The Siren's Secret

by Heather Ostler

  “My situation is extremely complicated, and I require assistance from the queen.”

  The woman’s smiled faded. “What kind of assistance?”

  “My name is Julia Levesque. I am Alexis’s daughter, and I don’t come with any sort of threat. Just a request for help.”

  She didn’t hide the shock on her face and she lost her professional tone. “You’re Julia Levesque?”

  Julia nodded. “Yes. And it’s extremely important that I speak with the queen.”

  The woman backed away but kept her eyes on Julia. She picked up a golden communicator on her desk and dialed a series of numbers.

  Only minutes later, a few guards arrived in identical uniforms as the ones outside the palace’s gates.

  “The queen will see you,” the closest soldier said to Julia.

  “However, you must be searched and confirmed weapon free.

  And we must accompany you as you speak with the queen.”

  “That’s fine,” Julia answered.

  The woman with black hair came forward and immediately began searching Julia for signs of weapons.

  “Is she clear?” the guard asked loudly.

  “Yes.” The woman backed away looking relieved.

  “Ms. Levesque, please follow me.”

  A team of guards surrounded Julia, and together they left the building.

  They moved through the main gates and over to the side entrance of the palace. The main guard entered a series of codes into a number pad and opened a narrow doorway. Julia followed the entourage and moved through the archway into the palace.

  The size of an auditorium, the first room they entered had a high ceiling and white walls draped with red tapestries. Solid gold decorations and elaborate furniture filled the room. Sunlight poured through twenty-foot-tall windows, and stone fountains trickled around the room. The sound of water calmed Julia’s nerves before meeting the queen.

  Past the main greeting room, the soldiers led Julia through a series of sand-colored hallways where hundreds of portraits hung.

  Eventually they began climbing a staircase that led them up ten floors.

  “Take a seat,” the guard ordered when they entered the last room.

  Julia obediently sat on the closest sofa and tried to look as nonthreatening as possible. She stayed there for thirty minutes observing the room and waiting for the queen. A large balcony extended thirty feet from the room, and Julia wished she could go look at the view.

  Eventually she heard voices outside of the door, and she froze, listening. There seemed to be an argument taking place.

  “No, you listen to me,” the first voice ordered. “When I say something, you do as I ask.”

  “But, your majesty, it’s for your own safety, and we—”

  “You will do as I ask.”

  A thin man with a large nose entered the room, turning to Julia. “Ms. Levesque, I presume?”

  She nodded.

  He turned to all the guards. “I would like to announce, Queen Makeera.”

  Without hesitation, everyone in the room fell to their knees. Julia followed only a second later, getting onto her knee, head down.

  Julia heard a shuffling noise as the queen entered and kept her head down, unsure of proper etiquette.

  The queen cleared her throat, and slowly the guard next to Julia arose with the rest of the troop. Julia stood up too and finally took in the image of the woman in front of her.

  For a moment Julia just stared at the tan, young woman.

  Then shock washed over her. This woman didn’t have the face of an unfamiliar queen—it was someone Julia had known for years. Her best friend, Sierra Artesia, stood in front of her, her expression haughty.

  Julia’s heart began to race, and she tried to say something.

  But her body froze.

  The queen eyed Julia suspiciously and slowly raised an eyebrow. “Ms. Levesque, is something wrong?” Her voice sounded proud and harsh, nothing like Sierra’s soft, melodic voice.

  She shook her head. “No, your majesty.”

  “Good.” She turned to look at the guards surrounding her. “Now if you wouldn’t mind, I would like to speak to Ms.

  Levesque alone.”

  The guards didn’t move but exchanged worried glances.

  “Ms. Makeera,” the main guard began, “if you’d be all right with it, we’d like at least one member to stay with you for protection—”

  “No. I want all of you out.”

  They hesitated, and she crinkled her nose in anger. “Now!”

  Finally they filed out, bowing past the queen as they did so. Soon the room became empty, and the assistant quickly shut the doors to the room.

