Huntress (Steve Rogers AU) 18+

6

It surprises me just how calm and collected Lady Sarah is. Delicate hands clasped in front of her ornate dress, she keeps her head held high, showing no signs that she is afraid, but that she is the one who calls the shots for this conversation. It makes me wonder whether she is like this to all her courtiers - making sure they know who it is that they are speaking with. Something tells me that she is not a woman to cross. 

But how does she know about me? Or does she think that she knows and yet could be completely wrong? The world is filled with different kinds of folk other than mortals. Scarlet witches, Chitauri, black widows, faes and more. Each have their own stories derived from myth and legend as to how they came to be. Sirens are no different.

"It's been years since seeing any of your kind in these parts - but that is not surprising". She says, gliding over to the table and pouring some wine from the pitcher into a cup. "After all, anyone finds out then you'll be condemned for sure".

Is that a threat? At this point she is hard to read, so instead I silently keep my guard rising until I know what her intentions are. 

"And what is it that you think I am?" I now ask confidently - thinking that maybe I can somehow make her believe that I am of mortal blood.

Her eyes pierce into mine as she takes a silent sip from her cup and then swallows. "You're one with the water... a siren". My heart is pounding now that she has said it, but I try to keep like I have no bother of this. "You cannot deny your heritage".

"It is not mine to deny..." I simply tell her.

"You're not a pure blood then?" She questions.

Sirens born from sirens are referred to as pure bloods, simply because they were not humans who were taken by the water. Mother is one.

"No". I reply, "but before you call your guards to have me locked away, I would like to know how you could tell what I am".

She smiles and crosses the room to the window, cup to hand and taking sips every now and then. "I am not going to have you arrested Hale, nor will I say a word when it comes to your secret. Nothing we say here today goes beyond this room".

"But why?" I frown, curious to know why she isn't calling her guards to lock me up. This woman clearly has some kind of agenda for me going on in her head, and I'm not sure if I'll like it or not. 

"Because I was once like you too".

The revelation hits me like a punch to the stomach. It's something I would have never expected, let alone the fact that she used the word 'once'. Still, it explains a lot just by looking at her now. The power she possesses or at least from how she has put it. Possessed. 

"I don't understand?"

She beckons me to join her at the window. "How do you think I managed to win a man like the High Lord?" She smirks, "I wanted more from life and even back then our people were being hunted. So I decided if there was a choice of living or dying? I wanted to live, but a rich life. It didn't take much to win Joseph over , after all it's what we do best isn't it? And once he had asked me to marry him, the water granted me mortality. So I took it. After all, it meant no more keeping secrets, no threat of being found out. I regret nothing. No other Siren has ever achieved what I have".

It was a silent victory on her part, and one that I now find myself admiring her for. 

"And the High Lord doesn't know?" 

"No, and why should he? After all I'm no longer what I once was, and even after gaining mortality it has not changed me, other than I do not possess any powers anymore - well, apart from being able to still tell just who is of Siren blood or not". 

I look to her. "Why are you telling me this when you've never once breathed a word to anyone else?" 

She takes another long sip of wine, before smacking her lips in satisfaction at the taste. "So as you know that you have an ally in me - just as I hope that I have one in you?" She eyes me. "It's not easy being who we are. Of course any other folk can claim they are hunted too, but no one takes more hits than us...the singing murderess' of the water". 

She's not wrong there. People don't even like Scarlet Witches and yet even they are not as hunted as Sirens are. 

"I haven't killed a man in so long, part of me was beginning to forget what I am - just like I've all but forgotten who I was before". 

"Human". She reminds me. "You were human and still posses qualities of one. Even if you think you have, you can never truly forget". 

I know have the urge to ask the burning question. "What does mortality feel like?" 

She pauses before sighing happily. "Freedom, but with that also comes the consequences. You feel weaker, tired - at first I did find the change hard, but knew that I had chosen the right path". 

I'm not sure that I could ever give that up. Even if I wanted to for my own safety. At least with my power I know I can defend myself - but even the strongest of mortals can die. The situation is like a double edged sword, but Sarah is a rare exception of showing just how strong a Siren can be to have everything that made her what she was, taken from her. And yet here she is still standing years later with everything to show for it. 

Grandeur. 

"My son thinks highly of you, and you did him a great favour in saving his life. But it was also a very dangerous choice that you made". 

"It would appear that Lord Steven was not going to take 'no' for an answer". 

Sarah nods. "A trait he no doubt picked up from his father in that respect", now looking to me. "You should have said no, because now you will be at risk of exposure here. I can do what I can if anything should arise, but you need to have your wits about you Hale". 

I nod. "I know what the risks are, what I may be up against". 

"And yet you wish to stay?" 

The look I give her now is one of determination. "I am not afraid if that is what you are thinking. I have a job to do, and I will go about it with discretion". 

She nods her acceptance of this, possibly hoping that I wouldn't be as stupid enough to stay in a city where anyone could turn up and realise what I am. 

"Then you are a far braver woman than I ever was..."