The Sound of a Siren's Call

65.) Into the Sea

Hi, so sorry to interrupt your reading experience. I might be missing updates to this story because I am currently doing daily updates on another work. (It's gay. Don't worry.) If you want to check that out, come to my page and add What's Left of Us on my page. It will have daily updates until the competition, which means I'll be balancing writing updates for this story and that one. I'll try to make updates for both, but just know there is a change this book might go back to 1 update a week until that is done. 

I couldn't shake the feeling that that thing was behind me, always about to catch up with me. It only served to make me faster. My hand gripped the chalice as tightly as I ran. My hand was sweating through. If I lost the stupid thing now, the whole thing would've been for nothing.

I couldn't let myself think about losing it. It was fear that was making me imagine it dropping, rolling down the hill, the gold flashing. I wouldn't drop it.

My legs were moving under me, running. I started onward, watching as I could see the glint of the sea. I was rushing toward the bluff. I had climbed up, but going down would be much easier. I would be able to jump, letting myself breathe in the water.

I stopped at the edge of the cliff. "Nowhere to go."

I shook my head, grasping the handles of the cursed cup with both hands. I needed to hold on tightly. If I lost it, I'd be worse off than when I started.

"What if it doesn't work this time?"

That was the stupidest argument for not jumping I'd ever heard. I was just as much siren as I was human. Nothing could take that away.

My feet left the ground. I was flying through the air. My stomach churned as I went up. Then I was going down. Plummeting off the cliff. It felt like I was falling for way too long. I had left fear at the top of my bluff. I was glad for that.

Now all that was left to do was fall.

My whole body hurt as I hit the water. The cup was struggling to get out of my hands. It ripped out of my right hand. MY left had to hold on. If my left didn't hold on...

It slipped out of my grasp. I took in a sharp intake of the seawater. I was transforming, but I couldn't wait for my tail to catch up with me. I struggled toward the gold.

I was starting to be able to see in the dark. I moved toward the falling cup, my arms outstretched.

My tail was almost done transforming. I flicked it, my hand closing around the chalice. I couldn't lose it again. I couldn't go back above the waves. The waves were growing bigger, threatening to throw me against the bluff. I hadn't gotten a cursed artifact to die from some overconfident waves.

I moved toward where I'd left Juniper. I took a deep breath as I saw the sirens, lurking below the surface.

I shoved the chalice into the tiger siren's chest. The girl smirked at me.

"You did it. Congratulations."

"Now, Castor."

"We can't get to him until the waves settle down."

I grabbed the chalice back from her yet.

"Then you don't get this yet."

"I'll get it eventually."

She was cocky. I would've been too, but it didn't stop me from hating it. I held onto the chalice.

Juniper tapped my shoulder. "Thank you."

I nodded. I had proven that I was needed, if only for being able to access areas she couldn't. I guess that was really what I had needed.

"Of course."

That was all there was to say.

We waited for the waves to settle down. There wasn't much else to do or discuss. Fish flitted around us, seeming not to care that we were there. The sirens had evidently cultivated the trust of the fish. My mother never would have dreamed of that.

Hours passed. The tiger siren finally looked at me. "If we're careful, we can go now."

I held the chalice in my left hand. "Great, then let's go."

Juniper translated, prompting the tiger siren to wave her hand. I handed her the chalice.

"Follow me."

I followed without another word. We broke above the surface. Juniper met my eyes.

The waves were still rough. It would've taken a great show of strength to stay stationary. Luckily, we didn't have to stay stationary.

The tiger siren made it to the cave with ease. Me and Juniper weren't used to the rough waves. I was glad that my father had put emphasis on physical strength.

I let Juniper go into the cave first, following the tiger siren. It was a relief when we were protected by the rock, saving us from being thrown about in the waves. I followed Juniper, keeping her red tail in my vision.

When we emerged, we found the cave Castor was kept in mostly full. Only about a foot and a half of air remained. Castor's hair was wet, like he'd tried to escape. Juniper wrapped her arms around him. They were talking, using words I couldn't understand.

The tiger siren gave me a coy look. I didn't care much what it meant.

"We have to go."

Castor saw me. He evidently communicated my words to Juniper, whose back was turned to me. He took a deep breath and the two dove under the water. I followed them. Juniper emerged above the water, emerging in the waves. I waited below.

Castor barely had enough time to take enough breath before they joined me, fighting to get further out to sea, where the waves were calmer. When we emerged again, Castor met my eyes.

"Our boat—"

"Is very likely gone."

"What are we going to do?"

His eyes were wide, the panic keeping the exhaustion at bay. For how long, I didn't know.

"We're going to find land."

"Not pirate cove."

"That may be our only choice."

I hoped it wasn't. The ransom may have been enough to buy our safety. I hoped so. I would get home. I knew it.

We only had the whole ocean before us. We could do it. I looked at Castor, already sinking into a sort of stupor. We could do it.

We had to.