Beyond the Song

When I close my eyes, can I pretend that this world is a fairy tale that will always end happily ever after? When the Heroin meets the Prince Charming or the hero, or whatever it is, that will help me and ends up on a aisle? Getting married like a dream come true. That all the hardships that i did will be repaid with a definite happy ending? Unfortunately, life is not that easy.

Life is not about someone being born and signing a happy contract at the end of their life. Life is not that simple. Sometimes they'll die before they're even born, or moments after they've seen the world, but haven't had a chance to say a single word, or... become one with the waves and the ocean. As in what is currently being shown on television.

The cigarette that I lit was only half gone. The cigar fell to the floor, but I only inhaled it once. My attention was too focused on the unfortunate people jumping off that cliffs, or the sinking ships in the ocean. Like their lives worth nothing.

Too many deaths in the ocean in the past month.

The news reporter on the television was explaining what the hell is happening in that place, based on the results of the interview with the local police, when Aiden grabbed my chin and took me in a demanding kiss. His hand reached for the remote and turned off the television, making the quiet room silenced.

He stopped kissing me, but I could still feel his breath on the corner of my lips.

"Let's not waste our time with that sad news, Vynnia!"

I chuckled. "Too much death, Aiden. Too close."

"Really?" He muttered skeptically.

Aiden was not one to mourn. He was not one to stand at a funeral and speak favorably of his dead acquaintances, and talking about sweet lies about them. Especially when the news involved people he had never met. The only thing that would catch his attention was when it had an impact on his business.

I don't blame him. Most humans are like that.

Greedy. Selfish.

They will devour everything in their favor. They will destroy anything that stands in their way.

Aiden Russ is living proof of all the mortal sins that humans can have.

It doesn't matter. It will only make things better, because I won't have to feel guilty when all of this lies over.

I gently reached for his chin, feeling the soft skin of the chin that was neatly shaved every morning, feeling it with my fingertips until it stopped under his lips.

Aiden smiled.

I mumbled a chant.

Slowly, I got up from my seat. The half remaining cigarette fell to the floor. Forgotten.

I didn't stop the intoxicating murmur of singing. Aiden took my hand and kissed my knuckles gently. His expression slowly changed as if I had just choked him with slugs of vodka. His eyes lost what humans call consciousness. Only focused on me. Desiring. Drunk. Stunned.

Losing himself.

I smiled.

I could order him to slit him own throat, and then he would kneel down and do it happily. Asking me the approval of what he did. Like i was his Goddess.

I am.

I slowly pushed him onto the sofa and sat on him lap. Slowly kissed his chin, cheeks, and the tip of his nose. The man just sighed without being able to say anything.

"Aiden," I murmured. My singing echoed. "Do you love me?"

My heart is beating too fast. I need this. I want him to melt and murmur intoxicating words of love. Love that feels a poison that i will happily take.

"Yes."

My hand clenched on his shoulder. "Then give me your wealth, Aiden."

When in the end, I left with a wad of money and a new car, I knew my ability had not faded at all. The ability to bring people, especially men, to their knees. To my singing.

Siren.

That's the word that first popped up in my google search ten years ago, when I first realized my singing could get people drunk and ultimately happy to do anything for me. To pray to me, like i'm sort of goddess who descended from the heaven.

Today, I'm 24 years old and I use my singing to live.

In Greek mythology, in the Odyssey, Sirens were depicted as half-bird women who lived on the steep rocks. They would sing and tempt sailors to take their ships to the rocks and sink.

Other tales say the Siren is a half-fish woman. She is similar to mermaids, but while mermaids are depicted with incomparable beauty and pearls, Sirens are cruel creatures who will drown sailors with their intoxicating songs.

No matter where the legend comes from, the Siren is a cruel and evil creature that will tempt humans to their death.

I am a cursed creature that will lead humanity to its destruction.

My hands gripped the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white.

I don't like it.

That thought soon disappeared when I finally arrived at Petra's workshop.Petra was stunned when I arrived with a new car. My high school classmate laughed. Her brownish, oil-soiled hair was pulled up in a ponytail. She was pretty. Way prettier than me, but Petra never used her beauty to attract men. She never use it to deceive them. Even so, not a few men were captivated by her.

Those poor, stupid men were flatly rejected.

"You've only been dating Aiden for three days, and you've already bought a car."

I shrugged. "I simply asked. He gave me.""

Petra laughed. But her laughter soon stopped when a man tapped her shoulder. The man was tall and stocky, probably reaching 6' 3" with biceps bigger than my thighs. For some reason, I couldn't take my eyes off him when our eyes met. Blue eyes that made me feel like I was looking at the ocean in the middle of the day.

Beautiful. So damn beautiful.

However, no matter how beautiful he is, no human being is truly perfect.

