“But you don’t believe what Gabe said, right? I mean, it’s just a stupid paper he threw together.”
Julia looked at her worried. “This is Gabe we’re talking about. He’s a genius.”
Sierra sat down opposite her. “Who can we talk to?”
“Scarlet,” Julia answered. “I need to go to her dormitory right now.”
“But you can’t,” Sierra replied. “She said she’ll be gone this weekend. She went to visit Liam at one of the bases.”
Julia growled and put her face into her pillow.
“Just wait until Monday. It’s one day away.”
“I can’t wait till then.” Julia’s answer came muffled through the pillow.
“Maybe you need a day to just … calm down.”
Furious with her situation, and in pain, Julia didn’t answer.
After thirty minutes, she heard Sierra getting ready for bed. Even though it was still early, Sierra flipped off the lights without saying another word.
Julia lay there facedown, her mind surging with the fact that she might actually be cursed. What if she could never be in a happy relationship? What if she couldn’t get married?
She couldn’t ask someone to enter a doomed relationship.
Did this mean Alexis was cursed? Maybe things had ended badly for her parents because of it.
After another tormenting hour, Julia rose from her bed to find Sierra fast asleep in the darkness.
She couldn’t possibly go through the rest of the weekend wondering. If she truly was cursed, she needed answers immediately. With Scarlet gone, Julia had to find answers on her own.
Silently, she walked over to their window and opened it with a soft creak. Sierra stirred, but continued sleeping.
Next she rummaged through her jewelry until she found the truth ring that Caleb had given her last year.
She put it on, took a deep breath, and shapeshifted into her werecat. When she became her massive white tiger, Julia climbed onto their desk and looked out the window.
Last year, Terrence had visited Julia in her room. When he left, he had jumped from her window ledge to the next, all the way to the ground level of the castle, in werecat form.
Back then it had made Julia fear for his life. However, now faced with her dilemma, Julia put on a brave face and prepared to follow his same escape route. Leaning back, she sprang from her window to the levels below.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The Interpreter
Once Julia made it safely to the ground, she crouched low and made her way back to the lake.
One of the benefits of being a werecat was the heightened sense of hearing. When she heard her room window shut, she stopped and waited.
She had made her pillows look like a body lying under the covers. If Sierra figured out that wasn’t Julia, she would be in a lot of trouble.
The moon’s reflection glistened in the lake and a breeze stirred throughout the trees. Julia scanned the grounds to find them empty. Taking a deep breath, she transformed back into human form.
Before she entered the lake, Julia thought of her bandages.
If she swam, they would slow her down. Hesitantly, she began to unwind the many layers of white fabric. When she glanced at her nails, she winced. The cuts were healing, but they still looked raw.
Closing her eyes, Julia tried to ignore the pain as she put her hand into the lake. She peeked out and saw a never-ending circle ripple through the water.
“Riley,” she whispered. “I need you.”
She waited, but there was no response. She placed both hands in the water, this time for longer, and called her name out louder. Still no answer.
Worried, Julia flipped off her shoes and stepped into the water. It was shockingly cold, and she shuddered with every step. Before she could speak again, the water moved. A form arose eerily out of the lake, startling her. First the blue hair appeared, then the smooth face, until a tall siren stood a few feet away from her.
“You called, Julia.” She looked amused.
Julia cleared her throat. “Yes. I have questions that I need answered.”
Riley raised her eyebrows. “I see. Well, I’m sure Loretta will be happy to answer your questions back at Sirenity.”
Julia bit her bottom lip. “Why can’t you just answer them here?”
She glanced around the shore of the black lake. “It’s inse-cure,” Riley said. “I risk my own life just standing here conversing with you.”
“But if I go to Sirenity,” Julia replied, “my life is more threatened than yours is being here.”
Riley let out a soft laugh. “Loretta would never let anyone hurt you, Julia. What are you afraid of? Drowning?”
Julia hesitated. “I don’t know what your intentions are.
What if you hold me captive?”
Riley sighed, looking bored. “If we were going to kidnap you, we would have kept you the first time. Think about it.”
Julia nodded. “If I go with you, will you bring me back whenever I want?”
“Yes, of course,” she answered. “Remember, Julia, you’re a siren—one of us. We don’t take easily to turning on our own kind.”
Julia nodded and turned back to glance at the castle. She did have all night. And her ring hadn’t lit up at the siren’s words. Obviously, she had told the truth.
“I cannot get caught by anyone in the castle. So you can’t do anything that would draw attention.”
The siren held out a hand for Julia to take. “Of course.”
Julia waded over to her. Riley didn’t seem to notice the cuts on her nails, or the way she cringed from the pain. She simply grasped her hand and dove underwater, pulling Julia into the lake as she did so.
The portal moved them from the icy lake water to the warm, smooth water of Sirenity.
Julia opened her eyes and kicked hard until she broke the surface. Gasping for air, she looked around and took in the familiar location.
Riley climbed out of the water gracefully, then helped Julia get out of the small pond inside Sirenity’s jungle.
