The forest was unusually silent tonight.
As they rode through the woodland, Nora watched Evie through the corner of her eye. She had taken a healing potion to mend the stab wound in her side, and even though the pain was finally gone, her heart still pounded anxiously in her chest. The air was thick with an unbearable silence, a stark contrast to the easy camaraderie they had once shared. She longed to reach out, to mend the rift that had formed between them, but the weight of her guilty conscience held her back.
As much as she wanted to say anything at all to break the ice between them, Nora couldn’t think of anything suitable enough. She had lied to her best friend, after all, someone she had grown to love and care for like a sister, and it was her duty to protect Evie at all cost.
Perhaps she had taken things too far this time.
Nora’s grip tightened on the reins, her knuckles turning white. She had never meant for any of this to happen. All she had wanted was to protect Evie, to save her from the cruel fate that the court had planned for her. But now, as she watched Evie’s walls crumble, Nora felt the full burden of her actions crashing down upon her.
A soft hum floated on the air, sweet as honey, and Nora stiffened as Evie’s head tilted slightly to hear something Nora couldn’t sense. A familiar melody suddenly drifted from Evie’s lips, like a mindless afterthought as the stars channeled their prophecies through her.
No.
Not now.
Not when anyone could be nearby to hear the song.
This was possibly the worst time for Evie to channel fate’s melody, but once it started, the song couldn’t be stopped.
With a nervous glance around them, Nora confirmed that they were alone just as Evie’s hum blossomed into a full song.
Through the woods of whispered shadows,
where the moon bleeds silver light,
There’s a path of twining sorrows,
and a hunt that spans the night.
Seek the wolf among the fallen,
eyes of flame and claws of steel,
Where the broken stars are calling,
there your fated steps will wheel.
Hurriedly, Nora whipped out her tome from its holster at her side and scribbled the words as Evie sang them. They flowed from the girl, billowing and bright, and this time felt somehow different from before.
This time, it felt almost like the stars were talking directly to Nora.
Two wanderers bound by fate’s cruel hand,
in a thief’s dark land where shadows creep.
He’ll steal a heart, as stars demand,
and a twisted traitor’s soul he’ll reap.
As Evie’s haunting melody drifted through the trees, Nora felt a chill run down her spine. The words cut her deeply, a painful reminder of the betrayal Evie now felt. She opened her mouth, desperate to explain, to make Evie understand, but the vacant look in her friend’s eyes silenced her instantly.
Anything she said right now would fall on deaf ears. When the stars sang, the world was forced to listen.
On the road of hidden pathways,
in the hollow’s breathless sway,
Through the keepers of the gateways,
they will walk astray, astray.
There’s a lock that has no keyhole,
in a chest without a lid,
In a place where dreams and nightfall
hide what’s buried and what’s hid.
Nora closed her eyes, her hips swaying with each of her horse’s steps through the woodland.
As the night deepened, the forest grew hushed and serene, as though it waited with bated breath for the siren’s next words. The thick canopy above filtered the moonlight, casting a soft, ethereal glow over the winding deer trails and dense undergrowth. The only sounds that pierced the stillness were the gentle rustling of leaves, the faint chirping of crickets, and the occasional hoot of a distant owl.
And yet, Evie’s song continued, and Nora drank in the sound.
The wolf shall bare his teeth to them,
in a dance of blood and bones,
but the thieves shall break his chains of sin,
where the wolf’s dark truth is shown.
In the shadow of the oak tree,
where the water runs like glass,
they will meet the one who follows,
and the veil of lies will pass.
The forest seemed to hold its breath, as if everything within it had paused to listen to the steady rhythm of the siren. Even the wildlife had grown quiet, their movements muted and cautious, sensing the fragile silence that blanketed the land.
Through the thorn and through the fire,
If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.
they will find what must be freed,
And the wolf will lead their pyre,
to the grave of fate’s dark seed.
So heed this song, you wanderers true,
seek the wolf where thieves conspire.
The road is dark, the storm will brew.
and there you’ll find what fate requires.
As Evie’s song faded, a gentle wind stirred fresh life into the canopy. The air was cool and crisp, carrying the earthy scents of damp soil and autumn leaves. Shadows danced across the forest floor, shifting and flickering as a moonlit breeze whispered through the trees. In the distance, a small creek bubbled and gurgled, its soothing melody providing a peaceful backdrop to the tranquil scene.
