- 12 minutes ago
The Siren's Revenge
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:02The soldier threw my sister into the wooden barrow.
00:05Their hands groped her body roughly.
00:07This slightly shimmering scale started all over the ground.
00:10Then they cut her open and pulled out her heart.
00:13The queen had heard rumors of sirens in the southern island.
00:16That their princess carried a siren's heart inside her body.
00:20Swallow it and you'd have eternal beauty.
00:22An allure no man could resist.
00:25The queen wanted it.
00:26So the king sent soldiers to slaughter us and gut my sister for her life.
00:31That day the sea ran red.
00:33Everywhere I looked my people lay split open.
00:36I hid beneath a wreath.
00:37Blood clouding my vision.
00:39Tears rolling down and hardening into pearls.
00:42Everyone stained red.
00:43My sister's last words echoed in my ears.
00:46Allura stay alive.
00:48The world knew our colony had one princess.
00:51One heart.
00:53No one knew this generation there were two.
00:55And one wasn't just beautiful.
00:57She was a witch.
00:59That one was me.
01:00I dragged myself ashore and cast the old spell to trade my tail for legs.
01:04Then I summoned a familiar.
01:06It took shape of a snake.
01:08I fed it my blood and bound it to me.
01:10It coiled around my wrist, teeth glinting.
01:13And I named it Malice.
01:15Three months.
01:16That was all it took.
01:17I made my way to the capital.
01:19Slipped into the palace as a dancer.
01:22And traded a pouch of siren tears for the king's wearable.
01:28Moonlight spilled across the lake.
01:30I danced on the water, toes skimming the surface.
01:34Alaric stood on the bank, frozen.
01:35Wait.
01:36You're a palace dancer?
01:38I've never seen this dance before.
01:40It's from my homeland, your majesty.
01:42Few have seen it.
01:43The spring night was cool.
01:44He took off his pale robe and draped it over my shoulders.
01:47The queen loves dancing.
01:49Her birthday approaches.
01:51You will perform this for her.
01:52Forgive me, your majesty.
01:53I didn't know who you were.
01:54Rise.
01:55No offense taken.
01:57Don't disappoint me or the queen.
01:58I thanked him and accepted the task.
02:01As he walked away, I flicked my fingers.
02:03A tiny leech burrowed into his skin.
02:06It would feed on his thoughts, bend his feelings toward me.
02:13By the next morning, the whole palace was talking about the dancer who'd caught the king's eye.
02:18Someone knocked on my door.
02:19A woman I'd never seen before.
02:25She brought me to the queen.
02:28Lucinda Roth sat on a raised dais in her chambers, dripping in jewels and silk.
02:34This was the woman who'd wanted the siren's heart badly enough to massacre my people.
02:38To murder my sister.
02:40She looked me over, disgust twisting her features.
02:43This ugly thing is supposed to dance for me?
02:46I dotted my face with false blemishes before coming.
02:49The queen was jealous by nature.
02:51If she saw my real face, I'd be dead before sundown.
02:54I knelt on the cold floor, nails digging into my palms.
02:58Forcing down the hatred rising in my throat.
03:01Your majesty, I'll wear a veil when I perform.
03:04You won't have to see my face.
03:06You're too plain to cause any trouble.
03:08Since it's my husband's idea, I'll accept.
03:11She waved her hand.
03:13The woman led me out.
03:14Just outside the door, I nearly walked into Alaric.
03:17One glance, my face looked nothing like the girl he'd met last night.
03:21But my scent didn't lie.
03:23He knew this was how I stayed alive.
03:25If the queen had seen my real face, he'd be looking at a corpse right now.
03:29His brow furrowed.
03:30For the first time, a flicker of anger toward his wife crossed his eyes.
03:34I smiled to myself.
03:36A seed of doubt was all I needed.
03:38It would take root and grow until it became a tree that blocked out the sun.
03:42Let her stand as high as she wants.
03:44The higher she climbs, the harder she falls.
03:47I returned to my room and washed the blemishes from my face.
