Page 101 of Voice of the Ocean

The temple fell silent.

“You did what?” Sephone’s voice was cold.

“I thought they were only aftertreasure. By the time I figured it out—it was too late.” Celeste walked to pool’s edge and knelt, reaching for her sister. But Sephone backed away, face stricken.

“Humans,” spat Gala. “Greedy, horrible creatures.”

“They’re not all like that,” Celeste snapped, unable to stop herself.

Sephone’s face turned from shock to anger in a flash. “You’re defending them? After what they did to our grandmother?”

“We’ve killed them too! Murdered them one by one!”

“Mother was right.” Sephone sighed. “You’re too softhearted. I’d hoped with time you would grow out of it, but...”

It felt as though she had been slapped. Celeste stood, angry tears springing to her eyes. Despite everything she had learned, in the face of her elder sister’s condemnation, she felt small. There was nothing more painful than to hear the things you hated most about yourself used as a weapon by someone you love. Tears dripped down her cheeks, and Celeste furiously wiped them away with the back of her hand.They talked about her.Celeste had always thought Sephone was the one on her side. The only one who let Celeste cry. All along she’d been talking about Celeste with their mother.

But then she thought of Kiyami. The strongest female, siren or human, she had ever met. She thought of the tears running down Kiyami’s face as she helped her escape. Her hand on the hilt of the sword as she faced their captain.

“I lived with them, the humans. I know them,” Celeste said calmly, despite the tears.

At first Sephone looked surprised, but it was soon replaced by anger. “Why would you do such a thing? What were you thinking? Celeste, you could have exposed us all!Is that why you look like one of them?”

Celeste took a breath, attempting to center herself. “I saved a human from a Chorus attack. The son of King Leonidas. I meant to kill him and make it right, but I—I misjudged the prince. And then... he used me to find this place. To findyou. But the rest of his crew, they’re no different than you and me. I swear it. They’re—they’re my friends.” As Celeste spoke, her tears subsided. Her voice grew more certain. “The prince wishes to take the Voice—you—to his father. I assume the Pirate King wants to control the ocean. Please, Seph, we need to?—”

“If we leave these sacred grounds before the ritual is completed, the Goddess’s gifts will be lost forever,” Gala said evenly, swimming toward Sephone and resting a hand on her shoulder.

Sephone’s face was hard. The perfect copy of their mother. “Even if the humans have made it this far. The island only reveals itself to the Song of a siren under an eclipse,” Sephone said, a note of finality to her voice.

She rejoined the ancient siren, gripping her wrists. The two sirens began humming together, searching for a thread to continue their work. As they found their note, their voices changed, becoming the unearthly sound that had lured Celeste to them.

Footsteps sounded on the stone steps of the temple, clanging like a warning bell. Celeste turned, reaching for her knife, only to remember its loss. She sank into her familiar fighting stance, wishing she had a weapon. Wishing her sister had listened to her. Wishing she’d done things differently.

The singers’ voices joined together and broke apart in a haunting harmony. The doors pushed open. A silhouette appeared against the late-day sun. The familiar figure stepped over the threshold of the temple and stopped.

“Hello again, Princess.”

Her hands sagged. Standing before her was the Sea Witch.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-NINE

“What—what are you doing here?” Celeste demanded.And why do you have legs?Nerissa still looked the same. The same dark hair, inky-blue skin, and bioluminescent glow. Just with—legs. Celeste eyed them warily.

With a laugh, the Sea Witch held up her empty hands. “Looking for you,” she said, taking two long strides into the room. It was strange to see her walk.

“Why?” Celeste said, raising her fists.

At this, Nerissa stopped moving forward and crossed her elegant arms over her chest. “To give a warning. I have an interest in you, Princess. Have you forgotten?”

Celeste grimaced. If it hadn’t been for the dark stain of the crescent moon on her wrist, she might have. Behind them, the two sirens watched, silent and wary. Celeste glanced back at her sister just long enough to see the anger in her eyes at yet another interruption.

“How did you find me?” Celeste asked.

“I followed you,” Nerissa replied airily with a wave of her hand. “I arrived at the ship just as you jumped into the water. I admit—I was curious why you would leave the humans. You were socozywith them last time I checked on you. Well—with one of them.”

Celeste’s eyes narrowed. “If you followed me, why didn’t you help? I nearly drowned.”

The Sea Witch’s casual manner shifted into something more predatory. “You had nothing more I wanted. And I don’t do charity.”

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