Sirens

Sirens

  Sirens

  Copyright © 2014 by M.M. Gavillet

  All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of the book may be used or reproduced in any manner without the written permission from the author. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidences are the product of the author’s imagination, any resemblance to real events, locations, persons living or dead, are purely a coincidence.

  Front and back cover designed by M.M. Gavillet.

  For my family—you know who you are.

  Chapter One

  Hannah

  Humans are stupid creatures—all of them—stupid. But that was good. It gave me the advantage, and made manipulation so much easier. I’d done it many times without getting caught by the ever watchful eyes of the librarianship and guardianship. They were always enforcing their laws, their way of doing things, and meddling in the lives of the enchanted community. They made our lives miserable, especially for me. I was wanted by them for crimes that were simply a product of my nature. Instead, they claimed I was inflicting harm on humans. But what do they know?

  Librarians and guardians hide in the basements of human libraries all over the world admiring the magical implements they’ve stolen or tortured the members of the enchanted community for their entertainment. Besides, it’s one of my qualities to twist nature and manipulate those around me. I was simply following my instincts, and no one was around to stop me.

  I could hardly see the dance floor from the mass of humans all jumping around like crazed baboons to circus music. I gazed down on them like a queen that they didn’t know they had ruling them. They were oblivious, and would probably never know what I was about to do to them.

  The music was so loud, it made the glitter filled air vibrate. The pungent smell of alcohol mixed with sweat swirled around me like fog. They had already lowered their inhibitions—I could see it in their eyes, smelled it in their sweat, and sensed it pulsating all around me. The air was stagnant, perfect for executing an enchantment.

  I walked down the glass stairs to the gyrating mass of humans. Their skin was covered in the glitter-sweat combination and the room filled with the aroma of their hormones infused with the delicious poison of their mixed drinks, beer and wine…they were ready for me, and I for them.

  I inched my way through the dancing crowd letting my hips sway side to side in rhythm with the beating music. I ran my fingers through my long hair, extending it out in full, like a cape. Like a call to order over the wild masses, the crowd started to turn towards me. They knew I was here.

  More came in, tantalized by my aura that I displayed proudly. I was like a peacock, and they were entranced by colorful feathers. I had captured their short span of attention. I could see the same expression in their eyes as I ran my hands down my neck, across my breasts and bare stomach. They wanted what I had, but they really didn’t know what I had—they just wanted it.

  The crowd thickened around me. The music thumped like ceremonial drums. Laser beams flashed like colored lightning so quickly, everyone danced in choppy, slow-motion movements. It was like I had transformed this dive of a club into an enchanted wonderland.

  As if the beating music, twirling lights, and air so thick with scent, made the beast I created able to act on its own. I was the center of this frenzy, and loved it. They could think for themselves, but only with the thoughts I had allowed them. I danced with them, letting them touch their queen, dance with their queen, do as they please to their queen. I am at the center, and they wanted to be near me. Nothing else mattered at this moment in time.

  I smiled at the manipulation masterpiece I had created from the balcony above the crowd. If only it could last…

  Suddenly, a strong hand grabbed me. I felt his hot anger and disgust drive through me like a spike into the earth. He twirled me around. I knew who they were without them even introducing themselves—guardians.

  “Put a stop to it now, or pay a much larger price.” He looked down at me with his dark eyes.

  I studied him for a moment and then smiled. He was young…inexperienced. This might be fun.

  “You’ve never handled a siren, have you?” I teased before I jumped off the balcony to the awaiting hands of the crowd below that caught me on my unspoken cue.

  They quickly passed me along towards the doors. I mentally commanded them to stop the two guardians at the bottom of the staircase.

  “Kelan, she’s getting away!” One of them yelled, and I laughed.

  My army of horny humans gathered around the stairs, blocking the two guardians from getting through to me. I smiled and waved at them before I went out the door and into the humid night.

  I walked down the darkened sidewalk, and then took cover in a dank alley. Garbage and other refuse sat along with me as I leaned against the paint-chipped brick wall. I do not fear any human or enchanted being that might be lurking here. I have strong manipulation powers to overcome them. There was something much worse that I feared, and it was inside of me.

