Siren

by Jessica Wayne

  Siren

  Prophecy Series Book 4

  Jessica Wayne

  Siren

  by Jessica Wayne

  Copyright © 2019. All rights reserved.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, businesses and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, places, or actual events is entirely coincidental.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Edited by Jessa Russo of Russo’s Editing Services

  Proofread by Dominique Laura

  Cover Design by Covers By Combs

  Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  The final installment is coming!

  From The Author

  About the Author

  Also By Jessica Wayne

  Prologue

  Luxe World: 10,000 years ago

  Thames

  Black cape billowing behind him, Thames made his way to the castle that stood as a beacon to his people. A beacon he would either rule, or see crumbled to dust beneath his boots. Through death and destruction, he marched, as his followers slaughtered all those who stood against him. It didn’t matter that they were his people; they were weak.

  Weakness was something he would never tolerate. Not even from his own kind.

  He made his way up the stone steps and into the foyer of the place he’d grown up. The place where he’d learned what his people were truly capable of, if only their current ruler would embrace all the power of their world.

  “Brother,” Larynt said in warning.

  Thames turned around. His younger sibling stood behind him, sword drawn.

  Blood oozed from the wounds scattered across his pale skin. His bright amethyst eyes pleaded with Thames, the black pupils widening with hope that his brother wasn’t too far gone.

  Oh, how wrong he was.

  “Larynt,” Thames said tightly. “Where are our parents?”

  “You have to stop this madness. It is not too late.”

  Thames laughed. “It is not too late for you to join me. Do you not realize what our people are capable of? We could rule together, Brother. Side by side. You with the power, and me with the throne.”

  “I have no interest in the other worlds. They are not ours.”

  “But they could be. With the flick of Father’s scepter, we could own them all.”

  “Why? What reason would we have for that?”

  Thames stared at Larynt with surprise. How was his brother so blind? “Power, brother. The ultimate power.”

  “You have been corrupted. Please, let me help you.” Larynt lowered his sword slightly and took a step closer.

  Yes, come closer now, Brother. Let me show you what I am truly capable of. “I am not the one in need of help.”

  Larynt stepped closer still, his eyes softening with pity. It took everything in Thames to not attack immediately for that alone. How could his brother not see it was their world in need of that pity? A world that could rise to greatness if only their father would embrace the power.

  Once Larynt was within reach, Thames spun, kicking his gut and sending his brother’s sword clattering to the ground.

  Thames lunged at Larynt, sliding his hand around his brother's throat.

  “Please don’t do this, Thames. We’re brothers,” he choked out, but Thames heard nothing over the sound of his own blood pounding in his ears.

  “Blood means nothing to me.” With his free hand, Thames reached for the blade secured at his lower back. Releasing his brother, Thames brought the blade up and sliced it through Larynt’s tender flesh. His brother’s blood splattered him, but he paid it no mind as the body crumpled to the floor, Larynt’s head rolling off to the side.

  There was no sadness in Thames' heart, no grief at what he had done. Instead, he smiled, and his amethyst eyes glowed with more power as he absorbed his brother's essence.

  “Now, Father, where are you?” he called to the empty hall. He set out to find his father, locating the older man in the throne room.

  The king sat on his ruby-backed chair, his eyes boring into Thames’. Not long ago, that stare had intimidated Thames, had made him afraid of what might come.

  But not now. In fact, it thrilled him to witness pain hidden beneath those icy depths. Good, now you will feel what I felt when you pushed me to the side.

  Thames focused on the scepter to his father’s right. The gold enfolded a giant sapphire, the power source for his people.

  “Whose blood do you wear now?” His father's booming voice held a power Thames couldn’t wait to have in his possession.

  “Your son’s.”

  The king's eyes widened. “You killed your brother.” It was a statement, not a question, and Thames smiled as he nodded.

  “His essence was delicious.”

  “Why are you doing this, Thames? Did I not show you enough compassion?”

  “I am tired of watching our people waste the power at our disposal. We could create and rule all the worlds, and yet, you are content to sit here and share our people’s secrets with Larynt.”

  “So, that’s what this is about? That your brother was next in line for the throne?”

  “He didn’t deserve the power.”

  “Our power cannot be handled by those who would choose to wield it the way you wish to. The scepter chose your brother at birth. It was my fault for not killing you the second I knew what you would become.”

  “I was a child and the eldest son!”