Behind those eyes that looked so captivating, I could feel the cruelty behind them, as if those beautiful eyes had seen too much. As if he had been through too much. Perhaps, the long scar on her left cheek held various tale that were told.

"Hey!"

His baritone voice startled me, but before I could think he was talking to me, he had focused his gaze on Petra. He pointed at her right hand, and we reflexively looked down.

A little kid? Eight years old, I think. A little girl with a big smile. Her eyes flashed with the cunning of a mischievous child. I don't think, it's a good think to bring this kid anywhere.

I looked at her again, then at the little boy again, before turning back to him. "Your daughter?" The girl didn't have the beautiful eyes like this stranger, but who knows, right? "It must have been hard to have a daughter when you were young. Early marriage?"

"No." The man growled in annoyance. It is wrong for to think that that growl was so sexy. "I found this kid running around in the park. I'm new in town. I don't know where the police station is and people will think I kidnapped her if I bring her there myself."

"People do like to think badly, but hey, maybe not all, as a proof, I thought you were the father."

"Doesn't make things better."

"I guess." I extended my hand to her. "Vynnia." When she just stared at me, I added, "Kane. She's Petra Young. Daughter of the owner of this workshop, but technically, she's already managing it fully."

The man grabbed my hand. Oh! His hand was so rough and I could feel the prominent scars. He then shook Petra's hand. "Kenneth."

"Just Kenneth?" Kenneth did not answer. "Okay, Ken Doll."

Her eyes looked at me sharply. "Don't!"

"What are you doing here? Enjoying the beach?"

Kenneth snorted, but before he could reply, the sneaky little girl ran away after snatching Kenneth's wallet.

Oh shit! That is the bad feeling from.

It was not that she took Kenneth's wallet that was the problem, but the girl running towards the highway, with cars speeding by. Without even looking at it. Some were able to avoid her, but the one car that was headed towards the little girl did not slow down.

Kenneth tried to save the girl by running into the street, but that would only get them both hit.

I grunts. "What a stupid prick!"

Petra yelled next to me.

"Shit." I growled. I didn't like using my singing like this, but I had no other choice.

"It's an order! Look to the streets and avoid them!"

The squeal of brakes echoed. The car didn't have enough time to brake, so it slammed the steering wheel and slammed into my car with a loud noise. Destroying both cars. However, I didn't have time to worry about my car.

It was because Kenneth was staring at me without blinking. The frightened little boy was on his left hand, while on his right hand, the tattoos were starting to fade.

My mouth suddenly felt dry.

I've heard of people like him.

Hunters.

Damn. That explains everything.

The posture, the wound, the eyes as bright as the midday ocean that seemed to have seen too much, the rough hands.

When Kenneth walked towards me with the little girl in his arms, his eyes did not stop looking at me.

"You asked me why I came to this town, didn't you?" he asked, stopping right in front of me. I clenched my fists until my knuckles turned white. "I was looking for the birds."

There is no place like home, but there is no home for me.

I mumbled a low chant with my heart torn apart at every lyric. However, I had no other choice. My hand froze on the knob. It's cold. Too cold. I didn't want to open it, but I also wanted to open it immediately. I wanted to escape, but also wanted to rush into this house.

A dollhouse, a fake house, but still a home for me.

Once I was sure the effect of my singing had worked, I opened the door slowly and said, "Your daughter is home." It's like a must. A command that i buried deep inside their head.

The corner of my lips twitched when a 50-year-old woman emerged from the room.

Her name is Marie Kane.

Her beautiful eyes looked at me as if I were her most beautiful gift. We bore no resemblance. Damn it. Not at all. She had wide, innocent-looking eyes, while I had elongated eyes. A pair of eyes that are currently being popularly called Siren Eyes, which without realizing it is so accurate to its nickname. The eyes of the Sirens.

She immediately took me into her arms. Behind her, her husband, Richard Kane, joined in the greeting. So warm. Very warm and comforting.

Lies.

All of this are lies. But aren't beautiful lies so addictive? Isn't the happiness that I can control at will so tempting to miss? No matter how bad the lies were, I couldn't stop myself from returning to this house, singing to trick them, and again receiving love and hugs that weren't meant for me.

I wrapped my arms around him and buried my face in the hollow of his neck and vowed, failed vows again and again-to release them from the trap of my singing someday. To cry in their arms.

Sorry. I'm sorry. Sorry.

Please forgive this stranger. Please let me enjoy this false warmth a little bit longer.

I swear. I will stop this, but please.

Please.

Let me be loved even a little bit longer.

"Vynnia. Is everything okay?"

Marie rubbed my cheek slowly. Her touch was so gentle that I wanted to sink into her palm and never resurface. Their concern for me sounded so genuine. Oh Dear God! This is wrong.

This is the forbidden fruit that I enjoy so much.

I smiled. "Everything's fine-," I choked up. "Mom."

