by John Corwin
Where the Xanda was an eagle, the other ships were ravens—possibly nimbler and easier to maneuver. It was hard to tell from this distance, but the smaller ships still looked larger than the Falcheen.
"We can do nothing," Illaena said. "Even the land dwellers can defeat us with three ships."
"How many soldiers can those ships hold?" I asked.
"Two hundred crew on the Xanda, and half that on each of the other ships," Illaena said.
Elyssa's lips peeled back. "More than enough to take Heval."
"It doesn't matter if they take Heval, not with the Fallen gone." I wondered if maybe we could talk to Kaelissa and tell her that her targets were no longer here. On the other hand, she'd probably be more likely to take us prisoner. Hell, she'd hijacked two Mzodi ships already.
"I don't get it," Elyssa muttered. "How did Kaelissa know how to enter Voltis? How did she know the Chalon would create a portal? How did she know where to find the Fallen?"
"We can't exactly ask her." I ran a hand down my face. "Maybe once she finds out the Fallen are gone, she'll just leave."
"Doubtful," Elyssa said.
I squeezed my eyes shut and racked my brain for an answer. The image of Kaelissa's smug face filled my mind and I remembered what she'd told me only a few days ago. "There is little hope you could win a war. If you refuse, I will soon sing a song none can resist."
Kaelissa didn't intend to challenge us to a rap battle or a karaoke faceoff. She also hadn't come here looking for the Fallen. What she wanted had been right in front of our eyes from day one, and her secret weapons would be far more devastating, provided she had the bloodstones to pull it off.
"Oh, crap," I murmured. "We have to get back to Atlantis now."
"What about Heval?" Elyssa asked.
I gripped the rail and watched as the three ships began to glide toward their true destination—toward Atlantis. "Kaelissa doesn't want the Fallen. She wants the Sirens."
Chapter 28
The Fallen were powerful Seraphim, but even their power paled in comparison to the song of the Sirens. "Kaelissa said she would return within two weeks with a song none could resist."
Elyssa's eyes flared. "If the Sirens are that powerful, they could seduce our entire army. Nothing in Pjurna could resist them!"
Illaena spun to Tahlee. "Back to Atlantis, all speed."
We shot up above the clouds so the other ships wouldn't see us and streaked toward the island. I looked down but was unable to see the other ships. Hopefully, Illaena's assessment of the Brightling crews would prove true. As I'd learned, there was a lot more to piloting a sky ship than simply channeling into control rods, and the inexperienced Brightling navigators might not be able to coax top speed from their stolen vessels.
Adam and Shelton raced above decks eyes wide with confusion.
"Where are we going?" Shelton said. "Did something happen?"
"More ships," Elyssa said, and told them what we'd figured out. "Kaelissa probably hoped they could take the Sirens by surprise. If we warn Narine and the others, there's no way her plan will work."
"Holy crapola." Shelton ran a hand down his face. "We are so screwed if Kaelissa brainwashes a Siren."
"It'll never work if the Sirens know," Adam said. "In fact, maybe we can flip this situation on Kaelissa."
"Hell yeah," Shelton said. "Let's get the Sirens to put her army to sleep."
I grinned. "That would deprive the Brightlings of several hundred soldiers." I grinned. "Maybe we'll capture Kaelissa and end the war before it begins."
"You're telling me Kaelissa is onboard?" Adam asked.
I nodded. "She has to brainwash the Sirens herself if she wants to control them."
"Yeah, I hadn't thought of that."
We angled down through the clouds and reached the shores of Atlantis moments later. The Falcheen slid in for a graceful landing on the turtle pier. There was just one other problem—how in the world could we contact the Sirens if they were underwater?
I raced to the end of the pier and started waving my arms and shouting. "Narine! We need to speak with you. It's an emergency!"
Adam, Shelton, and Elyssa jumped up and down beside me, shouting and flailing their arms like a bunch of lunatics. I didn't care. The Brightling ships weren't more than ten minutes behind us.
Adonis hurried down the pier, face screwed up with confusion. "What is wrong?"
"Do you know how to contact the Sirens?" I asked.