  I dropped to the filthy ground. The feeling I had created and relished in at the night club, faded slowly like an addictive drug leaving the bloodstream. I am alone and not just now, but every day in this city of thousands.

  I lowered my head to my bent knees and let a single tear roll down my cheek. I hate to cry and wanted no one to see me cry, not even the stars overhead blocked out by Chicago’s brilliant lights. I knew they were there and can see me, even though I can’t see them.

  I stayed the night in the alley, and now the sun was slowly illuminating the city instead of the multitude of colored lights. I went back to my tiny apartment and lonely existence. The mental rope I clung to was beginning to fray. How long could I hold on?

  Mae

  I had ten dozen eggs left to sell at the farmer’s market. I had already sold all of my tomatoes, cucumbers and cantaloupes the first hour I was here. It was Saturday morning, and the market was busy with excitement. Now, if I could just get rid of these eggs.

  I looked at the crowd of people, and bit down on my bottom lip. I could use persuasion. No. I made a pact with myself that I’d never use it, except in emergencies. Wait, this was an emergency. It was getting warm, and I had eggs to get rid of with no refrigeration. Styrofoam cartons only keep eggs cool for so long, and if I bring home a lot of unsold eggs…

  I closed my eyes, drew in a deep breath, and then let it out. The familiar tingling sensation ran over my skin as I let the sweet scent of enchantment secrete through my pores and drift through the crowd. The invitation had been sent, now for the message. Executing an enchantment was kind of like riding a bike—once you learned how you never forgot.

  “I’ll take two dozen eggs,” a woman said holding out a twenty dollar bill in front of me.

  My eyes popped open and I smiled. Wow, that was fast—much faster than I remembered.

  “Great, here you go,” I said giving her change back.

  “No, just keep it. I really just appreciate what local farmers do and like the fresh produce.”

  She walked away with her eggs in tote as I looked down at the twenty dollar bill perplexed. Maybe I had used a little too much persuasion in my enchantment. More people started to come, and in the matter of ten minutes, my eggs were sold. But it didn’t stop there. Soon a crowd formed around my station. They didn’t just want farm fresh eggs, they demanded them.

  “Are you going to be here next week?” An old lady asked as she wiggled her way through the crowd.

  I nodded quickly with a friendly smile. She returned the smile and then wiggled her way back into the crowd.

  “You only brought a few dozen? What kind of vender are you?” One of the organizers of th
e farmer’s market asked with criticizing eyes. “You do realize we are one of the biggest markets in Brown County?” He raised his chin and walked away.

  More people came. I frantically folded my table up and tried to tell people that I would be here the following week as calmly as I could. Internally, I cursed at myself for even considering using persuasion. What was I thinking? I wasn’t thinking.

  Even though I tried to neutralize the area, it wasn’t fast enough. And now, not only did I sense them, I saw them—guardians. I gasped in fear as they stood and gazed over the crowd from the convention building’s balcony that overlooked the farmer’s market. Guardians hadn’t come to this area in a long time, and of all days to use my ability. There were two of them. One was a petite blonde girl, and the other had dark skin and a scar on his cheek. They knew I was here, but couldn’t locate me in the mass of humans. Good.

  If I couldn’t control the crowd, I had to redirect them. I scanned the other venders quickly, and then spotted a girl selling potatoes. She had long, perfectly curly blonde hair, big blue eyes and large boobs—the perfect stereotype for a siren. Fortunate for me, I looked nothing like the siren image that the guardianship had painted. I blended in with most humans on the outside, but on the inside, I was very different.

  I closed my eyes, concentrated, and made the hungry crowd turn towards her as she yelled out the different kinds of potatoes she was selling. They nearly attacked the girl holding up her produce to draw in customers. I hated to do it to her, but what was I to do?

  Suddenly, the girl screamed, and the large tubers she held in her hands flew through the air. One landed on top of an old man’s head causing him to spill his drink all over the man standing in front of him. The surprised soaked man turned, took a step backwards, and bumped into a small table. It teetered and then collapsed as two cages containing rabbits, burst open.

  I glanced up at the balcony. The guardians had spotted the potato-selling girl and went down the stairs that led to the market below. I continued to gather my belongings, and then slipped into the thickening crowd. I tried to stop the enchantment I had created, but now it had a mind of its own. The best thing I could do was leave, and it would slowly dissolve.

