Black Sea Bright Song

by Shelly Jarvis

  “Andrus,” he said.

  “My grandfather’s name,” Evan said. “I’ve always been fond of it.”

  “Thank you, Princess.”

  Evan asked, “You’re new, right?”

  She felt a slight hesitation before he said, “Yes. This is my third week.”

  Evan worked to keep her face from giving away her increasing worry. “Three weeks? How did you get assigned to me after so short a time?”

  He glanced at her and pressed his lips into a smile. “I guess I’m just lucky,” he said.

  Evan returned his smile, but inside her emotions were moving at a gallop. She knew something wasn’t right. Declan trained the royal guards to remain calm in all situations, and even when she saw them express worry or fear, it was always layered on a foundation of composure. But Andrus was nervous and projecting it so forcefully it was almost tangible.

  Evan stopped walking and tapped her forehead. “Oh my gosh, I’m so forgetful. I left my purse in the dining hall. I’ll run back to get it.”

  She tried to withdraw from him, but Andrus put his hand over hers, holding her in place. “Nonsense. We can send a servant for it.”

  “I don’t mind getting it myself,” she said.

  “No, I must insist,” Andrus said through gritted teeth.

  Evan pressed her lips into a firm line. “Let go of my hand.”

  She glared at him but faltered as soon as she saw his eyes glinting silver. Her tutor’s voices echoed in her head: Remnants of long ago when the Mer were still kin to fish, there is now only one kingdom which continues to produce silver eyes:

  This man was a Siren.

  Evan screamed. Andrus pushed her against the wall and forced his hand over her mouth. “Quiet, or you’ll regret it.” Evan thrashed against him, but his voice turned silky as he whispered, “I know where baby sister sleeps.”

  Evan stilled in an instant. She wouldn’t fight, wouldn’t scream, wouldn’t breathe if it meant keeping Orielle safe from this creature.

  “That’s better,” he said. He pulled his hand away from her mouth and grabbed her by the arm. “Let’s go.”

  He pulled her away from the royal chambers and headed towards the servants’ quarters. Evan didn’t need to ask where they were going; the cargo bay was only one floor below.

  She heard voices coming towards them. Andrus cursed and pulled her into a jog. Evan slowed as much as she dared, trying to pull from him without him noticing.

  “Faster,” he hissed.

  Two guards came around the corner ahead of them, and Andrus stopped in his tracks. With a sudden jerk, he pulled Evan the opposite direction. She yelped in pain as the change of direction tore through her shoulder.

  Declan stepped into the hallway in front of them, trident in hand. “Let her go!”

  Evan jumped at his voice. It was soaked in violence, hardened by the rage she could feel pouring off him. Even at this distance, his emotions roiled like a wave.

  Rafe was beside him now, with two more guards at his back. Andrus bared his teeth, hissing in frustration. There was nowhere to run. He looked between both sets of guards before finally releasing her. He spat, “This isn’t over.”

  He turned towards the two guards behind them and sprinted towards them. Evan watched him run as time seemed to slow. The guards were armed and ready to engage, one of them growling as the Siren closed the gap.

  A bright sound, sweet and alluring erupted into the hall: Siren song.

  It was beautiful. Mesmerizing. Evan stood and took a step in the direction Andrus ran. She couldn’t control her own feet; she didn’t want to, if they would take her towards the song.

  It pitched down, quavering notes so deep Evan was sure she must be dreaming. They were sad, conjuring images of lost lovers and tearful mothers, children orphaned and fathers gone, death ravaging both old and young.

  The song was high now, heady, intoxicating. Evan fell against the wall as a fit of giggles erupted from her. She tried to move, but her legs were wobbly when she put her weight on them and her head was swimming in the music.

  It stopped.

  Evan took a deep breath, desperately sucking in air. She took another step, but the Siren was gone. She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Declan. His mouth moved, but she couldn’t hear him. His voice was too high, out of frequency for her ears now that she’d heard the magnificence of the Siren’s song.

