The Siren's Secret

by Heather Ostler

  She stopped moving and felt her eyes burn with tears.

  “But we were so close. Why didn’t you follow her? You just let her get away.”

  Julia glanced to the shore. Waves crashed over where the woman had stood a minute before.

  “You have to trust us,” Terrence said angrily.

  “But you just stood there. Now we’re back to where we started.” She glanced back to the one-way portal. “My dad needs our help, Terrence.”

  “You think we don’t know that?” he said. “If we had followed her, we’d be walking straight into a trap!”

  Julia glared at him. “You’re always restraining me,” she said. “Someone is always holding me back. Obviously the Soldier Union isn’t doing the right thing because my dad and Liam are still in the Guild’s hands.”

  He sighed and shook his head. “I know you’re upset, but I had to stop you.”

  “No one is going to restrain me anymore,” Julia continued.

  “I’m not going to let Alexis win.”

  As she turned away from him, Sierra sprinted toward her, upset.

  “What happened? What were you thinking?” she demanded. “Julia, you have no idea what she could have done.”

  “I’m getting out of here,” Julia said. “I need to get back to Lockham.”

  “We’re all going to Lockham.” Caleb appeared behind her.

  “My mom is already making a portal.”

  Julia turned to the shoreline. Scarlet knelt in the sand, stirring around water in a circular motion.

  “Thank goodness she knows how. Only water nymphs and sirens can create water portals,” Sierra said.

  Julia watched her stir the ocean water for ten minutes before she finally stood up. “It’s ready,” she called out. “It will lead us back to Lockham.”

  Caleb signaled to Terrence and Luke Marquette, and immediately the men moved back into their organized lines.

  Scarlet went through first and vanished into the water.

  Julia walked onto the shoreline next and stepped into the portal. She traveled through the darkness and materialized into Lockham’s pool once again.

  When she climbed out, dripping wet, she turned to Scarlet.

  “Does it always have to end in water?” Julia asked.

  She smiled. “Portals that lead to land take much longer to make. We were limited on time.”

  Scarlet handed her a towel, and she dried off thinking about the Guild member’s words. Julia needed to take action if she wanted to save her father.

  She walked out of the pool area, past Scarlet’s office, and into the hallway.

  Lost in thought and waiting for Sierra, she felt someone pul on her arm. She spun around and saw Terrence next to her.

  “Oh,” Julia said. “It’s you.”

  He tilted his head sideways. “Julia, I know you’re upset.”

  “Yes, I am,” she said. “But I want us to both put all our energy into finding out where that portal leads to, so please don’t waste your time on me. I know it’s not your fault. I’m just frustrated with how that turned out.”

  “I understand. And I don’t know exactly how to say this, but I’m willing to help you.”

  Julia shrugged. “Thanks. I know everyone will work their hardest to find the Guild and—”

  He held up a hand. “That’s not what I meant.”

  She paused. “What did you mean?”

  “Julia, things have been so wrong between us ever since you became a siren,” he said.

  “I can’t help that—”

  “I’m not finished.”

  Julia held her tongue and glared at the ground.

  “Our relationship has been out of control because you didn’t think we could be together. I’ve known for a while that I wanted to be with you.”

  She looked up at him, surprised.

  “I’ve also known that I wanted to marry you, but I was afraid to tell you. I know things are terrible right now, but you have to make this decision.”

  They were completely alone in the hallway.

  “I love you, okay? I’m not going to let you marry anyone else.” Terrence kneeled down on one knee. “This is not the circumstance I would have chosen, nor the time, but I am baring my soul and asking for your hand in marriage.”

  Julia froze as Terrence gently took her hand.

  “I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you.

  Things will work out, I promise. So, Julia Levesque, will you marry me?”

  It took a couple seconds for her to answer. “Yes.” She nodded, feeling stunned. “Yes, Terrence, I’ll marry you.”

  Still on his knee, Terrence took off the truth ring on Julia’s middle finger, and slid it onto her wedding ring finger.

