by KB Benson
The music resonates around us, penetrating the warmest heart and turning it cold.
“Come here, I want to show you something.” I lift Jaxon’s hand in mine and lead him toward the south end of the beach, the abandoned edge of the ocean.
Jaxon’s fingers grip mine tightly. “Where are we going?”
“Somewhere special.” We walk until the sand beneath our feet turns to gravel and then stone. I release Jaxon’s hand and hold my arms up in a ‘ta-da’ motion. A humongous cave spreads before us, the darkness inside disappearing into an infinite abyss hiding countless murders. Sections of the walls and ceiling have crumbled away at the entrance letting light illuminate the edges of the cave where water bubbles in and out.
“Whoa.” Jaxon’s voice fills with surprise, surprise and desire. He isn’t looking at the cave—he’s looking at me. The guilt wells up inside of me, but I have to do this. He’s heard my song.
“Beautiful, no?” I ignore the pain stabbing at my stomach.
“Beautiful,” he whispers. The hypnotization is obvious with Jaxon.
Tilting my head down shyly, I look up at him from under my long eyelashes. I gesture toward the cave with my head. “C’mon.”
Jaxon scrunches his face as though fighting against my invitation. Soon his expression relaxes and he follows anyway; the claim I now have on his heart an unbreakable chain. We climb up the small, rocky hill that reaches the mouth of the cave. At least the cave is breathtaking—Jaxon deserves one last pleasant memory before complete fear ends his life.
We reach the entrance in too short of time; any minute Jaxon will be nonexistent and I can be through with this curse. I step through the threshold of daylight into the cave. However, before my foot finds a hold on the slippery rocks, Jaxon touches my arm, bringing me back into the light.
“Thanks for hanging out with me, Iris,” Jaxon says in complete sincerity.
My brow furrows—he shouldn’t be able to break through the spell of my song that easily. He should have no power over his actions.
“Of course,” I say, pretending like nothing’s wrong.
Jaxon stares at his feet as they kick across an embedded stone. “I don’t have many friends, so it really means a lot that I have one now.”
The pit sinks lower in my stomach. Just get him into the cave. Asthen will take it from there and this will all be over.
I force a smile onto my face and turn back into the cave, leading Jaxon to his death. We break through the veil of darkness, a cool mist spraying in toward us. Jaxon stands by my side and slips his hand into mine. His happiness emanates around us—he has no idea what’s happening. Just like none of them ever have.
Jaxon has a life, a family, a mother who needs him. I stare into the abyss, tilting on the brink of fully committing myself to trapping Jaxon in this hell. My body is pulled toward the center of the cave, to the pool of seawater which floods from underground making it the perfect, hidden graveyard. Jaxon stares into the darkness in silence—waiting for me to make the next move. I sigh; I don’t know what I am: a murderer? A coward?
Pulling my hand from Jaxon’s, I step out of the cave and into the overcast daylight. Jaxon’s quick on my heels, bringing himself farther away from his end. I climb back down the hill away from the cave and tromp across the sand. Jaxon rushes up behind me.
“Iris, what’s going on? Don’t you want to explore the cave?” Jaxon asks, flustered.
“No. We’re done there,” I say abruptly.
“Are you sure? I think it’d be cool to see if—”
“No. Go home, Jaxon,” I order. Under my song, he has no choice but to obey. “I’m sorry; I need to get myself home, too. I didn’t realize how late it was.”
“Oh.” Jaxon glances at his watch. “Okay, yeah. Well, I’ll just see you at school then.”
Jaxon saunters away from the beach, glancing back at me from time to time.
“Yeah, I’ll see you at school,” I mutter, staring out at the ocean. My home.
“Ah, Iris,” a hiss floats across the waves. “I was really looking forward to a bite of that one…”
I don’t have to see her flaming red hair emerge from the water to know it’s my sister. “What do you want, Asthen?”
