30

My fingers tightened on Kandomere's jacket as I stared at the two men, both eyes dark and focused. It was clear they would be fighting to kill each other. That's the only way this can go. Now it was only the question of who would move first. The chanting of my family made me shiver, their tones were sharp and perfect in beat. A gentle hand scaled over my shoulder and I jumped almost and looked back to see it was Elder Pria. Her hair was grey and flowing down her belly and she wore blue robes. Her eyes were deep and sensual. She was hundreds of years old but her face was only mildly wrinkled.

"Come stand with your family." she said in an older tone. She gently reached down and took my hand. I couldn't deny her wish and we moved through the small crowd of our family. I stood beside my siblings and Elder Pria moved to stand behind my mother. I noticed mother gently pat the elder's hand in thanks almost. She did not want me on the other side as if we were enemies. What mother would ever want that for her oldest daughter?

Marco ran for Kandomere, the water in the air increasing his speed. Kandomere didn't even look afraid. The two men clashed knives and started their brawl. I could hear gasping. They were both fast. The chanting increased and some sirens whispered amongst themselves. Of course, they're used to a pampered elf who would freak out at the sight of something gross. Kandomere wasn't like that though. Marco spun his body with the intent to kick Kandomere and in response, Kandomere raised his arms into an X so when Marco hit Kandomere's wrist it gave him access to slice at his foot. But Kandomere did not do that, however, he crouched quickly dodging the kick all together.

The blue fire danced against Kandomere's flesh and I just stared and watched as he dodged the slicing blades. Marco was backing him toward the fire pit and without even looking Kandomere jumped right over it. Everyone gasped as Marco followed behind him jumping over it and continuing to rush Kandomere.

My heart was pounding hard in my chest and I felt anxiety rise as Kandomere finally charged back at my brother swinging one of his knives at Marco who quickly hit his hand out of the way and swiped his knife across Kandomere's chest. My body jerked at the motion. Kandomere quickly dodged another swipe and kicking Marco in the chest. Marco did not fall, but he glided back, his feet clenching in the grass to stop him. He was like a cat almost. I saw Kandomere looking down at his chest for a moment before looking up at Marco, eyes still focused and serious. He was not afraid and he was not worried. Kandomere rushed my brother now and swiped fast and swift like nothing I had ever seen before.

Marco dodged his blows as best as he could. I wondered what plan Kandomere had. Kandomere did another spin and kick and got Marco in the stomach, but wish his speed he was on him. His blades swiped at Marco's shirt ripping it. Marco managed to push him back and Kandomere gave him space. The rip in his outfit was wide. Marco was panting lightly and he tore off the front layer of his shirt leaving only the black tank. The chanting increased more, faster and sharper. Marco threw down his knives and slowly back away toward the weapons table. His eyes never left Kandomere as he moved to stand by the table. He didn't even have to look down to grasp the spear that was almost the same width as the table.

Kandomere flexed his fingers around the handles of his knives watching Marco closely. Marco looked at the long metal spear from top to bottom. He then hit the ground twice and we all looked at him now. In seconds Marco was right in front of Kandomere swinging the spear with a loud yell. Kandomere's eyes widened as he managed to lean back just in time. Once the spear was over him, Kandomere's sat up head butting Marco, but his head didn't move. I let out a soft whimper as the two remained head to head together. Their glares deepened swiftly and Marco around, the spear slicing the air in half. Kandomere jumped back, only to push his feet off the ground and jump right to Marco, dropping his knives and taking hold of his spear.

The two pulled at spear, their strength almost evenly matched. Now the chanting grew higher and more severe. I even joined, unable to resist the excitement in the air from this fight. Percival and the rest of my siblings joined in and I could hear my mother and father doing the same. Kandomere suddenly head butt Marco and this time he stumbled back just enough for Kandomere to reach out and rip the chain right off his neck, wrap it around his knuckles and punch him dead in the cheek.

My eyes widened as Marco slid onto to the ground. I heard a low and sharp cackle and I looked at the Pit of the Fallen, to see the blue fire had risen some. Were the ancestors watching? Did our chanting call to them so they could see this fight? Marco used his hands to jump back on his feet and Kandomere now leaned up, the spear in his hand. He began to spin the weapon in his hand.

