Nervous someone might see the odd spectacle around them, Lora rushed to Devin, who greeted her with a reassuring grin. “We won’t be seen,” she said to Lora, closing her eyes. “There are no humans around this cove.”
Lora stepped back, her heart still pounding from the incredible sight around her. The wall of water was thin, allowing her to see through it, yet it gave off a spectacular illusion, offering them complete seclusion.
Raising a slender hand, Devin silenced the murmurs of her clan.
“Loralei is right,” she said, her voice strong yet calm against the wall of water and center of fire., “We did not come here to argue.”
The sight of their shadows reflected against the ocean barricade like gentle spirits, flickering in the flames, was striking.
“We are here to gather strength from one another, to remember we are a family who will not allow the Sons of Orpheus to annihilate us.” Devin took a deep breath, staring at each clan member as if she were seeing into their souls.
Lora’s soul was exposed. All her conflicting feelings—her worry over whether she could keep her clan safe once she became Guardian, her desire not to hide anymore, her frustration toward her father who still treated her as a child, the part of her who missed her mother terribly—all those troubles and doubts rose before her so clearly, Lora worried she might crumble from the pressure. And Devin could probably see all of these weaknesses.
Based on her people’s faces, they were also experiencing conflicting feelings. Mr. and Mrs. Hale were staring at their child with worried expressions, perhaps wondering if they could keep their tiny infant safe. Lora could only imagine their worry.
She turned to find Will staring at her, his face an unreadable mask. He showed no emotion, only probing eyes and a furrowed brow. Though she met his gaze for a moment, she squirmed under his blank stare and forced herself to turn away, toward the frightened Barbas couple, who kept vigil over Violet as if she might pass through the water and disappear forever.
Lora risked a peek at Devin to find her eyes resting upon Will. Devin frowned, which Lora found strange. She would have to ask her about it later.
Violet picked up young Molly and crept over to the wall of water still surrounding their circle. Together, they stretched their fingers toward the unnatural phenomenon, letting their fingertips play in the water as they laughed and giggled over the wonder before them. Molly’s older brother Benjamin, a nine-year-old, cautiously approached the water as well. His sister’s enthusiasm encouraged him, and he touched it and laughed as his fingers passed through the thin watery lining.
“The ocean will protect us,” Devin said. As she raised her arms, the ocean wall surrounding them fell, inches at a time, until it became a mere puddle encircling the Clan. “She will not abandon her children, her sisters, her brothers. Our fates are already written, and we must trust in her. Μητέρα ωκεανών θα μας προστατεύσει. Mother Ocean will protect us.”
“Μητέρα ωκεανών θα μας προστατεύσει,” the Clan answered. Lora closed her eyes, listening to the song of the sea. She prayed the words their Guardian spoke were true. Opening her green eyes, gazing into the vulnerable faces of her clan, she could tell they were as worried as she.
Then they sang together. A spiritual force shielded them, their voices melding together like the variations of the waves. Eventually the song grew quieter. Some of the younger children slept on their mother’s laps, their peaceful faces devoid of worry or fear.
“We will gather over the weekend to pay tribute to Victoria with a proper memorial service,” Devin said in a soft voice as the Clan rose from the sand and prepared to leave. “In the meantime, I’ll decide the best course of action for the Clan. I’ll try to find the best way for us to protect ourselves. For now, no one should go anywhere alone. Travel in pairs or groups. Είναι ασφαλή. Είναι ισχυρή. Be safe. Be strong.”
Lora trailed behind her father as they trudged through the sand, making their way back to the car. She stole one last glance back at the dark water as he drove away into the scattered lamplight lining the street.
Chapter Seven
He’d killed his first Siren at the age of ten. It was a rite of passage, of sorts, for entry into the Brotherhood. All the blood should have revolted him, but it didn’t. It excited him. The blood thrilled him. After the kill, he’d gone home and cut himself. He wanted to see more blood. Needed to see the blood.
He hadn’t told his father about the cutting. It was his duty to kill them, to eliminate the Sirens from the Earth, but the Brotherhood did not expect him to enjoy it. For this reason, he tried to completely eliminate the bodies of all the monsters he destroyed. The demon found in the ice plant had been a mistake. He’d been careless. If his father learned of his experiments, how he cut them, removing the part which he found most foul, he might make him stop.
And that would take all of the fun out of the kill.
Chuckling, he pushed the limp body in front of him with his foot. This time it had been too easy. The monster had come with him so willingly. The simple suggestion of a nighttime stroll had appealed to the beast. He’d used his charms on her, lured her with untruthful flattery, and she’d jumped at the opportunity. The stupid creature actually believed his lies.
Initially, she tried to hide her true self by flirting and acting innocent, but he could see through the ruse. He envisioned her scaly skin and clawed feet, trying to repress the shuddering when he held her hand to keep up pretenses. Her altered form may have glamoured him, but what lay underneath could not be concealed. He could feel the evil within her. When they were deep in the forest, and the sun had almost completely hidden itself behind the trees, he pulled the knife on her. Surprised, she’d shown her true self then. She tried to seduce him with her foul song, making him laugh at the futility of it.
