Page 42 of Lured By the Siren

“Quick,” Evie whispers. “We have to get down to the Elixir.”

She turns and runs down the slope and through the trees, away from the rustling we heard. I follow suit, lungs burning with the effort, sweat soaking my clothes. By the time we make it back down to the beach, I am heaving from the exertion.

Sirens are screaming, pointing up at the fire on the cliffs. Thunder echoes once more, and Evelyn grabs my arm, pulling me down behind a boulder on the beach. We watch as the sirens and a few of the men fly past us with pails racing up the cliffs to try and put out the flames. By the time they make it to the top, it will be too late. There will be nothing left for them to save.

“Come on,” Evie murmurs, and I follow her as she creeps from hut to hut, making sure no one is near enough to see us.

We creep our way to the Elder's hut, hidden in shadow, peering inside. It is empty, the party interrupted by our fire.

“The Elixir is in Yvette’s quarters, up there.” She points to a small set of steps at the far end of the hut that spiral up to a large loft area.

We stalk into the hut and begin our ascent up the steps, and I can’t help but feel that something is off. This feels too easy.

“Evie,” I whisper. “I think something is wrong. This doesn’t feel right.”

“They’re distracted by the fire. They don’t even know we are also targeting the Elixir until it's too late.”

We make it to the loft, and Evelyn opens a small cabinet at the far end of the room. Inside are rows upon rows of the glimmering pink Elixir. It glows bright just like the flowers we just destroyed.

“How are we going to destroy them?” I ask. There are far more vials than I expected. This supply would last them an entire year if we don’t get rid of the vials.

“Here,” Evie rips the blanket off the small bed in the corner of the space. “We’ll put them in here and take them out into the sea, dump them in the water.”

We pull every single vial off the shelf, throwing them into our makeshift sack, and hurry down the steps and out into the waiting night air. Evelyn holds the bag of vials tightly in her grip, not daring to let go.

We are so close. The end is in sight. I will have my brother back.

Evelyn and I just reach the shore when a voice sounds behind me.

“What do you think you are doing?”

I spin, water lapping at my ankles. Yvette, the head Elder is only a few feet away from me.

Yvette laughs, and I turn back toward her. “You both think you are so clever, don’t you. Destroying the flowers, taking my Elixirs. None of it will help you get off this island. Your efforts have been in vain.”

I glare at her, “Why are you doing this? We know there is a way off this cursed place. Why are you keeping us all here?”

“So many questions,” Yvette sneers. “You men are all the same.” She brings up a hand and flicks her wrist. A scream shoots up from directly behind me, and I spin to see Evelyn flying through the air, losing her grip on the stachel. The vials clink together, splashing into the shallow waves, and are caught in the tide, pulling the bundle out to sea. I run to her, catching her before she hits solid ground, hoping Yvette doesn’t notice the last of her Elixir floating away.

“Are you crazy!” I yell at Yvette. “You could have killed her.”

“Neither of you will ever leave this Island,” Yvette spits. “Besides, you wouldn’t want to leave your dear old dad here without you now, would you, Evelyn dear?”

Evie is breathing heavily, and I gently lower her onto the sand beside me. She instantly steps forward, “What did you say?” Her hands clench at her sides. She must have been able to get rid of all the Elixir before Yvette yanked her from the sea.

“That’s right,” Yvette's smile is full of mirth. “Your father has been here all along. He isn’t dead.”

“Who? Who is he?” Evelyn’s voice is barely above a whisper, and I come up beside her, placing a gentle hand on her back to offer comfort.

“Who do you think?” Yvette cackles, and Evie goes rigid. “That’s right, dear, Mathius. Your father has been right by your side all along.”

19

Evelyn

The breath sweeps from my lungs as I realize what Yvette just told me. Mathius is my father. My father. The man who loved my mother so selflessly, that he gave up his whole life, his kingdom, to be with her.

“You’re lying,” I spit with all the vigor I have left. I’m not sure how many more emotional tidal waves I can take today.

---