  I shoved the final crate into the bed of my pick-up truck, and left the scene as quickly as I could. I couldn’t wait to get home.

  The fresh summer air blasted me from my rolled down window as I drove down the highway. What were guardians doing in Deadwood of all places? I’d lived here for five years now and never saw one. I seldom used my abilities, and decided a long time ago that I should never use them. They are simply too powerful and dangerous.

  “You dumb ass girl,” I said lifting up the rear view mirror that had fallen off the windshield a week ago. I glared at myself wishing I could use my own enchanting abilities on myself, so I wouldn’t use them again—no matter what.

  Suddenly, ominous red lights flashed behind me. Great, I was probably speeding, but I wouldn’t know, the speedometer is broken too.

  The gravel lining the side of the highway crunched from under my tires as I searched for my driver’s license. It wasn’t in my purse. I remembered I had changed purses before I left, and it was at home.

  “License and registration please,” he asked standing beside my window. “Do you know how fast you were going back there?”

  “No, sorry, I didn’t…I mean…I guess I was thinking about something else and didn’t pay attention. Sorry.” I smiled at him trying to look into his eyes covered with mirrored sunglasses.

  He remained stone-faced as I looked at my pleasant expression in his silver glasses.

  “License…registration, please,” he prompted again.

  “Oh, yeah,” I turned to my purse. “They’re in here.”

  I didn’t have my license, but I did have a fuel saver card from a local gas station and with a little enchantment….

  Deep breath…steady…and release slowly…

  He looked at the card then at me, and then at the card again. I remained calm while I panicked on the inside. Satisfied, he handed it back to me.

  “Your license is going to expire soon,” he said in a flat tone.

  I looked at my fuel saver card with raised eyebrows. Now to produce registration papers. A receipt I found on the floor passed for them, and I was off the hook with only a warning. I did it!

  The officer took off and I headed home, slowly.

  A rumble of thunder groaned form the darkening sky. Large cumulus clouds flashed with lightning, and the sun was slowly consumed by them. I quickly unloaded my truck and went inside before it started to rain.

  The air was thick with moisture. Everything in the kitchen felt like it was damp, and as I reached for the chain to turn on the ceiling fan, someone grabbed me by the waist. I let out a scream and tried to twirl around ready to strike when a familiar laugh echoed behind my ear.

  “Hey, it’s only me,” Nolan wrapped his tanned arms around me and pressed my body close to his.

  I let him hold me for a moment as I let my racing heart slide back into my chest. I turned around and gazed into his pale blue eyes and curled my arms around his waist. I nestled my head into his chest and tried to calm my nerves from doing two enchantments and nearly being scared to death.

  “Mae?” Nolan questioned.

  “Shhh,” I cut him off. “Just hold me.”

  Nolan held me as the thunder, lightning, and wind outside I felt were strong enough to threaten our very existence.

  Sophie

  “I hope you understand why we have to do this,” Mrs. Witherspoon said sitting behind her desk. “It’s just that Ann is getting older and she needs,” she rolled her eyes like she was searching for a pleasant word to say to a person she didn’t care for.

  “I understand,” I said with a smile putting an end to the uncomfortable situation. “Ann needs someone with different expertise since she will be starting a different school soon and I agree, she does need someone who can help her succeed. I’ve reached the stopping point to my time with her.” I pushed back tears and knew this day would come, but I didn’t know how much it would hurt.

  Mrs. Witherspoon’s face eased as the perfectly manicured garden erupted in full bloom outside the window behind her. A white vase filled with all the garden’s glory sat on her desk like a trophy. Everything at the Witherspoon estate was perfect, and expected to be perfect as well as useful. I was nowhere near perfect, and my usefulness had expired. I was now faced to live in America.

  “Good, I am glad you understand Sophie, and this action is in no way a reflection to your performance as a nanny. There just comes a time when we have to move on.” Her green eyes were a carbon copy of her daughter’s. “I will send a good review to the librarianship on your performance.”

  I stood up with a nod, and exited her study. I’d have to have my bag packed before their evening meal and out the door before the sun faded into the horizon. I maintained my composure until I reached my borrowed bedroom.

