Siren's Calling

by Alyssa Breck

  “Xavier can do it.”

  “Yes, I was thinking about that. We’ll have to ask for his help,” Silver agreed. With a grin, he added, “Alay, it seems that the key to tracking the stone has been hanging around your neck all this time.”

  Chapter 31

  The room smelled of dust and spices. The dust tickled Silver’s nose, but he had to ignore it and concentrate on what he was doing. The priest had been good on his word and showed him a room where he could find the herbs necessary to cast the spell he found in the huge library of the monastery. Though it was a place for Christians, it held vast amounts of information about the black arts and the world’s history.

  Alayah and Xavier were in the room with him. He needed their energy to track the stone.

  Alayah had placed her necklace in a bowl on the table in the center of the room. Xavier was not far from it, grinding herbs and reciting incantations.

  Meanwhile, Silver opened a map of North Africa after clearing a table. It would be crucial to use that map to find the Legacy Stone if all went well with the spell.

  “All done,” Xavier said, moving beside him with the herbs in a bowl.

  Silver edged closer to Alayah. “Pour water in the bowl with the necklace. We’ll add a few drops of our blood and the herbs.”

  Nodding, she did as she was told. Silver helped her cut her finger, and the drops fell in the water, tainting it red. His blood was next.

  “Xavier, we need your blood, too,” Silver said.

  Xavier moved closer and used a knife to cut his finger. More blood stained the water, and the stone shimmered for a few seconds.

  “Did you see that?” Alayah asked.

  “Yes. It reacted,” Silver replied.

  “Let’s hope there’s enough essence in it to take us to the main rock,” Xavier said.

  “Hands.” Silver reached for Alayah and Xavier’s hands.

  They all joined in a circle as Silver spoke the magical words of the tracking spell. He repeated the spell twice. Once he finished, the stone floated to the surface and glowed.

  “It’s working.” Alayah smiled.

  “Now what?” Xavier asked.

  Reaching for the necklace, he grabbed it and a magnetic pull moved him in the direction of the map. In front of the map, he dropped the stone that hung from the necklace. It vibrated and pulled again.

  He let the stone guide him as it moved across the map. After circling for a few moments, it stopped.

  “Did it work?” Alayah looked eagerly at Silver.

  “It did.”

  “Thalassan Ruins,” Xavier read. “This isn’t good.”

  “Why?” Alayah asked.

  “We’ll take the map to another room where we can sit and talk,” Silver mumbled as he walked to a table and wiped off Alayah’s necklace.

  “You look worried,” Alayah said, following Silver.

  “It’s far and dangerous,” Silver mumbled and sighed.

  “Endless desert and titans,” Xavier spoke with folded arms. “Not good at all.”

  Silver secured the necklace around Alayah’s neck as he said, “I’ll take the map, and we’ll define a plan.”

  “These hills are our best way in, and they are the most dangerous, too. We are going to have back up most of the way”—Silver moved his fingertip across the map— “to here. Afterwards, we are on our own.”

  They were in the small hall of a chamber in the monastery. Silver had a map before them. It showed all the terrain from the tip of the sea down south to the endless desert.

  Alayah was amazed at how far away she was from her kingdom. Still, she knew how big the world was based on the ancient maps before the Big Crash. Nowadays, no one really knew how much land remained, but Africa was a big continent, and there was a lot of ground to cover between kingdoms and citadels.

  “Thalassan Ruins are still very far from where we are. I’m glad we have the aircraft to get there faster,” Alayah said as she looked at Silver. “Wouldn’t it be faster if we went back to the Scythe Citadel and set a path from there. I don’t see any roads leading to Thalassan.”

  “If we go back to Scythe, we’ll have to go straight through The Badlands, and that would be suicide for us. There are too many titans there. It’s best to circle it.”

  “Not to mention we can’t take the aircraft or the motorbikes over the desert,” Xavier said.

  Alayah looked at him. “Why not?”

