Finn spewed offa few Scottish curse words under his breath and stormed off towardthe stairs where he plunked down in a huff.
“Dianna,”Henry urged under his breath. “Your mother–”
“I’llfind her,” I told him sternly. “I didn’t need a wish in my pocketbefore and I don’t need it now. I made a promise,Henry.”
His shouldersshrugged with a sigh of defeat and he nodded. “Of course.”
“Youchoose to use your single wish for someone else?” the siren askedwith surprise.
“Yes,” Iconfirmed. “Please, break the curse. Let them go. Let themlive.”
The seacreature eyed me curiously for a few silent moments. Maybe I wasn’tallowed to use the wish for others. Maybe I blew it and nowBenjamin would forever remain latched to that island, to that ship.Suddenly, the siren spun around and resumed her clear liquid formbefore falling to the deck’s floor with a splash and poured downover the side of the ship.
“No!” Icried and ran to the edge, peering down over. “Please, comeback!”
Ihad asked but didn’texpect her to return. So, when a massive spurt of water shot upfrom the sea below, I stumbled back. Henry caught me in his armsand steadied me on my feet. We all watched in shock as the waterpooled on the damaged deck and molded into the shape of the sirenonce again. Her solid form caressed her body and she held out ahand toward me with some sort of trinket hanging fromit.
“Youprove to be selfless and with a heart full of honorable intentions,Dianna Cobham.”
She steppedcloser, leaving a trail of sea water behind her. Her long, crookedfingers gripped the trinket and held it out for me to take. Iexamined it more closely, noting three pearls that a glisteningstring of gold looped through. One pink, one silver, and one black.With shaky hands, I accepted the gift.
“Thisbracelet holds three pearls, each possessing a singlewish.”
A resoundinggasp made its way around and I stared at the item in my hand. “Youmean–”
“Yes,”she replied. “You now hold three wishes in the palm of your hand.Pluck one from the golden thread and return it to the sea. You willget the wish you seek.”
I had no words.The possibilities began to run through my mind like a movie reel. Icould save my mom. I could stop Maria. Wish for my baby’sinvincible health. Stop impending world wars. Boundless treasure.The options were endless, and I squeezed the gift tightly in myhand.
“Thankyou,” I told the siren.
Shenodded her head once. “It is I who is of thanks to you. It’s not often immortalcreatures allow themselves to be indebted to mortals. So, use thisgift wisely, Dianna Cobham.”
“Iwill.”
“Now,”the siren spoke and turned toward Finn who was still on the stairs.“Before you leave the Isles, I require that map you possess.” Shestared at him, unblinking, and held out a waiting hand.
Finnappeared reluctant and looked to me for orders. I nodded. He stoodand reached into his jacket pocket, pulling out the folded piece ofparchment that led us there. The siren plucked it from his fingersand crumpled it in her scaly hand, turning it to dust beforereleasing it to the wind. We tipped our heads up and watched as the particles floatedaway, preventing anyone from ever reaching the Realm of Monstersever again.
“Now,go,” the creature ordered and glided toward the ship’s edge. “Andnever return to this place again.”
“Wewon’t,” I promised.
The sirengave me a curt nod before diving off the side and plunginginto the watersbelow. The ship suddenly began to rock with the movement of largewaves. They pushed our ship forward, the bow pointed directlybetween two of the isles. But my eyes widened with panic at therealization that we wouldn’t fit. The opening was far too narrow. Igripped Henry’s arm and he held me tightly. The others came closeand we huddled together as we watched the scene unfold.
At the lastsecond, before our ship’s nose collided with the rocky cliffs ofthe twin isles, the bodies of land moved with a force that vibratedthrough my chest. Like two sleeping giants parting the way for TheQueen to get through.
The sea pushedus forward and the five of us braced in a circle together as thehuge wave calmed and we coasted quietly along. I glanced back andwatched the two islands come together again, like some fantasticalgate closing in on a forbidden world. The view began to fade, and Iknew we were passing through the invisible veil that hid the SirenIsles. Within seconds, it was gone. As if it never existed in thefirst place. And we stood there, breathless, reeling from what hadjust happened.
Still huddledin a circle, my eyes peered around at my friends and I let out aloud cackle of laughter. After a second, the four of them joined meand we danced around, giddy from the rush of excitement. Gratefulthat we came out alive.
We cameto a halt and Henry took my face in his strong hands, placing akiss on my lips. He pulled away, but I yanked him back, not readyto let him go. I wanted to relish in the moment. Finally, I relinquished the hold mymouth claimed of his and grinned.
“You’retruly a magnificent creature, Dianna,” he told me. “I’m starting tobelieve there’s nothing you can’t do.”
I shrugged andtook his hand, glancing around at my happy crew. “There isn’t. Notas long as I have you all.”
“Aye,”Finn started, “What are ye gonna do with yer threewishes?”
I beamedproudly at the gift I held in my hand. “I’m not sure. Find mymother? Stop my sister? Wish for world peace?”
“Blah,”the Scot muttered. “World peace? The world needs chaos for thepeace to work, Lassie. Leave it be.”
I laughed.Perhaps he was right. Regardless, I would have to give it someserious thought. I’d been granted an immense honor and with thatcame a certain responsibility. Which reminded me…
“I’llhave to mull it over.” Walking over toward the ship’s edge, Iplucked a black pearl