  She read his words: “Get her to safety.” Rafe scooped her up in his arms in one quick motion. He started off towards her room while the others ran down the hall in pursuit of the Siren. When he reached her chamber, the guard opened the door for them and followed inside.

  Sounds returned to her slowly, muffled, as if her head was below water. She heard Lin ask, “What’s going on?”

  Evan giggled. His voice was wrong. Rafe put his hands on her shoulder, stifling her laughter and bringing her attention to him. He turned her head back and forth, though Evan wasn’t sure what he was looking for. She heard him say, “Check the room,” as he pushed her back to sit on the bed.

  The two guards went to work, looking through every inch of her room. Once they had checked the room, Lin said, “All clear. Now what’s going on?”

  “The Princess was attacked.”

  “By who?”

  Rafe shook his head, but Evan answered. “He was a Siren.”

  Both guards looked at her. Evan didn’t need to search their feelings; fear was apparent on their faces. She felt it coursing through her, too, now that she had a moment to think about it.

  The Sirens had remained silent and distant as long as she remembered, but there were stories about the days when her father was young and battles with the Sirens were a daily occurrence. Although Evan had never seen difficulty with the Sirens, in the back of her mind she held the belief they were a cruel and hostile race, and tonight was proof the old stories were real.

  “Where’s your sister?” Rafe asked.

  Evan jumped up, grabbing the front of his scaled armor with her shaking fists. She’d been so caught up in that damned song that she’d forgotten about Orielle. “He said he would get her.”

  Rafe put his hands over hers, then turning to Lin and said, “Take Eggs and go check on her. If she’s in her room, stay with her and keep her safe. If not, sound the alarm.”

  Lin nodded and turned towards the door.

  “Before you leave, I want four men stationed outside this room,” Rafe said.

  “Should we check on the queen?” Lin asked.

  Rafe bit the inside of his cheek for a second, then said, “No. There are a dozen guards and over fifty people inside the ballroom. She’ll be fine for now.”

  Lin left, and Evan could hear him shouting for men to gather outside her chamber. Rafe bolted the door and pushed a table against the back. He paced back and forth for a moment, then looked up at Evan. As soon as their eyes met, he rushed to her and pulled her into his arms.

  She froze at his touch, needing distance between them but unable to pull away. His eyes searched hers. Putting his hands on each side of her face he asked, “Are you okay?”

  Evan nodded, afraid she would cry if she tried to speak.

  “I don’t know what I would’ve done if he’d hurt you,” he said, pulling her against him and burying his head in her hair.

  They stood that way for several minutes. His closeness calmed her, despite the nervous energy she could feel within him. When Rafe stepped back, he slid his hands down her arms to hold her hands. Evan stared at their intertwined fingers and the image of Rafe holding the medic popped into her head.

  She pulled her hands away from him, her skin crawling at the thought of his hands on the other girl. With a grimace she asked, “Who is she?”

  Rafe’s eyes darted up to hers. “Who?”

  “The medic. I saw you with her in the hallway.”

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  “It must,” Evan said. “You were kissing me two days ago, but embracing her toda
y.”

  Rafe stepped back and shook his head. “You were just attacked by a Siren. Do you want to do this right now?”

  “Yes, I want to do this now. I don’t know when I’ll get another minute alone with you.”

  Rafe ran his hands over his face. “That’s the rub, isn’t it? We will never be together because we can never truly be together.”

  “What are you talking about? We’re together all the time.”

  “All the time?” he said, confusion knitting his brows together. “Evan, I see you a couple times a day in passing. I barely know you.”

  “I know it isn’t ideal—”

  Rafe laughed mirthlessly. “Not ideal? I talk to the maids more than I talk to you. I know nothing about you, except that you’re fond of books. We can’t build a relationship on that.”

  “So now you’re breaking up with me?”

  Rafe sighed. “I’m not breaking up with you, Princess. There’s nothing to break up. We’re not together.”

  The words hit her like a blow to the stomach. “How can you say that?”

