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Father stood over us all as he raised one hand to the Pit of the Fallen.

"Hundreds upon hundreds of years ago, before anyone was evolved, the gods of water feared the greed of man would cause great and war and death. They were right for the many wars that happened on land seeped into the water which in turned caused them to turn red with blood. The gods created us in their image, shaping us with the upper half of humans and the fins of the fish to create our fast and strong breed. But we had a purpose, to protect the water when threatened by the men above. So the gods breathed life into our lungs and with their powers gave us the ability to sing, to hypnotize the men above and send them to their dooms when traveling over the sea, taking the creatures below as trophies and food.

The gods were quite pleased with us and gave us the ability to think and learn and grow. And that's how we all began. As the years went on and man began to adapt and think they experimented with the water, their chemicals changed us, allowed our fins to rot away and form legs, our melodic voices turned to screeches and hisses. We used these to our advantage to walk upon land and form colonies. For years, we thrived, and our families grew on the land near the beaches." he said, his eyes slowly calming.

"But being on land meant we had to face the challenges as everyone else. We had to protect our lands from orcs and humans and all of the other creatures who wished to claim our lands. Our songs that could hypnotize, could not cause the brain to bleed and the body to morph and rot away as well. We could use this to our advantage to keep our lands safe. For years our lands thrived, we thrived." I took Kandomere's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze as I knew what was coming next.

"But those beautiful years were cast into darkness when the elves decided they wanted our land, our knowledge, our silvers and gold- they wanted control. Seeing as they could not fight us on their own, the decided to poison the mind of the humans and tell them we were dangerous, that we lured them into our homes to eat and kill them and rob them of their possessions. Some say we were more of a threat then the Dark Lord himself. So, the humans took up arms against us and waged wars on us on the elves behalf. We killed the humans and the humans killed us and what was left over was taken by the elves in the very end.

They seized power over our lands and for a time, all hope was lost. But the gods of water would not see their children perish. There was talk of one siren who rose against the elves and humans and all others who united all the siren clans. He had a special ability, an ability to sing the songs and tones of all the sirens who had fallen in battle, their voices were in his soul. His vocal chords could separate into many tones and forms which were equivalent for being able to the chorus of music today. This ability is called the Songs of the Fallen. A siren who has the voices of all the dead, can unite all the sirens who hear their loved one's voice in the voice of this one siren. The siren who wields this mighty voice, can control the water in the sky, in the air, in the oceans around us. They can hypnotize the minds of thousands due to the water in their bodies and force them to do their bidding. When that siren arose during the great Siren and Elf wars, the clans willingly gave up their will to the siren and allowed him to use them as weapons to fight against the humans and the elves themselves forcing them from the land. The elves and humans never returned."

Everyone whispered and muttered to themselves as they glanced at Kandomere now and lightly pointed. My father cleared his throat some.

"We have never been nothing. From the waters we have come and to the waters we will go to when we die. The Pit of the Fallen is our most ancient artifact. The oil we pour inside, which contains the magic of the gods, tells us when war is upon us and when the next chosen siren is here." he said and slowly bowed his head. Other sirens did the same and I leaned into Kandomere some. His embrace around me tightened some. After the stories ended, some of the sirens moved back inside while others remained outside singing to the Pit of the Fallen.

Kandomere and I were in the kitchen with a plate of food in both our hands. Kandomere picked some at his food but still ate it nonetheless. There was steak and mashed potatoes and greens on his plate. He seemed down. I tilted my head.

"What's the matter?" I asked. Maybe the story was too much for him. He shook his head.

"In school, we were always told it was the sirens who started the wars who demanded land and respect from the other species. For a long time, I believed those stories." he said lightly. I looked down some.

"How do you know the stories you've heard is what really happened?" I asked.

"Because of the emotions in your father's voice… he was there, he has seen what happens. We elves never knew where your people came from or how they eventually adapted. As I got older, I looked for the truth myself. I've read books on sirens and the facts align more with your father." he explained. I nodded and tilted my head some.

"How does this make you feel?" I asked. He shrugged.

"I cannot change the past and I cannot let it influence my future." he said. I nodded slowly and walked over to him.

"It influenced my future. It has influenced all of us. Hearing out my aunt's spoke of you, reminded me of how I spoke to you when we first met… you weren't a being to me you were a creature. It's made me realize that we have become bitter for so long- I was bitter for so long." I said feeling guilt laced in my tone and his hand raised to caress my cheek.

"I do not hold any bitterness toward you. The day you walked into that building, I wanted to possess your abilities, I wanted you to work for me. I was no different than the elves who wanted the sirens lands and silver hundreds of years ago. We both were naïve." he said, and I smiled gently, and he leaned down and grazed his forehead against mine. "That is why I believe we were meant to be together, because your gods had had enough of the hatred." My eyes softened on his and I tilted my head ever so gently.

"You really believe that?" I asked. He nodded.

"I do." he replied gently pecking my lips before kissing me again and deepening it. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him in to me. Immediately someone cleared their throats and we pulled back and we saw it was my mother. I turned to face her and tried to hide my embarrassment. She smiled politely.

"Some of the family is leaving. We will see them out." she said before looking at Kandomere. "Feel free to roam, Kandomere. Our home is your home." I smiled up at Kandomere's stunned face as he nodded.

"Thank you." he said before he suddenly reached into his pocket and pulled out his cellphone. "It's Montehugh." I nodded and we both separated. I followed mother down the hall and we were quiet for a moment as she walked with her fingers curled together.

