Siren's Failure

Copyright Siren's Failure Copyright © 2023 K.N. Fray All rights reserved.The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.Cover Design: RJ Creatives Graphic ServicesEditing: Dee's Notes: Editing and Proofreading ServicesInterior Design and Formatting: Blurbs and Baubles Contents Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43 Chapter 44 Chapter 45 Chapter 46 Chapter 47 Chapter 48 Chapter 49 Chapter 50 Chapter 51 Chapter 52 Chapter 53 Chapter 54 Chapter 55 Chapter 56 Chapter 57 Chapter 58 Chapter 59 Chapter 60 Chapter 61 Chapter 62 Chapter 63 Chapter 64 Chapter 65 Chapter 66 Acknowledgements About the Author Chapter 1 Kasha Kasha’s heart quickened its pace as she watched the formidable ship with white sails speed across the water’s surface toward her, throwing off foam. It thrilled her to know it would soon float down to Davy Jones’s Locker and there wasn’t anything anyone could do about it. It was a marvelous sense of power she never grew tired of feeling. She always looked for the ship with black sails, but it always kept just out of her range. This one would have to do. She took a deep breath, inhaling the luxurious salty air that invigorated her soul . . . If she had a soul. The ship was doomed. She was going to sink it. If she’d ever had a soul, it was gone by now. Luring sailors to their deaths was her purpose, her reason for being, and she took pleasure in it for centuries. It was about the kill. About creating a sort of balance with nature. She remembered her father’s booming voice telling her how humans were evil and must be eliminated. That’s all she was doing. Kasha slid into the water from the rocks she’d been sunning herself on, the cool water enveloping and lapping over her sizzling body. Her purple and blue iridescent scales rippled up her legs with each watery caress. Strength surged at their return. While she enjoyed her human form, she felt empowered in her Siren form. Unstoppable. Immortal. It was almost evening, so the water had begun to lose its heat. She was home. The salt filling her pores was ecstasy. Her body hummed in anticipation of what she did best. She opened her mouth and began to sing. Chapter 2 Jack The fresh aroma of salt filled his nostrils as Jack leaned against the railing. He scanned the horizon, but there were no other ships around. While the pirate ship left them alone, Jack knew the captain liked to keep to himself, having encountered him once before. The water sprayed his face as the wind ruffled his raven hair. Sailing was in his blood, and he loved it. It was the one thing that his father had left him with. His mother still panicked every time he went out, as his father had been taken by the sea when Jack was a young boy. Jack couldn’t help but love the open sea, which was thankfully devoid of women. No, not women. One woman in particular. One who had broken his heart. Not that he’d ever admit that to his crew. No signs of weakness were allowed as captain. He already had to work harder in order for them to take him seriously. His father’s legacy was an asset, but one that other sailors underestimated in him. Two more weeks on the ship and he would be home. While he loved the sea, he longed for the feeling of the sand between his toes. Only one thing was better: seeing his mother’s relieved face when he returned. They’d been at sea for nearly three weeks, fishing and docking to gather additional supplies. He would be glad to be home, even if it meant seeing Adrienne again. Jack gazed out to sea as it churned around the boat. The waves rose and fell like a woman’s heaving chest in the throes of passion. He shook his head. He might need to go into town to find short-term female company. It was getting mighty lonely, and that loneliness only fed thoughts of her. He longed to drown out her memory with someone new. Someone easy. Without strings. Someone normal. Jack’s breath fogged in front of his face and a chill ran down his spine. He trembled, but it was nothing compared to the haunting melody he heard next. It was just notes. Beautiful notes that pinned him in place, but just for a moment. He shivered and shook his head to pull him from the trance it had put him in. The air was charged with the power the notes exuded and as he attempted to move through it, it felt like moving through molasses. The ship’s lurch to the right forced Jack to slide along the railing as his breath seized in his throat. He finally caught himself as he gripped the railing. What the hell? Something was horribly wrong. It was not only uncharacteristic to turn like that, it was dangerous for the ship and everyone aboard. He had to get to the first mate—who was steering—and fast. Could he be in trouble? Panic set in as the power tried but failed to grab ahold of him. Why was it so damn