Siren Sight

Chapter 6

“Gair, that's enough. I've told you a million times, not everyone likes it when you pick up their thoughts," Iola told him gently.

Gair ducked his head a little with a pout. However, he sat down on the couch instead of running off. Neivayka wandered over to join him, knowing at this point, it was either sit down or fall.

“Do you want some tea or something else to drink?" Iola asked.

“Tea, please," Neivayka answered with a look of relief on her face.

That question had been easy enough for her to answer, especially since her mouth went dry as a desert as soon as Iola posed the question. A loud grumble of her stomach reminded her of something else she hadn't really done in three days either. Still, she shoved the feeling aside, not wanting to impose on these people to fill her empty gut.

“And something to eat. She hasn't eaten in three days," Gair murmured, hesitantly as if he were afraid Neivayka would snap at him again for reading her mind.

Even though it still bothered the crap out of her, she gave him a grateful smile trying to ease him.

“Thank you, Gair. I am very hungry," she told him.

It worked well enough that he gave her a small smile of his own and relaxed even more.

“You really haven't eaten for three days," Iola asked in motherly horror.

"I guess so," Neivayka admitted.

Neivayka tried to think back to the last meal she'd had and, disturbingly, wasn't able to pinpoint it.

Iola looked her up and down with a deep frown furrowing her eyebrows. She turned away, but not before Neivayka heard her grumble something about, “looked like it had been longer than that."

Self-consciously, Neivayka pulled at her clothes trying to hide her body. She felt a bit ashamed of her slight frame.

“Don't worry, Mama doesn't think your ugly. She thinks you're as pretty as my grandma. Gam'ma was a Queen in the Light World and the prettiest girl around. She just doesn't like it when people are hungry and she wants to feed them," Gair said softly, almost as if he was in a daze trying to decipher a hard problem in his head.

“Gair," Neivayka called gently to get his attention.

His vision cleared up immediately. “Yes?"

“Where'd you go?" Neivayka asked, feeling immensely curious.

He just smiled a knowing grin and did not answer. Neivayka wanted to push for an answer, yet she had a feeling that Gair was as stubborn as a mule, so she just let it go. She wasn't sure she wanted to know anyway.

“I apologize for snapping at you," she replied, changing the subject. “I'm a little on edge. I don't know whether I'm dreaming or if I'm going crazy."

Neivayka stared off into space when what she could remember of the last three days began to play repeatedly in her head.

She had to be dreaming. Or rather, having a nightmare.

If she was dreaming, how did she wake herself up? Maybe if she relaxed enough to sleep, she would be able to wake herself up. However, closing her eyes just seemed to make her more agitated.

“Great! Now what?" she asked herself harshly.

A sharp pain on her arm had her jumping a few feet off the couch.

“OW!" she exclaimed.

Gair's dark eyes came into focus right in front of her.

“Are you awake now?" Gair asked anxiously.

“What the heck was that for?" she demanded, stunned.

“You wanted to wake up. Mama always says if you pinch yourself during a nightmare, you'll wake up," he explained helpfully.

“That's just great!" Neivayka stated. “That means I am going crazy! That's just what I needed.!"

“Does anyone actually need to go crazy?" Iola asked, walking into the room expertly balancing a tray loaded down with food and drink.

Neivayka ducked her head, feeling a bit ashamed of her outburst now that the question was put to her like that.

“Just so you know, you are not actually going crazy. This is very real, and I apologize you had to find out like this," Iola said sympathetically, handing her the tea and a sandwich.

“I just want to know what is going on!" Neivayka stated desperately. “Who are you guys? How do you know about these creatures? Why am I here? Why are they after me?"

Iola sat in a high-backed chair next to the couch and sipped her tea as she stared hard at Neivayka.

“Are you sure you want the truth?" Iola asked, hardly oblivious to the precarious hold Neivayka had on her sanity.

With everything going on Neivayka, honestly didn't know if she could hold on any longer or not.

“Yes," Neivayka said firmly. “I want to know the truth."

Neivayka was shocked at how sure she sounded when her bruised, overwhelmed mind was screaming 'No!'. Yet, despite her fears, Neivayka knew that she couldn't just run away and pretend it had never happened. She needed answers. Something inside her was screaming that this was a matter of life and death, that this was bigger than any fear she could harbor.

“Millennia ago, these two worlds were one. Those that sparkled and shone with the magic were called the Light Folk, or more commonly the Fae Folk. All else were called the Dark Ones or the Clan's People," she said, waving to the outside world.

