Page 4 of Siren in the Rain

Gingerly, I lie down on the cot and close my eyes, letting out a heavy sigh.

Haku trills with worry and his wings flap in agitation. “Are you sure you’re up for what we have planned tonight?”

I pet his tiny body, trying to reassure him.

Drakes, winged reptiles about the size of a human hand, are distant relatives of dragons. They’re immensely loyal to whoever they bond with. In retrospect, I should have known he’d never leave me even if it meant escaping this nightmare.

Haku and I have been together for as long as I can remember. He was a gift from my birth mother before she died.

Just thinking of her makes my heart ache. Regardless of what we’re all led to believe, time doesn’t heal all wounds. It’s been fifteen years since I lost her.

Although I never really had the chance to overcome that loss because when she died, my life became a living hell.

The one saving grace of the whole situation has always been Haku. My mother placed a spell on him that ties him to me. Anyone who attempts to hurt Haku or separate him from me against his will suffers a terrible magical rebound. Sadly, my mother’s spell doesn’t protect me from harm in the same way. Perhaps she never anticipated me needing it? I’ll never know.

But at least Margaret and Bella can’t take away my one and only companion.

I sigh. “I need to sleep for an hour or two to recharge my magic as much as possible. The sadistic trio won’t be back until dawn.”

If I’m ever going to have a perfect window of opportunity, this is it.

“Sure, Master Shae. Our ride won’t be here until three in the morning anyway. You rest. I’ll watch over you and wake you when it’s time,” Haku whispers.

I try not to fixate on all that could go wrong.

If my plan fails?—

No, I won’t think about it.

Haku begins to sing softly in an ancient language I don’t understand, a lullaby of sorts that is both soothing and familiar. I’m far too old for such things now, but I don’t protest and fall into an exhausted slumber.

Later, I jolt awake to Haku whispering in my ear. “It’s time, Master Shae.”

Sitting up slowly, I assess my body. I’m still aching and tired, but I am recovered enough to do what needs to be done.

I don’t have another choice anyway. It’s tonight or never.

I pull on some tennis shoes from my dresser, ready to enact our long-prepared plan.

Haku coughs up puffs of smoke before he manages to regurgitate a copy of the key to my cage. It hadn’t been easy to get this, and he’s been hiding it for me for a while.

I pet his head. “Good work.”

He preens.

Carefully, I wind my arm through the bars and maneuver the key to unlock the enclosure. I bite my already injured lip, making it bleed again, as my skin makes unavoidable contact with the iron bars. Gritting my teeth, I fight through the agonizing sensation akin to my skin being burned off in strips.

I nearly sob with relief when I finally hear the familiar click and the cage door swings open.

We hurry out and a glance at the clock on the wall tells me it’s almost time. This is the one shift where there are only two guards on duty watching me and our best shot at enacting our escape plan.

“Wait for the signal,” I remind Haku, who shifts from foot to foot on my shoulder, eager and anxious.

Long, agonizing minutes go by and then a perimeter alarm goes off.

I press my ear against the solid metal door of the room and hear the guards curse and hurry off to investigate.

The moment of truth is upon us.

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