Bailey POV
Tonight's the night. The full moon hangs brightly in the sky, her light shining down on the water as we sit on the sand, feeling apprehensive. Callum and Cody are in the shadows, while the rest of us sit out in the open, puzzled, glancing at each other.
"Are you sure this is the right beach?" Riley checks with Tiana again who gives her a mutinous look "you're sure?"
"Yes," Tiana snaps, frustrated with the constant questions "I'm sure it's this one."
"Okay then but maybe you're supposed to do something then" Riley runs a hand through that gorgeous hair of hers and turns to me "what do you think Bailey?" she asks.
What did I think? How was I supposed to know? I wasn't part siren, so I didn't exactly know how that part of them thought. I exhale slowly and look down the empty beach. It's not a large beach but it's well hidden from any prying eyes, which means it's perfect for anybody trying to hide from shifters and humans alike. I run a hand over my beard and consider it carefully.
"Maybe they're waiting for you," I said thoughtfully.
Riley looks confused. I try to explain "When you found Tiana, you used your siren song to speak to her. Maybe this is a case of having to do the same to lure whoever's meant to help out?" I suggested nonchalantly "I mean, they aren't just going to come out unless it's for their own kind or they risk going into a trap. Why don't you try going into the water and" I paused, "calling to them?"
It was all I could think of.
Riley looked down at Tiana who was nodding now with a smile on her face. "I bet that's it. I can't feel anyone but that doesn't mean they won't hear us if we sing."
Riley bit her lip and then shrugged, getting gracefully to her feet. "I guess it can't hurt to try" she said with a shrug "what's the worst that can happen?" she asked.
"You get wet for nothing" Damien said sourly, put out by the fact that he didn't have a siren voice.
Riley just laughed at him and took Tiana's hand. They went to the edge of the shallow water and Riley began to peel off her pants and shirt, throwing them to me to catch while Tiana pulled her dress off and flung it at Damien who caught it with fuming eyes. He put the dress down next to Riley's clothes with a glower.
Riley's silver and blue hair shimmered brightly beneath the moonlight. She was mesmerizing. Damien looked entranced as he stared at his sister. "She's so different," he said quietly as the two girls began to wade slowly into the water.
"Her hair has changed but I don't think she's changed from the person she was," I said, looking at him "to you she might appear to be different, but to me, she's the same loving person I fell in love with."
"So you admit you love her?" he asked.
I glanced at him "I loved her from the moment I saw her. She saved my life, changing me back into my human form and I'll never forget it. But I don't love her because of that. I love her because of the bond we share, because of the person she is underneath everything. The moon goddess doesn't make mistakes. Riley is a unique individual and I count my blessings that she's mine everyday"
"I didn't" Damien murmured, hugging his knees and watching the girls stop as the water reached their chests, their eyes beginning to shine as they looked up towards the moon "I guess I spent so long blaming her or being afraid, I never really got to see the person she was until now. She looks a lot" he pauses "happier in herself."
"Why wouldn't she be?" my words are blunt "she doesn't have to hide who she is so that she doesn't get hurt or killed. She's allowed to be who she is without repercussions. Being allowed to express yourself can have a huge difference on your self esteem."
"You think I was a coward?" he said, staring off into the distance "don't you."
His voice was filled with self-disgust. I saw the girls open their mouths, begin to sing their siren song. Too late, I realized it would also affect Callum and Cody who began to walk towards the shore, their expressions full of wonder as they waited, lost looks on their faces. I sighed and turned to Damien who eyed me closely.
"I think that you had a hard decision to make. I think when you were old enough to think for yourself you should have protected your sister" I said quietly "instead of worrying about yourself. But you can't change the past and you have the ability to change the future now. I'm warning you though, you mess up and hurt her in anyway" I growled as he glanced at me, shame on his face "I won't hesitate to kill you, regardless of if you are my mate's brother or family. Riley comes first to me. Always" I warned him, my tone dangerous and quiet, the siren song weaving in the background.
"That's fair" Damien whispered.
I ignored him and turned back to watching my mate whose mouth was wide opened as she sang, clutching Tiana's hand with hers. Such beauty and such sadness intertwined into one song, that sounded haunting as one listened to it. It spoke of pain, it spoke of hope and it spoke of more than I could ever hope to decipher. A song for sirens, sung by sirens. The water seemed to be lighting up around them as they sang, by their feet, a bright white light that glowed brighter and brighter. The song ends on an eerie note, Tiana and Riley glancing off into the distance, expectant looks on their faces. Silence. Nothing but the sounds of birds chirping into the distance and I see Callum and Cody blink, realization dawning on their faces as they glance around and realize what happened.
Disappoinment floods Riley and Tiana's face as they wade back towards us. I feel for them. We had all been hoping for something, anything to happen. Riley is stony faced as she begins to put her dry clothes on, while Tiana looks on the verge of tears. I pat Tiana on the shoulder, trying to soothe the hurt she's facing.
"Never mind Tiana, maybe we can try next full moon and see if...." I began when I heard Callum give a warning growl.
I turn, my body tensing. Riley however has her face wreathed in smiles and if anything has relaxed and Tiana looks about to run off into the shadows, my hand automatically gripping the back of her shirt so she doesn't.
A small crowd coming out from what must have been a cave, their clothes dripping with water. Their features are hard to discern in the dark, all of their figures a mixture of petite and sturdy. Men and women. Various ages. Despite myself my mouth drops open. It's not a large number, by any means but it was more than I had dared to imagine. Riley looks towards them, and I step forward, Tiana quietly remaining behind us, suddenly looking nervous. All of the people who came from the cave are different but they have one certain aspect in common, something that is exactly like Riley's and Tiana's. Their hair is silver and blue and their eyes are just as bright as my mates. Sirens. More than one of them. They gather in a group and stop just short of us, grim expressions on their faces, while one in particular peers behind us, looking intently at Tiana, with their eyes shimmering with what I suspect are tears.
Tiana flings herself forward before Riley and I can stop her, a look of excitement on her face, her feet pounding along the sand as she throws herself into the woman who's eyeing her arms.
"Marigold" she sobs, clutching tight as Riley and I glance at each other, hesitant to pull the little girl back "Marigold, where have you been all this time?"
The woman pats her back, her frown turning to a sad smile as she looks down at the little girl "I've been busy little one. Where is your mother?" she whispered, glancing at our group and faltering.
Tiana begins to sob as Marigold cups her face with a gentle hand. Riley stares at me with a lost expression.
"Mother is dead Marigold, the shifter killed her" Tiana weeps and the crowd begins to mutter amongst themselves, while Marigolds eyes flood with tears.
"So" she whispers, looking at our group and narrowing her eyes "that is why she bade you to come here and seek me out. Who are the rest of you and why have you brought Tiana?" she asks, as the rest of the group begin to form a small circle around us.