  “I’m sorry I don’t have a ring, and we don’t have time to celebrate.”

  “I don’t care.” She took his hands, pulling him up, and hugged him tightly.

  Julia felt nervous, and completely terrified, but she knew she had to save her father. If marrying Terrence within forty-eight hours freed him, then it was the right thing to do.

  It became completely dark outside, and a few soldiers filtered past them.

  Julia snapped out of her daze and once again accepted the reality of what was going to happen. She had to get married, and she had only two days to do so.

  “Scarlet!” She ran back into her office to see Caleb conversing with her. She looked exhausted and had dark circles under her eyes.

  Both Caleb and Scarlet stopped their conversation and turned to Julia.

  “I need your help,” Julia said. “I know that the Soldier Union thinks they have a chance of figuring out where that portal led to, but I don’t trust that plan. Who knows how long that could take?”

  Scarlet nodded but didn’t respond.

  “I’m going to do it.”

  Looking remorseful, Scarlet opened her mouth, but Julia cut her off.

  “I know that everyone will say that I don’t have to, but only I know what I need to do. And you can help me or not, but I’ll find a way to get married.”

  Caleb looked horrified. “And just who do you plan on marrying?”

  Julia swallowed. “Terrence,” she answered. “Terrence has just proposed to me.”

  Caleb looked like he’d been slapped in the face. “What?”

  he gasped.

  “And if I really want to become queen, I’m going to have to hide what I am. I need to dye my hair, fix my eyes, and get ready for this ceremony. Scarlet, I know this isn’t how things are supposed to be. But I have to save my dad.”

  Her voice cracked as she saw the disappointed look on Scarlet’s face. “Please,” she pleaded. “Please help me. Please let me save my dad and your husband.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  A Lockham Wedding

  Julia …” Scarlet’s eyes were red. “You know what you’re doing?” She didn’t hide her disapproval.

  “Yes,” Julia answered. “And this will all be for nothing if we don’t hurry. What’s the first step? Do I need to make an announcement?”

  Scarlet frowned slightly. “I will tell the Soldier Union.

  And I’ll pull together a ceremony as fast as I can. You could be married tomorrow morning if we hurry.”

  Julia took her hand. “Yes, thank you so much, Scarlet.

  Thank you for helping me to save their lives.”

  She nodded and quickly left her office, leaving Julia alone with Caleb.

  Caleb turned to Julia, his face heartbroken.

  “I don’t want to hear it.” Julia couldn’t look at him.

  “How could you?” he asked.

  “Don’t,” Julia responded. “You know exactly why I’m doing this. I’ll do whatever I have to. I’ll marry Gabe, Terrence, you, or anyone else if it means my dad and your dad are released from the Guild.”

  “Thanks,” Caleb answered. “I’m glad I made the list.

  Do you even understand what is happening? You’re not just getting
married; you’re giving up your right to the throne or any position in the government.”

  A few soldiers ran past Julia, and she took a deep breath before answering.

  “Do you think any of that will matter if something happens to my father? Or Liam? They’re being held hostage because of me.” She turned away from him.

  “Julia.” Caleb put a hand on her shoulder and turned her back around to face him. “Marriages are different here. You can’t just get separated or divorced. It’s a serious bond. And not only that, your own father would miss the ceremony.”

  She pursed her lips to keep from crying. “You’re forgetting something, Caleb. I’m cursed, remember?”

  He growled under his breath and closed his eyes.

  “I know you don’t believe it, but I am. I’ll never be happily married. I might as well save lives.”

  “You’re not cursed!” he yelled. “You and I are soul mates.

  You and I get married, have a family, and have a life together.”

  Julia shook her head. “If you think that’s true, then why don’t you propose to me?”

  He looked appalled. “Because this isn’t right. You think this is what your father would want? He won’t be at his only daughter’s wedding. And you don’t even care about who you’re marrying. I want nothing to do with this.”

