Clean air, quiet waves, good company… what else could Ligeia want? The gentle rhythm of the sea matched the soft hum escaping her lips, a melody that wove itself into the night, making the stars seem to twinkle in time. She smiles as she glances down at the human lying on her lap. A friend, of sorts. A curious soul who, unlike so many before them, had not come to the sea seeking treasure or conquest, but something deeper—something more akin to understanding.

Her fingers gently thread through their hair, carefully untangling the salt-kissed strands. There’s something oddly endearing about the way they trust her, so completely and without hesitation. It’s been a long time since she’s felt this… connected. But even as she smiles, a familiar edge tugs at the corners of her mind. Do you know what you’re doing, Lea?

Her sisters’ voices, particularly Peisinoe’s, echoed in her thoughts. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. Humans were meant to be lured, played with, and discarded—not cherished. But Ligeia couldn’t help herself. This one was different, or maybe it was she who had changed. She softly hums another tune, one less likely to lull them into eternal sleep and more to soothe the quiet stirrings of her heart.

“Tell me,” she murmurs, her voice a soft caress against the night air, “what do you dream of when you look at the sea?”

It’s a question she’s asked many times, but tonight, she’s truly curious. Their answer could lead her down a path she’d never dared to tread—a path where sirens and humans could coexist without fear. But for now, she’s content to simply listen, to let the waves carry away her doubts as she waits for their response.