Song of the Sirens

"Within the bounds of the four seas, all men are brothers."

• Shi Nai'an

"Hold him down. I said hold him!"

The gruesome sound of blood-wet flesh slapping against the wooden table mixed with the whimpers and wails of the three Siren's unfortunate patient. Two of the sisters wrested with the stocky, muscular figure in a desperate attempt to pin him to the table so that their third, looking uncharacteristically composed and collected, could study the wound in greater detail. Reaching out a lone, slender finger, she prodded at the feathered end of the crossbow bolt that jutted out of the patient's thigh, grimacing when the felt its firmness to her touch.

"It's gone through bone. The head's probably still impacted in there. We're going to have to pull it out the way it came in."

The man's howl of misery was drowned out by the girl barking a set of fresh orders.

"Get me a pair of forceps and some oil. Now!" She turned back to her patient and absent-mindedly began to rock the bolt back and forth, gritting her teeth as she ignored the fresh wails of pain.

"Damn it..."

"Here."

A pair of murderous-looking steel tongs were thrust into her hands by some outside force, along with a small jar of castor oil. Gripping her tool of choice tightly, she seized the arrowhead in its pincer grip and pressed her foot against the table.

"Hold him!"

Four hands reached down once again and pinned the figure to the table. Sweat pouring down her forehead, the surgeon began to pull, roaring with exertion as she did so. For a few moments, she grunted in frustration as the stubborn peg remained as firmly stuck as ever, but then, with a sudden jolt, she was sent sprawling backwards with a splintering sound.

Scrambling to her feet, she raised the forceps only to scowl at the sight of a splintered end of wood. As the broken wooden shard fell to the ground, she approached the patient once again, who had begun to pale and whimper with a feebleness that never boded well. When she examined the wound, she could still make out the remainder of the bolt, stuck firmly inside. The wound would heal, but as long as the bolt remained stuck inside, he would be unable to walk for the rest of his life. She wasn't finished yet.

"Oil."

The castor oil slid across the table, and with as much precision as her shaking hands would allow her, she coated the entry wound and the forceps in the lubricant. Laying what she hoped was a soothing hand on the man's rapidly pulsing chest, she grimaced.

"I'm really sorry about this."

The scream when the forceps were pushed under the skin chilled her blood and shook her to her bones, but she pushed on regardless. a grim look of determination on her face. Seized the bolt as far along the shaft as she could, she took a deep breath, counted to three, and pulled. Nothing. Swearing and kicking the table in rage, she tried again. Again, nothing. Pushing the forceps in deeper, she gripped the bolt head directly. Counted to three. And pulled.

Finally, movement. The bolt, along with several fragments of bone, flew from the wound, tearing it open as it did so. The forceps went flying across the surgery, but the doctor paid them no heed, her hands immediately flying to the gory, torn wound and forcing as much pressure as she could on it while she began snapping at her assistants.

"Water! Suture, needles, bandages! NOW!!"

After a few panicked moments, all she needed had been thrust into her hands, and with slow but steady fingers, she set about cleaning and closing the wound as best she could, not daring to chance a look at her patient, relying only on the steady stream of blood coursing around her fingers to inform her of his status.

Slowly but surely, the wound was cleaned, sealed and wrapped. No sooner had the final bandage roll been tucked in than she fell limp against the table, breath ragged and body shaking. Her charge, bloodied, catatonic and unconscious - but alive - laid immobile before her. Aided by her sisters, his saviour staggered over to a chair and collapsed into it.

Shaking her hands in an attempt to dislodge as much fresh blood as she could, Sonata glanced upwards at her handiwork, a small, satisfied smile on her face. Unnerved by their younger sister's sudden display of triumph, Aria and Adagio glanced backwards at the bloodied, mangled mass behind them.

"You... do you think he'll... y'know - "

"Live?" Sonata paused, then nodded slowly, slurring her words slightly. "I think so. No obvious signs of infection. Might be trouble walking, especially if he doesn't rest that leg - but I don't think he'll die."

Sighing happily, she fell back into her seat and allowed exhaustion to whisk her away.

The glassware clinked together softly as Moon Spirit leaned in to refill the empty wine glass, the soft flowing and splashes of the ruby liquid the only sound in the silent room. Settling back into his chair, he raised his glass in acknowledgement of his guest, who returned the favour. Steel Shield raised the goblet to his lips and threw his head back, draining all but half of his cup in one go, setting the chalice down with as a shiver of warmth ran through his body.

"God, thas' the stuff. To your health, my friend - 'specially so, in these times."

Moon Spirit smiled sadly as he laid his own glass to rest, barely touched.

