Riley POV
Even as he speaks to me, I hear the truth in his words, the pain beneath the surface. I can't even begin to imagine how terrible it must have been to see our mother killed right in front of his eyes. It must have been terrifying. I can almost picture it in my mind and I feel sick to my stomach. What fear must he have felt over the years as it became even more apparent what kind of a monster my father really was? If I had been in Damien's shoes, could I have said I wouldn't have done the same? He had done what he did to survive, it didn't necessarily make him an awful person. It didn't make him the nicest, but it put him in a different light than I had originally envisioned him as. He wasn't the monster I had always thought him to be. At one time, he had been just as innocent as I was. But his innocence had been snatched away from him and he'd never been able to get it back.
You weren't the only one who suffered over the years. You weren't the only victim of your father's abuse as much as you try to deny it. Damien suffered too, just in a different way. Is it any wonder he lost his humanity when he escaped? He was lost without your father instructing him on what to do. For the first time, he had his own mind to listen to and it was unbearable. What good is going to come of holding onto your past hurts and bearing a grudge? Will it allow you to move on? Will it allow you to forge a relationship with your brother or will you both continue to shy away from each other? You have a choice here Riley. You have a chance to break the cycle of abuse that you and Damien suffered through. You have the chance to break free. To heal the both of you and forge a new path. Let go the siren in me whispered as I listened intently, on the verge of breaking into fresh tears let go and embrace what can be instead of what was. Look into his eyes, and see that he speaks the truth. Forgiveness is never easy, but the blood bonds that tie you together are stronger than anything you've had to endure. Save him.
Save him? Hadn't I already saved him? He was back to being a regular shifter now. What more could I do? But even as the siren continued to urge me, something came over me. I screamed, magic seemingly pouring out of me, as I finally felt the last piece of the puzzle clicking into place. The last bit of anger, the last bit of rage faded away as I came to the stark realization that I no longer hated the man I considered my brother, but considered him a victim as well. He hadn't had a childhood either. As a cyclone swept over him, I watched wide-eyed and then collapsed into Bailey's arms, stunned to see that my brother now sported bright blue hair, his eyes also sparkling blue. I had done something I had unlocked something.
He too possesses Siren DNA but fear kept it hidden from your father. It's harder for a male to bring it to the surface and generally, they will turn when they are eighteen but your brother's was too fiercely hidden by then to venture out. The consequences for transforming would have meant being killed. Girls change upon birth, but boys do not. He does not have a siren voice, that is a girl's special skill but he will be able to control the element of water to a certain extent. He is not as strong as you, males are weaker, but now he too is half siren, half shifter. You resemble each other more now. Your last act of forgiveness was to help him become the siren part he locked away.
"What happened?" my brother is confused, staring at me.
"I changed you" my voice is weak as Bailey continues to hold me "you've always been half siren, half shifter. You were meant to change on your eighteenth birthday, but by then you were so afraid of father, I guess you refused to."
His eyes widen. Bailey looks surprised. "I thought that males couldn't be sirens?"
I straighten up, even as my body protests. "Damien doesn't have the siren voice or songs, that's female only, but he'll be able to control the element of water to some extent, according to my siren."
Damien looked down at his hands in awe. "Really?"
"Does this mean?" Bailey's voice is cautious now as he glances between myself and Damien.
"If Damien was meant to change when he turned eighteen," I said slowly, mulling it over while Bailey also had a thoughtful look on his face "then that means there has to be other male sirens out there. They would look normal right until they turned" I explained, as Damien gaped "but where could they be hiding?"
"That beach we're meant to go to," Bailey said suddenly, "the one Tiana told us about. I'm willing to bet that it's going to answer a lot of our questions."
I took a deep breath "I think you're right. I don't think that sirens are as extinct as they've been made out to be. I think they've just found a better way of keeping hidden in order to survive" I said with a hint of excitement "and if that's the case then maybe..."
"Maybe we can persuade them to join our pack, or at the very least offer them sanctuary. They might be able to help you with your powers" Bailey finished triumphantly.
"What about me?" Damien's voice was low and tentative.
I looked at Bailey. He narrowed his eyes. "Whatever decision you make, I will agree with but think carefully about what you want. I understand that your instincts are better than mine when it comes to things like this and he is your family."
I hesitate and then take the key off of Bailey. I stick it in the lock and turn it, before swinging the door wide open. "I forgive you" I whisper past a lump in my throat as Damien hesitantly steps outside of his cell "but if you make one wrong move, one step wrong I'll"
"Kill me and I'll deserve it" he said bowing his head "I understand and I don't blame you Riley."
I nod, feeling Bailey's eyes on the both of us.
Suddenly Damien wraps his arms around me and my first instinct is to flinch as he touches me. Even though I've forgiven him, you don't get rid of years of abuse that easily. Tears prick my eyes as I slowly put my arms around my brother for what feels like the first time in my life. We hug. I can feel the warmth of his body pressing against me. Damien steps back reluctantly and then shakes Bailey's hand.
"Let's get you some clothes and find you a room to sleep in" Bailey says eyeing him carefully, his expression neutral "and then some food."
I give a small smile as Damien's eyes light up "maybe after we can see how you go using your powers."
"Hell yes" he says enthusiastically, tugging on his hair "am I right to assume that this hair color is permanent?" he pouts as I laugh at the ridiculous expression on his face.
"Sorry but yes" I answer nonchalantly "but it suits you" I add meaning it.
He groans dramatically and rolls his eyes but it's all in fun. I turn around and begin to head up the stairs when Tiana comes flouncing down. "About time" she cries "I'm so bored. You've been gone ages. Who's this?" she asks peering down at Damien who appears to be tongue tied as he stares at the little girl.
"Tiana, you're not meant to come down here" I said, taking her hand and leading her upstairs, before stopping in the hallway, with Damien and Bailey bringing up the rear.
"I wanted to see you" she pouts and then glances at Damien, her eyes sparkling "you look like Riley" she says pointing at me.
Damien's face is wreathed in a smile "I'm Damien, her" he pauses.
"My brother" I interrupt smoothly "and Damien this is Tiana."
He shakes the little girl's hand. He looks fascinated by her. I roll my eyes "Tiana do not step foot down in the dungeon ever again" I admonish her.
She sighs "Okay. Can we go swimming?"
I laugh "Maybe later. Damien hasn't had a chance to use his powers yet, it could be interesting to see what he could do."
A wide grin spread over Damien's mouth "awesome. Can Tiana do stuff too."
"Oh yeah" I said teasingly as Bailey chuckled "in fact I'm pretty sure she'll whoop your ass when we try you."
His mouth dropped open in shock.