''Women… sure are interesting creatures,'' One was scared of him, and the other wanted to do the deed in the cave, ''Claire, do you know I have been to this place before?''
''Really?'' Claire asked, appearing from behind.
''Yes, it holds a special place in my life,'' he turned around and wrapped both his arms around her waist, "It's a lucky place for me."
Her expressions twisted into sheer disgust, ''And it's going to hold a special place in your death,'' she dug her fingers into his neck, her black eyes glowed in the dark.
Lucky place? Because all of them stole their treasures, killed her parents, and lived a life filled with luxury?
He did not know that this place was going to be his doom.
"Urgh… You…'' Blood dripped down his neck, staining his shirt.
''Remember me?'' Claire stepped back from him, her nails stroking his chin before piercing into his skin, ''The one you called 'precious' 16 years ago. My father… wasn't he kneeling right where you are standing?"
He was standing at the heart of the cave, where their family treasure had appeared.
''How could it be…" Andrew looked shocked.
Claire glanced at him indifferently but her expressions shifted when he laughed all of a sudden.
His maniacal laughter burst into the cave.
Claire was confused until she felt a stab.
''Ah…'' she glanced at the bronze dagger plunged into her waist.
''Did you think I don't know about your weakness? The moment you lead me to this cave, I was alert,'' he staggered a few steps back, ''For sirens like you, bronze daggers are your weakness and I always keep it with me just in case I come across one of your kind.''
Looking at Claire's quiet countenance, he felt smugger, ''You thought you were trapping me but I was the one who trapped you,'' he continued stepping back, ''I calculated everything… hahaha…''
''What about me?" A soft voice interrupted his laughter.
Andrew stiffened when he felt someone's fingers curling around his neck, ''…Did you calculate me?" the grip was so tight that he could not move.
As the person stepped in front of him, Andrew was stunned.
Under the pale glow of moonlight, the beautiful face appeared ethereal, a pair of blue eyes that captivated him earlier this day was now sending shivers down his spine.
She was… none other than the maid who caught his attention.
The one he forced himself on.
Calculate her?
No... He didn't...
''Did I play it well?" Elvina's lips tugged up, ''The weak and helpless maid, I mean.''
His eyes widened in horror.
Elvina stepped towards him, ''The couple you killed… after rounds of tortures, did you ever think that they might not be some ordinary victims of yours?" her weak and demure expressions were replaced by sheer indifference that chilled a person's bones.
''They were the King and Queen of the Delaney clan and the girl who escaped from you… It's her, Claire Delaney, Princess Claire,'' she pointed her chin towards the woman behind them without taking her eyes off him, ''My elder sister,'' she gripped his neck harder, ''Shocking right?''
He was shocked.
''Haha..Haha…'' Andrew burst out in laughter like a madman, ''Or a dying elder sister?"
Even if she killed him, he was taking her sister down with him.
''Dying?" Claire pulled out the dagger from her waist, blood oozed out from her wound. She approached him with her usual seductive smile on her face, ''Us sirens don't die with this.''
''How… How could it be?"
''To kill us, you need to drop the victim's blood on the bronze dagger before stabbing us.''
Andrew was stunned, ''H-How…''
"You know one of our secrets now. Start the countdown already," Claire looked at him nonchalantly.
Elvina took another step towards him, her eyes narrowing slightly, ''That day, after I sent Claire away, I watched all of you torturing my parents, scraping their skin, making them cry, stabbing bronze daggers in their bodies…'' Elvina's blue eyes flashed with hatred. She threw him to the floor, ''You will go through the same pain before you die,'' she pointed her fingers at him and a blue light flashed around Andrew.
Claire's heart shook when she heard Elvina's words. That night, when she felt a hand on her shoulder, she thought that those humans found her.
But it was her younger sister.
She pointed towards the forest, motioning her to go to her Aunt who had fallen inside an animal trap in the forest. At that time Elvina was still not speaking and Claire had to understand her signs.
The last thing that Claire remembered was Elvina's indifferent face as she glanced at the people inside the cave.
Animalistic groans reverberated inside the cave and Claire snapped out of her daze.
Elvina watched emotionlessly as flesh was torn from Andrew's body, his bones peeking out with a few cracks appearing on them.
Claire closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.
The sight was gory, ''Who were the people involved with you?" she asked him after composing herself.
But the man just laughed madly.
''They have a truce,'' Claire glanced at Elvina, ''He knows he won't escape even if he tells us so he won't let us have it easy.''
Elvina glanced at Andrew, her lips tugged up in a charming smile, ''Don't tell me. I'm not begging you.''
Andrew's expression changed. ''AHHHH!" He expected her to negotiate with him but she didn't.
''AHHHH!''
How was he supposed to save himself if she did not negotiate?
Elvina slowly stepped towards him, the corner of her eyes turned red as she glanced at him, her expression turning cold.
''I, Elvina Delaney, will find each culprit who had a hand in my parents' death,'' she whispered, ''They destroyed my family and I'll eradicate their entire lineage.''
''Livy…'' Claire grabbed her hand.
It took Elvina a moment to compose herself.
Elvina scoffed, ''Tsk! I'm really annoyed by this family.''
''Hmm? Or specifically by Archer?" Claire was inwardly relieved that she snapped out of it.
Elvina rolled her eyes, ''How did he even hear me singing?"
''I wonder too. No one can hear you when you sing except for the members of the Delaney Clan,'' Claire frowned.
''And you know, he was keeping an eye on you.''
''Of course, I do know. I saw how my younger one sacrificed her pure body and hugged him to divert his attention,'' Claire winked.
Elvina elbowed her, ''How many times have I told you to not call me that?'' she pressed her palm on Claire's waist, healing her wound.
Both of them turned to look at Andrew whose body had nothing left except for bones but the bones too had a fire on them as if it was burning.
''He burnt our mother's feet to make her cry so that he can keep her tears in a vial,'' Elvina mumbled, ''His bone still has its consciousness so that he knows how it feels.''
At times like this, Claire was worried. Their siren clan has been walking on the path of redemption for a long time and they have barely committed any sins now.
Her father used to say that the line between good and evil was so thin. It was not that difficult for someone to tumble over to the other side.
And sometimes… her sister seemed to be standing on the edge between good and evil.
Her hatred for these people blinded her.
All she wanted was their blood.
''Come out, I know you have witnessed everything,'' Unaware of her sister's thoughts, Elvina turned towards the entrance of the cave.
Claire followed her gaze.
And they looked at the person who stepped out with trembling shoulders and head lowered.