Free Voices of the Sea by Bethany Masone Harar Page A

him.
    “You tell me a fanatic cult is in Pacific Grove specifically to kill my family, my people, but there is nothing I can do about it? No. I’m contacting the police.”
    Lora’s father responded, his voice low and menacing beside her. “We can’t go to the police, Charlie. It would put us in even more danger.” His tone sounded sharp, which she found disconcerting. Lora rarely saw him speak so sternly to anyone but herself, let alone a grown member of the Clan. The men’s eyes were dark as they regarded one another across the fire.
    Charlie stood, his shadow falling like a giant into the ocean. The ocean’s song sounded tumultuous now, churning with the mixed emotions emanating from the Clan. “Do you suggest I let those psychos kill my family, Robert?”
    “Of course not,” her father said, his voice rising above the song of the sea. “But we need to stay rational if we want to protect ourselves.”
    “I agree with Charlie,” Eric’s father, Russ Tomlinson said, standing to place a hand on Charlie’s shoulder. His graying hair flickered in the fire, making him appear ten years older than he was, the fine lines on his face suddenly defined. Eric glanced at Fiona in alarm, and Lora sensed their unease. The Clan fell apart again, Devin’s calming words from before forgotten. They were too divided over the issue, which would not help them keep a united defense against the Sons of Orpheus. If they didn’t stand together they would be destroyed, Lora realized. If they didn’t stand together, their Clan couldn’t survive.
    The Clan began speaking over one another, choosing sides, their voices becoming louder than the ocean’s song. Looking at Devin for help, Lora found she had retreated to the sea, bathing her feet in the ocean with her arms outstretched, communing with the water. Why did she ignore the fights emerging between the Clan? Most of the Clan members were standing now, arguing amongst themselves while their children sat in the sand, watching the adults with frightened eyes.
    Mind racing, Lora struggled to find the words to stop the chaos emerging around her. What could she say to people who were frightened for the lives of their families? Nothing she could say would remove their fears and doubts; instead, she helplessly observed their arguments.
    Lora closed her eyes, praying for the courage to help her people. She felt the cold air of the evening as it created pebbling goose-bumps on her arms, the protection of the fire becoming a distant ally. The roar of the ocean, the song of the sea and the arguments of her Siren clan melded together until they were a buzzing blur in her ears, all while her mind screamed for the turmoil surrounding her to end. The sense of helplessness drove her crazy, welling within her until a rampage threatened to unleash itself from her mouth.
    Gathering her strength, she mustered the energy to speak. “This is not the time to fight!” she called out. “We should work together!” They did not hear her, but continued to argue with one another.
    How can I ever lead them? I can’t even get them to listen to me.
    She felt a slight shift in the air. A great rushing sound surrounded the fire as a short, circular wall of water, only four feet high, perhaps, emerged; but it silenced the arguing Clan as they surveyed the magnificent spectacle in awe. The water parted, a perfect split in the watery wall, and Devin emerged from the ocean barrier, taking delicate, deliberate steps. The Haynesworth children stared on in silent wonder, reaching out to touch Devin’s dress as she passed, a goddess of the ocean, her long silver hair flowing behind her. Smiling now, the children skipped behind her until she stopped directly in front of the bonfire, facing her stricken clan. The children sank into the sand around her feet, their eyes turned expectantly upwards toward her. Violet, the teenage granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Barbas, rose from her piece of driftwood and hurried across