Siren Descending
Sirens Series
ΨΨΨ
Siren Descending
Sirens Series
By: Katherine Eddinger Smits
Cover by Dawne Dominique
Edited by Delilah Devlin
Copyright 2019 © Katherine Smits
Published in the United States of America
Worldwide Electronic and Digital Rights
Worldwide English Language Print Rights
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned or distributed in any form, including digital and electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written consent, except for brief quotes for use in reviews.
Description
When the devil abducts her lover to hell, Athenia, a Sea Witch Siren, risks everything to rescue the mage with her song. Siren Descending, a contemporary paranormal romance, reimagines the Greek myth of Orpheus. Can Athenia avoid his tragic mistake, or will she fail to rescue Thorne and lose her soul as well as her soulmate?
Dedication and Acknowledgements
Siren Descending is for my dear sister, Ann Higgs. In this book and in life, sisters are precious gifts.
Thank you to my awesome beta reader, K.C. Anderson. You truly helped make Athenia’s story shine.
Also, many thanks to my family for your continued support. I probably would have lived on sandwiches for the last six months if not for husband Paul taking care of me. All my love and gratitude.
Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
EPILOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
During her early morning rejuvenating swim, Athenia Doriana sliced through the waters of the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida, stroking with her strong tail flukes for momentum. Her long, auburn hair swirled beyond her shoulders and spread in a ruby nimbus. All around her, the morning sun penetrated its golden rays deep into the water, illuminating the sandy bottom.
As she approached a coral reef, she spotted several sea horses curled around leafy branches which swayed with the current. She slowed and hovered beside the tiny animals, not touching them, but charmed by their curvy bodies and large, gentle eyes. Aware she wouldn’t harm them, they ignored her. Though predators, her kind didn’t disturb ocean creatures except to find food. The adorable little things weren’t on the menu for the sea dwellers humans called mermaids, but who named themselves Nerei after water nymphs of Greek mythology and hid their existence from all but the mages.
As she moved along, Athenia drew seawater through her gills, siphoning the oxygen to her body to energize her. I waited too long to get back in the water this time. Thorne kept me so busy with our training I let myself become dehydrated.
She held out her hand. The skin had reverted to its normal shade of ivory, without the ghastly grey tinge it had before she dove under, and the bones were no longer visible. Much better, but I shouldn’t blame my mentor. Though he offered to give me time to hydrate, I was so fascinated with learning the techniques for controlling air I refused to stop.
As always, when her thoughts turned to the mage, her heart ached. Thank the goddess he took me on as his apprentice. The others of his group had a different fate in mind for me. He’s treated me far better than I deserve.
To assuage the guilt which threatened to consume her even now, months after her betrayal, she reiterated her vow. I’ll prove to him I’m trustworthy.
She swam on, not paying attention to her direction, needing to move, to allow the embrace of the waves to soothe nerves jangled by her yearning for what she couldn’t have with him. Please let it be that someday he drops his wariness and warms up to me again.
Ahead, a silvery, almost transparent web undulated near the surface. Where the sunlight touched it, it glowed and danced. What is that? She moved toward it. Oh no, another ghost net. Damn the human fishermen! Don’t they care that their lost gear turns into traps which last almost forever?
Before she reached the net, a manatee cow and calf trundled over and nudged it with their noses. The Gulf water, with its moderate temperature due to the warm weather, had enticed them away from the cozy springs where they wintered.
“No, get away from there,” she sang out in her siren’s voice to warn them, but they didn’t move. No doubt the net intrigued the curious creatures.
Skimming through the water faster than a dolphin at top speed, she sped toward them. I have to help.
As she neared them, the mom seemed to sense the danger. She jostled the youngster with her snout to move him away. However, he scooted under the net and rolled on his back for a better view.
His front flippers caught in the mesh. Startled, he rotated to his belly and managed to trap himself.
The mother nosed the netting and bit at it, but her blunt grinders, meant for a vegetarian diet, weren’t sharp enough to sever the strands.
The little one’s frenzied movements tangled him more.
They’ll need to surface soon, especially him, with all his thrashing. If he can’t get above water to breathe, he’ll die.
When she came to them, Athenia employed her siren song again, this time to soothe the distressed sea cow and urge her to move aside.
At first, the manatee tried to keep her body between Athenia and her calf, but after a minute, she relaxed a little and drifted away. The movement left a space between her and her baby.
Athenia moved closer, elongated her fingernails into razor-sharp hunting claws, and hacked away at the snare. Tough and pliant, the net resisted shredding.
Agitated, the female moved back and forth.
She tried to reassure the creature. “Sweetheart, I understand you’re frantic, but I’m trying my best.” As she continued to pluck at the fibers, she hummed a wordless soothing melody.
The juvenile stopped twisting and gave her a look of such pleading, her heart ached. To try to reassure him, she sang a lullaby.
