Siren Sight

Chapter 10

Neivayka tried to give her a hard gaze that hopefully looked more badass than she was. The girl didn't answer right away. She just looked at Neivayka like she had grown two heads. Quickly, Neivayka patted the empty air around her shoulders after the week she'd had anything was possible.

“Who are you!?" the girl parroted once again.

Her hand dipped the blade down slightly as she stepped closer and seemed to search Neivayka's face again.

“How do you know Iola? How do you know she sent Gair to the Mountain?"

Her voice had dipped to the point that it was hard for Neivayka to hear her.

“How do I know Iola?" Neivayka parroted louder.

“Shhh, her name is well known, but not well received here. Lorimer has spies everywhere," the girl whispered harshly.

On guard once more, Neivayka glanced around yet couldn't see anyone suspicious. Or anyone at all, for that matter, not too many people willingly hide out near the garbage cans. Neivayka crinkled her nose against the stench that seemed to overpower the smell of the ocean.

It didn't matter if the wolf-girl was right about someone listening. Neivayka couldn't take any chances.

She stared at the girl trying to decide if she could trust her. Despite the darkness Neivayka saw around her, there was nothing as scary as the demon creatures she had seen so far. Just the memory of their faces made Neivayka's skin crawl. Shoving those images back in the recesses of her mind, Neivayka decided to risk it.

“What's your name?" Neivayka asked calmly.

After a reluctant pause, the girl answered. “Nesha."

“Nesha, that's pretty. I have had a hell of a day and would really love to go into more detail. But I'm not sure this is the right place," Neivayka advised.

Nesha led her back around to the front of the pub.

“Hungry?" Nesha asked abruptly.

“I'm not 21," Neivayka admitted.

“You're also not in your world anymore. Welcome to the Light World. The only place where a five-year-old could order a drink because he looks just like a dwarf," Nesha explained sardonically.

She led Neivayka through sparsely populated tables. The place was mostly full of the bearded fishermen that Neivayka was sure were more of those weird walruses. Nesha didn't stop until they came to an extremely private table in the back. Neivayka noticed that Nesha kept an eye on the door, which they could see perfectly from their area.

“Here we can speak of things and know who is listening," Nesha explained. “Now, spill."

So Neivayka did, only stopping long enough for food that Nesha ordered with a nod to the barkeep to be delivered with two large mugs of what smelled and looked like oil.

Nesha scarfed down her meal and chugged the drink with her eyes barely leaving Neivayka's face as she finished her story.

“So…," Nesha started slowly. “So, you're the reason this whole thing started."

Neivayka's spine stiffened at the implication that she was more an instigator than a victim.

“I don't know what you're talking about," Neivayka defended. “I didn't start anything. I don't know what's going on. As I've said… a lot."

“See, that's what bothers me. This is all about you. Yet, you don't seem to have a single clue why. How is that exactly?"

“What is all about me? This is insane! Look, you might have grown up seeing the shimmering and watching people change into demons and walruses and… and werewolves! But I didn't-"

Nesha's hand smacked the table, cutting Neivayka's spiel short.

“Holy crap!" Nesha breathed. “That is what this is all about! You have The Sight! No wonder you knew about me."

“Knew what? What sight?" Neivayka asked exasperatedly.

Nesha was bouncing all over the place, and Neivayka couldn't keep up.

“And here I thought Iola was crazy for sending you here," Nesha murmured to herself as she stared at Neivayka like she was an interesting bug under a microscope.

“What are you talking about? I swear, it's like you're speaking another language. My god, it's so frustrating!" Neivayka exclaimed.

She scrubbed her hands over her suddenly exhausted eyes, trying to banish the thought of beating Nesha over the head with her cup of disgustingly smelly drink.

Nesha chuckled, Neivayka's violent urges lost on her. “I get that a lot. So, Iola sent you to this place with no foreknowledge whatsoever. You didn't even know you were going to the Light World, am I correct?"

Neivayka nodded. “That's a good sum of things. But I still don't understand what this is all about."

Nesha shook her head, bemused. “Well, that explains everything."

It doesn't explain anything, Neivayka thought irritated as she glared at Nesha. The girl paid her no mind while she stood and threw some coins on the table, then packed up all her impressive number of weapons once again.

“Where are we going?" Neivayka asked as she scrambled to keep up with her.

Not only was Nesha a good foot taller than Neivayka, but she also seemed to be all legs, strong powerful legs that could eat up a mile in four minutes.

“We are not going anywhere. I am leaving. I'm not into fighting a losing battle and trying to fight a vampire as strong as Lorimer with a girl as inexperienced as you, is a losing battle," Nesha declared.

“Wait," Neivayka called, grabbing Nesha's arm to stop her.

Nesha gave her an exasperated look. “What?"

“Lorimer's a vampire?" Neivayka questioned in shock.

“See! You can't even tell the evil from the good!" Nesha practically shouted.

A chill went down Neivayka's back. Nesha was right. Not only did she not know where she was, but she also had no idea who to trust and who not to. Once again, Nesha turned to leave with an annoyed grunt.

“No!" Neivayka called again to stop her. “Please wait! I don't even know how to get home or-"

Neivayka broke off as she looked around at the bar filled with people that occasionally shimmered. She refused to look at those who were touched by the light, not wanting to know what they would become.

“At least to the real world," Neivayka finished lamely.

Nesha stared hard at Neivayka, trying to decide if helping her get back would be too little or too much help. The hard glint in the wolf girl's eyes made Neivayka feel an inch tall.

“Fine!" Nesha ground out from between her teeth, then turned and stomped away.

Neivayka hesitated, suddenly not sure if she did the right thing by asking this harsh, angry woman for help. Yet, in the end, Neivayka followed the wolf girl knowing that she really didn't have any choice. The odds of finding someone else willing to help without wanting something in return were slim.

Nesha was waiting just outside the pub door, looking extremely impatient.

“Let's go!" Nesha demanded.

“I'm coming," Neivayka grumbled, then clamped her mouth shut tight before she told Nesha what she could do with her brand of 'help'.