Soul Breather (21st Century Sirens Book 1)

by T Stedman

  “Look at state of her,” she heard Joselle say as she left.

  She felt a little better when Dante followed her trying to placate her. “Look babe, we have to consider all the options that’s all. The power of the five is what any king needs.”

  She knew she was being irrational. “You want a fucking harem, is that it? I won’t stay for that, Dante.”

  He pulled her to him and put his chin on the top of her head. Fuck, she hated that he knew she was bothered.

  A few minutes passed while he held her like that, thinking. “I want you to release Jay as Protector,” he said, out of nowhere, quietly into her hair.

  “What has that got to do with anything?”

  “Are you that cruel, that you would keep him tied to you all his life? We live long lives, Tia.”

  He was affectively bartering with her and it pissed her off. She turned in his arms and poked her finger into his bare chest. “Never! Do you hear me? Never will I release him.” And she went to turn and stomp away from him.

  He lunged and turned her back to him, trapping her in his arms.

  “Let me go Dante, You can’t control me,” she gritted out as she fought.

  He put his hand in her knotty hair and pulled her head back roughly. He stared angrily into her eyes. She saw and felt his want and frustration.

  “I will use my power,” she threatened.

  “Don’t pull the power card,” he said, beginning to smile. “Your power is now my power, so against me, you have no power.”

  She struggled, wanting to scratch his eyes out.

  He crushed her to him tighter so she couldn’t move. “When I have your sisters’ power, I will be more powerful than all of you. It is your whole purpose in life,” he said, in triumph.

  Way to make a girl feel like shit. She pushed her hands up between their bodies and began pummelling him with her fists. He grabbed her wrists looking like he enjoyed this new interaction. He put his mouth millimetres from hers. “When will you understand Tia, that you will never be free of me?” And he kissed her forcefully, crushing her lips and her body under his rough fingers; ripping off the thin dress, which had already fallen off one shoulder, revealing her breast.

  Her struggles lessened and lessened as she realised this would always happen as he held her traitorous body prisoner and held the key to taunt her with. He only released her when he’d wrung an orgasm out of her some time later. Satisfied she was his slave, he relented and stroked her forehead, worn out. “I will make it so my brothers marry the others … I can only handle one she-devil.”

  ***

  After two weeks, Dante was gradually starting to learn what it was to be king.

  The Atlantean nation was spread across the Earth, haphazard and disorganised. Blessed with fortune, which his father referred to as the Chi that few of them deserved, Earth’s Atlanteans were greedy and acquisitive, lacking honour and the old values.

  Chi came from the Orb and went back to the Orb as part of life’s never ending circle. It was a mythical energy force rumoured to have come from Atlas with them ten thousand years before. The ancient jewellery they all carried had a piece of the orb and so it was believed that the Chi came to each them. The old saying, ‘money goes to money’ comes from that very truth.

  Dante was learning that Atlanteans weren’t satisfied with riches, they wanted power and prestige. It was the only thing they really respected. And if they were ever to give an account of themselves to Atlas then they needed a great leader and to be a great leader Dante needed the power of the five Sirens and the standing that having them gave him.

  Although it was illegal for him to effectively marry off the other princes’ Sirens, it had never done the nation any good in the past sticking to the rules. When they had actually managed to secure their own, which had been rare, they had battled each other for supremacy, never agreeing on who should be king. But he was first and had found his Siren, so that put him ahead of the game. This time, in this generation, he had to box clever; bending the rules if he had to.

  He vowed to himself as soon as he had the time, he would become an expert in Atlantean history and law so he could be a step ahead of his competitors and make full use of any loopholes.

  In the meantime, he had secretly struck a deal with Joselle. In return for her bringing her three sisters to him, he would allow her to stay to be with his heartsick brother Stephan. But getting them there without anyone finding out was the important thing at the moment. Apparently, they’d been spread across Eastern Europe, but according to Joselle their sisterly bond was strong and it brought them together when her ballet had performed in Moscow. They’d stayed in touch ever since.

