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CHAPTER 6

It has been several months since my change. Time holds no value to me anymore, so I don't really pay attention to its passing. Riley and I have made several fascinating discoveries over the past few months about my gift. Depending on how and what I sing, I can influence those around me to take the literal meaning from the songs and either get riled up enough to fight, calm enough to fully relax, tell me truths that they've never told anyone else, start a feeding frenzy, spread mass amounts of chaos amongst unsuspecting townsfolk, and even see something that I want them to. Case in point, when Bree, Matt and Dave seemed to be lying on the ocean floor.

Victoria seems over the moon at the possibilities that my gift can be used for, but I have a mind of my own and don't use my voice to my advantage too often. That could cause major problems. Especially now that I've learned that I can mimic other sounds I hear, including voices, I'm a bit more cautious in regards to how my gift is used. Riley has told me that I am what they call a Siren, similar to the ones in Greek mythology. I suppose if I really wanted to, I could lure unwary travelers to their death. Maybe I could try that the next time I hunted that way I don't hunt any innocents. Technically speaking, I would be Death in that scenario considering that my main food source is the exact same as the Sirens of old. Although, I find the thought of sitting on shoals in the middle of the ocean in a skimpy outfit a bit far-fetched and boring.

We moved our little gang of misfits from one dilapidated building to another a few weeks later, but this one was apparently closer to the Cullen's. I had stopped calling us an Army at this point. We weren't one and I think the only thing Victoria was concerned about was numbers. She didn't care if any of us, apart from me and possibly Riley, lived or died. She had started off as a very strict leader, but I think her patience was wearing thin. She didn't care what we did now, or about the chaos that we seemed to cause, as long as none of us died before the fight. I think she was just hoping that her numbers would be overwhelming. I did like this new location, though. We were well hidden and we had the advantage of a mountain at our back, so nothing could really sneak up on us. Riley also changed 5 more people while we were moving and now our zoo crew was at 20, not including Riley, Victoria, or myself. I was in charge of helping the others through their transformations. I wasn't sure how it was going to work, but I thought that at least they would hear me and understand that they would be waking up to a different life. At least I had found a song that was appropriate enough under the circumstances. "Burn" by In This Moment was the one I was currently singing, and I would be for the next few days until they all awoke.

I feel this is the beginning
The beginning through the end
There's nothing left to fear now
So watch me close as once again you

Burn me alive
Set me on fire
And watch me die
Burn me alive
Watch me resurrect
Right before your eyes

There's no reason to cry now
There's nothing to forgive
This suffering's my blessing
The death of sin is how I live
Burn me alive
Set me on fire
And watch me die
Burn me alive
Watch me resurrect
Right before your eyes
Set me on fire
And watch me burn
Set me on fire
And watch me

Burn me alive
Set me on fire
And watch me die
Burn me alive
Watch me resurrect
Right before your eyes

The literal meaning to the words is what I was after. Metaphors didn't work with my gift, anyway. That way at least these newbies knew that the burning that we all go through is a necessary part of this life and they would be prepared for something completely new when they awoke. Not that they would be my problem, they wouldn't. Riley took the charges under his care, but they were also completely savage. I wonder why I wasn't like that when I awoke. I wanted answers more than anything at the time, not to mention the opportunity to go home. So perhaps I kept more of my mind than others because I had something to return to? It was a thought for another day.

I was still waiting on the leaving option. I knew that as soon as this group attacked the Cullen's, I would make a break for it. Out of this miserable life and back home. That was the plan anyway. All I had to do was bide my time. Pretend that I was here for the greater good. Pretend that I believed every word that Riley and Victoria had said. It made me want to vomit blood into their faces, but I played my part well by seeming to forget my human life entirely and they bought it. That was all I could ask for…for now.

It was a normal day, just like any other when I saw them. A male and a female were walking towards where our camp was situated. They were covered in scars like mine, but the female less so. Riley seemed wary of them, but I trusted them immediately and completely. I couldn't figure out why, but I did. We all ran outside to meet them before they got too close. Riley of course was the speaker of our group, but before he even began to speak, the male stranger spoke first.

"Word has it that y'all are plannin' on takin' down the Cullen's." he says conversationally. "Is that true?"

"Perhaps," says Riley "but what is it to you?"

"Look," says the male again, "I don't have no bone to pick with any of y'all, but I my mate and I would like to have a go at them, too."

"Oh really?" says Riley. "And why is that?"

"Well," the male says "they have in their coven a woman. She has done wrong by my mate and me and has gone to the Cullen's to seek refuge. Normally, I ain't one to ask for help. Hell, we were both in the Southern Wars and lived to tell the tale so we can handle ourselves pretty good, but my mate and I can't attack a coven like that on our own without sufferin' loss and I ain't puttin' either of us in harm's way unless we can win."

"Who told you we were attacking the Cullen's?" asked Riley.

"Word travels between nomads. I came up here as soon as I found out. I want vengeance for my mate and me, and if that means joinin' y'all to get it, then that's what I'll do." says the stranger.

"What are your names?" I ask.

Riley looks at me completely infuriated that I had the gall to speak out of place, but he lets it slide. For now.

"Peter is my name, and that's Charlotte." He says.

"Peter and Charlotte Whitlock?" Victoria chimes in unexpectedly.

"The very same, ma'am." Peter says.

Victoria continues, "I've heard those names in several circles. You once fought side by side with The Major, did you not?"

"Yes ma'am we did." he says, but chooses not to elaborate.

"Very well," Victoria says "You are free to join us. Your reputation precedes you. I would be lucky to have you fight for us."

"Very much obliged, ma'am." Says Peter.

As Peter and Charlotte pass me to walk into the building we've made our home for the moment, I nod my head to both in greeting, but keep my eyes down. They have far more scars than I ever thought one body could hold. The ones I have that I'm so proud of are nothing compared to the pair before me. I wonder what their lives have been like, how they met, who this Major is that Victoria seems to be so fond of, and why is it that I completely trust them? None of this makes any sense, so I run off to hunt somewhere. Perhaps a full belly is what I need for a clear head.

A/N: * GASP* What is this new development? Don't kill me yet.