Page 147 of The Sea of Zemira (The Zemiran Chronicles 1)

Nola could not hold back the tears at the sight of them.

“Protect your brother, Elijah. You must protect each other from that man, your father.”

He nodded and opened his eyes to look at her one last time.

“Save Zemira. Save it for me. Save it for all of us,” she whispered to his ear as he leaned on her weakened chest.

With those last words, her frail hand went limp, and she slipped away.

The siren tilted her head, narrowing in on her sense of hearing. “Elijah, they’re coming.”

The prince looked over at Nola, his cheeks pink, his eyes red from tears. He had no time to let his emotions run free. He had to watch his mother slip away, but he was relieved more than he felt sad. He had finally told his beloved mother what he regretted years ago. He finally told her he loved her.

Nola rushed to the bed. “Elijah, we need to leave. They are coming down the hall. Is there another way out?” she asked.

He nodded and wiped away his tears. “That way,” he said, pointing to a bookshelf at the end of the room. “Every room in the castle has another way out.”

They rushed to the shelf, removing a blue leather-bound book, and heard a click. Elijah pulled the door, opening it slightly, allowing them to squeeze through, and shut it right before young Tristan and Elijah entered the room.

Heading down the stairs from inside the secret tunnel, they heard the piercing cries of the queen’s children, but they did not look back.

The tunnel led to a sewer entrance. Elijah wrapped his arms around Nola’s waist and helped her up through a hole that led to the streets. She climbed out and quickly reached into the tunnel to help Elijah. They both looked around, looking for a place to hide. The prince pointed to a field in the distance.

“Over there,” he said.

The siren followed him closely, and once they reached the grassy field, he pulled out the compass. They both held tightly together and closed their eyes, feeling the power, their thoughts going back to the present.

The bright flash of light burst around them, and when they opened their eyes again, they were safe and back in the cave.

But only for a moment.

A deep growl echoed inside the cave from behind them, the hair on Nola’s skin standing straight. They spun around, and one of the siren creatures was crouched in the corner, its eyes blazing red.

Suddenly, it charged at them.

The siren creature leapt towards Nola, but she put her hands up, grabbing its head, and looking it into the bright red eyes.

For a second, the creature looked back as if it remembered what it once was. But that moment was cut short as Elijah pushed it away.

Coming back to her senses, Nola ran to her bow and arrow, picked it up, and swiftly positioned her shot. The moment the creature lunged at her again, she shot the arrow, aiming it into the siren creature’s leg, only to slow it down. It screeched loudly, falling to its knees.

No more sirens will die today,she said in her mind.

“We must go, Nola. Now.”

The siren felt Elijah’s hand grab hers, and he took off quickly to the shore. With the daylight, they were able to see a faster route to the sand. They heard several feet running swiftly behind them.

“They’re behind us, don’t stop!” Nola shouted.

They spotted Elijah’s ship, the crew already having a rower waiting for them. Once they reached the boat, they both turned, seeing a dozen sirens crouching low, not moving past the rocks.

Nola’s heart hammered against her chest.

“What is happening?” she asked, watching the creatures retreat backward.

“Sir,” one of the men sitting on the small wooden raft said. “Your father’s ship is drawing near. According to the spyglass, they are but a few miles from us. The two of you need to get on the ship, now!”

The prince watched that man’s eyes grow wide as he looked over his shoulder, seeing the horrendous creatures behind them.

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