The Siren

Chapter 2

My head was throbbing the next morning as I propped it up on a fist during breakfast. The previous night was spent tossing and turning, thrashing in bed. It was an exact replica of that first night—flashes of faces, a glimpse of red hair, hearing the distinct sound of singing.

But there was one specific thing that had been different—which was interesting, because aside from those three things, I hadn't noticed anything else. I'd followed the sound, swimming straight into a clearing filled with red coral and seaweed. As I'd slowed, glancing around at my surroundings, a chill had run down my spine. I'd spun around, wishing I had a weapon of some sort.

"Hello?" I'd called out, my heart pounding. When the voice answered, I'd almost cried out in shock.

It'd been clear, silky—alluring. "Sister Siren, we've been waiting for you. Come home."

I'd went rigid. Aside from the singing, there hadn't been any voices. My heart had started pounding, violently enough that I felt dizzy. "Hello?" I'd called out again, breathing shakily. "Waverly, if that's you—"

My words had been cut off by singing. Closer this time, but when I spun around again, there was no one there. Same words as last time. "Siren call, where are you?"

I was pulled out of my thoughts by a hand on my arm. I blinked, disoriented as if awakening from a dream. Mom was glancing at me, concern and worry in her eyes. "You don't want to be late for school, honey. Waverly's waiting for you."

I inhaled sharply, nodding. Pushing away my barely-touched food, I kissed both my parents and waved to Drew as I swam out of the dining hall. I knew that when it came to most jobs, I was particularly lucky. I was able to balance both work and school by alternating—school one day, work the next, and so on. Calder, despite his bedside manner, was very accommodating. He'd agreed almost immediately.

Of course, work and school were both equally draining. On top of that, I had the nightmares to deal with. As if in response, my head gave a burst of pain and I bit my tongue, hard. Waverly was talking, but I didn't even hear her. I couldn't hear anything aside from that voice, as clear and silky as it'd been in the dream.

"'Sister Siren, we've been waiting for you.'" I shuddered as we reached the school. I glanced up at the position of the sun, gauging the time. We had about five minutes until class started. I could feel Waverly staring at me, but I couldn't meet her eyes.

Mrs. Jessica smiled at me and Waverly as we swam in. "Good morning. Have a seat and we'll get started." Her gentle, warm voice calmed me down almost instantly.

I went through school in a daze, fighting off the exhaustion of last night. I answered when called on and when spoken to, but they were just vague, one-word responses. It was only when we were leaving the building hours later, the headache almost unbearable now, that Waverly spoke.

"Are you okay? I'm worried about you." Her words were tinged with concern.

I glanced around, making sure we were alone. Then, leaning in close and lowering my voice, I spoke. "Have you ever had any strange dreams?" My voice was almost a whisper, but I knew she heard me.

She frowned, face creased with concern. "What kind of strange dreams?" Her words were equally as soft, her eyes focused on me.

I swallowed hard as the words again surfaced in my mind. "Last night was the same as the previous night's—I saw flashes of faces, a glimpse of red hair, heard the distinct sound of singing." I was about to continue, but Waverly spoke before I could, cutting me off.

"Wait. Are you telling me last night wasn't the first time you've had these dreams?" I almost winced at her voice—the worry buried under sharp anger. I shivered. She'd never been mad at me before—never even raised her voice at me, nor me at her.