9

The paunchy boy with the front teeth was someone any resident of Ver Mon Lagho would have at the very least heard of. Dylan and I knew him to a degree. If memory served his was monikered something along the lines of Big Jill. The big was written with an 'h' so on newspapers it read Bhig Jill. Notwithstanding, he and his band had had their time. Once upon a time, they'd spray-paint walls, burst tyres and carried out petty burglary but those exploits had been long since foiled. Last I heard, the cops marched Big Jill to a juvenile centre after he and his cohorts committed arson. His parents begged on his behalf that jail would "kill him." This was probably why he was back in town too early too soon.

He beat up Mr Silvan; I knew that. What I needed was confirmation on whose orders he did that. I was certain it was Carle but I needed to hear those words myself from Big Jill.

"Carle told me to go after your grandfather. I don't know why I did it." If Big Jill admitted this, not even the fact that we were both sirens will make me see Carle ever again.

Big Jill lived at the other end of town in a more residential neighbourhood. A cluster of families living in similar kinds of houses. Dylan's house and school were situated around that area too. It was a Monday, most people weren't likely to be home and I hoped inwardly that Big Jill hadn't gone out for another one of his escapades. It wouldn't matter anyway; I'd find him wherever he was and force him to talk. The houses in his part of town were jealously made—fine porches, well-trimmed gardens and garages wider than some of the homes situated in my side of town. The neighbourhood was silent except for the bounce of a basketball and the chuckle of the child. I was standing across from the street eyeing Big Jill and the boy he played with. He dribbled the ball around the child, circled back and handed the ball to the still cackling boy. Then, he lifted the child up in the air so that he could put the ball in the hoop.

Hypocrite! This vile man had, just last night, put Mr Silvan in the hospital. I did not care whether it was of his own volition or not. Big Jill caught sight of me watching them and took the boy inside. I must have looked quite menacing to him in Mr Silvan's oversized trench coat. I walked up to his door and knocked twice.

"What do you want?" Big Jill called from inside the house.

"I'm from looking for House 5," I lied.

"House 5's the building opposite this one."

"I know. No one's around. I have parcel for them."

There was a calculating silence then Big Jill answered, "You can drop it outside. I'll pick it later."

I was never good at lying or planning lies. I'd rather avoid the topic than lie at all. I would never convince Big Jill to open the door with normals words, so why even bother when enchanted speech would do the same job?

"Jill." He needed only to hear my voice and I was sure he was in range. "Come outside." I heard the squeak of a chair and soon heavy footsteps approaching the door. Big Jill was before me now, passive and obedient, and the child he had been with was behind him holding fast to his cloth. The child wasn't under my compulsion. Could he even speak clear words?

"Lock the child inside."

Big Jill picked the boy and put him back into the house. He locked the door before the boy could come running out. The door handle jerked desperately and when the boy found that he couldn't open the door, he began to wail.

"Follow me."

I released him from the spell when we were in front of the garage.

"Oh god. What is happening to me?" He paced back. "What are you people doing to me?" He cried. "Where is Tommy?" He turned to go back to his door.

"Don't force my hand. Please. I don't want to hurt you." Big Jill did not stop until I added, "...or Tommy." It pained me to say that. I would never hurt the boy.

He returned, dragging his feet along, almost breaking and about to cry too.

"Do you remember what you did last night?"

Big Jill covered his face with both palms and smeared the tears away. "I do."

"What did you do?"

"We beat up an old guy."

"Why?"

He shuddered, weeping. "That's it I don't know why. Some guy told us to beat him up. We could not disobey him. Like my body just did whatever he told us to. I... I... tried to stop... but..." His chest heaved upwards. "I couldn't just stop. What are you people doing to me?"

Carle clearly did not rid them of the memories of the incident. But why? Did he want me to find him out?

"Who ordered you to beat that man?"

"I don't remember his face. Or anything thing about him. Just his voice. I only wanted to meet up with my old pals, man. I wanted to tell them that juvie changed me. I didn't want no shit with the cops again. I thought I was changed." He bawled.

"Do you have any gaps in your memory? You don't remember what you did at a certain time?"

He nodded.

"I am sorry for what happened to you. It wasn't your fault. Can you look at me, Jill? Please one last time."

He raised his tearful eyes to mine.

"I will compel you one last time. I will make you forget everything that person made you do. You'll start on a new plate. Is that fine by you?"

"I don't know, man." He wiped his eyes.