She had trembled with fright when he laughed, her golden eyes growing wide as she realized her demon voice had no effect on him. The monster backed away then, holding out her hands as if they could stop the kill.
He’d enjoyed mutilating her body with his weapon. When she died, he spread her blood on his hands, sniffed the metallic scent, and sneered before dousing the beast with gasoline and burning it. He’d dragged her demon body deep into the woods and kept the fire under control with sand so it would not spread and give him away.
Removing his gloves, he burned those as well, as he did his clothing. He had never coupled his killings with fire before, and the sight of his naked skin glowing in the firelight filled him with power. Harsh scars covered his body, scars in places no one would ever see. Some were more ragged than others from frequent cutting.
Ortho had completed his research well. He had learned the body would not burn entirely, but wanted to see the results anyway. Experimenting provided joy. When only remnants of bone mixed with ash were left of the creature, he buried her remains in the dirt and started the long hike back to his car, still holding her vocal chords in his left hand.
Chapter Eight
Now close your eyes, breathe deeply, and concentrate,” Devin said, her voice warm. “Listen to the ocean, and let it bring you closer to the Clan.”
They sat on Devin’s back porch, facing the water. Dark clouds covered the sky, like every other day, but the sea retained a deep blue color, with flecks of gold jumping and glimmering with each swell. It lapped against the rocks rather than crashing. Lora knew she shouldn’t be angry right now. She should be relaxed in her favorite place, but she couldn’t seem to shake the tension.
Every part of her body tightened and, despite the ocean’s beauty, it sang a sad song which did nothing to calm her nerves. Lora shook her head, trying to dispel her negative feelings and quiet herself to commune with the Clan. But all she could hear were her own fears, which were very loud today. Her mind still focused on the meeting from the
night before. Lora couldn’t stop thinking about how she had failed to unite the Clan last night. Her deepest fears floated on the surface, reminding her how she would never measure up to Devin or her mother. She wouldn’t be a good Guardian for her clan. Frustrated, she opened her eyes. “It’s not working.”
Devin gave her a sympathetic frown. “It will work, when you are ready.”
But she wouldn’t be ready, at least not until she found her counterpart.
She’d first learned of counterparts shortly after her mother died. “The power is within you,” Devin had said. “But no Guardian is complete on her own, for each must have a counterpart.”
“A counterpart?” she’d asked. “Like a person?”
Devin had smiled at her, her expression becoming distant. Her hair blew in the ocean breeze, but it had not been so gray then. “Yes,” Devin said, leaning down to lovingly scratch her dog’s large ears. “For me, my first daughter, Helen, was my counterpart.”
Penelope licked Devin’s hand, as if she understood the conversation, understood the need to comfort her master. Lora’s Aunt Helen had died of leukemia at the age of seven, before Lora was born. Though magic ran through their veins, they were not impervious to human frailties and diseases.
“My abilities were never as strong as when Helen lived. When she died, part of my powers died, too. Someday, you will be much more powerful than I am now. I am only a fraction of the Guardian my beautiful Helen allowed me to be.” Devin’s eyes were sad, distant, remembering the tiny daughter she lost so long ago.
“What will happen when I find my counterpart?” Lora had asked. “And how will I discover who my counterpart is?”
Devin had touched her face with a gentle hand. “There is an undeniable bond between a Guardian and their counterpart, something mysterious which will draw you together. But you will not be certain until you face the sea, side by side and ready, at the same time. Only the ocean can bind the two of you together for eternity. When you are bound together, your powers as Guardian are completely unlocked. When your powers are freed, you will be ready to lead when I am gone.”
Lora remembered the conversation clearly in her mind, and for years she’d wondered when she would find the element to complete her transformation to Guardian.
“But I’m ready now,” Lora said. “I really am. Why haven’t I found my counterpart yet?” She covered her face with her hands. “You must be so disappointed.” Lora felt Devin’s hand touch her own and stroke it, like a mother soothing her child.
“Darling, you do not disappoint me. You will come into your powers in your own time, and you have to be patient. I have confidence your counterpart will find you. Besides,” she said with a slight grin, “it is unlikely you will have to become the next Guardian tomorrow, which gives you plenty of time to practice.” Lora kept her face covered with her hands, holding back painful tears. Her throat felt thick. She would not become the next Guardian until her grandmother died, although she could acquire her powers, now, at any time. But if she didn’t find her counterpart before she became Guardian, she would be useless as a protector. Only Guardians who had bonded with their counterparts would have the powers necessary to take care of the Clan.
“I’m nothing like my mother, though,” Lora said through the tears. “She was so beautiful and kind and everyone loved her. Most people think I’m the complete opposite.”
“You are more like her than you think,” Devin said, rising. She stepped off the porch and onto the rough sand. “I taught her. Your mother frowned with nervousness and frustration, just as you do now. You even have the same pouty lip.” Devin laughed. “I remember one day she stood, almost where you are standing, trying to force the ocean to do her bidding. She’d been calling for hours; your mother was a stubborn soul, as you may remember, but the sea did not want to answer her. When I found her, she had collapsed on the stairs, crying. At first she didn’t want me to see and covered her face, but finally your mother gazed at me with red, teary eyes. ‘Why won’t it listen, Mom?’ she asked me. ‘Why doesn’t the sea love me like it loves you?’
