The Exiled Prince and His Siren

Chapter 2

Violetta walked like she was on a fresh patch of grass with the clouds hanging above her. She stretched her neck up a bit more as a gust of wind came her way, her hair blowing away wisps of black curly locks from where it was gathered on her shoulders. She paid it no mind and walked with more vigor. She started skipping. The rest of the world lost to her.

The bliss of her morning was a stark contrast to the miserable fate product of the events of this afternoon. She was now threading the fine line between freedom and captivity.

A group of hunters decided to pay the human town a visit today of all times. The only time she let her guard slipped. They appeared instantly like hounds after catching whiff of a prey. The gravity of the situation escalated quickly as the humans around them caught on. She was always seen as an oddity among them. Half-bloods always gave out that feeling, but because she was part human, they can’t oust her enough to deem her unlike them. Since they can’t sense her inner beast as well, they just end up thinking she’s strange.

It dawned on her quickly that there was nowhere to go now. The human portion of the city was supposed to be best place she could hide in. Doesn’t mean she’ll just let them take her to wherever. Humans cannot detect a half-blood like the purebloods can, but by the way she was dragged out and tossed into the carriage this afternoon, her identity is good as exposed.

The fears hunters provoked certainly lived up to the word of mouth as no one dared stand up for her. She must have resembled someone who did something so ghastly, when all she’s done is exist.

She can feel the throb of pain from where one of the hunters hit her on the side of her neck. She had taken a quick glance at the hooded figures but it was enough to make her skin crawl.

Sleek glossy skin was hidden under the thick black cloaks that covered only half of their upper limbs but the entirety of their heads. Yet despite the lack of visual in their appearance, Violetta reckons there wasn’t a portion of their body that had a trace of hair growth.

They stood in intimidating heights. She remembers them towering over her as they plucked her out from the crowd. They were incredibly strong too, she gathered as much when she felt the weight of the hand that held her by the neck, long translucent nails digging into her nape as they dragged her to the carriage. That must have been where the stinging was coming from.

She lost consciousness after the strike to her neck. The slit in their black eyes was the last thing she saw before darkness took over.

They couldn’t have been travelling for several hours so she sat up and looked out from the small opening in the cage-like carriage. There were two hunters she saw up front so she guessed the others must be in the back. She looked up to what little she could see of the sky and saw that night hasn’t fallen yet. Therefore, they weren’t too far into their journey.

She looked around the carriage once more. She had heard of hunters taking half-bloods in herds, yet she was the only one here. She pondered over why they would stop searching after finding one half-blood. One whose beast they aren’t even aware of.

Her thoughts were cut off when the carriage jerked more forcefully than before. The force effectively sent her flying to the other side. She heard the iron come loose. The impact must have caused the locks to unhinge, she guessed. Just then, a distinct smell came from the outside. One she was more than familiar with.

The smell of a river.

Violetta’s instincts took over. They made a fundamental mistake and she’s going to take advantage of it. Risking captivity, she knew she had to summon her abilities to the surface. Either way, if they succeed in getting her back to the castle, they’ll find out about who she is anyway.

Although, summoning her abilities will definitely withdraw a significant amount of her energy, as she’s been keeping them dormant for a long time. So with much effort, she willed them to the surface. Tried that is.

She can feel the strain it was putting on her and she gritted her teeth to fight it. It didn’t take much time before her eyes slowly turned into the natural aqua hue of a pureblood of her kind. Then as her beast start to rouse from within her, she can sense the waters beginning to run wild from the outside. The skies begin to form shadows in preparation for the storm.

The sound of rumbling reverberating to the ground signified the storm has begun. However, she doesn’t need rain. She needs a wave.

Far as she knows, hunters can’t swim. At least the ones who took her are not the right kind.

Violetta then raised both hands to one side of the carriage where she suspects the water is located and willed the element to come near. She can faintly see the blue veins starting to grow from the tips of her fingertips all the way to her arms. This was the closest form she could get to her beast.

She can hear a fuss going on outside as the hunters can probably see the oncoming water. She suddenly raised her arms as if to lift something with her hands and brought it down. The force of the water bore down on the carriage at the same time, sending splinters of wood flying. She was freed instantly, but she wasn’t done.

Safe in the comfort of the element of her nature, she willed the water to enclose around the hunters individually, effectively trapping them.

The slit in their black eyes expanded then retracted to express their surprise. It was an unpleasant sight to see. They must be wondering how this could be possible for a half-blood. She couldn’t help it and flashed them a smirk. She was always brimming with arrogance when she’s in her beast form.

Violetta made a difficult call right then. She kept them in the spheres then slowly started to withdraw water from within. The sphere now holds them inside with no air and now way out. She witnessed how their forms started to wither and shrink until there was nothing more but a brittle piece of what they once were.

She ultimately let go and the cloaks they wore dropped to the ground. With the threat taken care of, her beast slowly pulled back. The skies cleared and the water returned to a still calm.

Violetta took in the damage she did and realized she couldn’t stay anywhere near nor can she go back to the city that turned their back on her. So, swallowing her pride, she dove to the water. Her beast quickly surfaced and she sped out of the vicinity in the speed of light.

She zipped through the waters in no specific direction. She retreated to the back of her mind and let her instincts take over. No one would dare lay a hand on her in the water.

Now that she’s out of harm’s way, the reality of what just took place finally dawned on her. There was nowhere she could go to in Malhelm now. Once the king hears of what happened to his hunters, she’ll be on watch for everybody to rattle on.

She was too lost in her own thoughts, she didn’t notice the whirlpool coming at her fast. She was instantly caught inside. The force of the water absolutely merciless as she was wrestled inside. Her hands flailed around on reflex but there was nothing to grab onto.

Panic started to bubble deep in her, she’s never felt this frustrated at not being able to know what to do. She won’t drown. Her nature wouldn’t allow her to, but she can’t go anywhere with the water around her like this.

That was the downside of being a half-blood. It was either she had complete grasp of her abilities like earlier or she doesn’t, like now.

She was thrashing with anger in the water and repeatedly wished internally that she could be anywhere but here. Somewhere she could be safe and not worry about her hunters after her tail. Just at least until she could face it all.

Just then, the water became still. The whirlpool disappeared but it left her floating on what feels like air rather than water from the lack of contact from the element. Suddenly she felt like she was being sucked into something and she faintly saw a circle. It grew until it showed a place of what appears to be a rainforest. She scrunched her brows in confusion and had little time to react before she was sucked into that circle.

She landed on very wet ground, both from her and from the moisture naturally coming from the forest floor. She was breathing heavily from the strain of being thrown around then getting sucked into what she understands now is a portal. It had no effect on purebloods, but half-bloods always had a hard time travelling through as it’s not exactly human nature to be involved with a product of a pureblood’s ability. Since she’s both, depletion of energy is a consequence of traveling through a portal.

A hand suddenly came up to her face when she busy getting her wits back. She looked up to see a woman with a warm yet knowing expression on her face. Her pretty mismatched eyes catching Violetta’s undivided attention. She couldn’t look away.

“We finally meet. My name is Arissa.” The woman introduced. Violetta hesitantly shook her hand as for some unknown reason, she felt like she had to. And when she did, she immediately felt like she shouldn’t have. As she felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. A premonition she knows isn’t anything good.