Chapter 6
Nerion
The music building was almost always occupied by somebody. There were classes in the evening, orchestra rehearsals, and students in the practice rooms. But, by some stroke of luck, I found one of the two completely soundproof rooms open.
Slipping inside, I locked the door behind me, enjoying the sudden rush of silence. I dropped my bag on the floor and took a seat at the upright piano pressed against the wall. With a deep breath, I rolled a chord all the way up the keys, listening for any slight variations in the intonation. The piano, to my surprise, was perfectly in tune.
It had been quite a while since I’d had the chance to sing. I couldn’t risk doing it at the pool where someone woulddefinitelyoverhear me and fall under my spell. Out in the woods wasn’t a great idea either. The academy was protected from being found by humans, but that didn’t mean they weren’t out there withing hearing range. The last thing I needed was to drive some human so insane they went on a mountain-themed killing spree or something. So the music building was the only real choice I had and soundproof practice rooms, like I said, were rarely available.
But tonight was my lucky night.
I flexed my fingers over the keys, anticipation coursing through my veins. It had been far too long since I’d allowed myself this particular pleasure. Playing was one thing. It was a mechanical exercise of fingers pressing ivories that was more than enjoyable. I loved making music. But singing... that was where the danger lay. And it was almost impossible to resist when I played.
“Just one song,” I whispered to myself, the words swallowed by the room’s acoustic padding. “No one can hear.”
I began with a simple melody, letting my fingers reacquaint themselves with the keys. The notes flowed easily, muscle memory taking over as I played an old pirate song I found in a book of folk tunes from the British Isles tucked away in the library. It was a little cliche, but I loved them.
When I finally opened my mouth to sing, the sound that emerged was pure and clear, resonating within the small space. My voice carried power. It wasn’t just the trained strength of a vocalist, but the ancient magic of my kind. I could feel it vibrating through my chest, my throat, my entire being.
I sang of the sea, of depths no human would ever reach, of creatures that glided through darkness with only bioluminescence to guide them. I sang of loneliness and longing, of the curse that kept me forever apart from those I might love.
As the song built to its crescendo, I lost myself completely in the music. My scales emerged unbidden, shimmering across my skin in patterns of blue and green. The sensation was exhilarating. For once I didn’t have to hide, to pretend, to suppress what I truly was.
I held the final note until my lungs burned for air, letting it fade naturally into silence. For several moments afterward, I simply sat there, hands still resting on the keys, basking in the rare feeling of freedom.
Then I heard it. A soft knock at the door.
My heart stopped. Had someone heard me? Impossible. These rooms were completely soundproof, designed specifically to contain magical music practices that might otherwise affect others.
The knock came again, more insistent this time.
Panic seized me. I quickly slammed the piano shut and grabbed my bag, throwing it over my shoulder. Maybe if I ignored it, whoever it was would go away. But the knocking continued, growing louder.
“Shit,” I muttered, feeling my scales recede beneath my skin. I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself before approaching the door.
When I finally unlocked and opened it, I found a guy I’d never seen before standing there. He was tall and lean, with dark fur and gold eyes that seemed slightly unfocused. His breath came in quick, shallow pants. He was one of the werewolf students.
“Can I help you?” I asked cautiously, blocking the doorway.
“It’syou,” he whispered, his voice filled with wonder. “I heard you singing. It was... it was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard.”
My blood ran cold. This shouldn’t be possible. No one should have been able to hear me through those walls. Not even a werewolf with superpowered hearing.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said firmly. “These rooms are soundproof.”
“I know, I know,” he said, stepping closer. I could see now that his pupils were dilated, his cheeks flushed below his fur. Classic signs of siren enchantment. “But I heard you. I was walking past and suddenly... it was like the world fell away and there was only your voice.”
Fuck. The room must have had a defect in its soundproofing. There had to be a crack, a vent, or something that had allowed my voice to leak out.
“Look, I think you’ve got the wrong person,” I tried again, attempting to push past him.
He caught my arm, his touch gentle but insistent. “Please, I have to tell you. I’ve never felt this way before. It’s like... like my heart is going to burst. I think I’m in love with you. You must be my mate.”
Double fuck. This was exactly what I’d been trying to avoid. The poor bastard was completely under my spell, and he didn’t even realize it. This wasn’t real love. It was magical compulsion, dangerous and unpredictable.
“You don’t even know me,” I said, trying to keep my voice level despite my rising panic.
“But I feel like I do,” he insisted, his eyes never leaving mine. “Your song... it spoke to my soul. Please, just tell me your name. Let me take you to dinner, or coffee, or anything. Ineedto know you.”