The Siren's Call

"Are you certain you'll be okay?" Alana asked, pulling her coat closer around her.

"It takes more than a little cold to destroy my kind," Will said, regarding the beautiful woman before him. "Other fish have survived these seasons, so shall I."

"Will, the lake will be completely frozen over-"

Will reached out, laying a bare hand upon Alana's gloved one. The summer months had long gone and now cooler and cooler winds were starting to blow in. The leaves were starting to change and there was a crispness coming in. Alana knew once Halloween passed, the cold would come in full force. Would her new friend be all right?

"I will be safe beneath the ice," Will said. "Freshwater merpeople have learned to adapt to the cold in a way our saltwater brethren have not, just as they can handle extreme heat in ways we can not. I will be able to feed and be safe. So long as you are safe..." He looked at the dogs running around the cool ground. "So long as they are safe... I shall be safe."

Alana smiled, staring down at him. "Well," she reached up to her neck, pulling her scarf off. A soft, brown thing made of a very thick material. She leaned down, wrapping it around Will's neck. "At any case, I want you to have this."

Will reached up, touching the fine material. "I... No, it's too fine for-"

"You can give it to me in the spring," she said. "But I'd hope that you'd wear it from here on. If only-"

"I shall wear it for you," Will said. "I shall return it to you. I assume you will continue to visit until the water freezes?"

Alana nodded. "Of course. Of course I will, I just-"

Will held her hand gently. "I understand... And it has been quite a while since someone has cared for me the way you have. I thank you for it." He stared up at Alana, allowing another moment to state into her eyes before releasing her hand.

"I will see you soon," he said. She nodded.

"I'll be pretty busy for the next few days," she said. "I've even got someone coming to walk these guys," she looked back at the seven happy dogs behind her. "But if I get a few minutes," she smiled. "I'll drop by to say hello. Have a good night, Will."

"Sleep well, Alana," Will smiled. Once he saw her back was turned, he blew her a little kiss, before turning and diving back under the water..., unaware of the figure watching him in the distance.
*~*~*~*~*~*

What had happened? It felt like a jumble of smoke and images, pieces of a bigger puzzle that he couldn't solve. He remembered falling asleep, a sharp pain in his neck. His fingers scrambling through the dirt as his fun flapped to get to the surface. Something trapping him, pulling him down. A dim light... Fading... Away... Something pulling him up...
*~*~*~*~*~*
The water was of an even temperature, that was what woke him. The water in his lake had already become many degrees cooler, no where near as warm. He opened his eyes slowly, his fingers brushing against something soft, soothing. What was he laying on?

When his vision began to clear, he glanced down, seeing his new... Bed? It was! A large cushion, made of soft, magenta colored, water-proof material! He shot up at once. The water here was far too clear to be his lake! The sea weed surrounding his bed was far too green, far too cultivated to be natural! And the bottom of this..,

Stones! Thousands of Tiny stones! Will pushed himself back, knocking into what seemed to be a large stone statue as he tried to swim as fast as he could-

SLAM!

Will fell backwards, his head and hands throbbing as he looked up, seeing a strange glint before him.

Glass. Thick glass. Not the kind of glass he sometimes found in his lake after it had been visited by a bunch of loud, obnoxious humans. This glass was clear, thick, looking out onto a large, luxurious room. There was a desk, a bed, what Alana had called "paintings"... Grand in every respect... Including the man staring back at him.

A man, a human a few years older than him, dressed in a handsome grey and yellow suit, with a silk tie around his neck. He himself was quite handsome with refined features, an elegant smile and sharp brown eyes. Will could see him with a shark or lion-fish tail...

"Hello Will," the man smiled. "I'm pleased we're finally able to meet." He stepped forward, Will backed away, despite the glass separating them. "I am sorry I did not make my presence known to you sooner. I had to be assured your home would be complete before the winter months came. It is far from perfect, but there will be renovations made. I take it you are comfortable?"

Will's heart pounded in his chest as he searched for his voice. "Who are you?" He whispered, his voice a mix of fear and anger.

"My name is Hannibal Lecter," the man said. His name sent a shiver down Will's spine. "I am a Psychiatrist," He paused. "I don't suppose you know what that is?"

Will nodded very slowly. "My friend Alana is one."

"And a very good one at that," Hannibal smiled.

"Where have you taken me?" Will asked.

"To your new home," the man said simply.

"I have a home," Will swallowed. "I don't know what you want with me-"

"There is no need for concern, Will," Hannibal said. "You are quite safe. I simply brought you to more comfortable surroundings."

"I appreciate the thought," Will said through grit teeth. "But I would appreciate it more if you let me go."

The man smiled again. "I can not do that, Will." He stepped forward, almost nose to nose with the glass. "You are an exceptionally rare creature, perhaps one of the last of your kind. To risk your existence out in the open would be a terrible waste. Here, you are safe, provided for."

"It feels more like a prison than a sanctuary," Will commented.

"Some sacrifices must be made in the interest of one's best interest." He spoke as though he knew all that there was to know... But his eyes seemed full of strength... And a dangerous power.

"The loss of freedom?" Will asked.

"If need be," the man nodded. "For now, you are safe and in capable hands."

"Hands of a friend... Or of a master?" Will hissed.

The man have another smile. "I wish to be your friend, Will. However else you see me is your choice."
*~*~*~*~*~*