Voices of the Sea (5 page)

Though the ocean waited a mile from her house, Lora heard its roar. She felt completely in tune with the sea as if it were an extension of her own body rather than a non-human element. Each swell entered her heart and flooded through her veins like breath through an instrument, creating its own melody.

She sat on her front porch, cradled in a soft chair, and listened as the wind pricked at her porcelain skin. It had stopped raining, but mist lingered in the air and around the blue porch. Tall oleanders and cypress nestled themselves around the house. Lora observed a Monarch butterfly which came to rest on the arm of her chair.

The sounds from the sea quieted her soul. Still tormented from the happenings of the day, Lora sought comfort in its song. Patience, it sang. And understanding. But those were hard traits for her to follow. She didn’t want to be patient. She wanted to sprint from her house and fling herself into the ocean, letting it envelop her in its glorious music. She wanted to be as her ancestors were: goddesses of the ocean, powerful and unique. Feared, even. If she would someday be a Guardian, and possess the gifts Devin had, maybe she could stop this killer who hunted them today.

Lora hadn’t spoken to her father since the drive home, when he warned that if she tried to leave the house for any reason without him, even to see Devin, she would never see the ocean again. His face wore a permanent frown, a small vein pulsed in his temple, and his hands remained clenched in a vice-like grip.

Lora sighed loudly. She’d grown tired of his lectures. He’d perfected them after her mother died. She had very few specific memories, being only eight when the accident occurred, but she remembered the feelings well. The quiet, the emptiness. She’d lost a part of her father on that day, too.

Long ago, her parents used to take her to the ocean to sing late at night when they were completely alone, with no one around to hear them. He brought his mandolin and plucked at the strings while she danced with outstretched arms in the water. Her mother had a beautiful voice, clear and strong, and would twirl with her in the waves. They did not fear discovery. Lora ached with the longing of what it felt like to embrace her Siren-self without guilt.

He hadn’t gone with her to the ocean since she’d lost her mother. He never played the mandolin, either. She missed his music.

Rising, Lora crossed the porch and opened the front door. Linus, her orange tabby cat, brushed her leg with his tail. She reached down to pet him, but he scampered away, up the stairs and out of sight. Taking a deep breath, Lora called for her father.

“I’m in the kitchen,” she heard him say. His voice sounded solemn. She slowed, tennis shoes padding on the wooden floor down the short hallway to the kitchen. He sat at the kitchen table, staring at the backyard, still glistening from the rain. He’d opened the window.

“Why don’t you play the mandolin anymore?” she asked, enjoying the music flowing through the screen.

Her father pursed his lips. “Devin wants us to keep our identities a secret.”

Lora frowned. “But she doesn’t forbid us from singing, or playing our instruments. We just have to keep it quiet.” She swallowed and glanced at him. “What I meant was, why don’t you play for me anymore?”

He stayed very still and very quiet for a few moments. “Because it reminds me of your mother,” he answered finally. “It brings back too many painful memories.”

She covered his hand with hers. “I miss her too, Daddy. But it’s been nine years, and you still act as though it happened yesterday. Can’t you enjoy life at all without her?”

Her father shook his head. “Not like I used to.”

Inside, Lora’s heart felt hollow. She couldn’t bring him the joy he used to have with her mother, not even close. Not even enough to help him pretend to be happy. She’d failed him, but worse, she’d failed her mother.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“For what?”

For being alive when Mom isn’t
, she wanted to shout. For existing, which Lora believed was the real reason he could never be happy. Her mother had been perfect, a shining jewel to her father and to the rest of the Clan. Her mother would have been the next Guardian, to everyone’s overwhelming joy. But then she died, leaving behind a daughter who failed to match her in generosity and talent. Lora didn’t believe anyone clamored for her to become the next Guardian. But these were feelings she couldn’t share with her father.

“For going on the car chase,” she lied. “And for going to the beach this morning.”

Her father sighed, rubbing his eyes as he gave her a wan expression. “Thank you for apologizing. I hope you now realize this is a very serious situation.”

She swallowed. “I do.” She quickly changed the subject. “Have you talked to Devin?”

“Yes. She’s called the Clan to a meeting. She wants to warn them of the danger.”

“Really?” she said, leaning forward. “When?”

“Tomorrow evening. The whole Clan will be there.” He gazed out the window as he spoke.

His words filled Lora with a sense of dread. She’d been to only two clan callings since she turned sixteen, when she became a mature Siren, and neither had been happy occasions.

Sensing her unease, the ocean’s song grew stronger and almost pounded through the open window. She placed her palm against the screen and closed her eyes.

“Do you hear it, Dad? The ocean senses we’re coming.”