03:51Lucinda, you wanted eternal beauty so badly.
03:53I'll make sure everything you want turns to dust.
03:56Malice slithered up my wrist, tongue flicking.
03:59I stroked its head.
04:01Soon.
04:02I'll send to hell first.
04:04She can apologize to my sister in person.
04:07The queen's birthday was a spectacle.
04:09Overnight, the lake bloomed with lotus flowers.
04:12The court called it an omen of good fortune.
04:15Alaric stood by the water, with Lucinda on his arm.
04:18Where's my gift, darling?
04:20He nodded.
04:20The music began.
04:22I stepped onto the water, walking across the lotus leaves.
04:25The sweet fragrance rose again.
04:28Fireflies swarmed in from the darkness, dancing with me.
04:31Everyone watched, spellbound.
04:33Everyone except Lucinda, whose nails dug into her palms.
04:36My veil slipped loose.
04:38My face caught the moonlight.
04:40I looked straight at Lucinda and smiled.
04:43The hatred in her eyes was so thick it could have choked someone.
04:46When I finished, no one moved.
04:49I knelt before Alaric.
04:51I wish her majesty eternal beauty,
04:54and your majesties a love that lasts forever.
04:57Long may the kingdom prosper.
04:59Alaric had let go of Lucinda's hand.
05:01He reached toward me.
05:03You didn't disappoint.
05:05Lucinda's jaw clenched so hard, I thought she'd crack her teeth.
05:08What a lovely gift, husband.
05:11I adore it.
05:13Alaric barely glanced at her.
05:16Good.
05:17The leech I'd planted in him was working, shifting his moves.
05:21I started to pull the leech back.
05:23Couldn't let anyone notice.
05:25But then a voice rang out from the crowd.
05:27Your majesty, why not give this beauty to me?
05:31A gift to seal our alliance.
05:34Who speaks?
05:36Crown Prince Caelanvore, your majesty.
05:38A tall man stepped forward in foreign clothes.
05:41Give her to me, and I guarantee a hundred years of peace between our kingdoms.
05:46The crowd gasped.
05:47A hundred years of peace for one dancer.
05:50Surely this is a wonderful opportunity for her.
05:53What more could a dancer hope for?
05:55Alaric didn't understand it himself.
05:57Trading one insignificant girl for peace should have been easy.
06:00So why did the thought make his chest tight?
06:02I looked up at him, letting my eyes fill with tears.
06:06I'd painted delicate flowers at the corners of my eyes for tonight.
06:09The tears made them shimmer.
06:11Something twisted in Alaric's chest.
06:13You're too late.
06:14She's mine.
06:16Lucinda stared at him.
06:17What?
06:18Caelan shrugged and walked away.
06:20My back was drenched in cold sweat.
06:22Thank God I hadn't pulled the leech out yet.
06:25Without it working on his emotions, Alaric would have handed me over without a second thought.
06:30No king refuses a free century of peace.
06:32That night, a royal decree arrived at my door.
06:35I was officially a consort now.
06:37I left the dancers' quarters and looked back one last time.
06:41I swore I'd make them pay a hundred times over for what they did to my sister and my people.
06:46When I arrived at my new chambers, Lucinda was already waiting.
06:50She stared at my face and smiled.
06:52You lied to me.
06:54If I hadn't, would I have lived long enough to dance tonight?
06:58She laughed, stroking the cat in her lap.
07:00Clever girl.
07:02But even with your pretty face and your new title, I'll still kill you.
07:06I held her gaze.
07:07And how do you plan to do it?
07:10A fire.
07:11The king's little mistress dies tragically in the flames.
07:14Alaric and I have been together since we were children.
07:17My father and brother fight his wars.
07:19You think one little dancer will matter to him?
07:23As the first spark fell, Lucinda laughed.
07:26No one in this whole palace can save me.
07:28I watched her leave.
07:29My face didn't change.
07:31The flames rose.
07:32The guards outside clutched their throats and dropped.
07:35Blood pouring through their eyes and friends and mothers.
