Travelling further south, she saw the crossroads and Ozin Village over yonder. Mara stopped and stared at it. The villagers went about their business. Children played outside. They were happy and free, now that the White Lady was gone. No more dealing with the Forgotten Ones as well. Security was beefed up by the Holy Blades, who took the place of the village guards. The people could rest easy knowing they were safe. Too bad they executed the one responsible for slaying the White Lady. Did they know that Saskia and Mara were the true heroes? Then again, they probably never cared. Mara felt like storming into that village. She wanted to at least confront Nigel, but with so many Holy Blades around, all she could do was glare at the place. Mara sighed and moved on.
Travelling the eastern road, she passed by Golden Mountain. Looking up at the mountain, Mara could see the cave entrance to the Dark Labyrinth. She also noticed the ivory and gold temple sitting on a higher elevation. Pillars holding flames lit up the trail to the temple. She never noticed it before because she never looked up. Several Holy Blades guarded the path. People wearing fancy attire ascended the mountain. Mara assumed this to be the Temple of Kallisto: home of the Faith of Kallikratés. Once part of the grand palace the gods ruled from, much of it was razed to the ground upon the Dark One’s awakening. According to legend, it was the last place Kallisto was seen before disappearing from this world. The place felt familiar, but her memory remained incomplete. Nevertheless, she moved on.
***
On November 19, Mara saw the port town of Har’ Yhan. Getting there was not as treacherous as she thought it would be. Mara figured she was getting more comfortable getting around—it only took two days of traveling. By the time she arrived, the sun was setting. Walking in, she ignored the stares of the townsfolk. The dark hood and tattered cape made everyone suspicious of her. In the heart of the town, Mara found Har’ Yhan’s alderman standing with two guards.
Jonathan was a middle-aged man with dark hair and a full beard. Small pieces of grey were setting in. Not many wrinkles were present on his pale face. He stared at her with dark grey eyes. She stopped before them and glanced at Jonathan.
“I’m here for the Siren,” Mara began.
Everyone gazed at each other. Some appeared impressed while others shrugged. Jonathan opened his mouth to talk, but his eyes glanced past her.
“What are you doing here?”
Mara heard a familiar voice. Turning around, she saw Commander White and Boyd standing behind her with folded arms. Accompanying them were ten Holy Blades, all equipped with armour and weapons. She was greeted by the commander’s classic glare.
Boyd gave a malicious smirk. “What do we have here?”
Mara frowned. “Could ask you the same question.”
“We came for the Siren!” The commander stormed past her. “And you’re wasting our time.”
The Holy Blades followed suit and walked past her as well.
She scowled at them. “Why are you here? You can’t kill the Siren!”
Boyd turned around and shrugged at her. “This town already paid us half in advance. We’ll get the other half once we kill the creature. Nothing personal, but we Holy Blades can’t leave a job half-finished.” He turned around and joined the others.
Before boarding a tall ship, already prepared for them, the alderman spoke up.
“Excuse me, gentlemen,” Jonathan called. The Holy Blades stopped and gazed back at him, except Commander White. “It might be in your best interest to take her with you,” he recommended.
The commander snapped his head around, setting his fiery gaze upon Jonathan. Turning around, he stormed up to the older man.
“Excuse me? Unless I’m mistaken, you’re suggesting we take her with us?” Commander White hissed. Mara glanced at the alderman. He looked intimidated by the commander’s bold and aggressive demeanour, though he held his ground.
“Consider what you’ll be dealing with,” Jonathan said.
“I know what we’re dealing with, but why should we take her?”
“The Siren’s song enchants the hearts of men. She lures her victims and feeds on their life force.” Jonathan gestured to Mara. “However, women are unaffected by her voice. The last person who came close to killing the Siren was female.”
The commander kept scowling at him. “Was she successful?”
The alderman shook his head. “The Siren’s song attracted monsters from the Dark Labyrinth and they killed the woman. Since then, the creature knows better than to be near women.”
There were murmurs among the Holy Blades. The commander raised an eyebrow.
“So, the Siren appears before men and never women?” He looked at Mara. “If we bring her, we’ll never find the creature.” The Holy Blades murmured in agreement. Commander White glared at her before turning around to lead his men onto the ship. Boarding the tall ship, the Holy Blades departed to search for the Siren.
Mara shook her head, her right hand tightened into a fist. She never expected to see the Holy Blades here, interfering with her task. Thanks to them, she might not be able to kill the creature tonight. She watched them drift into the dark ocean.
Jonathan sighed, also watching them depart. “The Siren will be well fed tonight.” He gazed at her. “I apologize. You wasted your time coming here.” Then he walked away.
Mara looked back at him. “I came to kill the Siren,” she insisted.
Jonathan stopped, but didn’t look at her. “Didn’t you hear the conversation? The Siren won’t appear before women!”
“I know that,” Mara replied, “but if they kill the creature, she’ll come back.”
Jonathan gazed back at her. “Everybody knows that! The Siren is no mere mermaid. It’s an evil spirit wanting revenge.”
“Revenge?” Mara asked.