"Get up and fight." he taunted lowly. The fire in Marco's eyes ignited and turned and moved back to the table and raised another spear and with a sharp yell he ran to Kandomere and the two swung their spears like baseball bats and the connection made a loud ringing noise that swooped over the crowd like a wave of water. It was so loud, everyone groaned and screamed covering their ears. I groaned covering my ears and shut my eyes for a moment. I peeked them open to see Marco drop his spear and groan covering his ears as well. Kandomere took this time to spin quickly and my eyes widened as I watched the end of the speak connect with my brother's cheek so hard he spun through the air and landed with a thud.

Kandomere jumped and landed right on him, his spear pointed right into my brother's neck. Marco raised his head and gave Kandomere a powerful look. He was not afraid to die. He was born a soldier and he would die one. I was stunned they got to this moment, an elf with his blade to a siren's throat. Neither of them was really injured. Kandomere breathed heavily through his nostrils and now the ringing had died and everyone stood up and saw this moment. Kandomere finally leaned off my brother and looked up at my father panting lightly.

"My name is Kandomere! I am an elf!" he said loudly for all to hear. My father stared at him with heavy eyes as he spoke. "I know our species have hated each other for a very long time, and even after we are all dead hundreds beyond hundreds of years from now, we may still hate each other… that I cannot change." I watched as his eyes finally fell on me and his spear pointed at me.

"But I am in love, this elf is in love with a siren." he announced and now everyone muttered and looked at each other. I just remained in my spot, eyes watering at his words. "I cannot turn off my heart's feelings for her and even if I could, I wouldn't." He stood proud and tall as he said these words. Tears streamed down my face as my feet carried me to him without thinking. He dropped the spear and embraced me hard. We pulled back only inches from each other before our lips crashed into one another.

I was glad to taste no blood on them. He was still a guest. It was bad manners to ever hurt a guest invited to a siren's event. They needed the feeling of wanting to kill each other and not the intent. They both wanted to show each other they would not be second class to another. They both proved their points; the siren was no longer afraid of the elf and the elf saw the siren as an evenly matched warrior. There was movement in the crowd and we both turned and looked to see a path was made so my father could be seen at the end. Kandomere gently moved around me to face him. Father stood so still, his face unreadable. This scared me for a moment but I let out a soft breath as my father raised his hands together and clapped them together. He did again and again, finally his clap increased in speed and Mother joined him in clapping as well. Percival and my siblings joined in and I watched as a wave of clapping erupted all around us. We both looked around to see a wave of clapping form all around. I began to see smiles on faces and mild cheering. Marco approached us, eyes still firm and hard as they stared at us. Kandomere looked at me and I wondered what would happen between these two.

Marco stared at us for a moment before giving a curt nod of his hand and turning to move into the crowd. Kandomere and I looked at each other. This was our sign. Kandomere was accepted by the sirens. I gave Kandomere back his clothes and he slowly dressed. Mother approached us with a smile looking at Kandomere.

"My husband wishes to speak with you." she said and Kandomere looked curious as he looked at me and then my mother nodding at her and walking around her. I watched him move through the crowd and music began to flow in all around us from inside the house. Mother smiled wide and turned to my family raising her hands to the air. "Let's dance and get our energy out! The story of our people will begin in a moment! Start us off darling." This song I knew was from my mother's play list.

"Where's all my soul sistas? Lemme hear ya'll flow, sistas!" I started to sing.

"Hey sista, go sista, soul sista, flow sista Hey sista, go sista, soul sista, go sista!" the other women began to add in.

Normal POV

Kandomere moved up to Mr. Odell, other sirens moving out the way to join in the dance to Lady Marmalade. The siren was tall, eyes old with wisdom. He wore what looked like African robes from a tribe, Kandomere did not know. The two stood in front of each other.

"Mathias Odell." The siren said curtly before motioning for Kandomere to follow him inside. Kandomere only nodded and followed the siren inside and down a hall where the music faded. There were pictures of the family on the walls. Kandomere saw noticed they were a timeline starting with Mathias and Ophelia together. Their smiles were genuine and happy. The plaques at the bottom said Baton Rouge. Louisiana? Kandomere's eyes glanced at each picture showing one by one each child being born. He hid his smirk as he saw a young Odette with curly hair tied back in pig tails by two green ribbons. She was in a white and green dress with white panty hose and black shoes. A lot of these pictures were dated from the 1900s.

