Siren Dreams (The Rise of Ares Book 2)

by Jade Frances

  “I love you too Rosemary, all of you,” he looked around at us again. Even Adam.

  “I wish it didn’t have to end this way,” Rose fought back a snivel.

  “Hush now, the two of you are impossible. Evvy come and bring me some joy.”

  I tried to smile at him. Letting go of Pearce, I ambled over and sat next to Rose. Reaching out, I placed my palm on my stomach.

  “Can you promise me one thing, Eve?”

  “Sure,” I mumbled.

  “Please learn how to make a killer cocktail and name it after me,” he rasped. I let out a small disheartened giggle, then let my tears fall freely. I nodded my head at him.

  “Ok, I promise,” I said between catching my breath.

  “Group hug?” He tried to lift his arms. Sandra was the first to throw herself onto the bed next to him. Then Rose and I followed. We laid there in his arms for a few minutes before letting the guys in. Each told him how courageous he had been and that he was going to be missed. I shuffled to the back, not wanting to say the word goodbye. As the guys said their piece, they began to leave. No one wanting to stay for his last moment. I tried to sneak out with them.

  “Evvy, hold on...” Taylor called to me. With my shoulders hunched, I made my way back to his bedside. He gestured for me to bend lower. “I want you to be the one to do it...”

  I blanched back, confused.

  “Do what?”

  His eyes looked serious, and he reached out to grab my hands.

  “To light the fire when they burn my body.” I recoiled from him in shock. Shaking my head, I turned my face away.

  “Please don’t Tay. I can’t do that,” I whispered.

  “Eve, you are the only one that I want to do it, now give me a cuddle goodbye and let me go to sleep.”

  I moved back to the bed and wrapped my arms around him. Sobbing into his shoulder, I let it all out.

  “I’m so, so sorry,” I murmured.

  “Listen, none of this is your fault. I love you like a sister. Stay strong for the others, Eve, please stay strong. Don’t lose yourself. Now go on, get out of here,” he chuckled then started spluttering. I gave him a hasty kiss on the cheek and rushed out. My heart breaking into a thousand pieces, I crumpled to the floor outside the main doors.

  ***

  The sun shone brightly on an otherwise bleak day. All dressed in black, we stood around the funeral pyre that Taylor’s body was raised up on. Avetta had made an appearance, turning up, as per usual, too late and with no explanation for where she had been. I glared at her from where I was standing with the girls on either side of me. The priest was saying kind words about Taylor, having known him from when he was young.

  “What a character young Taylor was, full of such energy and love...”

  I blocked out his voice and instead looked around at the turnout. Tears streamed down students and teachers’ faces. I envied the abundance of emotion that everyone could freely show. I hadn’t shed a tear since the machines had flatlined and Taylor had taken his last breath. I had built a wall around my heart and vowed never to feel the loss of someone again. No matter who it was. Losing Ava to the enemy had been hard enough. Losing Taylor to death had been excruciatingly painful. Rose nudged me with her ribs, and I looked at her quizzically. She nodded her head toward the priest, who was staring straight at me.

  “Evangeline, as per Taylor’s wishes. Would you do the honours?” He held his arms out to the pyre. Do the honours. Did he seriously just say that. Taking a deep breath in, I walked calmly to the head of the pyre. “May these flames cleanse you, may your spirit be free, and the ashes of your mortal body carry you safely into the next world.” The priest gave me the go ahead. Exhaling, I called my fire to me. I was aware of everyone staring. Aware of their judgement, and how they blamed me for this war. Standing a little taller, I made my way around the pyre. Setting small parts alight. Once I had finished, I walked back to the girls with my head held high. Let them all think whatever they wanted. Today was about Taylor.

  I watched his body go up in flames and unlike the others, I still did not shed a tear. I felt empty inside. Not even the darkness took precedence within me today. The flames flickered and danced. I turned my head away from the direction that the breeze was blowing in. I had smelt enough burning flesh to last me a lifetime. An hour went by, before people began to scatter off in different directions. They all remained in the clearing, but they huddled in small groups whispering. Not one of them had been told what had happened during the battle. Yet still rumours ran wild, and the stories carried through the groups. I glared at the group of younger students closest to us. They were gawping at us, some even sniggered. The disrespect in these children was unreal. They should thank us. Thank Taylor for giving up his life to fight for this hell hole.

  Adam came to stand next to me and pulled me in for a hug.