"Thank you, but it's not so much my health you should worry about, but that of the common man. I pray for the safety of all my citizens, but we cannot rely on prayer alone."

"Yes, indeed. Your nephew seems to 'ave taken that message to 'eart, ain't he?" He chuckled. "Came burstin' into my office less than two days after his father passed, ordering me to lock the gates, burn the dead, conscript doctors - and a whole lot more besides. I understand he's new to the job, but I 'oped he'd have a more realistic view of how things work around 'ere. You'd better get a leash on 'im, quick."

"Ah, well. He is still young. He has much to learn." He strummed his fingers against the tabletop. "I take it you and my brother discussed..."

"Ah, the contingency. Yeah. Rest assured, if you feel he's getting out of 'and, I'll step in. Not a coup as such, just a few stern words. All very discreet." Steel Shield didn't even look up from his cup. "I recommended he named you as 'is successor - wouldn't 'ear it. Still, between you and me, it would 'ave spared us both a lot of grief."

An awkward silence fell between the two men before Steel Shield coughed and took another voluminous drink.

"So, a new court physician? Or physicians, as the case might be. Glass Vial certainly seemed out in a hurry, didn't he, tail between 'is legs an' all!" He beat his fist against his chest. "No complains 'ere. Wonderful surgeons, fixed my boys up nicely every time. Strange fellas, though, ain't they? Shortest doctors I ever saw, funny accents too. Dunno where he got 'em from."

"Oh, they volunteered." Moon Spirit smiled to himself. Steel Shield was a mountain of a man, an excellent strategist, a fierce combatant and a man of strong moral principles, but lacked an eye for finer details. He considered clueing him in, but decided against it. "Their hiring was very spur-of-the moment, but now they've proven their mettle, there's no hurry to replace them."

"I'll say. Most of the dead-eyed cretins I see lining our streets, I wouldn't trust em' to remove a splinter, much less fix a mortal wound. Still, just goes to show, there's real talent out there. Diamonds in the rough, they are."

"Absolutely. And while we're on the topic, I had the chance to speak to two of them privately. They seem more than amenable to our circumstances - not that it should matter."

"Should it? Not planning to arrange a botched surgery, are we?"

Steel Shield said it lightly enough, but Moon Spirit could tell he was testing him. Probing. Seeing how far his mettle stretched. In response, he laid his hands flat on the table and stared back into his great blue eyes.

"There will be no need for skulduggery. We operate in the open, as we should. We have nothing to hide."

The sound of the door creaking open jolted his attention from the papers he had spent the better part of the last hour pouring over. Solar Spirit's head jerked upwards, his eyes narrowing into slits before they relaxed at the sight of a familiar face.

"Adagio. What do you need?"

Adagio closed the door behind her as softly as she could before she threw her hood back, squinting at the sudden influx of light.

"I've just left Aria and Sonata mopping up about five pints of blood from our last patient, so I need somewhere to hide until they're finished. You don't mind, do you?"

Solar Spirit merely chuckled in response before extending a hand in a gesture of openness. "Ordinarily I'd send you back to finish the work you started, but I'm feeling pretty overworked myself now. You're more than welcome."

"Lucky me." Adagio murmured, pulling her mask off and tossing it aside. Striding across the room, she slammed her hand down on the desk, causing several pots of ink to judder and teeter precariously as she leaned over the paperwork Solar Spirit had been working on with interest. "Anything interesting?"

"What do you think?" Solar Spirit responded sarcastically. "More of the same, as usual. There's always some trivial, pointless little matter that requires my signature, or decision, or opinion." He slid a sheet of paper across the table towards her. "Here. You might find this more to your entertainment."

Adagio squinted at the paper, trying to decipher the cramped, spider-like black script printed on it. Slowly, she accustomed herself the thin black lines and curve, and began to read what quickly became apparent was an executive decree.

"...will have the power to uphold this by lawful use of force - this is what I think it is?"

"Oh, yes." Solar Spirit muttered, striking his quill against a thick sheet of parchment with grim satisfaction. "I've had enough of that cretin Steel Shield blocking me at every turn. He might be completely content to cling to my father's legacy, but he can't duck me forever. As soon as I have that order in the hands of every junior officer, I'll have the power to affect the kind of change this city really needs, with or without his approval."

"I see." Adagio frowned. "Why show it to me, then?"

"No reason in particular. I trust you enough not to go running to Steel Shield - or my uncle. Although I am somewhat curious to hear your opinion on the matter, what with your history of medical experience."

"I think..." Adagio pondered her response for a few moments. "I think you're not about to make yourself any more popular."

"To hell with popularity. This is about saving lives." He squinted at her out of the corner of his eye. "I would have thought you, of all people, would understand."

