my eyes, fear for what I’d see as we lashed around in the water.
Pressure pounded at my temples, squeezing at my limbs as we descended further down the spiral. Faster and faster we spun, until I heard the final pop of my eardrums, and a shake of the ground opening on the floor under us. Suction yanked us swiftly under, and I felt the ocean floor scrape at my elbows and face before collapsing out of Ari’s arms and onto warm, solid ground.
Lifting my head off the ground and opening my eyes, I froze. If the island we had initially landed on could have been labeled a paradise, this had to have been one step from heaven. Warm, white and honey-colored marble stone pathways ran as far as the eye could see, twisting and turning into different directions. It was the only walkway, I noticed; beneath the streaked marble stone laid a small body of water, no more than six inches deep, sporting lily pods and clusters of tiny, off-white flowers. Each building had been crafted out of decadent, pristine crystal, thin curling bars of gold designing mesmerizing patterns along the walls. Tiki torches, burning bright with purple flame on their gold posts, stood outside each house, creating a touch of warmth and home. Only the dome above, showing the ocean from every angle in all its mysterious, underwater beauty, gave hint to where we really were.
Beside me, Ari rolled over, grunting as he stumbled to his feet. The journey had whipped his hair into a single batch of curls, sleek and damp, piled above his ears. Kayden stood behind him, completely unharmed, not even a speck of water on his clothes. Zeevna was still curled in his grasp, hair fanned around her face, beads tangled in a heap on her breasts.
I scrambled to my legs, ignoring the wobbling sensation in my knees, when Ari held up a hand. Fire instantly sparked to life on his palm and fingers. “Someone’s coming.”
Sure enough, a pair of footsteps sounded nearby, and were quickly approaching. The scent of seaweed, fish, and salt wrinkled my nose, tempting my gag reflex. Well, at least my distaste for fish hadn’t changed.
The fishy scent nearly became overwhelming as the pair of Sirens came closer to rounding the corner, sounds of their laughter and jostling growing louder.
“You’re back early, Zeevna,” one of the Sirens, a male by his tone, jeered. The second Siren snickered. “What’s the matter, too lazy to mingle with the royals on dry land?”
They rounded the corner, revealing two male Sirens, each at least seven feet tall. Both men sported long, violet hair tied with strips of seaweed, different colored beads woven into their parted locks. Strips of purple cloth, perfectly matching the shade of their hair, had been tied around their muscular torsos, spreading to a kilt-style bottom stitched with even more beads. Each Siren carried a spear, a single rod of pure gold carved with various symbols, shaped into a razor-sharp point at the tip.
Their laughter came to a dry end and they stopped joking, zeroing in on Kayden, Ari, and I as we stood there. One of the Sirens dropped their spear, the clang of it hitting the marble the only noise spared between us.
“Mother of the Wave,” said the Siren who dropped his spear in a strangled whisper. “We’ve been infiltrated.”
Kayden started to speak, charm in full swing. He gave the frightened Siren a subtle, tempting wink. “Aronel, you’ve certainly grown since I last saw you.”
The second Siren would have none of his antics. He snapped into position, crouching low and letting out a wild call that reminded me of dolphins at sea. “Fetch Arielle!” He barked at the other, Aronel. “The demon has returned!”
“Don’t forget, I’ve taken your gilly-gifted princess hostage, too,” he motioned at the limp sea-foam colored being in his arms with a small shake. A cheery smile graced his lips. “Nothing personal.”
Aronel let out a little squeak, sprinting barefoot the way he’d came. The second Siren kept
Pressure pounded at my temples, squeezing at my limbs as we descended further down the spiral. Faster and faster we spun, until I heard the final pop of my eardrums, and a shake of the ground opening on the floor under us. Suction yanked us swiftly under, and I felt the ocean floor scrape at my elbows and face before collapsing out of Ari’s arms and onto warm, solid ground.
Lifting my head off the ground and opening my eyes, I froze. If the island we had initially landed on could have been labeled a paradise, this had to have been one step from heaven. Warm, white and honey-colored marble stone pathways ran as far as the eye could see, twisting and turning into different directions. It was the only walkway, I noticed; beneath the streaked marble stone laid a small body of water, no more than six inches deep, sporting lily pods and clusters of tiny, off-white flowers. Each building had been crafted out of decadent, pristine crystal, thin curling bars of gold designing mesmerizing patterns along the walls. Tiki torches, burning bright with purple flame on their gold posts, stood outside each house, creating a touch of warmth and home. Only the dome above, showing the ocean from every angle in all its mysterious, underwater beauty, gave hint to where we really were.
Beside me, Ari rolled over, grunting as he stumbled to his feet. The journey had whipped his hair into a single batch of curls, sleek and damp, piled above his ears. Kayden stood behind him, completely unharmed, not even a speck of water on his clothes. Zeevna was still curled in his grasp, hair fanned around her face, beads tangled in a heap on her breasts.
I scrambled to my legs, ignoring the wobbling sensation in my knees, when Ari held up a hand. Fire instantly sparked to life on his palm and fingers. “Someone’s coming.”
Sure enough, a pair of footsteps sounded nearby, and were quickly approaching. The scent of seaweed, fish, and salt wrinkled my nose, tempting my gag reflex. Well, at least my distaste for fish hadn’t changed.
The fishy scent nearly became overwhelming as the pair of Sirens came closer to rounding the corner, sounds of their laughter and jostling growing louder.
“You’re back early, Zeevna,” one of the Sirens, a male by his tone, jeered. The second Siren snickered. “What’s the matter, too lazy to mingle with the royals on dry land?”
They rounded the corner, revealing two male Sirens, each at least seven feet tall. Both men sported long, violet hair tied with strips of seaweed, different colored beads woven into their parted locks. Strips of purple cloth, perfectly matching the shade of their hair, had been tied around their muscular torsos, spreading to a kilt-style bottom stitched with even more beads. Each Siren carried a spear, a single rod of pure gold carved with various symbols, shaped into a razor-sharp point at the tip.
Their laughter came to a dry end and they stopped joking, zeroing in on Kayden, Ari, and I as we stood there. One of the Sirens dropped their spear, the clang of it hitting the marble the only noise spared between us.
“Mother of the Wave,” said the Siren who dropped his spear in a strangled whisper. “We’ve been infiltrated.”
Kayden started to speak, charm in full swing. He gave the frightened Siren a subtle, tempting wink. “Aronel, you’ve certainly grown since I last saw you.”
The second Siren would have none of his antics. He snapped into position, crouching low and letting out a wild call that reminded me of dolphins at sea. “Fetch Arielle!” He barked at the other, Aronel. “The demon has returned!”
“Don’t forget, I’ve taken your gilly-gifted princess hostage, too,” he motioned at the limp sea-foam colored being in his arms with a small shake. A cheery smile graced his lips. “Nothing personal.”
Aronel let out a little squeak, sprinting barefoot the way he’d came. The second Siren kept
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