“You know, you don’t have to gasp for air every time you come up.”
Julia laughed. “I’ll have to work on that.”
Together, Riley and Julia made the same journey they had taken before through the lush jungle area to the beach.
The sun beat down hard and hot on Julia. Within minutes, her clothes were completely dry.
Once they reached the beach full of palm trees and large rocks, Julia stopped. Riley was already walking into the water, heading toward the underwater city. She turned back to Julia.
“What’s wrong?”
Julia took a step back. “Can’t Loretta come up here and talk with me?”
Riley looked shocked. “Are you afraid to go in the water?”
“No,” Julia answered defensively. “I just have less control, and—”
“If you want answers,” Riley cut her off, “then you’ll have to get in.” She turned, took a couple of bounding steps and then leapt into the water.
Rubbing her eyes wearily, Julia growled under her breath.
She wanted—needed—answers. But did she have to go underwater? What if she needed to shapeshift into her werecat? As far as she knew, she wouldn’t be able to transform underwater.
She closed her eyes and tried not to worry. Slowly, she walked barefoot into the gentle waves. The water was so warm, so welcoming. As the next wave hit her, Julia fell into it, submerging her whole body.
When she opened her eyes underwater, she tried to let herself adjust. Even though everything should have felt natural, she fought against her own instincts. Minutes went by, and she didn’t feel the need to come up for air.
She relaxed and swam deeper into the aquamarine water.
Her eyes could see as clearly as if she wore goggles, and the surroundings took her breath away.
A school of fish swam feet away, and she paused before reaching her arm toward it. The fish darted from her, but as she looked to h
er hand, she noticed the floating sand particles.
They sparkled beautifully around her hand like a thousand tiny mirrors.
As a wave pushed her back slightly, Julia glanced at the water plants next to her. They all moved in the same direction in one fluid movement, like wind, only slower.
One of the strangest things about being underwater was how different sound traveled. She could hear voices faintly in the distance, and they weren’t muffled. As a siren jumped into the water on the opposite side of the shore, Julia heard her clearly as she hit the ocean and laughed.
Julia breathed in the water, letting it fill her lungs. It began to feel natural—even good. Her hair waved around her face and she felt light, fluid, and free. The sunlight felt amazing on her skin, and she closed her eyes, taking in the feeling.
As she let herself calm down and enjoy the water, she found it funny how nervous she had been to come back to Sirenity. Then she remembered her reasons for being there.
She needed to find answers about the curse.
Julia searched around until she found Riley in the distance. She swam over and then sank onto the sand floor next to her.
“Having fun?” Riley smiled. “Loretta will be happy to see that you’re actually accepting who you are.”
The water moved, stirring up sand and making a cloud in front of them. When it settled, the white, rectangular buildings came into view.
Riley motioned her toward the largest building in the back. “You know where to find her,” she said. “I’ll meet you back at the shore when you’re done.”
She extended her arms, kicked off the sand, and swam away.Julia swallowed and made her way to Loretta’s building.
She wasn’t afraid of the water anymore, but she couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy that she hadn’t taken a breath of air in fifteen minutes.
She stopped in front of the building and waited. Instead of a front door, only an archway led into the building.
“H-hello?” Julia stuttered. She sounded different underwater, which she hadn’t noticed before. Her voice was higher pitched.
“Please enter, Julia.”
Walking past the archway, Julia made her way through several white rooms heading in the direction of the voice.
Each simple room had white walls made of glass or shells, with a sand floor and white furniture. Plenty of windows lined every wall, letting the sunlight play and sparkle in the aquamarine water.
Julia passed through the last room and found Loretta sitting on a large, white throne. Immediately she took in all of the shelves lining the room. They held hundreds of bottles, trinkets, and small objects.
“Our homes may be simple,” Loretta said as if reading Julia’s mind, “but every siren still has sentimental items in her life.
Julia nodded, feeling foolish for so obviously staring at the objects.
“Please, sit.” Loretta motioned to a white bench, and Julia cautiously sat down.
“I’m so pleased you came back,” Loretta said smoothly.
“I hope we didn’t stir up too much trouble with your land identity.”
“Yes, well, I did have some explaining to do when I got back.”
“I’m sorry for any inconvenience that was caused.” Loretta folded her hands together.
It reminded Julia of her own wounded fingers. She looked down, realizing she hadn’t felt any pain since she’d jumped in. Her jaw dropped as she did a double take. Her hands no longer had any cuts. In fact, they were perfectly healed. It was like they’d never been damaged in the first place.
“Amazing, isn’t it?” Loretta said softly. “Whenever a siren enters these waters, her body is restored, healed.”
Julia looked up at her. “Instantly?”
Loretta smiled. “It’s just one of the advantages of being a siren.”
“It’s incredible,” Julia answered.
“As I told you before, the water keeps us young. It heals our souls.” She paused. “You came to ask me a question?”
“Yes.” Julia felt her heart speed up. “I want to know about the curse.”
“Curse?” Loretta asked.
“Yes. Am I destined to be alone?”