  She stepped away from him. “Until we find another solution, this is the only plan I have to help save them. I’m sorry, Caleb.”

  Caleb opened his mouth to speak, but Julia turned and rushed out of Scarlet’s office. Of course he was upset with her.

  But how upset would he be if his father were killed because Julia didn’t get married? That would be truly unforgivable.

  Julia found Scarlet in the Soldier Union meeting room talking with the captains. She stood by the open door, listening before entering.

  “Marquette, I’ll need you to contact a law member to perform the ceremony here tomorrow morning. Tell him it’s an emergency and needs to be kept completely confidential.

  There are enough law members that one will be able to come out on such short notice.”

  “Yes, definitely,” he answered.

  “This needs to be kept private. It won’t be made a public announcement until tomorrow after the ceremony. Then we’ll call an emergency meeting with the royal board so Julia can be sworn in as queen. That will be more difficult to pull off, but we’ll have to try.”

  Julia entered, and all eyes fell on her.

  “I’ll help Julia get ready for tomorrow,” Scarlet said, glancing at her hair. “No one can know what she is. So you are all sworn to secrecy about Julia being a siren. Is that clear?”

  All four men nodded.

  The oldest captain stepped closer to Scarlet. “While we understand that this wedding will go forward no matter what happens, the Soldier Union will be putting most of our work into finding the Guild. As far as I’m concerned, the wedding is plan B, and I hope you understand our time will be spent on other things than the ceremony.”

  Scarlet nodded. “I understand. I wish you the best of luck.”

  The four men left the room and turned to go down the main staircase.

  “Thank you, Scarlet.” Julia leaned against the doorway, exhausted. “What can I do?”

  “Now that the Soldier Union is aware of the plan, the next step is for you to get a dress, I suppose.”

  Julia winced. “Do I have to? I really don’t care what I’m wearing.”

  Scarlet looked hesitant. “You really should, Julia. This is a wedding ceremony, and we’re going with the bare minimum.

  You need to wear a dress. But that shouldn’t be a problem.

  Remember the costume closest? They’ll be plenty of white dresses.”

  Julia had a flashback of Lockham’s masquerade ball the previous year. Scarlet took Julia and Sierra in the massive costume closet where they could choose a gown.

  “Yeah,” Julia answered, coming back to reality. “Is it okay if Sierra helps us?”

  “Of course,” Scarlet said. “I can meet you up there.”

  As Julia searched for Sierra, she felt ill. Her arms became shaky, and she felt lightheaded. If she didn’t keep herself busy, she’d break down.

  It’s going to be okay, she told herself . The ceremony will be fast, and then the Guild will let my father and Liam go. Everything will be okay once they are free. Just breathe.

  Sierra wasn’t far. Five different classrooms near the staircase were occupied with Soldier Union meetings. More maps were out, piles of parchment were stacked on the tables, and Gabe stood studying what looked like different water samples in small test tubes. Next to him, Sierra sat quietly watching him pour drops into the water.

  “Hey.” Julia tapped her on the shoulder. “I need your help.”

  “Sure,” Sierra answered. “With what?”

  Across the room, Julia saw Caleb glance up from a map.

  His eyes looked as if they had fire in them, and his jaw hardened.

  “I’ll explain in the hall.”

  Julia pulled her outside of the room quickly.

  “What’s going on?” Sierra demanded. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m going to do it,” Julia said. “I’m going to get married.”

  Sierra gasped. “What?”

  “Terrence just proposed, and Scarlet’s getting the ceremony ready for tomorrow morning. I know this is shocking.”

  She paused, and Sierra nodded frantically. “But until we find my dad, this is my only option.”

  “Uh.” Sierra looked frozen. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Say that you’re my best friend and that you trust me. Say that you’ll come with me right now to pick out a dress. And please say you’ll support me and not question me.”

  Sierra closed her mouth.

  “Look, I really just need your help.” Her eyes began to water. “Please.”

  “Okay,” Sierra responded. “I’ll come with you. It’s just a lot to take in.”