“Damion’s just curious as to what you’re playing at. And now I’m curious, too.” Asthen stares wantonly in the direction that Jaxon had left, a small pout forming on her lips.
“It wasn’t the right time.” I know Asthen won’t buy my weak excuse, but I don’t owe her any explanation.
Asthen laughs, the sound piercing to my bones. “It wasn’t the right time,” she repeats. “You always were weak. You hid your weakness, your fear, when you killed Mother. But you can’t fool us any longer.”
“I didn’t kill Mother,” I growl.
“You’re still trying to convince yourself that’s true? How sad.”
I stare at the waves, avoiding Asthen’s eyes.
“I have a message for you: Finish what you’ve started, traitor.” She doesn’t wait for a response but slips below the surface.
I trudge across the sand, bitter thoughts streaming through my mind. I didn’t kill Mother. Like a a tsunami, I’m blindsided by my last memory of her…
Mother sat with me on her island off the Amalfi Coast of Italy; it was time for me to learn our purpose and my duty as a member of the clan. It didn’t come as natural to me as it did to others, especially to Asthen. At first Mother taught us together. Asthen was a natural, having one of the most enticing songs in the clan. After only one session, she was already practicing her song on unsuspecting sailors—it made Father very proud.
Asthen often took me out, too, to show me how she did it, saying perhaps I could learn if I mimicked her. It didn’t help, but I loved listening to Asthen sing. It took me quite a bit longer to figure it out, but Mother never gave up on me. And eventually, she taught me how to find the purest notes. Purer songs create a stronger pull. No mortal could resist my mother’s voice; and as I learned from her voice, none would be able to resist mine either.
During our lesson, a ship full of men sailed by—it was the King of Ithaca. Mother showed me how she could tell—the flags on the mast, the men strutting as guards around the ship. I thought it was odd the King had tied himself to the mast. The men sailed slowly, watching Mother’s island.
I hear her voice as though she’s standing next to me, gently touching my cheek again.
“Darling, would you like to try your song?”
I looked at the men sitting on the wooden creature and quickly shook my head. “I don’t think I’m ready yet.”
Mother smiled gently, her surreal beauty far more than just the lure of a siren. Her beauty came from within. Although sirens are conditioned to never show their emotions, to never reveal that weakness, Mother is the closest I ever came to feeling love. I could feel her happiness for me. She patted my shoulder.
“That’s alright. I’ll show you this time. Perhaps you can practice with the next humans to pass.”
I nodded. Mother pulled herself to the edge of her island and opened her full lips. Her pure, intoxicating melody flooded from her mouth surrounding everything in sight. I watched the men on the boat. I waited for their bodies to stiffen, to be entranced. I waited for them to throw themselves from their ship into the sea to reach us.
I waited… but nothing happened. Mother’s face scrunched up in confusion. She opened her mouth again, letting the beautiful melody penetrate every living being around us. The men on the ship kept tying their ropes and steering the ship away from us. The only human on board who reacted to Mother’s voice was the King, firmly attached to the ship’s center mast. His wide eyes were full of desire, his body twitched and reached out toward us. He cried for the men to release him, but they didn’t.
“Why don’t they release him?” I wondered.
All too soon, the ship had sailed by. Mother received no catch with her song. She looked upset. I reached out to her to rest my hand on her
arm, but she pulled away. Mother had never pulled away from me before.
“Mother, what’s wrong?” I asked. She didn’t look like herself. Her pale skin grew whiter, her face hardened. I watched as fear crept into her eyes.
“Your father knows, Iris. I have failed,” she said, as though failing wasn’t an option.
I’d never learned what happened if you failed. In my child-like mind, nobody ever did.
“It’s okay, Mother,” I said. “Father will understand.”
Mother shook her head frantically. “Once he might have. Not anymore. Iris, you must understand this—power changes a person. And when your father became the clan leader, he was consumed by it. The clan is the most important thing to him—more than any life, including mine and including yours. I’m sorry to leave you like this, but your father doesn’t understand. He won’t save me.”
