Chapter 7 #2
“You have been here for almost ten months. Are you saying you haven’t learned anything here? At all?” Hartley’s chest inflates, his eyebrows snap down, and his eyes almost flame.
“It’s not as if we can go out and ask anyone every time we go out in public. Human females with point-tipped ear caps come running out and start squealing and touching us,” I say with obvious irritation. I cross my arms and turn away from the human.
There’s a snort from a tree. For a moment, the song of all the Sirens in the clearing gets loud and strong, pounding as one symphony of notes.
I lose myself in the music, swept up by the anger and fury.
I can see where it will go, how it will flare out.
The familiar gives me a moment to brace myself, to calm myself.
I long to open my mouth and sing, letting everything in the vicinity feel the rage we feel.
I want them to tear themselves to shreds, to upset their tiny little lives as they exist as puppets for my power.
There was a time when my song would be sung to cheer people, to bring them joy, but that was before they turned me into this and shoved me into the dark, cold depths of the Black Death Oceans. Now, there’s an anger in me that throbs incessantly and never quite goes away.
Diablos goes to the tree and peers up, searching for the witch. I snort in disgust and turn away, refusing to volunteer any information about her location.
“Oh, I heard about your fans,” Hartley mutters. “I guess you have a point. Becky has had issues with people, too.”
“Fans, stans, stalkers,” I mutter angrily. “Everywhere we go, they are there.”
Hartley chuckles. “Humans get very excited about newness.”
“Do they have any idea how easily they could be killed? One note, and I could blow their brains and watch the mushy liquid seep out of their nostrils.”
“That was an excellent description, Brio,” Hartley says with a distinct lack of fear. In fact, he crouches down and picks up a stick and starts snapping it. “But don’t do that to anyone.”
Leaf snarls, and suddenly, there are coiled masses of pissed-off dragon trying to climb into a tree a fraction of his size.
Mei lets out a shriek and jumps, only to be caught by the dragon. He uncoils from the tree and transforms back into his massive human shape, pulling her down into his lap like she’s another one of those freaky cats he likes to coddle.
Speaking of which, where is that evil thing? I hate how it comes and goes.
Kit has been an absolute menace over the years. While Leviathan and us Sirens have slammed up against each other over and over, Kit is sneaky. His attacks are lethal, and then he’s gone. With no discernible pattern.
To be honest, right up until we collared Leaf, we thought he and Kit were both animals. The first time he transformed into the huge humanoid version of himself, I almost forgot we were supposed to be fighting him.
The melody in the clearing is dominated by the personalities here but not the Strega. She is still not even uttering a single note. I creep closer and crouch down in front of her, staring at her and trying to figure out what she is.
“What do the humans want?” Lirin purrs from the ground where he is sprawled out, taking up the maximum amount of space. The witch turns her head in his direction; something crosses her face, causing her lips to soften before the rebellious smirk reappears.
“The ones that like you?” Hartley asks and puts his chin in his hand.
“Yes.”
“Well,” Hartley shifts uncomfortably. “Some just want you to sign your autograph; some want to talk to you just to say they have. Some of them want your attention and the status that comes with being favoured by you, and, uh, some of them will probably be thinking about love.”
I recoil. “What?”
Her head snaps in my direction, and her hand lashes out. I just manage to avoid the black-tipped nails, but it’s interesting that I can get that close without her noticing.
Hartley squirms. “Some humans think about forming a relationship, and they uh, fantasize and-”
“You mean mating?” the witch asks and elbows the dragon in his gut, managing to get out of his arms.
He bounces up and follows her. “Mating,” Leaf purrs with seduction in his eyes.
I gag.
The Strega snarls, a truly menacing sound that is quite impressive. “No mating!”
Leaf slumps, but only for a second. The dragon follows her, but she is quick, and her reflexes are like a cats.
She bats at his hands and slips away, while he pursues her with adoring eyes.
“Sickening,” I spit scornfully, unable to look away from the two of them.
Hartley snorts. “But these are people who do not understand what you are; they just see you as handsome, attractive, human-appearing monsters who can sing the most incredible songs, and humans have always cherished musical ability.”
Now that grabs my attention. It is a finer being who can appreciate the beauty in a song.
“They have?” I ask, moving closer.
“Yes. Humans idolize musicians and actors more than any other of our species. It is a highly cherished talent. The world saw you use a skill and talent to save them, and they love you for it.”
Huh.
“So, we should?” I ask and let the question trail off, waiting for his response.
“Be patient but firm; keep your boundaries but appreciate that they are doing this to honour you for your rescue. In short, most humans think you are heroes.”
“Heroes?” I blink hard and spin when I hear a deep thrum of the most haunting song I’ve ever heard.
The Strega is stepping back from the dragon and has walked into my space without realising, and with her distraction, I can hear a part of her song. It is lonely and sad, like a single viola playing into the night.
I catch her shoulder and pull her back against my chest, glaring at the dragon.
“Get back.”
He snarls.
I snarl louder.
My shiver closes ranks around me, and the dragon backs down with furious eyes.
The witch doesn’t react at all; she just stands there, ignoring the pain that I know I’m causing with my fingers biting into her shoulder.
“Sit down and listen to the human,” Ronit says.
I release her, but she stands perfectly still, her back ramrod straight, blackberries dancing in the air around her.
This close, I can see all the painted runes on her skin, and I wonder who put them there and how far down they go.
But I can also see the scars under and on the runes.
Her skin is cross-hatched with old wounds, and somehow, the song is gone again.
She cocks her head to the side, and I realize that, somehow, she still knows I’m here.
“Are you finished, Siren? Did you find what you were looking for?”
“What are you?”
Her lips tighten, and she moves away, but I reach out and grip her throat, dragging her close to me, trying to hear the sound of her again.
Her talons sink into my skin, not breaking the surface but in warning.
I cock my head, leaning closer, listening, but there’s silence. Just silence. Like what I heard was an echo from someone else, far away.
“Get your disgusting flippers off me, squid boy.”
I’m so startled I let go, and she rips away from me, putting a whole lot of distance between us and her.
It’s dark now, and she disappears into her tree while Diablos sets a tree trunk on fire and stares at us.
“And now your training begins, my little grasshoppers.”
“No, Di, no. Don’t go misquoting movies.”
“But, I-”
“Sweetie, no.”
Diablos humphs. “Fine, let's talk about what, specifically, I need you seven to do.”
Kit has appeared and is sitting at his feet. He lets out a meow.
Diablos jumps away from him and lets out a startled and undignified squeak.
“Okay, eight of you.”
Kit’s tentacles wave around happily.
“Yeah, you are a creepy little dude, but I like you.” Diablos turns to us, blowing smoke out his nostrils. “Earth is a very beautiful and dangerous place. Let me tell you all about it.”