Page 14 of Rise of the Siren Queen
My heart pounded as I scanned the eerie underwater corridors, illuminated only by the faint glow of sparkling aiptasia clinging to the walls.
The colors danced like whispers in the gloom, their soft blues and greens a cruel reminder of the serenity that belied the peril I now faced.
Then I saw him, a flash of movement in the darkness. I found him trapped in a dead end, panic etched across his features as he thrashed against the walls, realizing he was trapped in this tortuous maze. My breath hitched, the sight striking a chord deep within me.
He had seen me.My secret.
There was no hiding now, no going back. His gaze locked onto me, a mix of confusion, fear, and awe filling his eyes.
This is my fault. I let him dive in without knowing.
My instincts flared, and a mix of protectiveness and guilt surged through me.I have to help him. I can’t let him drown in this mess.
With determination igniting my spirit, I surged forward, the water parting around me as I reached for him, ready to guide him back to safety. My heart raced, not just from the thrill of the chase, but from the pressure of my mistake.
Motioning for him to take my hand, I used my speed to lead him back to the moon pond before he ran out of air, every stroke calculated and powerful. I was swimming against time, my muscles burning with exertion. The narrow corridors of the maze made it difficult to navigate at this speed, but I couldn’t afford to slow down.
Focus. Don’t lose him. He’ll drown if I make one mistake.
My breath was steady, but my mind raced.
This was reckless.
The guilt gnawed at me again, but I couldn’t let it consume me now. Not when his life depended on me.
Finally, the faint glow of the water came into view, like a beaconcutting through the darkness. A shuddering breath escaped my lungs as relief surged through me and I pushed myself harder, my body a blur as I propelled us toward safety. I broke through the surface with him in tow, the air cool and crisp against my skin.
The light from the crystal inlays on the cavern walls sparkled brightly, casting a glow that made the water look magical. It was beautiful, serene even, a stark contrast to the chaos and fear we had just escaped.
But that peace shattered instantly.
“What the fuck are you?” Adrian choked out, his voice raw from the strain of holding his breath. He coughed roughly, pushing himself out of my arms like I was some kind of disease, swimming away from me as fast as his exhausted body would allow.
The words cut deeper than I expected. I had expected shock, confusion, and maybe even anger, but not this level of rejection. Not this visceral reaction. It hit me in a place I thought I had fortified long ago, a place where I thought I was safe from disappointment. Again.
Of course, he’d react this way. Who wouldn’t?
Despite that, it hurt. It hurt more than I wanted to admit. My chest tightened, but I wouldn’t let him see that. Wouldn’t let him know how much his words stung. I was supposed to be stronger than this. I had been through far worse.
“You’re welcome,” I voiced, my tone flat, emotionless. My face remained a mask, carefully blank. I couldn’t afford to show any discomfort, not now. Not when my very existence had just become something to fear in his eyes.
The light from the crystals flickered softly, casting shifting patterns on the walls that seemed to mock me with their beauty. Turquoise water glowed around us, reflecting the light, but none of that beauty mattered now.
The reality of what I was, what I had just revealed to him, overshadowed everything.
He sees me as a monster now. Just like everyone else would if they knew. If they knew how guilty I was.
I remained still, watching him catch his breath, knowing I could say more, but unsure if it would make a difference. Would an explanation even help? Or would it just drive him further away?
The truth was, I was used to being feared. I had always been the outlier, the one people whispered about when they thought I couldn’t hear. But it was different now. It wasn’t just the whispers. It was in his eyes, in the way he recoiled from me.
I swallowed the knot forming in my throat, forcing myself to stand taller in the water, projecting confidence I didn’t feel.
You’re a queen, Iryen. You can’t let this break you.
“Don’t dive into these waters,” I said, my voice firm, cutting through the tension between us. I forced it to sound commanding and strong, exactly what a queen should sound like.
Exactly what I needed him to believe I was.
