Hubris (Book One of the Siren Tragedies)

Punishment

Telese took her seat again slowly, never taking her eyes off of her father's. The rage was giving way to the beginnings of fear. There would be no way of avoiding whatever punishment he had planned for her.

Alexandros looked around the room. "You've all dropped the ball. You have been far too lax in your attention to detail and your responsibilities. If I were cruel, I would wipe you all out and start anew."

He paused as he let his daughters and granddaughters shift uncomfortably. "I would do this, but I am willing to give you all another chance. You will all do as I say. If you cooperate, we will see a balanced society flourish. Failing to do so will not only be the end of humans but the end of the Sirens as well ."

He let the last sentence hover over them. "Are there any more questions?" he asked. Although the question was put out to all Sirens, his eyes fell on Telese.

Telese and her sisters stayed silent. Alexandros glanced around the room. "Very well. You are all dismissed. Telese, I would appreciate it if you would stay behind a moment so that we might address your concerns."

As they left with the others, Roxy and Layla gave her a worried look. Just behind them, Morgan glanced from her to their father, as if trying to think of something to say that would help her little sister. Telese motioned toward the door. The sooner everybody was gone, the sooner this would be over.

When the room was empty, Telese stood up from her seat and walked to where her father was standing with his back to her. She tried to keep her steps steady and confident, even though her legs were shaking.

"So," she said, trying to sound as blasé as possible. "How do you want to do it this time? Burning? Salt in wounds ? Maybe another stint in the Correction Rooms while you let humani—"

Suddenly her voice caught in her throat, and she couldn't breathe. It felt as if she were drowning. She reached for her throat, but her fingers and toes began to burn a little more each second until it felt like her hands and feet were in the middle of the hottest fire—wherever she touched, her skin burned. In her abdomen, there was a pain—dull at first, it started to grow in extent and sharpness until it felt as if every organ was being shredded with a rake and then ripped from its place in her body . Through it all, she couldn't scream; there was no release of pain that was building in her body. She felt tears fall from her eyes and, like acid, burn her cheeks raw. Even crying offered no reprieve.

Alexandros turned now to face her, and through the blur of her tears, she saw his eyes glowing like illuminated ice. "Now, as you appreciate the bare minimum of my power over every bit of your existence," he said calmly as Telese struggled to stay on her feet, "let's clear something up."

He knelt down as her legs finally gave way. "I am very tired of having to reprimand you, Telese. You've been nothing but a mouthy, questioning little brat since you could talk," he lamented, ignoring her choking gasps for air, "I feel that I have been extremely generous to you. Not only have I allowed you to continue working as the Lead Diplomat, but I have allowed you to continue living." He reached over and grasped her chin in his hand, digging his fingers into her cheeks until it drew blood under his nails. "If you do not shape up, this generosity will end. Do I make myself clear?"

Telese tried to respond, but she couldn't get any sound out aside from a gasp.

"I require an answer, Telese," her father informed her, as though the lack of answer was entirely her choice. "Otherwise we can sit like this all night. Do you understand what I'm telling you?"

Through her pain, Telese managed a short, affirmative nod. He let her go and gave her cheek a sharp, back-handed slap. She fell backward and landed on her side. At once, all of the pain stopped, and she could breathe again. Gasping loudly for air, she wrapped her arms around her body, still sore from her punishment.

Alexandros rose to his feet again and walked away from her. "I have a new assignment for you—a search and recovery mission of sorts." He turned to face her again as she struggled to her feet. "I've lost an important book. I'm afraid it's in the hands of humans. I need it back, and it's your job to find it."

"A book? Where is it?" she asked hoarsely.

Alexandros sneered. "If I knew where it was, I wouldn't have you search for it, would I?" He turned away from her. "I believe it may be among the humans, and that is all I know. You need to find out who has it, if anybody has been reading it, and if there are any plans to use anything from it. Then you will dispose of those who have laid eyes on it and bring it back to me."

Telese was perturbed. She had been saving the world from total annihilation since the dawn of humanity, and now she was being told to find some lost property, yet alone a book? It was insulting. "What's so important about this? What's in the book?"

Alexandros didn't turn to look at her. He didn't give her any more regard. He just tossed one word over his shoulder in a tone that suggested that the conversation was over and her job had begun.

"Everything ."