"Of course, and I do, it's just that... these are some pretty heavy demands. Aren't you worried how your uncle will react?"

Solar Spirit shook his head, suddenly annoyed. "My uncle might be family, but I am Duke. He has no place to tell me my business. Steel Shield might cause a fuss, but as soon as he sees how quickly he can be replaced, he'll see the light. I want to know what you think of it."

"Me?" Adagio cast her eye over the order once again. "I think it's a good idea."

"Really?" Solar Spirit seemed to visibly relax and grow in comfort at her words. "Good. I knew you'd see it my way."

"You seem relieved." Adagio murmured, pacing around the desk to lean over him, gripping his shoulders as she did so, a rush of power coursing through her as she felt him freeze at her touch.

"Do I? I... I mean - " He coughed, trying to collect his thoughts. "It is somewhat reassuring to hear at least one person agree with me. I was starting to worry I was being rash. Perhaps I still am." He sighed. "Maybe I should talk matters over with Steel Shield. Look for some kind of compromise - "

"No!" Adagio all but shouted the response, cursing internally the second the word had left her lips. "I mean - you - you said yourself, a leader should be decisive." Adagio purred, pressing in closer, eyes glowing in amusement as she felt the Duke freeze. "I mean, if you'd rather let your uncle and Steel Shield run the city for you..."

"Excuse me?" Solar Spirit ground his teeth together as he spoke, barely hiding his obvious rage. "Is that what - you - I..." His voice trailed away. Rolling her eyes, Adagio stepped back and raised an eyebrow as the power of speech slowly returned to the obviously-flustered Duke.

"What?"

"I..." He closed his eyes, before laughing quietly under his breath. "I can take a hint. Decisive, was it? You're right. I'll have these orders dispatched within the hour. And if my uncle doesn't like it, he'll have to live with it." His eyes met her once more, and this time something in them burned with passion. "Perhaps you could join me. See our righteous work done... by my side."

Adagio bowed in response, eyes glittering.

"I'd be honoured."

"Good." Folding the sheet of paper in front of him, he glanced out of the window at the sun, burning fiercely in the middle of the sky. "Your co-workers should be more than finished by now. You should think about heading back." He shot her a raised eyebrow. "Incidentally, several of the Guard have informed me your assistant, Sonata Dusk, is quite the lifesaver. Should I be reconsidering your position as head surgeon?"

"Her?" Adagio scoffed, waving a hand dismissively. "She's enthusiastic, I'll give her that. But I wouldn't go so far as to call her a lifesaver. Really, you shouldn't believe everything you hear."

"I'll keep that in mind." He rose to his feet and nodded towards the door. "Once again - thank you. Your input is surprisingly useful. Should you ever feel Sonata would be capable of running a surgery by herself, I'd be more than happy to consider you for a position as an advisor. But it sounds like you'd got your work cut out for you in whipping those two into shape first." A moment of silence passed. "Uh... Adagio?"

"Huh?" Adagio forced herself to focus on her surroundings, her concentration completely knocked aside by a sudden violent desire to slam her head against the wall. "Oh. Right. Of course. I'll... I'll keep you up to date with - that."

"Like I said, the pair of them are quite - ah, speak of the devil. Mr Blaze, Mr Dusk, please, join us."

Aria and Sonata both collapsed, exhausted, into twin chairs that jutted out from the table. Two cups of wine slowly slid across the table towards them. Sonata immediately perked up at the bitter, fruity smell and reached out for her cup, only to have her hand slapped away by Aria. Shooting daggers at her older sister, Sonata fell back into her seat and kicked her legs. Aria turned to a bemused Moon Spirit and smiled apologetically.

"We're just on break. Our shifts aren't quite finished yet - you understand."

"Of course." Moon Spirit smiled, slowly drawing the two cups back towards him, nodding in Steel Shield's direction. "I take it you two have met the Captain of the Guard. Steel Shield, this is Sonata Dusk and Aria Blaze. They're the two surgeons I mentioned earlier - the ones who have agreed to work along with us on our little project."

"Actually, we've never 'ad the pleasure." Steel Shield held out his bear-like paw of a hand that sequentially crushed both Aria and Sonata's in his grip. "'alf of my lads owe their lives and livelihood to you two fine young men. Though I 'ave to say, you look a right state. Busy day?"

"You could say that. Plenty of cleaning up." Aria shuddered. "While we're here, I thought you should know the guy you sent us earlier is going to live. Probably." She muttered the last word under her breath. "It could be a few weeks before he's ready for duty again, though."

Steel Shield broke into a broad grin and slammed a paw down on her shoulder, causing her to yelp involuntarily in pain, "Excellent work, son! 'course, I didn't doubt you for a moment!"

