The Siren's Secret

by Heather Ostler

  “Caleb,” Julia said, turning to look at him, “stop it. You’re making me more nervous.”

  She paused in front of a branch full of thorns. Before she could duck under it, Caleb brandished his sword, and in one swift moment, severed the branch from the tree. Julia’s face had been inches away from where he’d swung his sword.

  “They’ll be waiting to kill you, Julia. Do you understand?

  You must find it in yourself to shapeshift.”

  Julia caught her breath, terrified after having a sword come so close to her face.

  Caleb had only made her more anxious to face the Guild.

  “Don’t tell me what to do,” she said threateningly.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Hideaway

  Julia left Caleb’s side and made her way up to Scarlet.

  Was it possible? Could Julia find a way to transform? She thought she’d accepted the reality of her fate, but now she couldn’t help but second-guess herself. Maybe with the dagger and enough adrenaline, she could become her werecat once again.

  When Scarlet noticed Julia on the pathway next to her, she opened her eyes wide.

  “Your hair is completely red again,” she said. “The dye should’ve lasted weeks. That’s incredible.”

  Her hope of being able to shapeshift again quickly dissolved. She was a siren through and through. No dagger or amount of hair dye could change that.

  The sky turned a dark blue color, and Julia knew they were getting close. In the front of the group, she saw Gabe holding out a map and pointing to something for Captain Arie to see. After fifteen minutes, the sky became completely black, and the front of the group stopped.

  Julia’s stomach churned, and her shaking became even worse.

  Captain Arie and Gabe crouched down, and the rest of the group followed suit. Peeking past Scarlet, Julia could see Gabe staring intensely past the rock they hid behind.

  “Julia,” Scarlet whispered next to her. “Are you ready for this?”

  She nodded, unable to hide her shaking.

  “You don’t have to run with us. If you want to stay in the jungle, you’ll be safe.”

  She shook her head. “I’m coming.”

  Scarlet wrapped her hand around her sword. “I’m heading straight for Lancer and Liam. And I will stop at nothing until I reach them. Do you understand?”

  “Yes,” she answered.

  As the next five minutes passed, Julia felt like her whole life stood still. She couldn’t believe this happened. So many lives were at stake. So many people she loved were about to risk their lives. In her heart she knew her father would be alive, but she also knew she wouldn’t accept any other answer.

  She would risk her own life and fight with everything she could until Lancer and Liam were safe again.

  An image of Riley entered her head, and Julia felt like she’d been slapped in the face. Of course. Riley had said that if she needed help, she could call on the sirens. How had she not realized it before? She had to find water— now.

  “Scarlet,” Julia whispered frantically. “We need to—”

  Before she could finish, Captain Arie stood up and made the signal. The attack began.

  A soldier ran past Julia, pushing her into a tree as he darted forward.

  Scarlet looked at her with fearful eyes. “It’s time.” She squared her shoulders and sprinted out of the jungle.

  Captain Arie and Gabe moved out of the jungle too and disappeared. The line of soldiers, including Terrence, Caleb, and Luke Marquette, all rushed past Julia.

  Taking a deep breath, she followed them, becoming completely exposed.

  As she stepped out of the jungle, she dropped her jaw, taking in the scene in front of her.

  A huge stone pyramid loomed above them. Made of stairs, the pyramid had torches that lit up the sandy-colored exterior, and the black stream in front of it made it impossible to reach.

  Julia gasped. Alexis had claimed an ancient pyramid as her hideaway.

  Several hooded members lined the stairs of the pyramid, and sure enough, they began pointing and shouting as the Soldier Union moved forward.

  Julia grabbed her dagger with a shaky hand and unsheathed it. She knew Alexis, Lancer, and Liam were all inside the pyramid.

  As she ran toward it, she saw each soldier take a different path toward the stairs of the pyramid. It would be her responsibility to contact the sirens, and to do that she needed to get to the stream.

  With the stream yards away, Julia slid the last few feet and dove into the murky water.