He revealed the tale of the creature. “A long time ago, there lived a songstress in this town. She was known for her beautiful voice until some thugs silenced her. She was under the care of a man, whom she loved unconditionally. However, her lover went away to study in Corlin, claiming he’d return. She waited for him for three years, but he married another and wanted nothing to do with her. Distraught and heartbroken, she took her own life by throwing herself into the ocean.”
After hearing the tragic tale, Mara got some crucial information. “That’s when the Siren appeared?”
The alderman nodded. “And she’ll never stop until she has the man who betrayed her.”
She took a step towards him. “What if I told you I can kill the Siren for good?”
Jonathan looked at her with a questioning glance. “Then I’d reckon you’re not a mere hunter. Who are you? What organization do you identify yourself with?”
Mara shook her head. “Harold, formerly of the Silver Thorns, sent me to kill the Siren.”
Jonathan looked surprise. “He did? Then you must be a very good hunter.”
“I’m the one who killed the White Lady in Misty Valley,” Mara said.
His eyes widened. “Oh, you are? We’ve heard of the creature being slain for good. And now you’ve come to Har’ Yhan to slay the Siren?”
Mara nodded. “That is correct. Chances are, the Holy Blades will lure her out. If I can find her, I can kill the Siren.”
“Very well. Follow me.” He led Mara to a small fishing vessel. It could only sit one or two people. “The Siren has her home in a nearby cove in Ghost Mountain. You can use this boat to follow the Holy Blades. You might be unable to save them. But if you can kill the Siren, the town will be forever grateful.”
She gazed at the small fishing vessel. This was not going to be easy at all.
***
Mara boarded the fishing vessel and took the helm. She gripped the steering handle that controlled the rudder. As the wind filled the sails, her boat drifted away from the port. Only a full moon lit up the night sky. At last, she found the large vessel. The ship remained still in the moonlit night. The Holy Blades were searching for the Siren. As she drew closer, Mara heard a voice ca
rried in the wind. It was unlike anything she ever heard—the haunting song of the Siren.
The tall ship began to move in the direction of the voice. She began to follow, but heard a loud crash. The ship smashed onto the rocks, tearing the bow off. Everyone was thrown into the ocean. One by one, the Holy Blades were dragged down into the churning sea. Their cries for help grew silent and the sea became still.
As her boat drifted to the wreckage, a body rose from the sea. Mara found a skeleton with skin stretched across the bones, as if all the muscles and fat were sucked out. Another mummified corpse rose up, then another and another. Looking around, Mara saw a cove. The ocean spray swept along the dark entrance. She found the Siren’s lair. She pushed the rudder, directing the boat to the cove. The current tugged at her boat, drawing her into the creature’s lair.
Reaching the cove’s entrance, Mara found bones and corpses riddling the ground—all victims of the Siren. Some wore the golden armour of the Holy Blades. She reckoned these were the men Commander White led on this hunt. The commander wasn’t among them. Boyd was also missing. He probably cowered out. In the distance, she heard the sonorous voice of the Siren. Getting out of the boat, she followed the sound.
The voice grew louder with each step. After a few moments, Mara arrived at a large cavern where she found the creature. The Siren, now silent, could be mistaken for a mermaid. The lower half of her body was a long fish tail and the upper part was human. Dull gold scales adorned her back and arms. Her hands possessed long slender fingers with webbing in-between and sharp claws. Sharp spines ran down the middle of her back. All her fins and frills had little tears. She wore some sort of white fabric on her upper body—the remains of a dress, torn and soaked. Mara couldn’t see her face for the long black hair plastered it. She took a step forward, but realized she wasn’t alone. A survivor of the sunken ship was present as well.
Commander White approached the Siren with a drawn sword. She sat there in silence, appearing unaware. He lifted his sword, ready to strike her down. The creature looked back at him and sang. So haunting and sad, it froze the commander in his tracks. Lowering his sword, his hand began to relax. His sword fell to the ground. A loud clang echoed throughout the cavern. The Siren reached out, longing to hold him. Falling deeper into a trance, Commander White fell to his knees. She ensnared him in her arms. He lay beneath her, her face hovering over his own. The creature held him in her arms as she sang her enchanting song. She caressed his face in a loving manner. He closed his eyes and sighed. She leaned in and kissed him on the lips.
Mara saw his entire body convulsing. The Siren was draining the life from him. She dashed at them, shoving the creature off Commander White. The commander lay stunned, but still alive. Gasping for air, he stared at the ceiling with wide eyes. Mara turned her gaze from him and looked at the Siren. The creature hissed at her, realizing Mara was not a man and thus immune to her song. The Siren began to scream. Her eyes turned black and her distorted mouth opened wide. The skin tore apart at the corners of her mouth. She opened her maw to reveal a row of razor sharp teeth.
The Siren dived into the water. Mara tried to catch her, but she was nowhere to be seen. Then she heard the Siren’s song and the sounds of monsters growling. Mara turned around and saw a large black beast charging at her. At eight feet tall, it possessed the snarling face of a wolf. Horns protruded out of its head and its eyes glowed yellow. She recognized the creature from the bestiary. It was a shadow beast. Flexing its hands and claws, the beast ran at her.
