Chapter 3

'Montayva' She told them. 'Well thats the name they gave me once I became a Siren. But to tell the truth, I cant even remember my birth name. Or much of what happened before I became a siren, for that matter'

'Well I was a siren since before I even developed memories!' Maya told the younger girl. 'All I know of how I became a siren is that the Eridian beasts killed my parents, and I was left as an orphan at The order of the Impending Storm monastery because no one else was brave enough to raise a siren.' Maya looked down at the floor. 'Then they used me to blackmail and intimidate the people of Athenas into giving the order more power and influence, as well as taking all their most valuable possessions They were cruel, and I'm ashamed to say it took me a long time to cotton onto it.' The younger girl gazed at Maya.

'I know of the Order' she said softly, 'But that can wait untill later. How was it you were a siren at such a young age?' Montayva asked curiously.

'Uhh, I guess because the creatures that turned me, took me at a young age' Maya frowned, not understanding why she would ask such a question.

'Turned? What do you mean turned?' Maya was quite puzzled, it was Lilltih that realized why the girl would not understand. She jumped up.

'Wait, how did you become a siren?' the red head asked slowly.

'Err, I was born one. Were you guys not always sirens?' Montayva looked a little embarrassed to ask, but her curiosity had gotten the better of her.

'Born a siren? Surely not, thats not possible is it?' Lillith looked toward Maya, wondering if she knew anything of the matter. She shrugged

'I have never heard of being born a siren' Maya admitted. Lillith sat again, trying to regain her composure.

'But you said you don't remember much of 'before you were a siren'' Lillith raised her hands and made invisible quotation marks in the air.
'Well, I didn't get my powers until I reached puberty.' she explained 'It was a very hard time for me and my father. He didn't know what I was going through, and without my mother around, he didn't have anyone to turn to for help. But that's irrelevant now, he's dead' Montayva looked down toward her hands that rested in her lap, fighting back emotions.

'So, um, what happeed to your mother?' Lillith pressed on, trying to be sensitive, but too curious to learn more of her heritage.

'Well, she died just after I was born. I dont know if you guys have heard the legend, but apparently there can only be 6 sirens in the universe a one time. I guess there was already 6 when I was born. Father told me that mother had made the choice to leave this life, and let me live. They made her decide' Maya noticed the tear rolling down the younger girls pale cheek. She moved closer to her, and reached a hand out to place on Montayvas knee.

'Thank you' Montayva looked up at Maya knowingly 'You would think I would have accepted that by now. But its just that I have never spoken with anybody about my heritage, or anything about being a siren before'

'So this mind reading thing...' Lillith pressed, without giving repreive.

'Its not mind reading' Montayva brushed the dampness away from her face with the back of her hand. 'I'm just really sensitive to what people are feeling. More like mood reading. Like just now, I could feel when Maya was sorry she had bought up my past, but at the same time, I can feel that you both are just as curious as me to find out more about who and what we are.'

'Interesting' Lillith stood, her fingers stroked at her chin while she paced, processing all that this new siren had told them. 'So who were they? The ones that made your mother decide which of you... lived.' Lillith tried to phrase her questions with a little more sensitivity. She wanted to milk a lot more info out of this new one before they wore her out.

'Well, to tell the truth I dont really know. MY father used the old "I'll tell you when the times right" more than a few times during my childhood. Which is also why I came here. For answers. Just like you guys I guess' Montayva looked between the two women, both obviously thinking back to their own past, and seeing if any of this new information was relevant to them in any way.

'How old are you exactly?' Maya asked, she too stood and walked to where Lillith was now standing still.
'Well, I have lost track after travelling so much, but I was 14 human years when I became a siren, and I think I have been a siren for around 6, maybe 7 years now? So I would be around 21, give or take a year' she shrugged.

'Hmm, very interesting. That would mean that I myself was not yet a siren at the time of your birth' Lillith surmised.

'I would have been' Maya threw in 'I'm getting close to 30' Lillith raised an eyebrow.

'You mean 30? Ha ha, don't feel bad. At least us sirens age gracefully!' Lillith laughed.

'Well, I think we better let our spring chicken here get some rest before we go out and see what she can do with those abilities of hers. We don't want to overwhelm you on your first day. We will have plenty of time to have girly chats while your hear' Lillith bumped her knuckles under the new girls chin, probably the most affection Lillith would show to anyone. Maya looked a little surprised.

'Well, the two bottom bunks are ours' Maya added 'So take your pick at the other two' The elder two sirens left the younger to rest. But if she was anything like Lillith or Maya, no doubt her mind wouldn't let her.

Axton waited in the central room of the middle floor.

'Soooooooo, another siren ey?' He sat back on a grotty sofa, with his arms crossed.

'You got it' Lillith winked at him, but he could tell she was obviously occupied with thoughts of their new comrade.

'Watch out soldier, we'll be a force to be reckoned with now' Maya flopped down beside him, beginning to feel slightly fatigued herself.

'I reckon you will be!' He agreed. 'How can we lose now! 3 of 6 sirens on our side. Those vaults dont stand a chance!' He punched the air in front of him in excited anticipation.

'Settle down Axton, we've a long road ahead of us' Lillith also found herself a chair across the room.

'How did the other "newbies" go?' Maya asked. Axton stood.

'Hmm, yeah, spose they might live longer than a Pandora day' he rubbed his chin as he thought bout it, and Lillith rolled her eyes.
'Ugh, well I guess we will find out soon enough. I'm off to eat. One of Moxxis mean pizzas is sounding good to me right now.' Lillith headed for the stairs.

'I'll be in that' Maya followed.

'Don't you girls go getting yersleves into trouble now. I'd hate to have to come to your rescue again' Axton teased, with a cocky look spread across his face. The girls pretended to ignore him, and headed off.