The Siren's Secret

by Heather Ostler

  “No, it actually missed by about five feet,” Sierra said.

  “But the bottles smashed, releasing their odors, and the next thing I knew both the queen and the guard were on the floor.

  “I knew that the poison was so powerful that it could take down a huge guard in a millisecond, so I held my breath and tried to figure out a way to get out of the bonds. The only solution I could come up with was using the guard’s sword.

  So it took a couple tries, but I finally cut the bonds free from behind my back.”

  “And still holding your breath?” Julia asked. “Incredible.”

  Sierra shrugged. “The hardest part was getting the queen’s dress and crown. I had to keep running to the window to get a breath of fresh air, and then run back to her to keep working. I was so terrified that there would be poison on her clothing, but I suppose only the fumes had reached her. Even when I first left the room, I felt lightheaded.”

  “Well done, Sierra,” Julia said. “You saved us.”

  She took a small bow. “Thank you, thank you.”

  “I’m glad you’re safe,” Gabe said quietly.

  Julia pretended that she didn’t see when Sierra slipped her hand into Gabe’s and moved closer to him.

  As they neared the last stretch of the hike, Julia began to feel exhausted. She needed water, and she knew Sierra and Gabe did too. They had become quiet, and Gabe kept touching his bruised eye.

  Finally, and blissfully, Sirens Cove appeared. Small flames lit up the beach, and Julia saw several sirens eating by the firelight.

  “Are we going to be welcomed here?” Gabe asked hesitantly.

  She nodded. “They’ll understand.”

  As the appeared on the beach, Riley ran up to Julia.

  “Oh my gosh!” she exclaimed looking over her. “What happened?” She turned and eyed Gabe and Sierra suspiciously.

  “Riley,” Julia said, “these are my best friends, Gabe and Sierra. They’ve come to find me because my father has been kidnapped, and he desperately needs my help. I must leave as soon as possible, but first, Gabe is injured.” She pointed to his eye. “And both are beyond exhausted and starving. Can you help us?”

  Riley’s eyes softened. “Of course.”

  She darted toward another group of sirens and quickly summoned help. Three different sirens glanced to Julia, nodding. They quickly approached Sierra and Gabe, leading them to an eating area.

  Within minutes, the sirens made a natural remedy and began treating Gabe’s eye while he and Sierra ate fish, salad, and fruit.

  Julia turned to Riley. “Thank you,” she whispered. “You’ve helped me so much. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”

  Riley observed her. “Don’t think about me right now.

  You’re dehydrated. Go for a swim and then eat. You’l need your strength so you can leave tonight. I’l set up a portal again so that you can get back into Lockham, if that’s where you need to go.”

  Julia nodded, grateful beyond measure for Riley’s friendship. She turned and walked toward the shore.

  The waves folded over the water slowly and glowed in the dim moonlight. Julia dove in and immediately felt rejuvenated.

  She stayed under for ten minutes and let the waves carry her around. The sensation made her feel whole again. She became stronger, and she knew she would find her father.

  Finally she submerged and wrung the salt water from her long, red hair. Gabe and Sierra continued to eat, and she walked toward them dripping wet. When she sat down, a yellow-haired siren passed her a large bowl of food.

  “Eat,” she urged. “This fruit will fuel you enough to start your journey.”

  After a couple more minutes of eating and drinking, Julia glanced to Sierra and Gabe.

  “Okay,” she said. “I think it’s time.

  They each nodded.

  Before leaving, Riley appeared with a three burlap sacks.

  “Each bag is a survival kit. It has food and bottled water. If you run out, you’ll have to find your own food. There’s also a first-aid kit. Are you ready to go to the portal?”

  “Yes,” Julia replied.

  “Okay, let’s go.”

  Sierra, Gabe, and Julia each took their burlap sack and thanked the sirens. As Julia rose, Sierra and Gabe followed her and Riley into the jungle. The darkness reigned, and Sierra hesitated before going too far.

  “It’ll be okay,” Julia said. “Riley knows this jungle better than anyone.”