Mara, having nowhere to go, got smashed into the water. Unable to swim, she drowned in the darkness. As she sank deeper, she felt a presence. There was a creature nearby—a massive leviathan resting in the ocean. Spots of blue glowed in the dark and black scales shimmered with little life. She was engulfed by a large blue orb of light. A massive eye in the ocean stared at Mara. Her body felt like it was set on fire.
She rose out of the water, her clothes darkened and soaked. Mara grabbed onto the shore, her nails digging into the ground. She saw the Siren with Commander White, planning on draining his life again. Glowing wolf-like eyes stared at her prey. Mara released a low guttural growl. She clenched her teeth and snarled at them. Rising to her feet, Mara wrapped her right hand around the hilt of her sword and unsheathed it. The Siren didn’t notice her, being occupied with her victim. Her lips came closer to his.
“Get away from him!” Mara roared.
She dashed at them. In a blind rage, Mara swung her sword at the Siren. The creature took notice and pushed Commander White away. She began to flee again. Mara plunged her sword into the Siren’s tail, pinning her to the ground and preventing her escape. The creature released a loud screech. Mara came closer, removing her mask and baring her teeth. Her canines elongated while she growled. The Siren stared back and hissed. She slashed at Mara with her claws and hit her. Mara flinched, gaining three new scratches on her face. The Siren swiped again, but Mara lunged at her with a wide open mouth. She caught the Siren’s hand in her jaws, biting through her fingers and severing them. The creature screamed in agony.
Mara glared down at her, the severed fingers still in her mouth. She spat them out while her injuries healed. The Siren struggled from the sword and crawled away. Mara had no intentions to let her live another moment and grabbed her tail. The Siren responded by thrashing about. Mara didn’t let go. She held on tight and lifted her up. With the creature high enough, she slammed the Siren onto the rock hard floor, head first. A loud cracking sound echoed in the cavern. Soon the Siren stopped struggling. Mara looked over her prey and opened her mouth. She lunged at her neck and bit into it. She completely blacked out.
Regaining her senses, Mara found herself crouching over the creature. A massive wound on the Siren’s neck squirted blood. The wound was made by teeth marks. She could taste blood in her mouth. Transfixed by the sight, Mara had no idea what came over her. Her heart was pounding, her head spinning. A glowing orb rose from the Siren’s body. Mara reached her hand out and the soul shot into her. Her body began to tremble. Mara felt like she was on fire again. She fell beside the Siren’s body and lost consciousness.
Chapter Thirteen
A Well Deserved Reward
For half an hour, Mara laid beside the Siren’s corpse. With a pounding head and a lack of strength, she had no desire to get up.
“Aria,” she uttered in a half-lucid state.
After a while, the pain faded and she regained more clarity. She gazed at the Siren. Just like the White Lady, she transformed. Scales fell off and the tail disappeared, allowing her legs to form. Her skin became tanned. The white dress was restored, adorning the waterlogged corpse. If not for the large gash on her neck, the Siren would appear to be sleeping peacefully. Her face was still plastered with wet black hair, but it looked more human than before.
Mara rose to her feet and looked around. The commander was absent. She wondered where he had gone to. He just left her here with no regard to her well-being. Not even a simple thanks for saving his life. Well, she had to kill the Siren anyway. That monster threatened mankind for many years. And according to Harold, killing the undying was supposed to help her. She completed her task. Unfortunate many lives were lost tonight, but at least Mara obtained the Siren’s soul.
She returned to the boat, wiping the blood off her face with her glove. When she arrived at the cove entrance, Mara noticed the boat was missing. She knew she left it here. Commander White likely took it to escape the cove, to add insult to injury. Sighing, she returned to the cave to find another way out.
Mara saw her reflection in a pool of water. Her face had been restored, but was still bloody and the coppery taste remained in her mouth. She scooped up some water and washed the blood out of her mouth. After washing her face, Mara placed her mask back on. Looking around the cavern, she found a tunnel. A draft came from it. This had to be a way out.
Before leaving, Mara looked back at the Siren’s body. A little voice in her head told her it wasn’t righ
t to just leave her there. She approached the body and noticed a crumpled note in her left hand. Mara took it and folded it out. The old letter was difficult to read due to the discolouration and almost faded words.
Her eyes grew wide when she saw the words. “I’m breaking up with you,” Mara read. “Found someone else. Was married for quite a while… what is this?”
A part of it was illegible. She lowered the letter and gazed at the body. Another memento was found. The little voice begged her to keep it and not forget Aria. She still had the comb from the White Lady. She didn’t have the heart to throw it away. So, she stashed the letter away with the tarnished comb. Mara gathered some rocks to entomb the Siren. After making the grave, Mara went into another tunnel to see where it goes.
There weren’t many monsters, but Mara kept her guard up. Since encountering the shadow beast, who knew what else lurked in the Dark Labyrinth. She walked for a while and saw holes and cracks in the ceiling. Light poured in. Wandering the tunnel, she found several crates and barrels. She peered into one of the crates, finding various goods and imports.
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