“I can pull the blood through every pore and leave nothing but a husk behind. A dried up strip of hide that crumbles in the wind.” Malice laced her words as red blurred her vision.
“Do you want to know the Siren secret, though? Something I’ve never told anyone.” She lifted a hand between them and opened her fingers. “I am the master of blood. I sing my Song and itpoursfor me. The blood in your body will do my bidding and I can control you in every sense.” Xia’s fingers began to close, the movement near imperceptible, as Nyx grabbed at her chest with panicked wheezes. “When I’m done with you, Nyx, I’ll pull the heart from your chest and I will be the last you see before it bursts.”
Xia squeezed the struggling organ for emphasis before letting Nyx go entirely. Nyx fell to the ground and scrambled backward as she held her chest. Tears fell freely, but she wore hatred as a shield as she coughed. “You’re a fucking psycho, just like he is!”
“No, Nyx. I am a goddess, and you will do well to remember it. The next time you call me weak, perhaps you should consider that I’m just being kind enough to let you lead.”
“Xia, what did you do?” Brooks knelt beside Nyx but she swatted him away.
“I did what was necessary to make her understand that she is starting games she doesn’t have the power to play, let alone finish.”
With those words and a final cold stare, the Siren receded back into the dark as Xia rushed forward. Xia stumbled as she regained control, her heart racing and tears building behind her eyes. She looked to Brooks trying to find the words to explain, or apologize, but stopped short. He was still weak. Xia could see it in every trembling limb as it fought to hold him up.
“You didn’t have to do that to her. She would have come around– she would have talked. All you had to do was show an ounce of kindness and patience.”
We are done being nice, and will no longer be their pawn. You would do well to remember that.
Concern etched itself in the fine lines of Brooks’ forehead as he looked at her. He helped Nyx stand even though he was struggling to do so himself. They both stumbled, each leaning on the other's strength to get upright. Xia wanted to go to them, to help them up and make sure they were alright.
They will learn faster if we let them struggle.
Nyx wiped the blood from her nose with the back of her hand as she glared at Xia. She turned without a word and strided down the alley with Brooks only a few steps behind. Xia kept her eyes forward as she followed and fought to temper the well of emotions still threatening to overflow.
They made three more turns before Nyx stopped and faced one of the building walls. Xia couldn’t draw much detail from the dark since her Siren withdrew, but it seemed that some of the bricks were a few shades lighter than the others. In the dark, they almost glowed.
Without a word, Nyx stepped through the wall. Brooks looked at Xia, the space between his brows wrinkling as his lips thinned, and followed the girl through.
Was he… mad?
How fuckingdarehe be mad!
“What?”
We protected him and his precious side-kick from the Lamia, and they’re angry at us?
“You nearly killed them both tonight!”
Xia was met with a thunderous storm and returned it to her Siren tenfold. A hurricane raged inside as they clashed and gray clouds swirled furiously in the night sky.
If you would trust me, trust yourself, more than you trusted others tonight could have been different. I amstarving, Xia. I am bitter, enraged, and just as much a prisoner as you were inthat godsforsaken club. I am a part of you and yet you cage me like an animal.
“Because you destroy everything you touch!”Xia squatted in the alley as she fisted her hair and panted. Thunder clapped and vibrated the ground.
It’s better than destroying myself as you seem so determined to do.
Xia yelled through clenched teeth as she tried to shut her eyes to the world,but as lightning flashed through the sky, Xia saw the ghost of her Siren standing before her.
I was patient, Xia. When you wanted to tear me from your soul, I went willingly. When you wanted to hide, I slept in the dark.
“Please,” Xia cried as the Siren knelt in front of her.
I stayed silent as you were degraded and bloodied because you were too afraid to let me in. I ate all of your fear and anger, consumed your despair, and absorbed every ounce of bitterness so that you didn't have to bear it all on your own. I havealwaysbeen with you, Xia. Even when you did not want me, I was there.
Xia hugged her legs tight as she fell back to sit and cry into her knees. A taloned finger brushed her hair back as a warm palm cupped her face.
The longer you deny who you are, who we are, the more you will suffer. You wish to find yourself, Xia, but you’re only searching one half of the map.
Xia sniffled and looked up at her Siren. “I don’t want to be like this anymore,” Xia whispered out loud.
