When she finished talking, she glanced at Caleb. She thought he’d be livid hearing that someone had kidnapped her; however, he seemed calm.
“Did you hear anything else about Alexis?” Scarlet asked.
“No,” she answered. “As far as I know, the sirens aren’t communicating with her at all.”
“That’s what they’d like you to think,” Lancer said.
“True.” Scarlet tilted her head, as if contemplating Julia’s words. “But I think that if Alexis was a part of this plan, she wouldn’t have let Julia go.”
“How did you find out I was gone?” Julia asked. “Was it Sierra?”
“No,” Lancer said. “Caleb informed us. Thank goodness for his ability.”
Julia turned to him, puzzled. “What ability?”
Caleb waited a moment before responding. “I’m a dreamwalker,” he said. “Sometimes I can see into others’ dreams.
Last night I saw the siren enter your dream and hypnotize you. That’s how we knew where you went.”
Julia stood up from her chair. “A dreamwalker?” she repeated. “You can enter into my dreams? How long has this been going on?”
Caleb opened his mouth to respond, but she didn’t let him.
“So that’s the reason I keep dreaming about you? The whole summer you were inside my head invading my dreams?”
He looked confused. “I could only enter your dream last night because that siren invaded it first. This is the first time I’ve ever entered one of your dreams, I promise.”
Silence reigned again, and Julia regretted her foolish words.
“Let’s let Julia go and rest for a bit,” Liam said. “She’s had a long night. Can we continue this meeting after dinner tonight?”
Lancer nodded absently, staring out the window.
Julia rose from her chair and walked to the door, her face burning with humiliation. Now they all knew that she dreamed about Caleb—a lot. It was a miracle Terrence wasn’t there to hear it.
“Julia,” Lancer said before she could leave. “Keep in mind this must be kept confidential.”
“What about Sierra?” she asked. “What am I supposed to tell her?”
Lancer and Liam exchanged glances. “For now, you can’t say anything.”
“Dad,” Julia began, “Sierra won’t tell anyone. I can’t keep something this big from her.”
“Julia, do not tell her. Do you understand?”
She opened the door and left without answering. She wouldn’t say another word against him, but she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of answering either.
She walked up the marble staircase toward the girls’ dormitory, tired and confused.
Why was Lancer angry with her? She hadn’t done anything wrong. The sirens had kidnapped her. And why did it have to be kept so confidential? She couldn’t help that she was a siren, nor could she keep it a secret forever.
She started her shower, feeling hesitant as she watched the water. Hopefully Loretta wouldn’t contact her again anytime soon.
Once she had dried her hair, Julia dressed in her warmest clothing, still chilled from the icy swim earlier.
Half of the school day was over, and Julia tried to be inconspicuous as she entered her third-hour class.
“You are more than twenty minutes late to class.” Ms.
Dour scowled. “That’s unacceptable, Ms. Levesque.”
Julia stood right next to her and spoke quietly. “If you could please talk to my dad about this, he’ll explain everything.”
“Very well.” Ms. Dour turned to her board and began scribbling notes about Ossain history. As her lecture went on, Julia slid into her usual chair next to Sierra.
Sierra hit Julia on the arm, her eyes wide. “Hello!” she said. “Where were you? Do you know how scared I was?”
Other students in front of Julia turned around too, eavesdropping.
“I’ll tell you later,” she whispered.
Unfortunately, Julia had no idea when she’d be able to tell Sierra about Sirenity, and for the rest of the lesson, Sierra looked completely irate.
As Ms. Dour dismissed class, Julia pulled Sierra out of the room. They sat down on a secluded stone bench, and Sierra turned to Julia, folding her arms.
“Listen,” Julia began. “I did disappear last night, and, believe me, I would love to tell you exactly what happened.
But I can’t.”
Sierra opened her mouth to say something but then shut it again.
“I’m so sorry,” she continued. “But until I sort things out with my dad, I can’t say anything. Not to you, not Gabe, not even Terrence. My dad is already upset with me, and if I say anything—I’m afraid he’ll pull me out of school or something.”
Sierra unfolded her arms, looking concerned. “Is everything okay? Are you in danger?”
“Everything’s fine, for right now,” Julia answered. “But you know how cautious my dad is.”
Sierra nodded. “Okay. I have to go to my next class now anyway. I guess I’ll talk to you later.”
Julia hated acting so secretive with Sierra. As she watched her best friend leave down the hall, Julia realized she didn’t want to bear the burden alone. Lancer needed to come around.
The day dragged on, and Julia impatiently waited to speak with her father again. She ate her dinner fast, unnerved that neither Lancer nor Liam was present.
When she finished her meal, Julia jumped up. “Okay,”
she said to Sierra, “I’m going to go meet with my dad. I’ll see you later.”
Sierra knitted her brows, confused. “Okay,” she answered.
“Good luck with whatever this is all about.”
“Thanks,” Julia said. “I’m sure I’ll be able to talk about it soon.” She didn’t believe her own words, but she waved good-bye to Sierra and left.
