He takes a deep breath, his eyes sparkling. “I’m here to welcome you to your new lives as you step into your Destinies. You may have grown up as part of humanity, but today, you will take your first step into your new lives — as sirens.”
11
I blink at the foreign word. Sirens?
The room bursts into confused babbles and whispers. I twist to look at Professor Nerida, who is having quite the chuckle. Add a bucket of popcorn, and she could have passed for watching a comedy movie.
“What does he mean?” Casey hisses at me.
I shake my head dizzily.
Flo looks over and, in a barely audible whisper, her lips form the word “mermaids.”
“Mermaids?!” I screech.
Pandemonium ensues. A couple of girls shriek in unison. Casey is stock still, her mouth hanging open. Dennis leaps to his feet and then looks around, as though confused about what his next move might be.
James squares up to the giant, his jaw cocked defiantly. “Are you telling me, Poseidon, that the stuff that’s been happening to me is because I'm a freaking MERMAID?”
Headmaster Muir’s booming belly laugh reverberates around the room. Professor Nerida snickers from the corner.
“Don’t be silly, dear boy!” Headmaster Muir shakes his head. “Mermaids don’t exist, they’re the stuff of childhood fairy tales. Unfortunately, this misunderstanding does occur rather frequently... You’re a siren. Not a mermaid.”
He looks so genuinely bothered by this apparently common misconception that I almost burst into hysterical laughter. This has got to be some kind of elaborate joke.
“But, what is a siren?” Casey asks incredulously.
“Sirens — not to be confused with merpeople, faes or selkies — are a rare breed.” Headmaster Muir sits on the desk and clasps his hands together. “We are an evolutionary offshoot of humanity with metamorphic abilities that make us suited to life both above and below water. Contrary to popular belief, we are not half-human and half-fish, or half-human and half-bird, as some human folklore tells it. We are our own beings, uniquely amphibious.”
I literally pinch myself to check that I’m not dreaming. Muir speaks as if he’s telling a very normal story, about a very normal occurrence.
“Sirens begin their transformation process from human to siren at age sixteen. This is why our Intake classes consist solely of students whose sixteenth birthdays have occurred within the past four months.”
Goosebumps rise on my skin. My birthday was in June, three months ago. Exactly when my nightmares started and the gash appeared. Exactly when I started feeling different.
“Everyone in the room today has been raised as human because one of your parents is human and the other, a siren. The offspring of such a union will either be a siren or a human. There’s no in-between and there’s no way to know which the child will be until they turn sixteen. The symptoms you have exhibited are the reason you are here today.”
Headmaster Muir beams around the room, delighted. I stare at him incredulously. This guy is crazy. One of my parents is a siren? There’s no way. I would know if my mom was a siren, there’s no way she could keep that from me.
A shock runs through me. My biological dad.
My ears ring as the realization sets in. It must be him. He was the one who insisted on sending me here. He knew that I could become the same creature that he is.
Blissfully unaware of the confusion and unease raging through the group, Muir continues. “The rest of your class consists of sirens who were born to two siren parents. They may have grown up with the knowledge of being a siren, but they transform at the same time as the rest of you. Their sirenity knows the same bounds as yours, and you will progress through this semester together.”
The guy who called us “Landwalkers” and his friends — they must be who Muir is talking about. Kids who grew up knowing who, and what, they were.
What I am, too.
My mouth is dry, and I realize it’s been hanging open since the start of Muir’s speech. But what he’s saying is impossible. I reject the notion, question it, accept it, and reject it again.
Meanwhile, Headmaster Muir smiles brightly. My panic mysteriously melts away.
“Headmaster,” Flo squeaks and the room faces her. “What do you mean by ‘Destinies?’”
“Great question!” Headmaster Muir booms, causing Flo to blush furiously. “There are four siren Destinies: Anchor, Riptide, Harmony and Constellation. During your trial last night, your Destiny called to you and presented you with a necklace. When you woke up wearing your necklace this morning, something else was awoken inside each of you...”
