I filled my lungs with air and dipped below the surface. I swam toward them and realized suddenly that the Devil抯 Pet was pushing me along, faster than I could have managed on my own.
Another siren came careening toward me in a streak of yellow. I flicked my wrist, and a new offshoot of Devil抯 Pet branched off and caught her just above her fin. It sliced through the scales, filling the water with the creature抯 blood. Its mouth twisted into a hideous scowl and it turned to try and disentangle itself. I kicked toward Marie, my lungs burning, my movements stifled by the cold. I thrust out my hand, hoping it was enough of a signal to the Devil抯 Pet. It was. A new offshoot sliced through the water and wrapped itself around Marie, yanking her away from one of the sirens. When she was close enough I grabbed hold of her and the vines reeled us in like fish on a line. As we broke the water抯 surface, I coughed and gasped. Marie clawed at the vines, trying desperately to break free.
揗arie, stop!?I screamed, holding her tight. 揚lease!?
There was a sudden splash to my immediate right, and my head was yanked to the side. Where there had been only silence, now there was a cacophony of sound. Circe and Persephone screaming from somewhere over my head, the splashing of water, the groan of the ship as it listed in the choppy sea, Marie抯 frantic breathing, the thudding of the Heart in the belly of the ship, and the siren song.
The stories didn抰 describe it fully. There抯 no way they could have. The sound was like a familiar song being hummed in unison by a hundred voices, a downpour of rain, and an almost electrical buzzing all rolled into one. There were no words, just sound, and suddenly the only thing I wanted was to be below the waves in the cold embrace of the sea.
My mind went blank. There was nothing but relief. Everything faded away.
Circe抯 voice cut through the silence and the dark. 揃riseis, give me your hand! Please, baby! Reach for me!?
I opened my eyes to see Circe leaning over the rail as I was being hauled up. I reached out and the Devil抯 Pet pushed me the rest of the way. She grabbed me and pulled me onto the deck, where my legs went out from under me. I shivered uncontrollably as Circe cradled me in her arms.
揗arie,?I said. 揥here is she??
揥e got her,?Persephone said from somewhere. 揝he抯 okay.?
揥hat抯 happening??I asked. My vision was still hazy and my teeth chattered together as I tried to sit up.
揟he sirens are retreating,?Circe said. She helped me to my feet as Marie sat in a daze. I went to her and put my arm around her shoulder.
A sound still lingered in the air. Not the siren sound, not the thudding of the Absyrtus Heart, but something else entirely. Persephone had removed her headphones and was listening intently.
揥hat is that sound??I asked.
揕ook,?Persephone said.
I cautiously walked to the rail to see that the sirens hadn抰 just decided to leave, they抎 been drawn off by something. They retreated to the rocks and sat atop them in all their scaly, slimy hideousness. Our ship was now moving slowly past them, to the shore of an island that had appeared out of nowhere. The sandy shoreline of a small cove came into view. Beyond it, a thick, almost tropical-looking forest, and on the shore, in the breaking water, stood a woman playing a stringed instrument梩he origin of the mysterious new sound.
揟he sirens fled when she started playing,?Circe said.
揥ho is she??I asked.
Persephone shrugged. 揑 don抰 know.?
The ship glided into the cove, and Persephone dropped the anchor and secured the sails. 揑抣l take the dinghy to shore first. Stay here until I get back.?
揥hat??Circe said. 揘o. I抦 going with you.?
揘o,?Persephone said firmly. There wouldn抰 be any further discussion. Persephone went to the side of the ship and lowered the dinghy into the water, then descended the ladder and rowed to shore.
Marie joined me at the rail and tossed a blanket around me. She handed me my glasses and I slipped them back on.
揟hanks,?I said. 揂re you okay??
She nodded. 揑抦 so sorry. My headphones came off and it was like I didn抰 have control of myself. All I wanted to do was go into the water.?
揟he same thing happened to me. I guess the stories were true. Siren songs are no joke.?
揗ermaids are not to be messed with,?Marie said softly. She turned to me. 揧ou saved me.?
揑 couldn抰 let these mer-hos just take you away,?I said. 揑 don抰 wanna have to tell people you left me for a fish.?
Marie smiled and held my hand to her lips, kissing it gently and pulling me close. We watched as Persephone made the short trip to shore. Circe crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her foot anxiously.
Persephone allowed the dinghy to come to rest on the shore. As she got out and approached the woman, she stopped in her tracks, her entire body rigid. It could only have been in response to the woman抯 immense height. Persephone herself was tall, but like Hecate, like Hermes, like the Fates, this woman towered over her by what I guessed was at least two feet.