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Story: The Siren

“I can’t define it.”

“Why does it want to kill me?”

“Because you’re the Siren.”

“Many people have tried to erase me because of my title.”

“Then because of me.”

“You? Why you?”

“Because you’re a fatal threat to me.”

“I thought it was the opposite,” Lucienne said. “You got the powers, remember?”

Ashburn sighed. “We’re each other’s death trap.”

Lucienne admitted there was an unnatural magnetism between them, but it was far-fetched to regard it as a fatal attraction. She tilted her head in amusement and held Ashburn’s gaze, her warm chocolate eyes glinting under the white moonlight.

“The world comes alive in them,” he murmured, his pupils dilating. The rings around them lit like fire, which made Lucienne’s pulse quicken.

She had never seen him look at Violet this way. Ashburn leaned closer, his hand reaching for her face. Lucienne’s heart slammed against her rib cage. She lifted her chin, like a cat expecting a delicious pat. Then a clang blasted from the Ghost House.

Ashburn jerked back his hand as if burned. The silver light in his eyes darkened. “Stay away from here and away from me, and I’ll do the same, for both our sakes.” On alert, he looked over his shoulder, as if a formidable foe was approaching.

Lucienne followed his sight along the ground and spotted a shadow from the rooftop. She looked up, but didn’t see anything strange. When she looked back down, the shadow was gone.

“I don’t scare easily,” she said with a cold smile. “And I’m not one who gives up. Whoever wants to do me harm, let him come.”

Just then, the giant’s radio droned. He pushed the button, and Vladimir’s voice boomed from the radio. “I’m sorry to spoil your fun, Lucienne.” His voice was as bland as water.

Lucienne felt her heart stop.Crap!Vladimir had been watching the whole scene between her and Ashburn. Why did Ziyi even turn the lens on them? Lucienne stole a glance at her Eidolon. While she was giggling, she missed all three of Vladimir’s calls.

Lucienne cursed Ashburn in her head for not blocking the satellite. Did he intend for Vladimir to see them tangled together?

“I’m not having fun,” she answered. “And, Vlad, it isn’t what you thought—”

“It doesn’t matter what I think, but you need to come back to Sphinxes. Now!” Vladimir cut her off. “Aida was poisoned.”

The blood drained from Lucienne’s face. Who would want to poison her nanny? Her fists clenched. “Is she—” her voice choked. “Save her! Where’s Dr. Wren? Get the poison out of her system!”

“She’s in the castle’s emergency room. Her last meal was at the Red Mansion. She collapsed in the jet we sent for her. We believe the Sealers meant to send a message through her.”

Her enemies would hurt anyone she cared about to get to her. Tears streamed down Lucienne’s face. “I’m leaving for Sphinxes this minute,” she said. “What about her bodyguard?”

“Dead,” Vladimir said.

Lucienne turned to the giant. “Page McQuillen!”

“He already knows. Don’t take the helicopter to Sphinxes,” Vladimir said. “There’s a possible breach. I’m sending BL7 to pick you up.” He switched off his end of the radio, and he was gone from the other end.

“Lucienne.” Ashburn looked at her with concern.

Hot tears burning in her eyes, Lucienne looked away.

The air turned thick and oppressive, like her mood, like Ashburn’s. Dark clouds draped the moon, leaving only sparse starlight on Nirvana.

A few raindrops fell on Lucienne’s face. She wondered if this sudden rainstorm came from Ashburn’s mental power, but she wouldn’t turn her eyes to him when veiled by tears. Then she heard the deep bass purr of an approaching helicopter. Kian had sent it to take her back to Hell Gate.