07:38I walked out of the fire with malice coiled around my home.
07:41I followed the trail of my spiders to a dark corridor and ran straight into someone's chest.
07:46I looked up, eyes wide, still playing the frightened girl.
07:50Tears brimmed but didn't fall.
07:52Alaric pulled me into his arms and stared at the flames in the distance.
07:55Who did this?
07:56Find them.
07:57I pressed into his chest, said nothing.
08:00He knew who did it.
08:01He just didn't want to say it out loud.
08:03Childhood sweethearts.
08:04Years of marriage.
08:05Her family's soldiers fighting his wars.
08:08He'd never punish Lucinda for a dancer he'd just met.
08:12I'm scared.
08:14Alaric smelled of wine.
08:15His face was flushed, his breath warm.
08:18I was born to seduce.
08:19At the leech working inside him, and the want in his eyes was inevitable.
08:23He lifted me and carried me back to his chambers.
08:25The news would reach Lucinda soon.
08:27She wouldn't take it well.
08:29Sure enough, one of her servants came running before long.
08:33Your majesty!
08:34The queen is unwell.
08:35She's asking for you.
08:39Will you go to her?
08:40I stood in his chambers, wearing nothing but silk.
08:44His eyes were glazed.
08:45He stared at me like I was the only thing in the world.
08:48Why would I think of anyone else when you're here?
08:52He watched me, breath heavy against my neck.
08:54A pale worm was still burrowing into his forehead.
08:58I pushed him onto the bed and tucked the blankets around him.
09:03Sweet dream.
09:04Then I pricked my finger with a hairpin and squeezed a few drops of blood onto a handkerchief.
09:10The rest I fed to Alaric.
09:12Couldn't let it go to waste.
09:13A few drops wouldn't kill him, but over time it would.
09:16And I was the only one who could cure it.
09:19The moon hung high.
09:20Light streamed through the window.
09:22I checked the time.
09:23Lucinda would be coming soon.
09:25A spider the size of a fingernail crawled onto the windowsill.
09:28One of my eyes in this palace.
09:30I stood, smoothed my robe, and walked outside.
09:35Lucinda stood at the entrance.
09:37Less like a jealous wife.
09:39More like a coup.
09:40I stood above her on the steps.
09:42Let my hair fall to one side.
09:44Showing off the red marks on my neck.
09:46The moonlight made me glow.
09:48I smiled down at her.
09:50The king is asleep.
09:52Perhaps come back tomorrow.
09:54Her face twisted.
09:57I'll kill you, you whore!
09:59I pointed at her belly.
10:00Careful, your majesty.
10:02Wouldn't want to hurt the baby.
10:04She froze.
10:06Alaric had promised her.
10:07Give him a son, and she'd be crowned.
10:10But five years of marriage, and nothing to show for it.
10:13She tried everything.
10:15Every doctor in the kingdom.
10:16And I just said it in front of everyone.
10:22Drag this whore out and beat her to death!
10:25I shook off the hands grabbing from her.
10:31Your majesty, why not call for a doctor first?
10:34One more thing.
10:36I'm the only one who can keep this baby alive.
10:39Lucinda lay on a couch in the side chamber.
10:42Three doctors knelt before her.
10:43She propped her head up, too tired to hide her impatience.
10:47Well?
10:47Am I pregnant or not?
10:50Yes, your majesty.
10:52You are with child.
10:54Lucinda shot up, eyes glistening.
10:56Her voice shook.
10:58Truly?
10:59I watched her.
11:00Even someone this vicious could look fragile when she wanted something badly enough.
11:04Then she looked at me, remembering what I'd said.
11:06And the baby.
11:08Is it healthy?
11:09Everything looks perfect, your majesty.
11:12She smiled.
11:13When she looked at me again, her eyes were cold.
11:16Now that I'm pregnant, I shouldn't see blood.
11:18But you're too annoying to let live.
11:22She snapped her fingers.
11:24Her servants grabbed my arms, ready to drag me away.
11:27I flicked my finger.
