Fire Forged Read online

  She followed the colored lines on the ground that guided her back toward the terminal. There she made a quick stop at the bathroom and then headed for the exit. The glass doors rolled open, and she stepped into cool air. With the awning overhead, this was a perfect place to wait for her ride.

  Shasta dug her cell phone out of her pocket and waited for it to power up. While the loading icon danced, a silver Prius parked at the curb. An older man with salt-and-pepper hair, wearing pressed pants and a plaid shirt, stepped out. He moved to stand in front of the car, holding a sign with her name on it.

  She slid the still-not-awake phone back in her pocket and walked over to him. She smiled and held out her hand. “Shasta Oaks.”

  “Billy.” He shook her hand firmly. “Can I get your bags?”

  She let him take the duffel from her. He stowed it, and she placed the backpack beside the duffel. While he was closing the back of the car, she made herself comfortable in the passenger seat.

  Billy slid in, buckled up, and checked his mirrors before pulling away from the curb. “Is there anywhere you’d like to stop before I drop you off at the dock?”

  “Nope. I need to get to Sirenum Island.” Thanks to the early flight and time change, there was still plenty of daylight left. If the boat ride over didn’t take too long, she’d have time to get settled in before nightfall.

  He turned onto a highway. In the distance the sun reflected off crystal-blue waves. Weather-worn shingled houses lined one side of the beach. It had to be wonderful to get up every morning to the crash of waves and fresh salty air.

  “We don’t get many people going out to Sirenum.” He flicked on a turn signal.

  Shasta didn’t say anything. Why she was here wasn’t his concern, and she certainly wasn’t going to discuss the client’s business with him.

  While they sat at a red light, he glanced over at her. When she still didn’t say anything, he sighed, and the rest of the trip passed in silence. After he parked at the dock, he got out and helped her into her pack before handing her the duffel. He looked at the ground and then at her. “Normally they’re nice enough neighbors, but they’re different. Watch your back.” With that, he hurried back to the car.

  Shasta sucked in a deep breath of sea air as an uneasy feeling crept up her spine. She shook it off. This was a job. One that got her away from her father’s watchful eye and Cord’s mess of emotions.

  Her phone buzzed in her pocket. Shasta fished it out as it started flashing messages at her. Three missed calls from Cord, a voice mail, and four text messages. She was on the other side of the country, trying to get away from him for a little while, and now he wanted to talk. Wasn’t that just typical.

  She deleted the messages, both voice and text, without reading or listening to them. As soon as they vanished off her phone, she felt like a weight had been lifted off her. She could ignore Cord. She could pretend he didn’t exist and move on with her life. She could pretend she didn’t miss him. She would pretend until it became the truth. Unfortunately, Shasta had a feeling that was going to take more than two weeks.

  With a resigned sigh, she dialed her mom’s number, filled her in on how the travel had gone, and reassured her that she had this handled. That last part Shasta wasn’t entirely certain of, but since she wanted more solo assignments in the future, she needed to figure how to get this done on her own.

  Her last obligation to the company for the day taken care of, Shasta turned off her phone and tucked it back in the pack. If Cord wanted to call, he could just keep talking to her voice mail. That’s what it was there for.

  With her mom’s directions to the boat fresh in her mind, Shasta picked up her duffel and headed over to berthing forty. She made her way down the dock, surrounded by boats with shiny paint jobs that looked like they never left the dock and ones with dull paint and equipment strapped to them that looked like they spent most days out on the ocean.

  The boat at forty looked surprisingly small. Perhaps that was because a significant portion of the deck was taken up by the cabin and the remaining open area was filled with cargo. Or maybe it was because the boats on each side were so much larger.

  A woman with a brown ponytail sticking out the back of her baseball cap emerged from the cabin and waved. “Hello! Would you be Shasta Oaks?”

  Shasta lifted her hand in greeting. “That’s me. One passenger to Sirenum.”