  Tia thought it was a whole load of bullshit. She said she felt nothing for Joselle or anyone else for that matter. He didn’t dismiss her instinct but thought it was probably the green-eyed monster and secretly enjoyed her being jealous. And besides, if they were imposters, surely Joselle would be spending her time kissing ass, not making an enemy of Tia.

  The main problem he faced was getting them to Ireland as none of them had Protectors. That he thought was strange, considering Tia had three. Then he laughed to himself thinking, trust her to surround herself with men who all adored her.

  This was the reason he paced to and fro in the study. He was mustering up the courage to pick up the phone. He hadn’t had the bottle to do it until then, and he nervously dialled the number.

  “Jason Gardiner,” Jay said, confidently.

  “Jay?”

  “Is that you Dant?”

  “Yeah man, you okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m okay.”

  “Where are you?”

  “I’m in London.”

  “The Bluebell?”

  “No, I’m at the office, sorting stuff out, you know?”

  “Oh yeah, you took the job then?”

  “Yeah.”

  Things were awkward. Dante had so much he wanted to say but knew he never would, and he knew Jay internalised everything. The original ‘Mr Cool’. “Listen Jay, I need you to do something for me.”

  “Like what?” Jay said, his voice flat.

  “I have found Tia’s remaining three sisters.”

  “I see…what do you need from me?”

  “They have no protection and I need to get them home. I need to get them to throw their lot in with me before Alfonzo finds out about them.”

  “So what’s that got to do with me? I have a slight conflict of interest, you know?”

  “I know mate, but you are literally the only person I can trust. Can you get to Ireland?”

  “Like when?”

  “This weekend … I’m getting Tia to send Sean and Cash over with the plane to bring them back from Moscow. They only want to meet in a public place, so I’m hiring a local nightclub. I need to keep it secret so I can’t use the Honourable Guard.”

  “What the fuck’s that?” Jay said.

  “Can you believe it? They are an underground unit of soldiers trained especially to look after the royal families, particularly the king and queen.

  “Nice.” Jay sounded impressed.

  “Yeah, except if I use them, then Alfonzo knows about it.”

  “So let me get this straight. You want me as bodyguard for a load of Russian birds?”

  Dante laughed, “Well…”

  “Will she be there?”

  “She ain’t happy about any of it so I’m going to keep her busy DJ’ing. Sean and Cash should be okay looking after the Russian lot, so it is Tia I want you to keep an eye on really.”

  The line went quiet for a while. “What you gonna do, kidnap them?’

  “I’m hoping it won’t come to that.”

  “Fuck Dante, you’ve got me doing some crazy shit in your time.”

  “This is serious though Jay. This isn’t being my wing man with twins, it’s securing my bid for the crown.”

  “Are you going to marry them all?”

  “No, I will get my brothers to marry
them, but pledge loyalty to me.”

  He could hear Jay sigh. “Does Tia know I’ll be there?”

  The line was quiet for a beat. “She won’t do it unless you are there.”

  Chapter 18

  Tia had received a request to call on her from her mother Naomi. Blast, what did she want? Then she remembered the intriguing comment Naomi had made to her at the wedding reception, so she accepted the request out of curiosity more than anything.

  Christian had loaned her the small sitting room to receive her for privacy and she waited anxiously for her arrival.

  Eventually there was a quiet knock at the door, and she straightened in her chair as a servant showed the tall, unusual woman into the room.

  In she glided and sat in the armchair opposite her. She nodded and blinked slowly as she sat very still. There was nothing Human about the woman at all. She couldn’t help but stare at her. She was deathly pale. Her bone structure was good, but too angular. Her hair was long and lustrous, as was her own. But there the similarities ended. Her eyes were larger than hers and brown and her limbs were long and willowy. Scantily clad, she got the impression that clothes were worn more for convention than warmth. Her blood was probably even cooler than hers.

