Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
Lyra basked on a massive rock in the middle of the Moriston River.
It was an unseasonably warm day, and she was going to get every drop of sunlight she could.
She flicked her tail, casting another cursory glance around the river’s edges to ensure her privacy.
Humans knew about the existence of magic and all of its inhabitants, but her kind were notoriously cagey about being seen.
Especially because humans always referred to Lyra as a mermaid.
Lyra was not a mermaid.
The last time she’d let herself be seen by a human—around 1990—to her horror, they hadn’t been afraid of her. The family of tourists had started screaming something about a Disney movie as the daughter squealed about saving Lyra from a sea witch.
“I am the sea witch,” Lyra hissed, “and you’d do well to remember not to approach the creatures of the water.” She’d revealed her true form to the family and watched them go running from the riverbank in terror.
Lyra was a maighdeann-mhara, a maid of the sea, or better known as a siren. In her truest form, she appeared with the upper half of a human woman and a sleek tail for her lower half.
Her tail was covered in a spine of sharp spikes and an array of blue scales that tapered off into a long, wispy set of fins.
It looked more like a reptilian tail than a fish’s, giving her a serpentine, dangerous appearance.
Some of her scales were so dark they were almost black, and others were such a light shade of blue they appeared pearlescent.
When Lyra was angry or threatened, her fingernails extended into claws, and her teeth grew as sharp as a dog’s.
Her ears were long and angular like a fae’s, except they shaped into delicate, pointed fins.
Long, black hair hung nearly to her waist; its color was so vibrant it looked dark blue in the sunlight.
She could manifest in an entirely human body if she wished, but it’d been decades since she’d had a reason to.
Once she was satisfied she was alone, Lyra settled on her back and closed her eyes. It was rare to get a sunny afternoon in Scotland, and she was going to spend it napping in the warmth. As soon as she started to drift off to sleep, something broke the surface of the water.
Lyra sat straight up and hissed, turning towards the sound as her claws appeared. Lyra was the apex predator in these waters, but there were plenty of other creatures who weren’t above trying to take a bite out of her.
“Be quiet.” A calm, stoic woman’s voice echoed all around Lyra. There were ripples on the river’s surface, but Lyra couldn’t see where the sound was coming from.
“Reveal yourself!” Lyra’s lip curled as her teeth started to elongate. Her tail whipped back and forth, a heavy band of muscle, as she prepared to launch herself off the rock.
“I don’t listen to you.” The voice was taunting Lyra now. “In fact, you should be the one listening to me.” Lyra opened her mouth and was prepared to retort when the mysterious woman revealed herself. Lyra fought to keep the shock off her face.
It was a goddess. The power emanating from her left no room for argument.
Her bright, teal hair was nearly down to her ankles.
Her eyes glowed the same electric color.
Her skin had a greenish tint, making the goddess appear dead.
She had permanent black tearstains on her cheeks, and her talons were longer than Lyra’s.
The goddess wore a black hood marked with a golden triskele, which matched her shredded dress.
There was a belt tied around her waist, glowing with a green sailor’s Celtic knot pattern.
The most horrifying detail was her sword—a short, deadly blade, with detailing that made the hilt and handle look like a human spine.
Lyra took one look at the wicked weapon and realized who had appeared before her.
“Cliodhna.” Lyra sneered, her lip curling. She’d heard rumors that the Irish goddess had been making her way through Scottish waters, but no one knew why. Lyra was surprised to see the rumors were true. She’d assumed Manannán would’ve chased her right back to Cork.
Cliodhna smiled, revealing black teeth. “There’s no reason for us to be hostile, sweet siren. I mean you no harm.”
Lyra’s tail flicked back and forth in irritation. She fought the urge to jump into the water, feeling incredibly vulnerable out of it.
“Do you?” Lyra questioned. “No one knows why you’re in Scotland, but you have inspired no less than a legion of rumors about your presence.”
Cliodhna preened, flipping some of her hair over her shoulder.
“Lovely,” she sighed happily. “It’s good to know my reputation still does some of my work for me.”
Every muscle in Lyra’s body tensed. “Why are you here?”
Oh, Manannán, god of us all, if you hear me now, come back to your waters! Lyra started praying feverently, unsure if she’d even be heard.
“I’m not here, not really.” Cliodhna’s smile widened.
Lyra squinted, studying the goddess, until she could see the faintest outline of the shore behind them through Cliodhna’s robes.
She’s an apparition. Lyra relaxed, but only slightly. The goddess could still harm her even while appearing as a spirit. She’s smart. She knows if she showed up here in her physical body, Manannán would have all the excuse he needs to wage a war.
“What do you want with me then?” Lyra pushed, her claws digging into the rough rock beneath her.
Cliodhna laughed, and it sounded like soft bells.
“You are so hostile, young one.”
“You’ll have to forgive my manners. I don’t take kindly to having my naps disturbed. It’s a beautiful day, and you’re wasting it for me.” Lyra knew she should try to speak more respectfully to the queen of the banshees, but she had never been known for her restraint.
Luckily, Cliodhna was further amused.
“Nonsense. If you’re going to succeed at the task I have for you, you’ll need to be hostile.” Lyra’s gut churned. She said nothing and waited for Cliodhna to continue.
