Tess sat on a window seat reading her parents’ spell book. Her dark hair was held in a loose bun at the base of her neck. She turned the page, perusing through energy-saving spells. Absentmindedly twirling her hand towards the lightly curtained window. The snowflakes reacted to her hand movements. Dancing in midair as she manipulated their paths.

Tess looked up when a knock sounded on her bedroom door. She snapped her fingers, making her book disappear. “Yes?” she called, standing up from her seat. The black velvet dress she wore cascaded to the floor.

“Priestess, it’s time for dinner,” a medium-sized troll bowed towards her after he opened her door. He kept his eyes averted, never looking her directly in the eyes.

“Thank you Dorian. Tell mother I’ll be down soon.” Tess replied, giving a small nod to the troll, who straightened then walked away. Tess walked to the vanity that was on an opposing wall and sat down. She pulled her hair out of its loose bun and began brushing it. She looked in the mirror to see her thin, pale face.

She had turned into a petite young lady over the past year and a half. Her hair shone a bright ebony color, now falling past her shoulders. She had grown quite a few inches since she had begun her studies. No longer the little girl that she had been before.

She watched as her skin shimmered as the light danced on it. The changes had happened a few months ago. Only now becoming more pronounced. If she were to look in her mouth, she could see little nubs where her siren teeth were trying to break through. It was only a matter of time before she was to do her final ritual to make the changes permanent.

Tess walked to her wardrobe to choose a dinner outfit. Her guardians had gifted her with several beautiful gowns. Tess was terrified of ruining them, but her mother always loved seeing her in each new outfit. Today she chose a baby blue dress with a white sash at the waist. She changed out of her previous dress and put the new one on. She smoothed the fabric, so it fell effortlessly to the floor.

A high priestess always needs to look presentable, she reminded herself. She looked in her full-length mirror to check her appearance, swaying a few times, making the dress move with her. She loved the way they moved and twirled with her body. Once she was satisfied, she left her room and made her way to the dining hall.

Tess walked down the hallway in a slow and dignified manner. Looking ahead to survey her surroundings, she wasn’t supposed to pay attention to the servants as they went by her. They were below her and didn’t need her attention. Tess made it to the dining hall to see her guardians already sitting at the table. They were serving dinner.

“Glad you could make it, Priestess,” one lady greeted as Tess passed.

Tess nodded her head at the woman. “I would never miss a chance to dine with all my sisters.” Tess continued along the table until she reached the head of it. She nodded to the woman who had taken care of her since she had arrived, then sat on her right side.

“What took you so long to join us?” Matera asked, as she cut into her dish, not paying mind to those around her.

“I was reading a good book,” Tess answered, her hands in her lap, waiting to be served. She sat up straight in her chair, chin held high in the proper manner they had taught her. Servants came, filling her plate and drink. Backing off to the wall as fast as they had come, awaiting further demands.

“Hm, is that all?” Matera asked, taking a sip from her goblet, giving Tess a hard look. “Not howling at the moon?”

Tess gave a small smirk. “No ma’am. I gave that childish stuff up months ago,” Tess answered, eating from her plate. She had been howling at the moon in an attempt to communicate with Tom when she had first arrived. Since she wasn’t a wolf, she couldn’t hear if he returned her howls. It wasn’t like he was coming to get her, anyway. He was probably thankful he didn’t have to take care of her anymore.

“Good girl,” Matera smiled, placing a chilly hand on Tess’ warm one. “We can now focus on the bigger things.” Matera gave her a toothy grin filled with black, needle-like teeth. She then stood and tapped a knife on her glass, causing the room to grow silent. “I am happy to announce we have a birthday coming up in the next couple of months,” the siren announced, beaming from where she was standing. “Our priestess will be sixteen, and we are excited to share the coming of her powers with everyone here.” The room erupted in a small cheer as the siren sat back down, resuming her meal.

“Mother, I appreciate your wanting to celebrate my birthday, but it doesn’t have to be a big party,” Tess smiled. Her last birthday had been a fairly big to do. She couldn’t imagine how much bigger this one could be.

“Nonsense,” her mom brushed her off. “Sixteen is a big deal, especially for our priestess. You’ll be able to take those bracelets off.”

Tess looked at her wrists to see the thin silver bracelets on her arm. They helped her control and strengthen her magic. They used to be big and bulky, but as she got used to her magical abilities, they had shrunk.

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“Oh, but they’re so pretty,” Tess smiled as she admired the bracelets. A servant stopped by and refilled Matera’s plate.

“Oh, sailor’s heart, what a delicacy,” Matera purred as the servant backed away. “I can get you prettier ones,” she returned to the original conversation, cutting into the heart and taking a bite.

Tess watched on, unphased as her siren mother began devouring the heart. She looked down at her own plate. They had served her a stew. Chunks of meat swirled around the top. Tess knew the meat was from the most recent ship raids. The sirens were slowly introducing her to their food. This is also why she was changing into a siren.

