Siren

by Tricia Rayburn

  “We went back to Boston first. She thought we could just hang out there for a while, until we decided where to go next.”

  That explained the beach towel I’d found stuffed behind her bedroom door the day of the funeral.

  “But as soon as we got there, she wanted to turn around and go back to Winter Harbor. She wouldn’t—or couldn’t—explain why, but she was obsessed. It was already late, and I suggested we leave the next morning, but she insisted on going that night.” He watched the water lapping against the bottoms of the boats. “So we did. And once we got back, she wanted to go right to Chione Cliffs.” He looked at me. “I didn’t understand it then. I thought she was just trying to prove a point, or wanted to get out some built-up anger. But I understand it now.”

  I followed his eyes to Simon. “What?”

  Simon shifted slightly so that he faced me. “Do you remember that day, when Justine and Caleb did their backflips? And Justine cut her leg?”

  I nodded.

  “According to Zara’s journal, the water at the base of Chione Cliffs is basically the lion’s den. It isn’t like this water, or even the water in the ocean. It’s filled with them—it’s where they meet, swim, give birth, and live, in some cases. It’s where they lure their victims. It’s where they control the weather. And when Justine’s leg was cut—whether they did it on purpose or she accidentally hit it on a rock—once that water entered her bloodstream …”

  “It was already too late,” I finished.

  “They called her back,” Simon said. “Somehow, once that water was under her skin, they had her.”

  “That’s why she jumped,” Caleb said gently. “Not because she wanted to get back at you, or your family. But because she had no choice.”

  And there was my answer. It was everything I’d wanted to know.

  I looked away, toward our house. All of the windows facing the lake were dark. It looked so empty, so lonely.

  “We do have some good news,” Caleb said tentatively, after a minute.

  I turned back just as Caleb pulled a small metal vial from Simon’s backpack. He unscrewed the top and a thin cloud of steam swirled toward the sky. He exchanged looks with Simon before holding the vial over the edge of the boat, tilting it, and releasing a thin stream of clear liquid.

  I grabbed Simon as the rowboat rocked sharply, then stopped. The rain continued to pound the lake, sending small waves rippling toward shore. But our boat didn’t move. Neither did Caleb’s. My feet, resting on the thin wooden floor, grew colder. Holding my breath and keeping Simon’s arms around me, I leaned forward and peered over the boat’s edge.

  “Ice,” I exhaled, my breath forming a small white cloud. Seconds before, our boats had knocked together as they bobbed in the water. Now, they were locked in place by a solid white patch.

  “We have to beat them at their own game,” Simon said, his voice level. “We have to do what even Mother Nature can’t do in the middle of winter.”

  I turned to him, already knowing what was coming.

  “We have to freeze Winter Harbor.”

  CHAPTER 23

  “‘THE BODIES OF Jonathan Marsh, seventeen, and Mark Hamilton, sixteen, were found on the southern jetty of Beacon Beach. So far, twelve people have died since a series of sudden, erratic storms struck Winter Harbor four weeks ago.’” Caleb lowered the paper and looked out the window.

  “I’m sorry, Cal,” Simon said after a pause. “You did everything you could.”

  “Think of all the lives you saved,” I said, my eyes watering for both boys—and for Paige. “Zara’s targeting you kept her from focusing on anyone else for weeks.”

  Caleb didn’t say anything. I looked at the clock, then at Simon. The sun still shone overhead, but it was only a matter of time before the clouds rolled in.

  “You don’t have to do this,” Simon said. “We can figure out another way.”

  “There isn’t another way,” Caleb said. After a minute, he tossed the Herald on the seat and climbed out of the car.

  “Hey,” Simon said as I reached for the door handle. “You okay?”

  I looked at his hand on my arm. What was one more lie now? “I will be.”

  We ran after Caleb, who was already jogging up the Marchands’ porch steps. My chest tightened even though I knew Raina and Zara were gone; we’d waited across the street from Betty’s until they’d arrived, then flew to their house.