The tension between the two women, however, only worsened.
This silence couldn’t last, and Nora’s heart pounded with dread at the thought of what Evie would say when they finally addressed what had been left unspoken since they escaped Destiny’s city.
Nora moved through the forest with a heavy heart, her shoulders weighed down by the guilt and anguish that had consumed her. As she guided her horse towards a small clearing, she could feel Evie’s eyes burning into her back, a silent accusation that Nora knew she deserved.
When Nora finally brought them to a halt in a small clearing, she dismounted with a leaden heart. Evie followed suit, and all the while, the siren wouldn’t so much as look at her.
The air was thick with tension as they dismounted, the familiar routine of setting up camp offering little comfort in the wake of their confrontation. Nora’s hands trembled slightly as she began to gather the firewood, her mind racing with a thousand unspoken apologies.
The silence that followed was deafening, a tangible weight that threatened to crush her. She longed to fill the void, to somehow mend the rift that had formed between them, but the words caught in her throat.
Evie sat on a nearby log, her gaze fixed on the forest floor. The soft crunch of leaves beneath Nora’s feet seemed to echo in the silence.
With a shaky breath, Nora set to work, her movements methodical as she arranged the kindling and struck the flint. The first few sparks sputtered and died, and she felt a wave of frustration wash over her. She tried again, her brow furrowed in concentration as the flames finally caught, casting a warm, flickering glow across the clearing.
As Nora tended to the growing fire, she couldn’t help but steal glances at Evie, her heart aching at the sight of her friend’s weary posture and downcast eyes. She longed to reach out, to offer some comfort or solace, but the weight of her betrayal held her back.
The crackling of the fire was the only sound that pierced the thick silence, and Nora felt the seconds ticking by like an eternity. She knew that she had to say something, to at least try to bridge the gap that had formed between them, but the words seemed to catch in her throat, choking her with their intensity.
Finally, unable to bear the suffocating quiet any longer, Nora cleared her throat, her voice hesitant and unsteady. “Evie, I—"
“Don’t.” Evie’s sharp retort cut her off, the bitterness in her tone like a physical blow. “Don’t you dare try to explain yourself to me.”
Nora had suffered on the front lines. She had been stabbed, shot with arrows, and slammed into the ground. She had been in more than one fistfight, and she had taken plenty of blows to the head.
Evie’s words, however, stung worse than any wound from a weapon.
“The stars warned me, Nora, that there would be betrayal. I knew one was coming—I just never dreamed it would come from you.”
Nora winced, and she fell silent once more. The forest seemed to hold its breath, as if even the trees knew the weight of the words left unspoken between them.
Her heart sank as she watched the anguish and betrayal play across Evie’s features. She had known that this moment would be difficult, that Evie would be hurt and angry, but the depth of the pain in her friend’s eyes was almost more than she could bear.
“I was trying to protect you,” Nora whispered, the words barely audible over the crackle of the flames.
Evie’s scoff was laced with a mirthless laugh.
“Protect me?” The siren’s voice was sharp, cutting through the night like a blade. “You stole my purpose from me. Destiny finally gave me a mission. I was finally given a chance to fulfill my oath to him and to my sister sirens, and now I will never get that chance!”
Nora opened her mouth, desperate to find the right words, to somehow make Evie understand. But the words died on her lips as she watched her friend glare intently into the campfire.
With a shuddering breath, Nora did the same and tended to the flickering flames. The forest, once a place of shared wonder and adventure, had changed. Now it felt like a cruel and unforgiving expanse, like a reflection of the rift that had formed between her and Evie.
“Prosperity’s court is a dangerous place,” Nora murmured, her gaze pleading. “They would have used you. Sacrificed you. You would’ve been a pawn, disposable so long as it served their own needs.” She swallowed hard, the weight of her words a crushing burden. “You were never meant to serve them, Evie. Destiny didn’t send you to Prosperity—his court did. It was punishment because I care about you. They were trying to get to me, and you were nothing more to them than a sacrifice.”
Nora watched Evie’s brow furrow as the realization slowly dawned on her. The weight of Nora’s words hung heavy in the air, a stark contrast to the peaceful ambiance of the forest around them.
“But how?” Evie asked, her voice quiet yet laced with a growing sense of dread. “What could a court possibly do to a siren?”
