Total pages in book: 210
Estimated words: 200096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1000(@200wpm)___ 800(@250wpm)___ 667(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 200096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1000(@200wpm)___ 800(@250wpm)___ 667(@300wpm)
Annika winces.
“But even seein’ that, the songs kept going and people kept getting dazed and divin’ in, like they couldn’t help themselves, even though they knew what was down there. So, they tied blankets and shirts around their heads, anything they could get hold of to drown out the sirens’ song so they wouldn’t be tempted to go for a deadly swim. It worked for the most part.”
“That is all you need to do, then? Muffle your ears?” Annika asks, absently toying with the blanket around her shoulders.
“Surely that would be all, if it were only the sirens we had to contend with. It wasn’t them who attacked the ship, according to Captain Finnigus, but a great scaly beast that came up in the waters. It tore apart two ships before vanishing into the sea. His ship—the one with only mortals—was left untouched.
“The distraught captain made it to Westport with half his men gone but his ship intact. The only explanation he had was that the sirens and the beast were after the immortals. He refused to sail ever again and spent his remaining days in Westport, warning everyone of the perils. Some listened. The ones who dared sail with your kind anyway were never heard from again.”
“Great scaly beasts that will rip apart your ship and yet you agreed to take us to Westport for a handful of jewels.” I scratch my chin with mock doubt. “This all sounds completely plausible.”
Captain Aron winks. “I do like my jewels. And I’ve learned a few tricks along the way.” He slides the loosely wrapped scarf from his neck and binds the material around his head, covering his ears. “Everyone, guard yourselves. The Tooth is comin’ up!”
All around us, sailors follow suit, fishing out readied articles of clothing as if they’ve done this countless times.
Annika studies their steps and then tears her blanket in half and copies their binding. Somehow, she makes it look fashionable.
Captain Aron notes me sitting there and warns, “You may wish to do the same.”
“I seem to be fresh out of scarves. If only someone had cloth to spare.”
The other half of Annika’s blanket dangles from her fingertips.
I hold out my hand, palm raised. “I know you care about my well-being.”
“Sorry, I couldn’t hear you! What did you say?” With a flick of her wrist, the material flies into the sea.
I expected as much. “It’s fine. I’m not a sucker for a beautiful voice like the rest of this lot.”
Captain Aron shakes his head at the both of us before returning his attention to the sea.
For the next half hour, I sit back and watch everyone fuss with their crude muffles and shout at one another to be heard. Annika remains quiet, leaning against the side of the ship, gazing at the horizon, her thoughts seemingly beyond it.
When the first sweet melody tickles my eardrum, it’s so faint I’m sure I’ve imagined it, but I find myself leaning forward, searching for a repeat—a confirmation that it was real. It comes moments later, a musical and feminine high note that erases the clatter around me. I’ve never heard anything so beautiful, so mesmerizing in all my life, and I find myself closing my eyes and smiling as I listen to it grow louder.
“You hear them, don’t you!” Annika startles me.
I crack one eye to find her hovering over me. “You don’t?”
She scrunches her nose. “Barely. It’s muffled.”
“Remove your blanket.”
“Of course you’d suggest that. You want me to get eaten.”
A sly smile curls my lips. “Yes, I would quite enjoy that, but not in the way you mean.”
“You swine.” She spins on her heels, but not before I catch the flush of her cheeks, and rushes back to search the waters.
More sirens sing now, the soothing chorus wafting through the air in wave after wave, relaxing my body despite the throb in my leg. It’s not long before I begin to feel the pull of longing, the urge to get up, to venture to the edge of the boat, to lean over in hopes of catching a glimpse of them for myself.
Maybe torn apart is how I would like to die.
Maybe I should end my suffering now.
“Radic. Get back from there!” someone shouts. “Radic!”
I turn in time to watch a sailor behind me jump overboard. A heavy splash sounds seconds later.
“The idiot didn’t secure his scarf tight enough!” Captain growls.
“There! I see him!” Annika points to the water.
“It’s too late.”
“What?” She gapes at him. “He’s right there! Give him a net!”
With a curse and a glance my way, Captain waves his hand and chaos breaks out as men rush to the side of the ship and cast a fishing net. They shout his name, trying to get his attention. Through all the commotion, the sirens continue singing, beckoning.
“I see something! I see it! Is that …” Annika pauses and then her mouth hangs open.