Murmurs echo through the room. Students pick up their necklaces and look at the shape of the shells — an anchor, a wave, a song note, and a star. Everyone except me. The star sits heavy against my chest, weighing me down.
“Your Destiny has always lived in you. Now you have harnessed its power to transform into your real, siren selves. Have no fear Intakes, for you are right where you belong.”
12
Silence falls over the room. I stare at my star and a blush creeps up my cheeks. Students with necklaces belong here. Students who succeeded at their trials, whose Destinies called to them.
But my Destiny didn’t find me. Does Headmaster Muir know that my trial was a failure? That I might be an imposter?
My eyes alight on Professor Nerida and she stares at me, her gaze firm. She casts her eyes towards my necklace and then back up. This must be what she was talking about on the boat.
“Nothing like being told you’re not a human but a magical creature.” Casey breaks the silence and the tension lifts as laughter echoes throughout the room. Even Headmaster Muir chuckles.
But, a ball of energy forms in my stomach as I process the gravity of the situation. Not only did I fail at my trial, but Muir said that we can only transform into our siren selves with our Destiny necklace. Not that I’m convinced any of this is real.
The door opens and a cheerful, beautiful girl walks in with hair the exact color of pearls.
“Hey Intakes!” she chirps, holding a clipboard to her chest. “I’m Coralie, your Intake Coordinator. I’ll be helping y’all get settled and acquainted with our lovely campus.”
“Thank you, Coralie.” Headmaster Muir booms. “I’ve just informed our Intakes of the existence of our exciting world of sirenity.”
Coralie must notice our dazed expressions because she leans in, her voice conspiratorial. “I know what it’s like, y’all. I was in your position two years ago — came here straight from Texas. One minute, I’m trying out for Miss America. The next, I have a tail!”
She laughs, but the thought of growing a tail makes me even more weary. I look at my feet and wiggle my toes, trying to imagine it. What a weird thought.
“Come on then Intakes, let’s get you settled!”
Silently, we follow Coralie from the office, but Professor Nerida and Headmaster Muir hang back. Is Nerida planning on telling him about my failure at the trial? If she does, they’ll realize that I shouldn’t be here. Maybe this was all just a big mistake, a misunderstanding. They’ll have to send me home.
I frown and clutch the star around my throat. My biological dad sent me here for a reason. Didn’t he? The idea of being a ‘siren’ — mermaid, whatever you want to call it — sounds crazy. But how could Muir have known about the gashes behind my ears?
What’s more, could he have an explanation for my unrelenting nightmares of drowning?
Casey links her arm with mine and I jump at her touch.
“Earth to Maya.” Her brow is furrowed. “You look like you ate some bad sushi.”
I stifle a laugh and my face breaks into a smile. “Are mermaids — sorry, sirens — even allowed to eat fish?”
“Don’t you worry, girl,” Coralie sings from the front of the line. Our words must’ve echoed down the hallway. “The Dining Hall is full of sushi. To answer your question, sirens do eat fish, but we e
nsure any and all hunting is done in a supremely humane manner.”
We ride the glass elevator to the top of the cliffs and walk onto a sprawling courtyard. Coralie explains that we’ll attend classes in the castle, apparently both above and below water, but I can’t begin to comprehend this right now. I’ve never even set foot in a regular castle.
The waves crash into the stone walls below, throwing a confetti of white foam upon impact. Rays of sunshine cut through the spray, creating a halo effect. The campus is nothing short of spectacular.
We make our way to a scattering of A-frame structures overlooking the ocean. These are the first-year dorms — boys to the left, girls to the right. We enter one of the structures and head down a flight of stairs.
“The twelve of you human-borns will be separated and dispersed into dorms with the siren-borns this semester.” Coralie opens a door at the bottom of the stairs. “It helps to mix and mingle with kids who have different backgrounds.”
I hardly pay attention to Coralie’s words, I’m too distracted by the incredible room we step into. The common area is huge and full of bean bag chairs and sofas. The space is carved right into the side of the cliff, with three rock walls and the fourth is a single, long pane of glass. The window offers panoramic ocean views. I stand at the edge to take in the sight, and for a second it feels like I could step right into oblivion.