“Clans?" Neivayka asked. “Is that where the Celts got the name? Is that where this all started?"

“The Fae Folk, yes. We have no idea where the Clan's People came from, for they were there when we arose," Iola answered. “But, the birthplace of magic, of lore is over there, through the misty isle."

Neivayka had always wanted to explore the hills and mountains of Ireland and Scotland. Now, she wasn't so sure she would ever leave her room again if things like the Sirens were everywhere. But Iola began her story again, drawing Neivayka back into the present… or the past as it were.

“Now, mind you the Clan's People were simple folk, not actually 'dark' just… simple. But the Queen of Light viewed them favorably, as friends, allies, and even took a consort or husband from them. To show her loyalty and appreciation for the Clan's People, the very first Queen of Light gifted them with a child born of both worlds. This child had an incredibly special gift, and her birth brought the two worlds together."

Iola could spin a tale to a spider, and it would weave the pictures. Neivayka scooted to the edge of the couch and leaned in to hear her better.

“But there was dissension between the two people. The Dark King, the leader of the Dark ones, became greedy and demanded the hand of the Princess as soon as she came of age. But, the queen refused, knowing the king wished to rule the worlds for his own purpose and not for the people."

“What on earth could he want that he couldn't have as King of his own people?" Neivayka asked.

“Power. The power the child had. The kind of power that would bring ultimate obedience, bring worlds to their knees if used for evil," Iola warned.

“What kind of powers?" Neivayka prompted.

“Mermaids, or Sirens, hold great power over water and storms. Not to mention some of us can sense the deepest desire of anyone they wish. It's one of the reasons those Shadow Sirens are so dangerous. They use this power, their only power anymore, to sense how to lure their prey then hypnotize a person and keep them coming back even if the price is their life."

Iola looked towards the curtains that were hiding the Sirens beyond as if to make sure they were still on the other side. Then turned away from the window back to the two people sitting motionless on the couch waiting for the end of it.

“But the Princess had this very special power that made the Dark King practically salivate."

“What's that?" Neivayka asked breathlessly.

However, Iola didn't answer and continued with her story as if Neivayka hadn't even spoken.

“Knowing the desires of the Dark King better than anyone else, the Light Queen refused to give in to his request no matter what his demand. That began the wars. They raged on for centuries and with how deeply entwined as the two people had become, the war split families. Pitting brother against brother, friend against friend, and father against son. No family was spared the loss, no house was left unscathed. And during these years, the world itself burned until there was hardly anything left, but ash, blood, and pain."

In Neivayka's head, the horrifying words built themselves into pictures, and she was there in her mind's eye, watching the world catch fire as the b****y battles play out.

“Centuries of fighting drove us all to the brink of extinction and the Light Queen knew she had no choice. She gathered her most powerful wizards and witches and set about creating a new world. A safe place for her people to exist and rebuild without war and famine. She moved her people into what would be known as the Light World and closed it off to all the Dark Ones, the Clan's People, forever," Iola finished.

Enthralled, Neivayka just stared at her with wide eyes waiting for more, not wanting to think that was the end.

“That's it? But how'd the Siren's get here?" Neivayka demanded, desperately wanting more. “How did you guys get here?"

“The Queen made portals. but only the Light Folk can use them. Right, Mama?" Gair asked excitedly, making it obvious that he had heard the story many a time.

Iola bestowed a sweet smile on her son. “That's right. After all, the queen lost her family after the worlds divided. She refused to keep others apart. But, making sure only the Dark Ones couldn't come through and finish their destruction."

“Wait! How did the queen get split? What happened? What are Shadow Sirens?" Neivayka asked, wanting Iola to tell her another story.

Gair opened his mouth, and with one look from his mother, he closed it again.

“That's a story for another time," Iola stated.

Gair pouted, and Neivayka had to stop herself from making the exact same face.

The door slammed open violently, causing everyone to jump. A tall, dark-haired male came running into the room with a look of panic on his face as he glanced around the room until his dark eyes fell on Iola. There was no way to deny this mirror image of Gair was his father.

“Daddy!" Gair shouted happily.

The young boy jumped off the couch and headed for his father at great speed. But stopped short of him as all the color drained from his face in fear.

“What's going on?" Iola asked, dismayed as she grabbed a panicking Gair who looked like he was about to hyperventilate.

“Lorimer's here, and he is coming for us… for her," the man said.