11:29Lucinda doubled over, screaming, clutching her stomach.
11:32The doctors rushed to examine her.
11:34Their faces went pale.
11:36They dropped to their knees.
11:39Your majesty, please.
11:41You're losing the baby.
11:43All the color drained from Lucinda's face.
11:46She'd finally gotten pregnant after years of trying.
11:49And now she was losing it.
11:51You.
11:52Fix this.
11:54If you can't save this baby, I'll slaughter your whole family.
12:01I stared at her snarling face and dug my nails into my palms.
12:05My family.
12:06She didn't know they were already dead.
12:09I was the only one left.
12:11Crawled out of hell just to find her.
12:13I stuck a few needles in her and her face slowly relaxed.
12:16The doctors checked again.
12:19Pulse steady.
12:20Baby saved.
12:21She had no idea she wasn't really pregnant.
12:24When she came to burn me alive, I planted something inside her.
12:27It mimicked pregnancy.
12:29It could even fake the movement later on.
12:31But it fed on her.
12:32Drained her.
12:33Day after day.
12:34It moved when I wanted it to move.
12:36If I wanted her dead, she'd die.
12:38But killing just Lucinda wouldn't be enough.
12:41Her father and brother were the ones who led the soldiers that day.
12:44Her brother's fat hands running all over my sister's table.
12:48Scales falling like rain, mixed with blood.
12:51Maris sweated through the pain, jaw clashed, never making a sound.
12:55She bit through her own teeth before she died.
12:58I looked at Lucinda's happy face and smiled.
13:01Maris, everything they did to you, I'll make them pay a hundred times over.
13:05Alaric was still asleep when I got back to his chambers.
13:08I slipped off my robe and lay beside him.
13:11I wondered what his face would look like when he heard Lucinda was pregnant.
13:15He'd been slipping poison into her food for years.
13:18She was never supposed to conceive.
13:20Her family was too powerful.
13:22Too many soldiers loyal to them.
13:25If she gave him a son, they might try to take the throne.
13:29Alaric cared for Lucinda, in his way, but not more than he cared for his crown.
13:34He woke and stared at me for a long moment, something dreamy in his eyes, still thinking
13:40about last night.
13:41Good dream, then.
13:43I stared and smiled shyly at him.
13:45I was about to get up and help him dress when a servant knelt outside the door.
13:49Your Majesty, the Queen sends word.
13:53The doctors confirm this morning.
13:55She's with child.
13:56The smile froze on Alaric's face.
13:59He frowned.
14:01Does anyone else know?
14:03She's already sent a rider to her father, Your Majesty.
14:07I stood quietly, ready to leave.
14:10He caught my hand.
14:11You're tired.
14:12Rest here.
14:13I'll find you better rooms.
14:18I thanked him and lay back down on his bed, watching him walk away.
14:22The Queen was pregnant.
14:24Her family would have questions.
14:25Alaric had to deal with them and deal with the baby.
14:29No one would spare a thought for a mistress with no family behind her.
14:33Which was exactly what I needed.
14:35The foreign prince from the birthday banquet, Caelan Vore, he was going to be my blade.
14:41I didn't just want the people who killed my sister.
14:43I wanted to burn this whole kingdom down.
14:46I wrote a note and let Malice carry it in its mouth.
14:49It slithered away to find him.
14:52It slithered away to find him.
14:53Days passed.
14:54I moved into new chambers.
14:56One of Lucinda's servants knocked on my door.
15:03The Queen's in pain.
15:04She's asking for you.
15:06I stroked Malice quarreled on my desk and tucked it into my sleeve.
15:09Then I went.
15:11The Queen's chambers reeked of incense, but it couldn't cover the smell of blood.
15:16Alaric had made his move.
15:18Too bad she wasn't really pregnant.
15:20No amount of poison would kill a baby that didn't exist.
15:23It would only make her suffer.
15:26Lucinda still didn't know I was the one who'd kept her alive.
15:30Alaric still didn't know.
15:31I stood by her bed, pretending to examine her, hiding a smile.