  Inside, the curtains were still pulled across the windows. The sconces lining the stairwell were dark. The only light came from the beam shining through the front door. I was encouraged by the air; it was still thick with moisture but smelled only of salt—not decay.

  I led them through the living room. Simon reached for my hand as we started upstairs, but I pretended not to notice and quickened my pace. Today would likely be the last day we spent together. I didn’t want to make things harder than they were.

  “This way,” I said, heading toward Paige’s room at the end of the hall. I paused outside her door and listened.

  Silence.

  I shook my head against the sudden image of her shaking in the bathtub and opened the door.

  “Wow,” Caleb said.

  “Are you sure this is the right room?” Simon asked.

  I turned slowly as I stepped inside. Paige’s stuff—her bed, clothes, books, and picture frames—was gone. Her walls had been painted pink. The white curtains had been replaced with pink shades.

  In the middle of the room, under a mobile of stuffed starfish, was a small crib.

  This time, I let Simon take my hand. I wouldn’t have moved otherwise.

  “She probably just switched rooms,” Caleb said back in the hallway. “Remember, she wasn’t part of tonight’s plan.”

  That was according to Zara’s journal. But her last entry was three days ago—the day I’d stolen the journal at the Chamber of Commerce meeting. What if the plan had changed? There was someone who might know.

  Standing before Betty’s bedroom door, I held my breath and raised my fist.

  “Come in, Vanessa.”

  I glanced at Simon, then opened the door.

  The last time I saw Betty she’d been lying in bed, gasping for life. I hadn’t known what to expect now and was relieved to find her not only alive but dressed and sitting up.

  “I’ve been waiting,” she said, standing from the chaise lounge. She walked across the room, stepping easily around tables and chairs.

  “You know what’s happening?” I asked gently.

  “I didn’t,” Betty said, standing before us. “I do now. Raina tried to keep it from me for a while. She was very careful with her thoughts when I was stronger and made sure I stayed in the dark. But she relaxed as I weakened, trusting that I couldn’t hear. Fortunately, with your help, I regained enough strength to listen.”

  “What did you hear?” Simon asked.

  “A lot of what you already know. That they’re going to kill tonight, that they won’t stop unless stopped … and that you need me.”

  “How did you …?” Caleb’s voice trailed off.

  “I’ll do whatever you need me to do,” Betty said.

  “Are you sure you’re strong enough?” I asked. “The last time I saw you—”

  “I’m stronger now. I’ll be even stronger in the water.”

  I looked at Simon. He looked at me, concerned. Clearly, Betty’s physical condition was worse than he’d imagined.

  “I don’t need to see,” she said suddenly, her cloudy eyes aimed at Caleb. “My other senses make sight unnecessary.”

  “I didn’t say anything,” he said quickly. His face reddened as he looked to us for confirmation.

  “Betty,” I said as she started for the door. “Do you know where Paige is? We wanted to take her with us, but she’s not in her room.”

  She stopped in the doorway, her back to us. “She’s very ill. This pregnancy may kill her if we don’t take care of her.”

  “L’épuration du sang,” Betty
said as we drove back to town.

  “What’s that?” I asked.

  “Purification of blood,” Caleb translated, looking to Betty, who sat next to him in the backseat, for explanation.

  “A siren’s ability exists at birth, but lies dormant for the first part of her life. As she matures, and is able to have children, she’s taken below the surface for purification. During this process, the water in every human cell is replaced with ocean water, which then makes swimming in, bathing in, and drinking salt water necessary. Raina, Zara, and I would dry to death if we didn’t constantly replenish.”

  “That’s what was happening to you a few days ago?” I asked.

  “Yes. For two years Raina’s given me just enough to survive one day to the next. I was physically weak, which limited and sometimes confused my sensory capabilities. It worked so well I didn’t even realize I was severely dehydrated until you helped me. I’ve been listening to their thoughts ever since.”

