Chapter Fifteen
As we talked and laughed, the wind drifted a hushed melody towards us. It was beautiful and sad. Then, the singing grew louder and broke through our celebratory dinner that consisted of fish the crewmen caught. It was familiar and as the eyes of the guys around me glassed over, I understood why. We were under attack by sirens. They found me and islands had to be a cursed for me to stay on.
I pushed my way to the front and gasped at the number of sirens that were poking their heads up in the water. They were singing in harmony as the sailors—my new friends and family—slowly danced to the water’s edge.
“Stop,” I yelled and the singing paused.
One of the sirens stepped onto the land and I recognized him immediately. He was the one who killed my mom on our home island. Rage burned within me and the clouds reacted as thunder boomed. He held up his hands and the singing ceased.
“In light of what we witnessed with the Kraken earlier and just now, you have to come back to Siren’s Call with us,” he said and kept his arms up.
“Why would I do that if all you’re going to do is kill me?” I asked.
“Unfortunately, we can’t do that now, but I suggest you come willingly. If not, we’ll kill everyone else on this island while you’re forced to watch.”
I ground my teeth. I didn’t want to go with them, but knew I had to when my eyes found Steel. He was staring at me lifelessly and my heart clenched. None of the men on this island deserved to face the wrath of the sirens because of me. Especially not after what they’ve already lived through.
“All right, but I’ll only come quietly if you let me say goodbye first.”
“Why would you want to say goodbye to these greedy humans?” He frowned in disgust. “They kill and steal from each other.”
“Look, I don’t know you and you don’t know me or them. Don’t stand there and judge any of us. I want to say goodbye and that’s not negotiable.”
He blinked at me and I was waiting for the quick no. Instead, he said, “Very well, but make it quick.”
The male siren waved his arms and Steel’s spell was broken. Everyone else was released as well, but Steel was the only one I was focused on at the moment. He blinked away the confusion and drew his sword. I placed my hand on his and lowered his weapon. His gaze finally found mine and his comforting arms pulled me into him.
“What’s going on, Sera?” he asked and I would never get used to the sound of my name as it left his lips.
“I have to go with them or else they’ll kill you,” I replied solemnly.
“No way. You’re not leaving me. Not without a fight at least.”
“Steel,” I breathed as I reached up to nuzzle my nose into his neck. He groaned, but I didn’t let it distract me. “I’m sorry, but there’s nothing you can do. The sirens can lead everyone on this island to their watery graves if I don’t. I won’t let that happen.”
“You don’t always have to protect us,” he yelled and pulled away from. He shook his head. “You can’t leave me.” His voice was barely a whisper that time and it was full of desperation.
The same feeling welled in my chest, but there was no other way to protect them this time. I stood on my toes to reach his soft lips. The sirens began muttering their disapproval, but we both ignored them.
“I have to, but I’ll find you again even if it’s the last thing I do,” I vowed and placed my hands on his cheeks. The stubble scratched at them and I’d miss that feeling.
His fingers tightened on my arms to hold me in place. It was rough, but didn’t hurt. “But you said they want to kill you.”
“I love you.” The words had come out of their own accord, but there was no taking them back once they were spoken, especially since they were true.
My lips connected with his soft ones again and he responded passionately as he deepened it. It was a plea for me to stay.
“Until we meet again,” I said as we parted and looked behind him at the siren I was quickly starting to loathe.
The female sirens began singing again and I was released from Steel’s grasp. My arms became cold without his touch and I had to force myself to move away from him. I reluctantly draped his coat around his shoulders and followed the male siren. It became harder and harder to move as my steps brought me nearer and nearer to the water.
I stole one more glance at Steel until I was shoved into the water by the male siren. I needed to learn his name so I could curse it with every breath I had left within me. His fingers latched onto my wrist and it made my skin crawl.
For Steel’s sake, I allowed the siren to tug me farther and farther away from him and the others. They were the second family that was taken from me, but at least they were still breathing. I vowed to myself that I would find them again. Not only for Steel, but for me too. He’d claimed me as his and I didn’t want to change that now. My heart still called for him. The distance between us wouldn’t change that he was mine as well.
I didn’t know how much time had passed, but we weren’t as far from Siren’s Call as I believed. At first glance, it looked like a pile of rocks sitting on the bottom of the ocean, but my disappointment was quickly replaced with awe as they took me through a small opening. Even though we were underwater, we broke through what felt like a giant air bubble, except there was now light instead of the dark, endless water.
“How is this possible?” I asked as a grand castle came into view.
It had two waterfalls on either side of it and sirens lazed about in the various pools. They all stopped what they were doing as they caught sight of me. It was an oasis located miles under the surface of the ocean. Miles under the island that Steel was on.
“It’s magic that can only be maintained by the siren king or queen. Without them, it would slowly fade away,” he answered. “That’s where I’m taking you—to see the king.”
My mouth dried but I didn’t say anything. It wasn’t like I had that much of a choice now. I was in their domain and my life was in their hands now. Finding Steel gave me a purpose, so I wasn’t ready to give up on breathing just yet.
The castle was made of beautiful stones and pearls. There were no doors as the male siren and I entered. The others who’d been following remained behind and my hands clenched at the desire to throttle the siren escorting me. But my surroundings swiftly halted that thought.
The ground was cold and dry. I had to be dreaming. None of this made any sense. There were lines of columns made of polished stone that held up this beautiful structure. At first, I couldn’t believe my dad left this place willingly, but I understood that I wanted to do the same thing for Steel, even though this was paradise. I’d finally understood how my dad felt all those years ago.
Once I managed to stop myself from gaping, I realized we were approaching a golden throne with red rubies lining it that was placed in the center of the room. A throne that had a man sitting in it. A man that looked familiar. A man that made me freeze in my steps. A man that looked exactly like my father. My father who was supposed to be dead.
His eyes pierced through me as he rose from his seat and opened up his arms in a welcoming gesture. A golden crown rested on his head. He motioned for me to come closer, but my knees had locked up.
“Sera, it’s okay. It’s really me,” said the recognizable voice of my dad.
That familiar sound was all it took and it had me running into his outstretched arms like I was a little girl again.