Dirty Lying Sirens

Chapter Eight

Madeline

I'm a simple girl.

I like to feel pretty. Check.

I like feeling sexy and being with men who make me feel sexy. Check.

I like music and dancing. Check.

And I really, really like food. Check.

The Port and Mast was gorgeous. It checked all my boxes for a good night out, though maybe not in the same way I'm used to. This was no club, no dive bar, and no house party. The people were gorgeous, the decorations were gorgeous, and the food wafting by on silver trays looked like art.

Nikkos was dressed as sharply as his cousin. When we met up with him he took one look at my appearance and then trained his gaze on the space on my forehead just between my eyebrows. "You look lovely, Madeline."

"Thank you..." I stared at Nikkos a moment, unsure of his strange behavior until Caspian leaned into my ear.

"An old trick, to not be swayed too hard by a... an Atlantean woman's beauty," he explained.

"Oh, okay," I replied. So, it was a cultural thing. A weird cultural thing, but let's not be rude and say that out loud.

After checking on our reservation, we waited while they checked to see if our table was prepared. Nikkos and Caspian were discussing something in hushed voices next to the pond. We were under the overhang and I was able to check the bag with my old clothes at the coat station. They gave me a little ticket and everything, it was just like in the movies.

I hummed as I watched the people inside and caught what small glimpses I could get from the dining deck where people could eat over the water. I passed the time imagining what their daily lives were like. Who here was rich, who here was spending a saved-up amount for a special occasion, who here was on business, and who was here for an average weeknight dinner.

I started to get attention as I hummed, so I stopped. It was just another thing about my stupid voice that I hated, though now I was better able to recognize what it was since meeting Caspian.

Caspian had told me we would have a nice dinner and then he was meeting someone for business in the area. He would either get me a ride home or I could wait for them. Waiting is good, I could sit at the bar or stare at the waves. I knew that I would want this evening to last as long as it could before going back to my crappy apartment and all the problems that came with it.

With a sigh, I turned from my spot and looked to where Caspian and Nikkos were. The hostess was on her way back, and it looked like it was time for our table. I walked over to meet Caspian and Nikkos when something caught my attention. The evening breeze reached us, tickling the surface of the pond and bringing an air of salt to my nose. My heart ached dully in my chest, a sudden but familiar desire to run to the sea taking it's hold.

My eyes drifted to the edge of the building where I could just see the beach. 

"Madeline," Caspian said, shaking me from my intrusive desires. "Madeline, are you alright?"

My breath caught. I turned to stare into his eyes. "I... yes."

His expression darkened. "You want to run to the sea, don't you?"

I closed my eyes tight, nodding. He knew. I mean, he had said he knew, but he really knew. It was frightening. It was relieving. I felt like another piece of my mask had been stripped away in front of this man I had only known for a few days.

His warm hand reached around, settling on my hip so gently. He brought his mouth close, whispering in my ear as his breath played across my neck, pebbling my skin with the intimacy of it. "If you can't do this, tell me. You don't have to stay, Madeline. It's just dinner."