  “Sophie, are you in there?” Ann’s voice whispered behind the closed door.

  I grabbed a tissue, wiped my eyes, and glanced at my reflection in the mirror. I couldn’t avoid looking like I had just cried my eyes out.

  “Sophie,” Ann repeated.

  I opened the door with a full smile as she quickly came in and shut the door.

  “I’m not supposed to be here.” She looked up at me with her emerald eyes. “Mother said that a quick goodbye is all I need.” She crossed her arms as tears welled in her eyes.

  “Come here,” I said as I hugged her and rested my cheek on top of her head. “I’m going to miss that smell.”

  “It’s Aveda shampoo. You can get it online and think of me every time you use it.”

  “No, silly,” I said looking down at her. “Not the smell of your shampoo…I’m going to miss your smell.” I twirled a long section of her coal black hair between my fingers
.

  “Is that something that only sirens can smell? Does everyone have their own scent to you? Kind of like wearing perfume.” She was serious, and missed what I was saying.

  “No, it isn’t like that.” I sat on the bed that was stripped of its linens, and patted the mattress inviting Ann to sit with me.

  She looked at me with her large, innocent eyes that were on the verge of becoming a young lady. They were large and as green as a countryside meadow untouched by anything poisonous. They were always filled with wonder and the desire to understand everything and everyone. It made teaching her very rewarding and easy—something I’m going to greatly miss.

  “When you were a tiny baby you smelled like powder. When you started preschool you smelled like glue.” She raised her eyebrows. “Just listen.” I reassured her. “When you were eight you smelled like chocolate…and now, you smell like all those things,” I said tearfully as Ann gave me a confused look.

  “So, I smell like chocolate smothered in glue and dusted with baby powder?” She asked wrinkling her nose.

  I laughed between my tears. “No,” I said looking into her eyes. “I’m going to miss you growing up and becoming the beautiful lady you will be someday.”

  Ann smiled and then pulled something from her pocket. “I want you to have this.”

  Resting in her cupped hand was a small, clear marble. I looked at her and then at it.

  “It’s a mailing sphere. I took it from my mom’s desk and don’t worry, she’ll never miss it.” She smiled proudly at her mischievous action.

  “Ann,” I said turning towards her. “I can write you with letters or e-mail you. I can’t take the sphere that belongs to your mother.”

  She looked down at it as it rolled in her cupped hand. She lifted her green eyes to me. “E-mails and any letters are gone through before they even reach me. I’d never get anything from you, even if you mailed me a letter every day.” She looked back down at the sphere. “Mother would make sure of that.”

  My eyes shifted between Ann and the sphere. To take it would risk the security level I was placed at which was and always had been white—meaning I was an obedient siren. But at the same time, Ann was right. She would never receive any letters I would write or see any e-mails.

  I gently took the sphere from her hand, grabbed my purse, and put it inside a small zippered pocket. I looked down at her with a smile as she wrapped her arms around me and squeezed tightly. I curled my arms around her with a smile on my face.

  I’d been with Ann since she was a tiny baby. I was merely a young girl at the time, and now I was in my mid-twenties—I should have children of my own. I watched her grow, and now I felt I was being ripped away because the librarianship recommended that I leave. I was risking everything to be able to communicate with her, but isn’t that what a mother does?

  I tightened my hug. I knew I wasn’t Ann’s true mother, but where do those boundaries lie? I loved her, cared for, and nurtured her just like a mother. I wasn’t going to sever those ties that had been growing since the day I came here.

  Beannca

  “Hey Bea, we need more wine glasses for tonight,” Bridget said as she walked through the dining room.

  “I’m ahead of you as usual.” I carried out a tray full of salt and pepper shakers and started placing them on the tables. “I brought them up from storage, washed them and hand polished them until each of them shined.” I was proud of the job I had done.

  “Honestly Bea, I don’t know what I’d do without you.” Bridget went behind the bar and got out her date book. “Now if I can just get the cake here on time it will be perfection.” She put on her reading glasses and started going through her book and made the final phone calls to confirm everything for tonight’s wedding reception.

