The Sound of a Siren's Call

28.) The Moonlight Shone Bright

We didn't meet our quota that day, and Ryan held it against the older woman. I learned what that meant. No dinner. My stomach groaned in protest, but I managed to be still as I sat at the table.

Leland had been ecstatic when Ryan was at the dinner. I was invisible next to his sister.

It didn't matter. When the meal had concluded, we were among the first to get up. Castor and his crew were forced next to our company. They squeezed us over. I saw people curse, and then Castor was next to me. I held out the letter, not looking at him more than out of the side of my eye. He snatched the paper out of my hand, and then he was gone.

I'd done my job. It didn't make it easier to sleep on the hard floor. Instead, I lay awake staring at the ceiling. It didn't seem like anyone knew I was there.

I'd barely slept before Ryan was standing over me. I woke up to her poking my cheek. I grabbed her arm without thinking, but she pulled me to my feet before I could pull her over.

She held Leland's hand while simultaneously shoving me out the door. I stepped into the cool air and it was still dark.

She leaned over to Leland and then there was a dim light flickering around us.

"Do you all control fire?"

"No. It's elemental, each magic getting passed down through the bloodlines. Water and fire tend to be stronger than wind and earth."

"Can you have multiple?"

"It's very rare. The most common combinations are wind and earth together and water and fire together."

I nodded. "Where are we going?"

"To get revenge."

"Against?"

"The centaurs."

"What did they do?"

"Ratted on us burning their little swords."

"You."

"What?"

"They ratted on you."

"Yes, but it hurt all of us. They made a scene and they got the guards to put this," she shoved the metal on her wrist towards my face, "on us."

"What's to stop me from turning around and going back to sleep?"

"I could tell them about your little visits to your friends. But I won't. Just like you won't go back to sleep."

"Blackmail," I snorted.

"Blackmail isn't funny," she looked at me.

"On the contrary," I smiled, "because it only works based on the assumption the other person has something to hide."

"And you do."

"You can't prove that. You're not exactly a trustworthy character from what I can tell."

She froze.

"I am plenty trustworthy. And I could make you wish you were never born."

"Threats. Always a good way to get someone to help you."

"Don't be a smartass, Arriana."

I shrugged and took a few steps forward. "Give me one reason why I should help you."

"I already did."

"Give me one reason that's not a threat why I should feel inclined to help you."

"Fine. Sirens and humans have a sort of feud, right? Based off a wrongdoing on both sides. It's the same thing with centaurs. Now we need to get moving to pull this off."

"It's so stupid to maintain a feud just because," but she'd been right. I wasn't going back to sleep.

"Maybe, but it's the dance we're caught in."

"You could break the cycle."

"We need them to think we have more differences than we have similarities. When the time comes, I'll stand with the centaurs and they'll stand with me. For now, we need discord."

I looked at her. Her eyes were calculating. She was playing the long game. Who would win or what the game was a bit more tricky to try to puzzle out.

"What are we doing?"

"You'll see."

We walked to our spot, and it looked strangely desolate at night.

"Why aren't the other witches helping you?"

"Stop asking so many questions."

"They don't know. They don't approve."

"Fine! Maybe they agree with you. But they don't see it the same way I do."

"What's your plan?"

"I said you'd see."

"Not for tonight."

"You'll see about that too."

She looked dangerous in the darkness. Leland's light illuminated the centaur's area. Knives to carve the swords and wood lay scattered about. Ryan gathered up the wood. She turned toward the lake. Her goal was to warp the wood. Make it harder to work with.

Leland stared at me.

"We need to break the knives."

He made a fist and extinguished the fire burning on his fingertips.

He worked fast and so did I. I didn't know why. I didn't trust Ryan, but she did have a bigger plan. She knew what she was doing. I just hoped I did.

She came back with soggy wood, setting it down where she'd found it. Her fingers were interlaced with mine. She was out of breath and I was suddenly aware that her face was only inches from mine. For a moment I thought she was leaning towards me, but then Leland's fire was going again and we are running again.

Ryan pushed the door open and relocked it with a thin piece of metal. Leland stalked away, but she stayed for a moment.

"Remember when I said you're beautiful," I signed absentmindedly. Ryan smiled and nodded.

"I don't know how you do it," I mused, my muscles still burning from the run.

"Whatever it is, it's not as good as what you do." She walked away leaving me in a daze.

What was that? Why had I done that?

However hard I tried to be dismayed, I smiled to myself before I fell back asleep.

She really was beautiful, whatever else she was. If she had leaned toward me...

It wasn't worth pondering. It didn't happen. Darkness swallowed Ryan and her subtle flirt, and only the light of the rising sun would return them again.