Chapter 6 Nerion
Nerion
The music building was almost always occupied by somebody. There were classes in the evening, orchestra rehearsals, and students in the practice rooms. But, by some stroke of luck, I found one of the two completely soundproof rooms open.
Slipping inside, I locked the door behind me, enjoying the sudden rush of silence.
I dropped my bag on the floor and took a seat at the upright piano pressed against the wall.
With a deep breath, I rolled a chord all the way up the keys, listening for any slight variations in the intonation.
The piano, to my surprise, was perfectly in tune.
It had been quite a while since I’d had the chance to sing.
I couldn’t risk doing it at the pool where someone would definitely overhear me and fall under my spell.
Out in the woods wasn’t a great idea either.
The academy was protected from being found by humans, but that didn’t mean they weren’t out there withing hearing range.
The last thing I needed was to drive some human so insane they went on a mountain-themed killing spree or something.
So the music building was the only real choice I had and soundproof practice rooms, like I said, were rarely available.
But tonight was my lucky night.
I flexed my fingers over the keys, anticipation coursing through my veins.
It had been far too long since I’d allowed myself this particular pleasure.
Playing was one thing. It was a mechanical exercise of fingers pressing ivories that was more than enjoyable.
I loved making music. But singing... that was where the danger lay.
And it was almost impossible to resist when I played.
“Just one song,” I whispered to myself, the words swallowed by the room’s acoustic padding. “No one can hear.”
I began with a simple melody, letting my fingers reacquaint themselves with the keys. The notes flowed easily, muscle memory taking over as I played an old pirate song I found in a book of folk tunes from the British Isles tucked away in the library. It was a little cliche, but I loved them.
When I finally opened my mouth to sing, the sound that emerged was pure and clear, resonating within the small space. My voice carried power. It wasn’t just the trained strength of a vocalist, but the ancient magic of my kind. I could feel it vibrating through my chest, my throat, my entire being.
I sang of the sea, of depths no human would ever reach, of creatures that glided through darkness with only bioluminescence to guide them. I sang of loneliness and longing, of the curse that kept me forever apart from those I might love.
As the song built to its crescendo, I lost myself completely in the music. My scales emerged unbidden, shimmering across my skin in patterns of blue and green. The sensation was exhilarating. For once I didn’t have to hide, to pretend, to suppress what I truly was.
I held the final note until my lungs burned for air, letting it fade naturally into silence. For several moments afterward, I simply sat there, hands still resting on the keys, basking in the rare feeling of freedom.
Then I heard it. A soft knock at the door.
My heart stopped. Had someone heard me? Impossible. These rooms were completely soundproof, designed specifically to contain magical music practices that might otherwise affect others.
The knock came again, more insistent this time.
Panic seized me. I quickly slammed the piano shut and grabbed my bag, throwing it over my shoulder. Maybe if I ignored it, whoever it was would go away. But the knocking continued, growing louder.
“Shit,” I muttered, feeling my scales recede beneath my skin. I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself before approaching the door.
When I finally unlocked and opened it, I found a guy I’d never seen before standing there. He was tall and lean, with dark fur and gold eyes that seemed slightly unfocused. His breath came in quick, shallow pants. He was one of the werewolf students.
“Can I help you?” I asked cautiously, blocking the doorway.
“It’s you,” he whispered, his voice filled with wonder. “I heard you singing. It was... it was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard.”
My blood ran cold. This shouldn’t be possible. No one should have been able to hear me through those walls. Not even a werewolf with superpowered hearing.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said firmly. “These rooms are soundproof.”
“I know, I know,” he said, stepping closer. I could see now that his pupils were dilated, his cheeks flushed below his fur. Classic signs of siren enchantment. “But I heard you. I was walking past and suddenly... it was like the world fell away and there was only your voice.”
Fuck. The room must have had a defect in its soundproofing. There had to be a crack, a vent, or something that had allowed my voice to leak out.
“Look, I think you’ve got the wrong person,” I tried again, attempting to push past him.
He caught my arm, his touch gentle but insistent. “Please, I have to tell you. I’ve never felt this way before. It’s like... like my heart is going to burst. I think I’m in love with you. You must be my mate.”
Double fuck. This was exactly what I’d been trying to avoid. The poor bastard was completely under my spell, and he didn’t even realize it. This wasn’t real love. It was magical compulsion, dangerous and unpredictable.
“You don’t even know me,” I said, trying to keep my voice level despite my rising panic.
“But I feel like I do,” he insisted, his eyes never leaving mine. “Your song... it spoke to my soul. Please, just tell me your name. Let me take you to dinner, or coffee, or anything. I need to know you.”
I carefully extracted my arm from his grip, knowing there was only one thing to do. And the quicker I got it done, the better.
“You want to go on a date right now?” I asked, flashing him a charming smile.
He nearly melted into a puddle on the spot. “Uh-huh,” he nodded dumbly. “Anywhere you want.”
I hooked my arm through his, pulling him down the corridor toward the exit. “Just follow me. I know the perfect place.”
I led the enchanted werewolf across campus, walking briskly as the evening shadows lengthened around us.
He followed like a lovesick puppy, occasionally letting out small whimpers of delight when our shoulders brushed.
