Her name was Yaq-Il. She was the heir to the siren clan that boasted the purest bloodline that could be traced to the powerful original sirens.

The clan was known for their immense power and their enchanting singing that was rivaled by none.

Like all sirens, Yaq-Il was beautiful. Her hair was free-flowing, lilac in color, it cascaded all the way down to the middle of her tail, which was golden in color. The tail shimmered and radiated a faint glow. The rest of her flesh was white but slightly tinged with a soft pinkish hue.

Her face had the impish siren characteristics, the mischievous tilt of her lips to the defined cheekbone. Nonetheless, she exuded an air of regality and superiority.

Yaq-Il’s eyes were completely black, including her sclera, but her pupils were thin emerald slits.

As her appearance suggested, Yaq-Il had lived a life with trivial issues that could hardly be considered problems. But alas, something came and destroyed the very foundation of her being.

Love.

And what a love it was. She had caught the heart-wrenching disease that felt so painful yet so very wonderful. It was a common killer of those who were infected by it.

She had fallen for this outsider, and she had fallen hard. It was the type of love that numbed the pain of living and sent your body into euphoria.

But for her, it was a forbidden love.

The clan, her family, would never accept any outsiders who would taint their noble blood with the impurity of a mongrel.

They had kept their blood as holy as it should be through the sinful act of incest. Of course, to them it was anything but a sin.

Yaq-Il was to marry and bear the child of her elder brother Yaq-Xin. She had accepted her fate a long time ago, in fact, it had never really struck her as strange in the slightest.

Everything was fine until she met him.

The one who made everything in her world change, who colored the traditions of her family in a new, frightening way.

But the secret of her shameful affair came to light, needless to say, her family was absolutely furious.

Her clan was disgraced.

Their virgin heir had been desecrated by some filthy mutt!

The disgusting woman was to be banished. But that was not all, she had to learn, she had to be punished.

So, they made her watch.

Watch as her lover’s bones were broken.

Watch as his skin was torn, his turquoise blood staining the ground of the courtyard.

Watch as his mouth was twisted in agony and screams of such immense pain that those observing could feel it, too.

She watched until his body finally fell limp, and without a second to grieve, she was thrown out of her clan.

They did not want this impure woman any longer. Her clan could care less if she died.

After all, they could easily make another.

Yaq-Il was left to die and fester.

She was left in the darkest moments of her life, she experienced indescribable anguish.

Oh, how she longed for Death’s sweet embrace to carry her away into a peaceful slumber.

But she couldn’t allow herself a painless death. How could she, when he had died in such a tormented way? She could hear his cries every time she attempted to rest.

So, Yaq-Il fought, she struggled, and she survived. And more importantly, she scorned all.

And that was how she ended up in the [Hungry Bear Caverns]. A place where she was currently surrounded by four beings.

“Who are you?” Yaq-Il questioned in a harsh tone. “What do you want?”

The ones she spoke to were none other than Tear, Vyne, Erebus, and Lilian. The four had been able to find her in no time at all, as the creatures were still sleeping due to her song.

Tear blinked in surprise. “She’s the siren? She doesn’t look too happy to me.”

“What! Just because I’m a siren means I have to be happy, singing songs of joy and wishing happiness to all? Huh? Are you shitting me? What’s there to be happy about? Tell me!”

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Tear retreated behind Erebus.

“S-sorry,” she stammered.

She wasn’t really sure how to respond to Yaq-Il’s words.

Erebus, however, was entertained.

A happy siren was great.

An angry siren was interesting.

“Siren,” Erebus began, “what is your name?”

“Yaq-Il.” She flicked her tail in annoyance. “And you?”

Erebus and his subordinates gave the proper introductions to her they were, Yaq-Il’s expression remained the same.

“Really? A fucking original dragon? Tell it to someone who cares. Go away.”

Even Erebus’ eyes widened at her words.

“What? You expected me to care? Hah, stop kidding yourself.”

Erebus’ eye twitched.

Vyne, already foreseeing the events that could occur, stepped forward. “Siren Yaq-Il, if I may ask, why are you so angry?”

“Yaq-Il is fine.” She flicked her tail in annoyance once more. “Pretty boy, I’m annoyed because some brats decided to intrude on my time.”

Brat? Who was a brat?

Erebus found himself wanting to strangle the life out of the siren seated before him on a lonely stone in the middle of a donut-like pool of water.

“Anyway, are you telling the truth about who you are? You all look like a bunch of pansies. Are you lying to me?”

“A dragon never lies.”

Yaq-Il rolled her eyes. “Spare me of your self-righteous honor bullshit. I trust you just about as far as I can throw you.”

Erebus grinded his teeth. This foul-mouthed woman...

If it wasn’t for him being interested in the true reason to what could make a member of the happy-go-lucky sirens so angry, she would be dead ten times over.

This time it was Lilian’s time to intervene. She stepped up and spoke, “How about you drop the front, Yaq-Il? This defensive act, it isn’t working. You aren’t fooling any of us.”

Yaq-Il hissed as if Lilian’s words had hurt her.

Act?

How dare this woman speak of her anger as some petty grudge?

She had no idea of the fire that burned inside of Yaq-Il.

The ferocious rage, the unquenchable thirst for revenge for what they did to her.

How dare she call it an act?

“You know nothing about me.” she said in a whispery, angry voice.

“And you know nothing about us,” Lilian refuted without her tone of voice changing.

The two women stared each other down.

“That look of sadness in your eyes, I know it. We all know what that is.”

Yaq-Il barked out a laugh. “What is this? A group counseling session? Just like you said, I don’t know you. And you certainly do not know me. Leave me be, I want nothing to do with you.”

“You will not drop this act?”

“Call it what you may. I don’t care as long as you leave. Begone! Leave me to my misery.”

Erebus nodded his head. “We’re leaving, then.”

Yaq-Il was a little surprised, but she didn’t dare show it.

They started to walk away. The last non-monster living beings she had encountered were leaving.

Actually, the four were moving awfully slow. Almost as if they were waiting on something...

“Hold on,” Yaq-Il said softly.

They pretended not to hear her.

“Hey, I said wait! Wait!” she continued to scream for them to wait in an even louder voice.

Finally, they stopped and turned around.

“Ah? Could it be that you actually wanted to tell us what was going on?” Erebus asked in a surprised manner.

“But I thought she wanted us to leave?” Tear added, a faux-confused expression on her face.

Yaq-Il tightened her hands at her sides. “Stay, please. I want your help on something.”

“And that would be?” Erebus asked.

Yaq-Il smiled cruelly. “Revenge on those who put me in this state of mind.”