“I will appreciate whatever you choose to give me,” Tess replied, lifting her water glass and taking a sip. A priestess was always gracious for what they’re given, she reminded herself.

“Oh come now, Darling. Take a sip of this. It’s good for you,” Matera offered Tess a drink from her glass, which contained a thick red liquid.

Tess took the drink offered to her, then took a sip of the liquid. It was blood. Still warm from the sailor, the sirens were eating. She couldn’t deny the feeling when she drank it. It flooded her with an undeniable force that made her magic surge with power. “Thank you, mother. You’re right, it was exactly what I needed.” Tess dabbed at her lips with a white linen napkin that she had placed on her lap.

The siren nodded, smiling, “Mother knows best.”

“I appreciate your wisdom,” Tess replied. She finished her meal, then excused herself to prepare some moon water for a future ritual.

“Don’t stay up too late,” her mother called after her. “You have a test in the morning.”

“Yes, mother,” Tess replied, then left for the kitchen to gather a few jars.

——-

Tom stood at the prow of Destru’s ship, the wind whipping through his curly black hair causing it to blow in his face. He had let his hair grow out and it was now to his chin. The girls at the ports thought it was a good look for him because they were always ogling over him. Constantly trying to touch his toned arms and chest. He breathed in a lungful of air as the ship’s bow broke through the waves underneath it. He closed his eyes as he let the sun caress his now sun-kissed skin. It was amazing what a little over a year could do to a person. Tom readjusted his shirt as the wind blew at it. He had opted to wear what Destrus crew wore, which were baggy clothes. He wondered why he hadn’t opted to wear this type of clothes before. They were incredibly comfortable.

Destru had taken Tom under his wing, allowing him to work on his ship while he looked for Tess. Tom didn’t have to partake in any of the piracy, although he helped occasionally. Destru had helped him through his months of depression after Tess had disappeared. He didn’t shift back into his human form for almost a week. Destru allowed him to remain undisturbed as he processed everything. Destru finally suggested that they look for the Hero’s Dias.

Tom frowned at the thought. He had lost count on the amount of towns they had searched to find a bit of information. Perhaps Tess had been right in saying the government had taken steps to hide it. His heart panged at the thought of Tess. He did not know where to look for her. Destru agreed he thought the sirens were behind her kidnapping. The problem was, nobody knew where they lived. His grip tightened on the rope he was holding at the thought of the siren that had killed his family. If they had hurt Tess, he would kill them all.

“Tom!” a crew mate called, making Tom turn his attention back to the boat. It was Little Rune calling to him. “We’ll be docking by the end of the day! Cap’n wants to see you!”

Tom nodded his head, then jumped down to the dock. He headed to Destru’s cabin to see what he wanted. “You wanted to see me?” Tom asked as he saw Destru sitting behind his table.

“Wilkie! I wanted a word with you,” Destru sprang to his feet and closed the doors behind Tom, quickly pouring both of them a drink.

Tom took the drink, downing it almost instantly. He had never been a big drinker before joining Destru, now he had a glass almost every day. “What about?”

“We’re getting absolutely nowhere by looking willy nilly for the Dias. So I’ve come up with a plan, but I need to know you’ll go with it.” Destru gave his signature toothy grin.

“I will do anything to find Tess. You know that Destru,” Tom answered, staring the older wolf in the eyes.

“How about kidnapping?”

Tom spluttered as he tried to find the right words. “What do you mean by ‘kidnapping’? Who?”

“There's whispers that the government was afraid that someone would try to use the power from the Dias against them. So they hid it.” Destru began.

Tom shook his head. “You must’ve been talking with Tess.” A pained look crossed Tom’s face as he thought about what she might go through.

“Have you heard from her recently?” Destru asked, putting a comforting hand on Tom’s shoulder.

Tom sighed, turning away. “She stopped howling a few months ago.”

“I hear you howling at night.”

“I know she’s not a wolf, so she can’t hear me. But I’m hoping she’s figured out a way to hear me. So she knows I’m still thinking and looking for her.” Tears splashed down Tom’s face as he tried not to think about Tess giving up hope on him.

“I’m sure deep in her heart she still knows you’re looking for her. Perhaps it’s not safe for her to howl,” Destru offered a comforting look.

Tom nodded his head, not trusting himself to say anything. Silence fell over the pair as they were lost in their thoughts. “Who are we taking?” Tom finally asked, his eyes hardening.

“There’s an important government official stopping by the town we’re docking in. There’s a possibility he might know where to look for the Dias.”

Tom nodded. “I’m ready when you are.”

“Good Lad,” Destru clapped Tom on the back. “I’ll let you know when we’re ready.” Shouting was heard on the deck. Destru looked out his cabin windows, then nodded towards Tom. “We’re docking. Go out and help them.”

“Yes Cap’n,” Tom saluted, then walked onto the deck.