Her voice shook. She looked up to the sky and her body heaved. She looked as though she was choking.
“Mother?” A nervous tremor rattled my voice.
She couldn’t respond. Her tail went rigid, the shimmer it once held faded. Her body lurched in every direction. She grasped the shore searching for me, striving to stay alive. All I could do was watch.
“Mother?”
She still incoherently staggered. The soft white skin that covered her ribs cracked and flaked off in large patches. I’d never seen a siren with anything but flawless skin, yet there hers was, utterly human and flawed. The air passing through her strained throat made a scratchy, harsh sound I almost shied away from. She couldn’t breathe, but I didn’t know how to help her. She clawed at her throat, more frantic. Another choking sound burst from her mouth, and Mother threw her withering body into the sea.
I didn’t move. I had to be dreaming. I shook my head to rid myself of the haze and rushed over to the edge of our island, looking into the waves. I couldn’t see anything, just the black, churning water. I dove in after her, unable to think of anything else. I half expected to find her body resting on the ocean floor, but I couldn’t see her long red hair anywhere. I swam in one direction, turned and swam in another; I didn’t see anything. She was gone.
Chapter 26
JACE
By the time I get home from the police station, it’s already late afternoon. I hadn’t expected Iris to wait around that long, but I’m still disappointed when I walk into the empty apartment. I immediately hop into the shower. The officers had grilled me with questions over and over again, trying to catch me in a lie. I had no lie to tell, though.
“Let’s start with the basics,” Officer Kau had said, his eyes narrowing at me.
I shake my head to get his face out of my mind.
“I didn’t kill Stewart,” I said before he could accuse me.
Officer Brody put up his hands, glancing at the attorney standing in the corner of the room. “Hold on now, nobody said anything about you killing him.” Officer Brody looked at me sadly, as though he knew I had nothing to do with the incident, but this was protocol.
Water runs down my back, the smell of sleep and sweat rinsing away with it.
“I didn’t kill him,” I say as though to convince myself.
“I told you everything I know,” I’d said, defeated. The questions were all the same just worded differently and three hours had been my limit.
“We—I—believe you know more than you’re letting on, Mr. Jacobsen,” Officer Kau demanded. “If you didn’t follow Stewart, then who did?”
“I don’t know,” I said exasperated. “Maybe one of the other hundreds of wannabe’s that follow Iris around.”
“It didn’t seem to me that Stewart followed Iris, rather the opposite.”
I rolled my eyes. Don’t remind me, I’d thought.
“Iris kept a close eye on Stewart, keeping him near her, as though she were protecting him.” Officer Kau’s eyes widened as though he’d just had a revelation.
I rubbed my tired eyes. “Guys, c’mon. I had nothing to do with Stewart’s disappearance. I’ve told you everything I know; you have nothing to hold me with.” I stood to leave.
“Actually, Mr. Jacobsen. We do,” Officer Brody said from the shadows.
My head fell backward as I groaned into my hands. “What? What do you have on me?”
Officer Brody walked up to the table and laid a scarf down on its surface. It sparkled in the artificial light. I reached out and touched it with my fingertips, a memory of Iris and me brushed the front of my mind. I saw an image of her smiling face tilted up toward me. Excitement bubbled inside of me with the memory. Iris wore this when we’d had our first kiss at the haunted house.
“Where’d you get this?” I ask worried.
“At the crime scene.”
“Well, this means nothing. It isn’t mine.” I think, trying to remember when I’d given it back to Iris. I couldn’t remember, but I was sure I did.
“We’ve already spoken to its owner. She said she’d lost it the night you, she, and some friends were up at the Creedman’s old house in the woods. She remembered having it on when the group left, and can’t remember what happened to it afterwards. Then we come to find out you had a little brawl with Stewart the night of his disappearance.”
“It’s not mine,” I said, avoiding his accusation.
“No, it’s not; but we found your prints on it. Yours and Iris’. Iris lost this scarf—a lie detector proved it, and there’s only one other person who could be involved.”
