Chapter 4: An open Door

He left the door unlocked. Why would he do that?

I can leave. I can actually go back to the ocean. To my home. My family.

I should leap out of this bucket right now.

But I’m not. Why?

Because I think it’s a trap, of course! Ha. He thought I wouldn’t think things trough again. Act impulsively.

But no, I won’t fall for it!

For once in my life, I’m choosing to be responsible!

I try to convince myself that that’s the reason. But it doesn’t work.

Lying to yourself isn’t easy. Even if you have as much practice as I do.

The truth is, I don’t want to leave.

I want to see those people in their silly hats.

I want to taste the orange water.

And ride on the four legged creature with the useless tail!

But their city isn’t made for a siren. And those tales that Ludwig mentioned… I wonder what they will think of me. What even he thinks of me, deep down.

I sigh and sink back into the bucket.

My curiosity is going to be the end of me.

***

Ludwig returns with a new dish. I eye it curiously.

It’s white and round like a crab’s underbelly.

But it smells… sweet.

"Try it," he says and hands it to me. "I’m curious to hear what you think."

I poke it with my finger. It’s warm and strangely bouncy.

"What is it?"

"It’s called Germknödel."

"Germknödel," I repeat and give it another poke.

It wobbles slightly in response.

"It’s a Bergthal specialty. A sweet dumpling made from plants. Grains and fruits..."

I sniff it and feel my mouth water.

I take a bite. Hot sugary juice floods my mouth.

I draw back and stare at it.

"Is it still too hot?" he asks, concerned. "I should have warned you."

"No, it’s not too hot. It’s just…" I take another bite. And can’t help but laugh.

"It’s incredible! Utterly confusing!" I shake my head at the absurdity. "What a funny feeling! I’ve never had anything like it!"

"So you like it?"

"Like it?" Another burst of laughter shakes me. "I love it!"

I take another bite. And then remember where I am. And that I plan on not being too impressed.

"I… I mean. It’s interesting," I say with a shrug.

"Wait until you try the one in Bergthal," he says. "Don’t get me wrong, Konstanze is an amazing chef, but we are on a ship, so there is only so much you can do."

I didn’t know that. Didn’t know that you can do more on land than on a ship at sea.

"What else can you do in Bergthal than you can’t do on a ship?" I ask and take another bite.

He smiles wistfully.

"Visiting the merchants," he says. "There is always some new delicacy you want to try. Or a trinket you haven’t seen before." He chuckles. "It’s very dangerous."

"Dangerous?" I ask. "Why?"

"Oh no, it’s not like that," he says after seeing my concerned expression. "It’s not actually dangerous for you. Only your wallet," he says.

I take another bite.

"You can meet all kinds of people in Bergthal," he says. "That’s something I miss. And the animals, of course."

"Do you have any pets?" I ask.

"I do. A horse, Nathanial. And a dog."

"I’ve seen dogs," I say. "Some love to swim. What’s your dog’s name?"

Ludwig blushes and mumbles something.

"What?" I ask. "I didn’t quite catch that.

"Pr…" he mumbles.

"You don’t want to tell me!" I realize. "You are ashamed."

"I’m not ashamed," he protests. "I just don’t see how it’s relevant…"

"You’re the one who wanted to tell me about your home," I say and wipe my mouth. "So go on then, tell me."

He sighs. "You’re not going to let this one go, are you?"

"Nope."

"Alright, her name is Princess Starfish."

I look at him, both brows raised. "Princess Starfish?"

"Yes, and before you say anything mean, I was ten when I got her."

"That’s no excuse!"

"Of course it is."

"You can be a child and still have taste!"

"I was ten!" he simply repeats, like that would change anything.

"Then what would you name her now?"

"I can’t just rename her! That’s incredibly disrespectful!"

I shake my head. "No, the poor girl deserves better."

"She likes the name!"

"Because she doesn’t know any better!" I say and sigh playfully. "But she at least has a nickname, right? There is no way that you just go around screaming ‘Princess Starfish’ come back!"

I burst into laughter at the thought.

"She does have a nickname," he admits.

"Which is…" I try to coax.

He sighs. Deep and rumbling. "Star, " he says.

I shrug. "Alright, that makes sense. I don’t know what I expected there."

"Do you have any pets?" he asks.

"No, I don’t," I say. "But my sister has like around three thousand seahorses."

"Three thousand?" he repeats and his eyes widen.

I chuckle. "Yes. And she named every single one of them."

He shakes his head, unable to grasp the number.

"Three thousand…" is all he can say.

***

Ludwig keeps visiting me. He shows me pictures, talks about his friends and people he’d like to meet and sometimes even dances again. I tell him things too.

But we don’t talk about the tales, those unpleasant stories his kind tell about mine. Or the ones mine tell about his.

I think we’re both afraid of what we might find.

Besides, learning about their food is so much more interesting!

I finish the dish he has brought me today, a cake made with apples, doused in a white sauce.

I could get used to this.

I lick my plate clean then set it down on the floor, when suddenly, everything shifts.

The ship is shaking. Being rattled by something.

My bucket slides down the sudden wooden slope. I hold out my hands in front of me, bracing myself for the impact.

I manage to catch myself as the bucket falls over, water spilling across the floor.

"No, no, no, no!"

I gather what water I can reach with my powers, but it isn’t a lot.

Beyond the door, humans are screaming and running about. I can hear the sharp clank of metal. They're fighting. Someone? Something? Each other?

Ludwig!

I need to get out of here.

I move my hands and the water obeys, winding into tendrils that I use to pull myself forward. It’s hard work, but I'm making progress. Inch by inch I push myself forward until I reach the door.

Then, I take a moment to catch my breath before curling the tendril around the handle.

I push it down and pull it towards me.

It groans open, I can see the slit of light grow and then-

The door bursts open.

I let my water fall in shock. I squint at the sudden sunlight that hits my eyes.

A shadowy figure is lurking in the doorway.

I stare at it, eyes widening in shock.

"No. It can’t be…"