“We have to be careful,” he said, not answering her question. “When we leave tomorrow, I want to make sure we aren’t followed. Don’t tell anyone where you are going. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” she said, ignoring his irritated tone. “I’ll be careful.” She reluctantly moved away from the window. “Is it the Sons of Orpheus?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

He whipped his head around, a sharp motion. Fear, not anger, shone in his eyes as they looked past her to the window. “Devin believes it is possible.”

“The weather,” she murmured, turning her head to gaze out at the gray afternoon. The Sons of Orpheus brought nothing but sadness. They lived as Orpheus had lived, alone and in search of his dead lover. Their hearts were cold, and they spread their despair over the land.

“Yes,” he said. “They bring the cold with them.”

“They hate us,” she said. “But we aren’t evil. We aren’t monsters. We aren’t murderers.”

“No, but old wounds run deep.” He stood. “They are trained, Lora. There is no reason or logic in their thinking. The Sons of Orpheus are brainwashed from the day they are born. Brainwashed to kill us. And they won’t stop if you plead with them because they have no more humanity than a robot. It is imperative you stay in public places or with another member of the Clan all the time.” His voice hardened and he pointed a finger at her. “Do not go off on your own. Do you understand?”

Lora set her jaw. “I already promised I wouldn’t,” she answered. He treated her like a child, even though she would turn eighteen in a few months. She would be Guardian of the Clan someday, and everyone would rely on her judgment and experience, a fact which he preferred to ignore. Plus, she wasn’t stupid. Lora didn’t want to get killed and had no plans to put herself in a vulnerable position again.

“Good. I talked to Will, and he’ll pick you up in the morning and bring you to Devin’s house for your usual early meeting. Then he’ll come back and take you to school.” He paused. “Are you hungry?”

“Starving.”

“I ordered Chinese food. They’ll deliver it soon.”

Lora sighed. “Mom’s favorite.”

“Yes,” her father said. He stood, kissed her forehead, and moved past her up the stairs. The ocean’s song followed him.

Chapter Six

H
er father pulled up to the beach, where the occasional shadow of a Siren blocked the burning bonfire in the distance. The dark night enveloped the water in its blackness, yet the ocean’s song continued to call to her. As she grew closer to her clan, the music grew louder.

A circle of large stones surrounded the fire where many of the Clan members sat awaiting the arrival of their Guardian, preparing for the ritual where they would unite with the ocean to gain strength from its power. The children played in the lapping waves of the dark water, small sprites dancing with their sister, the ocean, their feet pale lights within the thick sand. Lora longed to join them, to frolic in the night as she used to do as a child.

Devin stood in the water up to her knees, her back to the Clan, arms outstretched as she communed with the sea in silence. The water remained still, reacting, perhaps, to its Guardian’s presence. Her heart beating in excitement, Lora removed her shoes and ran ahead of her father, past the fire. Her mind soared when her feet reached the cool salt water and sank into the wet sand. The children parted for her as she passed, giggling and whispering as they watched the future Guardian. One small boy reached with his hand to touch her black dress as it skimmed the water’s surface.

The Clan’s voices were barely audible above the song of the sea, speaking of family, jobs, dreams, and children. She felt their eyes following her movements, but she pushed them out of her mind and focused on Devin. Her grandmother hummed a private song. Though Lora longed to join in, it remained out of reach.

Grasping Lora’s hand, Devin lowered her arms and enveloped her in a warm embrace. “You’re troubled,” she whispered into Lora’s ear. “Don’t be, not around our Mother Ocean. We are protected here, together.”

Turning, Devin led Lora by the hand toward the bonfire as the rest of the Clan joined the circle, sitting on the stones and driftwood, or on blankets thrown over the sand. Children snuggled in their parents’ laps, the small Hale baby asleep in her mother’s arms, her mouth open as she slumbered. Lora sat on a stone at the head of the circle next to her father. Her back faced the ocean as she assessed her Clan, and her eyes were drawn to Mr. and Mrs. Thanos, Victoria’s parents. They were also dressed in black and blended in with the night. Their faces were blank with grief and loss.

Next to them, Will’s Aunt Bev and Uncle Marc talked quietly with Mr. and Mrs. Haynesworth (who occasionally told their two tow-headed children to stay within the circle), and with Silas Weatherby, whose wrinkled face resembled the stone upon which he sat. Devin stopped to whisper to Mina and Gerry Barbas, the oldest members of the Clan. Their teenage granddaughter Violet sat with them.

The ocean’s song shifted to a melancholy tune as Will approached from the parking lot, his gray eyes flickering with the fire visible in the black night. He gave her a strange smile as he joined his aunt and uncle. Fiona, snuggled deep beneath her jacket, pressed against Eric and gazed at him with adoring eyes. Eric’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Tomlinson, failed to notice their affections. They were instead engaged in conversation with Eric’s older brother, Gregory, home temporarily from college to join in the gathering.