  I had worked for Bridget for two years now, and loved every minute. I liked working with the public and mingling with the elite of the librarian and guardianship. I had served many head guardians of several districts here in America as well as overseas. I felt I had finally found my place in a world most of my kind never do. Bridget’s upscale restaurant called The Glass Guardian, had been my oasis in the desert of opportunities for sirens.

  I carefully arranged each table until I felt it was perfect. No matter who or what kind of party we had booked, I made sure everything was perfect. I even decorated by stringing up white lights, toule, and silver streamers. I smiled at the transformation the Glass Guardian had become. Most of the time, it was a restaurant and bar frequented by guardians and librarians. Just recently, Bridget decided to renovate a closed section of the building she owned, and cater events as well. It was a good move for her and made my job all the more important.

  “I’m going home to get cleaned up.” I set the tray that had the shakers on down and smile at Bridget.

  “Please tell me you’re not going to wear that black dress again.” She gazed at me over her glasses waiting for an answer.

  I raised my eyebrows and shook my head.

  “Ugh,” she said shaking her shoulders in disgust.

  “What?” I set my hands on my hips. “It’s a classy dress.” I tried to defend my taste in dresses.

  “For the past three wedding receptions, you look like you should be going to a funeral. Come on, Beannca, we’re going shopping.”

  “At this hour?” I glanced at my wristwatch shaking my head. “The stores will be crowded. We’ll run late.”

  “Not in Avalon, dear,” Bridget said with a smile. “I have connections there, and we’ll be back lickety-split.” She bobbed her eyebrows up and down, giggled, and then grabbed my wrist rushing me out the door.

  Before I knew it, we were standing under the portal inside the library a few blocks away that would take us to Avalon. I’d been to Avalon three times, and each time I went, was like opening a jewelry box that hadn’t been opened in a long time and you forgot what was inside. The buildings sparkled under the indigo colored sky sprinkled with stars.

  Bridget did most of her shopping not only for her restaurant here, but personal as well. We went to a dress shop called Vine where I was fitted with a shimmering gold dress. It brushed against my knee with a scooped neck and sleeves that delicately reached my elbows.

  “Perfect. Now you look like my assistant, and not one of a funeral director,” Bridget said as I looked in the mirror and couldn’t agree more.

  I tried to get Bridget to agree on me paying her back, but she insisted that it wasn’t necessary. When she made up her mind, there was no changing it.

  The wedding reception was to start in about thirty minutes. I made the final preparations from having enough liquor to plenty of toilet paper in the bathrooms. Our clientele expected perfection and I strived to please not only them, but Bridget as well.

  “You look absolutely gorgeous,” Bridget said to the bride dressed in a gold tinged gown with sparkling beads. “Wasn’t it just yesterday you were taking classes at the library and making your introduction at the Ball?” She teased as the bride nodded her head.

  I stood, as I always did, two steps behind Bridget. I had to be prepared for anything and be on my toes for any mishaps that might happen. Even though I was dressed just like one of the guests, I usually didn’t have the luxury to enjoy the party. I had a job to do and now I could see him through the crowd—the one thing that would make my job hard to do.

  “You look absolutely gorgeous, Beannca,” Aaron said lifting my hand to his lips.

  Aaron with his dark hair, fair complexion, and eyes the color of cinnamon, would make any woman swoon with his movie star qualities.

  “Not now, I’ve a job to do,” I said in a low voice as Bridget moved through the crowd, and I moved with her on my invisible string.

  “Come on, I bet you bought out all of the toilet paper in a three mile radius and have enough liquor for two more receptions along with polished glasses.” Aaron knew me all too well as he gazed down at me with
his sparkling brown eyes.

  I gazed up at him and smiled.

  “One dance,” he said following me.

  I glanced over my shoulder at him and shook my head.

  “Go on Beannca, or he’ll follow us all night.” Bridget turned and winked at me. “I’ve got things under control. Remember, I’ve been doing this for thirty years.”

  With Bridget’s blessing, I let Aaron guide me to the dance floor.

  “You really do look pretty tonight.” He complimented again.

  “Why thank you, and you look handsome.” I smiled back as we twirled on the dance floor.

  It was times like this I felt myself deepen into my niche. I was a siren, yes, but I felt I was slowly being accepted into their society.

