Reyna Peak

Nine

Rayna:

"Ray," I heard Ethious' voice call out behind me. I sat down allowing the waves to wash over my legs. "Baby, don't run off like that. There's something out there,"

"I'm sorry," I apologized pulling my legs up leaning into my knees and thighs.

I hadn't missed my parents as much as I did right now. I haven't had time or space to think of them since we had left London. I had told myself I wouldn't think of them anymore for Ro's sake but meeting Ethious' parents brought it all back. Since I have been fighting my urges as a siren since Ethious showed up, it overwhelmed me. I didn't even know I was running until my feet splashed through the cold salty water partly soothing the emotions I've kept locked up for my sister's sake all these years.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked. The water under me gave enough courage for what came out of my mouth next.

"Ethious, I'm not a human. Ro isn't one either," maybe courage isn't the correct term. I just don't want to talk about my parents or the fact that I have deep unresolved issues.

I looked up at him to see his reaction. He didn't look as surprised as I had expected him to be. He sat down next to me our shoulders brushing against one another sending a warm tingling sensation over my body. That is the first time I've ever truly felt warmth. The first time I've ever let it in. It's close to a relief but not nearly enough to settle me.

"I kind of suspected. It's kind of obvious to me. I just can't figure out what you are,"

"We're sirens," I admitted. His eyes met mine.

"Isn't that sort of like a mermaid?" I growled at him allowing my nature to take its place knowing I wasn't hiding anymore. He smirked.

"No, I'm not a mermaid nor do I have anything that relates me to one of those evil bitches,"

"So, they exist?" he asked. I nodded.

"And they're extremely heartless and dangerous," he pulled me on his lap and then slid me in between his legs wrapping his arms around me.

"Tell me how you ended up here. There's a lot more you're not telling me," he said kissing the back of my head.

"Your mom said it. Before dry land, there was my kind. My grandparents and the rest of the sea world. My grandparents took control of the seas to keep the peace. They kept the aggression down, kept all most sea life united.

"When life came to be on dry land, my grandparents established sirens all over the world. Smaller groups of us to monitor the waters. So, that dry landers wouldn't easily discover us. So, those who entered the ocean survived. Once they felt it was once again safe they had my father. My father came up to dry land and met my mother. Azreal. She's an Angel.

"A siren's mate is called a desire. My father's desire had been my mother. An angel doesn't have a specific name for a mate but they do term it as fallen. My father was my mother's fallen. There was this giant war on the surface one that my mother couldn't avoid.

"When the war was over my parents were free. Twenty-four years ago, they decided to settle and have a family. They had me and then they had Ro. Father said, his genes were dominant in me so he sent me to my grandparents and later, my sister followed. He visited often. I was twelve when I met my mother. She's important where she's from so she couldn't come home with us without exposing what we are.

"The night I met her, my grandparents, along with millions of other sirens were slaughtered. Humans had been following someone in our shoal. When they finally caught up with her they found a lot more of us. Those who liked to swim close to the surface. My dad left the city to help.

"The humans released bombs. It shook our city hard enough to cause panic. Many left the safety of our home. The merpeople took advantage of the situation and broke in. My dad came back for us and got the two of us out of there and up to the surface where my mom had been fighting back alongside my dad.

"What little of my people are left retreated to the shores where the mermaids couldn't get to us. We are protected since we are the last two remaining Royal Sirens left. I don't know if they're alive and can't come back for us or if they're dead. I know neither of them are on Land or in the ocean,"

"That's why you're touchy about the whole Mermaid thing?"

"Yes, I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I have to protect my sister and I wasn't exactly sure if we should trust you,"

"Do you trust me?"

"Yes. Ethious, I have wanted to enlighten you since the very beginning. I wasn't sure how you would respond to it. I was afraid of rejection. Desires can reject one another. I've seen it done.

"One of the refugee sirens we lived with was mated to an alpha in England. Her brother was mated to the beta's daughter. When the news of what they were got around, the beta's daughter rejected him. The alpha couldn't. It was love at first sight for them. His name was Sonar,"

"What happened to him?"

"He lost his thirst of the ocean. He's stayed below in hibernation. The ocean preserves him it keeps him Alive until when he is ready to join our world again. All he must do is call to me. I will perform the awakening ceremony,"

"What's that? How does a siren hibernate? Like a bear?"

"Well, for Sirens who are pure as he. By that I mean he has both Siren parents. When he comes of age he is united with the ocean and if he has an heirloom it defines what place he takes in the siren world. Kind of like beta or an omega.

"Those who have an heirloom have extra powers. They can hibernate for as long as they want without dying. They can go longer without feeding. Sonar's most prized heirloom was echolocation. As Sirens, we can pinpoint who we want in the ocean when we sing but that alerts others in nearby and around the person we wish to find. Sonar didn't have to sing. All he had to do was shut his eyes and think of the person he wanted.

"During his awakening, I take him to the ocean floor. I inflict wounds on certain parts of his body and sing guiding his body back to its original state. He'd wake up as if he were waking up from a good night rest,"

"Wouldn't he still be heartbroken?" I shook my head.

"In his hibernation, his mind is conscious. Hibernation is a lot like meditation for him. Emotions among my kind are dangerous. Well, not just for us. For all beings, I think. Hibernation is a reflective time. To think and get over hardships without having the capability to inflict harm on ourselves and others. Once we are compromised as he was, there is close to nothing that can stop him from ending those who pained him along with himself,"

"Wow," he said looking down at me. "A siren, huh? Fish lady?"

"I'm not a fish?" I laughed. "I'm fish like. I am flesh and blood as you are. I am closer to a dry-lander than to anything else in the ocean. It's what makes us so powerful,"

Talking about all of this was like taking a giant weight off my shoulders. Ethious was very curious about everything and didn't hesitate to ask. The more he learned the more he accepted what we are. My hesitation seemed ridiculous now. The only problem left is the killer on the lose. The rest of it should settle itself on its own. At least, I hope it does because Ethious isn't the only person that needs to accept what I am. And in the very least, we are no longer talking about my parents and that's a relief.