"Thanks, but I can't take any of the credit." Aria muttered through gritted teeth, rubbing her wounded shoulder as she nodded her head towards Sonata. "Sonata's the one you should be thanking."

Steel Shield nodded in acknowledgement, but to Sonata's relief spared her a battering pat on the back. "All the same, good on you two. The Duke certainly has an eye for the best, that's all I can say."

"Of course he does." Aria smirked, leaning back in her chair. "Well, apart from Adagio." As she grimaced, Sonata slowly stretched her arm out and wrapped her fingers around one of the cups. "Ditched us when we weren't were paying attention and left us to mop up. I mean, I was thinking of doing the same thing, but..."

"Really?" Moon Spirit raised an eyebrow. "Any idea where he went?"

"Not really." Aria shrugged. "Sh - he spends a lot of time with the Duke. Probably trying to ditch the surgery for something cushier."

"Probably." Sonata muttered, returning her empty cup to the table as nonchalantly as she could. "Adagio's a vulture, he'll do anything if it benefits him."

"But he must know Steel Shield and I wield reasonable authority - and he's made to attempt to ingratiate herself to me. Quite the opposite, he's been rather forbidding - no offence."

"I 'ave to agree." Steel Shield nodded along to Moon Spirit's musings. "Cold fella. Aloof, almost. Suppose he and the Duke 'ave that in common. Makes more sense, when you put it that way. I could see the pair of 'em getting along warmly enough."

"Perhaps." Moon Spirit smiled, his lips just a little tighter than before. "Has he mentioned the young Duke to either of you? Mentioned anything you think might be pertinent?"

Sonata and Aria considered the question for a moment before Sonata chirped up.

"If you mean, 'does he spend every other breath talking about how he'll be a better Duke than you', then yeah. No, uh, no offence."

"None taken." Moon Spirit sighed. "Well, let it not be said my nephew is anything but charismatic. Perhaps we will have our hands fuller than we expected."

"Aw, you worry too much." Steel Shield grasped his goblet and threw it back with one great, swift motion before slamming it down on the table. "God! That'll knock the plague outta you." Rising to his feet, he slapped a great paw into Moon Spirit's back, causing the old man's eyes to bulge slightly. "I 'ave to get back to work - you know, make sure none of the new recruits are tryin' to juggle daggers or shoot a crossbow bolt through their nuts. Wouldn't want to make any more work for these two lads." He nodded towards Aria and Sonata, who both nodded back, one enthusiastically, the other with a look of grim disgust. "Take care, all of you."

A murmur of acknowledgement stirred across the table as Steel Shield thundered away, each great step causing the goblets on the table to shiver slightly. As soon as all were sure he was out of earshot, Aria groaned and leaned back on her seat.

"I think I'm doing some serious damage to my throat with that voice. I don't know how Adagio makes it look so easy."

"It's not that hard." Sonata chided, an evil grin crossing her face at an opportunity to mock her older sister. "But I guess if it's too hard, we can just pretend you're a simpleton who doesn't know how to talk. It shouldn't be too hard to convince everyone."

"Oh yeah? And maybe we can pretend you're not a complete disgrace to medicine. Where's your drink, Sonata? Going to get wasted and amputate the wrong leg - again?"

"Like you'd last five minutes without me! What's the division of labour again? Oh, that's right, I'm there to do everything while you hand me tools and try not to get in the way - "

"Ladies, please!" Moon Spirit cut in, causing both sisters to fall silent, content merely to glower at each other. "I - I'll pretend I didn't hear that comment about amputation." His gaze flickered to a candle burning softly in the corner with a series of black marks at regular intervals down its length. "As entertaining as this discussion has been, it has gone on for far too long."

"Sure." Adagio rose to her feet before grasping Sonata's collar and dragging her upright, ignoring her screech of protest. "You don't think we have anything to worry about? With Adagio, I mean."

Moon Spirit paused, then shook his head, apparently convincing himself. "Steel Spirit is right, I wouldn't worry about it. Like you said, she's probably just looking for a better-paid, lower-effort position." He paused, before strumming his fingers against the tabletop and clearing his throat awkwardly. "There might well be another explanation altogether," he offered charitably.

"Yeah?" Aria glanced up at him. "What?"

"Well... my nephew is a young man, and your co-worker is a young woman. It's entirely possible he is entertaining her for - "

"All right, I get it. Sorry I asked." Aria held up a hand, a grimace forming on her lips. "Look, just... trust me. It's not that. She's just sucking up to power and authority, same as usual. That's basically her hobby. It's pretty much all she ever does."

As the sun slowly dipped below the horizon, a flurry of activity blitzed through the city as orders and roaring commands began to be dispatched. Swords were rallied, armour donned, and torches lit. The work began.