  The woman hopped over the side of the boat and onto the dock. She strode over to Shasta and offered her hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Carmen, and I’ll be your ride to and from the island.”

  Carmen’s grip was firm, and she released Shasta after the requisite two pumps.

  “I’m looking forward to it,” Shasta said. “After hours on planes and in the car, it’ll be nice to get some fresh air.”

  “We’ve got plenty of that.” Carmen grinned. “Let me help you get your bag stowed, and then we can head out.”

  Carmen was a marvel of efficiency. Before long, Shasta’s bags were carefully tucked in a bench, she’d been zipped into a life jacket and settled on the seat inside the cabin. Several of the windows were propped open, so even inside she got fresh air.

  Only a few minutes later, Carmen was casting off, slowly motoring them away. Once they cleared the dock, Carmen glanced her direction. “If you want some air, this is the time to be outside. Later we’ll be going through some big waves, and it’ll be more comfortable inside. Oh, you don’t get seasick, do you?”

  “I never have before, but there’s a first time for everything.” Shasta had been on a few boats, but if the cresting waves outside the harbor were any indication, her previous experiences had been in milder conditions.

  “Beside the door are some vomit bags. Keep one close in case you need it.” Carmen never took her eyes off the waves in front of her.

  “Will do.” Shasta plucked one from the holder and tucked it in her back pocket on her way out the door. She walked around the outside of the cabin and settled on a seat. The sky stretched for miles in an endless blue sheet. Below it, the blue green waves sparkled in the sun as they rose and fell. The breeze was sharp with brine, tugging insistently at her hair and carrying the gull’s cries to her ears. All around birds wheeled and dove, some of them skimming across the water before winging back up into the air.

  Under her the boat slowed, allowing other boats to pass by, and then sped back up to continue its way out of the harbor. All too soon she heard a quick knock at one of the windows. Shasta twisted around and saw Carmen motioning her inside. Figuring that meant they were about to hit the rougher water, Shasta hurried in to the cabin.

  “You can sit or stand, however you feel more comfortable, but I want you in here in case you fall.”

  “Are the seas going to be that rough?” Shasta stood by a seat that was likely meant for another boat operator.

  Carmen shrugged. “I’m mostly being cautious, but it’s choppy today, and you’ll be safer in here.”

  Shasta nodded her agreement and took up a wider stance, bracing herself against the boat’s movement. Sure enough, as soon as they exited the harbor, the waves picked up, and she was glad for the handhold above her head. Rather than getting sick, she mostly felt like she was on a roller coaster, one with sharper angles and a somewhat repetitive track.

  “How are you holding up?” Carmen asked.

  “I’m still standing and I haven’t thrown up, so I’m going to count that as a success.” She felt fine now, but the longer she was on the boat, the more she could see how easy it would be for the waves to bother someone’s stomach.

  Carmen laughed. “You’ve made it this far. I think you’ll be fine for the rest of the trip.”

  “I hope so.” With that Shasta went back to studying the horizon.

  A few minutes later she noticed a smudge. It could’ve been a trick of the water, but as the minutes passed, it seemed to grow darker. Finally, she gave in and asked, “Is that Sirenum?”

  “Yup. We’ll be there soon.” Carmen glanced at Shasta. “Be careful with the sirens.”

  “Oh?” Shasta gave Carmen her full attention.

  “We’ve had a lot of deaths on the water this year.” Carmen cleared her throat. “Agatha, their leader—or anassa, as they call her—claims they don’t have anything to do with it, and nobody’s linked any evidence to the sirens. But, well, we all know what they were once.”

  Shasta studied the woman. There was more to the story, information she might need while she was doing her investigations. “Do you think the sirens are responsible?”

  Carmen shrugged. “The police haven’t recovered a single body this year. Don’t always, but with ten missing and assumed dead, it’s a little odd not to have gotten one back.”

  “Has anyone asked the sirens about the missing people? And how much connection is there between Sirenum and the mainland anyway?”

