this is how a heart breaks

The song they shared together was unlike anything that Siren could sing alone. She complimented her with near perfection, the servant girl had truly been an excellent purchase and Siren never imagined she could also sing. Not when half the words she heard come out of Aliana’s mouth were hoarse from screaming. The song settled into silence but the meaning and sorrow she sang into it remained in and on her heart. Had Tiberius heard her lamenting? Had Aliana’s chorus aided in the spell like song? She might never know. If she was lucky, she would never see the river god again.

Aliana spoke equally as softly as the morning blossomed and threw golden color on the both of them and the beaches. The servant girl was honored by her praise, Siren gave her a slight smile and gentle nod in return. "You’re being too kind,” Siren returned humbly. She didn’t sing for the pleasure of anyone’s ears but her own, but hearing Aliana’s compliment did bring a slight flush to the princess’s porcelain cheeks.

Her attention was focused on the waves as Aliana asked after her, though it should have been the other way around. Siren hadn’t checked back in on her wounds. The girl glanced towards Aliana, noticing no real blemishes on her today, all except the shiny new collar. "I’m fine.” She offered in answer then, glossing over her answer and the sorrowful song she sang. "How are you? How is your neck healing?” Siren asked in return as Aliana went on.

"Oh, I had a little accident. I’m healed now.” She assured her vaguely. Good enough of an excuse. She hadn’t been around because she hadn’t been able to walk after everything with the water demon. "It’s sweet of you to worry over me.” Siren never really imagined having a relationship with her brother’s slave, not when guilt had eaten her up inside and not when she had let herself fall so hard for Dalila.

"Speech"