Among Demons : A Siren's Voice

Ch. 36 : Distracting Waves

It took until the early evening to not only talk to all the kids that were rescued, but also soothe their emotional pain.

Devin had stepped out around lunchtime with her brother, who was carrying a hungry Alder on his hip. All three headed out to pick up something for all of us to eat. That gave both Marcus and I a moment to talk about his father who, it was plain to see, had been nothing but a constant threat to Marcus. He apologized to me several times for what his father had done, shame filling his eyes every time he even said the word ‘father’. And though I told him that he didn’t need to apologize for the actions of his father, he continued to do so, saying that he needed to take some responsibility for what that man had done.

After the others returned with food, we all ate, took a second to relax and even managed to joke around a little bit before I resumed my tense conversations and tear-stained healings with the rest of the children.

By the end of it, my heart had crushed the vain hope it held, no longer able to deny the truth that a few of the older kids had clearly stated to me.

“My sister.” I muttered, watching as Alder ran around playing with some of the kids after I had finished soothing the last little girl that had been kidn*pped.

Nick, Dev, Marcus and I had moved out here with all of the kids that were now living in the orphanage. Sadly, most of the kids that had been taken had either lost both parents or were instantly abandoned by Human family members after they went missing. So those kids were now officially moved into the orphanage and under the care and protection of the Matron who continuously funded every business run within the Village. Especially the schools and programs dedicated to the children, women and single parents.

“What was that?” Devin asked, pulling me from the joyful laughter and play, turning to find three sets of eyes looking at me.

I sighed, “My sister, Harmony… the older kids that I talked to said that there had been a Demon woman that fit her description working with the Hunters.” I stared down at my hands that sat on my lap, wringing my fingers as my own bout of shame, disgust and disappointment filled me. “Alder and a few of the other kids had said that the Hunters had threatened them.” They all frowned at my words, both Nick and Marcus leaning forward intently as I continued. “They were all told that they had someone capable of MAKING them do anything and everything the Hunters wanted them to do… that they weren’t going to be able to resist… and that they had plans to have those kids turn on their family and friends…” Devin gasped softly, pain and anger growing in her eyes while the guys both showed a silent seething rage settle into their gray and hazel-green orbs. “And my sister is a Siren like me… so…”

“She was going to use her powers… on the kids…” Devin finished for me, sounding horrified while I nodded. “But why?... Why help those bastards?... Why turn against your own people?”

I shook my head, unable to answer since I also didn’t understand what was going through my sister's mind. Though, the reason Harmony had to help those bastards had been plainly documented in those old pages a Scout had found not long ago.

“I was never really close to my sister… she took after our mother too much, but…” I sighed again, closing my eyes as a wave of revulsion rose inside, flipping my stomach and making me swallow hard to resist the urge to gag. “Those papers that your people had found earlier… the ones that caused my panic attack… it shows that both my sister and mother became… involved with that Hunter named Mitch… the one that had been chasing me when we met.”

“So, he’s the one pulling the strings.” Nick mused, sounding so very enraged and disgusted.

“It’s more than likely that he’s helping my father.” Marcus added, sounding just as repulsed. “Probably under his orders to approach your family.” He turned to me, once again looking ashamed. “I’m sorry, Lora.”

I shook my head at him as Devin scooted closer to her fiance, hugging his arm and kissing his chin, managing to make him smile.

“I already told you, Marcus. You aren’t responsible for your fathers actions.” He opened his mouth to say more, but I shook my head again, stopping him. “Thank you, for being nothing like him, but you don’t need to carry so much simply because you’re related to him.” I sighed and turned away, watching the children once more. “I understand the way you feel… now that so many lies are out in the open to me too.”

“Don’t do that.” Nick muttered to me, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me into his side. “Just like Marcus isn’t responsible for his father, you aren’t responsible for your sister.”

I nodded, managing to smile at him and relaxing into his arms as he kissed me lightly.

I knew that his words were true, but it was one thing to help someone else with their own pain and struggles, versus listening to your own advice to help yourself.

“We need a change of scenery.” Dev said suddenly, jumping to her feet and making the kids pause in their play. “I’ll call the others and have them meet us.” She pulled out her phone, smiling at us while Nick shook his head and Marcus stared at her with so much affection in his eyes.

“And where are we meeting them?” Nick asked, making her freeze for a second before she turned to us.

“Hmm…” She hummed, thinking it over for a long silent moment before she locked those ringed eyes on me, smiling brightly. “Lora can choose.”

I blinked in surprise, my mind suddenly going blank as Alder came huffing back to where we sat. He took the offered water bottle that Nick extended to him, mumbling a ‘thanks’ before he turned his eyes on me.

“Lo-Lo?” He questioned, clearly seeing the confusion written all over my face.

I chuckled, feeling a little silly until I finally decided on something, I just needed Alder’s help first.