  “It’s true, isn’t it?” he asked, his eyes searching hers.

  “But you kissed me.”

  “I’ve kissed a lot of people.”

  Tears sprang to her eyes. “Well, I haven’t.”

  With a sigh, Rafe said, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have kissed you.”

  Evan shook her head. “Don’t do that. Don’t discount what we have.”

  “Princess, you’re a beautiful, sweet girl. I enjoy our stolen moments. But we both knew what this was going into it. We were never going to be anything more.”

  “We could be,” she said, clenching her fists at her side.

  “No, we can’t. We are from two different worlds. You rule. I serve.”

  “The laws can change. We can go to my mother and talk to her. I’ve already thought of a plan.”

  “If she doesn't have me killed, she’ll send me away. I can’t do that. My family needs me here.”

  “We can run away together,” Evan said.

  Rafe scoffed. “You sound like a child.”

  “You sound like a prick!” she yelled. She winced, both at his words and her anger. She took a deep breath and said, “This can work, but we have to fight for it.”

  “You aren’t listening,” Rafe said, shaking his head. “If we get caught, I’ll be banished. My mother is sick. I take care of her and my little brother. They wouldn’t survive without me.”

  “So the medic—”

  Rafe sighed. “We’re betrothed.”

  “No,” Evan said, shaking her head.

  “Yes,” Rafe replied. “She’s meant to be my wife.”

  “When?” Evan asked, her voice a whisper.

  “Three months.”

  “What’s her name?”

  Rafe cringed and said, “Evan, stop. Please. Don’t do this to yourself.”

  “I command you tell me her name,” Evan said, her voice cold.

  Rafe’s face took on a stony expression, and he said, “Yes, Princess. Her name is Lilika.”

  “How did you meet?”

  “You don’t want to hear this.”

  Evan nodded. “I do.”

  Rafe sighed. “We met while she cared for my mother. When she isn’t on duty at the castle, she goes through the towns of the lower castes and helps the sick.”

  “That’s nice,” she said, an icy edge to her voice.

  “She’s a nice girl. And she’s a great medic. She can do good for the lower castes.”

  “Why doesn’t she stay there all the time?”

  Rafe put his hands on his hips, saying, “She wasn’t given the choice. She’s good enough to be recommended to the queen’s medical team, and once selected, there’s no way to deny the queen’s placement.”

  Evan nodded her head before saying, “If she’s so great, why have you been showing interest in me?”

  “I don’t know,” he said.

  Evan scoffed. “You might care for her, but I’m the one you love.”

  Evan met his eyes and saw a deep sadness in them. After a moment she realized the sadness wasn’t for himself and the love he denied, it was for Evan and the love she had fabricated. There was no love between them. Evan was just an amusement to pass the time.

  He pitied her.

  “Oh my gods,” she whispered, turning her back to him. “I’m so stupid.”

  He put his hand on her shoulder and said, “No, you’re not. This is my fault.”

  She swallowed back her tears and asked, “Does she know about us?”

  “She knows I’ve been distant since I was assigned to your corridor. She knows I haven’t been paying much attention to her. Does she know I kissed you? I hope not. It would break her heart.”

  “What about my heart?” Evan asked.

  Rafe laughed, and it was the cruelest sound Evan had ever heard. “Your heart looked fine at dinner tonight.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “Come on, Evan. You and I both know I’m just a distraction. You’ll end up ruling alongside some nobleman like Lord Corinth.”

  “Corinth? You were spying on me?”

  “I was on patrol, doing my job.”

  “The dining hall doesn’t get patrolled, Rafe.”

  He huffed. “Fine. I wanted to see you. I’d heard some of the guys saying you looked good tonight.”

  “And you saw me talking with a nobleman—my job, by the way—and you got jealous?”

  Rafe shook his head. “I wasn’t jealous, Ev; it was just a reminder of my place. I’ll spend my days making sure you’re safe, but trying to pretend there is more to it than that is cruel.”

  “I’m cruel? You are betrothed and didn’t tell me.”

