{ZEPHYROS}
"SIRENE!"
My voice rolled across the forbidden waters, low and thunderous, echoing into the deepest pockets of the lake where sunlight never touched. The surface, still as polished obsidian, reflected only the pale shimr of the moon.
"Co out."
Silence.
I felt my patience thinning—her favorite ga.
"Sirene," I growled, sharper this ti. "Co out, or I will drag you out myself."
Again, nothing.
I exhaled through my teeth.
Very well.
I lifted my hand, fingers slicing through the chilled night air. The magic stirred instantly—responding to my irritation, the lake trembled, shuddered, and then rose in a violent surge.
Water slamd upward like a living beast, parting and crashing aside until a figure was forced from its depths.
She erged with a hiss of displaced water: long waves of cerulean hair cascading down a body cut from fantasy, eyes crystalline and unblinking, luminous with irritation.
"What now?" Sirene snapped, wringing water from her hair. "First that vampire, and now you co shouting at ."
My jaw tightened. Vampire?
"You dare ask that after what you did to Iris?"
She rolled her eyes. "That she-wolf again?"
"You saw she was mine," I snarled, stepping closer until sparks crackled around my fingertips. "Yet you still laid a hand on her. Do you want to die, Sirene?"
Her lips curled upward in a disdainful smirk. She flipped her hair over her shoulder like a queen chiding a petulant servant. "Try , if you truly believe you can."
"You really want to die, then?"
Arcane energy surged through —lightning humming beneath my skin, eager to be released. I thrust my hand forward, but she dissolved instantly into water, her laughter echoing from every corner of the lake.
"It’s useless, Zephy..." her voice sang, rippling from the surface. "You cannot fight here. This is my territory."
The water rippled, shifted—her form appearing everywhere at once. I lunged, closing my hand around her arm, only for her body to liquefy into shimring droplets that splashed through my fingers.
"Teeheehee... co now, Zephy! Try harder. Let’s play so more."
Clicking my tongue, I stepped forward again, striking at another illusion only for it to collapse like lted ice. She re-materialized behind , then above , then to my right—mocking, taunting, her voice ringing with childish delight.
"If you don’t get serious, you will never win," she chid. "Hmm... perhaps I should visit the little she-wolf again? All it takes is one touch of water. Maybe a bath... maybe a drink..." Her giggle darkened. "And this ti, I might just take her with ."
A muscle in my jaw twitched.
She was baiting . She always baited . And normally, I ignored it. But the thought of Sirene creeping near Iris again—of Iris trembling, unaware of the danger beneath her bathwater—ignited a fury so sharp it humd in my bones.
"I told you..." Both my hands lifted. The air stilled.
Then the entire lake rose.
Water obeyed my call with a deafening roar, spiraling upward until it hovered in a massive sphere above us, leaving the lakebed exposed.
Sirene was forced out of it, her form collapsing onto the damp ground, fins slapping helplessly before reshaping into legs.
She lay there naked, beautiful, dripping, hair clinging to her like silk threads. The sight didn’t faze ; it never had.
"Now," I said softly, dangerously, "depending on your reason as to why you prank her, I may kill you where you sit."
Sirene’s eyes widened, rage flashing hot. "Are you insane?! Is that girl so precious to you? Have you forgotten our ti together? Have you already replaced that mory with ? We’ve known each other since day one here!"
I glared down at her. "I have not. Iris is rely my toy. Find your own."
Her expression froze—then twisted.
"Toy..." she whispered, trembling. Her bottom lip quivered before she burst out, shouting, "We’ve known each other the longest, Zephy! If you wanted toys—if you wanted soone to play with—then play with ! Not that girl!"
I stopped.
Her voice cracked.
Tears gathered in her eyes, shimring like pearls against her cheeks. For the first ti tonight, she looked less like a monster of ancient waters and more like a lonely, foolish girl drowning in her own jealousy.
The suspended water crashed back to the ground all at once, flattening in a tidal wave before stilling into its natural calm.
Past curfew.
No students wandered this late, and even if they had, the guards all knew what Sirene and I were to each other—disasters wrapped in familiarity. They would not interfere.
But this...
"You..." I exhaled sharply, rubbing my forehead. "Are you a child? Did you play a prank on Iris because I didn’t play with you? Sirene, do you even rember how many centuries old we are?"
She glared up at , cheeks flushed with embarrassnt. "I’m bored of you ignoring ! If you don’t want teasing her, then play with instead!"
I sighed, long and tired. "For old tis’ sake, I will overlook this. But if you touch Iris again, Sirene... I will punish you myself."
She stuck her tongue out—immature as ever—before diving back into the lake with a splash.
"What’s so good about that she-wolf anyway? Hmph! I don’t care anymore!"
I doubted that very much, but at least it would make her think twice of harming Iris again. And with the necklace I gave her, she should be protected.
If only that girl would listen and keep it on.
I turned to leave, but the lake stirred again.
"Hey..." Sirene surfaced halfway, hair floating around her like a dark halo. "That Vladimir Nightborne."
I paused.
It was the first ti I’d heard her speak his na. Usually, she didn’t care about anyone here but .
"What about him?" I asked. "Did you fall in love with him too?"
"Who would?" she scoffed. "That vampire might look gentle and kind on the outside, but he’s a sadist."
"I’m glad you know that. Is that all?"
She bit her lip, then glanced aside—a rare gesture of uncertainty. "Be wary of him. And of that girl. In fact... you should stop associating with Iris altogether. She’ll only bring you misfortune."
Before I could question her, she sank beneath the water, disappearing without another ripple.
I stared at the surface long after she was gone.
What was that about?
Was there truly so connection between Vladimir and Iris?
Iris was a werewolf. Vladimir, a vampire. Their kinds were sworn enemies, ancient rivals with bloodshed for history. And they didn’t act as though they knew each other.
I huffed under my breath and turned back toward the academy.
Whatever Sirene ant, I would uncover it soon enough.
For now, I returned to the library—already late thanks to that troubleso, jealous monster of the lake.
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