15:38The thing inside her was fine.
15:40Growing.
15:42Multiplying.
15:43Can you save it?
15:45Yes.
15:46But it's going to hurt.
15:49If you're lying to me, my father and brother will make you pay.
15:54I pressed my fingers into her skin and whispered something old.
16:01Elora, what a feels, Lucinda.
16:04She screamed without sound, eyes bulging, couldn't even cry out, just stared at me with pure hatred.
16:10I wondered how her father and brother would make me pay.
16:12They were barely keeping themselves alive right now.
16:15I'd given Kaylin a few of my leeches, told him to slip them into the Roth family's food.
16:20Her father and brother commanded the army at the border.
16:23Once the leeches took hold, the generals would start making mistakes, losing battles.
16:27And without them, the Roth family was nothing.
16:30When I finished, Lucinda had passed out.
16:33I called for the servants, but Alaric walked in with them.
16:37The doctors examined her through the bed curtains.
16:40Alaric and I stood to the side.
16:42He stared at me, a voice cold.
16:44I didn't know you could do this.
16:45I smiled softly.
16:47An old remedy from my homeland.
16:49Nothing special.
16:50He didn't answer, just kept watching the curtains.
16:53I'd ruined his plan.
16:54He wouldn't let that go.
16:55I was thinking of how to prove my loyalty when the doctor spoke.
16:58The baby has saved, your majesty.
17:00Alaric's face went dark, but he walked to the bed and took Lucinda's hand anyway.
17:06Darling, you've suffered.
17:07She smiled weakly.
17:09For you and our child, I'd suffer anything.
17:14I stood there, biting back a laugh.
17:17Did she really think he was happy about this?
17:20I shall thank Amara.
17:22Lucinda said, looking at me with false sweetness.
17:25She was weak.
17:26The whole palace couldn't save this baby.
17:28Only I could.
17:29Alaric turned to me, ice in his voice.
17:32Do you know what you've done?
17:37I dropped to my knees, words ready.
17:45I know, your majesty.
17:47I shouldn't have interfered.
17:49If something had gone wrong, I'd never forgive myself.
17:52He sneered.
17:54Good.
17:55You'll stay in your rooms for three months.
17:58Don't leave.
18:01I started to bow, but Lucinda spoke up.
18:05Don't punish her.
18:07I asked her to help.
18:09She didn't care about me.
18:10She just needed me alive in case Alaric tried again.
18:14If I was locked away, who would save her next time?
18:22It's my fault, your majesty.
18:23I'll accept the punishment.
18:25Right now, staying alive in front of Alaric was all that mattered.
18:29Enough, Lucinda.
18:30This is our first child.
18:32She almost ruined everything.
18:34Don't defend her.
18:35Lucinda opened her mouth, then closed it.
18:37She wanted me dead anyway.
18:40Watching me get punished probably made her day.
18:43I went back to my chambers.
18:45That night, Alaric came.
18:48He sat beside me in the candlelight, rubbing my hand.
18:52The flame danced in his eyes.
18:54Something in his expression I couldn't read.
18:56I hadn't even used my magic on him.
19:00Give me a child, Alaric.
19:02I almost laughed out loud.
19:05Kings, all the same.
19:07I swallowed my disgust and lowered my eyes, playing shy.
19:17He picked me up and carried me to bed.
19:20We'd already slept together.
19:22I couldn't keep using magic to fake it forever.
19:25Someone would notice.
19:27Sirens were made for pleasure.
19:29Soft in ways humans couldn't be.
19:33Alaric kept coming back.
19:34Night after night.
19:35Lucinda heard.
19:37She nearly tore her chambers apart.
19:39She thought my punishment meant I'd lost his favor.
19:42That once she gave him a son, she could have me killed whenever she wanted.
19:46She didn't expect this.
19:48Instead of news of my downfall, she got news of my pregnancy.
19:58Unlike Lucinda's pregnancy, Alaric was actually happy about mine.
20:02He'd been king for years.
