Page 38 of Cursed By a Siren's Kiss

“Eat the man’s heart.” His high-pitched voice held excitement, but it also held fear and wonder. “You said you didn’t want to, but you still did it.” He shuddered as he added, “Is it like an instinct?”

I tried to ignore his question, focusing on the task at hand. Even if I explained it all to them, they’d probably still see me as a monster.

“If you don’t eat a man’s heart, could you die?” the boy persisted.

I dropped another potato into the bin with a heavy sigh as I nodded. It was clear he wouldn’t stop so without looking at either of them, I said, “It’s part of our siren nature. When we come of a certain age, we must consume a human heart or we risk losing our siren power, some of us even die.”

The boy leaned forward, his toothless grin lighting up his face as he eagerly awaited a story from one of the monsters in the nighttime tales that he’d no doubt grown up hearing. “Why do you have to eat a heart?”

As we continued peeling vegetables, potatoes and carrots, I told him the story of our creation by a goddess of the sea who became our queen so she wouldn’t be lonely. “She fell in love with Zeus,” I said, watching the boy’s face light up with fascination.

“Oooh!” he exclaimed, bouncing on the barrel he sat on. “I know what happens next! Hera always gets mad and punishes them!”

“Exactly,” I confirmed with a nod. “So, the story ends tragically. Hera cursed the goddess and all sirens to be monsters, taking from us our powers and immortality. In order to earn them back, we must make a mortal fall in love with us and then rip their heart out and consume it before the third full moon after our twenty-first birthday.”

With wide eyes, he asked, “What happens if they don’t do that before the third moon?”

“They become mortal,” I replied gravely.

“Will they die?”

“Most do,” I admitted with a heavy heart. “They cannot survive without the ocean, but some manage to cling onto life still.”

I couldn’t bear to look at either of them. I didn’t want to see the disbelief in their gazes, the judgement. Everything I had shared had haunted my people for ages, it threatened the population of my people, and it was the only reason I’d so quickly agreed to Kipp’s terms, especially if he agreed to help me in return.

“We are all monsters,” Barlow spoke, his voice low and his hands in constant movement as he worked. “It just depends on who is telling the story.” Barlow’s gaze lifted to meet mine, and for the first time since I’d joined them, his hands stilled. “Why do you call yourself a monster?”

I shifted uncomfortably under his intense gaze. “Because I want power,” I admitted reluctantly, not entirely sure why I was being so open, so honest with them. “Ultimately, I am fighting for my people, and I will do anything for them. It makes me monstrous.”

I’d never shared everything like this, and as the boy’s eyes widened with wonder, Barlow simply smirked, his demeanor almost softening with my explanation as we continued working in silence. As I’d told them my history and my reasoning, I understood that being called a monster wasn’t the worst thing. It only mattered what we did with that label. Now, I was just determined to be a monster for the right reasons, for my people and not for myself.

Because Barlow had been right. We were all monsters…

It only mattered who told our story.

Chapter 24

The Ancient Man

The Siren

Kipp stood next to me as the ship cut through choppy waves, the sails billowing in the wind at our backs as we made our way through the sea. The crew kept a wary eye on me, their mistrust blatant behind every glance that slipped my way. The stains had nearly been scrubbed away from the attack, and the bodies had long since been disposed of to the hungry seas. I’d been below deck bandaging Kipp when they’d raided Captain Martin’s ship. I’d learned later that there’d been no slaves aboard, and when I’d asked what would have happened to them if there’d been some, a strange look fell over Kipp’s face before he blinked it away, telling me they’d have rescued them to leave at the next port. I’d found the response odd but reassuring, and something within me warmed a bit at the admission.

“So, you have us heading to the middle of nowhere,” Kipp broke the silence between us. “I’m assuming it’s not actually nowhere that we are heading…”

The sea sprayed us with its salty dampness, and I pushed my wet hair behind my ears. I couldn’t look at him without wantingto wrap myself around him, my lustful nature no longer quieted by my playful tease days ago. “We are heading to the mysterious island of Proteus. Answers will be found there.”

Glancing over my shoulder to where his crew worked endlessly, Patton stood at the helm and Camilla stood not far from him, her piercing gaze at my back like hot coals I just couldn’t seem to shake.

“So, are we almost there, siren?” Camilla asked, challenge held in her tone.

I met her gaze defiantly, my chin tipping upward as my teeth sharpened on their own. “We are close,” I replied, not bothering to hide my irritation as my words came from behind my clenched jaw. “Prepare yourselves for what lies ahead. It won’t be easy.”

“Leave her be, Camilla,” Kipp warned.

“Aye, Captain,” she said, holding my gaze as she spoke. My lip curled. She’d make an excellent siren, and I couldn’t help but respect her. Though she agreed with her captain, it was clear in her tone and gaze that she would do whatever the hell she wanted to.

Before I could reply, an otherness came over me, sending warmth down my spine as the hair on my arms stood on end. A full-blooded god or goddess must be near, and my breath hitched as I spun, searching the open sea for what I knew would appear any moment now. The crew could feel it too, as the shanty on the wind died down and only hushed words could be heard between them as they felt the odd buzz within the air.

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