"Jill." His face became a neutral mask, neither sorrow nor fear. "Forget what you did to the old man yesterday. Forget the voice that asked you do it. Forget this present moment, Jill. Forget our discussion and start afresh."

I left him there, dumbfounded in front of his house, brain probably working to forget it all; to make it as dreams.

I had used my siren more in three months than I had in the time before I ever met Carle. This was it. It was over; I was done. The fact that he had left Big Jill with the memories of his beating Mr Silvan was so cruel. But I wasn't very surprised that he would do that, just disgusted. He was going to leave Mr Silvan's side in the clinic and we would never set eyes on him again. Perhaps, it was time to learn how to use Mr Silvan's rifle.

I traversed back to the clinic and Mr Silvan's ward. Carle wasn't there; Mr Carle was still sleeping and the plate of food I had left him was empty of its contents. I sat down on the chair Carle had been occupying and observed Mr Silvan for a long time. I had been moving around since dawn; I had been worrying so much. I found that it was easier to breathe when Carle was not here. I wouldn't search for him, I wouldn't confront him. I wished earnestly for the times before him but deep down I knew those days were long gone.

"Miss Yara. Miss Yara."

I opened my eyes to see one of the nurses staring down at me. I had been sleeping and lost my sense of time. It was dark outside though if it was early morning or late night, I did not know.

"What time is it?" I asked yawning.

"It's past ten," the nurse replied.

I looked tiredly at Mr Silvan and asked her, "Has he eaten this night?"

"Yes."

A physician was all over him, reading the beeps from the machine and feeling his veins.

"I should go back home, shouldn't I?"

"You should. You need to eat and rest too."

"What of the bills? I don't think we have insurance."

The physician angled her neck in my direction, "I thought your friend had already paid?"

"Which friend?"

"The tall one who was waiting in here. He covered all expenses last night as soon as Mr Silvan was admitted."

Carle again, of course.

"Okay." I picked myself up. "Please take care of him."

"We will."

I was off to the house and part of me knew Carle would be there, prying and waiting. His sick self would have probably being there since midday. Did he even sleep?

I clicked the door handle open and without the lights on I could see his silhouette balanced on the couch. His fingers interlaced together and his neck hanging back, facing the ceiling. I did not turn on the lights; I'd lose it if I saw the smug expression on his face.

"You met that fat fool?"

"Do you mean, Jill?"

"Do you really believe I did that to Silvan?"

"Yes." I said with no hesitation.

"Really? I told you that I could never hurt you, that extends to those around you."

"Drop it! You didn't even have the decency to wipe him clean of the memory. You wanted to let him suffer."

"I see you insist on believing that fool over me. After everything?"

"Why are you lying? Why did you do it? Why did you have to hurt Mr Silvan?"

"I paid his bills. I watched him all day. I fed him. Yes, I fed him."

I punched the light switch on. "Get out. You are disgusting. This should be the last time we set eyes on each other."

Carle arose and covered the distance between us. "I did not hurt Silvan neither did I compel anyone to do so."

"Get out!"

"Silvan and I are friends now. So I'll come here whenever I want, to see if my friend is recovering well."

"You would regret it."

"No you would regret it. You don't want the old man to know what you have been up to do you? Maybe I should show him my claws and reveal what we are."

"Do you think he would care?" I said, pitch lowered now. "Do you think this stupid siren stuff will move him." I snickered in a way I knew would rile Carle. "Mr Silvan probably knows what I am. Heck, I turn blue three months a year and he doesn't take me to see a doctor. I don't tolerate warm food and he doesn't ask me why. He trusts my every word when I tell him I will back late because he knows I can handle myself. Mr Silvan knows I am and doesn't care one bit. Go on. Tell him." I threw a phone at Carle's chest and screamed, "Freaking tell him!"

Carle looked pissed. It was easy to vex him. I just needed to say how much I loved the land-dwellers over our kind. Or, how much I hated being a siren and feasted on delicious fish. That would tick him off quicker than a kick between his legs.

"You are probably why people will never accept us sirens, underworld or not. I don't know why I was banished but these past few months have shown for certain why you were. You are an asshole, Carle. The worst kind." I stepped away from the entrance. "I don't want to ever meet that Charles or Carlos or whatever his freaking name is. I don't care about this siren nonsense. Go back to him and quote me on that. Now get the hell out of here."

Carle maintained a long gaze with me; we stared off and I did not back away. Then he clenched his jaw and stormed off.

I did not regret my words. If they'd keep him away, then it was all worth it. I did not fret or panic that night. On the contrary, I slept soundly and dreamt of a vast, endless ocean.