  She could hear commotion in the air above her but tried to tune out the noise.

  “Riley!” she screamed underwater. “I need your help now!”

  She felt the water ripple around her, and she quickly broke the surface.

  In the few seconds she’d been under, a bridge had lowered from the pyramid stairs to the land outside of it, similar to a castle with a bridge and moat. Guild members, ready to attack, rushed down the stairs and passed the bridge.

  Julia ducked under the water again and tried to swim with the blade in her hand. She swam until she moved directly under the bridge and waited. There were loud footsteps above her, and she knew at least ten Guild members ran above her.

  Several minutes passed, and Julia realized that being able to breathe underwater saved her life. Finally, she lifted her head and peered around.

  At least twenty different Guild members ran around, fighting against the soldiers. She froze in a panic watching the horrific scene in front of her. Terrence fought two members, and Luke limped as he ran toward a hooded figure with his sword out.

  Different werecats ran around taking swipes at each other, and a vicious snarl echoed across the way. Was that Caleb?

  The panther ducked and then pounced onto a lion, which reeled out in pain.

  Someone yelled out near Julia, and she squinted in the darkness, her heart pounding.

  Gabe fell to the ground, his pained face illuminated by the light of a massive torch on the pyramid.

  Julia dove into the water once again and swam to Gabe’s aid. Carefully she poked her head up from the water.

  A Guild member stood above Gabe, and Julia looked just in time to see a hooded man kick him in the stomach.

  Gabe reached for his sword, but it fell inches out of his outstretched fingers.

  Raising his sword, the Guild member cut through the air in an attempt to hit Gabe. Gabe rolled over avoiding it, but as he dodged it, his knee was hit with full force.

  He sounded out in pain, and Julia knew she had to take action. She pushed herself out of the water and came up behind the Guild member’s back. Gripping her dagger, she sprinted at him and prepared herself for his wrath.

  Just as he heard Julia coming behind him and flipped around, she had stuck her dagger in his calf and pulled it out again.

  He yelled out and kneeled over, gripping his wounded leg.

  “Gabe!” Julia called, helping him up.

  He winced and shook his head. “I can’t walk.”

  “You have to.”

  Julia ducked under his arm and helped him move.

  “Quickly,” she whispered, “to the stream.”

  Gabe leaned over, grabbed his sword, and Julia helped him limp over to the stream.

  He winced in pain with every step, but finally they made it to the dark stream.

  Julia helped Gabe gently fall into the water, and then glanced back at the Guild member.

  He lay on his back writhing in pain and still clutching his calf. Luckily he wouldn’t see them in the water.

  She looked for Gabe in the black water, unsuccessfully.

  Feeling around, she finally touched his arm, and after a minute, they both kicked to the surface and slowly looked out.

  Above the water was complete chaos. Yells, sword fights, and werecat growls sounded throughout the darkness.

  “Gabe,” Julia said with her lips barely above the water. “I have to get inside the pyramid now. Are you
going to be okay?”

  He nodded, looking confused. “I can’t explain why, but either my leg is numb, or it’s completely healed.”

  He ducked his head a little, feeling his leg underwater.

  “But you couldn’t even walk,” Julia replied.

  “I know, but there isn’t even a cut anymore. I’m moving it around right now and it’s completely fine.”

  Julia felt hesitant. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “Yes,” he answered. “It must be something in the water, but it doesn’t matter. Go!” He jutted his chin toward the pyramid. “It looks like Scarlet is already on her way.”

  She looked at the pyramid to see Scarlet running up the stairs, sword out.

  Julia nodded and ducked underneath the water to swim next to the bridge again. Once the coast became clear, she gripped the bridge and pulled herself out, frantically running toward the pyramid.

  The steps to the pyramid were large, uneven, and deterio-rating. She climbed the first ten stairs and fell twice. Her feet were soaking wet, her legs felt wobbly.

  Each step became a burden to climb, and her heart pounded uncontrollably. She could not get caught.

