Her grip tightened around my throat I fought against her strength. I could see the torment she brought me bring her some kind of twisted happiness. Something inside me snapped. I was sick of being the weak timid kitten. I used all the hatred I harbored deep down inside and screamed. Naaz lost her grip and she was thrown across the room smashing into the kitchen wall.
I stood my ground, no way was I just going to stand there and let her hurt me again. Naaz picked herself up with a smile across her dark lips. With one raise hand the large wooden breakfast table took flight towards me. (Shit). My brain quickly tired to find an answer to the problem that came flying towards me. I screamed at the table, making it explode into tiny splinters. From the table fragments that showered around the room, Naaz quickly made her move. I didn’t have time to think and I paid for it. The air around me felt hot and exploded. I quickly made a dive for the floor, narrowly missing the blast by inches.
“What the hell is going on!?” demanded Rhea.
I stood up and looked around, the kitchen was a disaster, many scorch marks stained the white walls and the doorway was blown wide open, scattering debris all around us.
“Are you trying to kill her!?” Rhea yelled.
“No, I wouldn’t call it that, it’s just we were sparing.” she replied.
Rhea rushed towards me and made sure I wasn’t hurt.
“I’m fine.” I said.
Naaz brushed herself off and walked towards me. “You’ve got some power little Siren, be careful who you use it on.” Naaz said as she left the kitchen.
“Wow Ellie, you just took on a demi-god and survived.” Marcus said.
I felt a rush of heat rush to my cheeks.
After that whole kitchen fight, I tried to keep my head down the best I could and avoid Naaz as best I could, I didn’t want another fight. I don’t think the building could take another beating. The group took up residence in the living room bit I decided not to follow them. I wanted to check out the place.
“Ellie?” Rhea called.
Oh crap. I turned and faced her like a child that was about to be caught doing something naughty.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“I wanted to look around, I mean look at this place it’s like something out of a child’s story book.” I answered.
“Fine, but if you see Naaz, keep on walking.” she said “and don’t touch anything.”
I agree to her terms and went off to explore the unknown of Naaz’s home. I climbed the dust covered stairs to the top and carried on forward where I saw Naaz at the end of the hall for a brief second.
I was about to call out her name but Rhea’s words came into my mind at the worst time. I thought about going back down to the group, but I wanted to follow Naaz, it was like as if she was beckoning me to follow her. My instincts screamed at me to never go near that woman again, but something inside spurred me on. I chased after her through the hallway, passing me by one by one were portraits of unknown people. Within the frame, large scratch marks had ripped right through the delicate paintings. Who would do this? Finally continuing on, I came to a large glass door leading to the outside.
The door had many stained coloured pictures into the glass. Depicted onto it was a sea of bright red with a darkened figure at the top leading them against something else but the glass had broken, cutting off how the story ends. I ignored it and pushed through the stained glass doors and it lead me out into another dead garden. Brown was the dominant colour of the long deceased garden. As I walked down the stone stairs to get a look at the once majestic garden, something struck the side of the stairs, blasting smoke and stones up into the air. I slipped on the last step and landed onto my back.
“Slippery little thing aren’t you.” Naaz commented.
I carefully picked myself up and saw Naaz standing in her now long dead jungle.
“What is wrong with you? Why are you trying to kill me all the time?” I asked.
“You mistake me, little one. I’m trying to teach you.” Naaz replied.
“You call that teaching!” I said pointing to the destroyed stairs.
“If I am to help you, I want to make sure you know of your full abilities.”
Naaz raised her arm and I quickly dived across the garden, taking refuge behind a large stone fountain that held green mossy water.
“You cannot hide all your life, Ellie!” Naaz yelled.
She’s right. I cannot hide from all my problems all my life. Naaz struck the fountain again and again tempting me to move. I quickly threw myself around the beaten up fountain and screamed, tearing up the concrete floor. I had surprised her, sending Naaz rolling up into the air and finally falling into a dead flower bed.
“Sorry!” I yelled while trying to suppress a giggle.
Within a blink of an eye, she was back up on her feet as if nothing has happened. She stared at me and smiled her frightening grin.
“How was that?” I asked sarcastically.
“Good, but I want you to do more.” She said.
More? What more could I do?
“I did tell you that I had a Siren? Yes?” she asked.
“Yeah, you did, when you were trying to strangle me!” I replied.
Naaz gave me a sly smile and ignored the comment. “Well, she used to do things for me. The little Siren would use her powers and lure many people here that we used.”
I didn’t want to hear her talk anymore.
“That’s enough, I don’t want to know.” I said.
“Fine with me, but Siren’s can influence without even touching, and that my dear I want you to do.”
“But I’ve never done anything like that before. How do I do it?” I asked.
“Close your eyes and concentrate.” she said.
I did as she said and closed my eyes. Did she want me to do anything else? I felt stupid, standing with my eyes shut tight.
“Naaz?” I called out but she didn’t answer.
Should I open them?
“Let go, what are you do-.” said a voice. “Ellie?”
I opened my eyes up to see Marcus standing next to Naaz.
“What are we doing out here?” he asked.