Finally he looked forward, his senses telling him the older siren had stopped. Kandomere looked at Mathias was now still and looking his way.

"This hall is a timeline of my family. From the day I met my Ophelia through the many years with our six children. Odette is my first-born daughter as you know." he said. Kandomere didn't know what else to say except give a respectful nod.

"Your family has such history and culture that I could never know." he said. Mathias nodded slowly placing his hand behind his back and walking over to one picture that was only he and Odette. She looked to be fifteen, her hair pulled back in a beautiful bun. She wore a gold dress with holes in the sleeves. It resembled Anastasia Romanov's gown. Mathias was in a big black fur coat. Like now he was bald.

"Odette is my first-born daughter… and being the second child, she was to live a life of luxury. In my eyes she would not work, she would never be unhappy… she was meant to take over when I die." he said. Kandomere looked from the picture and onto the siren with curiosity.

"Not Marco?" he asked. Mathias shook his head.

"Marco's purpose is to protect our family. He is the commander of my siren army." he said. "That is why I did not want her to leave and move into the city or room with Nick Jakoby. But she did not want this life and after years of anger, I respected her wishes, but it does not matter now what she wants now that someone is after her." he explained. Kandomere slowly nodded taking in the information.

"I am going to find the ones responsible for attacking her." he said. Mathias looked at the portrait for a moment.

"All any father ever wants during the time of danger is to protect his children. But now they are not children anymore they have all reached the proper age of maturity. Now it is the mate's responsibility to protect them." he said and nodded. "Are elves the culprits for the shooting and attack on your home in your district?" His tone was icy and delicate and finally the two shared a stare that would either work in their favor or cut a new wedge in the new alliance they had just formed. Kandomere nodded.

"From what I can tell you… yes." he said. Mathias nodded and looked back at the portrait.

"In Russia 1915, Nicholas II had a problem with some of the orcs in their town of Peterhof. Rumor had it they were secretly working with the Bolshevik Party to kill his little girl, Anastasia as a start of a revolution they were planning. Nicholas got word to me and my best sirens were called in to help destroy the rumor. Orcs, elves, lizard, it didn't matter to us what they were. We killed many of them and their associates, because we are that good, and even though it did not stop the inevitable assassination of the Romanov family three years later, a rumor is all it took for us to quiet it all because it was a sign of a threat. You telling me that our enemy is an elf, it is not just a threat to me, it is an act of war against my people. I tell you this little snippet of my past, because I want you to know a little about the family you have just been accepted into. We come first above all else. I want to know if you are willing to take down this elf when the time comes- that I will not have to handle it because you are taking care of it." he said, his eyes finally looking back to Kandomere the seriousness there just as much as it is painted into the eyes of his portrait.

Kandomere's eyes were cool as ice and he nodded.

"I will take all of my enemies down." he said lowly and Mathias stared at his eyes for a moment before nodding slowly.

"Good." he replied.

O's POV

The music brought life to me again and I was dancing with everyone around me. This was a great time for celebration. Of course, a part of me wondered what my father and mate were talking about. Finally, after looking at the back down over and over again, I finally saw them coming out. I was relieved at the professional looks on their faces and I moved over to them both. Father looked at me and gave a smile and a nod. I smiled and hugged him. He returned it and I glanced at Kandomere who just gave a small smile. Father pulled back and gently patted my face before turning to the crowd.

"Gather around everyone! Let us begin the tales of our ancestors!" he called out as he moved over to the grass. Kandomere walked over to me, his fingers curling into mine.

"Hope you two had a nice man to man talk." I replied gently and Kandomere nodded.

"It was nice. I got to know a little bit about your family." he said. I smiled warmly and nodded.

"Now you get to hear our beginning." I replied before pulling him toward the grass. Everyone began to sit with their families and mates. Children ran around to find their parents and I found a spot close to the Pit of the Fallen. I sat down and glanced up at Kandomere to see him slowly sitting down on the grass. He didn't look too uncomfortable from sitting on the grass. I sat in between his legs and he crossed his legs over mine a bit, his arms resting on my hips. I was excited to hear the story of our people since he got to hear it too for afterword, people would be allowed to sing to the pit and see if they are the one.