If Ryan had been able to sneak out at night, there was no reason I couldn't. She'd had that piece of metal. She had to have it on her person. I leaned over her, her peaceful sleeping form. She looked so innocent.

I gently reached into the pocket on the front of her shirt. Then another pocket. I was so involved in my search that I didn't notice her open eyes looking at me until I stood up.

"Where are we going?"

"We?"

"Yeah, we."

"I don't think you're getting the point of me stealing from you when you were sleeping."

"Borrowing."

"Stealing."

"But you were going to give it back, right?"

"Yeah, but—"

"So, it was borrowing. Now where are we off to?"

"I'm going out."

"Oh, you're no fun."

She stood up, grabbed the piece of metal out of my hand and eased the door open.

"Lead the way," she smirked.

I glared at her and started down the street. She followed after me, both of us shrinking into the shadows.

"Where'd you get the metal?"

"I plead the seventh."

"What?"

"You know the seventh law? The one that says you don't have to testify against yourself?"

"I'm from Regno, remember?"

"Oh, yeah."

"Why's it the seventh?" I didn't want to talk with her, but it was so easy.

"Well, the first is the law requiring all citizens to vote. The second... wait, don't tell me. I know this..."

She held her hands to her head for several minutes as we moved down the road, until she eventually finished her thought. "I don't actually know it. But basically, it's the seventh law in our official law."

"What's it like picking your President?"

"Not half as fun as it seems. Most of the time we get into fights beforehand and we fill out this form, send it away, and then we have a new leader and barely anything changes. Except for last time. Jeffery ran on a campaign of fear of magic. Surprisingly compelling. A lot of magical creatures are off-grid, so they have a legal exemption from voting and they've never had a reason to make the trip. The liberals liked her because she was inclusive of everyone that was human. The conservatives liked her because she hit home for a lot of them that hated magical creatures."

"You can get rid of her, though. Right?"

"In theory. But by the time you're in a camp like this, it doesn't matter if you want to remove her. That's why we have to get out. Change minds."

A fire burned in her eyes. "And how do you do that?"

"I have a plan."

I knew more, but not enough.

We continued down the street, and I only stopped when Ryan grabbed my hand. "Soldier," she signed, her eyes wide with alarm.

I followed her finger and saw a guard sitting on the edge of the lake, staring into the water.

"How do we get by him?"

Ryan's face brightened and then darkened.

"What is it?"

"I forgot I can't do magic anymore."

"Wait, that's it!" I smiled. She's given me an idea.

"What?"

"I'm a siren, aren't I?"

"Yes..."

"I can sing to him."

"You're going to drown him?" She looked excited.

"No. They'd notice he was missing anyway."

Her face fell. "What are you going to do then?"

It was my turn to say the infuriating words. "You'll see."

My powers were weaker when I was human, but they'd work well enough for the soldier.

"Cover your ears."

Ryan did as I said, clamping her hands to the sides of her head.

I opened my mouth.

Think of the effect you want. Picture them succumbing to your song. The words and tune will come to you. Now just sing, my mother's voice echoed in my head.

I opened my mouth, imagining the man running away, fear gripping his fat face.

The words all blurred together, and I saw as he backed away from the water in horror. He tripped over himself getting to his feet. Then he was gone, disappeared into the dark. I sang an extra few seconds just to be safe.

"You can listen now."

"He's gone?"

"Yes."

"That was amazing."

The compliment made my chest swell with pride. She had a way of slipping past my defenses in a way that terrified me.

I rushed toward the river bank. Juniper was there in the blink of an eye.

"You have the letter?"

"Nice to see you too. I'm good, thanks for asking."

Juniper was suddenly bashful.

"How are you?"

"Just fine. You?"

"All the better for seeing you."

She practically tore the letter out of my hands. I translated it for her and spent more time on each word than I had before.

"He's ok?" Juniper asked anxiously when I'd finished my translation.

"As far as I can tell." The letter hadn't said very much about Castor beyond how he felt in relation to Juniper.

She nodded.

I reached to where we'd hidden the pen and ink.

She dictated a love letter, seeming conscious of how eloquent she came across. She started with assuring him she was safe and well cared for, like Castor notably hadn't.

When we were finally done, we both lingered awkwardly. I was aware of Ryan hovering.

"How are you really, Arriana?"

I sighed. "I've been better. You?"

"I've been better, but I've also been worse."

"They're really good to you?"

Juniper nodded. "Are they good to you?"

"Better than expected."

She hugged me, leaving a wet spot down my front. I laughed.

"Good luck. Arriana."

"You too."

I stood up, and she sank back into the murkiness of the lake. When the ripples settled it was like she'd never even been there.

"Are we going back to sleep now?"

"You can if you want," I signed.

"Where are you going?"

"You'll see," I repeated.

"You've made your point with the 'you'll see's."

I shrugged and started a brisk walk back up the street. I went to where Castor had told me to meet him.

Guards paced up narrow aisles made by rows of men. They all lay in a neat grid, nothing between them and the ground. None of them had blankets.

I motioned for Ryan to cover her ears again. My dad despised my lullabies, but my mother adored them. She treated it as a sign I wasn't all lost to her.

The soldiers found themselves feeling particularly drowsy that night.

I stopped singing when I was sure they were asleep. I walked softly up and down the rows. Eventually, I spotted Castor.

I gently tapped his shoulder and he woke with a start. By the time I clamped my fingers over his mouth, it was almost too late. He stopped fighting me after a few seconds. I motioned for him to put his hands over his ears.

I sang lullaby again in case he'd disturbed anyone.

"You look bad," I signed while I sang.

He nodded. "What are you doing to them?"

"They're just asleep."

He relaxed slightly. I handed him the letter and kept singing as I left. I saw him tuck the paper into his shirt and then he lay back down, taking his hands from his ears. I knew he slept like a baby.

I stopped singing when I reached Ryan. She looked tired.

"Now are we going back to bed?

I nodded and we walked the streets, letting the stillness envelope us.