  “I’m sorry Evvy, I know he was your first friend in this world...” he released me from his hold and shuffled his feet left to right. I merely bowed my head in response. I had no words. Not for anyone. Nothing was going to bring Taylor back to us. Darryl was next to hug me, but he stayed silent. Losing Taylor must have been hard on him as well. They had always been close at Moorway House. Our guardians were standing behind us, on duty. I would have given anything to have Pearce hold me and tell me everything was going to be ok. But that was the old Evangeline. I had to harden myself. This was war. You win some, you lose some. We won. Yes, we had one casualty, but it could have been a lot worse.

  “Are you ok, Evvy? Something’s up with your energy,” Rose brushed my arm. I pulled it away.

  “Fine.”

  As the festivities went on, I sunk more and more into myself. They had dotted small campfires around the clearing. It wasn’t cold; they were supposed to be symbolic. I sat in the shadows, watching everyone swap their most memorable stories of Taylor. I looked at Sandra’s tear-stricken face. Then Rose’s blotchy one. The guys were holding themselves together well, but I expected nothing less. Avetta hadn’t approached us yet. She was doing her royal duty and making her way around the students and teachers first. I had no desire to talk to her. She was no leader. Not to me. She ran and hid whenever anything got tough. Left us to defend her people. No wonder it worried her I would gain followers. If I were them, I would ditch her as a ruler.

  I felt Pearce coming up beside me. He took a seat.

  “Thought you were on duty,” I said moodily, resting my elbows on my knees and my chin in my hands.

  “I am. But I had to check on you at least once,” he put his face in front of mine. “Are you doing ok?”

  “I am fine.” I responded dully.

  “No, you’re not, I can tell. But I’ll wait until you’re ready to talk to me,” he said and got up to leave.

  A buzz of energy entered the atmosphere, and I jumped up, spinning on my heels to face where it was coming from. Teachers ushered students into small groups. Fear laced the air. The guardians ran to the portal that was opening next to the pyre. I stood frozen on the spot. Pearce ran to join his brothers. Something fell through the portal and it swiftly closed. Curiosity got the better of everyone when they realised there was no immediate threat and they all moved forward as one. Darkness seeped into my mind and for a moment I thought I was going to black out. Then it faded to nothing. What was that? Pushing my way through the crowd, I began to make my way to the front. Leaning over people’s shoulders, I tried to see what all the mumbling was about. The guardians were huddled around someone on the floor. There was blood pooling on the ground.

  “Move,” I shouted at the few rows of people still blocking my way. I pulled students out of my way and eventually broke free.

  “Cole,” I whispered to myself when I saw him on the ground. I ran toward him and fought my way through the guardians that were trying to stop me. Dropping to the floor, I took in his body. There were deep gashes up his arms and legs. Blood was spilling freely from them. “Cole, look at me. What happened?” I pulled his
face to look at me. His eyes were glazed, but he was still conscious. His lips were moving, but I couldn’t hear him. I bent even lower, putting my ear to his mouth. My hair spilled over his face, obscuring him from the others.

  “He did it. Ares has risen.”

  I gasped and flew back at the same time thunder clapped through the sky. A shadow crossed over the sun and darkness descended on us. The only light visible came from the small flickering fires. I took another look at the wounds on his arms. Pulling up my sleeves to reveal my scars, I held my arm next to his. Identical. Gazing into his eyes, a memory flicked through my mind. Cole had been in the cavern. I knew he had been familiar. His eyes, they were so like mine.

  “Evangeline, step away from the imposter and let the guardians deal with him,” Avetta’s voice rang clear through the crowd. They parted, allowing her passage through. Darkness swirled inside me and I moved next to Cole.

  “No.”

  “Evangeline that is not a request. Move,” she bellowed.

  “I said no,” I shouted back. She walked right up to me and looked down. Standing with a scowl on my face, we were now at face level.

  “And pray tell everyone here, why you would protect an enemy…” She whirled around with her arms outright, looking at the crowd. I looked down at Cole, then out at everyone else. Pearce caught my eye, he was shaking his head and gesturing for me to move aside. Then I saw Theodore, who bowed his head with respect and mouthed stay true to yourself.

  “Well?” Avetta pushed. Her face was set with a stubborn gaze. I held my head high and cleared my throat.

  “Because he’s my brother.”

  The End.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Jade Frances caught the writing bug as a teenager and hasn’t looked back since. After years of writing for pleasure, she’s finally ready to share her storytelling with the world.

  As an avid reader and fan of YA fantasy, she looks forward to publishing her own tales filled with adventure. These days, beyond chasing after two children and dreaming up new novel ideas, Jade enjoys cooking, travelling, and exploring the picturesque views in and around her suburban River Tay, Scotland home.

  For more information on her books, and to pre-order book three in the series visit her website here: www.jadefrances.net

  Books In This Series

  The Rise of Ares

  Siren Calls

  A search for answers. A long-held secret. A call to destiny.

  Siren Rises

  Available for pre-order