Chapter Two
Hannah
My coffee maker just broke and I didn’t even have a single tea bag in the apartment or anything that might contain the drug I craved now—caffeine. I scrounged up enough money and decided that I would go grocery shopping.
It was cloudy out, and the spring air had cooled dramatically from the rain the other day. I wished I would have worn a jacket. This time of year the weather was unpredictable and could change at a moment’s notice.
I looked up at the grey sky in hopes of seeing even a small amount of blue, but the heaviness of the clouds looked like a promise of more rain. Why didn’t I get groceries the other day when the sun was out? I curse at myself for always waiting for the last minute to get the things I needed.
I turned the corner and then stopped. The grocery store was another two blocks away, and the only thing I needed was instant coffee since my coffee maker decided to die. People dressed sensibly for the weather walked past me going in all different directions. A door opened and shut as a mob of people with muffins, donuts, and the inviting scent of coffee from their stylish cups, walked past me. I inhaled the tantalizing smell, and like a zombie, I followed that scent into the upscale coffee shop.
It was busy. A long line of people stood in front of the counter as the employees scrambled making the hundreds of different kinds of coffee. I couldn’t afford the coffee here—not even a drop of it. I felt the five dollar bill in my pocket. I was tired of always scrimping by. As I stood there feeling my lonely bill in my pocket and at the prices of the beverage I craved, I decided that I didn’t have to scrimp by anymore.
I was getting good at executing enchantments, and easily slipped through the long line, got my coffee and out the door with my five dollar bill still in my pocket. I walked back to my apartment sipping my coffee with a smile of satisfaction. Now that’s how a siren is supposed to live.
The elevator to my apartment was broke forcing me to take the three flights of stairs. Maybe I should use a little persuasion on the landlord to fix it. I had nearly finished my coffee and stopped at the end of the hallway to get my keys from my purse when I heard voices. I looked up and saw two pale-skinned men dressed in black suits and eyes covered in dark sunglasses. I looked at them, and they looked at me as they stood in front of my door. They almost looked like twins and stood close to each other as if an invisible string connected them. They could be guardians. Did they know that I just did an enchantment?
“Hannah Black?” One of them asked.
“Who wants to know?”
“You are the siren that lives here?” The other one asked.
I studied them and smelled the air. They didn’t have that musty basement stench that I could sometimes smell in the presence of guardians. Feeling it was safe, I nodded as I made steady eye contact with them.
“The Green Man sent us to invite you personally to his Spring Fling,” said the first man who spoke to me.
“Spring Fling?” I questioned. I had never been to any of The Green Man’s parties before.
“This Saturday at nine,” he said handing me a bright green envelope.
The two men left with a nod and glided down the stairs. I went into my apartment, sat my purse down, and then opened the envelope.
A light breeze whooshed across my face upon opening the invite. It smelled of lavender mixed with rain. I looked down at the blank piece of paper and wondered if it was a joke. I was just about to throw it away, when a small dot formed on the paper revealing a smiling face. More and more dots—almost like rain was hitting it, exposed more of the picture.
A man with wildly colored hair gazed happily back surrounded by dark clouds that quickly cleared and a meadow filled with colorful flowers danced behind him.
“The Green Man here and I’d like to invite you,” he started to say and then looked away as if he was talking to the person holding the camera, “Hanna Black to my Spring Gala!” He said with a smile. “It will be held this year in the southern foothills of Shangri-La this Saturday. Portal time is at nine sharp, and will be at the portal in the Fisher Building, thirtieth floor. Make sure you bring this card for entry. Hope to…” Suddenly the picture disappeared with a puff.
I looked down at the blank card wondering why he was inviting me. The Green Man was a celebrity among the enchanted community, and I didn’t know why he had gone to great lengths to invite an unimportant siren. I continued to stare down at the card when a tiny arrow-shaped leaf with jagged edges materialized on the paper. Slowly, my name appeared in curling letters.
I smiled and then went to my closet. I flipped through all the skirts, jeans, dresses…I had nothing to wear. I had to look important—like I was a rich siren. But what do you wear to Shangri-La? It looked like I would have to go shopping.
Mae
“Oh my,” I said hardly believing what I saw on the T.V..
The reporter went on to say that a chain of extraordinary events occurred at the farmer’s market in Deadwood causing a propane tank to explode at the grill-off contest section. No one was injured and the fire was contained. I felt relieved no one was hurt. She ended her report with the battered scene of market behind her stating that this was something that you’d only see in the movies, not in Deadwood, Kansas.
