Promises (Book One of The Syrenka Series) Read Online Free PDF

times, and
every trip cut a few years off of my life. Me and machines that
defy gravity do not mix well. Every little bump, twist, and turn
gives me a heart attack and a bout of anxiety. I was so busy
imagining a crashing, burning plane I didn’t notice that someone
was speaking to me.
    “ Miss? Ticket and
identification please.”
    I looked up to see the TSA man waiting
to check me in for what seemed like the third time with Kain
standing a few steps ahead waiting. He cocked his head to the side
and gave me a questioning look. I just shook my head and absently
handed the security guy my stuff. Once we were on the tram to our
terminal, Kain asked me what was wrong.
    I felt like such a child, but I told
him anyway. “I hate to fly.”
    He laughed and wrapped his arm around
my shoulder. “Well, you haven’t flown with me yet.”
    I didn’t understand what he could
possibly mean until we were settled into our first class seats with
a glass of milk in front of me. The plane was still loading and my
anxiety was in overdrive.
    “ Here,” he said and pushed
something into my hand. I looked down to see one of those eye masks
that people wear to block out the daylight. It smelled like
chamomile tea. “Put that on and drink your milk.”
    “ Yes dad,” I replied with a
groan and he just laughed at me. I drank the milk blindfolded,
trying not to spill it all over my face, and then settled into my
seat.
    “ Good, now just lay back
and relax.” He grabbed my hand and I squeezed. We started to move
away from the gate and soon enough were rushing down the runway and
lifting off. It was bumpy and I squeezed Kain so hard, he’d
probably be bruised tomorrow.
    I heard him chuckle again and I
flipped the mask up to give him my evil eye. That only encouraged
him some more, but instead of laughing, he leaned in close to my
face. “I’ll sing until you fall asleep.”
    I looked at him suspiciously. “Why
would I fall asleep?” He just smiled wider. “Kain, what did you put
in my drink?”
    “ Just an anti-anxiety
remedy. All natural, don’t worry.” Merfolk were the original
holistic healers of the world. Our remedies have been working their
magic for centuries from the Egyptians to the indigenous people of
the New World. Many of the clans had family members owned holistic
centers, health food stores, or alternative therapy practices. And
most of those relied upon medicines derived from plants and animals
in the sea that humans didn’t know had healing properties. I was
guessing that my milk had been doused with a mixture of ground up
urchin spines and starfish eggs.
    “ No more drugging me
without my knowledge,” I said with mock indignation.
    “ Deal, even though I know
that you’ll thank me later. Now, sit back and enjoy my wonderful
voice.” He cleared his throat and started to sing Baby Beluga . I had to cut
him off.
    “ Really? This is the song
you choose?” He ignored me.
    “ Baby beluga in the deep
blue sea. Swim so wild and swim so free …”
His voice was pleasantly soothing, although not surprising given
our nature. All of those old wives tales about sirens leading
sailors to their death were not that far off. There was one clan
who had refused to live on land for several generations, and they
would use their voices and beauty to mesmerize sailors into giving
them money and goods. As the shipping industry developed and
technology became more standard, they had to abandoned those
practices or risk being exposed.
    Kain moved on to other songs about the
ocean. I vaguely remember him singing about a bump on a log in a
hole in the bottom of the sea before I passed out for good. I woke
up once with my head on Kain’s shoulder and his resting against
mine. Even though my neck was cramped, I couldn’t pull myself away.
I didn’t want to. Apparently he could hypnotize me with his voice
just as well as our ancestors could.
    The flight to Miami was followed with
another shorter one to Key West. I was still tired,