"Yes, of course," he replied. "They gave us a conch shell we use to call them in times of need, though we rarely use it."
"We need it right now," I said. "There are enemies on their way."
"More newcomers in Atlantis?" Adonis gasped. "That would explain where the Sirens were going."
"What do you mean by that?" Shelton said.
"I saw them on their sea dragons heading east just before they submerged in the ocean," Adonis said. "They have an uncanny ability to know where everything is in this place, the same way they knew you were here."
Shelton face palmed. "You've got to be kidding me."
I circled a finger in the air to round up everyone. "Back on the ship. We've got to stop them."
Illaena had already rushed up the gang plank and I heard Tahlee shouting orders. The second the last of us boarded the ship, the Falcheen took flight, skimming just above the water and throwing a rooster tail of spray behind.
Adonis gasped and held on. "Oh my, this is frightening!"
I hadn't even realized he'd followed us onboard.
The ocean blurred past beneath us and small dots on the horizon grew larger. I grabbed the scope and zoomed in. Three sea dragons sat on the deck of the Xanda. A lone figure appeared from a ramp way and leapt atop one of the dragons. An angry, frightened face briefly looked my way—it was Dolpha! Her sea dragon leapt into the air and glided our way.
Soldiers appeared and the weaponized gems on the hull began firing wildly after the fleeing sea dragon. Kaelissa emerged from the ramp way, Narine and Balaena at her flank. I zoomed in on their faces. Their eyes were red as blood, faces devoid of emotion.
A lance of white energy pierced a wing and Dolpha's dragon screamed in pain. Kaelissa's eyes widened as her eyes took in the sight of the Falcheen cruising her way. She waved an arm and the three ships rotated to take on the new threat.
We didn't intend to fight her—not now. Illaena was already giving orders faster than I could keep up. At first I thought she meant to turn the ship around. Instead, the Falcheen swooped low and caught Dolpha and her injured sea dragon before they crashed into the water. The sea dragon skidded across the deck and the Siren was flung from the creature's back.
I leapt into the air and caught Dolpha before she unceremoniously face-planted on the deck, and landed back on my feet. The ship tilted hard and centrifugal force pressed everyone onto the deck as the Falcheen made a sharp turn starboard. Before the unskilled Brightling sailors could get close, we were already flitting away across the ocean.
Adonis clung for dear life to a railing, his face greener than a moldy potato. "This is more excitement than I can handle!"
Dolpha squirmed in my arms. "I can stand, thank you."
I set the Siren on her feet. "Why did you go out to those ships? I warned you there were bad people trying to get in here."
Dolpha leaned heavily against me. "They were in ships like yours. We thought they were more of your people."
"Those ships were hijacked," Elyssa said. "What happened?"
A tear trickled down Dolpha's face. "We were invited aboard. Narine accepted, even though I told her to use caution." She looked behind us, large eyes pools of green. "We were greeted by a woman and a man. Then everything happened so quickly. Narine and Balaena were rendered unconscious. I saw red stones and beams of crimson energy entering their foreheads. I immediately knew what was happening, but before I could do anything, soldiers attacked me."
"Here's the real question," Shelton said. "If they start singing, how in the
heck are we supposed to resist?"
"Earplugs?" Adam said.
"You cannot close your ears to the song," Dolpha said. "You hear with your entire body."
I didn't like the sound of that. "In other words, Kaelissa can just swoop in and put us all to sleep?"
"The song can compel, but those who are strong-willed can fight it." Dolpha glided over to her injured sea dragon and inspected its wing. "I can grant some protection with my own song, but there is no guarantee."
Elyssa took the scope and looked behind us. "They're still coming. Kaelissa probably doesn't want us to escape so we can warn our forces."
"Even if we escaped through the tunnel they made in the maelstrom, what good would it do?" Shelton's face blanched. "How are we supposed to fight mass brain washing?"
"Let's not get hysterical." Elyssa knelt next to Dolpha. "Everyone has limits. Do Sirens have to continuously sing to keep us compelled?"
The Siren nodded. "The effects might linger for several minutes afterward."
Elyssa nodded. "Can other loud sounds counteract the song?"
