“In the likely event that you did not prove accommodating,” Vordan says,
“we are prepared to use you in a different way.”
I do not like the sound of this. I’ve put away the siren. I have no way to even
prepare myself for what Vordan might be thinking now.
“Bring the supplies,” he orders to the two men who still have pistols pointed
at Riden. Instantly they turn around and leave the clearing.
I can see Riden’s mind turning. Even though I can’t sense what he’s thinking,
it’s not hard to guess. He’s trying to decide how to make the most out of not
being so heavily guarded.
But before he can take a step, Theris has his gun out and cocked back.
“Don’t even think about it.”
“Why is he even here?” I ask. “You have me. Why would you take a second
prisoner? Now Draxen will be out looking for him.”
“In time all will be revealed,” Vordan says.
He’s enjoying himself too much, and he’s eager for what is to come. I guess it
didn’t matter whether I agreed to join him or not.
I wonder if I should change myself. Should I become Vordan’s perfect
woman so he will wish to free me? It’s the only weapon I have left, but will it do any good? As I glance back over at Theris and his coin, I realize it won’t work.
If I try something on Vordan, Theris will know, and he’ll put a stop to it.
I’m helpless. No weapon. No power. At this point, I can only hope someone
will venture too close to the cage or that Riden somehow frees himself and then
me. Since Riden isn’t too pleased with me at the moment, I doubt he’d want to
help even if he did free himself.
When Riden’s guards return, they are not empty-handed. Each holds a bucket
filled with water in one hand and something that looks a lot like a stick in the other. I can’t tell what they are at first.
“Alosa,” Vordan says, “you are here so I can learn all the skills you possess.
For if I can’t use you to help me reach the Isla de Canta, then I will use you to learn all about sirens so I can be adequately protected once I’m there.”
An ice-cold dread freezes me.
I’m to be his experiment.
Chapter 17
“WHAT?” I SAY BECAUSE I can’t think of anything else to say.
“I can’t very well expect you to be honest about your abilities, so I’ll have to
determine them for myself,” Vordan says. “Together, Alosa, we will identify all
the powers sirens possess.”
He doesn’t realize how terrifying I find the prospect. How could he know how much I loathe, and sometimes fear, using my abilities? I hate the way I feel
inside and out. I hate the emotional toll they take on me. And then there’s the way I change when I have to replenish my abilities. Vordan will have me demonstrate everything over and over. The thought causes bile to rise in my throat. I swallow it back down.
“I am only partially a siren,” I say in desperation. “What I can and can’t do
will not apply to the creatures you will find at the Isla de Canta. I am of no use to you.”
Vordan pulls at the hair on his chin. “That is not true. Even if you are not as
powerful as a true siren, your abilities will give me the information I need to prepare for such a venture.”
During our quick exchange, Vordan’s men have been moving. They place
their buckets about five feet away from the cage, far out of my reach. They put
what looks like a long, hollow, tubelike branch into each bucket.
“To start,” Vordan says, “you will sing for me.”
“Like hell I will.”
Vordan smiles. “And that is why the young first mate is here. Theris, show Alosa what will happen each time she refuses me.”
Theris pulls out his cutlass and rakes it across Riden’s upper arm, cutting through his shirt and sending blood streaming downward.
Riden winces, but other than that he shows no sign of pain. Instead, he laughs, applying pressure to the fresh wound. “You’re all fools if you think the
princess cares whether I live or die.”
Theris snorts. “You’re wrong, Riden. Alosa lives by her own rules. She has a
strong tendency toward vengeance. She can’t stand to see those who have wronged her walk away unscathed. Draxen kidnapped her, he beat her, he humiliated her, he tried to take her body. She loathes him. Yet he’s alive. Do you know why?”
Riden looks at me. I quickly turn my gaze downward.