Chained (The Siren Series #2)

by L. A. Griffiths

  “Can I leave now?” I asked her.

  She took her time before answering. “Well you seem to have your powers back.”

  “Well I feel fine, but it was a rough night.” I replied.

  “Then I think you’re ready to join us.”

  “Us?” I was confused.

  Rhea led me from my room and out into a long corridor filled with other rooms on either side. I walked passed each of them expecting to see them locked up like I was, but inside were people of every age inside reading or listening to music. The rooms looked like bedrooms. Some of them were decorated with personal affects and posters of famous singers and shelf’s crammed with various kinds of books.

  “Rhea, who are these people?” I asked her.

  “They are guests here, looking for refuge.” She answered softly.

  “Refuge from what? Leaches?”

  “Yes and no. This is a place where everyone can feel safe, runaway or not.”

  I passed others in the corridor, some of them only kids. They looked scared and uncertain but as soon as Rhea passed their faces lit up. What were they doing here didn’t they have families to go home to?

  We left the rooms behind us and turned a corner into large seated area. It looked like a living room with sofas, TV’s, and electronic gadgets. It felt warm, comforting, like a real home. A feeling of guilt ran through me but I ignored it as best as I could and carried on with Rhea.

  “This is the living room.” she said.

  She left me to look around. Sitting on the sofa were a few people, they chatted amongst themselves, but as soon as they spotted us they stopped and stared. Without saying a word to them, I turned and caught up Rhea. At the next stop she showed me a small kitchen area. Inside was a small fridge at the side and a medium size table made of thick wood, it took its place in the center of the room and sitting at the table was Sophia eating her breakfast. Sophia’s eyes lit up once she saw me and gave a little wave. We then moved on throughout to see what else this place had to offer but Rhea came to a stop and turned to me.

  “I think you’ll want to use our next facility.” Rhea commented.

  Rhea pushed open the door to reveal a shower area that held small cubicles on either side. I didn’t know what she was showing me until I could hear flowing of water. I could not remember when it was the last time I had a shower.

  “I’ll leave you too it then.” she smiled.

  I jumped straight into the shower. It was small but I wasn’t complaining if it had hot running water. I pulled the lever towards myself and out jetted a stream of warm water. I stood there basked in the warm calming water. As I stood in the water I could feel everything being washed away like it was all a bad dream.

  I felt so much better after the shower it was like I was a new person. I dried myself with some fluffy towels and changed into the clothes Rhea kindly laid out for me. There was pair of black loose jeans and a tight cream coloured top, it wasn’t much but at least they were clean. I had been wearing the same stained torn clothes for weeks and they needed to go, badly. I threw my ragged clothes into the nearest bin and continued out of the shower area. My stomach started to growl with hunger so I decided to go and find the kitchen, if I could remember where it was. I walked through the cold halls, still trying to remember the way to the kitchen. As I turned a corner thinking for sure this was the way, I knocked into someone who gave a little yelp up.

  “Oh I’m so sorry.” I said.

  The young girl didn’t meet my gaze; instead she bent down and collected her fallen books. She checked for any damage and brushed off any dirt that stuck to it. Her head then snapped up into my direction and looked as if she was about to unleash her anger on me but she quickly held her tongue.

  “I know who you are.” she said.

  The girl who stood in front of me had wild frizzy chestnut brown hair which she repeatedly kept moving away from her big brown doe eyes. She looked a bit older than me but I couldn’t really tell. The girl hugged the book to her chest and stared at me as did all the others.

  “I cannot believe I’m seeing one up close.” said the staring girl.

  “I guess everyone knows about me now do they?” I asked.

  “Well everyone is talking about it and I mean everyone.” she replied.

  “I bet they want to see the freak, do they?”

  “How can you say that about yourself? Most supernatural creatures would kill and I mean kill to get a chance to become a Siren.”

  “Thanks.” I mumbled.

  “Oh my god, I’m sorry. I have a bad habit of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. Let’s start again, my name’s Amanda.”

  Amanda adjusted her book and placed out her hand.

  “Oh sorry, there I go again.” Amanda quickly threw her hand behind her back.

  “I’m Ellie, but you probably knew that all ready.” I said.

  “Yeah, your kinda’ big news around here. Why don’t we sit in the living room, don’t think you’d want anyone else knowing your business in the hallway.”

  She was right; I didn’t want anyone overhearing us.

  Amanda led the way into the decorated living room with the plush chocolate brown sofas along with colourful glass lamps scattered around the room. The room was empty apart from two of us. She then threw herself onto the large sofa while putting her book to one side.

  I just stood awkwardly next to the sofa, waiting for the invitation.

  “You can sit down you know, this is kinda’ your living room as well.”

  I took a seat next to Amanda who looked fit to burst with joy.

  “Go ahead.” I said to her.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I know you dying to ask me some questions.” I said to her.

  “Really!?” she turned in her seat and gave me her full attention. “What’s it like to be one? Have you made anyone fall deeply in love with you? Have you ever used a Siren scream?” words came spewing out and I felt like I wanted to run away.

  “Whoa, slow down.” I said.

