A COVE OF BONES PART I

Clara watched as the old men gathered in front of her, with their loud voices booming while trying to call for more people.

It was clear that they are devising a plan, yet she can't understand them.

All of their voices muffled into white noise.

A hand grabbed her arm, "Let's get you inside." It was the innkeeper, his face looked so sad. As he tried his best to sympathize with Clara.

With lit torches, the old men started marching into the beach.

But before they got any further, they came across Darius.

Soaked in seawater from head to toe, his breathing was heavy and his eyes are red. Because of the saltwater that previously stung his purple orbs.

He looked left to right, trying to make sense of the situation.

Then it hit him, they were going to help.

"T-they're gone," he began.

"I tried to follow them but the current was too strong. They went further west and appear to be heading to the massive rocks near the cliff." He pointed at the sea line.

"It's alright lad you did what you can." The old man with a white beard said.

"We will need boats," Darius added.

"Oh no, what you need is water, food, and rest. Then by tomorrow, the two of you will leave Orienta and never return." The old man placed a hand on Darius's back.

"What?" Darius looked irritated.

"I can't leave, my friend is out in the sea." He replied.

"I understand how you feel, but he shall be remembered by his friends."

"No! We have to save him!" His eyes sparked with anger.

"Listen, I know it's difficult to accept it but this is the truth. No one can return after they are taken by the sirens. The only thing you can do now is to leave and never return, for your own safety."

"No!" Darius glared at the old man.

"I will not abandon him, if you're not going to help then stay out of my way." Darius pushed the old man away.

The old man grabbed Darius by the collar, "Do you have any idea how many of the people I know had been taken. How many of my friends died?" He asked.

"No," Darius replied coldly.

"But what I know is that, unlike some. I'm not a coward who's willing to abandon their friend in the mercury of those creatures." The young man ripped the old man's hand away before turning his back.

"Clara, stay here in the inn, I will take my sword and find a boat." Darius helps the young woman to stand.

But before he could take another step, someone hit him in the head with a wooden paddle.

Darius lost his consciousness. His body fell to the ground with a loud thud.

"He'll thank us in the future," the old man said.

"Take him inside."

COUGH! COUGH!

Brennan coughed up the salt water as much as he could, his throat hurt, and his lungs felt as if it was burning.

Instinctively, he placed a hand in his throat as he breathe in air with greed and desperation.

Looking around, all he could see is the high walls of limestones behind him and the vast ocean ahead.

The limestones are creating a crest moon-like shape of walls, the only opening was leading to the ocean. Where the crashing waves clashed endlessly with so much force that they sounded like thunder flashes.

Looking down, Brenan realized that he was standing in a thin line of sand.

He's inside a cove that was what he figured.

The sound of water falling from the ceiling called his attention.

Looking behind him, Brennan saw a cave…

With knitted brows, he approached the entrance.

"Hello!" a feminine voice greeted. It was loud and too happy for his liking – considering the situation that is. Looking back at the water, Brennan saw a woman with light green skin… or should he say scales?

Brennan couldn't help but stare at her.

She has fins on both sides of her head, she has no hair as her head was covered in thick scale. On the top of her head is a dorsal fin that seems to travel all the way to her back. Her hands are also webbed, her nails are sharp and long, but most importantly, she had a long fishtail.

"Who are you? Why did you take me here?" Brennan glared at the creature.

The creature giggled at Brennan's expression.

When she opened her mouth, her sharp teeth flashed in Brennan's face. "My name doesn't matter, to you at least."

She chuckled, "It's not like you will live for long."

His heart started beating wildly, as he started backing away.

"Soon the cove will be submerged in water and my siblings will be able to swim out of the cave. Right there." She pointed at the cave behind Brennan.

"You see, we usually stay in the cave. There's a deep pool of water inside, but once the tide retreats. The sand separates it from the sea and we couldn't go out until it returns." The siren explained with a smile on her face. Her face was beaming with so much joy that it almost appear that she wasn't talking about something horrible.

"I can't help but wonder what you would taste like." The siren stared at him with pure bliss.

"But I don't want to be a bad sister so I want to wait until they can join me." She shook her head, a pout gracing her lips. It was almost looked cute, Brennan would admit that. But she just admitted that she wanted to eat him.

"I wonder... will you scream as I take my first bite? Will you struggle as we draw blood from your flesh, will you cry while we are ripping you apart under the water? Will you beg for your life? Will I see the light leave your eyes just before we eat you down to the bone?" Her eyes are showing nothing but excitement and pure joy.

"Ah, I can't wait!" She exclaimed making Brennan step further away. His back, touching the limestone.

He's scared and he will not deny that.

TSK! The siren clicked her tongue inside her mouth in a playful manner.

She then smiled at Brennan, "SOON." She mouthed while looking straight into the young man's eyes.

"Darius! Darius!" Clara shook him awake.

When he opened his eyes, the ravenette could feel a terrible headache. Courtesy of the person who hit his head.

"What happened?" He asked.

"Those people won't let us save Brennan, they think we will just die if we did go," Clara explained.

While the locals' intention was good, it was not something they can just accept.

"Don't worry, I will do what I can." Darius abruptly stood up.

"What? I'm going with you," Clara followed him as he walked over to take his sword.

"You can't go Clara. Just stay here and look after Feli for me."

"But I have to, I need to go! Brennan is like a brother to me," Clara crossed her brows. She placed a hand over her chest.

"I know, but it's too dangerous. I can't put you in any more trouble." Darius reasoned.

"But I!" Clara but her lower lip. "Do you think I'll burden you?" She looked straight at Darius's purple eyes.

"No, but I genuinely think it's for the best that you stay here." Darius pressed on.

"NO! I have to go! I just can't stay here not being able to do anything." Tears started pouring out of her eyes.

"Clara, listen to me. I promise that I will save Brennan and the four of us will go back to Sentry together." Darius held her hand.

"What good that promise will do if both of you are dead," Clara clenched her jaw, her tear-stained eyes are filled with sorrow.

But Darius could only shake his head, "You just have to trust me."

"I can't you leave alone Darius, my fear of losing my friends is just far too great!"

"Then… I'm sorry." With a swift knock on the head, Clara lost consciousness.

Gently, Darius placed Clara in the bed next to Feli.

Before he walked away, Darius looked over Feli who was sound asleep.

He shook Feli, "Mama?" the young griffin muttered.

"Feli, I have a job for you," Darius whispered.

Immediately, Feli snaps out of his sleep.

"What it is?" he asked with wide eyes.

"I need you to look after Clara while I'm away, also… if anyone enters the room. You must hide."

"Okay... but where are you going? Feli asked.

"I'll save Brennan..." he paused for a moment.

"We'll be back soon." He said before opening the window to avoid meeting the locals inside the inn.

"Be careful Mama," Feli whispered.

With that, Darius jumped over the window.

To rescue a friend.

Darius run towards the shoreline, it was already dawn and the sky is already turning in the shade of light blue.

"Hey, you! The tide is rising again, the water is no longer safe!" A man shouted as he struggled to pull his boat out of the water, a fisherman he reckoned.

But instead of stopping, Darius runs towards the man.

He roughly grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and threw the man on the sand. Causing him to tumble on the sand several times.

"I will be borrowing your boat," Darius said as he climbed over the small boat.

"Hey! You wanker!" The man shouted but when he found the strength to run after Darius, it was already too late.

Because the young man was already off to the tide, riding the waves as he headed for the western shoreline. Where the massive rocks reside just by the bottom of the cliff.