  “You were a monster. Your mother took pity on you, and therefore, I let you live against my better judgment. I saw what you were the moment you took your first breath.”

  Thames' hands clenched into fists. “Where is Mother now?” he asked, realizing he hadn’t seen her, dead or otherwise, since he’d stepped into the castle. She had betrayed him when she’d supported the passing of power to her younger child. A transfer that would have taken place tonight had Thames not intervened.

  “Gone.”

  “Where?”

  “You will never find her.”

  Thames closed the distance, and the king rose to his feet. “You will tell me where she is!” he growled as he reached for his father. “Perhaps you sent her home? Back to that pathetic world you picked her up from?”

  “You will not harm her!” The king flung the scepter to throw his son back onto the ground.

  Thames didn’t budge, and the king’s eyes widened.
<
br />   “Neat trick, isn’t it, Father? You are powerless against me.” He pulled the glowing emerald from beneath his shirt. “This is my power and the power of those I have slaughtered. I do hope to add yours to it soon.” He knocked his father aside and grinned as the scepter fell from his grasp.

  “How did you become this way, Thames? How is it you were born a monster?”

  “I am not a monster. I am a god.” He pulled the dagger out of his waistband and knelt, pressing his knee into the crest on his father's tunic.

  “Tell me where she is.” His plan would only work if he killed every last Luxe in his bloodline.

  “I will never tell you where she is!” His father raged.

  “Then you will die knowing I will scour the worlds searching for her. She will not birth another son to take away my power. It is mine.” He drove the dagger down into the center of the dragon on the crest.

  His father would never rise again as the primitive creature their kind eventually became once death took them.

  Instead, he would just fade away.

  As his father’s essence poured into the amulet on Thames’ chest, he smiled. It is time.

  The ground shook as his father took his last breath, and Thames stood ready to accept the power that was his birthright.

  He lifted the golden scepter with a victorious grin and walked to the balcony to look out over the war that was still raging below. His followers were winning, and before long, they would snuff out the essence of all those who stood against him.

  He held the scepter high above his head, and the sapphire glinted in the light. “I am king!” he yelled for all to hear, and the war stopped. The Luxe people turned to him, eyes widening, weapons falling to the ground. Fear replaced the looks of determination below him, and he looked up to the scepter, curious what it was they were looking at.

  The light inside the sapphire went dark, turning a milky black, and the world beneath him began to shake.

  New screams pierced the sky as dark threads shot from the ancient gemstone, weaving their way like fingers down the stones of the castle walls, and into the ground below.

  The ground cracked, fissures opening up as far as the eye could see. Those that didn’t fall into the emptiness ran, trying to escape the threads of black pouring from the gemstone.

  As the threads made their way through the crowd of Luxe below, those trying to escape fell to the ground, the life being sucked right out of them. They morphed into something from nightmares as their bodies transformed to what Thames could only describe as living death.

  Sores opened on faces that contorted into monstrosities that only belonged in nightmares. Eyes fell from their sockets, the screams turning into nothing more than gargles for help. Please for mercy from whatever awaited them.

  He held the scepter in front of his face as his father's words rang in his head, “Our power cannot be handled by those who would choose to wield it the way you wish to. The scepter chose your brother at birth.”

  “How is this possible?” He howled into the ever-darkening sky. “This wasn’t supposed to happen!” He never wanted the destruction of his world! Thames had only wanted to rule and bring the Luxe power—his power—to its full potential!

  He stared down at the scepter once again and held it in front of his face. “I am the only living heir to the throne! You will accept me as king and give me the power that is my birthright! Stop this assault!”

  Nothing happened as the scepter shriveled and turned to dust before his very eyes. Thames howled in outrage, and as he stood alone above the decaying bodies of his people, Thames vowed to fix his world, find his mother, and destroy all the worlds in his way.

  1

  Guisnow World: Present Day

  Anastasia

  “Sorceress, thank you so much for coming.” Queen Orlaith pulled Anastasia in for a tight hug before stepping back.

  “We cannot tell you how grateful we are for your service.” King Cormac bowed his head kindly.

  “I am grateful for your friendship,” she responded easily. “We are happy to see you’re flourishing.” Anastasia looked around the once barren landscape. When she and Dakota had first stepped foot into the Guisnow world, it had been an icy fortress, incapable of supporting any life other than that of its occupants.