  “Sorry, but really what’s it like?” she brought her voice down to normal level.

  “Truthfully? It’s horrible, I hate it.” I replied.

  “Really? I bet it would be amazing.” said Amanda.

  “You’re wrong, you’d think differently when you cannot touch anyone.”

  “Yeah, that does sound horrible.” she said.

  “It is. I hate it.” I replied.

  “But I’ve heard stories of Sirens that they can do anything they want, I wonder what it feels like?”

  Amanda held out her hand and looked at me with her big brown doe eyes.

  I quickly stood up from my seat. “What is wrong with you? Touching you could put you and myself in danger, never ask me to do that again.”

  I was done talking with her. I left the living room with anger slowly bubbling away while looking for the kitchen again.

  In the end I followed the smells of food to guide me and within minutes I found it. Sophia greeted me with her usual smile and offered me some food. I decided on some cereal. The kitchen was not big but it did have the basics. I sat down beside Sophia and eat my food. For a few minutes we continued in silence, like we were two complete strangers. I had to break the uncomfortable silence.

  “Where are we Sophia?” I asked.

  “Didn’t Rhea tell you?” she replied.

  I shook my head while shoveling the spoon into my mouth.

  “Well, we are underground.”

  “What!” Milk dribbled down my chin.

  No wonder everything was so cramped, we were living underground, but how? Was it safe underground? Did we have enough oxygen?

  “Yeah, I thought she would have told you. This place used to be a bomb shelter and it’s now a converted hideout where supernatural’s can come when they’ve got nowhere else to go.”

  “Are we safe down here then?” I asked her

  “Totally safe.” she said with her soft voice.

 
“So these runaways are like me then?” I asked.

  “Yes, you could say that.”

  “Some of them are very young.” I commented.

  “That’s the worst part of it they have nowhere to go since some of their families have been killed.”

  “By the leaches.” I didn’t need Sophia to tell me that. Those disgusting creatures have destroyed everything that is good.

  As Sophia and I were talking, a big brute of a young man came into the kitchen. His eyes caught mine and I felt fear. I dug my nails into my chair as I watched him grab something from the small fridge. As he left I saw something shimmer with light from his belt.

  “Who the hell was that?” I asked.

  “Don’t worry about him, he’s part of the protectors.” Sophia said.

  “Protectors?” I was completely lost.

  “Yeah they are an order of people who protect the supernatural world. You could call them the police of your world.”

  “But he looks terrifying.” I replied.

  “Ah, they are kittens really, they put their lives on the line for us.”

  “Well I feel a little better, I think.” I said.

  “You should, you are safe here, Ellie.” she tried to reassure me but the words didn’t offer me any comfort.

  I paused at my unfinished meal and I wiped my face.

  “Uh, Sophia.” I wanted her full attention.

  “What is it Ellie?” she asked.

  “About Rhea’s manor, you got hurt because of me. I’m so sorry.” I said.

  Sophia didn’t say anything she just stared at me.

  “Please forgive me, please.” I begged her.

  “I forgive you, but it really wasn’t your fault.” Her perfect pink lips curved up into a smile.

  “Of course it was my fault, I made it happen. If I hadn’t been there none of this would have happened.”

  “Ellie, I don’t blame you and neither does Rhea. She was worried sick about trying to find you.” answered Sophia.

  “I’m glad that she did, it was horrible down there, Sophia.”

  “I cannot even begin to imagine, Ellie.”

  “At one point I just wanted it all to go away and let the darkness take me away.” I said.

  Sophia just stared at me lost for words.

  We continued with our breakfast in silence. I finished the last of my cereal and put it into the small metal sink. I turned around and Rhea stood in the kitchen, waiting. She always had the ability of sneaking up on me and I think she got some kind of kick out of it.

  “Ellie, can we talk?” she said seductively.

  I nodded while waved goodbye to Sophia and followed Rhea down the hallway. We walked together down a narrow hallway. As soon as Rhea passed, the other residents would stop and bow or politely call her ma’am. (Should I be doing that as well?) I tried to keep up with her but my little legs were not quick enough. As soon as they were done with their bowing they would turn their gaze onto me and stare in awe, after a while it got very awkward.

  Rhea stopped in front of a large door covered with engravings of weird symbols that looked like giant eyes with crosses through them. She held it open while I quickly hurried on into the unknown room. Inside was a bedroom much nicer than the one I was in. It had a four poster bed with silk curtains draped on either side along with matching pillows and cream coloured blankets. She also had her own en suite (fancy) and a large make-up dressing table that was covered with unknown creams and remedies inside weirdly shaped thin glass bottles. (Not that she needs the beauty treatment). Rhea walked in and sat down into a plush chair and crossed her legs. I sat down on the other chair opposite her and I just stared down at my hands nervously.

  “Ellie.” She began to speak. “You destroyed my house.”

  My heart dropped, does she want to punish me after what I did. “I’m so sorry.” I tried to explain but she brought up her hand and stopped me.

  “Not many people can do that, I’m impressed.”

  “So you’re not mad?”

  “No, it’s just a house, Ellie. It can be rebuilt.” she gave me a reassuring smile and a wave of relief washed over me.