Julia headed to the Soldier Union room, where two soldiers stood guard. Taking a closer look, she realized they were the same men that had found her at the lake earlier. They didn’t say anything to her as she arrived but only opened the doors to reveal Lancer sitting alone at the large table.
“Julia.” He greeted her and the doors shut behind her.
“Dad,” she acknowledged him in the same tone, sitting down.
His eyes looked strained, his hair disheveled, and his face pale.
“After talking with Scarlet and Liam for some time, we realize that everything you said was true.”
“Of course it was true,” Julia answered. “Did you think I was lying?”
Lancer shook his head. “No, no. I just couldn’t believe Alexis is a siren. And it took a while for me to realize how this would affect you.”
“Yes, she is a siren, and yes, she kept it a secret. But that’s what she’s always done. She’s always lied and controlled people so that she could get what she wanted.”
“And it makes a little more sense now why she’s always been that way,” Lancer said.
“You think she’s evil just because she’s a siren?”
“I didn’t say that,” he replied. “But it doesn’t exactly help her case.”
“Are you afraid I’ll turn out like Alexis?” Julia knew this would irritate her father, but she needed to ask. “Is that why you were treating me like a criminal?”
“Julia,” he said carefully. “You are not Alexis. You’ll never be like her. That’s not why I was afraid.”
The clock in the corner of the room chimed out loud, and both Julia and Lancer waited for it to stop.
“You are royalty,” he said. “You have the choice to one day become a leader of Ossai.”
“But the government is so corrupt right now,” Julia replied.
“Becoming a leader of a dysfunctional government would make me a terrible leader.”
“You know the Soldier Union is working on removing the Guild from the government,” he answered. “And eventually, we’ll have to kill Alexis.”
Julia looked at him, shocked. She’d never heard him be so blunt
.
Even though Alexis was their greatest enemy, she was still Julia’s mother. Was there no other way to remove her from power?
“I don’t want to scare you,” Lancer continued. “But you must have known that eventually we would have to …
remove her, permanently.”
Julia didn’t answer. There was no way she could agree with murdering her own mother.
“Once she is gone, Ossai will need new leaders,” he said.
“And if you want,” he looked at her with a serious expression,
“you can start out by becoming ambassador of Ossai.”
Julia didn’t know how to respond. She didn’t think she’d have to make a decision like that for years to come.
“I’ll be there every step of the way,” Lancer said, “I’ll help you learn everything you need to.”
“But I don’t understand,” Julia said, shaking her head.
“Why wouldn’t you take that position?”
“I can’t.” His brown eyes became sad. “I had a seat in the government before, and Alexis made me step down from my position. Now that I’ve done that, it’s against Ossain law for me to have a seat again.”
Julia thought back to last year when Lancer finally told her the truth about his past. Before anyone knew about Alexis’s darker side, he had fallen in love with her. She used Julia, born out of leverage as a pawn in her games. Alexis had then turned on Lancer and gave him an ultimatum. Either he gave up his royal seat and gave the power to Alexis, or she would kill Julia.
“Then let’s change the law,” Julia said. “Why do we have to live by those rules? You should be a part of the Ossain government.”
Lancer smiled at her. “I appreciate you saying that, but I’m afraid we can’t. Some laws are too much of a foundation for Ossai to change.
Julia pulled at a loose thread on her sweater, thinking.
“Are you afraid that if anyone found out I’m a siren, they wouldn’t trust me?”
“Yes,” he answered. “Unfortunately, it’s a really big dilemma.”
“But I can’t keep it a secret forever.” Julia lifted her hands in exasperation. “And I could never take a government position knowing that I was lying. That’s exactly what Alexis did.”
Lancer put a hand to his forehead. “I’m not asking you to change who you are, Julia. But you have to agree that no good would come from Ossai learning about this.”
“But Liam and Scarlet know—and Caleb. You think they wouldn’t tell anyone?”
“I would bet my life on it that they wouldn’t.”
“What about Sierra? Or Gabe? Or Terrence?”
“Because Sierra is constantly around you, and already knows something is going on, I will allow you to tell her.
But—” He paused, holding up his hand. “I have to be the one to talk to her. In fact, I’ve already sent someone to get her.”
“Good.” Julia felt immensely relieved.
“I’ll let her know of the consequences if this ever got out, and I’m sure for your safety she won’t breathe a word to anyone.”
“But Terrence—Dad, I have to tell him.”
He looked sympathetic. “I’m so sorry, but you can’t say a word about any of this to him.”
Julia looked at him, her eyes filling with tears. “He has to know,” she protested.
“One day in the future,” Lancer said, “if your relationship permits, and things go well, then it might be okay. But until then, and while you’re still in school, he can’t know anything.”
A lump began to burn in her throat. “But Caleb knows.”
He sighed. “It’s different. I’ve known Caleb his whole life.
I know without a doubt that he will keep this confidential.”
Her heart pounded hard, and she felt too upset to argue with him.
“I’m sorry, but if this keeps you safe and keeps your future in place, then I know Terrence would agree with it.”
She clenched her jaw, trying not to cry.
“I hate to do this, but I need you to promise me that you’ll never say a word to anyone about this.”