Dozens of people were dying in the ocean as my kind killed them one by one. Those hunters, those damn sons of gods, were on the prowl to finish off those who shared blood with the monsters. Even one of them, who has eyes as bright as the ocean, the son of Poseidon-I think-met me and realized an identity that no one else knew. And yet, here I am, drunk on false love.

I pushed Marie gently and smiled at Richard. I showed him the envelope with the money I stole from Aiden.

"Look! I got a paycheck."

I handed over the money as if by doing so all the cruel things I'd done to them would be forgiven. Even though I knew, those words of gratitude and grateful smiles were still part of the falsehood I forced on them.

It doesn't mean anything.

That all those dinners and laughter were just part of the thread I wove through their hands to create a loving family I never had.

"Vynnia, if there's something bothering you, you should tell us, okay?"

Richard suddenly spoke while we were preparing dinner. His voice was so serious. I frowned and when I looked into the television room, I saw Richard looking at the television at a low volume. The television was still broadcasting the news of people committing suicide by jumping into the sea.

I remember their original daughter died by suicide. I didn't really know about it because the first time I used my chant, they were a couple who had lost their child. That's why I was able to use my chant to trick their memories. Because in the end, my chant exists to appeal to the deepest desires of humans.

I quickly went to Richard and hugged him from behind.

"I would never do that, Dad. I love you too much to leave you in the same way."

Richard touched my head and kissed my forehead. "Promise?"

"With all my soul."

I could see the frown on Richard's face fade as I calmed him down. This must be hard for them. They love their daughter so much. That's why their minds are so easy to trick. That's why they love me so unconditionally. Even when my biological family was never able to do so.

Those suicides must have bothered them deeply. It must have brought back memories that they had long buried tightly.

Oh God! I wanted to stop the killing if it would repay all the love I received from them.

Aurelia's photo was still neatly mounted on the wall. A photo of the sweet girl who was 17 years old before she downed all the sleeping pills. I don't know why that girl did it. I never wanted to question this kind-hearted couple and bring grief to them, but no matter what, I couldn't shake my hatred for her for throwing away these two loving people and drowning them in sorrow, guilt, and unanswered questions about what did they do wrong to her? Left them in self loathing.

"Don't watch it, Richard!" I muttered softly, slipping in my singing to distract him. I grabbed the television remote and switched it to the sports channel.

My cell phone is blinking. Who's calling?

I frowned.

Aiden?

I glanced at Richard, and after making sure his mind was sufficiently focused on the sports channel and Marie was busy in the kitchen, I entered my room.

My singing didn't work on the phone lines, so I didn't really like communicating on the phone. Aiden wasn't someone who would bother calling either. Was I rushing my singing to him? Did he think there was something strange about buying me a car and giving me money?

No, he didn't. I was sure Aiden was already drunk enough under my influence that he wouldn't feel awkward.

"Hello, Aiden?" There was no answer. This is strange. "Aiden?"

I could hear the sound of the waves crashing against the cliff. The rumble of the night wind. Faintly, I could hear a buzzing. No! My heart seemed to stop right then and there. It wasn't humming! It was singing!

Who? Why?

"Aiden!" I snapped. "Don't you dare!"

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Why didn't my singing work on the phone line? Why did Aiden suddenly fall victim to those Sirens? No! This was not the time to think about this.

"No!" I pleaded. I knew this was futile. I knew how the Chant worked. I knew that no matter how hard I tried to stop her with mere words, her mind would not be able to hear. She would only listen to the Chant.

The song that would bring him to his death.

"Aiden, please, listen to me!"

There was no point. He didn't hear at all.

The only thing that happened next was me closing my eyes as the man's voice sank into the ocean. Then, the phone line was disconnected.

Petra looked up immediately when she saw my car enter the shop's courtyard. I could see the worry in her eyes as she wiped her hands clean of oil and rushed over to me.

"I heard Aiden committed suicide."

Suicide? Far from it.

"Aiden's not someone who would kill himself for no reason," I replied as I got out of the car. I glanced at my new car. Well... the car that was damaged in the accident yesterday. "The police came for you?"

"They just want to check the car. It was bought by Aiden on your behalf, right?" I nodded. Petra rubbed my back I really didn't want to worry Petra. She shouldn't be involved in this. Even so, I didn't want to lie to her either. "Are you from the police station?"

I nodded, though in the end I used chanting to get them to let me go. "They made a special investigation team. Too many people are committing suicide with the same method, so they're worried that someone is manipulating these people. You know. Serial killers or something. Or someone is distributing drugs that cause hallucinations. Either way, they suspect someone is behind it all."

"But, Aiden is not someone who is easily manipulated. Damn it. Aiden is the most arrogant and stubborn person I've ever met. It's hard to think he was influenced to take his own life."

I refrained from frowning.