  “The noise will alert the Titans. They have sensitive ears and don’t like combustion motors.” He pointed at the map. “We’ll take the aircraft to here and ride to town on the motorcycles. There, we’ll leave them and get horses and camels to continue our journey. We’ll set camp near the lake here, stock up on water, and hope that the sandstorms don’t kill us.”

  Silver looked at Xavier. “Alayah is half-human, so her body won’t react as strongly to the heat, but the others aren’t. I’m not sure what the dry wind will do to them.”

  “Maybe we should leave them behind,” Xavier proposed.

  “I refuse to go without them. Besides us, no one else can use magic out of Silver’s soldiers. My team needs to go if we plan to survive the Titans,” Alayah protested.

  “They might wither and die. Are you willing to take that chance?” Silver asked.

  “We have special suits that we brought with us. We use them when we dive deeper into the canyon. They keep our temperature steady and prevent our bones from cracking with the pressure. We’ll be fine.”

  “There are sandworms, wyverns, and necromancer scavengers in the desert. It won’t be easy,” Xavier explained. “The more people go, the more attention we attract to us.”

  Alayah looked from Silver to Xavier and then back to Silver. “The people of the pyramids have been isolated for a long time. Even with the High Priest’s missive explaining why we need the stone, they might be reluctant in giving us something they have been protecting for so long. They might not even believe us.” She breathed deeply before continuing. “It’s great that you finally agree on something, but we’ll need all the help we can get. Kiera, Marina, Rose, and Lyra are coming or you two are staying behind.” She clenched her jaw. “This was always our mission. The thirteenth region trusted us with this information. The Legacy Stone needs to be taken to my kingdom and placed in our temple.”

  Xavier and Silver shared a look.

  “They can come,” Xavier said.

  “It seems we have a plan. It’s time to talk to the other members of this team and pack to leave,” Silver said.

  Alayah nodded. “I’ll talk to my team.”

  “Good. I’ll talk to my men,” Silver said, heading to the door.

  Xavier grabbed Silver’s arm before he could leave. “Alayah, you can leave. I have something important to talk with Silver about.”

  Alayah frowned and looked at Silver.

  “Go. I’ll seek you out after,” Silver said.

  Alayah exited and closed the door, wondering what Xavier could possibly want to speak with Silver.

  Chapter 32

  Silver looked Xavier in the eyes. “What do you want?”

  The White Mage’s son sat in an armchair near the window and crossed his legs. “I believe it’s time we have a serious conversation.”

  “About what?”

  Xavier signaled to the armchair across from his. “Please, take a seat. What I’m about to tell you might throw you off balance.”

  Silver knitted his brows together and folded his hands in front of his stomach. “If you are about to tell me that you have feelings for Alay, save your breath. I already know. I also know that you don’t really care about her. She’s just another trophy you want to add to your list, or you wouldn’t be sleeping with the other sirens.”

  The mage tilted his head to the right. “What are you talking about?”

  “Alayah and I saw Kiera the other night entering your tent. There’s no use denying it.”

  “I have no idea what you and Alay saw, but Kiera didn’t
stay long in my tent. She just had something to tell me.”

  Silver stretched his lips into a thin line. “That’s too bad because Alay spent the night with me, and she will spend this one, too. So, you’d better back off and find someone else to flirt with.”

  Xavier unfolded his legs and leaned forward to look at Silver. His eyes narrowed and became darker than usual, and his voice came out menacing. “You are the one who needs to back off and stay away from my betrothed.”

  Silver walked in front of him and looked down at him. “What nonsense are you saying? Have you lost your mind?”

  Xavier smirked and straightened up, matching his height. “You have no idea who she truly is, and when you find out, you’ll regret ever touching her.”

  Silver leaned closer with fire burning in his eyes. “You are the one who will regret it if you touch her.”