Nolan leaned over and turned off the television, and then glanced back at me with questioning eyes. I smiled and continued to cut up the carrots I had just pulled out of my garden.
“So you think chicken tonight…maybe with mashed potatoes?” I looked down at the carrots not wanting to look at him.
“Mae,” he said my name and then cleared his throat. “What happened at the market?”
I didn’t answer. The only sound in the kitchen was the sound of me running the potato peeler and potato skins as they slapped against the inside of the sink.
Nolan tucked his finger under my chin and made me look him in his eyes. I smiled and wiggled my chin out from under his finger.
“I sold all of my eggs there,” I replied and continued peeling the potatoes.
“Extraordinary events…only in the movies…” He shook his head. “Mae, you did an enchantment.”
I stopped messing with the vegetables, and drew in a deep breath. Nolan knew who I was and what I was capable of.
“Yes, I did an enchantment,” I admitted. “It just got a little out of hand…at least no one was hurt.” I added.
Nolan raised his eyebrows.
“I know I promised to never do one, but I had so many eggs to get rid of and,” I tried to look pitiful, “I wanted to make you proud of me.”
Nolan stared at me for a second before his usual warm and forgiving smile flashed at me. He stepped around the counter and wrapped his arms around me.
“I am already proud of you, but if you would have gotten caught.” He held me tighter.
I had to tell him the rest of the story. I had made a pact with him to always be honest. I turned around resting my hands on his strong arms.
“That isn’t all,” I said.
“I knew it wasn’t. What else happened?”
I told Nolan about how the mob got out of control, and how I diverted them to the girl selling potatoes. I also told him I saw two guardians, but they didn’t notice me.
“Mae, you’re going to have to be careful.” His voice was soft and filled with concern more than anger. “If those guardians would have seen you, they would put you into a book. And trust me. Sirens don’t have a good reputation with guardians.”
I drew in a breath as I ran my hands along his forearms. Nolan had a tattoo of two birds facing one another. They were in black ink, and looked like a crest about the size of a half dollar. All guardians got them, but not all guardians lived by the same code.
“I also got out of a speeding ticket with only a warning,” I said with a slight smile. “I used an enchantment and managed to control it.”
Nolan looked displeased. He
removed his hands from me and walked over to the window. The room fell in silence and I wasn’t sure if I hurt him or angered him.
“Nolan,” I said his name testing the waters.
He turned around. “Promise me Mae White-Gorick that you won’t do an enchantment again, even if it is life or death.” His words were sharp. “The guardians can’t find us.”
I walked over to him and laced my fingers through his. I felt I was taming a wild and angered beast. I kept my eyes locked with his and smiled.
“I promise I won’t do an enchantment again.”
Nolan’s face eased, and I knew no matter what, I could never risk everything we had, everything we had built together, and threaten our safety together—even if it did mean life or death.
Sophie
I sat in the lobby of the underground library awaiting my orders. Just ten minutes ago, I was in England, and now I was in Chicago. The portal had brought me here in the matter of seconds, but hundreds of miles separated me from Ann. I tried not to think about her, and wondered instead of what the librarianship was going to do with me.
Sitting across from me was the guardian that had brought me here. He was reading a leather bound book with no markings as to what it was about. It almost looked like a journal. He hardly talked to me, and I wondered if this was the temperament of the guardians here in Chicago. I was use to friendly conversation, and the exchanging of pleasantries.
The lobby had been a bustle of activity, and I wondered how long I would have to wait. The library was beautiful, and I had passed the time by just looking around at the architecture. The ceiling faded into a dark blue color sprinkled with tiny orillions that looked like stars. It reminded me of an infinite night sky, though I knew it was only an illusion to give the feeling of space. The librarianship and guardianship were like that—always making the spaces they inhabited beautiful and welcoming. At least that was the feeling I had felt. What lied ahead for me was uncertain, but at least I had a good clean record in my favor.
“That looks like an old book,” I said finally out of curiosity and boredom.
The clean-cut guardian glanced passively at me and then turned the page of his ancient-looking book.
“It’s an old rubrics book for guardians.” He finally replied with his eyes still on the book.
“That’s interesting.” I smiled at him. I tried to keep my pleasant demeanor, and knew he didn’t owe me any conversation, but I wasn’t used to this much cold behavior.
The guardian made no other attempts at conversation, and I let the idea of it go.
“Sophie White,” I jumped at the sound of my name being called.
I stood up, smoothed my skirt and walked up to the tall counter. A woman with black hair pulled up in a bun and dark liner around her eyes, shuffled papers and then looked up at me. The guardian accompanying me, put his book away and stood beside me.