  I felt Simon’s eyes on me. I’d told him about my trip to the Marchands’ to check on Paige, and my accidental run-in with Betty … but I hadn’t told him everything I’d learned.

  “Why would Raina do that?” Caleb asked.

  “My daughter has always been intrigued by her potential power. She knew I changed my life to protect the lives of others, but she was still curious. I thought it was because she’d never witnessed the resulting devastation firsthand … but now that she has, I don’t know what to think.” She paused. “In any case, when I had my accident, Raina took advantage of my changed physical state and kept me weak so that she could explore her powers without interference.”

  “What about Paige?” I asked. “She doesn’t swim every day, and she’s fine.”

  “Sirens don’t need constant replenishment until after purification. Zara’s happened shortly after my accident. Raina wanted to focus on her—to teach her how to use her beauty, which is enhanced postpurification, and to help build her power before moving on to Paige. Paige’s would have happened this summer … but unfortunately, she became pregnant first. That’s why she’s suffering. Her body isn’t fully equipped to give her baby what it needs. That’s why she’s been so sick.”

  “We’re getting close,” Caleb said suddenly, sliding down the seat and plugging his ears.

  I felt Zara’s presence but didn’t show it. “Zara had a thing for Caleb,” I explained to Betty as we turned onto a narrow road that ran parallel to Main Street. “She went after him, but he—”

  “Loved Justine,” Betty finished, her voice soft. “I know.”

  We parked behind a row of trees at the far end of the chowder house parking lot. Several yards away, Louis and other employees served soup to a large crowd gathered around their booth.

  “Paige is inside,” Betty said, her head tilted toward the restaurant. “She’s alone. She doesn’t know what they plan to do. She’ll have questions, but show her your proof. Tell her what I just told you. And if you must, tell her about Jonathan.”

  “Maybe Betty should come,” Caleb said. “Paige would believe her grandmother, wouldn’t she?”

  “I can’t,” Betty said. “They don’t know I’m here because they’re not listening for me. They think I’m still in my room, too weak to move. If they see me—or if anyone else does and brings attention to me—they’ll know something’s wrong.”

  “Are we sure she’s up to this?” Caleb asked once we’d started across the parking lot.

  “At this point, we don’t have much of a choice,” Simon said. “Beaker said the solution needs to detonate at the core of their atmospheric manipulation for maximum reactivity. Who else do you know who can swim a mile underwater without coming up for air?”

  He knew at least one other person, but I didn’t say so out loud.

  We continued walking and spent the next forty-five minutes avoiding the Marchands and wandering the quaint streets with other visitors. Each year the Northern Lights Festival brought in vendors from all over New England who sold homemade everything—food, furniture, jewelry, quilts. People shopped and ate all day, and at night, there was live music and a fireworks display over the water. The best part came just after sunset. As a tribute to Winter Harbor’s early fishing days, all of the lights—in the stores and restaurants along Main Street, in the boats on the water—went out at the same time and were replaced by hundreds of candles and lanterns. The warm glow softened the entire town and made the harbor look like the starry nighttime sky.

  “I should go,” Caleb said once we reached the pier. The sky was gray with dusk, and the clouds had grown thicker, heavier, as they sank toward the water. “I’ll keep her moving. I have my cell if I need you, or vice versa.”

  I understood why Justine had felt so strongly about Caleb the more time I spent with him, and my heart ached for both of them as I watched him prepare to go. He seemed so focused, so determined, so glad to be able to do at least this one thing in retaliation for all that had been taken from him and Justine. I wished Mom were there to see him. Even she would’ve had a hard time not being impressed.

  “Betty’s diving at eleven fifty,” Simon said, “so Zara should be in there by—”

  “Eleven forty,” Caleb finished. He plugged his ears, covered them with thick padded headphones, and turned on the iPod so loud I could hear it three feet away.

  I grabbed his hand as he started to walk away and pulled him into a tight hug. “Thank you,” I whispered into his shoulder. “Thank you for doing this, and for being there for her when she needed you, and—”

  “It’s okay,” he said, hugging me back. “When you love someone as much as I loved your sister, there’s nothing you wouldn’t do.”