Every few steps, he tried to lean closer, inhale my scent, or touch my hair.
I kept a measured distance between us while maintaining the illusion that I was interested.
“Where are we going?” he asked, his voice dreamy and distant. “I know this amazing little coffee shop in the next town over if you want to get out of here. We could teleport—”
“No need,” I interrupted, steering him toward the health center. “I have something much better in mind.”
The infirmary building loomed ahead, its windows glowing with warm light against the darkening sky. I’d never been more grateful for its existence. Nurse O’Malley was known for her discretion and experience with magical accidents. And this definitely qualified.
“The health center?” His brow furrowed in confusion, but the dopey smile never left his face. “Are you feeling unwell? I could carry you...”
“I’m fine,” I said quickly, avoiding his attempted embrace. “There’s just something I want to show you first. Something special.”
As we approached the entrance, I felt a twinge of guilt.
This poor guy hadn’t asked to be enchanted.
He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time when my voice had somehow leaked through what should have been impenetrable soundproofing.
But I couldn’t let him wander around campus in this state, professing his undying love to someone he’d never even met before tonight.
I pushed open the door to the health center, the familiar antiseptic smell greeting us as we entered. The waiting room was mercifully empty except for a young witch with what appeared to be tentacles sprouting from her ears. She glanced up briefly before returning to her magazine.
“Wait here,” I told the werewolf, gesturing to a chair. “I’ll be right back.”
“But—” he began, his eyes already filling with panic at the thought of separation.
“Just for a minute,” I promised, infusing my voice with just enough charm to make him comply without fully singing. “Count to sixty, and I’ll return.”
He nodded eagerly and began counting under his breath as I slipped through the inner door to find Nurse O’Malley. I found her organizing potions in a glass cabinet, her silver hair pulled back in a severe bun.
“Excuse me,” I said, clearing my throat. “I have a bit of a situation.”
She turned, her ancient eyes narrowing as she took me in. “Nerion,” she sighed. “Let me guess. Another victim of your voice?”
I winced at her bluntness. “It was an accident. I was in a soundproof practice room, but somehow he heard me through the walls. He’s completely enchanted. He thinks I’m his mate or something.”
Nurse O’Malley sighed, closing the cabinet with a decisive click. “I understand. However, you know the Dean will need to be informed.”
My stomach dropped. “Is that really necessary? I was being careful—”
“Careful would have been not singing at all,” she interrupted, pulling a small blue bottle from her pocket. “But what’s done is done. Bring him in.”
I returned to the waiting room to find the werewolf still counting faithfully, his eyes lighting up when he saw me. “Fifty-eight, fifty-nine, sixty! You came back!”
“Of course I did,” I said, taking his hand to lead him to the examination room. “Come with me.”
He followed without question, practically vibrating with excitement. When we entered the room where Nurse O’Malley waited, he didn’t even seem to notice her presence, his eyes fixed solely on me.
“Sit down, young man,” she instructed firmly.
To my relief, he complied, though his gaze never left my face. “Is this part of our date?” he asked hopefully.
“Not exactly,” I admitted, moving to stand beside Nurse O’Malley. “You’re under an enchantment. What you’re feeling isn’t real.”
His face crumpled in confusion. “That’s not true. I’ve never felt anything more real in my life. I love—”
“That’s quite enough,” Nurse O’Malley interrupted, uncorking the blue bottle. “Drink this, please.”
He looked at me for confirmation. I nodded encouragingly. “It’s part of what I wanted to show you. Trust me.”
That was all it took. He accepted the bottle and downed its contents in one gulp. For a moment, nothing happened. Then his eyes widened, clarity slowly returning to them as the magical fog lifted from his mind.
“What the...” he muttered, blinking rapidly. “Where am I? What happened?”
“You were affected by… strange magic,” Nurse O’Malley explained matter-of-factly. “There was a new type of magical instrument being tested and you happened to hear it and became enchanted.”
The werewolf’s eyes snapped to me, recognition dawning alongside embarrassment. “I... oh gods. Did I say I was in love with you?”
I nodded, relieved that the potion had worked so quickly. “Among other things. Don’t worry about it.” I glanced up at O’Malley, following her lead that graciously left my heritage out of this. “Nothing came of it.”
“I’ll need to examine you to make sure there are no lingering effects,” Nurse O’Malley told him. “Musical enchantments can sometimes leave residual magical signatures.”
As she began her examination, I edged toward the door, eager to make my escape. The last thing I needed was to be present for the awkward aftermath.
“Nerion,” Nurse O’Malley called, stopping me in my tracks. “You are free to go. The Dean will reach out to you in the next couple of days.” I started to turn when she spoke again. “And no more… music.”
I just nodded, hanging my head in shame. “Yes ma’am.” Then I added, “And thank you.”
She nodded, that stern look still plastered on her face as always, before going back to her patient. I let myself out, heading back toward the dorms immediately.
The night air felt cold against my skin as I left the health center. My stomach churned with anxiety. The Dean would be reaching out to me. That was never good news, especially for someone like me. He was an understanding man, but this wasn’t my first offense.
Being a siren was one thing, but accidentally endangering students could get me removed from the academy. Or worse, land me in front of the Elder Council.
That was the last thing I needed.