to do, all of them were benefitting him, more then it did her. 

In so many ways she wished shehad Oline's life, it may have being lonely. It was a life away from their father, free to do whatever she wanted to do.

Yes, she needed to work to get food on the table. But that was in Elna's eyes a small price to pay.

But maybe Oline didn't see it that way, maybe she wanted what Elna had. Being home, having her family, her voice. No, no one would want her life, not even her.

That was the main reason why she pleaded with Oline to let her stay. She only had pleaded for something, once. She had pleaded with her father, but back then the stakes were higher. Compared with this, this was just a way to live a little. Even though her father will not aprove of it.

She at least could say that she had tried. She had known what it means to sit down and reflect on her life and the wishes she had. The main one, that she was free to breath. 

With a sigh, she closed her eyes. There was something stinging behind them, it was something she never experacied before. And right now she decided that she hated the feeling. So she did what she always has done with a feeling she didn't like. She pushed it down, far down, never to see the light of day and night again. 

Instead of getting wrapped in this wirlwind of emotions, she stood up. She might still a bit unsteady on her new legs, still she already walked on her own. And she knew that with more practice she would be able to walk with confidence. 

Again the house was not big, so she hadn't much space to practice. But still moving up and down, gave her something more to do and she was able to push the dark thoughts away. 

She moved slowly to the window, the glass had a faint reflection of her current image. And it was strange to see her in this simple green dress. 

Oline had given one of her old once, and Elna didn't know if she liked the simple fabric. But it was all Oline had, and she needed to be grateful for that. 

Elna tried to smile, but it slightly felt flat. She noticed that her eyes didn't sparkle, like she had seen by other sirens. 

********

Oline stepped into house, she froze for a second when she saw Elna. It was as if she had forgotten that Elna was there. Which was not as strange as it sounded. Oline had lived on her own for quiet some time. So her confused expression, quickly changed into a geniune smile. 

"How did you sleep?" 

She signed. 

Elna wiggled with her head, and then started to chuckle. As that was a real answer, for her it was. She was conditioned to cover up her real thoughts, which she didn't had to with Oline. She knew that, but it was an very old habit. 

"It was strange sleeping on something so soft, yet firm at the same time. Or to have an uninterupted rest at all." 

Oline frowned. 

"What do you mean?" 

Elna shrugged with her shoulders. 

"Father always interupts my night, him or one of his many minions. I honestly I can't remember one night I have being able to sleep away. And I also do not have the time to catch up with sleep, because he is dead set on keeping me busy during the day as well." 

Oline looked mortified, it wasn't as bad when their mother was still alive. So she didn't know what she currently was going though. 

And on one hand, Elna was fine with that, it would only have being harder on her if Oline did know. But on the other hand, their father, killed their mother, banished Oline took her voice as well.

Did her sister really expect that the man, who did all of that would go easy on her?

Elna knew that this was unfair to put that presure on Oline, there was nothing she could do about it.

By the Gods, their mother wasn't able to do anything about it, and she was the strongest Siren Elna knew. But the woman she loved and looked up to, was gone and there was notthing, nothing she or Oline could do about that.

Even though Elna has tried to stop her father... A shiver went through her spine when she thought back to that day, it wasn't a pleasant memorie. Which was another reason why her nights were so horrid, and often she was glad to be woken up. But that was another thing she surpessed, it could be seen as a sign of weakness.

Something her father saw as a punishble offance, and he has done that at times when she shown a few cracks in the wall she had build around her. The punhisments always varried, a beating, some chores, being locked up in a dungoun without food.

That one was in her mind the worst.

But all of this would stay inside, this was nothing that Oline needed to know. Elna already hated their father enough for the both of them.

"Don't stress about it, I am used to it. And I can use my time here to catch up."

She tried to force a smile upon her face when she said it. Trying, and probably failing, to convice Oline that she meant it.

Only, her sister didn't seemed to be convinced at all. Still Oline didn't push the matter.

For which Elna was gratefull for, this meant that she could focus on other things. Like hoping that the Prince was coming back today. No, not hoping, she knew that he would be back. In her minds eye he has being tossing and turning in his sleep. Dreaming about her, or at least hearing her voice on repeat whispering sweet things to him.

This put a geniune, delighted smile upon her face.

It was like what her mother would call playing with her food.

Only she hadn't any intention to eat him, he was to handsome for that. But she was going to use him, like she had being using Flounder. Her mind swiftly went to the oaster shell inside her litte grutto.
Would he be safe, or will her father or maybe someone else find him.

If that was the case she would have to live with that, and not only that she needed to use all the time she had to learn everything that there was to know. She almost jumped up and down in glee. She honestly couldn't wait to begin.

That is when saw Oline waving with her hand, trying to get her attention.

"You need to eat."

Four simple words, four enough to let Elna know that Oline would take care of her, and look after her. Not that she would become a burden to her sister, but they used to lean on each other for support when they where younger. And she was glad that was something that hadn't changed, even though they had changed over the years.