Siren's Kiss

49: Of All That Has Passed Part One

As the siren's blood floated above the ground, revealing a new path for them to follow, Lyra hurried ahead, tracing the walls with her fingers. But the tunnel that had just offered them a way forward only did so briefly; in the end, they found themselves trapped once more. Drake, whose patience was already wearing thin from the start of this journey, felt his frustration intensify.

"I be callin' horse shite on this! I say we blow this place to smithereens and haul arse outta here!"

Rowan glanced at Drake as if gathering the courage to empathize with his sour mood. "We apologize for making this difficult for you, my lady."

Drake's reaction was immediate, his glare sharp enough to cut. "Don't call me lady."

"Maybe you should just try to relax," Rowan pressed.

Drake's frustration spilled over. " Relax? I'm trapped underground, in a rat-infested tunnel that's been abandoned fer who knows how long! Our guide be off her rocker, an' we've been goin' in circles. What exactly should help me relax, eh?"

Sensing his partner's growing agitation, Ciel stepped closer, grabbed Drake by the collar, and silenced his complaints with a kiss. The others groaned, turning their eyes anywhere but at the couple. But it worked; the tension in Drake's face eased.

"Better?" Ciel asked, gently patting his cheek.

Drake pursed his lips, looking like he still wanted to grumble, but the warmth of Ciel's kiss softened him. "Fine..."

Their companions might have been dragged further into frustration witnessing their romantic gestures, but Lyra cut through the tension. "Wait, I've found something!" she exclaimed, her fingers working swiftly to dig into the stone. Everyone's attention snapped to her as she persisted in her task. Rowan, unable to watch any longer, joined her, and together they unearthed a small inscription of an Azure Kraken on the wall.

"It's here," Lyra declared, her confidence restored. Determined to regain Drake's trust, she pressed on, though Ciel knew better than to remind her that winning over the pirate was no easy feat.

Ciel felt a sense of certainty as well. He turned to Lyra, asking, "The Azure Kraken, the God Nerevarus, and that Leviathan above—what exactly are we supposed to find here?"

"I'm only meant to guide you. The past lies with you and your fated mate," Lyra replied.

Hawk, feeling a rare moment of satisfaction, added, "Well, mate, from here on out, you're on your own." He clapped Drake loudly on the shoulder, nearly throwing him off balance.

"You can't back away," Lyra interrupted, ruining Hawk's moment. "I've chosen you, Ladyqueen, and the Templar Commander to help pull them back if things go awry."

"Why us?!" Hawk's astonishment matched the surprise on his face.

"Because you three are stronger than the others. Your skills will be vital in assisting Ciel and Drake if they lose their way."

Rowan caught the implication. "What do you mean, 'if things go awry'? Where are we going? What's behind this wall?"

Ciel sighed. "Commander, with all due respect, standing here won't give us answers."

They all turned to the siren, whose resolve was clear. To Drake, this only affirmed Ciel's unwavering faith in the Phoenix God. From the start, even before Ciel accepted him as his alpha, Ciel had always believed the Phoenix God had a purpose for sending him on this journey. Now, as they stood at this critical juncture, Ciel's determination to understand his purpose and the unique power that set him apart from other sirens became even sharper, his responsibility even larger.