She bats at his hands and slips away, while he pursues her with adoring eyes.
“Sickening,” I spit scornfully, unable to look away from the two of them.
Hartley snorts. “But these are people who do not understand what you are; they just see you as handsome, attractive, human-appearing monsters who can sing the most incredible songs, and humans have always cherished musical ability.”
Now that grabs my attention. It is a finer being who can appreciate the beauty in a song.
“They have?” I ask, moving closer.
“Yes. Humans idolize musicians and actors more than any other of our species. It is a highly cherished talent. The world saw you use a skill and talent to save them, and they love you for it.”
Huh.
“So, we should?” I ask and let the question trail off, waiting for his response.
“Be patient but firm; keep your boundaries but appreciate that they are doing this to honour you for your rescue. In short, most humans think you are heroes.”
“Heroes?” I blink hard and spin when I hear a deep thrum of the most haunting song I’ve ever heard.
The Strega is stepping back from the dragon and has walked into my space without realising, and with her distraction, I can hear a part of her song. It is lonely and sad, like a single viola playing into the night.
I catch her shoulder and pull her back against my chest, glaring at the dragon.
“Get back.”
He snarls.
I snarl louder.
My shiver closes ranks around me, and the dragon backs down with furious eyes.
The witch doesn’t react at all; she just stands there, ignoring the pain that I know I’m causing with my fingers biting into her shoulder.
“Sit down and listen to the human,” Ronit says.
I release her, but she stands perfectly still, her back ramrod straight, blackberries dancing in the air around her. This close, I can see all the painted runes on her skin, and I wonder who put them there and how far down they go. But I can also see the scars under and on the runes. Her skin is cross-hatched with old wounds, and somehow, the song is gone again.
She cocks her head to the side, and I realize that, somehow, she still knows I’m here.
“Are you finished, Siren? Did you find what you were looking for?”
“What are you?”
Her lips tighten, and she moves away, but I reach out and grip her throat, dragging her close to me, trying to hear the sound of her again.
Her talons sink into my skin, not breaking the surface but in warning.
I cock my head, leaning closer, listening, but there’s silence. Just silence. Like what I heard was an echo from someone else, far away.
“Get your disgusting flippers off me, squid boy.”
I’m so startled I let go, and she rips away from me, putting a whole lot of distance between us and her.
It’s dark now, and she disappears into her tree while Diablos sets a tree trunk on fire and stares at us.
“And now your training begins, my little grasshoppers.”
“No, Di, no. Don’t go misquoting movies.”
