Page 34 of When the Wicked Sing (The Leruna Sea #1)
As Mariana stepped out of the cabin, the crisp mountain air rushed into her lungs, sharp and invigorating.
It carried the earthy scent of pine and rain-soaked soil, tinged with the faint sweetness of wildflowers.
She closed her eyes, letting the freshness seep into her, chasing away the last traces of sleep.
The storm had passed overnight, leaving the world transformed. The forest glistened with droplets of rain, each leaf catching the sunlight and refracting it like tiny jewels. The sky was a vivid, endless blue, with streaks of soft white clouds drifting lazily above the peaks.
She’d slept better than she had in weeks, cocooned in the warmth of the fur-covered bed. Dax had been gone when she woke—no note, no word, just the lingering scent of pine and leather.
Mariana inhaled deeply again, trying to shake the odd hollowness in her chest. It wasn’t like she needed him when he’d had things to do. Still, the space where his presence had been felt curiously empty, and she hated how aware she was of it .
She gazed at the towering waterfall beside the village, its grand roar echoing through the trees.
At the base, partially concealed by the waterfall’s mist, was a machine.
Mariana could just barely make out spinning wheels and cords snaking across the river rocks, extending toward a large building.
It must have been their source of electricity.
Sunlight filtered through the mist, and a rainbow of colors appeared, raining down into the brimming pool below.
Mariana swallowed the lump in her throat as she stared at the waves flowing downriver. She missed the water and its comforting embrace as she sank below the surface. She missed the taste of the sea and the rush of the current flowing through her hair. She missed her tail. Her sisters.
Lifting her hand, she placed it over her chest. Beneath the leather coat was her bone armor, crafted specifically for her by Aurora. Wearing it made her feel closer to her sister and gave her the hope she needed. She cleared her throat and blinked away the tears in her eyes.
Now isn’t the time to wallow in self-pity , she scolded herself. Dropping her hand, she thought of Celeste’s lesson about moving forward. Her friend had always believed in looking toward the future instead of wallowing in the past.
Every time she thought of Celeste, she didn’t know what to feel.
Revenge echoed in her ears, a part of her begging to inflict harm on those deserving.
But there was another part that whispered, It isn’t worth it.
Her cursed sisters, including the Siren Witch, would never stop taking mortal lives unless they were ordered not to by their queen.
And the only way that would happen was if Sirenia was restored .
Ultimately, that was her final mission, and she could see no other path that Celeste would be more proud of as a way to honor her fallen friend.
Letting go of the railing, Mariana turned on her heel to continue down the deck, unsure where she was going.
She descended a set of winding wooden stairs to the level below, where the familiar sounds of clashing metal caught her attention.
Glancing over the railing, she spotted Dax and Kenna sparring in a large training area.
A crowd of betting villagers formed around them.
It was the first time she’d seen so many of Dax’s tribe in one place.
They seemed to be steering clear of the cabin she’d stayed in.
Mariana leaned against the rail, eyes trained on their fluid movements as the duel turned in Dax’s favor. Although Kenna’s moves were as graceful as a willow swaying in the breeze, Dax had a fierce strength that dominated every clash of their blades.
It appeared Dax was about to win, until Kenna swiftly rolled by him, followed by a kick to the back of his knee.
A weak spot , Mariana realized, watching him stumble forward. She smiled faintly, recalling how she did the same to him the first time they fought.
Seizing the opportunity, Kenna leaped onto his back, using his weight against him, and they crashed to the ground.
The crowd erupted in cheers as Kenna triumphantly raised her blade into the air, declaring her victory.
But then Dax bucked her over his head, and she rolled, landing on her back. They both burst out laughing as they dropped their blades and shook hands, still panting from the exertion .
Mariana’s lips lifted. She released the railing and continued on the downward path toward them.
The stairs creaked under their weight, the sound melding with the distant rustle of leaves and the occasional chirp of birds. As they descended, the warm light from the village above dimmed, replaced by the cool, dappled shadows of the forest floor in the early morning light.
Mariana spotted Dax and Kenna standing with Spiro.
“Have everything you need?” Spiro asked him as she approached, their voice filled with quiet concern. Kenna handed Mariana a backpack with a small, reassuring smile. The backpack was well-worn, its fabric faded but clearly reliable.
