Shattered Souls

Chapter 1

By the time the sun rose over the water, I'd been awake for hours. My eyes ached from being open for so long; my head was aching, every throb pulsing in time with my heartbeat. The few hours I'd managed to doze off might as well have been nonexistent.

They'd been anything but restful. Nightmares had plagued me, so I woke up soaked in sweat, biting back a scream. It was the same scenario over and over, to the point where I'd all but memorized the scene. I'd swum to Aegrem in a panic, unable to stop hearing Waverly's voice. Aunt Izzy and Uncle Kai had found me at the entrance, their faces worried and eyes filled with concern as they took in my frantic stance.

Despite the panic and despair that had been whirling around inside me, I'd taken a deep breath and recounted what had happened up until then. Aunt Izzy's voice had been small when she'd spoken, filled with concern and fear. "'Is there anything we can do to help?'"

I'd started to shake my head but paused. "'Can you two go to Pelathas and explain to my parents and Jonah what's going on? I left a note, but I think they'll feel better hearing it from you.'" I knew it was cowardly, but I couldn't afford to stop for a second time. I knew that if I did, I wouldn't be able to start again.

Even then, I could feel the adrenaline fading from my body, leaving a lingering sense of exhaustion. Uncle Kai had noticed, putting a gentle and steadying arm around my shoulder. "'You need to rest. Why don't you come back to Beltmare, and we can figure this out—"'He didn't get a chance to finish.

The word was out of my mouth before the thought finished forming. "'No!'" My voice broke as I looked down, struggling to control my emotions. When I'd voiced the following words, my heart had irrevocably shattered. "'It may be too late.'"

That's when it happened again—ten times stronger. "'Faye, please. S-she says she'll kill me if you don't come. Please." Her fear had been palpable—it was like she'd been right next to me. As if things couldn't have gotten any worse, a familiar tune had reached my ears.

Sister Siren, we gather together
From lakes and ponds and seas and oceans
Ready to put our plan into motion
Come one, come all, to the place where it all began
Listen to my voice, heed my call
Come one, come all
Sing our song, sing along

I'd been shaking with fear, barely able to process my emotions. I'd known hearing the Siren Song was anything but a coincidence—they'd been trying to draw me out. Uncle Kai suddenly touched my arm, his grip gentle but firm.

"'Faye.'" His voice had been deadly calm, though edged with panic.

Heart in my throat, I looked up, following his gaze. Never expecting my worse nightmare—the thing that I'd always been terrified of but had never realized until this moment—to come true. Waverly had been floating beside Kailani, the latter holding a dagger to the former's throat.

Despite the situation, Waverly had been remarkably calm. She hadn't been crying—had been entirely silent. She seemed to be in shock. Her face had been deathly pale, eyes impossibly wide.

"'Well,'" Kailani had said, voice filled with the usual smugness. "'Here we are.'"

I'd put my hands out before me as I inched closer. "'Please. Let Waverly go, Kailani. I will do anything.'"

No one had spoken. It was like all the sea creatures had been holding their breath. I'd been able to tell by the look in Kailani's eyes that the following words would change everything. I was right.

It was when I'd seen movement out of the corner of my eye that I'd torn my gaze from the scene before me. Laguna had silently swum up beside me, tears staining her cheeks. When she'd locked eyes with her daughter, a sob had escaped her lips; when she'd looked at Kailani, Laguna had gone so still I hadn't been able to tell if she was breathing.