THE SIREN AND THE WOLF

Chapter 1: Prologue

 Mishka looked at the time on the clock for the second time that morning.

"What? Eight o'clock! No way. Did I drop off again after daydreaming?" she asked herself out loud.

She sat up and swung her feet off the bed. She then pushed them into the slippers which were waiting for her next to her bed.

She ruffled her newly-dyed light blonde hair before getting up and walking towards the mirror.

The face that stared back at her looked tired and worn out. Not like the face of a healthy twenty-two year old at all.

"It's still Wednesday and I feel like this?" she questioned her image in the mirror.

She then pushed the bell button to order coffee from the kitchen. She didn't usually do this. She usually had her coffee at the breakfast table, dressed and fresh.

"Today is one of those days. I'll have coffee for a pick up before I have my shower," she grumbled as she sat back down on her bed. She reached for the remote control device and turned the television set on.

"Let me watch the weather anyway," she told herself.

"It's not fair to work so hard for something that's not even my passion. It's my father's passion and his legacy," she complained as she ruffled her hair again.

There was a knock at the door then.

"Come in!" Mishka called out.

"Good morning, Mishka, can I get you something?" Milla, the kitchen assistant maid asked.

"Some coffee, please," Mishka responded. "Make it with cream for some energy please," she added.

"Coming right up," Milla responded with a bright smile before closing the door again, leaving Mishka to her frustration.

"Rain for this afternoon. I will be inside an office though," Mishka mumbled miserably. She then got up from the bed and walked over to her long wardrobe.

"What to wear for a Wednesday?" she asked herself. "Mmm, I don't have a meeting. Just training," she muttered.

She decided on a semi-formal skirt and blouse and threw them over the armchair before walking over to the window. She drew the curtains aside to let the sunlight in.

"It's so bright and breezy. Why do I have to go and slave in a company as if I'm gonna save something there? They have so many experienced people there. In fact, someone else can take charge of that training today," she grumbled to herself.

"Why don't I just focus on me today? What about my music? When do I sing on an international stage when I don't even practice anymore?

"Staying away and pretending to be sick is just what I need. Why should I have such an inflated conscience about Dad's electronics firm? It's meant to be my heritage, but why should I burry my opportunities to do something else?" she asked herself as she sat back down on the bed defiantly.

"I'm already late, so I should just call in sick and do voice training today," she said with a scowl on her brow.

Milla knocked again when she returned with the coffee.

"Come in!" Mishka called.

Milla entered with a tray containing the mug of coffee as well as chocolate cookies on a side plate.

"Oh, why are you spoiling me again," Mishka complained. "Those cookies look very tempting though, thank you so much," she responded in an elated tone of voice.

"You looked like you needed the pick-me-up," Milla responded with a smile as she placed the tray on Mishka's bedside table.

"You're too kind," Mishka responded. "But, listen, I'm not going to work today. Don't tell Grandma though," she warned just above a whisper.

"Oh? Are you gonna do something mischievous?" Milla asked, her eyes stretched wide with curiosity.

"No, I'm just gonna stay away from the office and pay attention to my dreams," Mishka responded as she sipped on her coffee.

Milla looked at her in confusion.

"What do you mean by that?" Milla asked. "Have you come up with some plan? It sounds exciting! Please tell me. What are you gonna do exactly?" she asked staring at Mishka excitedly.

"I think I will go to the lake and spend time there. Or, maybe I'll go to the woods. It's wonderful there," Mishka replied.

"Oh, how great! Wish I could do the same. Just take a day off.

But, what about breakfast? You are going downstairs to eat in the breakfast room as usual, aren't you?" Mishka asked with her eyebrows raised.

"I will, but I'm gonna pretend to go to work," Mishka responded.

"Well, if you're going to the woods then you're gonna need clothes that are more casual than those," Milla responded, pointing at the clothes which Mishka had laid out.

"No, I can't. I will have to wear jeans or shorts. Then I will have to cook up a reason for why I'm going to work dressed up casually," Mishka agreed with her sigh.

"Just tell your grandma that it's part of today's theme," Milla responded.

"What theme exactly?" Mishka asked with her elegantly-shaped brows raised.

"Casual Day or something?" Milla responded as she shrugged indifferently.

"No, everyone knows it isn't casual day," Mishka responded. "I will just tell her that I'm having a lesson on relaxation at work. Something like that," she added as she munched on her cookies.

"In fact, I should escape both breakfast and Grandma today," she announced.

"That would be a good idea. Go out straight away, then you don't have to lie to your grandma. But what about getting hungry without breakfast?" Milla asked in concern.

"I've had enough cookies, so, I'll be alright.

My actual project for the day will be singing," Mishka responded with a pensive look on her face.

"You should really think about getting back on stage," Milla remarked thoughtfully.

"I should. But how do I get rid of my responsibilities?" Mishka asked.

"I thought you were just working to gain experience," Milla remarked with a confused look on her face. "Maybe you decided to make it a responsibility," she added as she studied Mishka's face carefully.

"It was forced on me, so how could I even make it a responsibility?" Mishka asked, frowning at her image in the mirror.