  “I saw a police boat or two out there, but I don’t know what was said.” Carmen sighed. “Most of the town doesn’t have much to do with the sirens. I run supplies for them, but mostly they stay to their island and we avoid it, sticking to the mainland and the water.”

  If that was the case, it would be rather easy for a person or group to create a situation that would cast blame on the sirens. After all, it was rather hard to defend yourself when you didn’t even know about the accusations.

  Carmen pointed out the front window. “Sirenum, your home for the next two weeks.”

  Shasta peered at the rocky shore protruding abruptly from the sea with trees permanently bent from years of weathering the ocean winds. The shore was somewhat low, but then the land rose rather steeply into what from here looked to be a mountain at the center of the island.

  She gave it a second look. That wasn’t a mountain. She was spending two weeks on the remnants of a volcano. Hopefully, a volcano that was well past its days of spewing lava, steam, or rock. After all, she was here to solve a mystery, not live through a volcanic eruption.

  With that comforting thought, Shasta watched Carmen turn the boat and guide it toward a small dock. A shape moving through the water caught Shasta’s eye as it darted in front of the boat heading straight for the dock. It broke through the surface in a long line of tanned skin with pearlescent undertones. Its leap carried it out of the water, and a woman landed gracefully on the dock, her tawny hair cloaking her body. That wasn’t a jump many creatures could’ve made, nor was the speed with which she had moved through the water particularly common. Whatever else the sirens were, they were strong and they were fast.

  A moment later the boat lightly bumped into the thick rubber on the edge of the dock. Carmen hurried outside, tossing a line to the siren on the dock. The two of them moved quickly, tying up the boat like it was something they’d done together before.

  When Carmen stepped back and brushed her hands together, Shasta took it as a sign that the boat was secured and stepped out of the cabin. The siren stilled, looked her over from head to toe, and then turned and leaped away, easily clearing more than twenty feet. Shasta felt her eyes go wide. The siren touched the dock just long enough to leap again. She repeated this as she crossed the beach. When she landed on grass, she started running, quickly reaching a narrow path that curved around the volcano. Just before she disappeared behind a clump of trees, Shasta saw her take to the air again, clearing at least as much distance as she had before.

  “Usually Melissa stays to help me unload, but I think she’s going to tell the others of your arrival.”

  Shasta yanked her gaze away from the path. “They all jump like that?”

  Carmen knelt down and started untying the lines holding the cargo in place. “I don’t know about all, but most of them. They can glide a bit too, but not well. They’re better in the water. They have a membrane that extends down their fingers and their feet that flattens and broadens into something like fins.”

  They’d be tough to fight on land and nearly impossible in the water. She’d have to remember to be aware of what was above her because they wouldn’t simply attack her with both feet planted firmly on the earth. She glanced at the path. It was still empty. “And their song?”

  Carmen stopped what she was doing and looked up at her. “Even when they’re not trying to enchant you, it’s still captivating with its beauty. I’ve heard that when they put effort into it, you forget everything else.”

  Shasta had to lick her suddenly dry lips before she could answer. “I’ll remember that.”

  “Rumor is, true love makes you immune.” Carmen looked down and started fiddling with the rope. “But I don’t know that I believe that.”

  A blur of movement caught Shasta’s eye. A group of sirens were headed down the trail. “Thank you, both for the ride and for the information.”

  Carmen got up, crossed over to the bench, popped it open, and handed Shasta her bags. “Anytime. You have my number in case you need an earlier ride off the island?”

  “Yes.” She slipped the backpack onto her shoulders.

  Carmen kept the duffel as she carefully stepped off the boat. She held out her hand and Shasta took it, grateful for the help getting from the boat to the dock.

  “Good luck.” Carmen shook her hand.

  “Thank you. I enjoyed the trip over.” Shasta picked up the duffel, turned, and walked down the dock. Behind her, she could hear Carmen get back in the boat and start moving some of the cargo around.