The Clan was her family. Peace and serenity surrounded her when they congregated. An immense sense of satisfaction at seeing the Clan gathered together overwhelmed her. One glimpse at the Thanos couple without Victoria, however, brought back her sorrow. There would be no celebration tonight.

As if sensing her feelings, Devin raised a hand, quieting the Clan with the simple gesture. The ocean’s song filled the silence. In low octaves, it sang a song of unity, urging the Clan to keep strength despite the recent events.

Within the sheltered cove, the Sirens sang. Lora felt her voice meld with the Clan until they were all in perfect harmony, singing the song of their people, paying homage to the ocean. The wind whipped around her body, tousling her hair. Lora felt the sea within her, joining her Clan as they became one with the universe in an ancient ritual, a ceremony transcending time, giving Lora power.

As the wind died down and the ocean’s song became a faint humming in her ears, she turned her attention to her grandmother, their Guardian, who stood next to her. Devin’s eyes were still closed, her mouth moving as if she were chanting a reverent prayer only she could understand. She stopped and addressed her Clan.

“My people,” she said, her voice warm despite the cool air surrounding them, “we are here to gather strength, to remember who we are despite the danger threatening our Clan.”

Glancing at the other Sirens, Lora saw that most of them had closed their eyes, as if their bodies could absorb Devin’s words. With each breath, Lora felt the cleansing power of the sea consume her, heal her soul, and rejuvenate her, until at last she calmed her mind. Each breath felt like a new beginning. Glancing at her clan members, she could feel they also sought peace.

But despite her tender feelings, her mind nagged at her, refusing to understand why they had to keep themselves a secret. Maybe if the world was aware they existed, cults like the Sons of Orpheus would no longer exist. Maybe then, people would understand that Sirens were not the hideous monsters myth had made them to be. Even in their greatest sorrow, the Clan had to hide in the darkness. But hiding made her feel vulnerable, like a coward.

Devin looked at her with sad eyes. Face flushing with embarrassment, Lora turned away from her grandmother, who searched her treacherous soul without permission. She couldn’t hide her feelings from Devin. Guardians sensed the desires of their clan members, but exactly how much she understood about Lora’s thoughts remained a mystery. Lora wished even harder for the counterpart who would help her develop those same abilities.

A small voice emerged from across the blazing fire as Emma Hale stood, still holding her sleeping baby. “What can we do to protect ourselves?” she asked, glancing at her daughter as she spoke. “Our music doesn’t affect the Sons of Orpheus, so how can we stop them?” Several members of the Clan murmured in agreement and turned to Devin with expectant eyes, but she shook her head.

“I’m not sure,” she answered. “We aren’t aware of any weaknesses of the Sons of Orpheus, but they are human. So, the Sons aren’t impervious to weapons. They can be killed.”

“We don’t have guns or weapons in our house!” Charlie Hale said, his eyes narrowing in frustration. “Do you suggest I beat them off with a baseball bat?”

“I have a gun,” Silas Weatherby said, but Charlie ignored him.

“You tell me a fanatic cult is in Pacific Grove specifically to kill my family, my people, but there is nothing I can do about it? No. I’m contacting the police.”

Lora’s father responded, his voice low and menacing beside her. “We can’t go to the police, Charlie. It would put us in even more danger.” His tone sounded sharp, which she found disconcerting. Lora rarely saw him speak so sternly to anyone but herself, let alone a grown member of the Clan. The men’s eyes were dark as they regarded one another across the fire.

Charlie stood, his shadow falling like a giant into the ocean. The ocean’s song sounded tumultuous now, churning with the mixed emotions emanating from the Clan. “Do you suggest I let those psychos kill my family, Robert?”

“Of course not,” her father said, his voice rising above the song of the sea. “But we need to stay rational if we want to protect ourselves.”

“I agree with Charlie,” Eric’s father, Russ Tomlinson said, standing to place a hand on Charlie’s shoulder. His graying hair flickered in the fire, making him appear ten years older than he was, the fine lines on his face suddenly defined. Eric glanced at Fiona in alarm, and Lora sensed their unease. The Clan fell apart again, Devin’s calming words from before forgotten. They were too divided over the issue, which would not help them keep a united defense against the Sons of Orpheus. If they didn’t stand together they would be destroyed, Lora realized. If they didn’t stand together, their Clan couldn’t survive.

The Clan began speaking over one another, choosing sides, their voices becoming louder than the ocean’s song. Looking at Devin for help, Lora found she had retreated to the sea, bathing her feet in the ocean with her arms outstretched, communing with the water. Why did she ignore the fights emerging between the Clan? Most of the Clan members were standing now, arguing amongst themselves while their children sat in the sand, watching the adults with frightened eyes.