  She tried her best to dodge every torch, but the light seemed to follow her.

  Halfway up and two hundred stairs later, Julia collapsed to catch her breath. Scarlet had disappeared, and she knew she had to keep going.

  Standing up on shaky legs, she glanced behind her before continuing upward. With a rush of adrenaline, Julia saw a black figure barreling up the pyramid steps toward her.

  She cried out in alarm and once again began scrambling up the stairs. Her speed and strength were fueled by fear, but she knew it was only a matter of time. She would have to face her attacker.

  As she reached the nearest torch, Julia pulled it out of its holder. She clenched tightly onto the wood and flipped around.

  Only ten steps behind her, the Guild member began crawling on his knees, his hands pulling himself toward Julia.

  She screamed and faced the torch toward him. “Don’t come any closer!”

  He stood up and sprinted forward, his face twisted into a snarl.

  “Don’t!” Julia threatened.

  With a smile, he slowed down and took out his own sword, pointing it at Julia. He stood on the step below Julia, and took two slow steps to the side of her.

  Instinctively, Julia took two steps opposite of him, the torch lighting up his face brilliantly.

  “And what do we have here?” he asked. “A siren? You seem out of place.”

  He hissed every time he spoke.

  Julia didn’t answer him. She tried deciding what her escape would be. If she threw the torch it might distract him, but it wasn’t likely he’d actually catch fire.

  “Wait a moment.” His eyes opened wide and the fire reflected in his eyes. “I know your face, you seem familiar.”

  Julia swallowed.

  He took a step closer and Julia’s arm holding the torch shook uncontrollably. “You’re no siren. You’re Julia Levesque.”

  Making a small cry, Julia flung the torch at him, and he dodged it easily.

  She tore her eyes away from him and reached for her dagger. However, before she could pull the knife out, he had lunged at her with a menacing yell.

  She tried to run from his grasp, but he moved next to her and pushed her down.

  Her knees slammed into the stone of the pyramid, and her dagger slipped out of her hands with force. She tried kick-ing him, but he slipped his sword around her neck.

  Julia breathed fast. “You can’t kill me!” she yelled at him.

  “Alexis needs me.”

  He waited a couple moments before answering.

  “You’re right,” the Guild member replied. “I won’t kill you.

  I’ll just hand you to Alexis, so she can kill you.”

  He quickly put away his sword and grabbed a fistful of Julia’s hair. She winced as he pulled her up from her knees.

  Before Julia could cry out again, she heard a roar behind her. She froze, listening, and the Guild member let go of her hair. She turned around and saw an enormous panther lean back and then pounce into the air.

  The Guild member held up his arms, but the panther had already landed on him. Both the panther and the member flew past Julia and fell down the stairs.

  She watched the black panther fight the Guild member and froze until the panther flipped its head up at her and made a deafening roar.

  Somehow Julia knew what that meant. Caleb had just saved her, and he wanted her to go on.

  She turned away just as Caleb began clawing at the man’s leg and continued up the pyramid. Her adrenaline fueled her to go faster, and within moments, she made it to the top of the pyramid.

  She quickly ducked behind a statue that guarded the entrance, almost screaming when she bumped into someone.

  Her heart raced until she saw Scarlet.

  Scarlet held a finger up to her lips and pointed to the entry of the pyramid.

  Looking toward the entrance, Julia saw a shadow in the tunnel.

  “Guards?” she asked silently.

  Scarlet nodded and held up two fingers.

  They had come this far. Two guards hardly seemed like a problem after what they’d already been through.

  Scarlet’s blue eyes became dark and determined. She pulled out her sword and grabbed Julia’s wrist. “I’m going to fight them,” she said. “And I need you to get in while they’re distracted.”

  She shook her head frantically. “We’ll fight them together.”

  “No,” Scarlet answered.

  Julia opened her mouth to protest, but Scarlet glared at her.“Julia. Do this.”

