Sly as a Siren

Part 9

Knowing that the hunters were here was a daunting realisation, but it didn't hit home like she thought it should. There were many hunter clans and they were large mercenary families that fought for the loot and for whoever paid the highest.

One thing was certain, if they tried anything funny with her, she was going to enjoy wetting her claws on their blood. She had been waiting fifteen years now for the privilege. The army contract wouldn't be enough to stop her, she had made sure of that when she signed up.

She rolled herself up in the course wool blanket, laying her head on her folded jacket for a pillow and closing her eyes. Plans, courses of action scrolled through her thoughts, as she mapped out the smartest route. Because she was off army payroll in three years and she intended to make a clean getaway, anything that would help with that was the direction she would take.

A smile split her face in the dark as her mind worked. She could have some fun with this, mischief that had been denied her for the past fifteen years. It could certainly be enjoyable indeed! She was a siren after all.

She informed Rock of her orders to change barracks. He didn't press to know where or why like Pip or Rayvn might have, but there was a knowing look in his eyes that said he had a good idea as to why.

Her possessions were mostly limited to weapons, and when Zane showed up to escort her back to demon quarters, she shoved the crossbow, and a full quiver of bolts into his hands. She in turn shouldered the battered short sword she had been given when she joined, a shield and the plethora of knives in a leather bag, the ones she couldn't easily hide on her person.

"This all?" Zane questioned, was he proud or amused by the fact that she carried so much weaponry, she couldn't tell.

"All that matters," she retorted, she was still sore with him.

They made a silent trek through camp, avoiding the main roads through, ducking around the backsides of tents, back to the original shining dome of magic that the half-demons had led her to.

She didn't look forward to settling into demon barracks, it had to be common knowledge among them now that she was Zane's sister, they wouldn't try anything stupid. Still she found herself loath to face the demons that shared the tents within the dome. Curiosity was not limited to the human species, and she had a strong premonition that her presence would be considered a spectacle. What was she going to do when it became well known what it was that she hid behind her illusions?

Sirens were different than a majority of other demon classes, being matriarchal, or a female run unit, was strange even outside of demon classifications. The fact that she was really still a child by demon standards would protect her from anything more than their curiosity and for that she was thankful.

The thought of dropping her illusion was really a two-edged sword, one that could have the potential to be turned against her. It would drive home the reality of her youth to the demon population, she was fully aware of the fact that subtle thralls with no true strength but definite pull could be made using physical appearance, not just on humans but demons also. Her true childlike physique would call upon a demon's defensive instincts she thought. What it would do for the humans, was unclear.

For the time being she would remain as she was, human in figure, even though her association with the demon faction in the prince's unit would name her as being something else among the rest of the soldiers. Problems may arise, though she thought she would be able to handle most of it without too much trouble, given the cover of suspicion such an association would give her. Unless the hunters caught wind and decided to corner her on the issue, a worst-case scenario that she would have to do her utmost to avoid. Given the circumstances she would have to rework her illusions so that they would be easy to disband if the situation called for it.