Mind racing, Lora struggled to find the words to stop the chaos emerging around her. What could she say to people who were frightened for the lives of their families? Nothing she could say would remove their fears and doubts; instead, she helplessly observed their arguments.

Lora closed her eyes, praying for the courage to help her people. She felt the cold air of the evening as it created pebbling goose-bumps on her arms, the protection of the fire becoming a distant ally. The roar of the ocean, the song of the sea and the arguments of her Siren clan melded together until they were a buzzing blur in her ears, all while her mind screamed for the turmoil surrounding her to end. The sense of helplessness drove her crazy, welling within her until a rampage threatened to unleash itself from her mouth.

Gathering her strength, she mustered the energy to speak. “This is not the time to fight!” she called out. “We should work together!” They did not hear her, but continued to argue with one another.

How can I ever lead them? I can’t even get them to listen to me.

She felt a slight shift in the air. A great rushing sound surrounded the fire as a short, circular wall of water, only four feet high, perhaps, emerged; but it silenced the arguing Clan as they surveyed the magnificent spectacle in awe. The water parted, a perfect split in the watery wall, and Devin emerged from the ocean barrier, taking delicate, deliberate steps. The Haynesworth children stared on in silent wonder, reaching out to touch Devin’s dress as she passed, a goddess of the ocean, her long silver hair flowing behind her. Smiling now, the children skipped behind her until she stopped directly in front of the bonfire, facing her stricken clan. The children sank into the sand around her feet, their eyes turned expectantly upwards toward her. Violet, the teenage granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Barbas, rose from her piece of driftwood and hurried across the sand to join the other children. The youngest Haynesworth child, Molly, crawled into her lap and placed her tiny head on Violet’s chest, letting out a contented sigh.

Nervous someone might see the odd spectacle around them, Lora rushed to Devin, who greeted her with a reassuring grin. “We won’t be seen,” she said to Lora, closing her eyes. “There are no humans around this cove.”

Lora stepped back, her heart still pounding from the incredible sight around her. The wall of water was thin, allowing her to see through it, yet it gave off a spectacular illusion, offering them complete seclusion.

Raising a slender hand, Devin silenced the murmurs of her clan.

“Loralei is right,” she said, her voice strong yet calm against the wall of water and center of fire., “We did not come here to argue.”

The sight of their shadows reflected against the ocean barricade like gentle spirits, flickering in the flames, was striking.

“We are here to gather strength from one another, to remember we are a family who will not allow the Sons of Orpheus to annihilate us.” Devin took a deep breath, staring at each clan member as if she were seeing into their souls.

Lora’s soul was exposed. All her conflicting feelings—her worry over whether she could keep her clan safe once she became Guardian, her desire not to hide anymore, her frustration toward her father who still treated her as a child, the part of her who missed her mother terribly—all those troubles and doubts rose before her so clearly, Lora worried she might crumble from the pressure. And Devin could probably see all of these weaknesses.

Based on her people’s faces, they were also experiencing conflicting feelings. Mr. and Mrs. Hale were staring at their child with worried expressions, perhaps wondering if they could keep their tiny infant safe. Lora could only imagine their worry.

She turned to find Will staring at her, his face an unreadable mask. He showed no emotion, only probing eyes and a furrowed brow. Though she met his gaze for a moment, she squirmed under his blank stare and forced herself to turn away, toward the frightened Barbas couple, who kept vigil over Violet as if she might pass through the water and disappear forever.

Lora risked a peek at Devin to find her eyes resting upon Will. Devin frowned, which Lora found strange. She would have to ask her about it later.

Violet picked up young Molly and crept over to the wall of water still surrounding their circle. Together, they stretched their fingers toward the unnatural phenomenon, letting their fingertips play in the water as they laughed and giggled over the wonder before them. Molly’s older brother Benjamin, a nine-year-old, cautiously approached the water as well. His sister’s enthusiasm encouraged him, and he touched it and laughed as his fingers passed through the thin watery lining.

“The ocean will protect us,” Devin said. As she raised her arms, the ocean wall surrounding them fell, inches at a time, until it became a mere puddle encircling the Clan. “She will not abandon her children, her sisters, her brothers. Our fates are already written, and we must trust in her. Μητέρα ωκεανών θα μας προστατεύσει.
Mother Ocean will protect us
.”

“Μητέρα ωκεανών θα μας προστατεύσει,” the Clan answered. Lora closed her eyes, listening to the song of the sea. She prayed the words their Guardian spoke were true. Opening her green eyes, gazing into the vulnerable faces of her clan, she could tell they were as worried as she.

Then they sang together. A spiritual force shielded them, their voices melding together like the variations of the waves. Eventually the song grew quieter. Some of the younger children slept on their mother’s laps, their peaceful faces devoid of worry or fear.