Casey raises her hand like we’re in a classroom. “Is that what the whole ‘Landwalkers’ thing is about?”
“That’s just a silly term that siren-borns use to refer to human-borns.” She rolls her eyes and tuts. “But don’t think for a second that, because they’re siren-born, they’re more advanced than you. Ignore any idiots calling y’all ‘Landwalkers,’ they don’t show signs of transforming until they’re sixteen either.”
Her pursed lips give her away. She’s clearly been personally affected by this.
Coralie starts to call out room assignments and I cross my fingers behind my back. I don’t know anything about this place, what I’m doing here, or what on earth my deadbeat dad was thinking sending me here. But one thing I do know is that I want to be bunking with Casey and Flo until I have my answers.
Finally, Coralie calls my name and quickly follows with theirs. I sigh a massive breath of relief and Casey elbows me playfully.
Coralie shows us into our dorm, which holds six beds, desks, and chests of drawers. Our suitcases are lying at the foot of three of the beds, along with a package containing our new school uniforms.
The other three beds, near the biggest windows, are claimed. Magazines, perfumes and body lotions are scattered around. One desk is a functional make-up station. There are no signs to indicate that this room belongs to amphibious sea creatures, rather than regular teenage girls.
I’m not sure if I’m relieved or disappointed.
We meet Coralie outside the dorms to continue the tour. Despite the exhaustion of my entire world turning on its head in the past twenty-four hours, I can't ignore the excitement that's steadily creeping over me and gaining ground on my emotions.
This place is unreal, unlike anything I could’ve imagined. Something about Deep Cove is intriguing, but it also feels right… in a way that I can’t explain. There’s no harm done in hanging around a bit longer, at least until I get found out and am sent home.
Besides, my curiosity nags at me. There’s got to be an explanation for why my Destiny didn’t find me.
Coralie finishes the tour near the castle entrance. “Opening Ceremony is happening in the Main Auditorium tonight, 6pm sharp. Please wear your Deep Cove uniforms. And remember, my door is always open!”
She turns on her heel and disappears into the castle. I stare after her wistfully, feeling more lost than ever. Silence befalls the group as we all turn to look at each other blankly, a sea of twelve confused faces.
Now what?
13
“Let’s hit the beach!” Back in our room, Casey throws open her suitcase and whips out a dazzling red bikini.
“I can barely keep my eyes open.” Flo says dreamily and then splays herself across her bed. “That trial last night took it out of me. What about you, Maya?”
“Oh yeah, same,” I mumble. “But I’m too over-tired to sleep. I’m craving some beach time.”
I open my suitcase and spot the pile of bikinis my mom bought me. I shiver. My dad might be the siren, but does my mom… know about all of this? Does she expect me to be a siren too?
The thought turns my stomach. I shake myself off before heading into the bathroom to get changed.
The uneasy feeling disappears as soon as my feet hit the golden sand. The sunshine is warm on my face and the smell of the sea breeze is intoxicating. Casey and I take our time wandering towards the water. I could get used to this.
The beach is crowded closer to the shoreline, and we step around clusters of students laughing together. Most of the school’s population appears to be hanging out here, enjoying the warm weather.
I look around for the beautiful guy I saw earlier, and I spot him across the beach. Just the sight of him knocks the wind out of me. He is literally perfection in human form.
He laughs and darts towards the pretty, blonde volleyball-playing girl from before. I watch him pick her up and toss her over his muscular shoulder like she weighs nothing. He makes a run at the water and she shrieks and slaps at him.
She must be his girlfriend. Figures.
“Laydeeezzz!” a voice drawls from behind us. “Welcome to Deep Cove!”
I spin around to see the bro of Landwalker-comment fame. He carries himself like he knows how hot he is. His tousled hair is impeccably coiffed into a bedhead look, and his tanned skin glistens in the sun.
He’s standing with yet another guy who looks more like a male model than a high school student. What is with all these beautiful people? Is it a siren thing?
