Page 18 of Orpheus
“Jason will lock us all in our cabins, Orpheus.” Calais informed me. “The song of the sirens can control more than just the elements around us. Stories say that they have the power to enchant our minds as well. Make us react and do things we would not normally do, like kill each other. It’s safest for us to be isolated and remain out of your way, in case something unfortunate were to happen.”
This statement struck panic in me. I was beginning to question whether or not my talents and powers would be strong enough to override those of the sirens. Everyone was counting on me. Their lives were at stake. I could not let them down.
“And what about you, Jason? What if the sirens get to you while you are steering theArgo?” I asked with worry.
He shrugged. “I don’t have much of a plan for that, honestly. I will drink a few potions that will hopefully keep my mind in check and my conscience at bay from doing anything foolish. All I can do is try to keep my wits about me and hope for the best.”
That was not very reassuring, to say the least. All of this was riding on me and no one else. If I could not help them get pastSirenum scopuli, then we were all doomed to the Underworld.
But I could not falter now. I needed to maintain the utmost confidence in myself. For my sake and for the crew’s sake. I could do this. Ihadto do this. There was so much in store for me for the future. The fame, the talent, the glory. I could attain it all. And overcoming the sirens would be the heroic tale I needed to get me there.
I also had Apollo’s guiding light to shine down on me and give me strength. The sun was glorious today. Its rays beat down heavily upon us. This had to have been a blessing from Apollo. A sign that he was watching me and my every move.
“You’ve got this!” I felt another hand press into my shoulder, rubbing it endearingly. It belonged to Calais. “Just think about what we’ll do after this. We will have a huge celebration in your honor!” he enthusiastically announced. The Argonauts around him cheered and chanted over the lively thought.
His optimistic words brought a smile to my face. “Yes. Something to look forward to…”
My eyes turned to the rocky ledges that were now becoming visible to us in the distance. The course of the wind had suddenly changed, picking up its speed and chill against us. It caused the hairs on my body to stiffen with great alarm.
“It’s time, Orpheus,” Jason declared, before glancing over to his men. “All of you, report to your cabins in the sleeping quarters now, immediately!” he shouted.
The group quickly dispersed, and the men scurried below deck. Calais was the last to depart. He stood with his back facing me. His head turned to look me over one last time. “I have faith in you, Orpheus. Just have the same faith in yourself, as well, and we will make it through this.”
Calais then left. His parting words still rang through me, seeping into my pores, where I wanted them to stay. It was the encouragement I needed to hold on to, to keep me strong and sturdy during this trial that lay ahead.
I stepped towards the very bow of the ship, overlooking the sapphirine sea beneath me. I could see the island of the sirens approaching. We were far from it, which was the goal, to continue to keep theArgoon its current path and to avoid coming near the island at all. The vessel would be in the clear once we passed it and all was behind us.
I was unsure of what to expect. Would I see the sirens flying over the ship with their gorgeous faces and sharp talons, or would I just hear their screeching song from afar? The uncertainty now had my anxiety building. Minutes later, still nothing was happening, and I had no clue what to do or what exactly I was waiting for.
It was then that I heard it. Their echoing hymn pierced through my ears. It had such a dichotomous uniqueness to it. Part of their song caused my body to nearly go numb and in pain all at once. But their melodies were so enchanting. It was almost breathtaking.
The directions of the waves suddenly changed, and theArgowas making a tight turn to the left, moving with the changing tide. It suddenly hit me that that was their strategy. The sirens controlled the sea with their song. They made the waves bring the ships to their jagged rocks that surrounded their island in order to capsize and wreck them.
But lucky for me, I knew how to make the sea dance to my tunes. I had been practicing it for a while now. So, I withdrew my golden lyre, trying to fight off the brutal pain the voices of the sirens were causing me.
My delicate fingers traced along its fine strings. At first, the sound elicited from the lyre was soft, but soon, I picked up my pace and plucked the strings with more fortitude. My music was drowning out the song of the sirens. I could barely hear them. The pain they had inflicted upon me was subsiding. I was winning and I would continue to do so.
Over the edge of theArgo, I could begin to see the waves return to their normal course.
It was working!
I continued to play with the continued strength I was mustering up for this performance. I played for my mother and father. I played for my aunt muses. I played for Apollo, for Jason and the rest of the Argonauts, for Calais. But most importantly, I played formyself. Their courage, their vigor, their support poured out from my body and into my music. As much as I wanted to believe it was my energy that was being relinquished into these melodies coming out from my lyre, it was just as much of their energy as well.
The screeches of the sirens were becoming louder, but I would not flounder my concentration. I glanced to my left to see that we were almost past the island.
Just a little further, I thought to myself.
We were nearly out of their hair. The end was so close. I could feel it. But suddenly, the song of the sirens stopped. Their shrieks were no longer audible. I stood still, shocked that they had given up already. But nothing further happened.
Was that it!? Had we won!?
“Orpheus! Look out!” I heard Jason shout at the top of his lungs.
His yell was startling, causing me to lose all focus. My eyes darted high in the sky at the three figures flying overhead. Their wings and bellies were of the roughest brown pigment I had ever seen, resembling that of foul vultures. Their sharp talons curled outwards, ready to strike on a whim. Yet their faces were captivatingly striking, cheeks silky smooth, with long strands of hair, each one with a different color: blonde, brunette, and auburn.
Their mouths opened wide, sending forth a deafening, shrill cry over the ship. Their boisterous cries made every bone in my entire body go limp with weakness. I could barely move. My fingers were unable to remain freely mobile enough to play a full tune on my lyre. This was it. I had no way of recovering. The sirens would drag us to our deaths with these bellowing wails of theirs.
I was losing all hope, and fast. This was the end and not the one I had envisioned. I was incapable of countering them. I had no more moves at play here. Jason was losing control of theArgoonce more. The vessel began to sharply turn again in the direction of the island.
