Siren

by Jessica Wayne

  “That’s just great for you,” she muttered. When she turned back around, he was gone.

  “How are you feeling?” Anastasia asked when she rolled over the next morning.

  Dakota lay awake beside her, staring at the ceiling.

  “Like crap.”

  The bags beneath his eyes had gotten heavier, and the heat coming from his body was enough to make her sweat even with the chill in the air.

  “Dakota, let me heal you. Please.”

  “Fine.”

  She ignored his tone and pressed a hand to his forehead. After calling for her healing magic, she poured it into his body, and pictured it erasing all of the sickness. When she opened her eyes, he looked even worse than before.

  “What the hell?”

  “What?” He turned his eyes to her, and the blue was a little dimmer than it had been before.

  “My magic isn’t working on you,” Anastasia said, fear kicking her in the heart. If her magic wasn’t working, did that mean the Siren really had somehow poisoned him?

  He coughed. “What do you mean, it’s not working?”

  “I mean, I just poured a whole hell of a lot of magic into you, and yet somehow, you look worse.”

  “Maybe you aren’t supposed to heal basic illness.”

  She shook her head. “I’ve done it before.” Anastasia climbed out of bed, and dressed quickly. “I’ll be back.”

  He nodded briefly, so she stepped out into the lightening sky and made her way toward the village.

  Everyone was still sleeping except the Fighters who were on guard duty, so after a brief wave at them, she climbed the steps to Tony and Elizabeth’s cottage.

  “Anastasia, is everything all right?” Elizabeth asked sleepily. Vincent’s son was awake and in her arms.

  “Dakota’s sick.”

  “I knew he wasn’t feeling well earl—” she started, but the panic must’ve shown on Anastasia’s face because Elizabeth’s eyes widened, and she said, “I’m coming.”

  After telling Tony where she was headed, Elizabeth shut the door gently behind them, and together, they quickly walked back to the cabin. Anastasia tried to push the fear out of her mind, but the possibility that the Siren had, in fact, poisoned Dakota, kept creeping back into her thoughts.

  Anastasia pushed open the door, and after stepping inside, Elizabeth handed the little boy to her.

  “I’ll be right back.” She gave Anastasia a nod of understanding, and disappeared into the bedroom.

  “Hi,” Anastasia said to the little boy.

  When he just stared at her in response, Anastasia set him down on the couch and began to pace. Minutes felt like hours while she waited for Elizabeth to come out.

  Someone knocked on the door, and Anastasia paused. “Come in.”

  Selena stepped inside, her face paling slightly when she saw the little boy staring at her from the couch. “Oh, I’m sorry. I brought you some stew for Dakota.”

  Anastasia smiled. Selena had always been one of the most maternal people she knew. “Thanks.”

  “He okay?”

  “Elizabeth is in there with him now.”

  “Can’t you heal him?”

  Anastasia shook her head, not wanting to admit to Selena how her powers weren’t working on him. “He said people get sick sometimes, and he shouldn’t get special treatment.”

  Selena smiled. “Sounds like him.” She stood awkwardly, watching the little boy. “What’s his name?”

  Anastasia shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “Vincent Jr., or Vinny,” Vincent said from the corner.

  She ground her teeth together. “I’ve been calling him Vinny,” she said, ignoring Vincent so as not to alert Selena that the dead man responsible for the deaths of her children currently stood in the corner of the room.

  “Hi, Vinny,” Selena said softly as she took a seat on the table across from the couch. “My name is Selena.”

  “Hi,” he whispered softly.

  “What do you like to play with?” she asked him.

  Anastasia glared at Vincent, who watched Selena intently from the corner. There was something on his face, a softness she couldn’t remember ever seeing before, mixed with something she could’ve sworn was guilt or regret.

  “Anastasia!” Elizabeth called from the bedroom.

  Anastasia shot to her feet, her gaze flicking from the kid to the bedroom.

  “Go, I’ve got him,” Selena offered.

  After a split second of hesitation, she ran into the room. “What is it?”

  Elizabeth’s eyes were wide, and her face had paled considerably. “I don’t know. His temperature is sitting at one-oh-three point two. His pupils are dilated, his skin is ashen, and I can hear fluid in his lungs.”

  “Oh, come on. I don’t look that bad.” Dakota groaned and coughed.

  “You stop right now, Dakota George. You’re in bad shape.”

  “What do you think it is?”

  Elizabeth shrugged. “It could be pneumonia. Can you heal him?”

  Anastasia shook her head and wrapped her arms around herself.

  “Her magic didn’t work on me.” Dakota grunted.

  “What?” Elizabeth looked at Anastasia, her eyes wide with alarm.

  “I don’t know why, it just didn’t work.”

  “He needs antibiotics,” Elizabeth stated. “Can you take me to Seattle? I can see about grabbing medicine from the hospital. I still know some people there.”

  “Yeah, we can go as soon as you’re ready.”

  “We need someone to watch him while we’re gone.”

  “I don’t need a babysitter.” Dakota tried to sit, but fell back against the pillows. “Just let me die in peace,” he whined.

  “You shush,” Elizabeth scolded. “No one is dying today.”

