Riley POV
I felt a little bit out of place as the woman stared through the bars at me, her gaze lingering on my hair as I sat there staring up at her. I could smell her scent and I knew that she wasn't just a shifter. She was beautiful, with golden honey hair and big blue eyes, her lips ruby red and curved back in a smile.
"You're even prettier than I remember from back in the lake," she said gazing at me as though I should know who she was.
"I'm sorry but I don't know who you are" I stammered, slowly getting to my feet while she held out some food to fit through the bars.
My hand reluctantly took the food. Her eyes sharpened. "I saw you swimming that day when you called for the men with your song" she explained nonchalantly "it was beautiful. It brought tears to my eyes. I never thought I would get the chance to hear a siren sing in this lifetime. Your kind are practically extinct you know" she told me with a hint of excitement.
I bit into the apple she had given me with viciousness. "I'm pretty sure Alpha Jaxon would prefer I not exist," I said bitterly "Why else would he have left me down here to rot?"
She sighed "Such pretty hair" she murmured continuing to look me over "and that shell birthmark, it vanishes when you leave the water?" she asked peering at my shoulder.
I frowned. I hadn't realized that, but sure enough when I looked at my shoulder the birth mark was gone.
"I guess it does" I scowled.
"Fascinating" she murmured.
I was beginning to feel like I was under a microscope as she continued to peer at me closely.
"What are you?" I asked bluntly "You're not just a shifter, I can smell you."
She put a hand to her chest "How rude of me. My name is Stacey and I am half vampire" she admitted "which is why I find you so interesting. In all my years, I never thought I would live the day I got to see a siren or even half of one. Your species is so fascinating to me."
"Why?" I asked, sitting back down on the ground and eying her "why am I so interesting?"
"Your power comes from the water. You can lure men to you with the power of you voice alone. You have the power to kill thousands which is quite frankly terrifying" she admitted.
"But I don't. I can sing them to me but that's it" I said frowning "how did the other sirens kill? How did they kill so many?"
She eyed me askance "They would swim to the depths of the ocean or deep to the lake and the men would walk in one by one and drown."
I swallowed hard. The image was sickening and frightening. "But you know that you should possess other powers as well, not just that one?"
I shook my head. "No, but I didn't know about the singing either. I mean until then I didn't have a voice. My father damaged my vocal cords and I didn't think they would ever heal."
"Hmm" she murmured "For starters this cell shouldn't be able to hold you if the legend is true," she said shrugging.
I glanced at her skeptically. She nodded solemnly "It should be nothing for you to sing the lock to open," she said calmly.
Sing the lock open? I scrambled back to my feet. Sing the lock open? I wanted to laugh at how ludicrous that sounded but the expression on Stacey's face was serious. I looked at the lock on the bars and then back at her uncertainly.
"How?"
She thought about it. "Well the silver burns you slightly because of your shifter DNA but doesn't fully burn you like it would the others. Try putting your hand on it, concentrating, and then sing."
She made it sound easy. I was still filled with doubt but I figured it couldn't hurt. I'd been down in this bloody dungeon for days and Alpha Jaxon had kept his word. The only company I had seen were female omegas who had brought down my food and drink and taken me to the bathroom or to shower and change. The idea of freedom was practically making my mouth water. What was the harm in trying? The worst that could happen is that it didn't work. No big deal.
I shrugged and put my hand lightly on the lock on the other side, feeling the slight burning sensation that accompanied touching silver. I breathed in deeply. "Try and envision the lock undoing itself" Stacey suggested helpfully "in your mind."
I nodded slowly. I felt foolish as I pictured it in my mind's eye, unlocking and the door swinging itself open. My mouth slowly parted open as she stepped back and watched, an expectant smile on her face. I sang, the sound just as eerie and as beautiful as before. To my astonishment, I heard the lock clicking itself open and as my hand pushed, the door swung out, opening. I stopped in disbelief.
"I knew you could do it" Stacey said beaming "A siren cannot be confined or held, just as the stories say."
My mouth was dry. "I never thought" I stammered "If I had known...." I trailed off.
Even if I had known I wouldn't have had the courage to free myself. Alpha Jaxon had made it abundantly clear that he would have patrol straight on me if I tried to flee. Although now that my powers worked, I wondered if his Alpha command would be useless to me.
"Listen little one," Stacey said, flipping her hair over her shoulder "I think you need to decide something and soon. Your mate is being a stubborn asshole" she exhaled and shook her head in disapproval "but his fear stems from old stories and rumors. Anybody can see by looking at you that you're not a killer. You're like a puppy dog, no offense" she said unapologetically as I stared at her "and he's acting like a jackass because of his fear. You need to decide if you want to be mates with him or if you want to leave. Because the mate bond is sacred, even in our community," she said with a sigh "and something to be treasured. You could run and regret it" she said raking her gaze over me "or stay and fight for the mate that's fated to be yours."
I hesitated. The urge to run and not look back was tempting. I looked at the open door with hopeful eyes. Alpha Jaxon had been nothing but cruel to me. But there had been times I had seen a hint of kindness in him. "What about a second chance mate?" I asked quietly "do they not exist?"
She looked at me pityingly "Few and far between and that's only if you survive the rejection process" she allowed "which considering your a halfbreed may be different to the usual process as well."
"But he hates me" I protested.
"He doesn't know you" she countered back "he thinks he does which is different. He doesn't know the real you, just what he imagines you to be like."
"Why are you pushing this?"
"Because to have a mate, a real mate is unlike anything you've ever experienced" she hissed, her eyes glowing red for a brief moment "and the pain of losing them its more painful than anything I would wish on anyone."
I fell silent. I glanced again at the open door that led to freedom and who knew what else. "What do you suggest then? He's been ignoring me since he threw me down here."
Her eyes twinkled with good humor. "Well" she drawled, folding her arms across her chest and observing me "I don't know if you've heard but he's holding a party in a few days in order to choose his chosen mate" she said with complete calmness while I scowled at her.
"How does that help me?"
"It's a masquerade party" she said scoffing "so that it creates mystery and intrigue when he falls for somebody. I suggest you attend" she said as though it were that simple.
"How would I do that? I don't have anything to wear and as soon as he sees my blue hair he'll know its me."
She rolled her eyes "I can sneak a dress and shoes down to you and a mask" she looked excited by the prospect "and as for your hair, well that's what hair dye or spray is for."
"It never lasts long" I warned her "a few hours at most and then it goes back to blue."
"Long enough to enjoy a party" she shrugged "Perhaps we'll dye it red and have you look like a modern day Ariel" she joked.
I laughed and then softly reached out and closed the door. "Fine, you've convinced me. I just hope I don't regret it."
"You won't" she said softly "There's a few of us who would like to see you become Luna of this pack, where you rightfully belong."
I looked her in the eyes "Thank you. I won't forget this."
"See that you don't" she said turning to go back upstairs "and only use that trick to get out when you know nobody is coming. I would hate for you to get caught before I could smuggle an outfit down to you for the party."
I watched in silence as she began to make her way out of the dungeon, my mind whirling with all sorts of thoughts and ideas.