47. Chapter 47
Chapter 47
M y tantrum—as Sienna called it—didn’t last long. I stormed out of the kitchen, pissed off and worried, slammed a door, and threw some things around in my room before eventually realizing that none of what I was doing was going to change her mind. My sister is as stubborn as they come and when she sets her mind to something, there is no talking her out of it. If anything, my fierce resistance to the idea probably served to strengthen her resolve.
When I returned to the kitchen, Sienna and Kairi were talking animatedly. I was surprised at my sister's nonchalant reaction to information that likely changed her whole perception of the world. I know that Sienna believes in many things that others don’t. Her analytic mind has driven her to learn about anything she can, whether it be science or things more mythical in nature.
I don’t think she ever could have imagined beings like sirens existing but if I know her like I think I do, she’s already brainstorming ways to learn more about them. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s designing a research study in her mind right now, with Kairi as the subject.
When the girls notice that I’ve re-entered the room they both turn to stare at me expectantly. I don’t acknowledge my little outburst. Instead, I ask them what they are discussing.
“We need you to take us out on your boat to find Raidne. We are going to ask her to help us with Vala. She might even be able to use her song against her,” Sienna explains. I have to hand it to her, that’s actually a pretty good idea.
“We can’t go until tomorrow though,” I say. “It’s too late now and I sure as fuck don’t want to get stuck out in the ocean in the dark. Not with what I know to be lurking beneath the surface,” I smirk at Kairi, letting her know that I’m only joking—well mostly. I believe her and Raidne when they say that none of Kairi’s sisters are going to harm me, but I don’t want to test the theory. Once this is all over, I’m not sure I ever want to go out on a boat again.
“Have you had any more ideas on how we might be able to actually survive?” I ask, trying to hold back the snark in my tone. I know this is important and that no matter what, I’m helping, but I’m not particularly happy about the whole situation.
“Actually, yeah,” Kairi responds. “Something has been bothering me about how Vala is using my song and I’ve been trying to figure out what it is. When she took my siren abilities, she didn’t yet have the power to consume a soul, so she couldn't have absorbed that part of my soul. So how is she accessing my song? It’s not a tangible thing that can be passed from person to person.”
“Oookay?” I question, not following her train of thought.
“When I was in the cave with her I noticed something strange. There was a marking on her arm. It wrapped around her bicep like a tattoo.”
“And?” I ask, still not getting it.
“And it wasn’t like any tattoo I’ve seen before. It glowed and it moved. But only when she sang. When she was simply talking, it was still and looked completely normal; however, when she began to sing, it writhed and pulsated in a way that seemed to mimic the rhythm of the song. What if… what if, she has somehow bound my song to something physical? Trapping it with her magic and then harnessing it through the object, using it like a conduit.”
“Is that even possible?” Sienna asks.
Kairi shrugs. “I have no idea. I feel just as in the dark about this as you both do. I have no knowledge of witches and what they are capable of, but something drew my focus to the tattoo, and I can’t describe the way it made me feel.”
“You’re thinking that this physical conduit could be the mark?” I probe.
“I mean… maybe? It kind of makes sense. Like I said, the mark looked like it was connected to the song somehow and if she bound my song to something on her skin, there is a far less chance of it being destroyed.”
Her plan starts to click together in my mind, and I finally realize what she is telling us. “You think that if we are able to get close enough to Vala to destroy the mark then that might sever her connection to your song. Is that right?”
“It’s possible,” she confirms. She’s right, it’s definitely possible and might actually be something we can achieve. “But then we still have her witch powers to contend with.”
“But she won’t be able to take the human souls anymore and that’s the major danger she poses right now,” Sienna reminds her.
“You’re right. Now we just need Raidne,” Kairi replies, her lips tilting up in a tentative smile.
I hate the fucking ocean.
With every swell and crash of the waves I’m transported back to the times where I barely made it out of their clutches. I’m less concerned about the creatures below the surface now and more anxious about the ocean itself. I’ll never forget the feeling of drowning, the panic as water filled my lungs. While I’m no longer completely incapacitated by my anxiety, it still lingers under the surface, creating a sense of unease and dread that’s hard to shake.
This time I have Sienna to worry about as well and the thought is making it even harder for me to relax. I remind myself that we just need to contact Raidne and that’s it. Hopefully, we won’t have to linger for long.
Once again, I wear ear plugs and Sienna does as well. Kairi explained that Vala told her that a siren song doesn’t have any effect on her, even in her now-human form, so Kairi chose not to wear the ear plugs today.
She scans the ocean seeking out any unusual movements beneath the surface. She informed us that the sirens have the ability to detect boats from a certain distance away, so we are hoping that Raidne is close enough to our location to sense us and come to investigate. Our impending task hangs over us, dulling our moods, although I can still see the curiosity buzzing through Sienna.
It feels like we are out here for hours, just watching. Waiting. Finally, Kairi gestures that she’s seen something. Sienna rushes over just in time to see Raidne breach the surface and gasps, staring at her in awe. Kairi confirms with Raidne that the others aren’t around and lets us know that we can remove the ear plugs. Raidne explains that once she saw and recognized my boat she sent their sisters away ensuring our safety.
Kairi quickly fills Raidne in about the events of the last thirty-six hours and it’s shocking to me how much has happened in such a short period of time.
Sienna, who had remained quiet throughout the exchange, stares at Raidne with unabashed curiosity. I get it, I really do. It’s magical, something out of a fairytale but one of the darker, creepy ones for sure. I’m a little jealous that she doesn’t have to experience the same fear that I did upon the discovery of these creatures. How different would things have been if Kairi and I didn’t meet the way that we did.
“Raidne, this is my friend Sienna. She’s also Eagan’s sister. It was too difficult to keep my secret from her, and when she found out everything, she insisted on helping,” Kairi explains.
“Er… hello…um, hi,” Sienna stutters and I can’t help but laugh at my talkative, energetic sister being rendered speechless.
“Hey, beautiful,” Raidne purrs and Sienna’s cheeks fill with color.
“So, will you help us?” Kairi asks.
“Hell yeah I will. I can’t let you have all the fun, can I?”
“You know that this is going to be dangerous right? I’m lucky I even made it out alive the last two times I faced her.”
Raidne laughs, “Yeah, yeah. I know Vala is a dangerous bitch but you’re crazy if you think I’m going to let you face this alone.”
“I won’t be alone. I’ll have Eagan and Sienna.”
“And now you’ll have me too. After all, you are all just human,” she teases with a wink.
I smile, grateful for her help. It certainly can’t hurt to have a siren on our side. It might help to even the odds.
I let down a ladder on the side of the boat and Raidne uses her arms to pull herself until she is hanging with her tail out of the water. As her full body is exposed to air, I watch in wonder as she takes on her human form. The scales on her tail are smooth, and it separates into legs. her skin takes on a warm, golden tone, and the spikes lining her spine fully retract.
She climbs the remaining rungs on the ladder and pulls herself to the boat. I avert my eyes from her completely naked body, looking for something to cover her up.
Luckily, Kairi thought ahead and throws Raidne a towel to dry off with and one of her dresses that she brought with us specifically for this purpose. Thank god we can go back to solid ground again now.