A few strands parted, and she tore them away. If I make the hole big enough, I can pull him through. She renewed her efforts, slashing and tearing.
With an abrupt flapping motion, the mom stroked her forelimbs and scuttled upward.
She’s going for a breath, so we’re running out of time. Athenia glanced back at the baby, who floated, eyes closed, not moving. The gap isn’t anywhere near large enough, but he needs air now.
Wrapping her arms around him, Athenia pumped her tail, driving them both through the water to the surface. Not far, but his bulky body made it hard to maneuver him, and the webbing wrapped around them both. If I don’t cut this, we’ll both drown. I can stay underwater for a long time, but if I pass out, my gills will stop functioning.
As Athenia’s head broke the water, she shoved the baby above the surface. He gasped, then went motionless again in her arms. He’s too weak to struggle.
Hoping he would take a few good lungfuls, she kept his head above water, but she couldn’t hold him up and try to free him at the same time. After a few more seconds, she allowed them both to sink again.
The mama lingered nearby making keening sounds.
She
must think she’s about to lose her baby. Athenia couldn’t spare any more energy for singing to them though. I need to remove this now.
Not knowing what else to do, she went back to sawing at the synthetic rope again. A few more pieces frayed, and the opening enlarged. The youngling’s head can almost fit through.
She took the ends on both sides and pulled with all her Nerei strength. At first, nothing happened. She rested, then yanked again. Black spots jittered across her vision, but the man-made fibers gave. The rift widened. Is that enough?
She pushed him through. About halfway, he stopped, stuck.
His mother nudged Athenia’s arm.
Guess she wants me to hold him above water again. Gritting her teeth, Athenia hauled him up.
The sea cow emerged beside her. All three of them inhaled deeply. Athenia didn’t need the oxygen but breathing settled her as she prepared for another effort.
“Okay, mom. Time for one last try. I don’t think I can do this alone, so you have to help.”
The manatee leaned her head down to Athenia’s arm and nuzzled it with her lips.
“Maybe I’m crazy, but I think you understand.”
Athenia got behind the baby, grabbed the mesh where it clung to his middle, and fluttered her tail under him. “This isn’t going to be fun for him. Once he’s out, make sure you give him some extra love. Here goes.”
With a powerful thrust of her flukes, she smacked his butt. He flew through the hole and into the air. Freed from the noose, he splashed back into the water and sank.
With surprising speed, the sea cow hurtled after him. As he hit the bottom and rebounded, she reached him. Catching him by placing her body in front of him, she stopped him. Then, with her nose and flippers, she nudged him upward.
Trussed herself, Athenia could only watch as the mother snuffled all over him. She’s making sure he’s all right. I hope I didn’t hurt him. He’ll be sore tomorrow, but at least he’ll survive.
The manatees swam back to Athenia. Both touched their lips to her arms. The baby hugged her with his forelimbs. When they finished expressing their gratitude, they moved off, disappearing into the eel grass.
Athenia dragged herself, encumbered by the ghost net, to a tiny mangrove island. To check for humans, she emerged above the water a little at a time. Not seeing anyone, she beached and set to freeing herself from the snarl. Eventually, the netting frayed enough so she could tear it off.
Panting, she leaned back on her elbows. Though she was exhausted, satisfaction lit a glow within her. Maybe I can’t help all the sea dwellers endangered by plastic, but today I helped one. I can’t wait to tell Thorne. When he hears about this, he’ll be pleased and, I hope, a little proud of me.
ΨΨΨ
In the mangrove swamp by their cabin outside Tarpon Springs, Athenia surfaced. Like the other mages of their group, Hawthorne Sanderson lived in a secluded spot where he could be part of the natural world yet close to the other mages of his circle. In a pair of worn, frayed cutoffs and no shirt, he sat at a picnic bench, staring at an oversized book spread open on the table in front of him. His golden skin gleamed in the sun, and his muscular chest and arms telegraphed his strength, causing her to catch her breath.
With his gaze focused on the book, he didn’t appear to notice her. As she studied him, she hesitated in the shallows. While her heart thudded dully in her chest, she tried yet again to think of words that would convince him she’d changed. What can I do to get back the closeness we once shared? No matter how hard I try, he keeps his distance. At least, he’ll be happy I saved the manatee baby, because he cares deeply for all earth’s creatures.
As he raised his hands, he made swirling motions, lifting sand from the ground and twirling it around until it twisted into a miniature dirt devil. With the mage power that gave him complete control of the elements, he compressed the sand while he brought his hands closer together. Then, he tilted his head forward and spoke a few words, too low for her to hear.
As Thorne continued to press, the sand spun faster, became denser, coalesced into a glittering mass and blazed as though lit from within. His arms and shoulders trembled with effort, the muscles swelling and bunching.
