“Won’t work.”
“Why not?!” he hissed.
“Time won’t stay frozen there. He’d likely snap out of it as soon as any part of him came into contact with the realm. And I’m guessing there is a reason Soren didn’t suggest trying to trick him into it. Or that they didn’t think about him going there in the first place, before the change happened.”
“Well, if we survive this, maybe we can ask the fuckers.”
“What’s your plan?”
“Sing… I’m going to sing, without holding back, so try not to get entranced.”
“Will…” The man trailed off as they came around a bend, taking a few steps forward before stopping, as they had clearly found Ender.
He’d expected Ender to just be a larger version of a half snake, half man, with snake hair, but Soren’s description of a giant snake was pretty apt.
His glowing amber-yellow eyes had black slitted pupils, and Ender’s body was covered with snow-white scales. The snake had to be at least eight feet around, and likely near eighty feet long, but it was hard to tell when they could only see it from the front.
At his size, the Gorgon could barely fit in the hall, and the snake’s movements were stilted. Luckily for Ender, and unlucky for them, the hall happened to open up into a large lounge area where they were standing.
The snake froze on spotting them, before letting out a terrifying shriek that vibrated through Killian’s very bones. The sound was horrible, yet heartbreakingly filled with pain. The shriek had barely finished when Ender started to slither forward wildly, his body banging into the sides of the hall. He was unsurprised when the Gorgon went for Cyrus, as they both leaped out of the way.
Fates all had a similar smell to them, so if Soren wasn’t lying, and he no doubt wasn’t, then Cyrus would smell too much like the person who was responsible for the death of Ender’s family for the snake to care about anyone else.
As Ender continued to go after Cyrus, the Fate moving swiftly to avoid him, Killian hesitated for only a moment before starting to sing. Using the full strength of his Siren’s call, he commanded, in feeling only, for all who heard to calm, to rest. His voice’s true power was in its ability to control the masses. That was where his strength truly lied, more so than when he focused on just one.
“Look around you, little Siren. The waters you swim in are filled with fear. Ignore at your own risk that our once greatest freedom is now our demise.
“Swim, little Siren, the shadows are calling. Do you hear them whispering your name? Close your ears to the lies they offer, for even now, they try to drag you down.
“Swim, little Siren. Swim, little Siren, for only death waits for you here.
“Look around you, little Siren. The waters you swim in are filled with fear. Ignore at your own risk that our once greatest freedom is now our demise.
“Swim, little Siren, the sunshine is calling. Your path to freedom is waiting above. Burning though the heat may be, the dryness that follows a death of its own. You must swear to me, swear to me, my sweet child, that the darkness that took me won’t take you as well?—”
On hearing the first note, Ender’s attacking slowed, and by the end of the second, Killian had the Gorgon’s full attention. His big body swayed with the tune, and the snake’s eyes dilated, as he slowly drew nearer to him, not stopping even when his singing turned wordless. He was only humming now, but it was no less powerful.
Killian reached out when Ender’s head lowered to stare into his face, and as his hand gently rested on his scaled head, there was a ripple under his palm. The rippling continued as the snake’s form began to shrink, before the scales peeled back slowly, revealing Ender in his Gorgon form. The lower half of him snake, his chest was bare, and white scales curved around his sides and up his neck, framing his face. The man’s hair was made up of many white snakes that slithered around his hand, where it rested on the top of Ender’s head. Though he had changed, the eyes staring back still seemed to be all animal.
Carefully cupping the side of Ender’s partially scaled face, he repeated one last line, “Look around you, little Siren. The waters you swim in are filled with fear. Ignore at your own risk that our once greatest freedom is now our demise.”
As the last word left his mouth, he caught Ender around the waist when the Gorgon collapsed, now fully back in his human form, and naked. Slowly lowering them both to the floor, Killian wrapped his arms more fully around Ender when the Cryptid began to sob.
“I got you, Ender. You’re safe,” he promised.
“Ender…” Cyrus called out softly.
Killian glanced up, eyeing Cyrus as the man cautiously approached. The Fate had pulled his shirt off and currently had it in his hands.
The Gorgon slowly looked up at Cyrus. His body was trembling, and Ender’s face was flooded with tears. He’d have assumed the trembling was due to his emotions if he didn’t currently have the man pressed against his side, but he did, and Ender felt like ice. But then, the halls seemed to be the coldest area on the ships.
Cyrus crouched beside them, not seeming to dare to touch the Gorgon as he offered him his shirt. “It’s pretty cold out here, isn’t it? Why don’t you let us help you get out of the hall?”
Ender blinked, his hands shakily taking the shirt. The Cryptid let out a frustrated hiss only moments later as he struggled to get it on, his hands trembling so badly he could barely hold it.
“Can I touch you?” Cyrus asked.
Ender froze, staring for a moment before hiccupping and nodding. Cyrus seemed to stop hesitating then, and quickly helped the Gorgon slide the shirt on. They helped the man stand, but when Ender's legs gave out, Cyrus wordlessly scooped him up, cradling him against his chest.
