The Stone Keeper by Rondi Paulette

Author:Rondi Paulette [Paulette, Rondi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-09-06T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

I’m jolted awake by a distorted scream. Sitting upright, I see Rivven at the cave entrance, and everyone else wakes up from the sound.

“What was that?” I strain my ears, trying to hear something else; maybe branches cracking or bushes being ruffled.

“Whymes” is Rivven’s only response. Another scream sounds, and that’s when the goosebumps start prickling my skin. Then the hair at the back of my neck rises when the singing starts.

“Is that…?” Kendall starts.

“Sirens.” I finish for her, feeling fear as well as something else trickling down my spine. These Sirens are different from the ones we encountered earlier. Their song is more powerful, and even I’m slowly starting to feel the effects. Rivven sways in place, and I look to Jasper and Bren, who are standing up. Oh no! I look at Kendall, and she has an almost panicked look on her face.

“What do we do?” she cries. My brain goes fuzzy as I try coming up with an idea, but the guys are already moving forward.

“Stop!” I shout at them, to no avail. Think Iris, think! The dripping of the cave grows louder in my ears until it’s the only thing I hear. Wait. The fuzziness in my head clears, and I zone in on the sound of the water. That’s it! I can’t hear the Sirens anymore. I pull from the sound of the water and search for my own water. Feeling it swirl around my veins, I call it to me. Shoving forward, I push my water out until it creates a wall in front of the cave, drowning out the song. Luckily, the guys were moving like zombies, and Rivven only got a little wet.

He pulls back, sputtering. “What just happened?”

“Sirens,” I respond, looking at the other two to make sure they’re alright. “They were calling you to them. Calling us to them.”

Jasper looks shaken, and Bren looks completely disturbed. Kendall grabs him and holds on for dear life.

“I didn’t know what to do!” she sobs, as Bren holds her to him. “Thank goodness Iris thought of something so quickly.” I glance at the wall of water I created, and can still feel it surging out of me, draining my energy.

“I can’t hold it much longer,” I warn. “What are we going to do?”

“Let it go, Iris,” I hear Rivven say. “You’ll have to follow us wherever we go, and don’t let us out of your sight.” I slightly shake my head. I felt the effects of the song as well. I don’t know if we’ll end up entranced as well.

“Iris, do it, it’s okay,” Bren whispers. I take a breath and let my wall of water come down. I fight the urge to collapse. I can feel my energy slowly starting to come back, enough to keep me on my feet just as the Sirens’ song hits us again.

Bren, Rivven and Jasper all three slump a little, the trance taking root once more. They start forward, and Kendall and I follow, slightly behind just to be safe.

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