Page 9 of Voice of the Ocean

None of her other dalliances had fared much better, and now, at the age of seventeen, Celeste had all but resigned herself to a partnerless life. Not that seventeen was all that old for a siren. In many ways, she was still a child, given how long sirens lived. Although they aged similarly to humans, their magic made their life cycles nearly twice a human’s.Once I’m a full member, I’m sure I’ll have time to make plenty of other friends in the Chorus, she told herself, the pang of loneliness creeping under her skin.I will have no time to worry about romance.

Along the journey home, Celeste’s mind turned over all that she had seen. The humans had been nothing like she’d imagined. They laughed. Took care of animals. Made jokes. They even had music like sirens. Were they hiding their murderous tendencies? Was there something she hadn’t seen? Everything she’d wanted was falling into place. But it all felt wrong. As childish as it sounded, Celeste had always pictured being a member of the Chorus like a heroic ballad. Epic battles against bloodthirsty monsters with nothing but her Song and spear. Protecting the innocent and punishing the evil. But evil didn’t look the way she had imagined.

She couldn’t recall any mention of Raiden before. Only his father, King Leonidas. And Celeste knew that a parent’s decisions often had little to do with their children. Still, if the Chorus decided to take these measures, then he must be a threat. And hadn’t she known firsthand what horrors humans could do? In the past fourteen cycles, since King Leonidas had become a threat, a few sirens had been captured. Killed. It wasn’t common, but that was because of the Chorus. Missions like the one tonight kept them safe.

But weren’t they passing judgment before any wrong was committed? What if the Chorus killed innocents too?Werethere any innocent humans?

Celeste’s stomach turned as she sped toward home. These thoughts felt like treason. And what did this say about her? She had trained so hard to be a member, and on the first mission she got cold fins? Yet somehow she couldn’t erase the vision of the prince. His dark hair and smile as he kicked up his feet and danced. The tenderness he showed to that small animal.

Nerves. That’s all it was.I’ll feel differently tonight,she assured herself as she swam into the halls of the palace. Training and lack of sleep had made her tired. A good nap would help restore her jumbled thoughts. Celeste passed the familiar tapestry of the Goddess’s daughters. Queen Isla the Protector, first of House Neris and founder of Staria, floated at the center. Around her, her three sisters gathered. Queen Suna the Wise, who founded the Kingdom of Ayakashi, stared straight at the viewer, wearing nothing but a large pearl necklace. Queen Klara the Strong, of Skalvaske, wore a crown of stars. And seated along the sand floor was the fourth daughter, Lyra the Beautiful. In her hands, Lyra held the Goddess’s legendary three-pronged trident.

Celeste was still gazing at the intricate plant-woven tapestry when her shoulder collided with another.

“Apologies,” Celeste said, righting herself in the water before recognizing her eldest sister, Shye, before her. “Good tides!” she added, rubbing the back of her neck.

Shye, the perfect image of their mother, wore an annoyed expression. The red hair of House Neris was cropped short on her head, hanging into piercing silver eyes. “Good tides, Celeste,” she said simply, tucking her harp beneath her arm before continuing in the opposite direction. It wasn’t a surprising reaction from Shye. The sisters were fifteen cycles apart. Although they grew up together in the castle, there had always been a great divide.

“Coming from lessons?” Celeste asked, following. “Where are you headed?” She was rather thankful for the distraction. It was rare to see Shye in the halls, given she was almost always with Halia, studying to become the next great queen of Staria.

“Yes. And I am on my way to Mother’s quarters,” Shye answered, then glanced sideways at her sister. “I presume you have heard about the Chorus’s mission this evening.”

“I have,” Celeste responded, lifting her chin. “In fact, my class is going as well.”

A flicker of surprise crossed Shye’s face for a moment, before it fell back into her mask of calm. “You know, Celeste,” she said, as if she were picking each word carefully, “you must listen to whatever the senior members tell you. This is a very serious and important mission.”

Celeste stiffened. It was the same advice Echo had given her. “Of course, Shye. I have been training for this for the last four cycles. I know what to do.”

Shye sighed. “I know you have, little star. I’m giving you some sisterly advice.”

Face burning, Celeste crossed her arms over her chest. However well-intentioned, the comment stung.Why does everyone keep telling me that?She was seventeen! But no matter how hard she trained and worked, she still somehow couldn’t escape being a silly little girl in their eyes.I’m probably just being sensitive, she told herself, pushing away her feelings.

“I understand,” she replied instead.

Shye gave her sister a smile and then continued on her way, leaving Celeste floating listlessly behind. For most of her life, Celeste had enjoyed being the youngest daughter. There was very little responsibility, and her parents gave her everything she ever wanted, so long as she stayed in line. But somewhere along the way, Celeste had begun to realize that no one expected anything from her. Which also meant no one trusted her with anything.

She turned back toward her rooms, attempting to calm herself and failing. Whenever she felt like this, the only thing that always soothed her was going to the surface. But since that was out of the question at present, Celeste decided the next best thing would be finding some peace among her collection of treasures.

CHAPTERFIVE

Lying upon the warm, sandy floor of her bedroom, Celeste stared blankly above. She did not see the glorious iridescent shells that were intricately hand-placed across the vaulted ceiling. Her mind was leagues away, on the surface watching the human prince laugh. She replayed it in her mind, every detail burned into her memory. His dark hair falling over his forehead. His high cheekbones and his dark round eyes. His smile. Without noticing, she hummed, and it was the song he’d sung.

The water around her drifted. She felt someone coming.

“Celeste!” a voice echoed up the spiraling path that led to the princess’s rooms.

The siren bolted upright. “In here, Mother!” she called, perhaps too brightly. Firmly Celeste put aside whatever confusing feelings she had and focused on the mission. It was her first real assignment with the Chorus, and she couldn’t wait to tell someone about it.

The queen swept into the room, the shells across her back tinkling like little bells. “I wished to see you before you left with the Chorus,” she said with a smile, coming to rest on a stone chair next to her daughter.

“It was certainly a surprise that the test was moved to today. But I feel ready,” Celeste said, placing her hands in her lap.

The queen smiled. “Good. General Echo came by not too long ago and told me you were to be paired with her.”

Celeste’s stomach clenched. Why was General Echo reporting to her mother about her? Wouldn’t Xandra be the one to give the official report? It was her mission, not Echo’s.

Halia’s eyes roamed over her daughter, stopping at the top of her head. “Your hair is a mess. You should comb it, little star,” she tsked.

Celeste’s hand jumped to the spot her mother looked at. She tried to straighten the tangled knots with her fingers, but the action felt pointless in the water.

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