“Yeah,” he grunted, his voice rough around the edges, betraying the tension he tried to hide. His eyes, however, softened when they met Kenna’s.
“You should take a couple of horses,” Kenna offered, her eyes flicking to the stables. “You’ll get there faster.”
Dax shook his head firmly. “Can’t risk the tracks. Besides, you’ll use it as an excuse for me to return them.”
Kenna grinned mischievously. “I mean, it would be the perfect excuse to come back.” Dax shook his head and pulled her close. They hugged each other in a way Mariana had never seen before—one hand behind each other’s head, the other on the back, eyes closed, and foreheads touching.
She averted her gaze, staring at the rays of sunshine breaking through the branches above them, feeling the bittersweet warmth on her skin. The sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a mosaic of light and shadow onto the forest floor .
She missed her family but couldn’t imagine how Dax felt, knowing he would have no choice but to go years without seeing them again. The thought of separation weighed heavily on her heart, each beat a reminder of the sacrifices they both had to make.
“Be safe. Come home when you can,” Spiro told him, their voice carrying the weight of unspoken fears.
Dax gave them a solemn nod, his eyes shadowed with guilt.
“Mari, it was wonderful to meet you. I wish you luck on your journey and hope our paths cross again.” Spiro took both her hands in theirs, a faint hum of energy coursing through her that instantly made her smile. The touch was comforting, a gentle reminder that she wasn’t alone in her struggles.
“Thank you, Spiro. For everything,” she said, her voice filled with genuine gratitude. The village leader gave her a warm smile and let go of her hands.
They watched Kenna and Spiro walk back up through the village’s maze of intricately carved and weathered staircases until they disappeared.
Then Dax turned to Mariana, his expression hardening with resolve. “Alright, first things first. I need you to wrap this around your face.” He handed her a long strip of brown fabric. She took it, pinching it between her thumb and forefinger. The texture was unpleasant, slightly rough, and thick.
She lifted an eyebrow at him. “Excuse me?”
As he led her out of Kythera, he pointed to a field of red flowers growing between the trees.
The flowers, vibrant and otherworldly, swayed gently in the breeze, their petals glistening with dew.
“Those flowers release a toxin into the air that causes hallucinations if anyone breathes it in. My people don’t feel its effects, but you will.
I don’t need you running away and getting lost out here because you think ghosts are attacking you. ”
Mariana stared at the flowers, suddenly feeling the weight of the truth. Their beauty masked a deadly danger, a reminder of the deceptive nature of the world around her. “Did you take me through the flowers when you brought me here?”
Dax nodded, inspecting her downcast expression.
Celeste hadn’t visited her in her dreams; it had all been a figment of her imagination. The realization hit her hard, a cold, bitter truth that tightened her throat and made her eyes sting.
She swallowed, her eyes blurring as she brought the rag up to her face and tied it behind her head, obscuring her vision and covering her nose and mouth. The fabric smelled faintly of earth and wood, a grounding scent amid her rising anxiety.
“I got you, just follow me,” Dax said softly, taking her hand. He led them through the forest, his grip firm and reassuring.
The pungent, sweet smell of the flowers, accompanied by the harrowing moans and screeches of the ghosts in her mind, was difficult to ignore. Each step felt heavier, the weight of unseen eyes pressing down on her.
“ Mari? ” She heard the gentle, sweet voice call her name and began shaking her head. It was Celeste’s voice, achingly familiar, pulling at her heartstrings.
It’s not real, it’s not real, it’s not real —
“ Mari, please look at me. I’m right here! ” Celeste pleaded. The desperation in her voice was heart-wrenching, a cruel trick of her mind .
No, it wasn’t Celeste, not really. And yet it sounded just like her. The conflict tore at her, a battle between reason and emotion.
Her heart raced. She struggled to keep calm, gripping Dax’s hand tighter. Cold, soft touches skated over her skin despite her thick leather jacket. She shivered, her fear a palpable presence in the air. Her spine went rigid when, beyond Celeste’s pleading voice, there was a song.
The song . The melody was haunting, a ghostly echo from her past.
Her feet stopped, and she listened. The voice was faint and difficult to hear over the screams, but it grew louder with each breath.
It can’t be.