I glance at Casey. She’s definitely stunning. I’ve always thought of myself as average looking. Maybe, once again, I am an exception to the rule. Or, maybe I simply don’t belong here.
Casey puts her hands on her hips and tilts her head. “Ladies? Don’t you mean Landwalkers?”
“Whatever you prefer to be called works for me.” The guy laughs and sticks out his hand. He gives Casey and I a not-so-subtle once over. What a flirt. “I’m TJ.”
Casey raises her eyebrows at him. “And I’m not interested.”
His friend howls with laughter and TJ mock-clutches his heart in pain, making such a ridiculous face that it's impossible not to laugh.
“Oof, that one hurt!” He staggers backward, then eyes Casey’s necklace. “Oh you’re a Riptide. The abuse makes sense.”
The second guy rolls his eyes and then smiles at us warmly. “I’m Marlowe. Don’t mind TJ. He was dropped on his head as a baby.”
We laugh as TJ punches Marlowe on the arm. I glance at Marlowe’s necklace and there’s an anchor on it. TJ has the song note. Anchor and Harmony Destinies.
Casey and TJ quickly fall into a witty banter so I turn to Marlowe, eager to find out more about these siren-borns. My mind whirls with a billion questions I want to ask.
Trying not to overwhelm the guy, I start with the simplest one. “Have you guys been here long?”
“We got here yesterday. We were excited for you human-borns to show up. It’s like the only time in our lives that we get any new classmates,” Marlowe laughs.
“So, you grew up here?”
“Most of us did, in Heron Bay. It’s across the island.”
A shiver crawls down my spine. Was my biological dad siren-born? Is that where he grew up?
Marlowe runs his fingers through his hair and laughs at a joke TJ is telling. I’m taken aback. He was the guy walking along the beach with the beautiful mystery guy when we arrived. I was so taken with him, I had barely registered Marlowe. They must be friends.
The heat rises in my cheeks and I glance around instinctively, looking for the mystery guy again. I spot him walking to
wards the water with his surfboard in hand. The tan muscles of his back gleam in the sun. I stare, entranced.
“You’re a Constellation.” Marlowe’s melodic voice brings me back to the present and I blush furiously. I use his question as an excuse to look at my star and hide my face.
“Apparently.” I answer. “You guys had a trial too?”
“The night before yours. We obviously knew ahead of time what was going to happen.” Marlowe shrugs. “Growing up in Heron Bay, we knew we’d be sent to Deep Cove when we were ready to transform. Professor Halloran — he’s the Transformation professor — took us down to the beach for our trials.”
Marlowe looks at the majestic castle in the cliffside. His next words seem almost more for himself than for me. “I couldn’t wait to turn sixteen so I could come here.”
I’m intrigued to learn more, but TJ interrupts. “Maya, Casey. It was lovely to meet you ladies. See you at Opening Ceremony tonight!”
TJ gives us a cheeky wink and Marlowe waves. The boys jog to the water, joining the beautiful guy in the shallows.
Casey is flushed and sparkly as she looks after TJ.
“You like him.” I elbow her playfully.
“Maybe.” She smirks. “But he will never have the satisfaction of knowing it!”
“Your secret is safe with me.” I mime locking my lips.
She rolls her eyes, but her face becomes thoughtful. “I wonder what he meant about the whole Riptide thing?”
I shrug — this is all WAY too new to me. “He probably just couldn’t handle your sass.”
Casey laughs and we continue our stroll along the beach. It’s fun to watch TJ and Marlowe on their surfboards, but my attention is totally captured by the beautiful guy. He carves the waves effortlessly and he’s easily the best surfer out there. I’ve never been interested in water sports, or any sports for that matter, but I’m sucked in watching him.
An odd sense of familiarity washes over me. It’s like I’ve seen him before, but I can’t have. He’s a siren-born. He must’ve grown up here on the island with everyone else.
The Destiny: A YA Paranormal Academy Romance (Deep Cove Academy Book 1) Page 4