  Julia exhaled. “I know. So thank you.”

  Silently, Sierra and Julia made their way to the costume room. Julia didn’t want to talk about anything, and Sierra must have known that. If Julia began thinking about the circumstances, she’d undoubtedly have a nervous breakdown in the middle of the hall. She had to be strong. She had to save her father.

  The costume room looked just as it had last year.

  Scarlet already began pulling apart hanger after hanger on a row of hundreds of dresses that smelled like fabric softener.

  “All right, Julia,” she called. “There are about ten different dresses that are in your size and are some form of white.”

  Both Sierra and Julia took a stack from her and walked toward the small dressing room area.

  “Go ahead,” Sierra said. “I’m sure one of those will work.”

  Sierra helped her climb into various gowns. She zipped her up quickly, and Julia tried to put on a good face. The first three seemed fine to Julia, but Sierra had frowned at the sight of each one. After the forth, her scowl lessened.

  “Is this it then?” Julia asked her. “It seems like you like it more.”

  Sierra raised an eyebrow. “It’s not about if I like it. It’s your wedding ceremony. What do you think?”

  Julia glanced in the mirror. The long, cream-colored dress had a pattern of beads that swirled down the front of the dress.

  “I don’t know,” she answered. “My brain feels numb. I’m ready to go to sleep and then get this over with.”

  Sierra looked worried. “Great. So it really is up to me.”

  She pursed her lips and glanced to the other dresses. “Here, try this one.”

  “I liked that one as well,” Scarlet added.

  Julia climbed into the next gown and Sierra fastened the back. This one was silky, white, and the skirt looked like a mermaid tale. It felt a little loose, but she still liked how it looked.

  “I think it’s stunning,” Sierra said. “It’s simple,
but I like the sleeves and the neckline. I think you look gorgeous in it.”

  Scarlet tried her best to smile. “I think you have a winner, Julia.”

  Julia nodded. “Good.”

  Climbing out of the dress, she realized how tired she felt.

  She hung up the gown, and Sierra carefully zipped it into a red cloth bag.

  “I’ll keep track of it,” she said.

  “Thank you—both of you.” Julia hugged Scarlet and Sierra as a clock chimed in the distance.

  “Go to bed,” Scarlet said. “We’ll all have to get up early and get you ready for tomorrow. I’ll find some dye, and we’ll color your hair early. Contacts for your eyes will be trickier to find, but I’ll figure it out. Get some sleep though. You don’t need dark circles on your wedding day.”

  Julia tried to smile. “Thank you, for everything. I’m so sorry to put you through this.”

  “Julia,” Scarlet said, “this is not your fault. It will be okay.

  We’ll figure it out. Just know, it’s not your fault.”

  Julia’s dreams that night were relentless. There would be no rest for her. Images of wedding gowns, Guild members, and the jungle taunted her. Everything seemed wrong. Her father was still held captive. The Guild member had gotten away so easily. Julia would be married tomorrow, and Lancer wouldn’t be there.

  Alexis knew exactly how to get to Julia. She knew how to make her sacrifice her whole future. But Alexis didn’t know Julia was a siren. In a way, it was easier for her to quickly seal the bond with Terrence because of the curse.

  However, if giving away her future wasn’t enough, Alexis had asked for a mystery favor. It seemed hard to believe that Julia had agreed to get married, give up her royal position, and then still complete a favor for Alexis.

  She knew what Alexis wanted as her favor. She needed her for some sort of weapon or tool of mass destruction. But what was the weapon Julia had to unlock? Something to hurt or kill others? Something that would make Alexis unstop-pable? By the time Julia saved her father, Alexis would have obtained her royal seat and have a powerful weapon to keep her position.

  Sierra woke Julia, shaking her softly. “Scarlet’s here, Julia.

  It’s time to get up.”

  She felt groggy but sat up in bed as Scarlet entered with a tray in her hands and a bag slung over her shoulder.