  “Listen to me carefully,” Xavier ordered, using his hand to push Silver away. “Not many know what I’m about to tell you, but I want to clear things up before making my move.” He raised a finger to tell him to shut up. “Alayah doesn’t know it yet, but we are promised in marriage, and I have no intention of break that promise.”

  Silver shook his head with a grin. “You are seriously deluded. Alayah is a siren, and she’s free to marry whomever she chooses.”

  “Do you remember Glenn?”

  Silver folded his arms. “The one you killed?”

  “I didn’t kill him, but he died because he knew too much. Maybe it was your father who killed him. It would be in his twisted plans to kill anyone who knew that Alayah is Sora’s daughter.”

  The blood ran out of Silver’s face with the mention of that name. His heart jolted, and he grabbed his chest. “How do you know that name? Where did you hear it?”

  “Alayah is Sora’s daughter. Ask for her mother’s name, and you’ll know I’m telling the truth.”

  “There are many women called Sora.”

  Xavier’s mouth stretched into a wicked grin. “Maybe. But few know why Sora ran away from your father’s kingdom and with whom she ran off. Alayah is the daughter of your father’s concubine and the Dark Emperor. She has her mother’s necklace to prove it. The one, the emperor, gave to her when they married. Alayah also happens to be the sole heir to the Risen Ashes Kingdom.”

  Silver stepped back as he processed the information. He turned his back on Xavier and walked to the armchair where he sat.

  “My father recognized the necklace when Alayah went to ask for his help to find the Legacy Stone.”

  Silver fisted his hands. “Then he was the one who told the emperor that she was here and almost got her killed.”

  “Glenn was reckless, and the emperor made him pay for it. I had to come to make sure that no one harms my betrothed and assist her in her quest. The bounty was removed from her head, too.”

  “I see. The emperor promised his daughter in marriage to you if you did his bidding.”

  Xavier shook his head. “His daughter has been promised to marry me since the day she was born. It was part of the deal my father made with the emperor when he swore allegiance to him. The emperor doesn’t have any other children. Alayah is much more than a siren, she’s a princess and a powerful sorceress. Which explains why she’s so much stronger than the other sirens. With the right training, she’ll be stronger than us.”

  “Why are you telling me this?”

  “You know why, Silver. Don’t play dumb.” He stepped closer. “You are a danger to her. As the son of the King of the Depths, it’s your duty to kill Alayah’s mother.” He made a dramatic pause. “Or her daughter to restore honor to the king.” He clenched his jaw and lowered his hands to grab the armrest as his face hovered over Silver’s. “That’s not going to happen because I won’t let you. Alayah is under my protection and the Dark Emperor’s. You’d start a war if something happened to her. Do you understand me?”

  “I have no intention of hurting her,” Silver muttered, though his head spun with the information.

  “By now, you must understand that your love is doomed. Your father would never approve. Alayah is the living proof of the betrayal of his favorite concubine. You could have been siblings if Sora stayed with your father.”

  “We aren’t siblings.” He looked at Xavier. “We are lovers.” Silver pushed him back, almost throwing him off balance. “Sora ran away from Alayah’s father, too. I’m sure that Alayah isn’t that keen on honoring her father’s deal with yours. Especially, since your father refused to help us find the Legacy Stone.”

  Xavier fixed his clothes and his hair. “I’m nothing like my father. I’m here to make sure that we find the stone and Alayah survives this.”

  “Just because you want to be the next emperor.”

  Xavier grinned. “That might have been true when I first started this quest to find my fiancée, but now that I’ve met her, I understand that … she pleases me. She’s strong-willed, beautiful, and has a good heart. She can change things when her father dies, and she’s crowned queen.”

  Silver got up and shadowed him. “That’s not going to happen.”

  “Just stay the hell away from my fiancée,” Xavier warned, poking Silver’s chest.

  Silver grabbed Xavier’s finger and shoved him back. “That’s not going to happen. The one that needs to stay away from her is you before you get her killed.” He stormed toward the exit.

  “You can’t have her,” Xavier shouted.