“I need you to do something for me.” The goddess’s smile turned wicked. “I need you to find the fae princeling, Theo Welsh, and bring him to me.”
Lyra scowled. “The fae prince is named Calum. Everyone knows that.”
Cliodhna tapped her fingers together, her expression morphing until she looked like an excited child with a secret.
“There’s another one,” Cliodhna whispered, “a second brother. I’ve heard he’s going to be making his way through these waters on his way to the Minch.
” The glee evaporated from Cliodhna’s voice as she sneered.
“I need you to capture him for me. I don’t care what you do to him, but I need him alive. ”
Lyra’s head started reeling. Why in the name of the sea does she want me to capture Calum’s brother?
We’d be exiled to Faerie if we even harmed a human—let alone the prince’s own brother.
A member of the royal family! She started rocking slightly from side to side, desperate to jump off the boulder and flee down the river, but there would be no escaping Cliodhna in the water.
“What makes you think I’m going to do that?” Lyra crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t answer to you. I’m a siren, not one of your damn banshees.”
“My banshees and I would be torn from these waters immediately,” Cliodhna smirked, and Lyra was uneasy. “You’re maighdeann-mhara. Your presence in these waters doesn’t cause any alarm.”
“These waters are my home,” Lyra spoke through gritted teeth. “I still don’t answer to you.”
“Tsk, tsk.” Cliodhna made a tutting sound. “I think you’ll find that you do.”
Cliodhna held her hands up, and a bubble appeared between them. Lyra leaned forward ever so slightly, peering into it as an image slowly revealed itself. Lyra shrieked, her blood going ice cold.
Inside the bubble was the image of a maighdeann-mhara.
She was clearly being held captive, her hands and fins bound with kelp.
Her expression was full of fear, her eyes wide as they darted from side to side.
She struggled against the bonds, her black-blue hair tangled and matted as it spread out in the water.
“My sister!” Lyra screamed. She pointed a sharp claw at Cliodhna. “Where the fuck have you taken her?” Lyra’s entire world stopped spinning as the apprehension in her stomach turned to fear.
Cliodhna’s rotten smile mocked her. “She is quite safe. A bit uncomfortable, I’d say, but safe.”
Lyra’s breath was coming in short gasps. “Why have you done this? Why me?” Lyra hissed.
Cliodhna shrugged. “Your sister has a beau, doesn’t she?
” Cliodhna licked her lips. Lyra’s mind spun as she refused to answer.
Cliodhna kept talking. “A human, I believe. He’s a sailor, actually.
Who often departs from Cork. Oh, take heart.
Wipe that depressing look off your face.
It was simply a matter of opportunity. When your darling sister Keira came to visit, I snatched her up.
Don’t you see? It was the only way I could get leverage over one of the maighdeann-mhara without ever leaving my waters. ”
“I’ll drown you for this.” Lyra let her fear twist into anger, allowing it to calcify in her bones.
You’re no good to Keira if you’re panicky and frightened, she reminded herself.
“You’ll drown a goddess of the sea?” Cliodhna threw her head back and laughed. “Not likely. I do admire your spirit, though. It’ll serve you well. Plus, you’ll see that I have no desire to harm a creature of the deep. Especially not one as beautiful as Keira.”
“So… I bring you this prince, Theo, and you’ll return my sister to me?” Lyra’s voice was as cold as the depths.
“Of course!” Cliodhna clapped her hands, and the image of Keira disappeared.
“Now, there are some stipulations. If you tell Calum or anyone about my plan, I’ll kill your sister.
If you try to get help from Manannán, I’ll kill your sister.
All you need to do is bring me Theo Welsh, and I’ll release Keira to you. ”
“Unharmed?” Lyra pushed. “You’ll return her to me unharmed and alive?”
Cliodhna’s smile was savage. “You are smart. Most people only tend to think about bargaining language when it comes to the fae.”
“You’re just as tricky.” Lyra spat, and Cliodhna blushed.
“Thank you!”
“It wasn’t a compliment.”
“It never is.” Cliodhna waved her hand in the air. “Anyway, my time is running out. Do we have a deal, Lyra of Moriston?”
Lyra thought she was going to be sick. She pictured her sister, alone and captured in Cliodhna’s grasp. She’d warned her sister several times that the love of a mortal man only ever spelled out danger for the maighdeann-mhara, but she never thought her sister’s downfall would come about like this.
“I don’t see how you’ve given me any choice.”
“There’s always a choice.” Cliodhna shrugged. “It’s simply a choice of your sister’s life.” The image of Cliodhna started to fade, and her temper escalated. “I’ll ask you one more time, do we have a deal?”
“Yes.” Lyra spat the word out as if it were food that displeased her. Cliodhna started laughing as she disappeared. Lyra jumped into the water where her apparition had been, slapping the surface of the river and cursing when it splashed everywhere.
“Damn you, Cliodhna! Damn you!” Lyra spun around, confirming the goddess was gone, and dove under the surface of the river.
She began swimming towards Edinburgh, whisking up the current.
She didn’t know where to start looking for the second prince—this was the first she’d heard of Calum having a brother—but Edinburgh was as good a place to start as any.
I’ll make you a deal of my own, queen of banshees. You’ll return my sister to me, and I’ll return your soul to the afterlife.