"No, only the song of another Siren," Dolpha said. "There is more to the song than simple sound."
"An underlying current of enchantment," Adam said. "It probably acts on several levels."
"Does the song affect everyone close enough to hear it?" Elyssa said.
Dolpha shook her head. "No, it can be modulated to affect only those you wish to affect."
"You keep saying song as in singular," I said. "Is there only one song?"
Dolpha seemed confused. "The song is what you make it. The song is life."
"That makes so much sense," Shelton said sarcastically. "Want me to sing out of my ass for you?"
Elyssa narrowed her eyes. "That's not productive, Shelton."
He threw up his hands. "Excuse me, but I'm terrified of losing my mind while Kaelissa has her way with us."
Adam smirked and tried to adjust his non-existent glasses. "You afraid she'll diddle your bum hole?"
"I'm a good-looking man," Shelton shot back. "Ain't no telling what she'll do."
Elyssa bit her lower lip and gave me a hopeless look. "I don't know what to do. We can't possibly evacuate the island, though I doubt Kaelissa will care much about Atlantis."
"I have never known war," Adonis said. "My people only know the tales of old. We are not equipped to stop an invasion."
"What about those big ships in the harbor?" I asked.
"They are not large enough to move our entire population," Adonis replied. "Even so, how would they make it through the storm wall?"
Our choices were boiling down to nothing. We couldn't stand and fight, but running away would leave Atlantis wide open to Kaelissa. Thomas had taught me that retreat was sometimes the only option, even if it meant giving up ground. We also had a responsibility to the people in Seraphina to make it out of here with news of Kaelissa's master plan.
I steeled my resolve and told the others what we had to do. "We have no way of defending Atlantis. Our only choice is to leave using the portal Kaelissa created to get in here and warn our people about the Siren threat."
"You mean to leave us undefended?" Adonis said.
"There's nothing we can do," I told him. "I suggest you surrender to her. Odds are she won't even care about Atlantis right now since she has her eyes set on a bigger goal."
"Yeah, world domination," Shelton grumbled.
Fingers mentally crossed, I turned to Dolpha. "We desperately need you. There's no way for us to stand against your sisters if you're not with us."
The Siren whispered in the ear of the sea dragon, and the great scaly beast whimpered. She made a sweeping motion with her hand. The dragon groaned and refused to move. Dolpha sighed and turned. "It appears Galla and I will be coming with you."
"Thank you," I said.
Shelton raised his hands. "Praise the lord!"
Dolpha frowned. "It is the only way I may save my sisters."
Adonis looked back and forth between me and the Siren. "I pray you are right about Kaelissa. For all I know she will slaughter us."
"Can you evacuate into the woods?" I said. "Maybe the Lyrolai can protect you."
"I have a better idea," Elyssa said. "Let's lead Kaelissa back through the portal to Seraphina. She has what she wants, so there's no reason for her to stick around."
It was risky, but at least it provided some safety for Atlantis. "Let's do it."
The island faded into view through the misty bubble around it. Dropping off Adonis with the Brightling ships so close behind would make for a tight window of escape. Even though the odds were three to one, I had faith the Mzodi were skilled enough to outmaneuver our pursuers.
Adam frowned at something on his phone and flicked the screen.
"Whatcha looking at?" Shelton asked him.
"Bloodstones," Adam said. "Even if we escape Voltis, we need to disable the bloodstones controlling the Sirens."
"It's too bad the Fallen weren't home," Shelton said. "I'll bet they know a thing or two about bloodstones."
"What if we use the bloodstone we have on Kaelissa?" I said.
Adam shook his head. "We don't even know how to do that yet."
In other words, we were hella screwed. The only option left to us would be killing Narine and Balaena—a solution Dolpha wouldn't accept.
"You look like you're having second thoughts," Elyssa said.
I bit my lower lip and tried to think of alternatives, but if we left, trying to get back inside Voltis would be almost impossible with this new Brightling fleet in the air. Buried somewhere inside their palace, the Fallen probably had a gem or diary filled with their secrets about the bloodstones. Even better, they might have information about the nodes they used to access Eden.
