The Siren Read Free Page A

the temptation. Whatever danger our beauty was masking would be noticed far too late.
    The Ocean was full of dangers. I, like the rest of mankind, had assumed the worst were icebergs or hurricanes— a collection of natural disasters. The truth was these things were avoidable almost all the time. The true danger was the voice shielded under my unbreakable skin.
    Take, for example, the Titanic. Headlines credited this ship’s foundering to ice in the water. I attributed it to Marilyn and Aisling, who sang the ship into its deadly course. Long before people were able to go see it, I went to find the wreckage myself. Marilyn refused to go with me, so I went alone. This was only a few months into this life, before I had to bring down a ship myself and couldn’t quite understand her aversion. I didn’t know how it would haunt me later. The Ocean took me there with ease, gently guiding me to the wreckage. I was surprised by Her willingness, by the care She took with me when I asked for something so obviously bizarre. I was intimidated by Her, but my curiosity won out.
    I expected to be in awe of the ship somehow, but I was mistaken. It was a horrifying sight.
    The ship was broken in half and strewn all over. I was drawn to it by its name, by its place in the memory of the world. But this was a silent graveyard of metal and debris. A porcelain doll. A pair of shoes. A dinner plate. I was suddenly aware that if I searched the Ocean’s floor, I could find what was left of my ship. Things that belonged to me were scattered around on the sand like this. This wasn’t an experiment in engineering. This wasn’t a headline. This was what was left of the lives that we had a hand in taking. One of hundreds of unmapped ghost towns at the bottom of the Sea.
    But I wasn’t off to cause destruction like that. Not today. Today I was off to the side of an unknown friend. How old was she? Where did she come from? How did she end up in this position? And then, a more serious question arose. If the Ocean was in need of eating, as She had told us this morning, why did She spare this girl? The Ocean would have heard that question as I thought it, but it didn’t seem like She was going to give me any kind of answer. I was bothered by the way the Ocean seemed to warm at my thoughts.
    I could commune with Her like Marilyn did, but I wasn’t sure how close I wanted to get at this point. Of course, I saw Her unspoken answer the moment I laid eyes on the tiny creature. As we coasted up to the shore, only barely lit by the sun, I saw our new sister.
    She was beautiful. Striking. She was so petite she looked fragile. Her black hair was hanging by her shoulders as she sat hugging herself. Her face was a quiet kind of beautiful, with smooth features and dark eyes. Her addition to the image— and I supposed the sound as well— would be irresistible. She was gently crying as Marilyn and I approached, taking careful steps out of the waves. We didn’t want to add to her obvious fear.
    Aisling wasn’t there yet. I guessed she was intentionally dragging her feet. That would seem about right based on the way she welcomed me. I walked to the girl as quickly as I could without being frightening. We could already see the fear in her eyes as she watched us… but also, a sort of awe. I knew the feeling.
    I was out of the habit of speaking to people, so I jumped a little bit when Marilyn addressed her.
    “What is your name?” she asked.
    “Miaka,” the little girl whimpered. Her head jerked involuntarily with one of her sobs.
    “Miaka, you don’t have to be afraid. We’re not going to hurt you. We’re here to help you.” Marilyn’s tone was that of helpful teacher. Miaka looked at her with apprehension in her eyes. I couldn’t blame her.
    “Are you angels?” she asked. Marilyn and I both choked back the laughter. Between the dresses, the glowing skin, and the general aura we sent out, I guess that’s how we would look.
    “No,” Marilyn said.