The Sound of a Siren's Call

66.) The First Step Home

Juniper carried Castor most of the way. I took a deep breath. We'd need to go to pirate's cove. I hoped that we could somehow get by without being seen. If we were seen, I hoped that the ransom would be enough to keep us safe while we rested.

I swam, looking back at Juniper, holding Castor up. His head rolled, leaning on Juniper's shoulder. She met my eyes every time I looked at him.

She would need me to take him before we got to the cove. I knew that. I would need to save as much energy as possible.

I missed my boat. My father would probably also miss the boat. Dragging Castor behind us would be preferable to this. It would've kept him drier, safer.

I moved forward, my tail flicking as though without my consent. I was barely aware of where I was anymore. I could feel that we were moving closer toward the pirate cove. I looked back over my shoulder.

Juniper was falling behind. I'd have to take Castor to the island. I moved toward her. I wrapped my arms around Castor's waist, but she held on fast. I tugged gently. She would struggle to take him to the island.

She reluctantly let go. I pulled him into me. His skin felt cold. I pushed forward. Juniper was next to me now, moving faster.

I could see the island, a dot on the horizon. As we moved forward, I could see masts, like a giant warning of where we couldn't go.

We started to curve, moving toward the side of the island the pirates rarely frequented. It wasn't as rich in natural resources, and a harder place to dock. Luckily for us, we wouldn't be docking. That was a perk of being a siren, I guessed.

We moved in carefully. No one saw us. I took a deep breath. That was good. That made the next part of our journey home much easier.

I swam toward a rock, just off the shore of the island. It would stay above water when the tide came in. I could see the waterline, about two inches below the surface. I lifted Castor up, pushing him onto the rock. His feet hung off. I pulled myself up, my tail burning in the open air. I pushed his feet onto the rock.

I sighed as the water was back on my tail, cool and soothing. I looked at Juniper, on a rock a little further in. I'd need to keep watch while she slept. I leaned against Castor's rock, ready to watch for anyone intruding on us. I wasn't sure what'd I do if I did see anyone, but it would be better to know.

I watched, the sun inching across the sky. I didn't do anything until I looked up at the rock. Castor had moved. I pulled myself back up, letting my tail burn, objecting to the dry air.

He was sitting, propping himself up with his arm. He hadn't been awake for long.

His lips moved like he hadn't fully registered who I was. I stared at him, waiting for him to realize. He froze, raising his hand, looking at it like he'd just realized it was his.

His movements were halting. "Where am I?"

"Safe for now."

He was warming up now. "Where are we going?"

"To my father."

His face dropped. He didn't want to seek refuge from a pirate. I had known he'd been hesitant about my plan, but he didn't seem to have an alternative. That was Navy 101, avoid pirates at all costs.

He just had to nod, not finding an alternative. He looked over his shoulder, scanning the island for Juniper. She was still fast asleep. He must've been satisfied because he relaxed.

"Can you keep watch?"

"For what?"

"Anything, really. Pirates mostly."

He nodded. I slipped back into the water, letting myself drop below the water. I swam to Juniper's rock, careful not to disturb her. She deserved the rest. I resurfaced several feet away, resting my head on the rock.

I stared awake, looking at Juniper, her eyes pressed shut. She was beautiful, in that divine way that all sirens were. Did I look like that? I'd never thought of myself as pretty. That'd never been my strength. My father had never taught me to rely on looks or songs or anything of that kind. He'd taught me to leave someone dead before they could register if I was pretty or not. Had Ryan thought I was pretty? Would she have entertained me if I wasn't?

I let my eyes follow Juniper's jawline. Would Castor have like me initially if I hadn't had some siren in my blood? I hadn't given him any reason to like me. Juniper was remarkable, even without her beauty. He couldn't fall out of love with her if she wanted to. I guess that was her charm.

My humanity wouldn't keep anyone enthralled, not the way Juniper could. I watched her, her chest rising and falling. She looked so peaceful. Had I ever looked that at peace with the world? I'd never felt that way.

It didn't matter. Sleep wasn't finding me. I gritted my teeth. I could force it to come. I would force it to come.

It didn't help. More thoughts came, like a whirlpool of thoughts I didn't want to be having.

I was always tactical in a way my mother wasn't. My mother relied on power. I didn't. I relied on the gleam of a sword. I was my father's child. I'd never considered being my mother's child. I was, though, wasn't I? My tail flicked, as though to confirm it was a gift from her.

The sirens who'd taken Castor had learned sign language. Had my birth forced South Hellendun to learn sign? No, no I thought I remembered stories about pirates signing before I did. It was practical, with cannons blasting louder than voices could shout. Crews came from all over, so a common language was a necessity. Of course, it was.

The sirens hadn't known the language, but they did now. I squeezed my eyes shut. Sleep would find me. It had to.

My head was buzzing. I tried to clear it, but it was no use. My head buzzed as I slept, a string of turbulent dreams carrying me through the world of dreams until Juniper shook me awake.