  Your sister. The words swirled through my head as he let me go, and then he disappeared into the crowd without looking back.

  “He’ll be okay, right?” I asked, watching him go.

  “I don’t think we could stop him now if we tried,” Simon said.

  I nodded, not sure if that was true but knowing it was too late. Overhead, the sky was turning from gray to black, and the first drops were starting to fall.

  “He’s right, you know.”

  I didn’t feel the light rain on my face as I turned to him.

  “When you love someone that much,” he said, putting his arms around my waist and gently pulling me to him, “you would do anything to keep her safe. You would do everything to make sure she’s happy.”

  I looked down as he brought his face closer to mine. This was wrong. It was wrong, and it was only going to make the inevitable harder.

  “Vanessa,” he whispered, his breath warm on my lips, “before anything else happens tonight, I want you to know … I need you to know that I—”

  “Sorry,” I said, pulling away. I reached for my cell phone in the pocket of my jeans, relieved to have heard the ringing over the thumping in my chest. Thankful that we’d been interrupted before Simon said something he’d only regret later, I answered the phone without checking the caller ID.

  “Vanessa? Oh, thank goodness.”

  “Dad. Hi.” I closed my eyes at the sound of his voice. We hadn’t talked since I’d seen him with Charlotte in Raina’s scrapbook.

  “Is everything okay there? Your mother’s been worried about you, and she didn’t sound like herself the last time we spoke, so now I’m worried about both of you.”

  “Everything’s fine,” I said, hoping my voice didn’t betray my bitter confusion. “We’re both still adjusting … but we’re fine.”

  He hesitated. “I’m sorry I haven’t been more attentive. I should’ve been, but I wanted to give you your space. I wanted you to have time to heal.”

  “I appreciate that,” I said, turning away from Simon. It was so dark I didn’t think he could see my face burning, but I wanted to avoid questions, just in case. “I’m kind of in the middle of something, though. Can we talk later?”

  “Sure. Of course. We’ll talk tomorrow. I’m taking a train up and will be there in time fo
r lunch.”

  I tried to imagine where I’d be, how life would be, at lunch-time tomorrow, but couldn’t. “Sounds good. Have a safe trip.”

  “Oh, and Vanessa?” he said quickly. “I love you. Please remember that.”

  I blinked back tears, wishing I could say it back. “See you soon.”

  I’d expected to feel hurt, confused, and even angry the first time I spoke to Big Poppa after knowing what I now did. But I hadn’t expected those feelings to be overwhelmed by an even bigger one: sadness.

  “We should go,” Simon said gently after I’d hung up.

  I nodded and took his hand. I held on tightly as we weaved through clusters of kids and families. I would have to let go eventually, but I wasn’t ready yet.

  Just being near Simon was calming, and I quickly refocused on the task at hand. When we reached Betty’s, Louis and most of the staff were busy serving soup and sandwiches to a long line of customers. They didn’t notice Simon and me pass behind the booth and slip through the restaurant’s back door.

  We found Paige in the dining room. She sat in a chair, facing the windows. Her back was to us, and when we reached her, I saw that her eyes were closed.

  “Paige?” I said quietly.

  She opened her eyes and sat up, clutching her stomach with both hands. “Vanessa. What are you doing here?”

  I tried to keep the concern from my face. Even in the dim light I could see that her eyes were flecked with white, her skin glistened with perspiration, and her hands shook. When I saw her in the bathtub she hadn’t looked well, but she’d still been stunning. Now, just two days later, she looked like she was about pass out from the exertion of trying to stay awake.

  “I haven’t seen or heard from you in a while,” I said. “I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

  “I know, I’m sorry,” she said, glancing behind her, toward the entrance. “It’s been a tough few days.”

  I looked at Simon. He nodded. Releasing his hand, I sat in the empty chair next to her. “How are you feeling?”