  The jungle was alive with wildlife, and every sound made Sierra shiver next to her.

  “Why are you so nervous?” Gabe asked. “Nothing’s going to get you.”

  Sierra looked around warily. “I grew up in New York. I’m not used to gallivanting through the jungle.”

  Riley finally pulled on a large leaf in front of them. “Right through here is where the portal is.”

  They followed her to the small, glowing pool. Riley knelt down next to it, and, for the next couple of minutes, she waved her hands over the water, muttering words.

  “What is she doing?” Sierra asked.

  “She’s setting up the portal for us.”

  “This will take you back into Lockham castle. You will arrive in last place Julia was,” Riley said.

  “Scarlet’s classroom,” Julia answered.

  Gabe surveyed the pond. “I wish we would have known about that portal before we traveled for a week to get here.”

  “It wouldn’t have mattered,” Julia replied. “Riley made sure that it sealed from the Lockham side. No one could have used it from inside the castle.”

  Riley stood up. “And once you go through, I will have to seal it again.”

  “So what exactly is our game plan here?” Sierra asked.

  “Why don’t we go through a portal closer to Julia’s dad? Gabe, what was the exact location that Caleb said he last heard from them?”

  “Near the Grotto coastline,” he said, closing his black eye.

  “But we need to get back to Lockham first and try to get in contact with Caleb or any other soldiers. We need to get an update on their situation. And Julia, you’ll have to keep a low profile.”

  “Of course,” she answered. “But there’s something I need to tell you first.”

  Sierra exchanged an uncomfortable glance with Gabe.

  “You guys have done more than enough. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have even known about my dad. But I’m not going to make you come with me to go and look for him.

  You’ve already missed so much school and—”

  “Julia,” Gabe cut in, “Really? You think we’d come this far and not go with you?”

  Sierra shook her head. “You wouldn’t survive without us.”

  She laughed. “You’re okay with missing school? And you understand that we’re dealing with the Guild. And you know that I don’t really have a plan?”

  “Julia,” Sierra said seriously, “we’re wasting time.”

  “She’s right.” Gabe glanced at his waterproof watch. “I think we need to go to Lockham, get anything else we need, and then try to get in contact with the Soldier Union. It will almost be nighttime at Lockham because of the time difference. So hopefully by morning we’ll be on our way.”

  “You guys know that if I get caught in the castle they’ll treat me like I’m a siren, not Lancer’s daughter? I don’t want you to get hurt because of me.”

  “Yes,” Sierra answered. “We’ll be careful.”

  “All right then. Let’s go. I’ll jump in first, but remember you’re going to materialize into the pool, so start swimming quickly.

  Sierra took a deep breath and rolled her neck. “I’m ready.”

  Julia turned to Riley. “Before we go, I wanted to tell you that the queen is upset with us. I’m so sorry. I hope I haven’t put anyone in danger.”

  “It will be okay,” Riley answered. “We’ll take care of her.

  And if you ever need help, you know how to contact us.”

  “Thank yo
u, Riley.” Julia embraced her.

  “Good luck on your journey. Find your father, Julia, and take down Alexis.”

  Julia nodded and then dove into the warm, aquamarine water.

  * * *

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Once the water became colder and the rushing sound stopped, Julia knew she’d made it to Lockham.

  Kicking, she made her way to the top of the pool and slowly peered out of the water. The dark room appeared empty, and she swam in place, waiting for Gabe and Sierra.

  Seconds later, Sierra’s head popped up. She and Julia swam to the edge of the pool and clamored out.

  They both waited, breathlessly, for Gabe to emerge.

  When he finally materialized in the bottom of the pool, Sierra sighed.

  He was the fastest swimmer Julia had ever seen. In one stroke of his arms, Gabe made it to the edge of the pool, where he gripped the concrete edge and jumped out.

  Julia and Sierra moved in next to him, all three of them soaking wet.

  “Okay,” Gabe said. “We’ll have to be silent—”

  He stopped and flipped around, looking up at the stairs that led to Scarlet’s office.