  Now that she was here, with the rough terrain of Sirenum rising above her, the persistent sea breeze, and the distance between her and the unknown closing with each moment, she found her hands were sweaty, and her heart was beating fast. She was well and truly alone. It was her, the case, and the sirens. Backup was more than three thousand miles away.

  The wood of the dock creaked under her feet, gently swaying with the lap of the waves. Ahead of her, the dock met land. She felt her steps slow, and with her shoulders squared, she stepped onto Sirenum.

  Under her feet the earth greeted her cheerfully. It hadn’t seen anything like her before. The steady thump of its rhythm picked up.

  Smiling, Shasta knelt down and brushed her fingers against the very top layer of soil.

  The earth almost seemed to quiver under her touch. Welcome, it whispered.

  Thank you. After giving the earth a pat, she straightened. Under her the earth went silent as five sirens landed only thirty feet from her.

  The siren who stepped to the front of the group wore a simple royal-purple dress that was clasped at the shoulders and belted with a thick gold rope. Her skin looked warm, as if it had been kissed by the sun and was willing to share the heat. Waves of brown hair flowed all the way to her hips. The four women flanking her were all wearing the same style of dress, though in a rich tan. Shasta recognized one of them as Melissa, mostly due to her wet hair.

  The siren in the royal purple closed the distance and smiled gently. “Welcome, Shasta of Oaks Consulting. I am Agatha, anassa of the sirens of Sirenum.”

  Shasta wished she knew a little bit more about sirens and what they expected in a greeting. Since her mom hadn’t mentioned anything specific, she hoped being polite would be enough. “I’m honored to have been invited to your home. I look forward to furthering our relationship as I work to solve your problem.”

  Agatha smile broadened. “I would very much like the same.”

  “Then I see this being a most fruitful relationship.” Her time spent with long-lived elves learning their flowery salutations was finally paying off.

  “As do I.” Agatha motioned to her right. “This is Sappho.”

  “Welcome,” Sappho said with a warm smile. She was a tall, slender woman, and her brown hair had red undertones.

  Agatha motioned to her left. “This is Ligia.”

  Ligia bowed her head. She was the most breathtaking woman Shasta had ever seen, with delicate features, a tumble of raven hair, and bright green eyes.

  “I believe you’ve already met Melissa.” Agatha motioned to the right again. Melissa smiled but said nothing. Agatha gestured to the last person. “And Demetria.”

  “Welcome.” For all that Demetria shared the warmth of Agatha’s skin, none of it made it into her voice or her face.

  Shasta felt like she should say something, but she wasn’t entirely sure what. Even though she was half elf, it wasn’t every day she met a group of basically immortal people. Especially not a group that was so reclusive.

  Agatha seemed to have some idea of how awkward she felt, because she moved the conversation along. “You’ll come with me. I will show you where you’ll be staying and give you more information about the troubles we are facing.”

  “That would be lovely.” Though looking at the steep path behind Agatha, the walk was going to be a bit of a workout.

  “Melissa will carry your bag. Ligia and Demetria have other duties, but you’ll see them later tonight. Sappho will be overseeing the unloading of our supplies.” Three more sirens came down the path, stopping a fair distance behind the group. Agatha glanced back. “If you will follow me.”

  Melissa stepped forward, taking the duffel from her, and the rest of the sirens veered off to their various tasks.

  Shasta fell into step next to Agatha as they followed a dirt path that curled up the side of the volcano. As much as Shasta wanted to ask about the disturbances that had resulted in this job, she held her tongue. Sometimes it was best to wait for clients to make the first move, and Shasta was reasonably sure this was one of those times.

  They had climbed high above the dock, and Shasta could see miles of ocean all around, when Agatha finally spoke. “I was so relieved when your company called us back. I have found it very difficult to find a group that would send only women out to help us.”

  There wasn’t much she could say about that. After all, her mom had offered more than one group of females and the sirens had refused. So she focused on the question that needed to be asked. “I am still somewhat unclear on exactly what type of help you need.”