Sirens

Chapter 12

When I open my eyes again, the first thing I see are the rafters of a ceiling.

As last night's events start to resonate in my head, I bolt upright. My chest heaves as I pant heavily.

Blood rushes to my head and I drop it into my hands as it spins.

I hear a shuffle of movement and look over to see a middle aged woman with silver eyes and gold hair curiously staring at me.

"Who are you? And where am I?" I demand.

"The Isle of Lost Sisters," the woman replies with a slight smile.

"How did I get here?"

"I found you at the bottom of the ocean and brought you back."

"How did you find me?"

"I had a feeling someone was in danger and needed my help. And so I found and rescued you." The woman's back turns as she places something on the table behind her.

"But how did you get to me? I was at the bottom of the ocean."

There is a moment of silence before she answers, "I'm a siren, like you."

"Is that what they're called?"

"Yes."

"What are they?"

"Daughters of the Moon."

"But the Moon Goddess is a virgin," I point out. According to the werewolves, the Moon Goddess is a virgin, who mates werewolves to others because she can't find love of her own.

The woman's laugh surprises me. "She hasn't been a virgin for a couple of millennia."

I frown. "But the werewolves told me-"

I'm cut off as the woman shakes her head and walks over to the bed I'm lying on. "Those wolves know nothing. They are also children of the Moon as well, though they do not deserve to be worthy of that title," she adds bitterly, sitting down on my bed.

"What do you mean?"

She begins to tell me a story. "In the beginning, there were two divinities. The Star Goddess, Nebula, and the Sun God, Heliosa. The two fell in love and gave birth to the Moon Goddess, Serene."

"There's more than one divinity?" I ask abruptly, interrupting her story.

"Yes. Now, Serene was happy with her life, but quickly grew bored of it. So for her first millennia, her parents constructed the world we live in now, just for her. Later came the humans and animals, but with this world started out with two gods - the Water God, Stefan and the Earth God, Killian.

"Over time, Serene grew close to Stefan and the two eventually fell in love. The couple didn't tell Heliosa and Nebula because they wanted to take things slow.

"But the couple didn't know Killian was watching from the sidelines. Killian was insanely jealous of Stefan, because he also loved Serene. So on her second millennia, Killian asked Heliosa and Nebula for Serene's hand in marriage.

"They agreed to it because they saw no other problems. At this time, Stefan and Serene still hadn't announced their relationship yet. Heliosa also preferred Killian over Stefan, because he had spent more time with him.

"Angered at the decision made without consent on her behalf, Serene declined the proposal and eloped with Stefan. After Serene became pregnant Heliosa summoned his daughter to his palace.

"When she arrived, Heliosa demanded that she leave Stefan and marry Killian, or he would force her to. Serene refused, and so Heliosa banished Stefan to the bottom of the ocean. Heliosa gave her the same offer again - marry Killian or face the consequences of her refusal. When Serene refused once more, Heliosa beat her and killed one of her unborn children.