“You need to report to the Fisher Building for now. In two days someone will contact you,” she said and put a small cell phone on the counter. “That is all.”
“What do you mean that’s all?” I asked with an agitated expression from the already nasty looking receptionist. “What are my arrangements to be?” I pressed anyhow.
She let out a long exasperated sigh. “We are over-booked and under-staffed. Your file will be reviewed when we have time, and placement will be designated at a later time.” She sounded like she was reading from a brochure. “Or if you like, you can stay here the next few days and wait for someone to assist you or go and stay at the Fisher Building. The choice is yours.”
I nodded at the receptionist and took the cell phone.
I had never been put off like this, and wondered with sickness as to where I would be living and what the family would be like. They usually put sirens in care of small babies until they reached school age. I could only guess where I would go, and for now I would be staying in a building called the Fisher Building. I’d never heard of it, and thought of asking my quiet-as-the-dead guardian about it, but chose to be silent.
I was on the thirteenth floor of the Fisher Building in a room all by myself. It was scantly furnished—just the essentials.
I sat down on the bed. It was soft and comfortable. The window had a view of the surrounding buildings and I could hear the wind rush against the glass. I walked over and looked out at the street below. Cars and people went this way and that oblivious to those who lived on the thirteenth floor of the Fisher Building. It was a secret level only known to librarians and guardians. The humans would never know of us. Though I know at times, our lives had touched, but would forever be the jurisdiction of the librarians.
Suddenly, I heard a thumping sound. I turned around and peered through the dimly lit room. Everything was quiet. I must had just been hearing things. Then it thumped again. I realized that someone was at the door. Should I open it? I wasn’t told that someone would come to the door. I hesitated and let the person on the other side keep their knocking.
“I know you’re in there, and I just want to welcome you,” a friendly voice said. “I live next to you and know that your name is Sophie and you came from England. The guardians aren’t too helpful in the welcoming party division, so that’s why they hire me.”
The voice was male, but had a charm to it.
I went over to the door and unlocked it. I opened it only a crack, and saw a man with wild hair that looked like it didn’t know what way to grow, so it grew in all different directions. He was a jolly looking character with a green robe on and his twinkling eyes smiling back at me. Compelled by his friendly appearance, I opened the door a little more as he smiled.
“Ah, a siren. I wasn’t sure exactly what sort of enchanted creature you were, but I’m glad to have you as my neighbor and look forward to getting to know you.” He then handed me a tin that had roses painted all over it. “They’re cookies that I made myself. I like to bake.” I took the tin as he shrugged his shoulders.
“Thank you, but I’m only here temporarily. I’m awaiting placement with a family.”
“You’re a bit old to be adopted aren’t you?” He asked and I shook my head.
“Oh, no, not me, but a family that is in need of a nanny.” I smiled. “That’s my occupation.”
He smiled with a nod of his head. “I hate to be the one to break this to you, but most librarians are not in need of your services. That’s why you’re here. You are on a list of the enchanted community that they don’t know what to do with.” He looked at me with his penetrating eyes. “And as far as you having an occupation—you don’t.”
No one had ever been that blunt with me, and my neighbor had said it so casually. I nearly dropped the tin of cookies as my hands trembled.
“How do you know of this?” I asked.
“I’ve been with the librarians for a very long time. I know their system, their rules and what they do to the enchanted,” he said. “I’m sure at the portal station they were full of information about the services they offer, and eager to help you find a family in need of a nanny.” He raised his eyebrows. “Don’t worry,” he placed his warm hands on mine steadying them. “I’ve seen your kind many times. You are passionate sorts when you find what you like. I’m sure you’d give your life to the child that you had taken care of. Family is important to you and yet when you think you’ve fit in, they relocate you with only good things to say about your services. And that’s it.”
A sudden realization fell down on me like leaves giving into winter’s invitation.
I felt the threat of tears sting my eyes. I looked away. Ann had loved me, and I loved her. I was her friend, and the one who soothed her nightmares, fixed her scrapes when she learned to ride a bike, and read to her every night. I was more than just a nanny. I was like family.
“Well, I can see that this is something that you’ve not thought about, and I’m sorry to be so blunt, but dear,” he said as he glanced o
ver his shoulders, “may I come in so we can speak privately?”
“Oh, yes, sorry.” I stepped aside and closed the door behind him.
He looked around and made a ticking sound with his mouth. “Dreadful, don’t you think?”
“Yes, my life…it is, and I never thought of it that way.”
“Oh, not you, dear. Your apartment. It is in desperate need of decoration. This looks like a prison.” He gazed around the room. “I can help you with that. We’ll go shopping tomorrow.”
