Sins of the Father // Book 2 of the Siren Series

Chapter 2: Hollow

Chapter 2: Hollow

‼️⚠️TW: some mentions of gore ⚠️‼️

Years Ago
Nanda Parbat
League of Assassins Base

"Focus."

Cora could hear Talia's voice, even as she was submerged underwater. Her hands were tied behind her back, and she had a ball and chain around her ankle, weighing her down. Today's training: underwater breathing.

Cora's eyes flickered around in the water as she looked up at Talia. Small oxygen bubbles escaped her nose, but she still had plenty of breath to spare. The water was calm, peaceful, and she didn't remember the last time she had been in it. The League didn't know she could breathe underwater, but she didn't care much. She just enjoyed the feel of the cool waves brushing past. Suddenly, Talia grabbed her shoulder, yanking her onto the surface.

"19 minutes, 53 seconds!" She cheered, "A new record."

Cora chuckled softly, wiping her face off with a towel, "It helps if you know what you're doing."

She looked up to see Ra's Al Ghul standing there, his arms folded behind his back. His brown eyes stared into hers, and he clicked his tongue.

"Those waters are meant to kill humans," he murmured, "Only the strongest can survive them."

Her eyes widened, and she picked at the hem of her pants, not quite meeting his gaze.

"What are you?"

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18:45
1 Day after the Fallout
Wayne Manor

Cora sat on a hospital bed, picking at her lips. The thin, starched sheets crinkled as she moved, and she stretched out her leg, trying to shake the pins and needles feeling in it.

She was a mess.

Her eyes were sunken, her once bright emerald eyes a dull green. Her lashes stuck together, a bright black against her pale lids. Her skin was ashy, a shade lighter than her normal olive texture. Her hair had lost its shine, matting around her head. In the six months since Orm had been murdered, she had lost weight. She was barely hanging on, and her mind was fragile. She rubbed her eyes, trying to blink away the lasting effects of the sedative, her body feeling heavy. If she toppled over, she was sure her body would shatter into a thousand pieces.

A soft knock came from the door, and she pushed herself up, fixing her posture. She noticed she was no longer wearing the days old clothes she had been rotting in at the computer. Instead of sweatpants and a hoodie, she wore soft linen shorts, and an oversized band tee. The rough logo of the Slipknot tee slid across her fingers as she touched it, and she furrowed her brows.

"Earth to Cora."

She looked up to see Dick standing there, a tray clutched in his hands. She could see a small smile on his face, but she could feel the worry radiating off of him in waves. He swayed slightly, seeming to be contemplating something, before sighing and walking over to her. He handed her the tray, which she gratefully accepted, and he sat next to her. He propped his elbows on his knees, folding his hands under his chin. His raven hair curled around his eyes, and she could see them moving rapidly around as he formed a thought. As he did so, Cora took a small bite of the meat on the tray.

"I'm sorry."

His whisper filled her ears, and she stopped chewing for a moment to process what he just said. She swallowed her food, placing her fork down, turning to him.