  Now, though, deep purple flowers sprouted up despite the blanket of snow, showcasing in deep hues against the pale landscape. Children laughed as they ran through the bustling city, their parents watching from afar.

  “It is strange to think Vincent’s power reached as far as our world. We never realized the effect he had on our land.” Cormac followed her gaze.

  Anastasia nodded. “Terrenia is doing much better as well. The darkness stopped, and while we still haven’t fully healed, it ceased spreading.”

  “Terrenia will heal,” Orlaith promised. “It just may take more time since your home took the major hits.”

  “Thank you,” she responded, although a part of her wondered if Terrenia would ever fully heal.

  “It is always great to see you both,” Dakota offered.

  Anastasia studied her husband. She knew the traveling was wearing on him. She’d hoped by now they would be done with all the traveling, but as soon as they thought they were close, another matter came up, and they were summoned away.

  She understood now why Monique hid away like she did. Anastasia didn’t support ignoring the needs of others, but she at least could see now why Monique chose to stay hidden even after she’d come into full power.

  Being at the beck and call of others didn’t bode well for a life away from the magic.

  Anastasia waved her hand, and a portal appeared behind them. The power had come to be second nature for her, and it used little effort on her part for them to travel.

  “Are you headed back to Terrenia?” Orlaith asked.

  Anastasia nodded. “For now.”

  “I hope you find some relief, Sorceress. We wouldn’t have called you had it not been urgent.”

  Anastasia offered a kind smile. “I know. That’s what I’m here for. I’m glad I was able to help your daughter.”

  She looked down at the young girl cradled in Cormac’s arms. She would be nearing two years old and had come down with a sickness none of the Guisnow cures could heal.

  Anastasia had been able to heal the young princess, and in doing so, proven herself to the remainder of the species she’d yet to meet.

  “Good luck, Sorceress. Go with the strength and hope of those who follow you.”

  Anastasia and Dakota stepped through the light and into their home. She could feel herself relaxing as she took in the familiar space. They both disarmed, and Anastasia breathed in deeply. They’d been traveling so much over the last two years that she felt they’d barely been back.

  At first, their trips had been to heal those who needed help. She started with the Fawnis’ world, bringing it back to its former glory. After healing the land, she’d been able to send them home, and they’d flourished ever since.

  The Mamsets were still in Terrenia, having taken up residence somewhere outside the village. With Violetta gone, they were the last of a dying race.

  After taking care of the Fawnis, Anastasia and Dakota spent time with the Jaitu people, helping them rebuild what Vincent had destroyed.

  It had taken weeks of back and forth, but now, the Jaitu world looked as if nothing had ever happened on its life-filled, jungle landscape.

  Anastasia’s goal had been to unite everyone and make sure no one like Vincent was able to take advantage of the division between the worlds again.

  “So.” Dakota ran his hand through his hair as he leaned against the counter. “Seems we are getting to the end of this.”

  Her heart jumped, knowing what conversation he was about to start. She wasn’t ready, not just yet. “Maybe, once some time passes, I’ll feel better about where we are.”

  “It’s been two years of peace, Ana.”

  “I know, but I just feel l
ike we aren’t done yet.”

  “Ana, listen—”

  “Didn’t your mom say she wanted to meet for dinner tonight?” she interrupted.

  He stared at her for a moment and then let out a breath. “Yeah.” His response was clipped, but she hoped after some time with Elizabeth and Tony, he would feel better.

  She just wasn’t ready yet. Things had been entirely too peaceful. It was only a matter of time before the other shoe dropped. Why couldn’t Dakota see that?

  When you spent your entire life fighting war after war, it was hard to accept when it was over. Hell, maybe for her it never would be.

  Right now, all Anastasia could do was put one foot in front of the other, and continue doing what she was doing, in hopes that eventually she would feel at peace. Until then, the idea of a family was nowhere near the front of her mind. The fear of Vincent and his Brutes returning and taking her child was still very much alive in her mind. That, and the strange amethyst-eyed man who’d promised retaliation.

  They stepped out into the sunlight and made their way down the path toward the village. The wall still stood, a reminder of the horrors they faced two years prior during the war on their doorstep.

  Overall, though, Terrenia looked just like it had when she’d first arrived. Better even. Much like in the Guisnow world, children ran laughing through the village with not a care in the world. War was the furthest thing from their parents’ minds as they watched on with smiles.