Blinded by a flash of intense light, Athenia blinked. When her vision cleared, a glass sculpture stood where the white whirlwind had been. About three feet high and two feet around, it resembled a creation by the famous glass artist, Chihuly, whose pieces Athenia had viewed and admired in St. Petersburg at his gallery. Long tendrils grew from an oval center, arching and twisting around one another. There’s an organic quality, like an undersea plant with undulating branches. And the colors... Green merged into purple, which fed into blue, then magenta, buttery yellow, and coral. As she leaned forward to stare at it, her jaw dropped open. How did he do that?
When Thorne raised his head and caught her staring, he gave her a polite smile, not a welcoming one.
Athenia waved. “Hi, I’m back. I feel great, and I can’t wait to tell you what happened.”
“Excellent. Time for us to get started.” He swiveled around, so he faced the other direction.
“Okay.” So cold and formal. Why can’t he relax a little? Once she shifted to human shape, she stepped out of the water. After she retrieved a towel and her clothes from a bag she stored at the dock, she dried off and slipped into her underwear, bra, nylon shorts and T-shirt. As she wrapped the towel in a turban around her dripping hair, she eyed the taut muscles of his back. “You can turn around now.”
When he pivoted back toward her, he stared for a few seconds before he cleared his throat. “Right. There’s a lot to do today.” He gestured for her to sit.
Instead, Athenia walked over to the abstract shape. “This is magnificent. You could sell art like this for thousands of dollars.”
He frowned. “Since the mage lifestyle is simple, I don’t need the money. I made it to practice a new way of combining the elements, transmuting sand into glass by superheating the air molecules around it. It isn’t supposed to be decorative. Besides, it’s merely an experiment and I’ll probably deconstruct it in a day or two.”
Her jaw sagged. “Oh no. Please don’t destroy this amazing creation.”
He shrugged. “I’ll think about it, but it’s not functional.”
“You might have made a plain, square slab rather than something colorful and exquisite.” She sat across from him. “Can’t you admit you admire beauty?”
For a second, his gaze seemed almost yearning. “I appreciate lovely things.” He resumed the mien of gentlemanly disinterest she so despised. “However, beautiful things can be deceptive and dangerous. Did you ever notice how many poisonous plants sport brightly colored leaves or flowers?”
She narrowed her eyes. “What are we talking about now?” A pang went through her chest. Is he referring to the betrayal?
“We’re resuming the lesson, of course. We need to work on the potion for a salve to restore sunburned skin. Such a treatment would help people who stay out in the sun too long.”
“Why not use sunscreen? They should avoid damaging their bodies in the first place.”
He rolled his eyes. “Easy for you to say. Your Nerei skin never burns.”
“If it did, I would prevent it. This ointment is pointless, nothing but a way to keep me busy.”
He sighed. “It’s the next step in your training. Each lesson must be taught in order. Besides, this will stop many skin cancers, save lives, and prevent suffering. I’m anxious to have a finished product for the group the next time we get together.”
“But sunscreen—”
He interrupted her. “We humans don’t always wear it. Sometimes, we forget or run out, or it washes off. Remember, the mage philosophy is service before self. We use our power to help humans, Nerei, and all the creatures of this world. Only in that way do we grow and become deserving of our gifts.”
She stared at the shimmering sculpture whose gleaming glass and vibrant colors called to her. Reaching out, she
touched it. Warmth radiated from it. “I want to make one of these.”
He ran his hand across the back of his neck. “You aren’t ready. There are many more lessons to master first.”
She shot him a mutinous glare. “I don’t want to make a treatment for people too stupid to come in out of the sun. I want to create something lovely like this.”
His jaw firmed. “Remember the terms of the agreement, Athenia. Are you the master?”
Damn my temper. If I’m not careful, he’ll kick me out. Then the other mages will invoke the sentence I should have received when I tried to do things my way before. To show submission, she bowed her head. “I’m the apprentice. While I’m with you, I’m obliged to abide by your rules and your orders.”
“Good.” He smiled, and this time his eyes reflected compassion. “We’ll get back to the remedy in a minute, but first, tell me what happened today.”
Heat from the shame of her situation rose in her cheeks. I’m nothing more than a servant here, but I’ll obey to repay him for my crime. She couldn’t meet his gaze. Picking at her nails, still elongated and roughened from her efforts to break the net, she glanced away. “Never mind. Let’s get going.”
ΨΨΨ
Later that afternoon, Thorne squinted over Athenia’s shoulder at the pot holding the sunburn remedy. Fumes from the putrid mixture swirled into the air. “Worse than I remember from last time.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Like a fish died in there three days ago.”
Coughing, he turned away. “What can we do? Add some citrus like lemon or lime with a nice, clean aroma?”
She eyed the concoction. “I’m more concerned about the consistency.”
After he took a small amount between his fingers, he wiped them on a towel, then tapped them together, grimaced and washed his hands. Then he dried them and took a whiff. “This stuff is sticky as pine sap, and I can’t get rid of the smell.” Again, he scrubbed, inhaled, groaned, scoured yet another time.
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