9. The Wooden Pier

Chapter 9

The Wooden Pier

The Siren

I emerged from the sea, my shaky legs beneath me and the gills in my neck faded to pale flesh. Long, narrow fingers replaced my claws, though I knew I could flick them into existence with a thought if necessary. I'd spent the night of my twenty-first birthday lying beneath the stars on the beach Poseidon had thrown me toward, my head cushioned within my folded hands as I watched the moon's path across the sky. It reminded me of the times I'd spent on Siren Island with Proteus, the friendship we shared when no other eyes strayed our way.

At some point, I must have fallen asleep, because I awoke to the sound of people laughing and squealing as the waves crashed into the beach. I sat up quickly, running my fingers through my long, sand-filled, dark hair as I peered around me. I'd done as I'd always done when gaining my legs and had envisioned a small, form-fitting pair of black shorts around my waist, but I'd kept my upper body bare, trusting in the lengths of my dark hair to provide enough modesty. As my gaze swept the sand nearest me, I realized my choice had baffled those closest to me as they turned their backs to me and ushered their children away from where I now sat.

My lip curled at the stench of them, and I caught the growl before it climbed through my throat. My disgust was almost palpable, but I swallowed it back. My skin burned beneath the sun, the warmth coating my skin like the frigidness of the sea's embrace. It took me several minutes before my gaze adjusted to the brightness, my sight used to dimmer hues than the harsh light of the day on land.

A loud beat thudded from a nearby cove, and an abundance of people had gathered, their laughter ringing into the day and making me nauseous. Still, it would be a good place to begin my search for a weaker male. I climbed to my feet, my gaze searching the sands as I regained my balance.

"Miss, are you all right?"

I glanced over my shoulder, noticing a tall man with wider set shoulders standing at my back. He had a look of concern on his face as he took in my lack of attire. Many of the women within my sights wore skimpy swimwear, but none had their chests bare as I did. Even though my hair covered my breasts completely, I definitely stood out.

"I think I'm lost," I stuttered, playing into his concern. "Would you be able to help me?"

"Of course," he replied, a slow grin lifting his thin lips. I recognized the flash of ill-intent behind his brown gaze and ignored it. "Do you know how you got here?"

I held my arms over my chest, wrinkling my brow as I dropped my gaze, staring up at him between my long, dark lashes. I shook my head, worrying my lip between my teeth. I knew I could lure him with my song, but I needed to be wary with my waning powers. Until I completed my ritual, I would be at risk of burning completely out, and then I'd find myself at the mercy of mortals. That would be a fate far crueler than my childhood under Poseidon's care.

"Here," the man said, lifting the blood red fabric of his t-shirt over his head and holding it out to me. "You should put this on."

My nose wanted to wrinkle, but I kept my disgust to myself as I took the shirt that smelled like him. Tugging it over my head, I thanked him. Those closest us no longer looked at me as if I carried a plague.

"Want to find somewhere… a little more private?" he asked, puffing his chest out as if his hair dusted, pale skin would make him irresistible.

I knew his intent. I could smell it on him. My ritual called for the heart of a mortal in love, but this male wouldn't know love if I slapped him upside the head with it. He only knew of lust, of want, of obnoxious greed. He expected to take what he wanted from me. He viewed me an easy target, and I held my sneer at bay as the feeling was definitely mutual.

A slow, innocent smile quirked the corners of my mouth as I nodded, letting him loop my arm around his own as he led me down the beach to a secluded spot where a small, stony cave lay. He guided me inside, his hold around my upper arm tightening as we ducked out of sight as if he thought I'd be afraid and attempt to escape his hold. Little did he know, I had a lot of pent-up rage to dispel.

He pressed my back into the wall hard as the sound of people faded, the only sound the constant crash of waves along the shore not too far off, which echoed around the rocky cave and drowned out whatever noise we made. As my back hit the wall, a look flashed behind his yearning gaze that let me know he'd done this before, probably in this very cave.

Before his glistening lips could press into my own, my claws flicked into existence, and I tore out his throat with little effort. He took two steps backward, his fingers loosening their hold of me as they flew to his blood-slicked throat, his eyes wide with disbelief and terror as he crumpled to his knees. I sighed and stepped over his body, my claws already retracted as I adjusted my new shirt over my hips.

I still needed to find myself a target, preferably one who had the potential to love. I followed the drifting music to the cove, his still warm body immediately forgotten behind me. A ship docked along a pier, and mortals crowded the beach and ship alike. A large, flickering flame danced on the beach and men and women danced around it as the scent of food I couldn't name cooked over grills that dotted the sandy shore.

The scent of something fruity filled the air, and as I lifted my nose to track it, I realized it belonged to the cups within nearly every hand. They drank the frothy, golden liquid as if they hadn't had a drink in days, and the more they chugged, the happier they seemed.

My hope faded as I realized everyone I saw appeared in great spirits, most of them already paired off. None of these mortals seemed to be easy targets. My bare feet stepped off the sand and onto the wooden pier. I made my way to the end, sitting on the edge as I swung my feet just above the water's surface. My shoulders sagging as my task seemed out of reach. I couldn't fail, but my mother had died before she could teach me the ways of the siren, and Poseidon hadn't made anything in my life easier, including this.

I twisted my attention to the ship, the cool, salty breeze lifting my hair and sending it in soft waves around my shoulders. My attention froze, my breath catching as I found the first inkling of hope. There, on the ship, a tall man stood alone. He leaned over the railing, his hands clasped as he gazed out at the beach to where the mortals danced and partied. There was a darkness that lurked within him, a heaviness to his gaze as he watched the action on the beach.

A slow smile curved my lips.

The hunt was on.