  “Sierra?” Julia asked softly. “Is that you?”

  The queen opened her eyes wide. “Excuse me?”

  Julia thought perhaps Sierra had found a way to Sirenity, but obviously she was wrong.

  The queen walked around Julia, eyeing her. “I don’t meet with outsiders. Ever,” she said. “So you should feel flattered that I think you’re worth my time.”

  Julia tried her best to look humble. “Thank you, your highness.”

  “But you understand that the most important reason I’ve agreed to meet with you is because of who you are.”

  She peered at Julia, looking confused. “I hadn’t caught word that you were a siren. Does Ossai know this?”

  “No. It’s confidential.”

  The queen laughed. “How on earth could you possibly keep something like this a secret?” Her eyes became wide with curiosity—identical to Sierra’s.

  “That’s why I came to talk with you today,” Julia said. “I decided to take some time off and come to Sirenity.”

  The queen studied Julia for a moment. “So your father doesn’t know where you are?”

  “He does, but he has no idea how to get here,” Julia answered.

  The queen strode over to the balcony where the sun hit her flawless face. “That’s really best for all of us. We don’t need the Soldier Union meddling in our affairs. I’m surprised Loretta didn’t talk with me on the matter before.”

  “She doesn’t know that I came to talk with you,” Julia replied. “I came to you on my own accord, to ask a favor.”

  The queen looked amused. “And what might that be?”

  “I need to communicate with my father.”

  Makeera nodded. “I could make that happen.”

  Julia’s heart leaped. “You could?”

  “But I need you to make a trade in return.”

  Why did Julia become excited so quickly? Riley had warned her that the help wouldn’t be free.

  “That ring on your finger.” She gestured to the diamond band fixed to Julia’s hand. “Is that a lie detector?”

  Julia instinctively grabbed the jewel. “Yes. It was a gift given to me.”

  The queen’s eyes lit up. “Those rings are very rare. I’ve wanted one for some time. If you wish to communicate with your father, then I will need you to give me that ring.”

  Julia’s mouth became dry. “This ring was the only thing that I took with me from Lockham.”

  The queen shrugged. “That’s my offer, and I think it’s fair.”

  Julia opened her mouth but didn’t say anything.

  “Do we have a deal? I’m sure it’s worth talking with your father. It’s not an engagement ring, so it can’t have too much sentimental value.”

  She couldn’t have been more wrong—that ring felt price-less to Julia.

  “I’m afraid I’ll have to think about it,” she answered.

  The queen pursed her lips. “That’s fine. Just remember, your father is probably very anxious to hear from you.”

  “I’m aware of my father’s feelings,” Julia said.

  “I see.” The queen smiled. “Well then, I’ll anxiously be awaiting your answer. But I am a busy woman, so I must dismiss you now.”

  “Thank you for your time,” Julia said, standing up.

  The
queen nodded as she made her way to the door. As if on cue, the huge white doors swung open.

  The queen never formerly said good-bye to Julia, but only tossed her black hair and went the other way. Once again a guard escorted Julia through elaborate hallways and down to the main level.

  Julia felt disappointed. A queen with so much power couldn’t grant her one favor? Julia couldn’t give up her ring; it was the only possession she’d brought with her to Sirenity.

  For a fleeting moment, Julia wondered if she should have just hypnotized her. It wouldn’t have been hard. However, she didn’t even want to imagine the consequences if she’d got caught.

  As the last door opened for her, Julia left the palace courtyard. She headed toward the cobblestone street racking her brain. What else could she offer the queen? Work? Protection? Perhaps she could help her create an alliance with the Soldier Union in exchange for contact with her father.

  She also felt perplexed with the uncanny resemblance between the queen and Sierra. She desperately wanted to ask her best friend but didn’t feel comfortable to do so.