"How strange it is. All through the home I hear many different voices singing to the heavens. Some old others young and inexperienced. I remember a siren child who was a late bloomer and vowed to never sing for anyone again." she said. I had to refrain from rolling my eyes.

"What does it matter if I sing?" I asked, and mother stood in front of me stopping me from moving.

"Because we loved hearing you sing even when you thought that you couldn't. We know how hurt you were when you couldn't find your voice, but now you are older, and we want to hear you sing again." she said gently, and I shrugged.

"My voice has come in. That's all that matters." I replied and walked around her. She sighed gently and followed behind me. Once we said our goodbyes to some of our family members, I found myself sitting on the grass in the backyard. There weren't many people here, most of them reminiscing about their youth. I saw Kandomere exit through the door. I stood up quickly and he took my hands in his.

"There's more trouble in town." I said.

"Inferni?" I asked. He shook his head.

"Maybe. Stay with your family until I return." he said. I nodded, and he quickly kissed my cheek and hurried back into the hall. I stared at him for a moment praying he was safe. I heard another cackling and slowly turned to face the pit. Its flames were low and soft, but something inside it drew me to it. My body felt warm and soft as I slowly walked closer to it. As I stood in front of it, I began to hear a familiar song in the depth of my mind. Why was I thinking about it? I never thought about it before? Did the flames want me to sing to it or did I want to sing to it? What could it hurt? I hadn't sung around my family for almost fifty years.

"Take your eyes off of me so I can leave," I began to gently sing. It was low and gentle as if I was singing a lullaby. "I'm far too ashamed to do it with you watching me. This is never ending, we have been here before. But I can't stay this time 'cause I don't love you anymore."

The flames cackled more, and I was almost enticed by them.

"Please stay where you are. Don't come any closer."

Normal POV

Mathias and Ophelia were walking through the home, Ophelia's arm wrapped around her husband. They eyed their brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles as they laughed and ate together and played games and watched movies.

"Another good cookout." Mathias said lovingly, and Ophelia smiled at him. But a voice moved through the home causing them all to pause a bit.

"Please stay where you are. Don't come any closer. Don't try to change my mind. I'm being cruel to be kind."

The two looked at each other.

"Is that?" Mathias asked, and Ophelia nodded.

"It is." she said and the two moved through the halls and opened the door to see their oldest daughter standing before the Pit of the Fallen. She was finally deciding to sing and the parents did not want to miss this for the world.

"I can't love you in the dark!" she sung, and both the siren elder's eyes widened as they heard her singing the chorus. "It feels like we're oceans apart
There is so much space between us. Maybe we're already defeated. Ah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah everything changed me."

Mathias and his wife watched as their daughter sang. Her voice was unlike anything they had ever heard. But her soul and mind were all combined into.

"Her voice…it splits into many." Ophelia said as if in a daze. The flames within the pit had began to grow slowly with the sound of Odette's voice.

"You have given me something that I can't live without. You mustn't underestimate that when you are in doubt. But I don't want to carry on like everything is fine. The longer we ignore it all the more that we will fight." she continued. Everyone was gathering outside now to hear the daughter of the clan sing. A low rumbling came from above, a sign a storm was coming. But Odette was not bothered by any of it.

"Please don't fall apart. I can't face your breaking heart. I'm trying to be brave. Stop asking me to stay." The rain fell lightly down on them, but it did not move a single siren from their spots. The flames of the pit did not dim or diminish, but if anything, it grew in size.

O's POV

There was no stopping. I felt the urge to continue my song and sing with perfection. I felt power growing inside me as my voice danced around the flames that grew before me.

"I can't love you in the dark. It feels like we're oceans apart. There is so much space between us. Maybe we're already defeated. Ah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah everything changed me." The rain peppered my face and felt cool against my skin. But as it absorbed into my body, I felt something even stronger take hold of me. I began to raise my hands to the sky slowly feeling my entire body come to life.

"We're not the only ones. I don't regret a thing. Every word I've said. You know I'll always mean. It is the world to me. That you are in my life. But I want to live. And not just survive!"

The fire roared heavily, and I just watched in awe as the flames faded white and my eyes widened as I noticed everyone was standing around me watching as well at the flamed opened out to me. The rain that fell into onto the flames disappeared immediately. I had to see it all to the end. I needed to feel this euphoria inside me for as long as I could.

"That's why I can't love you in the dark. It feels like we're oceans apart. There is so much space between us. Maybe we're already defeated. 'Cause ah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah everything changed me. And I-I-I-I-I don't think you can save me."

I watched as a burst of lightning shot down like a snake and my eyes widened as it connected with my fingertips.

Normal POV

The rain was coming down heavily as Kandomere entered the familiar headquarters. Montehugh was waiting for him in the lobby.

"What have you got?" Kandomere asked, his familiar frown on his face. Monte led him down the hall.

"We caught him speaking with one of the members of the Inferni. This shit just keeps getting crazier and crazier, boss." he said and the two rounded the corner and entered one of their small rooms that had the interrogation room on the other side of the one-way mirror. For once Kandomere was stunned at who he saw inside.

"Has he said anything?" Kandomere asked. Monte shook his head.

"Nope. And there's no way any intimidation will work on him." he explained. Kandomere just stared at figure on the other side before slowly moving over to the door and opening it and stepping inside.

"I'm actually disappointed to see you sitting here before me." he said. "Dorghu."