"Get moving!"

The city's streets had darkened to a gloom, yet light still spilled through them from the hundreds of burning torches held fast in the tight grip of the guard, illuminating every doorway and windowsill in their eerie orange glow. The targets of their scorching fury wailed and groaned in agony as they were forced, be it by the roar of a voice or the point of a spear, forming a long column of suffering that shambled slowly through the street, making slow yet steady progress to their ultimate destination, the city gates.

Those too weak or too consumed with the affliction collapsed on the spot, the fortunate to be dragged from the column and dispatched in cold blood before they were crushed to death by a thousand naked feet of their shambling brethren. Corpses, some piled ten or twenty high, were stacked in every square, every open space and parting that could support them. As soon as they were deemed to have reached a critical mass, they were doused in oil and lit aflame, the possessions of the deceased tossed atop the burning totems as their foul stench floated into the air.

Atop two great steeds sat two figures, one wrapped in a thick cloak and obscured behind a thin, beaked mask, the other dressed in a fine velvet suit, his hands wrapped in luxurious leather gloves wrapped tightly in an iron grip around the reins to his beast. His eyes, hidden behind a thick ivory mask, studied the carnage around him, writ of his own hand. As he studied the despair, took in the misery on the faces, and smelt the ashes, he felt the first pang of conscience course through his body like a chill of ice through his blood. He glanced to his side, surprised to see his second observing the scene passively, her orchid eyes not flickering at the suffering.

A bark snapped Solar Spirit's attention away from Adagio and towards two soldiers who had cornered a young woman carrying a package in her arms. In one of their hands strained a dog, its collar little more than a thick chain wrapped around its neck, who was barking and scrabbling at the girl in a frenzy.

One of the guards reached out and pulled the cloth covering her face away, leaning in to inspect her. His frown only deepened as he took in the terrified, yet unblemished features of what appeared to be a woman in perfect health. He stepped back and was about to chastise his hound when his gaze suddenly flickered to the package in her arms - a package that had begun to stir and wail, even as it's desperate mother attempted in vain to soothe it, her wide, horrified eyes staring in dread at the approaching soldier.

Stepping forwards, he shot out an armoured hand, striking away the mother's grip. Tentatively, the guard peeled away the wrapping that concealed the infant's face. His eyes widened in shock and disbelief for a moment before they hardened.

"Give him to me."

With a howl of misery, the woman turned and attempted to run, only to trip and fall to her knees after two frantic, uncoordinated paces. As the soldiers approached, she cursed and bellowed in vain, before letting out a scream of fury and loss as her child was torn from her grip.

Solar Spirit watched this scene unfold with an unpleasant sense of guilt. He contemplated intervening, but what precedent would that set? Should he intervene for every suffering wretch, every grieving mother, every wanting child? He closed his eyes and tried in vain to refocus his attention away from what he had just witnessed. What was the life of one, compared to the need of the collective?

Once more, he turned his attention to Adagio, her gaze and fixed and resolute as ever. A small part of him admired her resolve, even as an equal part of him repelled from it. Catching his gaze, Adagio cocked her head to the side in a contemplative gaze.

"Something on your mind?"

"I..." Something about the candour in her voice unnerved him. Adagio clearly wasn't even remotely affected by the horror unfolding around her. What was it with this girl? She possessed the heart of a lion, somehow, by some cosmic accident, housed within body of a young woman. "It is... unpleasant work, is it not?"

"Unpleasant, but necessary." Adagio nodded towards a burning pile of cadavers a dozen yards from them, its ghoulish glow reflected in the ink-black void of her pupils. "My Lord, forgive me, but I was under the impression you were willing to do whatever it took to control this pestilence." Her gaze drifted to a group of men, each dressed in identical doctor's robes, who were being questioned by a furious guard. Apparently unsatisfied with the answer he had received, he drew a wooden bludgeon from his waist and began to strike one of the quacks. "Yet it sounds like you have doubts."

"Doubts plenty."

"All of this is for the greater good." Adagio stared back at him as if he were a simpleton. "A wound must be cleaned, before it can begin to heal."

"All the same, I wish I didn't have to be here to witness it."

"Is that so?" There it was, the mocking tone he despised so much. "Would you rather remain ensconced in your palace, away from the reality of your people?"

Solar Spirit grimaced. Suddenly, he was beginning to not just his presence, but Adagio's. "Of course I wouldn't. I would not make a decision I could not face down."

"I know you wouldn't. You're a man of resolve - I wouldn't want any other kind in your shoes."

The Duke turned away in a poor attempt at hiding his emotion. Inwardly, Adagio laughed to herself. She could see his resolve weakening every second. At this pace, she might not even need Aria or Sonata's assistance bringing the young Duke under her control.