  Tia snapped herself out of staring and leant forward in her seat to pour the tea.

  Good day to you…

  There was a pause.

  Tia. As if her mother was remembering the name she preferred to be known by.

  “Hello Mother.” Tia replied with a frown at how weird it sounded. “Where is father?” She almost laughed at how ridiculous it was.

  Naomi’s expression didn’t change at all. Nor did she move a muscle. He is talking with Christian. He is allowing us some precious moments together.

  Tia put the teacup near her mother and sat back and sipped her own. There was a fat gaping silence between them. What should she say? Where have you been all my life? She decided against that.

  Instantly a picture of a young mother clutching a tiny baby to her breast, flashed into her mind. It was so sudden and so vivid and strong it took her breath in shock. Had she read her mind?

  Eerily, Naomi nodded and more of the pictures flowed into her mind like a slide show. Love and togetherness were the feelings that came along with it. Tia instinctively knew the baby was her. It was her mother and father sharing a moment of great love between them.

  The pictures ceased as quickly as they came, and she came back to normal, but everything seemed dark as if the light had been taken. She put her hands up to her cheeks and felt that they were wet with tears. “What just happened?”

  Naomi smiled. We Murrs have no language of words. That we learned from Humans. We communicate through series of mental pictures that we project with feelings. I merely sent you how I felt when you were born.

  Tia stared at her, still shell-shocked. They were much more powerful than any words. “You loved me then?”

  Naomi blinked slowly and smiled. Of course child, but I had no choice in giving you and your sisters up. I was devastated. I don’t think I would have got through the long years if it weren’t for your father.

  Tia swallowed hard and nodded, surprised at the depth of emotion she felt. She had grown hardened to the imagined set of parents she’d had since childhood.

  You are sad child, I feel it.

  Tia could feel her eyes glassing up.

  Tell me, or can I roam the corridors of your mind?

  Tia shook her head vigorously. There were some things even an estranged mother shouldn’t see. She began cautiously. “I met and fell in love with my Protector before I met Dante … and now … everything’s a mess.”

  Naomi nodded sagely. Do not be too hard on yourself child. The fact that you succumbed to your husband is no crime, despite loving your Human.

  It felt like it was. “But I love Jay, I really do. How can I enjoy being with Dante the way I do knowing it hurts Jay?” She blurted. “It’s as if I love Jay when I’m with Jay, but I love Dante when I’m with Dante.”

  Listen to me Tia. You have to stop trying to think like a Human when you are not. You fell in love with your Human in a very Human way.

  Tia arched a brow, but waited for her to continue. Being outed as an alien wasn’t that comfortable to listen to.

  Then you were forced to get in to the water with a male who genetically matches you perfectly. So not only does every cell in you welcome him, but for the first time in your life, you have met someone who can return your love in the natural way of your kind. I should say you do well to hold any feelings at all for your Human, especially as your bond with your husband only grows stronger with time.

  Fuck. She allowed Naomi’s words to sink in. She felt less of a tramp though.

  Naomi stood. I sense your father is ready to leave. Remember I am here for you daughter.

  Tia stood as well. “Thank you … for coming.” Tia said, awkwardly.

  Naomi touched her cheek gently as she floated gracefully towards the door. She stopped on the threshold. Your love for your Human is on borrowed time Tia. Soon Dante will overrun you completely. She closed the door and left the smell of fresh flowers behind her.

  Tia flopped back into her chair, her heart and mind racing on what she’d learned. She’d been so preoccupied she hadn’t even asked her mother what she’d meant the other night.

  ***

  The night of the party came. Tia was dreading it and looking forward to it equally. She had an uneasy feeling about the impact these sisters of hers would make on her life. She’d always thought that having a sister would be nice, like a close buddy. So no-one was more surprised at her own reaction to them than her. But on the other hand, Jay would be there. He would keep an eye on things. Her stomach flipped at the mere thought of him.