“Well, it wasn’t me. You can’t hold me here on that. I can tell you exactly why my prints are on it.” Iris lost her scarf and whoever found it must have just taken it.
This has got to be a crazy coincidence, I think. I’m so confused at what’s going on with Stewart’s disappearance. Shutting off the water, I step out of the shower, grunting into the towel.
“Jace,” Officer Brody had said, softly, still pretending he was on my side, “we just want to find the truth.”
“Well, you’re looking in the wrong place. I’ve been here too long. Hook me up to your reliable lie detector and let’s be done with this.”
An hour later I walked through the front door.
After my shower, I pull on a hoodie, throw my wallet and keys into my pocket, and slam the front door behind me. Barely paying attention to my speed, I drive down to Coffee on the Corner. If I’ve ever needed a pick-me-up, it’s now. The scent of warm cheese, spiced bagels, and coffee grounds permeates the air. I close my eyes and inhale.
I order my usual sandwich, my stomach grumbling as I wait for the waitress to bring it out. I sit twiddling my thumbs when a familiar face walks past the front window. Not so much familiar but more of a slight recognition. The bell dings above the door as he walks to the counter and orders. I watch him, trying to figure out where I know him from. He sits in between two sets of double doors—the “to-go” pickup waiting room. I know I’m staring. Where is he from?
The boy’s eyes dart to mine and I duck my head. My heart races and I realize I don’t know this boy. Iris does. This is Jaxon.
Before I think it through, I slide my chair back and step out of my seat. Jealousy burns in my stomach. I cringe at the sensation, but I can’t shake it. Something pulls me toward him, to make sure he understands Iris is taken. Slipping between the doors, I plop myself on the bench next to Jaxon.
“What’s up?” I say casually.
Jaxon glances at me from the corner of his eye. “Umm,” he hesitates. “Nothing. Just getting a cup of coffee before heading to work.”
I nod, not sure what else to say. We sit in silence for a minute. “Do you mind if I join you?”
Jaxon shifts in his seat, a few more inches growing between us. Does he know who I am? Is the guilt of something he’s done with Iris eating at him?
“Well, as soon as my coffee gets here, I’m leaving.”
All I can do is nod again. “Sorry,” I say. “I’ve completely forgotten my manners—the name’s Jace.” I extend my hand and Jaxon shakes it cautiousl
y.
“Jaxon.”
A waitress opens the door. “Did either of you two boys have ‘The Catatonic’ bagel?”
“That’s me.” I unwrap the sandwich and shove half of it into my mouth. All my earlier stress siphons out with the single bite. “Want some?”
Jaxon shakes his head.
“So,” I stall. I can’t think of anything else to say other than what I’m wondering. “How’s your project going with Iris?”
“What? How do you know about the project?”
“Iris told me.”
“Oh, yeah, you two are dating. It was good. We got pretty far on it.” Jaxon shrugs nonchalantly.
“Oh, good. So, are you mostly done?”
“You know, nothing is going on between me and your girl,” Jaxon says, catching me off guard.
My jaw drops at his blunt reply. “I know nothing actually happened or will happen. I just want to make sure you know that.”
“Of course I do.” Jaxon glances at the window and then back to me. “Look, Iris is a pretty amazing girl; but I don’t do the whole dating thing. Girls tend to avoid me and, to be honest, sort of freak me out.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. “Well, if you’d like, maybe we can help fix that and do a double date some time.”
Jaxon’s eyebrows raise in surprise, but his expression quickly falters and his eyebrows pull together in concern. “Really? Who’d want to go on a date with me?”
“I know plenty of girls who’d be lucky to meet you. Think about it and if you change your mind, just let me or Iris know.”
Just as I’m about to stand to walk away, a small word drops from Jaxon’s lips. “Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it,” I say over my shoulder.
“Jace, Iris is lucky to have you, too. She’s pretty incredible and that voice of hers…” Jaxon says in awe.
