Beneath the Depths - Book Four (Moon Child Series)

Chapter Two

Sirena POV

My throat burns as I collapse to my knees on the cold stone floor, my job done, I’m no longer needed. They once again took my voice, holding it over me so I do their bidding. My voice is my essence, my soul, and without it I cannot change forms. Without it, I am almost completely human. And without it I am mute. There is nothing more torturous to a mermaid than not being able to sing, let alone speak. Music is our love language, how we find our mates and communicate with our family. Each mermaid's song is unique, and mine is being held hostage.

I painfully pull myself to my feet and exit through the portal Cordelia has created to transport me and the hunters from the hidden cave on Faroe Island, to a beach located near the university. I stumble my way along the long trek back to my school and take this time to assess what I’ve gotten myself into.

I remember when my father would scold me for my curiosity in humans. He called it my obsession. But when all you know is water and fish, there’s bound to be a sense of curiosity in the unknown. Don’t get me wrong, we mermaids walk among humans as much as other supernatural creatures, but there are tribes of us who refuse to do so, seeing it as degrading to even glance at a human. My father is king of one of these tribes. He avoids humans as much as he possibly can. But with science growing as it does, humans are able to explore more of our home than before. Hence, the need to adapt to their world. But my father is stubborn. I like to think that the blame for my capture was both my fathers and my own fault. If he had not been so protective, so sheltering, I would not have felt the need to know more, see more, experience more of humans. But I was the one who went to the surface. I was the one that attended the human party, where a handsome man led me to the water for what he said was “skinny dipping” and being so inebriated that I transformed into my mermaid form. It was unlucky for me that he just so happened to be a hunter, and after luring me back to land, he drugged me and took me to his family. And I’ve been their slave ever since. After an escape attempt, I was bound by blood to my current master. The blood bond allows them to have better control of me, and combined with my voice, leaves me hopelessly imprisoned with them for the rest of my life.

I rub my throat as I walk, alone, running my finger along the scar tissue there. They only allow me to use my voice when I sing. So, when the hunt is over, I get to experience the joy of having my voice taken from me. The feeling is as though someone is actually ripping my vocal cords from my throat, each and every time, and this leaves a visible mark on my neck, as though that was exactly what has happened.

Whenever it is time to do my job, Cordelia and I are summoned by our master. Cordelia is a witch and is under the same blood bond I am. And my only friend and companion in this awful place. Her job is to return my voice so I may do their bidding and when I’m done, to take it away again. I can see her guilt every time she does it, but I don’t blame her. She is as much a prisoner as I am.

Every time she’s forced to take my voice, it reminds me of this movie she had me watch one time, The Little Mermaid. If only my experience was as pleasant looking as hers was. The massive accommodation building comes into view as I crest the hill and I wrap my arms around myself as the wind carries a cold chill my way. Another thing I miss about being a mermaid. You never get hot or cold. Our body temperature is constantly regulated, and I wish this human body of mine could do the same.

I walk into the dorm room I share with three other students and Cordelia , and crawl beneath my sheets, not even bothering to shower or change my clothes. As sleep finally takes me, I let my mind wander to the yearning I have for home and family. And hope that one day, my family and I will see each other again.