I looked around the colorless room. “But I’m only to be here a short while.”
He turned his head slowly and smiled. “Oh darling, you’re so naïve.” He walked towards me and stood in front of me. “I was told I would go back to my forests. That was almost a hundred years ago.” He chuckled slightly. “I’m going to guess the family that employed you paid for this apartment for you to live in. I guess they feel guilty for kicking you out.” He shook his head.
“But I’m a nanny, and I love working with children,” I said in a desperate voice. “It’s what I do and what I’m good at.” I couldn’t hold the tears in anymore.
“Come dear, it isn’t all that bad, and you’ve got me to help you.” He guided me to the sofa and sat beside me. “You just have to look at this as a new direction in your life.”
“But why didn’t they just tell me? Why be so secretive?” I asked through my sobs.
He took my hand and I felt a sudden comfort. I usually didn’t get too personal with strangers, but he was different, and I didn’t know why, I just did.
“It’s the way of the librarianship. You are a tool to them, and most don’t tell their tools what they are going to do with them. Like I said, don’t look at this as the end of the line. Think of this as a corner, curve or if daring, a spiral into a world that you belong to.” He chuckled. “And to think, you have the company of The Green Man to guide you along!”
Beannca
I had to leave. I had packed a suitcase and was to report to the library. Everything that I had was gone when Bridget died. She had been my official caretaker. I still felt I could pick up the phone, call her, and she’d answer with a “what now, Beannca.”. She had been not only been in charge of me, but she had become my friend, and I missed her.
I looked at the dress she had bought me crumpled in the waste basket. It was still beautiful even torn to shreds. I pulled it out, and shoved it into my suitcase as I left my apartment and headed towards the library. I couldn’t just throw Bridget away like that.
I knew I’d be given new living arrangements and place of employment. And I knew it could be anywhere in the world. I was a good worker for the librarianship. I always followed their rules and did as I was asked. Why?
I was outside the library. A cold spring wind curled around me. People, humans that is, went into the building expecting to find a good book, look at magazines, or attend an event the library was holding. I was here at the mercy of the librarianship that held their offices in the bowels of the red brick building with arched windows and owls perched on the corners forever watching the people below. What the librarians and guardians did to us wasn’t right.
I tried to fit into their world, but I would never be a part of their world. I was a siren, but I’ve only known the description of a siren through the librarianship. I felt the anger that had boiled inside of me last night, begin to boil again. I had declared myself a siren last night, but I really didn’t know what that was. I felt it again radiate from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. I didn’t know what it was, and the only thing I could label it was instinct.
I looked at my wristwatch. It was one in the afternoon. If I wanted to maintain my perfect record and remain Beannca White, then I had better be prompt. I took a step towards the building. My skin began to prickle as I tightened the grip on my suitcase. This wasn’t right. I took another step just out of obedience. I thought I was going to be sick.
“You don’t have to go,” a male voice said behind me.
I turned to see Aaron dressed in a black suit with a tiny silver pin on his jacket. It was the crest of the guardianship—the one thing that divided us.
“I don’t think I have a choice.” I insisted.
Aaron pulled me aside as concern filled his eyes.
“They think it was poison that killed Bridget. And the guardianship is leaning towards you as a suspect.” His eyes searched mine.
“What?” I asked barely able to draw breath. “I loved Bridget…she was my friend. I don’t understand.” I tried to remain calm, but somehow it didn’t surprise me that the guardianship would point their finger at me.
Aaron glanced around quickly and then guided me to his black limo. We got in, and he sat across from me. He tapped on the smoky glass divider, and we took off.
“So…are you wanting one last roll in the sheets before you turn me in?” I asked sarcastically.
“No,” he said with seriousness, “because I believe you are innocent. The guardianship wants who is responsible, and you are the easiest and most believable target they have. It’s a good thing you left your apartment when you did. Guardians went there to arrest you. I barely made it to you Bea.” His voice was filled with sincerity. “And I’m not going to let them have you.” Fire erupted in his eyes.
I leaned closer and reached for his hands. They were strong, caring hands that I wanted to hold forever, but knew it would never be possible.
“I’m taking you somewhere safe,” he said as the car stopped and Aaron flung the door open.
I got out and looked up at the tall building with sea creatures carved into the yellowish stone. Beautiful windows glistened down at me as the hustle and bustle of the city filled the air.
“This is the Fisher Building,” Aaron said as he stood in front of me. “Jack or you know him as The Green Man, lives here and has agreed to protect you.”
Sirens Page 2