  “Why are you making this so difficult?”

  “It should be difficult!” she yelled. “You shouldn’t be able to throw me away so lightly.”

  “Keep your voice down,” he said. “There are guards right outside. Or are you trying to get me caught since you aren’t getting your way?”

  Evan ground her teeth together. “I want you to leave.”

  “I want to leave, but I have to wait until the guards give the all clear.”

  Evan sat on her bed. She stared at his back as he stood by the door, his ear pressed against it, listening. She wanted to yell at him for pulling her into his life when he was already betrothed to someone else, she wanted to grab him and pull him back to bed with her and tell him they would find a way to be together, but more than anything else, she wanted him to turn around and look at her, to feel the same pain for her that she felt for him. It was a hopeless, angry, one-sided love she felt for him. The medic—his future wife—had been right.

  After longer than Evan liked, Declan came to give the all clear. As he and the older medic entered to check on her, Rafe slid out into the hallway without a backwards glance. And just like that, her heart left her, floating away on the waves of the cold, dark sea.

  Five

  Evan bolted from her bed. Last night’s ordeal with the Siren and her argument with Rafe rushed forward, igniting her fears and frustrations anew. She squeezed the bridge of her nose as a headache throbbed behind her eyes. Her nerves were already frayed, and she hadn’t even made it out of her room.

  Evan threw off the cover and winced. She was a mess. She slipped off the gown she’d fallen asleep in and threw it in the corner. Evan grabbed a nightdress from her wardrobe, rolling her eyes when she saw how skimpy it was. She covered herself with her dressing gown and went to the door, burning with a frenzied curiosity to discover what had become of the Siren.

  Four burly guards stood outside. When they didn’t move aside, she cleared her throat to make sure they knew she was there. They remained in position.

  “What are you doing?” she huffed. “Let me pass.”

  One of them turned and she stumbled back. The hulking figure was yet another man she didn’t recognize.

  “Who are you? What are you
doing here?” she asked, fear coloring her voice.

  “He’s fine, Princess,” Wendell said as he and Alexi joined the others, relieving two of the unknown guards. “He’s one of the new guards we’ve moved up the ranks to better protect you.”

  “New guards?” she asked.

  Wendell nodded. “Yes, Highness. After last night’s attack, Declan promoted several guards to help defend you and your sister. I’m sure you’ll meet them when you get back.”

  Evan asked, “What do you mean ‘When I get back?’”

  “From Protea,” Alexi said, tilting his head in a silent question.

  She laughed. “I’m not going to Protea! I was attacked just hours ago.” She looked back and forth between the guards, anger bubbling inside her when neither moved. “Stand aside. I want to see my mother.”

  Wendell frowned and the fishhook piercing his bottom lip seemed to drag his mouth further down. “I cannot allow you to pass. Queen’s orders.”

  Evan stared at Wendell for a moment, shocked that he would deny her. She pulled herself up to her full height and said, “Fine. But you will get Declan and bring him to me.”

  Wendell planted his trident on the ground. He took a steadying breath and said, “I’m sorry. Truly I am. But I can’t leave this post. Declan will be along shortly, anyway.”

  “When?”

  Alexi shrugged. “He told us to keep you inside and tell you to pack.”

  “Pack?”

  Wendell shrugged apologetically and turned away from her. Evan stormed back into her room and slammed the door. She stomped to her closet and threw a suitcase onto the floor, huffing the whole time. Tossing several dresses and shoes into the suitcase, she zipped it closed without a second look. She knew her mother would be furious if she saw such little care given for her visit to their neighboring kingdom, but Evan couldn’t bring herself to feign interest in Calix or who his wife would be, especially with so much happening in Triton.

  Evan heard the door creak open, followed by the click-clack of shoes. A petite blonde head popped around the closet door.

  “Evannia?”

  “Hey, Adra. How did you get past the goons?”

  Adra gave her a withering look. “You shouldn't speak ill of the guards. They are there for your protection.”