Page 68

Story: The Siren

Interesting,Lucienne thought. He sought her out in Hell Gate, then all of a sudden avoided her. He said he was trying not to get them both killed, but who had the power to touch them? The king and his army couldn’t hurt her, and they wouldn’t dare try again. They knew their fate if they did. So did Ashburn mean the pull between them? It had been growing more intense, but it was ridiculous to think this attraction could be any threat to them.

Lucienne radioed the giant to bring her the redhead.

While Violet waited outside, Lucienne emerged from her tent with an Eidolon phone. The message she typed contained three words: please call me. She knew Ashburn would be able to retrieve the text.

Violet tried to see a hint of hurt on Lucienne’s face, but Lucienne flashed the girl an amused smile. “My answer is inside it.” She waved the Eidolon in her hands.

“Did you put a spell on it?” Violet eyed the phone suspiciously.

“A spell? Do you mean love spell? Oh, no, no.” Lucienne smiled wider. “It’s all technology. Ashburn will probably read my message to you if you’re curious.”

“I’m not curious!”

“Very good. As cliché says, curiosity killed the cat.” Lucienne handed the Eidolon to Violet. “Don’t let anyone catch you with this if you don’t want to get Ashburn in trouble. If you can’t handle the quest, I can have one of my warriors deliver—”

“No one will catch me!”

“Godspeed then,” Lucienne said. “Now off you go.”

Violet stormed away, before stopping and turning to face Lucienne. “I have a message for you, too.” She bit her lip. “Leave Ash alone. I won’t let you bewitch him.”

“Bewitch him?”

“You’ve been trying to make him like you!”

“Ashburn likes me?” Lucienne batted her eyes. “Really?”

“You can’t have him!” Violet exploded. “He’s my whole world. I’ll not let anyone steal him from me.” Then she left.

A sweep of sympathy for Violet washed over Lucienne, until her own self-pity churned inside. Unlike Violet or any other girl, she would never be able to have any man. Lucienne looked at the distant town bathed in splendid light and sighed.

~

Ashburn never called her. Neither did he answer any of her calls.

Ziyi rang from Sphinxes instead. “Not going to the Fury’s tonight?”

“Every time I do,” Lucienne said in frustration, “that despicable prince winds up sitting at the opposite end of the table. And Ashburn is never there.”

“We searched everywhere for him after the lights went out,” Ziyi said. “Dragonfly can’t locate him.”

“He can block the satellite. Put himself in an impenetrable zone.”

“That’s wicked!” Ziyi said.

“I know,” said Lucienne. “He has to be somewhere. I’m going to sweep him out.”

All the men wanted to join her on the house-to-house search. Lucienne picked Cam, for she didn’t have the heart to see the wounded look on the giant’s face. She had denied him several times,telling him that he was great on the battlefield, and that this was spy business.

Lucienne sped along on her bicycle with the giant running a few steps behind her. They passed empty streets and vacant post-modern houses, until Lucienne spotted a shining metal structure. An image she once picked from Violet’s mind flashed before her.This must be the infamous Ghost House the natives believe is haunted.

Lucienne rode straight toward it. The arena-like compound was shaped like a half hexagon hatching on top of a vast bird’s nest. Its massive metal door reflected the crescent moon, giving it an ethereal, eerie ambience.

Why hadn’t she noticed this complex before? Did Ashburn disregard the town’s taboo and venture inside? Drawing near the door, Lucienne got off her bike and gave it to the giant. She stopped before a triangular keypad embedded in the door. Twelve symbols adorned the keypad—all celestial bodies, except for the symbol of an eye with double irises. Lucienne pressed a three-sun symbol, then a planet with wings. A slight electric shock shot up her arm. Lucienne jumped back.

“Cam,” she called. “Press the eye.”

Cam pushed the eye on the keypad. A force immediately sent him flying backward. The bicycle flew over his head, and the giant collapsed to the ground with a loud thud seven yards away. Cam struggled up, embarrassed. “What the devil?” he cursed, red-faced.