Read Online Sacrifices of the Siren [Sirens and Sailors 6] (Siren Publishing Allure) by Bella Settarra - Free Book Online

she walked toward them, still swiping the stick in front of her.
    “You’ll pay for this, my girl!” Solon shrieked as she tried to jab the young girl with her stick.
    Melantho knocked the old crone’s stick out of her hand with the one she was flailing around and both of the old women shrieked.
    “You’ve got no right to do this to me! Do you hear me? No right!” Melantho’s voice was alien to her own ears as she roared at them, rage mounting inside her. She felt her whole body shaking and she felt like she was going to pass out. Keeping the old women at bay with the stick she staggered over to the lounge and hurried to the front door. It was locked as always.
    “Open it!” she screamed back at the two women who were huddled together, following her from what they must have hoped was a safe distance.
    “I will do no such thing!” Hermandine shouted.
    Melantho saw red and swiped the stick through the air, causing the old women to flinch back. “You will open that fucking door now or I’ll kill the pair of you!” she hollered.
    Cowering against the wall, Hermandine quickly took the key from around her neck, where she wore it like a long necklace, taunting Melantho. She defiantly threw the chain over to her and the young girl picked it up. The room spun around her as she stood up again and she forced herself to put the key in the lock. It took all her effort to turn it and heave open the huge door.
    It was getting dark and it was pouring with rain outside, but it didn’t matter. She heard people and cars and for a second she felt hope. She heard a kerfuffle behind her as she stepped outside and felt an excruciating blow as Solon swiped her across the back with her stick. The old woman had evidently found it in the kitchen and put it to evil use. Melantho let out an agonized howl as she threw herself into the busy street.

Chapter 5

    Blandon spent the next few days trying to keep busy. He had hoped it would take his mind off the situation with Melantho but it didn’t.
    “I’ve got to go to the hospital in the morning with some samples,” Dr. Jay informed him when he found him forlornly looking out to sea. “You’re welcome to come with me if you like? We can try Hermandine again, see if we can appeal to her better nature.”
    Blandon’s face lit up. “You’re on. When do we leave?” He would have set sail there and then if he could have.
    Dr. Jay chuckled. “First thing in the morning. Meet me down here at dawn.”
    “I’ll be here.” Blandon beamed and went back to his hut.
    Luckily, Marinos and Delmer weren’t there when he arrived, so he set about boiling water for a cup of tea, then went to sort out his clean shorts and shirt for the morning. It would be chilly first thing so he had to be prepared. A pile of papers on his nightstand caught his eye, giving him an idea. He took a sheet of paper and a pencil and went outside to make his tea. As the green tea soothed him he sat on a rock and wrote a Melantho. He explained that even if she had done something wrong he would forgive her. He loved her and just wanted her home. He wrote how much he missed her and was sorry if he had upset her. He tried to express just how much she meant to him, and felt tears prick his eyes.
    He went to bed thinking about all the things he wanted to say to her if he only got the chance. Since Rechavia had suggested that anything they did to antagonize Hermandine could result in pain and misery for Melantho he had fought hard to keep away. His first instinct had been to go straight around to her house and demand that Melantho came home with him there and then, but the doctor and his common sense made him think better of it.
    Blandon was up way before the sun the next morning, and was waiting at the harbor when Dr. Jay and Farris appeared. They quickly checked over The Refrainian before setting sail. It would take a few hours to reach Eastland, and Blandon tried to keep occupied. The ship was already stocked with the white