"Come on." With a swing of her leg, she dismounted her horse and strode over to the Duke, raised eyebrow visible even behind her mask. "You should be seen to walk the streets, make sure your orders are executed - properly."

The Duke nodded, and seconds later his boots struck the dust. Slipping his mask off to reveal his golden eyes burning with anxiety, his stance seemed to tremble before he caught himself. Nodding towards Adagio, he began to pace forwards, followed closely behind by his surgeon. As they passed, soldiers and guards parted to let them by, each one of them stony-faced yet resolute.

"I had no idea my men were so loyal." Solar Spirit muttered, glancing over his shoulder at two guards dragging a weak young man whose body had been so consumed by the pestilence he was more rot than flesh through a doorway. "I had expected a strong resistance. But it seems Steel Shield truly was all that stood in the way."

"Of course." Adagio purred the response, her glowing eyes scanning the havoc around her. "They have watched this sickness consume their lives and city for years, while he remained safe and sound, sequestered away from the consequences of his inaction. Why would they not - "

"You!"

The roar of anger and hate came from nowhere, sending the pair of them spinning on the spot in an attempt to identify the source. A force slamming into Solar Spirit's chest alerted him to the origin, and an icy chill of fear shot through his bloodstream as he waited for the piercing of a blade that never came. What instead followed were a series of dull thuds to his chest as his assailant, a short, frail figure of what transpired to be an elderly woman, began to scream into his face.

"You murderer! Bastard, son of a whore, you took my husband, my son! You killed them! You killed them, you killed them, you -

"I - I - "

Paralyzed by shock, Solar Spirit could do little more than gawp at the woman, whose cries of rage quickly evaporated into tears and choking sobs, her strikes turning to pathetic tugs against his shirt.

"You... killed... them..."

As the woman began to wail, Adagio rolled her eyes and strode forwards. Grasping the crone by the collar of her dress, she tugged her away and tossed her aside, sending her crumpling into a pile a foot away from her own boots. With a click of her fingers, she pointed at two guards, who immediately snapped to attention. That the Duke's surgeon lacked any power over them mattered not. Something about the figure radiated an aura of total authority and command.

"Take her away. A night behind bars should temper her sentiments."

"Yes sir!"

Unflinchingly, the guards seized the woman by her arms and pulled her to her feet, half-marching and half-dragging her away. Adagio turned away and marched forwards, her mask disguising the scowl of contempt she shot towards the Duke as he hovered in place, his own face a stricken mask of conflict.

"What on earth are you doing?!"

The Duke had barely returned to the palace before the accusation was flung towards him. Standing at the opposite end of the great hall was his uncle, flanked by the familiar and thunderous face of the Captain of the Guard and two cloaked figures which took him a few moments to identify, but who were clocked instantaneously by Adagio as she followed him through the door, her appearance earning a raised eyebrow from Moon Spirit.

It took a few moments for Solar Spirit to react, pulling himself upright and fixing his uncle with a resolute glare, much to Adagio's relief.

"Taking action - action you and my father would not. I am saving my city. And who are you, precisely, to question my judgement as Duke?"

"I am your uncle! The brother of your father, who left me in charge of guiding you into the throne! How dare you sneak through the shadows like this, behind my back! How dare you betray his dying wish!"

"Your guidance has been well noted, uncle. But my father's dying wish was that I would inherit his position. And yet, time and time again, you and Steel Shield have stood in my way. It seems the ones who have opted to betray his wishes are you."

Moon Spirit's eyes bulged in rage at that, and Steel Shield opted to step in before the argument could turn uglier.

"You uncle is right. You 'ave no right to bypass me, no more than I 'ave any to write laws for you. By tomorrow, my men will lay down their arms - at my order."

"Perhaps." Solar Spirit nodded. "And perhaps I will see fit to select a new Captain of the Guard. There are many eager lieutenants deserving of promotion."

Steel Shield's eyes deadened. "And you think they'd listen to you? Over me?"

"Are you threatening what I think you're threatening, Steel Shield?" Solar Spirit's words burned like acid flowing from his lips. "I'm sure you know the penalty for treason." He glanced over the Captain's shoulder. "And what of my new physicians? Strange players to bring along. Or are these the best amongst my inner circle you could muster against me, uncle?" He shook his head. "Two doctors and a remnant of a bygone age. Pitiful."

"Your Grace?" Adagio decided to cut in, eying her sisters cautiously. They hadn't moved once, opting instead to stare at her with cold, unreadable eyes, but there was always the chance they might decide to take matters into their own hands - or song. "Perhaps you should retire to your chambers."

