Siren Of Death

Silence

The ringing in my ears grows louder as I wail in agony. Please, God make it stop I can't bear it anymore. The darkness around me begins to fade and for a moment, I see a glimpse of brilliant, blue, glowing eyes before me. Hot breath caresses my face as I back away slowly. Fuck that hurts! A sudden sharpness, and a burning feeling in my back jolts my entire body to the ground. My breath becomes labored and the ringing becomes unbearable. Where am I? What is happening and why am I in so much pain? A warm liquid trickles down my spine and licks the back of my legs like fire. Suddenly a pair of hands grab me from behind and pull me into what I assume to be a table. If only I could see in this abyss. The weight of my frail body crashing into the solid object pushes any air left in my lungs to the surface of my diaphragm and escapes. A lantern is lit and a broad shouldered man in a white button up shirt approaches me. The light whips his face and as he kneels down before me. He appears to be speaking to me. My head grows heavy and my neck gives way to gravity, banging once more into the broken table beneath me. My eyes can no longer bear being open, suddenly the light that I once craved is too much and I give in to the urge to sleep.

Chapter One
Muffled voices rumble in my mind as I search for rest. I try to roll onto my side to find comfort to no avail. Something is keeping me from moving. "She's moving." A voice announces. "That's enough for me, wake her up." A low voice rumbles. "Your majesty if I may, an injury like hers will take weeks to heal even with magic. She may not even be able to speak at the moment." A timid voice announces. " Wake her Brighid, that's an order." The deep voice growls again. A cold and unfeeling hand tightly grasps my arm and my eyes rip open. The shock of the white light sends me into a dizzy trance. The beams pierce my corneas and I am forced to shut them once more. "Open your eyes and face me." The man commands as I open my eyes to a squint. The blurry outline of a man stands before me. "Who are you? Why did my men find you below in the kingdoms cript?" The blurry man demands the answers from me. I open my mouth to speak but my breath fails me. Pain envelopes my body with every inhale and I am lost in myself for a moment. "Speak!" The broad shouldered man yells. Once more I try to tell him that I do not know where I am but I am mute. My eyes have adjusted to the room and I am in awe of what surrounds me. Four large wolves with their teeth bared, six guards with spears pointed at my heart, one man who appears to be a doctor of sorts and a broad shouldered man with thick black hair, and pale skin adorned in heavy, golden armor. I try to point at my throat but come to realize that my hands are cuffed to the bed I am imprisoned in. I motion with my cuffed hand as if I am writing to try and tell the angered specimen that I cannot speak. "If you would like to do this the hard way that is fine by me. I shall rake the memories from your mind. You should know this is a very painful process and nothing shall be hidden. Your worst fears shall be presented to me as well as your intentions." The man's face curls into a smirk. "I shall enjoy your wails as I find where you and your nasty army have taken my sister." The daunting male approaches me with his hands raised at chest level. He grasps my skull in his large palms and I feel a vibrational pull into my mind.

"Artah, in time your song will play and the embers of the great Forrest will burn. Only then will it be your time to rule. We musn't rush fate." The man who interrogated me moments before speaks with such softness in his voice as he reaches his hand towards a slender woman with beautiful, long, black hair. "Brother, it is my time. I have heard my song in my sleep and I have seen the embers burn when I am alone in my quarters. Something isn't right, I feel it in my soul." A singular tear falls from the beautiful pale woman's cheek. A light breeze whispers through the trees and rustles the leaves at our feet. The concrete steps below us are cool and comforting against the warmth of the storm approaching " Artah, Aspen! It's time to come in. A great storm is coming to our kingdom." An unseen woman calls to them at the top of the elaborately constructed concrete steps. A vibrational pull begins within my mind once more and I am drawn out of this trance and back to reality. The tall man with dark hair releases my mind from his intense grip, a look of concern and bewilderment plastered across his face. "How did you do that? Don't play games with me girl." He orders as his large fingers latch onto my cheeks, squeezing them together. "I will not be toyed with witch, you will tell me what you know or I will kill you where you lay." The man throws my face back as he stalks towards the door. "Guards on me." He motions with his hands for them to follow as his vibrant red cape flutters with his movement.
The thick, wooden door shuts slowly as  my heart is left feeling heavy and somber. Like a longing that wasn't there before. "Don't worry ma'am, I am the supreme healer in this kingdom and it's my oath to heal the patients who enter this domain, on my life you will be healed." A man with chiseled features and golden, wavy hair reassures me as he lightly squeezes my forearm. I point towards where the black haired man escaped to and his head follows. "If you are indeed innocent the jury will spare you." He smiles lightly. "Healer Brighid," the tall heavy door swings open once more. "The meals you requested have arrived. 2 Dinners." The servant at the door, dressed in a clean uniform wheels the cart of food towards Brighid. The squeaky wheels come to a halt as he places a gentle hand atop the cart. "Thank you mirabell, you are as always, lovey. You may be dismissed." He hands her a shiny coin from his pocket as she bows and turns to leave. Turning to me, the handsome man lightly smiles once more as he peers into my soul. "You must eat, if u wish to heal." He grabs the closest plate and sets it in my lap. A beautiful aroma permeates the room and my stomach growls. " Ah, you are hungry." Brighid charmingly whispers in my ear. "You must stay cuffed, little dove, so It is required that I feed you." He huffs in my ear, chills run down my spine as his breath skims the side of my face. Shaking the feeling away, I nod my head reluctantly as he pulls away from my ear. Our eyes meet for a flicker of a  moment. I have not known the touch of my own kind. I haven't known close proximity up until now. My life has been one of pain and isolation, humans run when they hear my song. I'm a monster, nothing more. My eyes fall with sadness to the thin blanket covering me, I pick at it with my fingers as Brighid sits next to me, spoon in hand. He lifts my face with two fingers and urges me to take a bite. "One of our kitchen's finest dishes, it's called goulash." He takes a pause. "You really should eat even if you don't feel up to it. It'll help you heal." He pushes the spoon towards my face and reluctantly I open my mouth as Brighid places the spoon on my tongue. My eyes widen with enjoyment at the taste. "You like it?" He coaxes as he brings the spoon up to my mouth once more. I see him press his tongue to the roof of his mouth in anticipation for my next bite. The spices dance on my tongue as I mull the eloquently seasoned meat over my taste buds. The shiny spoon clanks against the beautiful golden dish and I look at the man beside me. Strong, boulder-like arms flex with each tiny movement he makes. His sharp facial features are so animated as he makes himself occupied feeding me. His brows are furrowed with slight concern. "You know what I don't understand? How is it that you found yourself in the crypt? I mean how did you get past the many wards and runes? Only the next in line to rule are welcomed passed the encryptions." As he speaks his brow furrows deeper and he brings the spoon to my lips once more. I motion for a quill and some parchment with my hand so that I may plead my case. "I cannot give you a quill, of course you know that? There are so many incantations that you could conjure up to get out of here, little dove." He shakes his head with confusion. "You do know that don't you?"  He drops the the spoon into the empty bowl and sets it back atop the cart. I shake my head side to side vigorously to inform him that I do not know. That I don't know the way of his people or of the place that I am in. "I-I must be off, the others will be hungry as well." He dismisses our conversation and stands to push the cart. Before I could think my hand clasps around Brighids wrist as if pleading him to hear me, pleading him to know the words that I can't not speak. His eyes meet mine once again and I feel a warmth over my entire body, a peace that I have never known, the pain disappears from my punctured lung and there is one word lingering in my mind. "Rest"