  “Says you,” he muttered, and even with the fear in her heart, Anastasia bit back a laugh.

  “You’ve always been such a baby when you’re sick,” she teased.

  Dakota lifted the arm that was draped over his eyes, and shot her a glare.

  “Where is the boy?” Elizabeth asked Anastasia.

  “With Selena.”

  “She’s here?”

  Anastasia nodded.

  “We can have her hang around.” Elizabeth stood. “If you need her, call out, okay?”

  “Yes, Mom.” Dakota closed his eyes and almost instantly began snoring.

  Elizabeth and Anastasia crept into the living room where Selena played with Vinny. He smiled brightly at her, and Vincent still watched them from the corner. While Elizabeth spoke to Selena, Anastasia made her way over to him.

  “She is kind with him.”

  Anastasia folded her arms and whispered, “Well, she did raise two children until you got them both killed.”

  “I did a lot of things I’m not proud of,” he said through a tight jaw. “We all make mistakes, don’t we?” He eyed her.

  Truth was, both Brady and Sarah’s deaths were on her hands, too. Whether Vincent had orchestrated them or not.

  “Ready?” Elizabeth asked.

  Anastasia nodded.

  15

  Seattle

  Anastasia

  Anastasia and Elizabeth stepped out of the portal and into Dakota’s family home.

  “Wow, still looks the same,” Elizabeth commented. Anastasia could see she was avoiding looking at the old family pictures still decorating the walls.

  “You okay?”

  Elizabeth hadn’t been back to the house she’d shared with Dakota’s father, George, since she’d moved out a little over a year after his death.

  She nodded sadly. “Just still is a little hard.”

  Anastasia squeezed her arm gently before following Elizabeth down to the garage.

  Since Anastasia hadn’t driven since just before she’d gone to Terrenia seven years ago, Elizabeth climbed into the driver’s seat, and they made their way toward downtown. The sky was grey, which did little to lighten Anastasia’s mood. She
couldn’t stop thinking about what the Siren had said to her. What gave the creature the confidence to be so sure Dakota would go to her?

  How the hell was Anastasia supposed to stop something that was completely immune to her power?

  “Do you think the antibiotics will help?” she asked, pulling her attention away from much darker thoughts. Elizabeth nodded.

  “I’m sure it’s just pneumonia.”

  “I hope so.”

  “It is strange though, why you couldn’t heal him.”

  “Yeah, I’m not exactly sure why that is. I’ve never had an issue with illnesses before.”

  Elizabeth shrugged. “Honey, sometimes people just get sick and nothing but time can heal them.”

  Anastasia smiled. Dakota had nearly said those exact words to her.

  “Has he had anymore run-ins with the Siren?” Elizabeth asked.

  “Not that I know of. I blocked all power other than my own from the cabin, so she can’t portal in.”

  “Can she get in at all?”

  “Unfortunately, I can’t bar her from physically walking in, but if she does, I’ll know about it.”

  “I wonder why she chose him? Out of everyone, why is it Dakota she set her sights on?”

  “I have no clue. He said the dreams started a few months ago, and I’ve been trying to figure out where she might have seen him. We’ve been traveling so much lately that it’s possible, but I think I would remember if we’d actually had any contact with her.”

  “It’s certainly strange,” Elizabeth added as she pulled into the parking garage. “Let’s hope Richard is working.”

  Dr. Richard Speight had been providing Elizabeth with medicine for the last two years, whenever she needed it. They had him convinced she was working with a wealthy client who chose to remain anonymous.

  One large donation from Dakota’s father’s retirement fund had backed their story, and the greedy doctor had been more than happy to help them.

  The hospital was just as it had always been, bright and bustling, and Anastasia did her best to focus on their mission. She hated hospitals, always had and probably always would. The sterile smell that tried so hard to cover the scent of sickness and death filled her nose as they moved toward the Chief of Medicine’s office.

  “Elizabeth!” He greeted them with a smile. “To what do I owe this visit?”

  “Can we talk in private?” she asked sweetly, and he nodded. “I’ll be right out,” she told Anastasia as she disappeared inside.

  16

  Seattle

  Elizabeth

  Elizabeth stepped into the pristine office and forced a smile. Richard was arrogant and greedy, and being in such close proximity to him wore on her patience.

  “So, what can I do for you?” he asked, taking a seat behind the rich mahogany desk that probably cost more than operating a single wing of the hospital for a month.

  “I need some antibiotics. My client has a nasty case of pneumonia.”

  “Oh, well, I’m sorry to hear that.”

  She nodded. “I will pay for the medicine, just like always.”

  “Well, we have a bit of a problem, I’m afraid.” He stood and gave her a condescending smile.

  “And what would that be?” Elizabeth asked tightly. Dick, she added silently to herself.

  “Well, I was able to go against hospital policy and allow you to care for your private client before due to the sizable donation he made. It was a way to let the board know we would be receiving compensation even though you were caring for him at home.”

  “That hasn’t changed.”

  “No, but it’s been two years, and I’m afraid we need another show of faith.”

  Greedy bastard. “Unfortunately, my client will be unable to furnish you with an additional payment at this time.”