"Excuse me?"

"Just my professional opinion. You've had a long day, further stress will do you no good."

Solar Spirit moved as if to put up a fight, then, catching sight of his uncle one last time, he relented.

"Fine. There's no more that can be accomplished tonight. Let us deal with this tomorrow."

His boots struck the floor with muffled thuds as he strode away, not sparing a single glance back at his assembled opposition. Moon Spirit sighed as he watched his nephew depart, then turned his attention to Adagio.

"I see you and the young Duke are quite close." There was no accusation behind the statement, it was a mere observation of fact. "Close enough that he saw fit to bring you along to witness his vision. Or perhaps you yourself played some part in all this?"

"I have no idea what you mean." Adagio's voice was cool and empty of any emotion. "I am the Duke's head physician. I spend much of my time by his side. What happens around him is none of my affair."

Neither Moon Spirit nor Steel Shield seemed satisfied at that, but neither bothered perusing her for an answer. Instead, they muttered between themselves and glanced over their shoulders at Aria and Sonata, who remained cloaked, masked and immobile.

"We'll leave you three alone."

With no further ceremony, the two men departed, whispering furiously amongst each other. In less than a minute, the hall was empty. The silence that descended between the three of them was deafening. When neither Aria and Sonata made any noise, nor moved an inch, Adagio rolled her eyes and stepped forwards, daring to throw back her hood and remove her mask.

"Well, I think we're well on our way to power. You'll both be pleased to know the Duke is hanging onto my every word - no thanks to you two, of course." She cocked her head and a small, cruel smile played itself onto her features. "Oh, don't tell me you're jealous."

"This isn't a game, Adagio!" Without warning, Sonata threw back her hood and glared at her older sister, violet eyes burning with contempt. "How can you joke about something like - "

"Something like what?" Adagio retorted, her voice quick and sharp. "You're getting soft, Sonata. How many humans have you watched die, again?"

"That's not the point!" Sonata shot back, eyes narrowing. "The city should be helping those people - giving them water and food, establishing a quarantine, not throwing them outside the city limits to die!"

"Oh, of course. Why don't you give everyone a thousand aurelia while you're at it?"

"You're sick." Sonata jeered, the disgust in her voice now thick and frothing with hate. "You know me and Aria won't help you keep the Duke in power, so you're just trying to drive a wedge between him and his uncle. You're transparent, and obvious, and it's pathetic."

"Really?" Adagio hadn't expected Sonata to see through her that easily, but she hid her surprise masterfully. "How do you know Aria hasn't already agreed to help me?"

"Because she - because - Aria, are you going to back me up here?!"

Two pairs of eyes fell on the final, silent, hooded figure.

"Aria?"

Aria sighed and slid her hood over her head. "She's got a point, Sonata."

"What?!"

Sonata's shriek of fury echoed across the walls, causing the other two Sirens to wince. Rubbing her ears, Aria scowled before continuing.

"Well, she does. Not that she has to be such a smug bitch about it. This - all of what's happening - maybe it's for the best. I know you're fond of humans, and all, but if you really want to help them - "

"It's not about being fond, Ari! It's about helping people - innocent people!"

"Sonata, they're not like us. I know they look like us, but they aren't. Do you even know how long one of them lives on average? In sixty years, every single one of them out there will be dead and gone. Maybe it's better to endure a little cruelty now, if it means peace later."

"This isn't peace!"

"Looks like you're outvoted, Sonata." Adagio's high, mocking voice floated across the room. "Good to see you've taken control of your senses, Aria. If you come with me, we can put the Duke under our spell right now - "

"I didn't say I was on your side, Adagio." Aria snapped, glaring at her older sister, whose smug expression melted away in an instant to be replaced with one of surprise. "Moon Spirit's right, the Duke is unhinged. You want my support, help me put him on the throne."

The two Sirens stared at each other intently, until Adagio broke her gaze with a curse. Aria sighed, rubbing her temples in frustration.

"I didn't think so."

"Why does it matter which human we prop up in the first place?" Adagio complained, tapping her foot against the floor impatiently.

"It seems to matter a lot to you." Aria pointed out, raising an eyebrow. "Look, our spell loses its potency with time. How tight is our control over him going to be in forty years? Whoever we chose has to have a sound judgement - and from what I've seen, this Solar Spirit's judgement is about as far from sound as it gets. Until you're willing to meet me on this, you're going to have to find another way to get the Duke to play nice."

"We need a young human, someone who'll be on the throne for a long time - "

"No, we need an older one, he'd be easier to control - "

"What is wrong with you two?!" Sonata roared, stunning the pair of her sisters into silence. "You're talking about two people! Living, thinking, feeling creatures! How can you be so indifferent? Am I the only one of us with a fucking heart?!"

