Siren Song by Emmi Lawrence

Author:Emmi Lawrence [Lawrence, Emmi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: EAMS Publishing
Published: 2015-01-05T23:00:00+00:00

* * *

The Sea Dog sailed into port the next day with Narin and what was left of his crew on board. According to Mother, they’d picked up another body—the young man with the crushed chest hadn’t made it through that first night—floating in the sea. Rikel felt a momentary clenching in his gut, but Mother immediately shook her head and said it was Haike, not Tarok. His wetsuit had been partially removed, his corpse riddled with siren bites and his dick covered in scratches, some of them quite deep.

“She became disinterested,” said Wela darkly. She made a disgusted face, met Rikel’s eyes and then quickly glanced away.

The three of them were standing outside. Jieve had thrown a fit when they’d told him Tarok was gone and afterward he’d run off, probably to the rusher docks. Normally Rikel would be the one to comfort him, but he couldn’t bring himself to give chase today, not when he felt responsible. Kula sat inside, more affected than she let on, insisting she was fine yet barely looking away from the netting she was mending. The glances she gave Rikel when she thought he wasn’t paying attention told a distinct story though.

“Yes,” said Rikel. “There wouldn’t have been much left of him had they kept him.”

Mother shivered despite the warm day. She gazed toward the edge of the cliffs, then turned to head inside. “It’s all awful. After everyone is notified of the deaths, I’m sure Narin will organize a sendoff for the ones we can’t bury.”

When Mother was gone, Wela turned to Rikel, though she still didn’t look at him, preferring to stare over his shoulder where a neighbor’s cows were meandering downhill. “Your siren started this?”

“No,” said Rikel. He glared at her, gesturing to the sea though only the horizon was visible from this angle. “He saved my life. Saved Narin and the others too. He wasn’t responsible for this.”

“Do you hear yourself, Rikel? You’re making him into some sort of hero. How do you know he wasn’t responsible? How do you know he didn’t organize it all?”

“Because he wasn’t there. I was under the hull when it happened. I was right there and he wasn’t with them.”

“Narin said there was at least two dozen. You’re telling me that in the chaos of that fight you might not have missed him?”

“I wouldn’t have missed him! Others, maybe, but I’d know him anywhere.”

Wela’s jaw tightened. “You’re listening to this, right? We need to get you help before you kill yourself. Or worse, kill another shipful of people.”

Rikel recoiled. “I didn’t do this. I fought them, Wela. It wasn’t until later that Caarafk showed up—”

“He has a name?”

“They all probably have names.”

“But you know his name.”

Rikel made a frustrated sound and looked off to the sea. “I didn’t do this,” he insisted through clenched teeth. “That song scream—” He swallowed.

“I know,” said Wela in a quiet, but terse, tone. “You’re not responsible for what they do. I’m just—it’s just…”

He looked back. “Tarok?”

She crossed her arms and let out a shuddering sigh.

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