ELEMENTS: Acquiesce Kathryn Andrews (guided reading books .TXT) 📖

Thou shalt obey the rules.

“Thou shalt not converse with Sirens,” whispered Cordelia, running her finger along the words as she read.

She recalled the conversation she’d had with Lana in the cave and was curious to know more. Cordelia swapped one book for another and turned straight to the section about Sirens. She stayed up for hours, engrossed in the book.

“Sirens are cursed monsters who lure sailors to their death. They are half bird, half woman and have the ability to transform into ordinary looking birds, but will never return to human form. Two of the most notable groups of Sirens, the Gannets and Ravens have taken up residence on the west coast of Ireland on neighbouring islands, Bishops Island and Slate Island. While the gannets are largest in size, the ravens are vicious with razor sharp claws. Despite their unusual appearance, both groups are bestowed with irresistible beauty and the singing voices of angels. Those who dare to venture to the islands are certain to meet an untimely death.” Cordelia paused and re-read part of the text, “The ability to transform into ordinary looking birds… gannets and ravens.”

“It’s a bit late to be up reading isn’t it?”

Nixie’s sudden appearance startled Cordelia. “I wish you wouldn’t keep doing that. Didn’t anyone tell you it’s rude to sneak up on people?”

“I suppose you want me to knock the door and wait outside for you to answer?”

“That’s what normal people do,” replied Cordelia whose eyes were still scanning the pages of the book. Then she paused, realising there wasn’t anything remotely normal about her life since the storm. She glanced at Nixie. “What do you know about Sirens?”

“They’ve existed since ancient times, but they weren’t born that way. They were ordinary women who were given wings by Demeter, a Greek goddess, to search for her daughter Persephone when she was abducted. In return, Demeter promised to bestow great beauty upon the women and make them irresistible to men. Unfortunately, the Sirens failed in their search and were banished from Greece along with a curse to live their lives as bird women for eternity.”

Cordelia had been listening intently. “So that’s why they’re dangerous? They’re angry with Demeter for making them live as bird women?”

“It seems that way.”

“Poor things,” said Cordelia.

“I wouldn’t sympathise too much,” said Nixie. “You don’t think all the storms and shipwrecks around here are purely down to bad weather do you? They’ve a lot to answer for.”

“You think they’re responsible?”

“I know they are,” said Nixie. “During the winter of 1820, in the North Sea alone, there were more than two thousand shipwrecks.”

“Two thousand?” gasped Cordelia.

Nixie nodded. “Over twenty thousand people lost their lives that winter. People think it’s because the world is flat and they sailed off the edge in bad weather, but we know that’s not true.”

“What do you know about my father?” asked Cordelia expectantly.

“Your father?” questioned Nixie, nervously.

“Yes, Flynn, did they take him?”

“Of course, Flynn. You ask a lot of questions Cordelia. It’s late. I have to go.”

“Go? Where could you possibly need to be at this hour? What about Flynn?”

Nixie was already gone.

Cordelia blew out the candles and lay in the dark while her mind worked overtime, trying to make sense of all the information, desperately wondering if the Sirens were involved with Flynn’s disappearance. Wondering why Flynn found her in such a dangerous place and how he’d managed to escape death that day. What else did Nixie know? She had to find out.

Cordelia was awoken by the sound of Lana hammering on the door.

“Cordelia, it’s me, are you there?”

Cordelia wearily made her way over to the door and opened it.

“What’s wrong, are you sick?” enquired Lana with concern.

“No, I’m fine. What time is it?”

“It’s after breakfast, that’s what time it is. Get your bathers on, I’ll wait outside.”

In no time at all, Cordelia and Lana were making their way to the amphitheatre where Irvin Seymour was waiting to take the class for their next diving lesson.

With her short but intense study and practise session, Cordelia was feeling much braver about diving in front of her classmates after her misfortune during the last lesson. She gazed at the white sky as students filled the stone steps. Then she turned to Lana, “Have you ever seen ravens on these rocks?”

“On these particular rocks?”

“Not the amphitheatre in particular, the reef. I wondered if you’d ever seen them here.”

“I don’t think so. Come to think of it, the only ravens I know about are the Sirens on Slate Island. They seem to keep to their own territory though. For all the stories we hear, they don’t want the town folk finding out about them.”

“Hey, we wondered if we would see you today,” said Nerissa, sitting down beside them with Masika.

“Weren’t you hungry this morning?” asked Masika.

“I overslept,” explained Cordelia. “Stayed up late reading about Sirens.”

“Is that why you asked about the ravens?” asked Lana.

“A whole flock of them flew over the rocks yesterday while I was in the water. I read they can transform into actual birds.”

“Do you think they were Sirens?” asked Nerissa enthusiastically.

“I don’t know,” shrugged Cordelia. “I thought you girls might shed some light on that.”

“They usually stay away,” said Masika, “that’s the way it’s been for generations.”

“So why change their habits now?” asked Lana. “You shouldn’t go to the rock pools alone Cordelia, we’ll come with you.”

A high-pitched whistle from Irvin Seymour signaled that he was ready to begin the lesson and the chatter diminished immediately.

“Before we begin today’s lesson I want to remind you about the annual diving competition to be held in June. We’re looking for the strongest divers. Needless to say each dive will be awarded points for skill and technique. In particular, points will be awarded for approach, take off, execution and entry. Today’s lesson will be an opportunity to practise the dives you’ve learned so far. May I suggest you use this time to show your classmates what you’re made of? That’s if you want to win the