Riley POV
The ocean is singing. I don't know how to describe it, but I can hear it's song, the slow and mournful sound of it as we sit and eat and it's all I can do not to go to it. My heart hammers in my chest and while I try hard to focus on Bailey, all I can hear is the distant sound of the sad music that is filling my very soul. It's heart breaking. It's like the ocean is grieving and my heart feels it's loss, tears pricking my eyes even as I try to pretend that everything is fine. When Bailey leaves to go get our bags from the car, I see the opportunity and run towards the ocean, my body diving into it with a sense of exhilaration and haste.
The music grows louder. I dive, feeling the swell of the waves, the beauty of the song bringing me to tears. I feel the salt on my body and the sand beneath my toes. My hair billows behind me as I surge to the surface, my eyes sparkling brightly. I feel renewed. I feel free. I feel different. I feel energized anytime I go in the water, but, this is like being given a shot of adrenaline and then some. I can see my eyes in the reflection of the water and they have changed, so light blue that they are almost transparent, causing me to inhale sharply. I sense that something else has changed and turn my head, my hair flopping over my shoulder.
My hair is silver, shimmering silver. It trickles down my back. I'm confused. How could my hair have changed so drastically? I put my hand in the water and can hear a voice, a song being sung, and something moving in the water. It's fast. My heart skips a beat. I can feel eyes on us. I see Bailey in the distance as I turn around and swim, further out, seeking something, but I'm not sure what. My excitement grows.
The song grows louder. Instead of being mournful, it's happy and joyful. The tones are more uplifting and upbeat. I tread water with ease, while I hear Bailey shouting something in the distance. I can't hear him. All I can hear is the song and the swell of the water. Something is happening. I can sense it. Something is coming for me and I welcome it. My arms spread out.
"I'm waiting" I shout, my voice loud and booming.
I notice dimly the crowd wincing from the high-pitched sound of my voice.
A large wave in the distance. It's huge and yet I show no fear. I can control the water with a sweep of my hand, but I let it come closer. It's in control. There is somebody controlling the wave. I fix my eyes on it. Anticipation floods through me. The wave grows smaller as it gets closer while the crowd backs away from the shore, some with looks of fear on their faces. I forget about Bailey, I forget about everything as I stare at the wave, willing it to move faster.
The wave dies down to almost nothing and finally, I see her. She's glorious. A young girl with bright silver hair and big orb-like eyes like my own. She can't be any older than seven years old at the most. Her eyes are filled with sadness and grief. Her skin is almost glowing. She stops several feet before me, treading water. I almost expect to see a tail, but she has legs, just like me. We study each other for a moment.
"You sang that song," I said finally as the girl cocked her head at me "you wanted me to come to the water."
"I wanted to make sure you were like me," she said "I saw you get out of the car. Only other sirens can hear the song and the call."
"I heard you, but where is...." I glance at her confused, she's so young "where are your mother and father?"
She falters. Her eyes narrow for a moment, and the sparkle disappears. "Dead," she says with a catch in her voice "she was killed by a rogue shifter who happened upon our cave while we were sleeping."
I close my eyes in sorrow. The girl wipes a lone tear from her eye.
"You've just been by yourself since that time?" my voice is filled with awe.
The girl closes her eyes "I never knew my father" she said quietly "my mother was all I had. When she died, I didn't have a choice but to continue without her. I have kept to the caves and hunted fish to survive. The ocean has helped along with my abilities" she said with a small smile "but it's very lonely."
"Are there more of you?" I ask.
"Not here" she answers gravely "I am the only one who has stepped foot inside this territory in the last few months. I have not felt the presence of another siren, until today when you came."
"Why didn't I sense you? I heard your song but..."
She shrugs "I don't know. Maybe because you're also part shifter?" she glances towards the crowd who are watching silently, a look of nervousness on her face "or maybe our abilities are all different. I never got a chance to ask my mother" she admits, her face drooping.
"What's your name?" I ask, moving closer so that we're almost touching.
I want to hug her, but she's wary and I don't blame her.
"Tiana," she said.
"Tiana" I repeat, "I'm Riley. It's nice to meet you" I tell her and see her crack a genuine smile.
This poor girl has lost everything. My heart bleeds for her. I touch her and see her startle before she moves closer and wraps her arms around me.
"You're warm" she whispers as I hold her close.
"Come with me" I urge, "Come back to the pack with me. You can't keep living out here alone" I added as she pushed back from me.
"The shifters are killers" she cried and I heard a low growl come from my mate.
I glance towards the crowd and notice the beach is empty except for Bailey now.
"Not all shifters" I deny but the girl looks panicked now.
"They fear us" she cries, her eyes troubled as she looks at me "they hunt us down and they kill our kind. It's not safe. They'll kill you too" she added hysterically "you should leave while you still can. You can never trust a shifter's word" she said while my mate heard every word from where he was standing "they lie to your face and stab you in the back. My mother told me" she said, almost shouting "they're nothing but murderers."
"Tiana," I said, moving back slightly as the girl looked towards the shore and my mate "not all shifters or lycans are killers. My mate isn't. He's the king of the lycans" I added and watched her eyes widen "he's not going to hurt me or you. He's helped me. He's saved me. You can trust Bailey" I added, feeling my mate's eyes on me.
The little girl is not placated, still treading water as though she's walking on it. I've stopped moving, using my hand to manipulate the water around me in order to conserve some of my energy. It feels so easy like I've been doing it my entire life.
"The rogue told my mother she didn't deserve to live. He told her she was an, an abomination" she said screwing her face up as tears leaked down her face "he was going to kill me too, but mother distracted him long enough for me to get away."
"I'm sorry Tiana" I whispered, my throat seizing in sympathy "but Bailey won't hurt us. I promise you. Please" I hold out my hand, motioning for her to come to me "Please, trust me. I would never do anything to hurt you."
She hesitates. She looks so vulnerable. She's been living on her own for months, which means she's stronger than any other little girl I know. She's smart. She's independent. I can't just push her. She needs to make this choice herself. I wait patiently as she glances between myself and Bailey. I can see the indecision on her face, can see the conflicting she feels. I smile coaxingly at her "Please honey" I murmur "I don't want you to have to be alone anymore. You called for me" I reminded her gently "you wanted me to find you. Let me help you. Let us help you" I amended looking back at Bailey who nods tightly "you don't have to do this alone anymore. Your mother died saving your life. Please let us respect that by helping you now" I said determinedly.
It convinces her. She wades in and takes my hand. Together we turn and begin to swim towards the shore. The song fades in my head. We reach the shallows and stand up, the water dripping from our clothes. I notice that hers are threadbare, as we step onto the sand. I glance at our hair and see that it remains Silver with one exception, the bottoms of my strands are blue. Tiana's hair does the same. Our eyes remain an almost transparent blue.
"Riley" she whispers before Bailey moves towards us.
"Yes?"
"My mother would have liked you."
My heart broke.