  “What?” Sierra whispered.

  He swallowed. “I just thought I heard something.”

  Julia looked up at Scarlet’s dark office too. The door to the outside hallway quivered. “You guys,” she said. “We need to go.”

  They moved away from the pool when the door burst open.

  Four large men bolted toward them, swords out, dressed in Soldier Union uniforms.

  “Go!” Gabe yelled. He grabbed Sierra’s hand, and they began sprinting.

  A jolt of adrenaline rushed through Julia as she took off behind them.

  Gabe, Sierra, and Julia ran to the furthest corner of the room but found no other exits. They were trapped, and it would only be a matter of time before the guards seized them.

  The well-trained soldiers ran toward them and within moments trapped the trio in a neat circle.

  With the soldier’s swords out pointing at them, Gabe and Sierra kept their backs to each other, and Julia stood next to Sierra.

  “Put your swords down!” she screamed at the closest guard.

  It looked to be the same soldier that pulled her out of the lake when she first visited Sirenity.

  “Tell us what your plan was, siren, and don’t you dare give us an order.”

  Sierra stood next to her. “That’s Julia Levesque, you fool.”

  He looked at her unnatural y bright hair and dark eyes.

  “Any siren can make her appearance change to be someone else’s.

  You’re not Julia—you’re a siren trying to pretend to be her.”

  “Yes, she is!” Gabe yelled. “You’ll be saving yourself a lot of trouble if you just release her.”

  The guards ignored her and moved in, quickly binding each of their hands behind their back.

  “Please!” Julia yelled. “I need to talk to Terrence! Or Caleb.”

  The soldiers weren’t rough, not like the guards had been in Sirenity, but they kept their grip firm.

  Julia didn’t struggle as the soldiers walked all three of them forward. How was it that in twenty-four hours they had managed to be captured twice in two different lands?

  “It’s going to be okay,” Gabe said next to Julia. “They’ll know it’s you.”

  Julia didn’t look at him. She looked forward, feeling completely and utterly defeated. “They’ll see me for what I am. A siren. A threat to students.”

  The guard escorting Julia looked at her. “I’d be careful what I say if I were you, siren.”

  Sierra only shook her head, a bitter and angry expression on her face. She knew what Julia knew. Lancer and Liam were gone and out of contact. Terrence, Caleb, and Scarlet were all busy looking for them. Who would defend the siren and her two accomplices? How could they not appear guilty?

  The soldiers moved them up the pool stairs, through Scarlet’s office, and into the dark hallway.

  Julia immediately smelled the old castle. She’d grown used to it when she lived there, but after being gone for so long, she realized she missed it. The scent made her long to go back to last year when she still had hope for a happy future.

  The hallways were empty, and judging by the time of day, most students would either be in their dorms or at dinner.

  “Where are we going?” Julia asked. “If you’re going to contain me, that’s fine. But let Sierra and Gabe go. They have nothing to do with me.”

  The soldier didn’t reply to Julia, which made her even more uneasy. What did they plan on doing with them?

  The guards escorted them up another flight of stairs and into an empty classroom.

  Julia, Gabe, and Sierra were instructed to take a chair and wait. Soaking wet, Julia felt goose bumps rise on her arm. She shivered, cold and nervous.

  It became quiet for five achingly long minutes until the door finally burst open. A tall, dark-haired man entered looking amused: Mr. Knightly.

  “Mr. Knightly?” Sierra said. “Please don’t let them take us captive, we’ve got to get out of here—”

  He held up a hand and opened his eyes wide as he took in Julia.

  “So you are a siren,” he stated simply.

  She glared at him. Seeing Mr. Knightly felt like a bad omen for Julia. She knew he wouldn’t help the situation. He had never ever been on her side before.

  Julia sighed angrily. “Yes, I am.”

  “But she really is Julia Levesque. Show him the truth ring and tell him it’s you,” Sierra urged her.

  “It won’t make a difference.” She only watched Mr.