“We’re about to head out to spend time with the rest of our friends.” I told him, seeing his curiosity increase. “We want to go somewhere fun so we can relax after all the craziness.” I poked his side and made him giggle a little before he moved away from me. “It’s my turn to pick where to go… but I can’t think of where?” I smiled a little teasingly at Alder whose eyes widened along with his smile, clearly picking up on my little hint.

“Can I pick?” He quickly asked, making Nick and I chuckle.

“Sure, little man.” Nick told him, ruffling his hair and making Alder pout a bit. “Where’d you like to go?”

He didn’t even hesitate in his answer, his voice rising with his excitement while the rest of us laughed.

“THE BEACH!”

Devin nodded and started dialing the first person on her phone, smiling as she moved to sit on Marcus’ lap.

“Imma take a wild guess and say that Alder likes the ocean?” Nick laughed out, shaking his head at the still beaming boy now rocking from foot to foot.

“Oh, yeah.” I answered, grabbing the excited boy and placing him on my own lap. “He loves the water and would rather go swimming than do absolutely anything else.”

It didn’t take long for everyone to be invited out with us as we were all piling into each vehicle, dividing tasks between us before driving off.

Devin and Marcus were going out to grab some picnic blankets and chairs for us while we were tasked with grabbing plenty of drinks and snacks. Nyla and Danny were apparently going to gather paper plates, cups and several coolers that they had. And Izaak and Sammy were bringing several different beach games for us and the kids. Alder chatted with us happily as we went out to grab what we needed, talking about the friends he made at the orphanage and his excitement to see the ocean. Thanks to that, we grabbed everything we wanted to get, piled back into the truck and were parking at the beach in short order.

Devin and Marcus showed up just as we started pulling out the bags of snacks and drinks. Alder picked the place in the sand for us and I helped Devin spread out a massive black blanket for all of us to use. Nick and Marcus chatted while unfolding a few chairs just as Nyla screamed at us, waving her arm wildly over her head while Danny trailing behind her, smiling as he pulled and carried some coolers. I was in the middle of introducing Danny and Nyla to Alder who was all smiles, when Sammy and Izaak appeared.

I couldn’t help but giggle when I caught the rush of emotions that hit the little Vampire when he was introduced to Mari. His face was flushed and it only grew even brighter when the sweet and bubbly Elf attacked him with a big hug that he was clearly not expecting.

Sammy laughed as she settled herself and her babbling baby boy on the blanket while Izaak started muttering next to Nick, Marcus and Danny, who shook their heads at him.

I had never seen Alder get so flustered around a girl before, so seeing his little face glow a bright pink before a big smile took over him was completely new to me. And though Izaak wasn’t in any way ok with it, he sat back with everyone else while the kids ran around holding hands and playing. It was cute to see and helped ease my worries as I leaned back on Nick while everyone chatted and laughed around us.

We ate, we drank, we played games and joked around as the hours passed by. Alder and Mari stayed close together throughout it all and I allowed myself to just let go of all the tension that had spilled into me since I first read those old documents about my mother and sister. My body practically melted by the time the sun finally dropped ever closer to the horizon.

At one point, Nick pulled me along with him, asking me to take a short walk with him while the others started talking about Devin and Marcus’ wedding.

Hand-in-hand, we strolled through the sand without shoes, having ditched them next to the picnic blanket. And as we walked, we talked about anything and everything that came into mind. He told me of the day he first met Devin, making me laugh at all the antics they had caused in their orphanage. The friends they met through the years and the meaning behind that unique red flower that was tattooed on not just him, but all over his sister as well. Even Nyla had one too. He told me of the many different Demons they learned about and the few places they had traveled to. My heart clenched when he also explained how relieved he was that visiting the beach wasn’t causing his sister pain anymore, stopping our walk briefly while we held each other.

I learned so much more about him and told him just as much about myself.

All the good, the bad, and the embarrassing too.

It was a very sweet and peaceful moment we shared as we walked, pausing every now and then to turn back and look at the others as they grew smaller and smaller, showing just how far we had gone.

“I think we should head back now.” I muttered, sighing happily as I leaned on his arm, resting my head on his shoulder.

“Alright.” He answered back, giving my hand a squeeze as we turned to head back.

We were passing another thick bend made of rocks that hid a set of stairs leading towards the other portion of the parking lot. It was slopped and connected to the sidewalk above us, lining the raised portion of the beach that clearly showed the waterline during high tide. Nick was smiling, peppering kisses onto my temple, shoulder and the back of my hand as we rounded that corner, making my giggle.

“Nick?”

A woman's voice cut in and made us stop, turning to find a brunette Human in a sundress with a cardigan over her shoulders and thin brown sandals. Her eyes were wide and glued on Nick with a deeply hopeful and affectionate glow in those eyes. I felt him tense beside me, his smile vanishing while my gut twisted up inside, warning me.

“It is you.” She beamed at him, pressing her clasped hands to her chest while taking a long step closer towards us. “I’ve missed you, Nick.”