She took a deep breath but didn’t respond.
“Julia, do I have your word?”
She felt trapped. “Fine,” she responded. “I won’t say anything.”
“Thank you.”
The clock in the corner ticked away loudly, unaffected by the life changing events happening.
“I’m going to invite Sierra in now and talk with her about this.”
Julia didn’t say anything else to him. Instead she walked away, opened the large oak doors, and passed Sierra without a word. The doors snapped shut behind her, and she headed up to her room.
I can’t tell Terrence. He’ll never know. She felt tormented by the idea. He had always been so honest with her; he’d even told her things he wasn’t allowed to.
Julia let out a pent-up breath and tried to figure out how this would affect their relationship. She loved Terrence, and she could only hope this wouldn’t tear them apart.
* * *
CHAPTER SIX
The following morning, Julia awoke to a faint tap on her door. She rubbed her swollen eyes and stumbled to the door. Looking through the small eyehole, she saw Lancer waiting on the other side. She slipped through the door, careful not to wake Sierra.
“Are you leaving right now?” she asked.
“I’m afraid so. There’s a hostage situation in Kilenger. Terrence and I are going to go investigate.”
Terrence. Hearing his name brought up an uncomfortable slew of emotions. “Tell him I said hi,” Julia said quietly. “And be safe in Kilenger.”
Lancer nodded. “We will. And I will tell Terrence you said hello, but I hope you understand that’s all I can tell him.”
Julia bit the side of her cheek. “Yes, I understand. But it doesn’t make it any easier. When is he scheduled to come to Lockham again?”
“In two weeks.” Lancer answered. “I’m sure by then you’ll be feeling better about all of … this.”
“Dad,” she said. “You don’t have to say it like that. I understand you don’t like what happened, but I had no control over any of this.”
“I’m not angry with you,” he said. “I’m upset that you were kidnapped. And that’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about right now.”
“Why? What is it?”
“I know how sirens think,” he whispered. “And I know that they’ll want you to come back.”
Julia shrugged. “I won’t.”
“It’s not that easy. What if they hypnotize you in a dream again?” His eyes became intense.
“I don’t want Caleb messing around with my dreams,” she said defiantly, “if that’s what you’re talking about.”
“Caleb will never enter a dream of yours again. That is, unless he’s given sufficient reason.”
She sniffed. “Good.”
“But you are never—ever—allowed to try and contact those sirens in any way. Clear?”
Of course Julia understood, but she hated the way he said it. “I won’t.”
“I hope so, because those sirens are working with Alexis, no matter what they tell you. They will betray you. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” she blurted out hotly. “I’m not stupid. I’m sure you’ve already set up guards to patrol the area and destroyed the portal.”
Lancer’s eyebrows furrowed. “Unfortunately if I did those things, people would get very suspicious. We really don’t need any more questions about what happened to you that night. So I’m just going to have to trust you.”
“I’ll stay away, Dad,” she answered. “Don’t worry.”
He nodded and hugged her. “Okay. I’ll see you in a couple of weeks. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Lancer strode down the hall in his full Soldier Union uniform, and Julia tiptoed back into her room.
It was Saturday, and Gabe had asked them to watch his Rumee game again. Julia a
voided talking with Sierra as they got ready and headed to the open field. She knew Sierra would have a million questions about Sirenity, and she wasn’t sure she felt ready to talk about it.
Already at the field, Gabe practiced catching with another teammate. When he saw Julia and Sierra, he ran over, smiling.
“Isn’t this weather perfect?” he said. “Couldn’t have asked for a better day.”
Sierra pursed her lips. “When did you get so into sports, Gabe? I don’t ever remember you being so enthusiastic.”
He sat down and tightened his laces. “Well, over the summer, I joined a league. You know how crazy my family is. I had to find a distraction to give me time away from the chaos.” He laughed and turned to Julia. “Whoa, you look exhausted. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she said nonchalantly. “Well, I mean, Sierra was sleep-talking all last night. I hardly got any sleep.” She grinned.
“I was not!” Sierra scoffed.
Gabe looked amused. “Did you hear anything good?”
“Oh yeah, she said your team is going to win and that she’ll make a big banner for the school with your face on it.”
Sierra gave her a skeptical look. “Yep, that’s what I dream about.”
A whistle blew, and Gabe bolted across the field toward his teammates. As the game began, Sierra turned to Julia.
“So when can we talk about this? I mean, if you need time, I understand, but,” she said, grabbing Julia’s hand, “I’m so excited to hear about all of it.”
Julia smiled. “Okay, but, it’s a long story, and I’m not sure why you’re so excited.”
“I want to hear every detail,” Sierra said. “And I’m excited because you’re a siren and I’m a water nymph. It’s kismet.”
Once again, Julia recounted the whole story of Sirenity with plenty of detail. When she was finished, she glanced out to the field. Neither of them had paid any attention to the game.
“Oh my gosh.” Sierra beamed. “This is so amazing. It’s all incredible.”
“Unfortunately, you’re the only person who thinks that.
My dad and Liam seem to be terrified of sirens. They think that they’re conniving, manipulative, and dangerous.”
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