The Siren's Call

III

It felt good to be back.

Anything could've happened during his two week trip spying on the Siren's cove. The power to change his legs to a tail and vice versa had really been coming in handy lately.
Henri paused at the gates of the palace, the girl right behind him. They saluted to him and he counted the guards. He strode up to Maurice, one of the men he had trained.
"I've counted eleven men stationed here, where's your twelfth?"
"What? Oh your–captain, you're right," he glanced at the girl and Henri was glad he caught himself, "I'll send for another man immediately."
"And check up on the other corners of the castle, just in case," he said, looking skeptically at the other guards standing at their posts.
"Yes sir," the man said, saluting once again.

"What was that all about?" Karis asked, trying to look at his face and walk at the same time. "Captain? Would it be better if I call you captain Henri?" Henri couldn't tell if the girl was joking or not. She's not a girl, he reminded himself. She's probably sixteen or seventeen, only a few years younger than you. He sighed.
"No, Henry's fine," he gave a weak smile. "Captain is only for the guards to use."
She nodded, seeming to take a hint that that topic of conversation was closed. Judging by her expression she didn't want to talk that much. That made two of them.

Henri continued to nod back every time a guard saluted. It was odd, where they were positioned. But he trusted his second in command. If he felt the need to put twenty guards right in front of the throne room and eleven by the gate then so be it. He must have his reasons.

"Captain," a guard bowed to him when he tried to enter the throne room. "The King isn't ready to receive you yet."
"Isn't ready to receive me?" Henri asked skeptically. The guard rubbed the sword hilt at his side. Henri had never seen this guard before. He looked....different. Blonde hair pushed back, seeming a bit uncomfortable with the weight of the sword at his waist. He was almost Henri's height, around five nine, and maybe a year younger.
Henri glanced at Karis and frowned. She looked like she was choking, gasping for air. Her face was white (whiter than normal), and her jaw dropped, eyes never leaving the guard's face. Henri looked back at the guard again and the boy smiled, revealing fangs.
"Karis, GET BEHIND ME." She stumbled a step back, but hesitantly, her eyes never leaving the boy's. Henri pushed her behind himself, thinking. Could they have followed me? Could they have known?
"Micah?" Karis asked, gently pushing Henri's arm away. "Micah." Her voice more sure of itself now. She tried to take a step forward but Henri stopped her.
"Karis," he said gently, trying to take her eyes away from the boy's. Not every siren needs a song. "Karis." She looked down, her mouth still open, then at him, her eyes laced with panic. "Karis, it's not him." Whoever he is, Henri thought. She started to say something but stopped herself, nodding.
"I know," she looked at the boy again, "I know."
"It can't be him," Henri tried to reassure her, to break her out of the trance.
"It can't." Her eyes went cold and she looked away from the boy and back at him. The palace was filled with air but she still seemed to struggle a bit getting oxygen.
He turned toward the siren. "How did you know? Did you follow me?" Henri had been so careful. So careful. The boy revealed a sharp smile.
"Follow you? Ha! Not me, but I'm sure someone did. We've been planning this for quite some time, Captain." Henri scowled. He wanted to ask more questions but he noticed the siren's grip tighten on his sword. Henri pushed Karis back and drew his own just before the male siren lunged.
The boy swung his sword, and Henri brought his up in defense. He hated being on the defensive. He put all his weight into a push that sent the boy stumbling backward, swinging his sword wildly at the girl. A crash sounded next to Henri and he jumped. Karis was staring in horror at the man on the floor, her hands shaking. Henri looked at her questioningly.
"There was a vase," she said, and Henri noticed the shattered pieces of glass on the floor. Not bad. "How did you know he wasn't on our side?"
"I don't know, I usually assume most people trying to stab me are not on our side."
Henri smiled, she had broken free of the siren's trance.
"Good logic." He heard footsteps. "Come on, we have to go!"
"What if they are on our side though? They haven't tried to stab us yet," she protested as they ran into the throne room.
"Right now, assume everyone is trying to stab you."
"Everyone except you."
Henri smirked. "Everyone except me."