Page 38 of Virelai's Hoard
Eryx pressed their lips but stayed silent, sucking in a breath as the rope tightened around their chest.
Once their knot was tied off, Calla was the only one left standing.
“What willyoudo?” Pip asked, suddenly concerned.
“I’m going to lock myself up in the brig and slide the key out of reach.” She turned back to Eryx. “I’m leaving you your knife.” Her eyes glanced at the knife Eryx kept stripped to their ankle. “Even if you’re affected by the song, you won’t be lucid enough to think of using it. Once we’re through, you’ll free everyone else and then come unlock my cell.”
Eryx nodded, and Calla did a quick last sweep of the deck before nodding to herself and descending down the hatch.
Even through their stuffed ears, the song in the air was clear now. A low smooth vibration that pulled ropes tight and made teeth grind all around the deck. The melody was wordless, or perhaps in a language so different from what they knew that it was impossible to tell one word from another.
It pulled at Eryx’s chest as if they knew it intimately. Not in the way it pulled at the other sailors, making them beg for more or sing loudly to drown out the temptation. They knew, from stories, that to others the song appeared seducing, driving people mad with want, and they saw it now, all around them. To Eryx, though? The song was a story long forgotten. A sad, mournful story, drowned in loss and tragedy. They closed their eyes and leaned their head back against the mast, listening intently. They wished they could reach to pull the cotton outof their ears. Maybe then they could make out the words and remember them after.
A shadow fell over them, brief and sudden, and Eryx opened their eyes.
A flash of panic hit their chest before they realized why. Then their gaze fell to the slack rope at the front of their feet.
Pip was gone.
Eryx spun their head around, catching the tail of their younger mate as he walked to the railing, climbed on top of it, looked down at the water and–jumped.
“No! Pip! Don’t–”
But Pip was gone.
He couldn’t hear Eryx’s scream.
It was useless.
None of the other crew took notice. They battled with their own ropes, trying to escape, their minds a long way from lucid or aware.
Eryx was lucid, though. They could do something. They could be of use. They could save Pip.
With a lurch, Eryx dove for the knife strapped to their ankle and grabbed it out of its holster. They angled the blade between the loops of rope and sawed at it in frantic movements. The threads frayed and snapped under the sharp metal. Not fast enough. How long did Pip have before he drowned? Before the sirens got him? When the knife cut through the last thread, the rope slackened and fell at their feet.
Eryx wasted no more time. They rushed to where Pip had jumped off, gripping the railing. They put their foot up to climb it, but then they realized. Even if they could find and rescue Pip, they would have no way of getting back to the ship.
Frantically looking around, Eryx spotted the cluster of unused coils of rope and hurried to them. Grabbing one end, they tied it around their waist, their hands steady despite the voice in theirhead screaming to be faster,be faster. They tied the other end to another coil of rope and hoped it would be long enough. No more time. They had to follownow.
With the free end of the lengthened coil of rope tied to the railing, Eryx stepped up.
Taking one deep breath, they dived head first.
They met the water with a shock, the coldness of it gripping their lungs and leaving them disoriented. Blinking, Eryx took in their surroundings. Shadows flitted all around, toying with them, the song less clear under the surface but… deeper. Stronger. Vibrating right into their chest. Fighting off a shudder, Eryx tried swimming towards the back of the slow-advancing ship, squinting their eyes through the murk and trying to peer past the algae and the moss-covered rocks until–
There. A pair of feet!
“Pip!” Eryx tried to shout, precious breath escaping in bubbles of air.
Their arms worked against the current, feet pushing savagely as they fought to reach Pip, fingers slipping on the slick moss as they tried to use the rocks for more momentum. It was working. He was right there, getting closer. Despite feeling like their lungs were about to burst, Eryx pushed through. Harder. Faster. They were going to reach him. They would save Pip, and everything would be alright.
Suddenly, one of the shadows twitched in their periphery and slashed through the water. In the next moment, a woman’s face flashed in front of Eryx, lovely features twisted into a savage snarl as she roughly pushed a hand against Eryx’s chest.
Eryx’s eyes widened, and their movements halted, heart speeding up.
Please let me pass through, they tried to say with their eyes.He needs me. He’s my friend.
The siren’s tail, covered in fine dark green scales and glinting with slivers of light, swashed in the water angrily. She shoved Eryx away with both hands. Pip was getting further away, only just visible through the water now.