  Lost in thought, Julia became startled when she heard a bloodcurdling scream. Her hairs stood on end as she looked for the source. Just outside the palace courtyard, different groups of employees, citizens, and maids shuffled in and out of the gate.

  A few people looked around baffled, but most kept walking without responding. Julia decided to continue her journey back to the Sirens Cove. She didn’t want to get in the middle of any trouble. She hurried her pace but heard the scream again.

  “Gabe!”

  This time the voice was closer and sounded too close to Sierra’s voice to be mistaken.

  Julia flipped around, searching through the crowd.

  “Sierra?”

  She felt like she had lost her mind. Seeing the queen had made Julia imagine that the voice had been Sierra’s. She needed to leave.

  “Help me! Gabe!”

  As the voice echoed off the palace walls, Julia turned to see two guards wrestling a girl. “Let me go!”

  She watched the girl struggle, frozen with shock. Sierra was there.

  A huddle of women transfixed with the scene moved in front of Julia. “Is that the queen?” one of them asked in a hushed whisper.

  The guards quickly forced Sierra through the gates, but not before she whipped her neck around and met eyes with Julia.

  She waited for Sierra to recognize her, but she never did.

  She looked away as the guards took her past the gates.

  Then it hit Julia. Sierra didn’t recognize her because she didn’t look like herself anymore. She had fire red hair and dark eyes. Even Julia’s skin looked darker from all the sunshine.

  Suddenly another group of soldiers cut through the courtyard with another prisoner in tow: Gabe. He looked calmer than Sierra, but he still fought against the four guards that restrained him.

  Julia pushed the group of women in front of her out of the way and sprinted toward the palace entrance. The large iron gate slammed shut after Gabe and the guards, and Julia skidded to a stop in front.

  “Gabe!” she screamed out. But he had already vanished inside.

  Julia pounded against the gates until another worker appeared on the other side, looking insulted.

  “May I help you?” the employee asked.

  “Yes,” Julia panted. “My name is Julia Levesque, I just met with the queen, and I need to see her now. It’s urgent.”

  The worker looked at her bemused.

  “Please,” Julia insisted. “I need to speak with her. Tell her it’s about the ring!”

  Shaking his head, the worker backed away from Julia.

  “I’m sorry. No appointments with the queen.”

  “But I just spoke with her,” Julia said frantically, clutching the iron gate.

  He turned away. “I’m sorry.”

  “But I have important information for her! It’s life threatening.” She’d have to say anything in order to meet with the queen. Julia bit her lip. “Someone’s going to attack the queen!”

  She caught the worker’s attention. He turned around but stayed a good distance away. “You have information on an attack?”

  Julia nodded and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.

  “Yes, I know a lot of information. She’ll want to hear what I have to say.”

  The worker walked toward the gate quickly, transfixed with something near Julia’s hand. She looked up just in time to see the ring glowing bright red, a sure sign that she was lying.

  He raised an eyebrow. “Is that a lie detector ring?”

  She didn’t answer. Instead she flung her hand behind her back.

  “Were you lying about the attack?”

  “I …” She couldn’t think of a way to respond.

  The worker looked disgusted. “Get out of here. Now.”

  “But those were my friends!”

  He paused for a moment, contemplating her words. “You know those prisoners?”

  “Yes,” Julia breathed. “Please let me speak with them. I know they mean no harm.”

  The guard glared at her. “The only way you’ll get to talk with your friends is in the prison. Which is where they’ll be staying tonight.” He left Julia standing at the gate.

  * * *

  CHAPTER TWELVE:

  Julia left the gates of the palace and immediately began pacing. What were Sierra and Gabe doing in Sirenity? How had they gotten to Sirenity?

  A squat man pushed a vendor cart past Julia, yelling loudly about the fresh bread he sold.

  Putting a hand up to her head, Julia felt a headache coming on from all the stress. She had to help Sierra and Gabe. What was going to happen to them?

  She walked away from the loud cart man, but he seemed to yell even louder at her. “Fresh bread! Whole wheat, white, or gransburry!”