All our answers were here, but we had to beat back Kaelissa to buy the time needed to find them. The alternative was leading her back to Tarissa and trying to fight her with our army. Even with one Siren on our side, it would be extremely difficult to win that battle.
Shelton groaned. "We're not going back are we?"
"The Fallen have the answers to bloodstones and getting home." I met his eyes. "We have to beat Kaelissa here."
"I can tell you right now we won't win a direct confrontation." Elyssa tapped her chin and stared at Atlantis. "We need to resort to trickery."
I rubbed my hands together. "Ninja mode."
"There's another issue," Adam said. "That portal through Voltis won't last long without the device on the Xanda. We need to make sure we get our hands on it somehow."
Elyssa took out her arcphone and began tapping on the screen. "We still have three functional brooms, right?"
Shelton's forehead pinched. "Yeah."
"I might have a wheelbarrow around here too," I quipped.
Elyssa's lips spread into a wide smile. "I have an idea that could get us the portal generator, the Sirens, and get Kaelissa off our backs."
"Don't play with my heart," Shelton said. "I'm feeling really vulnerable right now."
Elyssa turned to Dolpha. "We need protection from the Siren song."
The Siren's inner eyelid flicked across her eye and retracted, almost like a nervous tic. "There is a way, but I must return to Pacifis."
Elyssa blinked. "Where?"
"The Siren city beneath the ocean." She touched the wing of her sea dragon. "Galla is well enough to take me there."
"How long will it take?" Elyssa asked.
"Not long." Dolpha slid easily onto Galla's back. "I will return and meet you in the harbor." The sea dragon dove gracefully over the railing and vanished into the waters with hardly a splash.
Elyssa grabbed my arm and headed for the ramp way. "Let's get the brooms. We have to be fast if this is going to work."
"I need to feed," I told her as we jogged down the ramp. "How are you feeling?"
"Bursting with energy," she said. "Take what you need."
"When we have a minute." I dashed into the cabin and grabbe
d the brooms and stopped Elyssa before she bolted away. "You seem awfully confident about our chances for success."
"That's because there's one major thing Kaelissa didn't consider when she captured the Sirens." Elyssa's lovely lips spread into a smile. "Hopefully we can use that to our advantage."
As she explained the plan to me on the way back above decks, I couldn't help but share some of her confidence. We had to have perfect timing, a lot of luck, and a rookie mistake by Kaelissa.
There was one huge "if" hanging on our gambit. If Elyssa's assumption about the Sirens was wrong, then Kaelissa would easily capture us, I'd probably lose my mind, and Seraphina would be doomed.
Saving the world really stressed me out.
Chapter 29
I finished feeding my inner demon and angel by the time the Falcheen reached the harbor and swooped in for a quick landing.
Adonis raced down the gangway toward the turtle pier. "We'll be ready," he shouted over his shoulder. "May the gods be with you."
"Which gods is he talking about?" Shelton said. "The Fallen? The old Greek gods?" He threw up his hands. "I just need to know who to pray to for this insane plan to work."
Elyssa handed each of us a broom. "Make sure they're working. We can't afford any glitches."
I flicked the runes on my broom and tested it out, taking a few practice circles around the ship while Elyssa and Shelton did the same.
Shelton got off his and frowned. "This one has some cracks in the handle." He tested the polished wood with his hands. "I think it'll be okay, but I can't get too crazy on it."
Adam appeared with a bulging satchel over his shoulder. He reached inside and withdrew several nets filled with small cylindrical casks the Mzodi used to keep food preserved. "There are three gem bombs for everyone."
I took one of the nets and slung it across my back like a paperboy satchel. "How do these things work?"
Adam took one and tapped on the gem sealed into the lid of a cask. "Twist the lid and the gem will start to glow. You have ten seconds to get rid of it before Kaboom!" He spread his hands like a mushroom cloud.
Galla burst from the ocean, salt water foaming and running from his scaly blue hide. Naked atop his back, Dolpha's skin looked smooth and gray like that of a dolphin's. Two long tail fins morphed back to human legs, and her diaphanous dress reappeared to cover her naked form.