AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"How do you stand that? The oppression, and the lack of choice or free will?" I asked, sliding down to sit next to her.
"It's home," she said simply, but those two words were dripping with a soft uncertainty that made her statement seem like more a question.
"That's the thing about home. I've had one that lacked any sort of emotion. It's not really a home, it's just a place to live temporarily. Find your own happiness, Dhara," I said quietly, not wanting to be a bitch, but unable to empathize with this life that I'd never choose.
“It’s not that easy,” she sighed in defeat, running her hands through her hair.
“It’s not, but it might be worth it,” I offered, shrugging a little. I refused to give her a look of pity, I couldn’t fucking stand pity.
"You're right. I've been so numb, just doing my duty and all that. I'll stick here until you guys move to the Island, then I can figure out what to do," she said, sighing again. Something in me wanted to believe her, but my cynical side warned me that it could be a trap.
"Come on, we have class," I said as I stood up, reaching out a hand for her to take. She reached out and clasped my hand. After a few moments of our hands touching while she got up, I felt my powers slowly bubble to the surface, reacting to something within her. Why now? Why not when I ran into her before? Maybe the prolonged contact?
"You're a siren?" she whispered in shock. Her eyes were wide, showing me her pale blue depths, full of confusion.
"Why are you asking?" I said, dropping her hand and stepping back. She smiled before a flash of scales flared on her face in a mix of pink hues and silver. They disappeared as quickly as they came, her eyes lighting up in excitement as she jumped to her feet.
"Do you have any idea how rare we are? My family was thought to be the last of our kind, but here you are!" she whisper-shouted, trying to stay quiet, but clearly too excited.
"That's the issue, I know nothing about myself. And I'm not full siren, so don't get your hopes up," I said, trying to bring her excitement back down.
"Doesn't matter. You're a siren at your core, your main power. This is so great!" She opened her mouth to continue, but her words were cut off by the door slamming open, and my five angry guys barging out.
"Stop!" I yelled, but before the word even finished, Van had her pinned against the railing. To her credit, she didn’t look even remotely afraid.
"We warned you," Calev said as he stalked closer, a layer of shadows surrounding us in a big bubble.
"Listen, she's not what you think," I tried again, putting a hand on Van's arm.
"You don't know how dangerous they can be, Doll," Van tried for a soft voice, but it didn't stop his tone from being harsh. Anger flared within me at their refusal to listen. I may be new to being a supernatural, but that hardly makes me an idiot.
"I'm aware how little I know about this life, but I can still think for myself. You don't get to come out here and talk to me like I'm some stupid little girl. You weren't here this entire time I was talking to her, and I don't need bodyguards," I spat out, the familiar defensive hackles rising. His eyes widened as he registered my anger, hopefully realizing how pompous he’d sounded. This is Van, he doesn't think of you the same way your bullies did, I reminded myself, no need to push your anger on him.
"Look, I'm sorry. I know you aren't a stupid little girl, I just know how these people are," he defended, letting her fall to the ground. Her face turned down in a scowl as she picked herself up and dusted off her uniform.
"They'll never listen about me, it's fine," she said with a friendly smile, though her eyes were flaring in anger as she walked through the door, leaving us alone. When she was out of earshot with the door shut behind her, I turned to the guys, hands on my hips.
"What the fuck?" I asked, eyeing each one of them in turn.
"Fuck, why does she have to give us that look?" Aeson whined, clutching his chest like my expression wounded him.
"The disappointed look hurts, babe," Tristan confirmed, wincing as he leaned against the railing.
"Well, why did you come barreling out here like that?" I asked, throwing my hands up. "She was literally just giving her view on things. We had even come to an agreement. You guys even suggested I talk to her! You don't get to come barreling into my life and assume that I only get to see your side of things. For all I know, you could be the bad guys, not her. But either way, that's for me to decide."
"She has a fucking point. Sorry, Little Psycho," Calev said with a groan, coming over and wrapping his arms around me. I deflated into his arms, not wanting to let my personal issues get in the way of my life with them.
"So, what did she have to say?" Lachla
n asked, his tone now curious and lacking contempt.
"She's a siren," I revealed first, and their eyes all widened at the unexpected announcement.
"Impressive," Calev said, his warm breath tickling my cheek and sending a shiver down my spine. It's hard to think when they're this close.
I did my best to summarize what Dhara had said, leaving nothing out. Maybe if I show them what she's like when she's on her own, they'll warm up to her a little. "Honestly," I finished, "by the time we finished talking, she pretty much said she thought I'd be better off here with you guys." Their eyes grew even bigger at the last bombshell. Well, surprise is much better than hostility. Baby steps...
"She sounded more like someone fulfilling a duty and spouting what she’s been taught. She said they would take me in, mixed blood and all. They'd 'encourage' me to find someone of the same species and mate. Then, I pointedly asked about my parents, and she said they'd probably be in prison for a sentence of 25 years to avoid influencing their offspring before mating age. My questions got to her, she's never known anything else. I'm good at spotting liars, and she was telling me the truth. She said I'd be better off here with you," I explained, their faces looking even more shocked.