  Silver looked back before opening the door. “Even if we are doomed to fail, I’ll make sure that Alayah survives this quest and goes back safely to her kingdom underwater and away from you and her twisted father.”

  With that said, he exited and slammed the door.

  Xavier floated in his astral projection across a dark corridor with statues of huge beasts and marble floors. The floor to ceiling door presented no obstacle when he crossed it and saw the throne where a man in dark robes with a white beard and glowing red eyes sat.

  His voice was raspy when he spoke. “Long time no see, my pupil. What news do you bring?”

  Xavier secured his closed fist against his chest and knelt on one knee. “Milord, I feel we are getting close to our objective. I have the princess' trust, and the group that travels with us doesn’t suspect a thing.”

  He leaned forward with a wild grin. “Your plan seems to be working but are you any closer to finding the stone?”

  “It is just a matter of time. Intel led us to a monastery in the North. There, the priest told us the story of how the villagers of the lost city of Vyjil found a glowing red stone that would heal anyone who touched it. A bishop called it the Bloody Tear of Christ and sent it to the monastery to be studied. A small part was cut and shipped to the Vatican. It ended up being stolen and sold on the black market.”

  The emperor scrubbed his beard. “Yes, I had no idea what it was when I bought it and offered it to my beloved Sora. It is providential that my daughter received the honor of finding the Legacy Stone when she already has a part of it.”

  “The magic of her piece seems depleted, nevertheless. Yet, Silver believes he can use it to track the main stone.”

  “Good. You did well. I will offer you a great reward when you bring it to me.” He coughed.

  The disease was getting the best of the dark mage. That was why he was looking for the sacred stone. Xavier felt conflicted about what he had to do since he had joined the Dark One’s army to make sure that nothing terrible happened to the City of Elys.

  Xavier raised his head. “And the princess, what should I do with her?”

  “Once we have the stone, she and her friends are no longer needed. You can kill her with the rest.”

  Xavier's jaw tensed. “But she’s your daughter. I thought you wanted to reunite with her.”

  “Once I'm cured, and my life extended, I no longer need an heir. I can make more children to help me rule North Africa. Her good nature will just be an annoyance.” He waved his caramel-colored hand. “I know you grew a
ttached to the idea of being my son through marriage, but you already have a great position in my army at such a young age. You are my strongest warrior and mage. I know you will bring me great victories once we expand our domain.”

  “As you wish, sir.” He bowed.

  “Where are you heading now?”

  “To the Badlands, but first, the Town of Sabbath awaits us. Silver knows someone there who can help us get to Thalassan Ruins.”

  “They will need your help to fight the titans there. Make sure you succeed.”

  He clapped his boots together and bobbed his head. His astral body dissolved, and he sat up on his bed and sucked for air.

  Third Part

  Chapter 33

  The inn was a welcome sight after a long day’s journey coupled with Xavier and Silver’s non-stop bickering. They were like two children, fighting over a new toy. The toy being Alayah. Men could be so childish sometimes.

  Silver took care of securing a block of rooms for Alayah’s sirens and his warriors. Then, they all settled in to have some food and drink.

  The tavern was a little nicer than the previous inns they’d patronized. There was heat, and the tiled floor was clean. The tables were glossy wood, and the vinyl chairs were padded.

  Alayah sat down and stretched her legs out. Riding the motorcycle for hours left her muscles tight and uncomfortable.

  Xavier plopped down in the chair next to her. “I’m starving.”

  Alayah cracked her neck, releasing more pent-up tension. “We all are.”

  Silver frowned when he arrived at the table with a pitcher of beer and a basket of bread. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?” he said to Xavier.

  Xavier leaned back and clasped his hands behind his head. “Actually, no. I don’t.” He grinned.

  Silver grumbled and set the beer and food down. “Make yourself useful then and go get us some glasses.”

  “Sure thing. Should I grab another pitcher of beer while I’m over there?”