Nora steeled herself, knowing that the truth she was about to reveal would shatter Evie’s worldview. “They’ve been manipulating Destiny for years. Sirens who go there end up dead, and yet he keeps sending Prosperity more and more of your sisters. I couldn’t let them take you, Evie. I just couldn’t.”
Evie’s eyes widened, and Nora could see the beginnings of disbelief etched into her features. “No, that can’t be true. The court is meant to protect us.”
“I’m so sorry, Evie, but it is true. The court doesn’t care about the wellbeing of anyone but themselves. They only care about maintaining their own power and status.”
Nora reached out, her hand hovering uncertainly before resting on Evie’s arm.
Evie flinched at the touch, her eyes narrowing as she searched Nora’s face for any sign of deception. “You mean I never had a purpose? I was just a pawn being used to hurt you?”
“Yes.” Nora’s fingers tightened around Evie’s arm, her need to make her friend understand overriding her better judgment.
Evie’s face drained of color, her eyes wild with a mix of fear and betrayal. “But I trusted him,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I served Destiny faithfully. I did all I was asked to do. I believed in him. How could he do this to me? To us?”
Nora’s heart ached at the sight of Evie’s shattered faith. To watch a siren lose her tether to her purpose and duty broke Nora’s heart.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “I know I lied to you, but I couldn’t let them take you. That’s why I had to get you away, even if it meant betraying your trust.”
Evie stared at her, the once-vibrant light in her eyes dimming with each passing moment.
“You should have told me the truth,” the siren said, her voice hollow. “I deserved to know.”
Nora nodded, the weight of her guilt crushing her. “You’re right.”
Evie crossed her arms and lifted her chin indignantly, as though that answer wasn’t good enough.
With an exhausted sigh, Nora rubbed her eyes. “I was afraid of losing you, Birdie. I didn’t know if you would believe me. I know how much your purpose matters to you, but with Lyla whispering lies in your ear… I just didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t bear the thought of you hating me.”
Evie’s gaze hardened. “I trusted you, Nora. And you betrayed me.”
Nora opened her mouth to speak, but the words refused to come.
With a weary huff, Evie stood, and the flickering firelight danced across her features.
“Birdie,” Nora started. “You need to understand—”
“I do understand,” Evie interrupted. “You saved my life. Thank you for that. But you could have told me the truth. You took away my choice, and you proved to me that you don’t trust me. That hurts, Nora, and I’m not sure I can forgive you for that.”
Nora watched silently as Evie rose to her feet. The siren’s movements were stiff and deliberate.
“I need to be alone,” Evie finally said, and her words had a hard edge to them.
Without another glance, she turned her back on the fire and curled up in one of the blankets Nora had brought for them. The siren laid her head on her pack, her long hair billowing over the canvas bag, and that was that.
As the sound of Evie’s breath evened out and the girl fell asleep, Nora felt her heart shatter. She had known the truth would be difficult, that Evie would feel betrayed and deceived. But nothing could have prepared her for the depth of the pain and anguish that she had witnessed on her friend’s face.
The forest grew silent, save for the gentle crackle of the fire and the soft rustle of the leaves. Nora sat alone, the weight of her guilt a crushing burden that threatened to consume her. She had done what she thought was right, what she believed was necessary to protect Evie.
But in doing so, she had irreparably damaged the trust that had once bound them together.
In the stillness of the night, Nora felt truly and utterly alone. She knew that the path ahead would be fraught with uncertainty. She would have to fight to earn back Evie’s trust.
Nora stared into the flickering flames. Part of her wanted to cry, but the warrior within her drowned out any possibility of tears. She had risked everything to save Evie, and now neither of them had anywhere to go.
No god to worship, nor any home to their names.
Evie’s life was still in danger, now more than ever before. Nora had to find a way to keep them both safe and to guide her friend through this new, treacherous reality. And though the journey ahead would be fraught with pain and uncertainty, Nora was determined to stand by Evie’s side, no matter the cost.
But as Nora stared into the dancing flames, a glimmer of hope flickered in her heart. Evie was strong, resilient, and driven by a sense of purpose that could not be extinguished. One day, Nora would earn her friend’s trust back.
She hoped so, at least.
This wasn’t going to be easy. They would be hunted. Nora would die before she let them take her friend from her, and she would never go back to the land that had betrayed them both.
As far as she was concerned, Destiny was dead to her.
And, hey—at least she didn’t have to put up with his cryptic bullshit anymore.
What part hit you hardest about this chapter?