Perhaps influencing Aiden with mere psychological words would be impossible, but with Siren chants? Damn. Aiden was a person who craved touch. He didn't say it or show that tendency in his daily behavior, but the arrogant human fucked like he was worshipping his partner's body. He was a touch-hungry human. Hence, it was very easy to use singing on him.

Unfortunately. That tendency led Aiden to his death.

That chant. There was another Siren who killed him, but it was impossible for me to talk about this to anyone else. After all, Aiden and I had only been dating for three days. That was only because I was planning to drain his money.

Aiden's death, with that damn phone call, or not, was none of my business. What the Siren does to people is also none of my business. However, if they get their hands on Marie, Richard, or Petra-or any of the people whose deaths would cause them grief I vow to make her feel the same way she did to her victims.

However, the question is whether I can fight it? Doubtful. I've never been in a fight. All this time I've only used my singing as a weapon. However, will singing have any effect on Siren? If it does, what if my singing is weaker? Damn. Fighting her will only lead me to my own grave.

"Just..." I muttered a chant. I grabbed Petra's shoulder slowly. Our height difference was enough to make Petra look up. "Don't even think about it, Petra! What if we talk about the mob-" I gasped when someone on a big motorcycle stopped in front of us. He was wearing a helmet that covered his entire face, but as soon as he opened the glass of his helmet, I choked up. "Damn-"

It's totally unfair because he looks like the male lead in my favorite novel out into the real world.

"Hello, Birdie!"

"Your presence is not expected here, Kendoll."

Petra raised one eyebrow. "Why are you two already calling each other nicknames?"

"It's not like that." I pushed Petra playfully.

"Looks that way." She answered. I rolled my eyes. Luckily, Petra's attention was soon diverted when a customer entered her workshop. "Come in!"

Kenneth's eyes did not glance at her at all. "Thank you." He just looked at me deeply. "I guess next time."

I bit the inside of my mouth. He must have accused me of doing it. What else would this damn Hunter come to me for except to stop me. I didn't. Stop is too soft a word for this situation. He came to kill me.

The old Centaur I met a few years ago had already warned about the encroachment and existence of the hunters. They were a bunch of arrogant bastards who felt much better because of the divine blood flowing in their bodies. They don't really care about whether the creatures they kill actually committed the crimes they accuse them of, the only thing they care about is killing those who threaten the secrecy of mythological creatures.

The Gods never came down to the world again, they were just the descendants of the remnants of the Half-Gods. And-strangely-I guess, they don't want the gods to come down to the world either.

Whatever conflicts these mythological creatures have with their gods, I don't want to have to deal with them. I have a million problems of my own, and I will not add to that long list with the affairs of the gods.

When it was finally Petra, I crossed my arms over my chest defensively.

"Hop up! Let's move! I want to talk to you."

"I didn't do it."

Kenneth frowned, looking completely confused. What are the chances of me not doing it so unreasonably for him? "Why?"

"Why?"

"We can use your car if you're not comfortable on the bike."

Oh! I snorted with laughter.

"Okay, Golden Retriever. What I mean is that I didn't kill them."

"Of course. Duh!"

His relaxed and light tone surprised me. "Huh?"

"Do you think you can kill them?"

"I can."

"Mentally?" I couldn't answer her question. "That's what I mean. You're not the only Siren in this world, Birdie." She glanced around, and I remembered, secrecy was like a code of conduct for them. "Let's talk somewhere more... private."

"So that you can kill me?"

I couldn't see his expression behind the helmet, but from the look in his eyes and tone, I think he took offense. "No."

"Who knows? You hunters are so secretive. Being in a crowd like this is part of my defense from you."

"Smartass." He muttered. In a more reluctant tone, he said, "I swear on the River Styx, I will not kill you in our conversation today. Satisfied now?"

I frowned. "What is it?"

"Google it."

"No, I'm not. You explain it to me."

Kenneth exhaled in exasperation. Did I enjoy upsetting him? Of course you do.

He got off the bike and grabbed another full-face helmet that was hanging from the bike, and walked towards me. I was tall enough, but Kenneth was bigger and certainly taller. Add to that his muscles. They weren't the muscles I would see when I went to the gym. Kenneth's muscles were stronger. I couldn't see his scars because he was wearing a jacket and gloves, but the memory of his scars yesterday was still so vivid in my brain.

As soon as he stopped in front of me, he put a helmet on me and patted my head with his big hand.

"Spread your wings and put your ass on my bike, Birdie. We need to talk."

"I don't like being ordered around. Go away and leave me, Kenneth."

I don't like it when I can't carry an expression under that damn helmet, but Kenneth sounded amused. "You're not the only creature who uses your mouth as a weapon, Kane. Your singing doesn't work on me."

"Why?"

He grabbed my elbow gently. "Let's talk, please!"