  Guilty, she looked over at Dante sitting next to her in the chauffeur driven car. He was holding her hand and looking straight ahead with purpose. Probably turning over in his head all the possible ramifications of the evening.

  She let her eyes roam over him. From his beautiful profile to his body just made for sex; correction … just made for sex with her.

  His clothes were smarter these days; tailored suits, but always a bit edgy and always teamed with some sort of flamboyant shirt; a trademark of his. And lastly the large purple ring on his left hand, so much a part of him; a symbol of her.

  Her mother’s words were still in her head and she wondered if Dante was aware of the power he would hold over her. Everything in her screamed against the injustice of it.

  “You okay?’ he said, breaking the silence.

  “Yes … I’m not looking forward to tonight.” Partly true.

  Dante squeezed her hand and leant sideways giving her a chaste kiss on the lips. “Don’t worry babe, it’s just a necessary formality. It’ll soon be over.”

  She nodded, not convinced.

  They pulled up outside the club. Dante’s brothers pulled up in the car behind them with Joselle. The other sisters had arrived the day before and were installed in the house rented for Cash and Sean; the one she had stayed in when she first came to Ireland. She didn’t like that either. Why couldn’t they get their own Protectors?

  They all got out of the cars and were ushered into the club by bouncers employed by Dante.

  The party was already buzzing. Dante and his brothers all looked like male models; although Dante was a little more rock ‘n roll. Joselle looked demure in a beautiful floor-length silver gown.

  Tia looked down at herself. She wore battered bleached jeans and an army shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Her hair was in a loose ponytail, she had put on her customary visor sunglasses to cover up her eyes that were worryingly getting worse – possibly because of the amount of time she was now spending under water – and she clutched her record case in her hand.

  She had argued with Dante over what she would wear, which had resulted in her going for the tattiest thing she could find in defiance. She had to put her foot down to safeguard
the smallest of freedoms.

  They stood on the threshold of the main room of the club. Tia surveyed it and found Jay’s eyes in an instant. He looked away and resumed helping the technician on the DJ’s dais. When he looked back and gave her his shy smile and blushed her heart fell into her boots. Fuck! She felt exactly the same for him. She had wondered if Dante had supplanted him in the time she had known him, especially after what her mother had said, but no can do. She didn’t know if that was a good thing or not and sighed ruefully.

  Jay’s mixture of shyness, confidence and aloofness, as well as his banging hot body was as irresistible to her as it always was. Her sense of foreboding intensified.

  Dante cut across her thoughts. “Tia. It’s time. They are all in the VIP lounge.”

  “I want Jay to come in with me.”

  He looked at her in silence for a beat then raised his hand to beckon Jay over.

  Tia was amazed at the emotion on Dante’s face as he pulled Jay into his body for a hug. She would never fully understand the dynamics of their relationship. She watched transfixed as Dante whispered something intimately close to Jay’s ear and Jay nodded. Then Jay came and stood behind her. Every cell in her back lit up like a Christmas tree at his close proximity to her. Her heart thumped.

  Dante glanced at her before walking on towards the VIP lounge. Fuck! He can read my feelings.

  Her heart stopped when she began to walk and Jay leant forward next to her ear and asked if she was okay.

  She nodded, allowing herself a quick glance at him.

  “Glad you’ve dressed up for the occasion!” he added.

  She smiled nervously. “You know me.”

  She couldn’t look at him longer than a second and faced front as her face burned at the memory of the last time she’d dressed inappropriately – and how they had felt then.

  Her train of thought halted when they entered the VIP lounge. Joselle pushed past her rudely and rushed into the arms of her sisters who sat on a group of sofas around a low table.

  Cash and Sean stood behind them, propping up a small bar in the corner.

  Joselle got up again and motioned for her sisters to do the same. Dante stepped forward and called his brothers to stand with him. Tia was pushed into the background.