20:04Only a handful of women in his court.
20:07Lucinda couldn't have children herself, so she'd been poisoning everyone else.
20:12No one had given Alaric an heir.
20:15He looked at me with such tenderness.
20:17Did he actually have feelings for me?
20:21Sirens conceived easily.
20:23If I wanted to, I could give him a child without trouble.
20:27But this baby would never be born.
20:30I'd fed all my blood and bone to my magic.
20:33There was nothing left to grow a child.
20:35Alaric, this is what you deserve.
20:38You sent soldiers to slaughter my people.
20:41I'll make sure you never have an heir.
20:44That's the least you owe me.
20:48I felt it move.
20:50It's only been two months.
20:52It can't move yet.
20:53I swear I felt it.
20:55Maybe I'm just hungry.
20:57We both laughed.
20:59That's when Lucinda walked in.
21:02She was showing now, heavy on her feet.
21:05The baby was stable these days, but she was wasting away, thin as paper.
21:11Layers of powder couldn't hide how exhausted she looked.
21:14The thing inside her was feeding on her, draining her.
21:19And there I was, curled up against Alaric, skin glowing, lips red, laughing.
21:27I started to stand and curtsy, but Alaric held me in place.
21:35He frowned at her.
21:37What are you doing here?
21:39She forced an ugly smile.
21:43I heard the good news.
21:45Came to congratulate her.
21:47She looked at Alaric.
21:48I didn't know you'd be here too.
21:50He hadn't visited her in weeks.
21:53She'd tried everything.
21:54Excuses, summons.
21:56He refused every time.
21:58She'd even written to her father and brother.
22:00No reply.
22:02When she heard I was pregnant, she couldn't stay away.
22:05I stood up.
22:09Thank you for coming.
22:12How are you feeling?
22:20She didn't look at me.
22:22Just stared at Alaric, tears welling.
22:26Do you hate me now?
22:30They'd grown up together.
22:32Alaric's grip on my hand loosened a little.
22:35If Lucinda weren't pregnant, if it didn't drive him crazy,
22:39I might never have gotten this close to him.
22:42Alaric squeezed my hand.
22:44Don't overthink it.
22:45I'll come see you soon.
22:47Then a servant rushed in, pale and breathless.
22:53Your Majesty, urgent news from the front.
22:55Ministers are waiting.
22:57Anything else?
22:58I'd like to rest.
23:00She laughed coldly.
23:02With her hollow cheeks, it was almost frightening.
23:06Don't get ahead of yourself.
23:09Not all pregnant women give birth.
23:12Same goes for you.
23:14I examined my freshly painted nails.
23:16Didn't bother looking up.
23:18She shook with rage.
23:20At least I have my family.
23:22You're just a dancer.
23:24What makes you think you can compete?
23:28I finally looked up.
23:31Slow.
23:32Steady.
23:38Do you?
23:41If I was right, that urgent news was about her family.
23:45I'd gotten word days ago.
23:47Her family wanted war.
23:49Her brother Roderick kept crossing the border, picking fights.
23:52He thought he was untouchable.
23:54Then Kaylin knocked him off his horse and broke his leg.
23:57Kaylin didn't want to war.
23:59He let Roderick live.
24:00But the next day, her father, General Alderick, marched his army across the border.
24:05Vengeance for his son's honor.
24:07The capital was far from the front.
24:09Even the fastest horse took a month.
24:11Alaric probably hadn't heard yet that Alderick was captured.
24:13That the army was falling apart.
24:15My spiders brought me news faster.
24:17I had one bonded to Kaylin.
24:18It told me everything.
24:21Night fell.
24:21I brought soup to Alaric's study.
24:26She's here, your majesty.
24:27Let her in.
24:29The boy's clinking silent.
24:30He sat, surrounded by mountains of paper, face dark as a stone.
24:34I set down the train and stood behind him, rubbing his temples.
24:38My head's been killing you lately.
24:39But when you hear it, it gets faster.
24:42He pulled me close.
24:43But his voice was grieving.
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