“Training.” said Naaz. “Now, Ellie, make Marcus fall in love with you, while you are over there.”
“Are you nuts?” Marcus yelled.
“I’m not doing that!” I said.
“You need to, you might need it one day.” she replied.
“It could go wrong and I don’t want to hurt him.”
“Look, she said she not doing it now can I go back inside.” he said.
Naaz gripped his arm as he walked off. “Don’t you want to help Ellie?” she asked him.
Marcus didn’t say anything, he looked at Naaz and then at me. “Fine.” he said.
“Good.” Naaz smiled.
“But what if it goes wrong and-.” she cut me off.
“It won’t, now close your eyes and try to call upon that power you have inside you.”
I closed my eyes again and tried to call upon any power that I had inside me. Something pierced through the darkness of my mind and a figure of a man came towards me. It was Marcus, something wasn’t right with him. His eyes adopted a glassy stare and I didn’t like what I was seeing, I didn’t like seeing him like that. I wanted the image gone from my mind and quickly opened my eyes. Marcus was now standing arms length from me with the same stare I pictured in my mind.
“Mistress?” He said nonchalantly.
He swayed on the spot, waiting for his commands.
“Turn him back, please Naaz.” I begged.
She nodded and placed a hand to his chest, within a few minutes he blinked and returned to life.
“I’m so sorry, Marcus.” I said.
“It’s ok, I did it for you.” He said as he rubbed his forehead.
“Are you ok?” I asked.
“Just a little headache that’s all.” he replied.
“I’m very impressed, Ellie.” said Naaz.
“Thanks.” I mumbled to her.
Naaz disappeared back into the building leaving Marcus and I alone.
“I’m sorry I did that to you.” I said.
“I’m a little in awe and a bit scared of what you can do. When I was under it felt like I was trapped, my body was moving but I couldn’t stop it.” he said.
“That’s horrible.” I said.
“Yeah.” he replied.
“I’m going back inside now.” I mumbled.
“Come on, I’ll walk you back.” Marcus said.
Chapter Eight
That afternoon we remained in the living room with the warm glow of the fire. The four of us remained silent as we sat. We were all lost, we were stuck. I couldn’t find a way out of this mess and everyone was looking to me because I was the ‘golden child’. Rhea was silent and not her usual self, she had her nose in that book that she brought along with her. I picked myself up from the floor and went over to Rhea, whose eyes were rapidly scanning each of the pages.
“What are you reading?” I asked her.
Rhea quickly snapped the book shut. “A very old story.” she replied.
“I’ve seen that book before. You were reading it at your house.” I said.
“You have quite the memory, Ellie. This is a very special book.”
“What so special about it?” I sat down at her knee like a little child hoping for a bedtime story.
“This book has no words.” she said.
I was confused, no words? “If it has no words, then how do you read it?” I confusedly asked.
Rhea gave a little giggle. “No it doesn’t, but it is a very special book none the less. It lets you speak to very important people.” Rhea gently stroked the book as if a loveable pet.
“Would I be able to talk to them?” whoever they are.
“Sorry, Ellie, it would destroy your mind. But hopefully, in time I can teach you.”
“How?” I asked.
“Touch the book.” Rhea passed the battered tome towards me and I could feel the power flowing into my body, quickening my heartbeat. It was something I had never felt before, not even when I touch Rhea for the first time. It made my entire body shiver with power. My body seemed to feed from it and I wanted more, but I quickly gave it back to Rhea.
“Did you feel it?” she asked.
“I’ve never felt that kind of power before.” I replied.
“Not many people can stand its power, but this is what will end it all, Ellie.”
“A book?” I asked doubtfully.
“Yes.” Rhea replied.
The book that she caressed in her lap didn’t look much, but whatever it was harnessed great power. “You think this book could stop everything that is happening?” I asked.
“Yes, I’m sure of it.”
Was I about to put all of my faith in a book? If Rhea held so much faith in one single tome then maybe I should too, but lately my trust in her was fading away but I had no choice but to trust her.
“Rhea, will Naaz really help us?” I asked.
“I hope she does, but she has held onto a lot of anger.” Rhea then let out a sigh.
“Well, I hate to say it but she is powerful and we may need her.” I said.
“I’m surprised to hear you say that Ellie, since she has attacked you twice.” said Rhea.
“I think that’s why we need her, because she’s dangerous. She can get things done.”
“Hopefully, she will help us in the end.” Rhea said.
“Yes, but will she need a bit more convincing?”
“No, she doesn’t, but when it all comes down to it I hope she decides to stand with us.”
“You’d think she’d betray us, even though she’s your friend?” I asked.
“Well, friend is a bit of a stretch, but whatever we had between us, I hope that she still feels something for what we once had.” Rhea said.
There was odd silence between us. Something I couldn’t put my finger on, was Rhea judgment being clouded by Naaz. Since coming here she was not herself.
Naaz then floated into the warm cozy room and eyed us. She then stopped at Rhea and jerked her head towards the door. Rhea agreed and walked out of the room with her. Sophia and I gave each other a, ‘what’s-going-on-look.’