Loretta stood up from her throne and sighed.
As Julia looked at her expression, she began to feel numb.
She had been worried ever since Gabe first mentioned the curse, but she never wanted to believe it was true. She couldn’t wrap her head around being cursed; it was too awful.
“All sirens are destined to be alone,” Loretta answered softly. “And that is how it should be.”
Pain struck her heart, and Julia made a sort of half sob, half gasp noise. It was true; she could never be happily married. If she hadn’t been underwater, tears would have fil ed her eyes.
“However,” Loretta continued, walking around Julia.
“You are not full siren. Therefore, your fate is still unclear.”
Julia looked up at the queen. “There’s a chance I’m not?”
“Yes. Your mother is the only other siren like you in all of the history I can remember. And unfortunately there is no way of contacting her to receive that information.”
“But there must be someone else who knows,” Julia said.
“Please, I have to know.”
Loretta walked over to one of her many shelves and picked up a silver ball.
“This is an interpreter,” she answered lightly. “There were only three that were ever created.”
Julia peered at the odd silver ball. It looked heavy, like lead, but Loretta held it with ease, sometimes even letting it float above her hand.
“How can it help me?” Julia hoped she didn’t sound rude, but she began feeling anxious about time. She had to get back to Lockham before morning.
“You can ask this interpreter a question, and it will answer you. No matter what you ask.”
Julia had to stop herself from reaching for the ball and asking it right then. “I can?” she asked slowly.
“Yes—but it will take time.” She raised an eyebrow at Julia. “So you would have to come back in seven days to hear your answer.”
Disappointment seeped back into Julia’s mind. “It can’t tell me today?”
Loretta shook her head, watching Julia. “Time is a small price to know your ultimate destiny.”
Nodding, Julia thought thoroughly about the interpreter.
She considered anything that could go wrong, anything that could connect her to Alexis or the Guild or put the Soldier Union in danger.
“Is there a catch?” She turned to Loretta.
“You are very smart, Julia,” she replied with a side smile. “I can understand your hesitation. There is, however, no catch.”
Julia watched her. “Why would you be so willing to help me out?”
She tilted her head. “Because it’s my responsibility as queen of the sirens. That’s not uncommon to want to help out your own kind.”
A strong drift of water caught Julia’s long hair, raising it in front of her face. She cleared it to see Loretta.
“Yes,” Julia said. “I’ve just been raised to always be cautious.”
“Sirens are rare,” Loretta said. “And I’d be lying if I told you that I didn’t hope desperately that you’d give up your life on land to stay here in Sirenity.”
Julia took a step back. Give up her life on land? That was more than she could handle thinking about.
“You don’t have to decide now—I know you’re tired and your mind is preoccupied with the curse. You can make your final decision later,” she said. “However, I think you’re ready to ask the interpreter your question.”
Snapping out of her thoughts, Julia’s eyes flickered back to the mystical ball. Loretta now held it next to her in both hands, arms outstretched.
“Simply look into the mist,” she began, “and ask it your question.”
Hesitantly, Julia locked eyes on the silver, swirling mist.
“I wish to know,” she said shak
ily, “if I am cursed … to be alone forever.”
The mist began to move around furiously. Julia’s heart sped up, but she didn’t break eye contact.
Another wave movement brushed over Julia, but this time it felt different. Powerful and determined, the motion of the water pushed her away from the ball. She lost balance, falling softly to the sand floor.
Loretta and the ball, however, stayed glued to the ground.
She didn’t fall over, and the ball didn’t even waver.
Julia stabilized herself, feeling unnerved. “What was that?”
The water was calm now, and Loretta turned, gliding back over to the shelf. “That,” she said simply, “means that you asked your question.”
She placed the silver ball back on the shelf and closed the case door.
Slowly Julia pushed herself off from the sand and arose. “I should go now,” she said. “Thank you for your help, Loretta.
I’ll be back next week.”
She said the words so fast, so assured. Maybe she had committed to return too soon? There wasn’t time for second thoughts now—she’d come this far, and Loretta had helped her.
Loretta nodded but didn’t say good-bye as Julia turned and left the white palace.
As she swam back to shore, Julia found a certain pleasure breaking through the water. The sun beat off her face, and her long hair dripped down her back.
Once on shore, she noticed Riley lying out leisurely on a huge rock. Eyes closed, she soaked up the sun. “Do you want to go back to the castle now?”
“Yes,” Julia answered. “But I think I know the way back to the portal. I don’t need you to come with me.”
The path wasn’t hard to follow, but Riley slowly stood up from the rock anyway.
“Loretta wants me to escort you,” she answered. “To make sure you get back safely.”
Julia glanced around the beautiful beach. The sirens scattered on the island were either talking or lying out under palm trees.
“What is there to be afraid of?”
Stretching, Riley ran a hand through her waist-length, wavy blue hair. “Nothing,” she answered easily. “Sirenity is perfectly safe, but if you didn’t return, we’d have an angry mob of soldiers after us, wouldn’t we?”
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