Siren of the Lake

Chapter 9: The Ascenders

“Community?"

Damon's head tilted to the side.

“Yeah," Adelaide continued. “Like how wolves have packs—sirens—well, me, I have a community."

“But isn't a community somewhere safe, with people who protect you?"

“You'd think so," Adelaide responded. “But not with mine."

Damon sat with her words for a moment. He couldn't fathom belonging to a group that wanted to kill you for something out of your control. Sure, wolves disowned unruly or disloyal pack members, causing them to become rogue, but killing…that was only used as a very last resort. It was so unheard of that Damon only knew of one case: the Crimson Shadows.

“So, your 'pack'," he said, putting air quotes around the word. “Do they have any distinguishing features I should know about so I can stay alive?"

Adelaide shook her head. “No—but they have a name. The Ascenders."

“Can't say I've heard of them," Damon replied.

“Not many have. They like to keep under the radar."

“What are they?" he asked. “Wizards of some sort?"

Adelaide took a hair tie off her wrist and pulled her locks into a ponytail in the center of her head that accentuated her jawline. The beauty marks on her neck revealed themselves and not far below them were some scars and a couple bruises that had begun to fade.

“No—they're human."

Damon's attention snapped back to her. Human!? Humans had no idea of their existence. Most packs who lived anywhere near cities were very cautious to avoid detection and only transformed when necessary or when it was safe to. How did the Ascenders know the truth?

“I know what you're thinking," Adelaide said. “Our leader is the one who brought to light the reality of wolves to the rest of the community, and for that, they are faithful to him."

“And what about you?" Damon asked curiously. “Are you the only…non-human?"

“No," Adelaide answered rather quickly. Only that was where she left it and from her expression, Damon could tell she didn't want to say anymore. So, he switched gears.

“So, why do they need you then if there's others?"

“Because I'm the only siren—as our leader likes to put it, I'm 'unique'," she replied with a tone of sarcasm as she rolled her eyes. “With my abilities, they can stay hidden in the shadows and go undetected."

Damon couldn't believe what he was hearing. If she was telling a lie, it was an elaborate one that she had thought out entirely from start to finish—and if that was the case, then he wasn't sure to be angered or admire her.

“When I met you in the lake…you said something about the other murders not being your fault. If you're the only siren…then who did it?"

“That depends," Adelaide shared. “How far are you going back?"

Damon didn't answer. For once, he didn't know what to say.

“Before me, it was my older sister and before her, my grandmother. We hold what our leader calls 'the siren gene.' Since my grandmother had only boys, the duty passed down to my sister after she died."

“And then your sister—" Damon instigated. “…That's how you became the siren."

Adelaide closed her mouth and gently nodded. “Being a siren is like being under contract, despite what you wish."

“Kind of like being an Alpha," Damon blurted out without thinking, prompting him to feel immediate regret.

“Yeah…" Adelaide whispered curiously. “I guess so, huh?"

Damon and Adelaide locked eyes and for a minute, that same sensation returned. Her gaze was softer than he had seen it since they met, but somehow, it was also broken and lonely, triggering a wave of sympathy to pool up in the pit of his stomach…

Hold on, what in the h*ll was happening? Was he really buying into this? She was a siren—it was her job to lure in men and since her song didn't work, maybe this was another tactic to catch him. And could he complain? He'd do the exact same thing. So, for that reason, he couldn't let his guard down, no matter what.

“Alright," he said, breaching the silence. “How do we beat them?"

Adelaide's head instantly perked up. “We? You believe me?"

“I never said that. But I can't take the risk of going home and putting my pack in danger. Do you have any sort of plan?" Damon looked around the cave again. “With this set up, I imagine you do."

“Well…" Adelaide muttered.

Damon cut her short. “You have all of this and no idea what you're going to do?! Maybe I'd be better going back…"

She bent down into her bag and pulled out a rolled-up piece of paper that was frayed on multiple edges. When she unfurled it, Damon noticed the discolouration throughout.

“Not long ago, I found this old map buried in the shelves over there. My mother once told me of this place called the Royal Shift…it's located in the old mountains and is so secret, you can't find it on any map. Except this one."

Adelaide turned the map towards Damon so he could see and pointed to a minuscule black 'X' on the tip on the mountain ridge.

“What are they?" Damon asked as he examined the page.

“Ex-members of the community," Adelaide reported. “They simply stopped believing in our leader and what they're fighting against. Suppose you could call them a sort of rebellion. Our leader has been searching for them for years and hasn't been able to find them."

“And that's where you plan to go? Will they accept you since, you know, you're the siren?"

Adelaide shrugged. “I don't know, but it's the only chance I have. I didn't ask to be the siren; it was forced on me. And now that I've broken the trust with my community, it's—"

Damon nodded. “I understand."

Adelaide glanced up at Damon, her gaze hopeful. “So, you'll help me then?"

Her question rang through his ears. Help a siren? If his father was here now, he'd be rolling over laughing at this entire situation. H*ll, Damon himself knew how ridiculous it sounded. Except he needed to—no matter which way this escapade turned out, he needed to be smart about it, not only for himself, but for Moonlight.

Damon adjusted himself on the rock and patted his knees with his hands. He took a breath and let it out just as slow. “Looks like I am."