There was silence in the room. Marcus had decided to sit in the window again, watching the rain splatter on the rooftops, it seems he looked a bit hypnotized by it all. Sophia took a seat next to the glowing fire and I took an empty spot on the rug beside her. We both sat and stared into the spitting furnace. As I continued to stare, the flames seemed to dance endlessly inside the fireplace. We were captivated by its amber flames.
A few minutes past in pure silence, waiting for Rhea’s return.
She came back into the room and ushered us to follow her. The three of us walked out of the warm room and out into the bitter coldness that was the dark hall. Naaz stood firmly in the middle of her cold dusty home. Her eyes locked onto mine as I walked closer. (Oh god what is she thinking now?)
“We need to act now. The leaches are running around killing innocent civilians and they will expose us if they continue.” Naaz’s voice was cold.
“What can we do, we couldn’t even get close to her last time.” Marcus spoke.
“True, but you didn’t have this.” Naaz pulled out a glass orb that swirled with a bright light in her hand. The radiant rays escaped the ball and headed straight into my chest. My body ebbed with a warm feeling, soon it started to spread throughout, tingling my fingers and toes.
“What’s that?” asked Sophia.
“This is called a wisp.” Naaz replied.
“How did you get this?” Rhea was in awe.
My head became fuzzy and heavy, the tingling sensation continued to spread and I felt fluffy and light. It wasn’t a horrible feeling, but a nice one. I felt calm, self confident and slowly I could feel my body rising up off the ground, or what it felt like it.
“It’s just a glass orb, it doesn’t look like much.” said Marcus.
Were they not seeing what I was seeing? The bright orb seemed to glow with a rhythm, like a heartbeat. Was this thing alive?
“It’s part of her.” Naaz pointed at me and the gang turned towards me and their faces lit up.
“Ellie, you’re glowing.” Sophia cried.
“What?” I looked down at my hands. They were right, I was glowing as if someone had flipped a light switch on inside of me.
Naaz took a step forward and placed the glass orb into my hand. As soon as my fingers touched the heavy glass, a fierce wind gathered around me, throwing my hair up into the calm storm. Everyone took a step back, hoping to avoid the power I commanded. The orb in my hands warmed my entire body, fueling me with energy I had never felt before, not even Rhea’s book felt like this. As I squeezed the orb tightly, more power flowed up through my hands. The wind then died around me and I was in amazement.
“What the hell was that?” I asked.
“That orb you hold in your hands is part of you, part of your history” Naaz explained. “It’s made with Siren magic, their blood.”
“What!?” the room erupted into gasps.
“Blood?” This thing I held in my hand was made from Siren blood?
“Yes, Siren magic is very powerful, you’re handy little creatures when you want to be.” Naaz explained.
I gave Naaz a disgruntled look and stared down at the orb.
As I tightly gripped the orb with both hands, the warm power swirled around my fingers, until a warm wave pulsed around the room, engulfing us in its gentle glow, giving everyone’s skin a bright shine.
“Did everyone feel that just now?” Marcus asked.
“I haven’t felt like that in years.” Rhea said.
“Yeah, it was like a warm hug. Was that you, Ellie?” Sophia asked.
I shrugged at the question.
“So will this help?” I asked.
“Indeed it will. You will use it to fight off the
darkness and keep away those foul leaches.” Rhea replied.
“We need to go back in.” Naaz said.
“Are you nuts? We almost died in there. Ellie almost didn’t make it.” Marcus said.
“Marcus is right, Naaz, it’s too dangerous to go in there.” agreed Rhea.
“It’s on council orders; you know their word is law.” Naaz answered.
“The council?” Sophia asked. “That’s bad.”
“Why?” I asked.
“If the council says to do something you do it.” Marcus sighed.
“Really?”
“Yep.” he replied.
“We need to finish this then.” I said.
“Are you sure?” Marcus asked.
“I always thought that we’d have to go back in sooner than later, and I just want it over and done with.” I replied.
“Ok.” Sophia added.
“The council knows about your little Siren, Rhea. They are not happy that you deceived them.” Naaz’s cold words struck hard with her.
“What have you done?! You told them about Ellie?” Rhea’s voice was rough and angry.
“Do you think I did this on purpose? They feel you are not fit to conduct this mission.” Naaz answered.
“So they asked you?!” Rhea asked
“I’m the only one who can finish this, you had your chance. After this is done they want to see you.”
Rhea paused and quietly thought to herself. “You have deliberately manipulated the situation for your selfish needs!” shouted Rhea.
“You are still too young and inexperienced; I will be taking over and after all of this is finished, the council wants to meet the Siren.” Naaz looked in my direction.
“Rhea?” I looked to her for answers.
“We will sort everything out when we get back, don’t worry.” Rhea assured me.
“Well, are we ready?” Naaz asked.
“What, now?”
“It’s the perfect time, they won’t see it coming.” Naaz said.
“As much as I hate to agree with Naaz, she’s right, it’s the perfect time.” Marcus agreed with her.
“Ellie, we have no choice.” Sophia sadly said.
I nodded to them. That was the last place I wanted to go, I hated that place along with the creatures that inhabited the disgusting sewers.
Chained (The Siren Series #2) Page 7