Before either of them could respond, she turned heel and stormed off, leaving behind two silent, startled and bemused Sirens.

The moon was approaching its zenith in the night sky when Adagio knocked softly on the door to Solar Spirit's chambers. When there was no response, she pushed the door open, and slowly stepped inside.

The Duke was standing in front of a broad window as she entered. He stiffened at her entry, then relaxed when he caught a sight of her in the darkened glass.

"Adagio." There was an unreadable quantity in his voice. Not quite relief, but something close. "It's late. How come you're still awake?"

"I could ask you the same question." Adagio replied, her voice quiet yet clearly audible. In the darkness of the room which the soft, flickering candles laid into to the walls barely cut into, she couldn't make the Duke's face out clearly. "I can't sleep."

"You and me both."

"I guessed as much." Adagio stepped up next to Solar Spirit, staring through the glass pane at the bonfires that were scattered throughout the city, each one like a tiny burning ember of a long-dead firepit. "My sisters and I have had an argument. A bad one. I don't know if we're coming back from it this time."

"Your sister?"

"Aria and Adagio. I apologize for not being frank with you from the beginning, but I feared you wouldn't take us seriously as physicians if you knew we were related."

Solar Spirit seemed genuinely stunned by this revelation. "Well, don't worry. There's no finer surgeons in this city, that's for sure." He coughed delicately. "They're lucky to have you looking out for them."

"Thank you, your Grace."

"Oh, please. I don't want you of all people toadying to me. It's Solar Spirit. Adagio, I... I can't..." He grimaced, as if trying to work out how to spit something painful out. In the end, he gave up and returned to staring pensively out of the window.

A silence fell between the pair of them once again. Adagio waited patiently, trying to time the tension perfectly.

"So, what's keeping you awake?"

"My uncle." He let out a short, soft laugh. "What else? The last of my close kin thinks I'm a murderer. My own Captain of the Guard agrees with him. How could I sleep with such a burden on my shoulders?"

"They'll change their minds." Adagio replied confidently. "When they see the good your actions are doing, they'll have no choice."

"I hope so. But... it's more than that." A genuinely pained tone creeped into his voice. "What I saw today - the consequences of my own actions - I cannot pretend they did not shake me. I thought I had the stomach for this, but now I'm beginning to wonder if I really am suited to this office."

"What?!" Adagios roared the word, rounding on the Duke in an instant. Her vision flashed red with rage as she watched all her efforts begin to evaporate before her.

"Perhaps I was wrong. Perhaps my uncle would be better suited to this throne." He glanced down at the Siren before him. "Your kind words are appreciated, as always, but I'm afraid I have to reconsider my position."

Her fingers wrapped themselves into a fist out of frustration. What was the matter with this guy?

"So that's it? You're just going to lie down, let him walk all over you?" She strode forwards and shoved the Duke, surprising both of them with her forthrightness. "I thought you wanted to take control of this city. Change it. For the better."

"I - I do. I just... how dare you treat your Duke this way!"

"Please." Adagio rolled her eyes, genuine contempt simmering behind her irises. "Is that meant to be a threat? You can't even stand up to an old lady, and now you're going to stand up to me?"

"I don't want to fight you, Adagio."

"Yeah?" Adagio dared another shove. "What are you going to do about it - "

Her sneer was cut short as the furious-looking Duke grasped her arm, his grip a band of iron around her wrist. For a few seconds, they stared at each other, one gaze stricken, the other defiant.

"What are you - "

His lips pressed to hers before she even knew what was happening, a sudden, swift and completely unexpected movement that sent her eyes shooting wide open and froze her on the spot. After a few indescribable seconds, he withdrew, his eyes now widening with shock.

"I - I apologize, I don't know what I was - "

Adagio closed her eyes and held up a hand, silencing the Duke as she tried to collect her thoughts. A few moments passed between them, the air around them as still as could be. Her eyes opened, twin rose orbs that seemed to glow in the dusk, burning themselves into their target. Without warning, her rigid scowl split into a mischievous grin as she came to her decision.

"You know, I was wondering what was taking you so long..."

With a fluid movement of her arms, her robe slipped over her shoulders and fell to her ankles, the rush of air to her skin sending a shiver down her spine. Even with the only sources of light in the room being the soft, flickering candles holstered to the wall, she could make out every detail of Solar Spirit's stupefied expression, feel the heat from his flushed expression, even discern the individual, rapid beats of his thunderous heart. Once again, her body pressed to his, her wandering hands this time leaving no doubt as to her intentions.

One more shove sent him crashing onto his bed, where he barely had time to take in breath before she crawled atop him and drew the curtains around them.