  Maybe she could hurry and get back to Sirens Cove. Riley would know just what to do, and if not, Loretta could talk to the queen. She thought quickly of the route back to the cove but became discouraged. It would take too long. Sierra and Gabe needed her help now.

  “Bread?” The man eyed Julia and held up a crisp loaf with his bare hands.

  Julia wanted to go over and knock the loaf right out of his hands, but thought of a better idea instead.

  Taking a deep breath, she darted toward the bread cart.

  At first, the vendor looked pleased; finally, his obnoxious offers had paid off. Then his eyes narrowed in suspicion as Julia sprinted past him to the back of the cart.

  Without saying a word, Julia snatched a loaf right out of the cart and sprinted in the opposite direction.

  “Wait!” The vendor yelled out. “You didn’t pay for that!”

  Julia smiled, pleased. His voice became loud enough to get others’ attention quickly. She turned around and held up the loaf as if confused.

  “Yes,” he bellowed. “You must pay for that!”

  She shook her head and took a couple more steps backward.

  The squat man began marching toward her. “You’re stealing.”

  Julia jogged toward the palace entrance, loaf in hand.

  “Stop!” he shouted.

  Julia stopped outside the palace gates right next to the security guards. She moved slowly, making sure she didn’t outrun the vendor who had already run out of breath. He continually looked backward to his cart, obviously at war with himself whether he could leave it unattended.

  Finally, he called out, “Guards! Stop that girl! She’s a thief!”

  Sure enough, the guards sprinted to Julia. She made a fake attempt to outrun them but quickly stopped. She didn’t need to be tackled.

  When they reached her, the first guard took a hold of her wrists and the other whisked away the bread.

  The vendor caught up and hastily grabbed his bread.

  “Thief,” he spat at Julia.

  The first guard continued to move Julia’s hands behind her back. “Did you steal from this man?”

/>   Julia nodded. “Yes.”

  The vendor raised his eyebrows, surprised with how easily she confessed.

  “We’ll take care of it,” the second guard murmured to the bread man. “You can leave now.”

  His forehead looked sweaty from all the trouble Julia had given him, and with an indignant huff, he shuffled back toward his cart.

  “You’ll have to come with us.” The guard held her wrists.

  “We’ll have a talk with you down in the prison.”

  Julia’s heart beat wildly. She felt terrified, stunned, and pleased. Her plan had worked.

  The guards weren’t rough, but Julia didn’t give them a reason to fight her. She went calmly, soaking up every room and hallway she went through. She needed to memorize an escape route for when she got Sierra and Gabe out.

  Two floors below the main level, the prison was nothing but cement rooms to detain convicts.

  Two new workers stood at the prison entrance, watching Julia as she arrived.

  “This one just confessed to stealing from a vendor cart. It’s her first offense. We’ll have a trial for her tomorrow.”

  Julia froze. “Trial?”

  “Of course,” the guard replied. “Did you think the laws had changed?”

  “I, uh, just never learned the laws.”

  He looked suspicious. “Yes. You’ll be given a trial and then depending on the severity of your crime, you could spend anywhere from a month to two years in prison.”

  Julia nodded solemnly. “Will the queen be attending the trial?”

  The second guard raised his eyebrows as the others laughed. “No. No, the queen doesn’t have time to attend regular trials.”

  She swallowed, heat flushing her face.

  “All right, bring her this way.”

  The security guard moved her down a block of prison cells in which she hoped desperately would be near to Sierra and Gabe.

  The guard stopped midway through the cellblock and fumbled with a golden key. He opened the gate, which made a horrible screeching noise.

  She shrugged out of his hold and quickly sat down on the stone bench inside the cell.

  “Your information will be taken before the end of the night. You will be able to contact anyone in Sirenity that you need to and tell them of your circumstances. You will be given dinner at seven o’clock.” The guard looked at her. “Do you have any questions?”