The room was stark white and as cold in feeling as it was in temperature. Cass Pierce sat in one of the only three black metal chairs that surrounded a large wood-top, metal framed table. The room was a medium-sized space, but looked smaller, with the large table at its center. The room was windowless, mirror-less, colorless, and gave her the panicked feel of being trapped. Of course, that could also be because of being cuffed, chained, and magically bespelled to the chair and table. She wasn’t sure how long ago they’d confined her in the white room. It’d probably only been minutes, yet it felt like an eternity of hours. All she knew was time was running out, and she still had work to do.
Cass felt the siren’s presence like a force down the hallway and she knew it was coming her way. Most believed the siren’s song was a beautiful, haunting melody sung from an angelic voice from the black waters of the sea. That’s true, but instead of luring men to crash upon the cliffs and plummet into the watery abyss, the newer generation sirens began to use their song to help rather than harm. Where this siren stood on the spectrum, Cass couldn’t quite read, but she would see soon enough.
Dr. Minerva Loveless’s power poured into the room a moment before the lock slid back and the door opened. She stepped in and her power filled the room like water from a fresh, blue spring as warm as a bath. It spilled around Cass, trying to flow within her; it tried to calm her, to soothe her troubled mind. To lull her right into a confession.
Cass closed her eyes and looked within herself where her mental shields were stored. She imagined a large, stilted tower, lifted and untouchable by the invading power, and locked her shields up tight.
Dr. Loveless was a pale skinned, scarlet-haired beauty, with eyes the color of the ocean on a sunny day. She was voluptuous, statuesque, and every bit the vision the legends described. Cass reflected on her own golden skin and raven curls and felt a small twinge of jealousy. Denizens beyond the Elysian Garden Realm were so damned exotic.
“Good evening, Cassandra. How are you feeling?” The good doc’s voice was a soft melody, breathy but firm, feminine but strong.
Cass replied automatically, not bothering to keep the irritation out of her tone, “Cass.”
“Sorry?”
Dr. Loveless looked puzzled as she took the second chair sitting next to Cass. She sat close enough for comfort, not invading the young maiden’s space. She was struck by the girl’s youth, hoping she only looked younger than she appeared.
“No one calls me Cassandra. No one. Not anymore.”
Cass longed to cross her arms in a sullen huff, but had to settle for a look of angry defiance instead.
“Who did,” Dr. Loveless asked, her voice a soothing song. She felt the stone defiance of Cass’s shields, held fast against her power of calm and warmth. The maiden would be a harder challenge than she had first thought.
“What?”
“Who did call you...