longer.blue

“Many eyes!” She bellowed, before speaking–or singing he supposed–a word he could not parse. “It was you! You woke them from slumber! It has slept here forever, a danger we were well aware of! That book of yours spoke lies to you. It brings no knowledge, only death!” “I…we didn't know at the time, but I…I should have. I swear it wasn't my idea to come here and wake it, I was just the only one who could read the book! The captain…I realized something was wrong weeks ago, but I couldn't have done anything out here!” Her vice-like grip tightened, and Oliver could do nothing as he watched the remaining calm leave the siren's face. “Whether you meant to or not, my pod is broken because of you and your fool captain’s actions! My mother, dead! My sister, taken!” “I’m sorry! By God, I swear I would have never done so had I known what would come! Please believe me!” “Your apologies mean nothing to me! The deep one is loose and beyond any reckoning I can deliver.“ Her voice fell in resignation. Head lowered, eyes down, but just as quickly they latched back onto him. “I will have what justice I can, and you are already a dead man.” She had brought him close enough now that the scent of blood on her breath erased all doubt as to the vanished bodies. Oliver knew of course that he was on borrowed time, it was surely God’s punishment that the only creature to find him was personally wronged by the Dulcina’s blasphemous actions. He closed his eyes and took comfort in the fact that his death would be quick, or at least quicker than dehydration or starvation. Soon, he might find himself at St. Peter’s gates to plead his best case, for what little good it would do him.