  Knightly. “He won’t believe me.”

  Mr. Knightly tilted his head ever so slightly. “You’re claiming to be Julia Levesque?”

  “Yes.”

  He observed her closely and then turned to the guards.

  “Let them go.”

  “Sir? Are you sure?” the main guard asked. “Sirens can make you believe they’re someone they’re not.”

  He nodded. “She’s telling the truth, and I don’t need a senseless lie detector ring to know that.”

  The guards obeyed him, rushing forward to take off the metal handcuffs that bound them.

  “Leave me alone with them,” Mr. Knightly said to the guards. “And do not tell anyone else about this incident.”

  The guards left the room, shutting the large oak door securely behind them.

  Julia rose from her chair, completely shocked.

  “You believe me?” she asked incredulously.

  “Of course I do,” he answered. “You’ve lied to me several times, Julia. I can tell the difference. Not only are you extraordinarily easy to read, but I knew what you were long ago.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “When you were found near the lake that morning, I became suspicious. Though your father did a marvelous job at hiding the fact that you’re a siren, I’m in charge of security here, and I knew something strange was going on. Your hands healed in a way that only magic could provide, you became slower at shapeshifting, and then you disappeared. It seemed rather obvious.”

  “Well, thank you for believing me,” Julia answered. “But the question is, what do you plan on doing with us?”

  Mr. Knightly raised his eyebrows. “You’re all three expelled from school, as you know.”

  Julia winced, but Sierra and Gabe froze.

  “And sneaking back to Lockham after being expelled doesn’t look good.”

  “Then just let us go,” Julia answered.

  He shook his head. “But there’s no way I can send you to go look for your father. You wouldn’t stand a chance. It’s far too dangerous.”

  Julia put a hand to her face, feeling sick. She would not let Mr. Knightly stand in the way of finding her father.

  “So,” he continued, “I’ll have to give you some weapon, and then send you on your way.”

  Julia dropped her jaw. “What?�
�

  “I’m letting you go, but not before I give you some profi-cient weapons. I can’t send you off unarmed. I might as well send you to your death.”

  Sierra grinned, and Gabe’s eyes lit up, despite the pain from his black eye.

  “Follow me,” Mr. Knightly muttered, turning away from them.

  He quickly led them to his office down the hall, and Julia became speechless. She couldn’t believe Mr. Knightly was actually going to help them.

  A large black armoire stood in the back corner of his office. He pulled a black key out of his pocket and quickly unlocked it. The thin black doors opened to reveal shelves full of swords, daggers, and weapons.

  Mr. Knightly grabbed a golden sword and passed it to Gabe with a scabbard.

  “Gabe,” he began, “this sword has been dipped in poison.

  One cut will leave an attacker in a coma for hours. I don’t need to tell you to be careful.”

  Gabe stood back and admired the sword before tying the scabbard onto his waist.

  Mr. Knightly opened a drawer in the armoire and withdrew a thin bow and arrow. He handed it to Sierra, who took it with shaking hands.

  “This is a Duson bow and arrow. It’s easy to aim, but it’s lethal. Learn to use it well, and be careful.”

  Without hesitation, he pulled out a dagger and handed it to Julia.

  She took it and waited for the explanation.

  “And this dagger should already be familiar to you, Julia.

  It’s the same knife Liam gave you last year. It will help you transform in milliseconds.”

  A sting of disappointment overcame her.

  “But I can’t transform anymore,” she said. “I’m full siren.”

  Mr. Knightly looked her in the eye. “You still are and will always be a shapeshifter, Julia.”

  “No,” she answered. “I’ve tried. It’s impossible.”

  “You must relearn the art,” Mr. Knightly replied, shutting the armoire. “I know you will be triumphant. You are a siren, but you will always be a werecat.”

  Before Julia could protest, Mr. Knightly moved away, and Gabe and Sierra followed.

  “I have a one-way portal that you must use. It won’t get you to the exact location of Scarlet and Caleb, but it wil be close.”