  “We are going to vacation in Avalon this summer and I’d love it if you’d come.” Aaron smiled down at me.

  “You don’t even have to ask, I would love to join you.”

  “Good, because we need a capable attendant to serve us as we travel the North Fork River. And Bridget recommended you.” I stopped dancing and looked up at him as his lips curled into a smile.

  “You jerk,” I said reaching for his hand.

  “Bea, you can always take a joke, but really, I think it’s rather hot that you serve me…in bed maybe,” he teased as he pulled me close.

  There was a point when I got too close to Aaron, and my body felt like a magnet. I pressed myself to him, our lips barely touched when the sound of glass crashing cut my enchantment.

  I turned and looked all around the room to find the source of the chaos. People had stopped dancing, and concerned mumbling hummed through the crowd. Whatever happened was at the bar. My first thought was that a tray of glasses had fallen from the shelf. As I pushed my way through, I could clearly see that it was much worse.

  “No,” I said as I looked down at Bridget laying on the floor.

  Her eyes were closed and white foam was coming out of her mouth. I could hardly believe what was happening. I tried to reach her, but Aaron pulled me back as I watched my only true friend in the world cling to life.

 

  “It was a reaction…possibly an allergic reaction,” the doctor said as I stood in the waiting room along with several guardians, and as always, behind them. “I’m sorry, we did all we could.”

  His words echoed in my ears as I dropped to my knees. Aaron lifted me up and cradled me all the way to my apartment. He stayed with me that night as I cried and let the shock of Bridget’s death soak in.

  The next couple of days were a blur. Aaron was busy helping his father with Bridget’s funeral. She had no family and no one named as benefactor to her estate. Everything went to the guardianship, as was the written rule under those circumstances. Not only had I lost a very good friend, I more than likely lost my job, my existence, and my whole everything.

  It rained the day of Bridget’s funeral. I stood away from the crowd of librarians and guardians that encircled Bridget’s grave. It was my place now. I was once a part of a community, and now I was back teetering on the fringes of it.

  Aaron came over to me as the rain poured down.

  “I’m sorry, Beannca.” His voice was tender.

  “I know so am I,” I stared ahead not really looking at anything.

  “No, what I mean is,” he said as I looked up at him.

  “What do you mean?”

  From behind Aaron, a woman with the same colored eyes peered coldly at me. She looked at my dress and then raised her eyebrows.

  “Aaron, say goodbye to your friend, and then get in the car.” She instructed quickly gliding towards the vehicle.

  “Your mom?” I questioned after she’d gotten in the car. Aaron replied with a nod.

  Aaron tried to say something, but stumbled with his words and shook his head instead. He ran his hand over my shoulder as his cinnamon colored eyes filled not with sincerity, but empathy. I pulled my eyes from him. When Bridget died, so did our relationship. I had to be strong, not let him see how he hurt me as I tried to push the tears away.

  “What I was saying before…”

  “Just…just stop,” I said raising my hands and stepping away from him. “I know. You still like me, but you can’t see me anymore…I understand Aaron Gorick, I understand.”

  And with that, I pushed him away and ran through the rainy cemetery and away from everything I tried so hard to fit into. I’d never be considered a member of their society.

  I ran several blocks with the moisture rich clouds overhead as a reminder that it was spring. Everyone I passed had raincoats on and carried umbrellas over their heads. I walked by them in my sparkling dress. My feet and head ached as I went to my apartment.

  Water pooled on the floor from where I sat. What was I doing? Why did I let myself believe that I could be one of them? I was who I was and there was no changing that.

  I got up and started to take off my dress. A few beads hung loosely on the sleeve and I noticed one had completely fallen off. I looked at myself in the mirror. Who was I trying to fool—me of them?

  I could see my whole body in the full length mirror. I glared at myself and stood inches from it as if to challenge the girl who stared back. Hot anger filled me as I practically ripped off the dress Bridget had bought me. What was she doing buying me this dress? So I’d fit in? I would never belong in their intricate world no matter how much I polished their wine glasses, pleased their every whim, and let them mess with my emotions.

  I stood in front of my mirror naked with the destroyed dress piled at my feet. I would never be one of them, and I didn’t want to be one of them anymore. I wanted to be who I was—a siren.