  “Thanks.” I said.

  “So how are you feeling?”

  Rhea’s question threw me. I hadn’t really stopped and thought how I was feeling. I just tried to hide my emotions as best as I could.

  “It’s difficult.” I said.

  “I must say you are dealing with it very well.”

  “It’s just one of my talents I’ve developed over the years.” I replied.

  “It is a remarkable talent indeed, even I cannot read your emotions.” commented Rhea.

  I remained silent, awkwardly shifting in my chair.

  “You are safe here, Ellie. I mean that this time.”

  “Yeah.” I mumbled.

  “Ellie, do you blame me?” she asked.

  “No, never. It’s just things are so messed up.” I answered.

  “I can understand, it’s all so different for you now and you have to adjust to it the best you can.”

  “Yeah.” It was all I could say.

  “Good. I wanted to talk to you about certain things that have happened.”

  “Like what?” I didn’t really want to talk about things.

  “Well, first. That man who abducted you.”

  “Oh yeah, he knew you didn’t he, but how?” I asked.

  “Well I have a long dark history with Barbus, and that’s how I want to keep it.” She spoke with such hate for him.

  “He asked for me to join him, but I told him no.”

  “Interesting, what else did he say?”

  “Well he said that I was his.” Just thinking about him made me feel ill “the leaches also listened to him, like he was commanding them.”

  Rhea remained sat in her chair and I could see her mind working. “Mmm, Barbus is hardly the brains behind this, but we should be carefully none the less.”

  “Yeah, He makes my skin crawl.” I replied.

  “He does seem to have that effect of some people. I hated him ever since the first time I met him.”

  I wanted to ask Rhea a personal question, but I didn’t know if I would be over-stepping. I took a deep breath and just let it out.

  “Rhea, what are you?” I interrupted.

  Rhea looked at me and gave a little smile.

  She cleared her throat. “I am what you would called a demi-god my dear.”

  Wait, what! A god?! Did she really say that? “Sorry, can you explain?”

  “A demi-god, surely you have heard the word before?”

  “No, not really. They don’t teach us that in school.”

  “Well they should.” she said.

  My tired mind tried to come to terms with Rhea being a god, but I just could not continue that train of thought.

  I tried to muffle a giggle, I was sitting next to a god! “Were you born one then?”

  “No, I was..” Rhea cut herself off. She had a blank stare across her face. A cold icy stare formed in her flame coloured eyes. I had brought up memories that she wasn’t ready to divulge yet.

  “Rhea, you ok?”

  She brought herself back with a smile.

  “That’s a tale for another day.” Rhea stood up from her chair and started to pace around the room. I just sat and watched her float effortlessly around her bedroom.

  Another piece of information came to light inside my still weak mind.

  “Oh yeah, my doctor was with them. He treated me when I was in the hospital after the..” Just thinking back about the hospital was a bad idea. It seemed ages ago when I laid in that hospital bed. I tried to throw off the guilty words that surrounded me.

  “Your doctor? That’s strange. Did you notice anything weird about him?”

  Her question pulled me from my self doubt.

  “Come to think of it, yes. It was like he didn’t want to be there, like he was being forced to do it.”

  Rhea was about to say something but
there was a gentle knock on the bedroom door.

  “Enter.” She ordered.

  A large tall man appeared, the same guy from the kitchen. He had a strong presence about him. He looked me up and down with interest and I had to resist the urge to blush. He then gave his full attention to Rhea.

  “I have information.” he spoke but he remained quiet.

  “You can report, she’s fine.” his eyes gave me another glace before he reported his findings.

  “Yes mistress. There have been numerous reports of leaches roaming around in public, and with many numbers.”

  Rhea paused to take in all the information.

  “It’s very unlike them to attack in public, and you say there are many of them?”

  “Yes, mistress. They are at a very high level, close to the danger zone.” he said.

  “She must been breeding them. This isn’t a good sign.” Rhea said to herself.

  “Breeding?” I was totally lost.

  “Yes Ellie, leaches don’t breed like normal people they get birthed about ten at a time or even more, but these numbers are high.”

  “We’ve had some protectors gone missing while hunting for the nest also.” he spoke with a formal tone.

  Rhea started to think again. “What does the council say about this?” she asked the strong young man.

  “They want us to deal with it quickly and quietly. They want you to front the operation.”

  “Thank you Marcus, we will leave first thing in the morning. If that’s all you can go.” she waved him off.

  He bowed his head and left, closing the door behind him.

  “Where are you going tomorrow?” I asked.

  “To find a nest of leaches and you, my dear will be coming with me.”

  “What?!” I blurted out.

  I’m surprised that Rhea wanted me to accompany her down into a leach nest. “You want to put me back in danger again? After what I’ve been through?

  “Yes and I know what you must be thinking, but you will be safe with me and I don’t want you out of my sight.” Her soft voice was like music to my ears, but I had to try to resist it.

  “That’s what you said last time and you know what happened.” I stood up from my chair in protest.

  Rhea took a deep sigh. “That will never happen again. I will put my life on the line if it means your safety.”