  Richard grimaced. “Well, then I’m sorry to say we can’t help with the antibiotics. Of course, if your client wants to receive the medication, he is more than welcome to come in to the hospital.”

  “You can’t do this,” she growled. Dakota’s life was on the line; there was little chance he would survive without the medicine. Not in the shape he was already in.

  “I can,” he said simply. “And I am.” Richard returned to his chair behind his desk.

  Elizabeth slammed her hands down on the smooth surface, and Richard jumped slightly. “This is crooked, and you know it!”

  He barely flinched. “You had your chance to run this hospital and you chose to move into the private sector instead. That is no one’s fault but your own.”

  “You bastard.”

  He smiled. “I’ve been called much worse. Now, please go.” He dismissed her with a wave of his hand, and Elizabeth briefly considered sending Anastasia and her sword in here.

  She’d be willing to bet this coward would have a change of heart if her daughter-in-law got her hands on him. Instead, Elizabeth straightened and offered him an aggressive sneer. “You will regret this, Dick. I’ll make sure of it.”

  Elizabeth stepped outside and walked to Anastasia, who was standing in front of one of the large windows.

  “Did you get it?” she asked.

  Elizabeth shook her head. “Apparently, they want another donation.”

  “We gave them nearly everything.”

  “I know. Dakota can come stay here. They can’t turn down his care then, but as far as me getting anymore prescribed medicine, we’re SOL.”

  “You can’t write the prescription yourself?”

  Elizabeth shook her head. “As far as this world’s concerned, I’m no longer a practicing physician.”

  “I’ll go deal with him.” Anastasia started toward Dick’s office, but Elizabeth gently grabbed her forearm.

  “As much as I’d love to see you kick his ass, we still need this hospital. Dakota is going to have to be seen.”

  “Fine.”

  Had she not been so frustrated and stressed herself, she could have appreciated Anastasia’s need to deal with her old colleague. But the thought of her son suffering erased all humor from the situation.

  Dakota was her entire world, the last shred of her normal life with George, and she’d be damned if she lost him.

  17

  Seattle

  Anastasia

  The drive back to the house felt like it took an eternity as Anastasia stared out at the now-rainy sky. She wished Elizabeth would’ve let her kick the door in and show that jackass just what being greedy got you, but also understood why that would’ve been a bad idea.

  Dakota needed help, help that apparently only the hospital could give them. Still, she didn’t exactly understand why they couldn’t have kicked his ass and just gone to another hospital.

  Elizabeth parked the car in the garage, and they made their way into the house.

  “Everything will be fine, honey.” Elizabeth gently squeezed her arm, and Anastasia smiled.

  “I know.”

  “You can’t keep me from him.”

  Both women spun toward the kitchen. Rosabel stood near the sink, about two yards away from them. How quickly could Anastasia close the space between them? Every nerve in her body went on high alert, and her hand itched for a sword that would do her no good here.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” Anastasia growled.

  “You can’t keep Dakota from me,” Rosabel said easily. “He is mine, and I will have him.”

  “You can’t have my son,” Elizabeth said as she moved to stand beside Anastasia.

  Rosabel’s head turned to the side to study Elizabeth. “I know you,” she said softly. “He told me all about you. But he thought you were dead.”

  Anastasia looked over at Elizabeth. Her face had paled considerably. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “You can deny it all you want, but you have his scent.” Rosabel smiled. “I can’t wait to deliver the news of your return.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” Anastasia demanded.

 
“You will know soon enough, Sorceress. You will bring him to me, or I will drown everyone you care for. I’ve already started,” she said with a sick smile. “Dakota is mine.”

  “What the hell do you mean you’ve already started?” Anastasia asked, her stomach filling with stone-heavy dread.

  “I will continue visiting your friends until you give him to me. It’s your choice after all. Many lives, or the life of one man.”

  “You mean to kill him?” Elizabeth asked shakily.

  Rosabel cocked her head to the other side. “Of course not. He will be my mate. I will give him the children you refuse him,” she said to Anastasia. “How foolish of you to deny him heirs. The throne needs heirs,” she said softly.

  Anastasia’s hands clenched into fists. “Our life is none of your fucking business.”

  “It is my business because he is my mate.”

  “He is not your mate!” Anastasia screamed.

  Rosabel smiled darkly, and her emerald eyes sparkled. “He will be, or you will be the only one standing after I kill all those you care for. I will have what’s mine, Sorceress. He promised.”

  Before Anastasia could respond, Rosabel turned into water and disappeared into the sink.

  “I hope she ends up in the sewer,” Anastasia grumbled, rubbing her eyes with the palms of her hands.

  “What did she mean she already started?” Elizabeth asked.

  “I don’t know, but we’d better get back to Terrenia.” She waved her hand, and a portal appeared. The swirling blue light absorbed them as they returned home.

  “What throne?” Anastasia stepped out into the familiar air of Terrenia, thoughts of their conversation with Rosabel taking up root in her mind.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Rosabel said the throne deserves heirs. What throne?”

  Elizabeth paled slightly, but she assumed it was because of their interaction with the Siren. “I wish I could answer that,” she said with a shaky smile, then made her way into the cottage where Dakota slept.