Chained (The Siren Series #2) (13 page)

“
Yeah, hold on, I’m thinking.” I
replied.

“
There are people out there who want
you to succeed and some want you to fail, I’m just here telling you
your options.”

“
What are you talking
about?”

“
Well, there are people out there, who want
you dead, and some think that being with
them
two won’t end well.”

“
I make my own decisions and I do feel
safe with Rhea, not so much with Naaz though.” I said to
him.

“
There is still darkness inside that
one, watch what you do around her.”

“
Who, Naaz?” I asked.

“
No, Rhea. She might say she is a new
person but she hides a dark secret that still haunts her to this
very day.”

“
Are you talking about Idina?” I
asked.

“
No, there is something far more worse
she hides and it has taken hold of her.” He said.

“
She would never hurt me, she protects
me.” I told him

“
There will come a time when no one can
help you.”

His words shook me, I would never be alone
again. “Is that a threat?”

“
No, just a warning.”

It was my turn to ask questions.

“
What are you? Why am I here? And who
the hell wants me to succeed, succeed at what?”

The blue eyed man laughed and his strong
shoulders jumped up and down. “Well, I am sort of an observer, I am
neither good nor evil, and second, you are in the nether. A place
between worlds and finally, the people who want you to succeed are
unknown to me, sadly.”

“
Well that was a mouthful, thanks. At
least you were honest with me, unlike some people they just skate
around the facts.” I said.

“
You are playing a dangerous game,
Ellie, think of who you are creating ties with, be careful. There
are people who want you to be safe including one special person.”
His voice softly said.

My heart skipped a beat. “Kate?!” I asked
with tears forming in my eyes.

He didn’t reply but I knew it could be her.
“Be careful.” He stood back away from me and something expanded
from his back up into the air. Two large grey wings were thrown up
into the air ready to soar into the graying fog. He gave me a quick
smile and shot off into the unknown. Before I could think of how to
get back, I found myself falling through the air and back down to
my body.

I opened my eyes to see bodies bent over
me.

“
She’s awake.” said a familiar
voice.

“
Let her have some space.” another
said.

Their face’s moved from my view and the
bright new sun showered its blinding light upon me. I laid there
for a moment just staring at the sky, stunned at what I just saw up
there. Or was it down below? Whatever he was, I didn’t know whether
to trust him or not. The group of people who I
could
trust was getting smaller and smaller.

I sat up and I felt like a house had fallen
onto me, I felt like crap, worse that crap. Many hands offered me
their help but I ignored them and got to my feet myself. My legs
wobbled underneath me, but I held my ground.

We were still by the sewer where we escaped
from. They hadn’t moved me. They probably didn’t want to touch
me.

“
Are you ok?” Sophia asked.

I looked around to see the others had worried
looks on their faces, all except Naaz. Her face, frozen with a
scorned look.

“
She may still be possessed.” said
Naaz.

“
Knock it off Naaz. You’re just pissed
cos’ Ellie knocked you on your ass’.” Marcus said.

Naaz gave him a frightening look and turned
her back on us.

“
Yeah, I’m fine. I’m sorry I said those
horrible things before.” I crocked. My throat felt tight and
sore.

“
We all said horrible things to each
other, it wasn’t us, it was that orb.” Sophia said.

I looked down at my hands and the burnt flesh
was healed.

The others agreed with her. “What did happen
anyway?” I asked.

Rhea took a deep breath and explained. “Well
Ellie, your emotions connected with the wisp and it started a chain
reaction; it made everyone feel angry because they were in fact,
feeling your emotions.”

“
How?” I asked.

“
Well, it was the orb. It intensified
your anger and the orb could not handle that sort of power, so it
overloaded, making it shatter.” Rhea said.

“
So those things inside were-.” Sophia
was cut off.

“
Those, my dear, were dead Siren
souls.” Naaz interrupted.

I knew what she said was true, when they were
inside I could feel each and every one’s pain and torment that they
felt in life. Their strong will nearly took over my body.

“
It felt horrible, I thought I was
going to mad with their anger.” I said.

“
Well it’s over now.” Marcus
said.

“
But, what I want to know is why were
they protecting Ellie?” Sophia asked with a puzzled look on her
face.

“
They thought we were a threat.” Naaz
explained. “Especially, Rhea and I.”

“
Why did they think you would harm me?”
I asked them.

Rhea was about to answer but Naaz gripped
onto her hand hard and spoke for her. “I don’t know, but it worries
me.” she replied.

I noticed the silent words that Rhea and Naaz
exchanged with just a look. What are they not telling me? I want
answers.

“
Anyway, let’s get back, before
something else happens.” advised Marcus.

We all agreed and grabbed onto Rhea and
Naaz’s hands. The same feeling came over me and my stomach knotted
inside. Shapes and colours flashed passed my face as we headed back
to Naaz’s dark home.

We landed in the cold hall with the others. I
was too tired to talk so I abandoned them at the hall and I made my
way into the fiery cozy living room. I found my comfy sofa and got
comfortable. I didn’t want to talk to anyone, not with everything
that had happened. How could they ever treat me the same again
after what I had done. If I was them I wouldn’t even go near me
again, but that wasn’t me. I would never intend to hurt them, but
did they know that? The fear I saw in Sophia’s eyes, I will never
forget that as long as I live and I wish never witness it ever
again.

The words of the hazel eyed angel echoed
inside me. I would have to be careful around the others. I don’t
want to end up on my own again, not like last time. His warning
about Rhea threw me off. I trusted her the most, but he’s right,
there is darkness inside her, and sometimes there are little
moments when I can see it. I don’t want to be here when she finally
decides to give in to it.