“Before I could answer, your mother rose and raced down the porch steps to the rocky beach. When she reached the edge of the water, she screamed, ‘Why? Why won’t you do as I ask?’” Devin turned to Lora, who still sat on the porch, knees drawn to her chest. “As your mother stood there, crying and panting with anger, the ocean turned green, a perfect tranquil green, much like the color of your eyes, and it stopped moving. I had never seen anything like it before. There were no waves, no movement whatsoever, only a wall of green glass so smooth I felt I could step onto it if I wished.
“After a moment, I realized your mother had stopped screaming and had waded into the calm water. Yet it still did not move, only parted as her legs moved across it and folded behind them like silk.
“Your mother was a vision, there in the water, commanding the sea like a true Guardian. I’ll never forget the way she shined, and how the ocean never sang a song more beautiful. Not even to me.”
Lora listened with rapt attention, but she sighed and shook her head as Devin finished. “But that’s my point,” she said in a whisper. “I’ll never be anything like my mother. Her powers were unique, and the ocean loved her more than anyone. She commanded it even without a counterpart.”
Devin’s voice grew softer. “You are wrong,” she said. “You are just as unique. As your mother became a goddess on the sea, the ocean sang a new song; except, rather than hum a melody, it repeated one name, over and over again.”
Lora leaned forward, heart pounding, somehow knowing what Devin would say.
“The sea repeated your name. In a dozen different octaves and melodies, each more beautiful than the next, it sang ‘Loralei.’ The sea sang your name, and it is a sound I have never forgotten, nor will ever forget for as long as I live.” She reached over to tuck a strand of hair behind Lora’s ear. “The ocean has been waiting for you, Loralei, and when you are ready, it will do your will just as it does mine. But I believe you will surpass us all, my beautiful Siren. You are destined for amazing things.”
Lora held her breath, and with Devin’s words she exhaled loudly. “So, I’m not a failure?” she blurted out.
“No,” Devin replied with a laugh. “And your mother did not gain her gifts without a counterpart. Though your mother did not realize it at the time, your father stepped onto the beach just as the ocean sang your name, binding your parents together.” Suddenly, Devin’s face changed, her expression pained.
“What’s the matter?” asked Lora, touching her shoulder. Devin shook her head.
“Nothing,” she said, but her eyes appeared far away. “I . . . forgot something inside. I’ll be back in a minute.” Turning, she hurried into the house.
The painful memories of her daughter might be too much to handle, Lora realized. Lora still couldn’t think about her mother without having a sick feeling of loss in her stomach. Thinking about what Devin had told her, Lora stretched her hand out toward the ocean. “You’re not disappointed?” Lora asked again. She directed the question to the sea and not to Devin. All this time she had believed she couldn’t command the ocean because she didn’t measure up. Maybe she’d been wrong. Maybe she’d been too hasty. Devin might be right—her counterpart would come at the right time.
As renewed confidence swelled within her, she glided down the steps toward the water. All tension left her body and, though her sense of responsibility had not waned, it no longer seemed like a burden. She felt empowered, sensing she might be on the right track.
At the water’s edge, she pictured her mother. All around Lora, her mother’s spirit danced in the ocean, swirled in the salt air, surrounded her, and filled her with the power she’d been lacking. It swelled within her, starting at the tips of her toes and pulsing through her body like a detonator, threatening to bring her to the br
eaking point. Lora’s body quivered, and she pictured a massive swell, higher than the gentle waves of Pacific Grove. Moving forward, her toes touched the ocean. She could feel the electricity flowing from her body into the water, a cosmic pulse moving magically into the sea. She could see the ripple effect as a giant wave moved away from the shore into the water, then back again, creating a large current, taller than even she had imagined. Closing her eyes, Lora willed it to crash at her feet and then dissipate, and the water listened. The ocean obeyed her. For the first time, she had power over the sea.
Her mother’s spirit was everywhere, spurring her forward. Lora gave the ocean instructions, and the ocean listened and obeyed.
A small voice gently whispered in her ear, quiet at first. Then the voice grew louder, clearer. The ocean stopped singing and spoke.
“Tell me,” Lora said in a whisper. “Tell me what I should do to save my Clan.”
“Κάνετε αυτό που είναι σωστό. Κάνετε αυτό που είναι καλύτερο. Do what is right. Do what is best.”
It was not the answer Lora sought. “Please,” she whispered again. “Please help me.”
The ocean’s voice retreated until Lora could no longer hear it. The song alone returned, lingering in the air.
The clouds in the morning sky tumbled, and summer was further away than ever. Grateful she’d brought her jacket, Lora ducked into the passenger seat of Will’s car. Much to her relief, she found him smiling. Since Monday, he’d insisted he was not mad about her callous comment last week, but she kept worrying his anger might resurface. At Devin’s house, Lora had forgotten the argument. Here, it was impossible to ignore.
Voices of the Sea Page 7