  She bit her bottom lip. “Okay.”

  Crouching back, Scarlet tilted her head to listen, and then without another word darted out from behind the statue.

  Heart pounding, Julia waited until she heard swords clanging. She too shot up from her hideout and sprinted into the pyramid’s entrance.

  Julia gasped as she walked through the long tunnel entry and saw the first guard lying on the ground, knocked out. Scarlet must have caught him when he turned his back.

  As Julia inched passed him, she saw his thick, iron sword on the ground next to him. Weaponless after dropping her dagger, Julia reached for the Guild member’s sword.

  It felt heavier than any other sword she’d used, but she raised it in front of her and continued down the tunnel.

  As she neared the corner of the hall, Julia heard Scarlet yell out while fighting another Guild member. Swords clashed loudly and echoed across the tunnel’s walls.

  Julia peeked around the corner and saw Scarlet fighting against a woman Guild member. Torches lined the hallways, and Scarlet’s shadow projected up against the wall as she wielded her weapon.

  Clutching the sword, Julia ran full speed down the hallway toward them. The woman faced Julia, and her beady eyes became wide as she saw another attacker.

  “Go!” Scarlet said to Julia, her sword pressed up against the Guild member.

  Julia ignored Scarlet’s plea and ran toward them.

  The woman, dressed in all black, yelled out in anger before flipping out of Scarlet’s reach and coming at Julia instead.

  Bracing herself, Julia held the sword steady as the woman raised her blade in the air.

  Julia deflected her hit, knocking her sword away, and panted for air. She hadn’t caught her breath from running up the pyramid stairs yet.

  Scarlet came behind the Guild woman and with one hard blow knocked the sword right out of her hand.

  The woman’s mouth dropped open as her sword hit the ground with a clang. She dove for it, but Julia and Scarlet covered her weapon, and aimed their swords straight at her throat.

  The woman looked absolutely terrified and swallowed at the sight of two swords being pointed at her throat.

  “Please,” she whispered. “Please don’t …”

  Scarlet glared at her. “Tell us where
Alexis is.”

  “I can’t. I don’t know,” she answered.

  “I know you do. Tell us what tunnel to use.” Scarlet raised her sword, but Julia grabbed her arm.

  “Wait,” she said. “I have an idea.”

  Julia knelt down next to the vicious Guild member and looked into her dark eyes. “Listen to me,” Julia ordered.

  The Guild member looked at her for a moment but didn’t respond.

  “You will tell us where Alexis is. Now.” Julia opened her eyes wide and didn’t break contact.

  Finally, the Guild member nodded and her face became lifeless. “She’s in the main room of the pyramid. Use the third tunnel to get to her.”

  Julia smiled. “I want you to leave this pyramid now,” she said. “Run, and remember the mercy that the Soldier Union has shown you.”

  The woman’s eyes looked glazed over. “Yes,” she said inert.

  “I will leave now.” She stood and began walking toward the entrance of the pyramid.

  Once her footsteps were gone, Scarlet lowered her sword.

  “That was incredible, Julia. Let’s move.”

  Together they ran forward, legs bent, crouching low, and with swords out, to the third tunnel in the pyramid.

  At the end of the tunnel, the torches ended, and only blackness awaited them.

  Scarlet plunged forward into the darkness, and an eerie rushing sound swallowed her.

  Julia stepped through the dark entrance too, following her. She entered into a huge room and waited as her eyes adjusted to the darkness. The high ceiling had several vines hanging through openings near the top, and only one torch stood in the corner of the room.

  Across the way, two chairs leaned against the wall. Was someone sitting there? Alexis perhaps?

  Julia gasped as she recognized two figures in soldier uniforms, both obscured by the dark.

  Darting across the room, Julia knew she was being watched, but she made her way to her father anyway. Only yards away, she felt someone stop her.

  “DAD!” Julia screamed. If she couldn’t get to him, at least he’d know she was there.

  She moved forward, but something stopped her.