I woke up to chattering voices coming from
outside the door. The voices were of those that I knew. I quietly
made my way towards the door to have a peek. They were all in the
hall talking to one another in hushed tones. I pulled the door open
to have a better listen.

“
I’m getting worried about her powers.”
Sophia said.

“
I know what you mean, she’s growing
stronger every day, and no one would have been able to come back
from that.” Rhea agreed.

“
She was possessed by multiple spirits
all at once, and she comes out unharmed? I don’t know even if I
could come back from that.” Naaz said.

“
Can we stop talking about Ellie like
she’s a danger to us, she’s not.” Marcus said.

My heart skipped a beat when I heard Marcus
trying to defend me, but at the same time it scared me. Why would I
need defending, was I a lost cause, an evil villain to be disposed
of?

“
I know what you are saying Marcus, I
would never abandon her, no matter what happens.” Rhea explained
“but her powers are growing too fast, and she might not be able to
handle them.”

“
I would never leave her.” Marcus
added.

“
We all know that.” added
Naaz.

“
No one is leaving anyone.” Rhea
said.

“
What do you think the council will do
to her?” Sophia asked.

“
I don’t know. We haven’t had a Siren
out in the open for a long time.” Rhea replied.

“
I won’t let them take her away!”
Marcus harshly said.

“
Keep your voice down. No one will take
her and I will make sure they don’t get a chance.”

“
You’re quite keen on her aren’t you?”
asked Naaz.

Marcus remained quite.

The four of them stood in silence, I decided
to join them. I opened the door and pretended to rub the sleep out
of my eyes. They saw me and greeted me with fake smiles.

“
You’re awake.” Rhea said.

“
Yeah, I just needed some rest.” I
answered.

Rhea rushed towards me and pulled me into
a tight embrace. I felt so safe in her arms, I could feel all my
troubles falling away, but the angel’s words popped into my head at
the worse time.
She has darkness inside her.
I tried to wash the tainted words from my
mind.

Marcus stepped forward and greeted me with
one of his smiles.

“
I’m glad you’re safe.” He softly
said.

“
Thanks.” I replied.

Naaz cleared her throat to interrupt us.
“There is a matter of the Siren souls.”

I stared at Naaz confused. “What, those white
things?”

“
Yes, since
you
released them. They will be looking for fresh hosts.”
replied Naaz.

“
And I guess that’s not a good a good
thing.” I asked.

“
No, not really, Ellie. They are full
of hate and they can hurt people.”

“
Wait, wait.” I held up my hands and
stopped everyone “you mean they are out there on the
lose?”

“
Well, yes and you freed them.” Naaz
said.

“
But why were they in there? It’s not like
they volunteered for it. When they were inside me I could feel
their lust for life. They died an unnatural death, there was a lot
of hate inside them.”

Rhea looked uncomfortable with the question I
posed to her. “Well?” I waited for their answer.

Naaz stepped forward and shared the
answer. “Those Sirens were hunted down and killed for their souls.”
She said nonchalantly.

Did you know about this?” I asked while
trying to remain calm.

I didn’t need an answer from Rhea, it was
written across her face.

“
And I used that
thing,
without knowing, I’m just as bad as the person who
made it.” I could feel my voice breaking.

Then something rushed into my mind and I felt
sick. “Did you make it?” I asked Naaz.

Naaz smiled her signature sick grin. “It’s
something I
would
do, but I
didn’t, it was a gift from an admirer.” She said.

“
You’re lying!” I shouted.

“
That’s enough!” Rhea called
out.

I felt the rage bubble inside me and I tried
to calm it.

Marcus stepped in between us. “It’s getting
late and we have been through enough today, and we have a long day
ahead of us tomorrow, so let’s get some rest.”

“
Sounds like a good idea to me.” said
Sophia.

I didn’t want to talk anymore; I just walked
back to the room with a sick feeling inside my stomach.

I tried to sleep, but my mind was in
overdrive. It kept on replying events around and around inside my
head and I couldn’t take it anymore. Everything was so messed up. I
got off the sofa and I noticed that Sophia was sitting close to the
fire, staring at the fireplace. Sophia was unknown to her
surroundings and I didn’t want to intrude on her. I quietly tired
to make my way out of the room.

“
You can stay if you want.” Sophia’s
child like voice said.

I jumped when she spoke.

“
I don’t want to interrupt you or
anything.” I whispered.

“
No it’s ok, I was just thinking, that
all.” She replied.

I took a seat next to her on the thin
threadbare carpet. The heat of the fire felt good against my cold
skin. Sophia was silent but I could tell she wanted to talk about
something.

“
Is there something wrong?” I
asked.

“
You can tell?” she said.

“
Well it’s not that hard, when you got
that look on your face.”

“
It’s just everything is just getting
out of hand.” she said.

“
I know what you mean, it’s getting
hard but we have to push through.” I replied.

“
I don’t know why I’m having a hard
time it’s you who’s in the middle of it all.” Sophia
said.

“
I sometimes have days when I just want
to say, ‘to hell with it’ but I don’t because I know I’ll never see
you or Rhea again.” I tried to give Sophia a supporting smile.
These words I spoke to Sophia, I didn’t know whether or not I
believed them, but something inside me screamed for me to keep
going and never look back, but could I really do that?

“
What about Marcus?” she
asked.

“
What about him?” I tried to ask
nonchalantly.