"So what's the plan?" Denise asks behind me. The both of us are hidden in the edge of the forest surrounding the Minotaur village. 

I take out a pair of night visions that I stole from dad's inventory of gadgets. I also took his tasers, torchlight, ski mask and gloves. I put on my gloves to ensure that no traces of my DNA is left behind.

If I ever get caught, I'll be in so much trouble. 

"There will only be one guard at their cell," I communicate with Denise through my mind. I'm so glad that we had weeks for her to teach me to do it because it's best to not talk out loud for any Minotaurs with special hearing to overhear us. "You will have to carry me and run straight towards that building there. Can you see? The small slightly isolated one from the other buildings."

She nods in response. I strap my bag of tools to my back and climb onto Denise's back. Her wings have not healed fully so the idea of her flying the kids away from here is thrown out of the window.

It doesn't help that Minotaurs have superior sense of smell.

"After this, I want you to get out of here," I tell her, scanning the surroundings in case of any patrollers. I doubt there would be many guards since ever since the werewolf intrusion, the Alpha is focusing on their borders in the north with the pack.

"Are you crazy? You can't defend yourself and the children! You're still a kid too!" Denise protests, shaking her head violently.

I tighten my grip on her neck. "No, I need you to draw attention away from the prison block. At this moment, a Minotaur or two would have caught your scent and tracking you down as we speak. We need to hurry, you have to drop me a block or two away from the prison and I'll run from there. Run!"

Denise doesn't argue as she runs towards where I pointed. She stops a few hundred metres away from the prison and lets me down. 

"Try to get as many Minotaurs after you and get them to stay away from here for the next 15 minutes. Once you loose them, head to Jesseltown and to Red Moon River. Go!" I instruct and then put on a ski mask. 

She turns tail and runs off while I run towards the prison building. I am glad that my Siren self have a very faint scent trail, so the Minotaurs wouldn't think that there's an intruder. Even if they can smell me, they wouldn't think I'll be the culprit since I came here with the family just hours ago.

I sneak into the unlocked building and found a guard asleep at the entrance of the building. Unfortunately he woke up at the light sound and growls at me. He doesn't hesitate to lurch out of his chair and come after me with a startling snarl. 

I grab my taser and shoot him at a maximum level. The human-form Minotaur drops to the ground, jerking violently. I check the desk of the guard to see if he had activated an alarm, which he thankfully didn't. 

Minotaurs and their overgrown confidence to settle a small-sized intruder, I grumble inwardly as I run into the Elves' cell. 

"Pev?" Petula says sleepily when she spots me trying to pick the lock.

I roll my eyes. "If I could magically open this bars without these tools, I definitely am Pev."

Luckily, Pecker is more alert and recognises my voice. "Melinda? How did ye know we are here?"

"No time to chat," I tell them mentally, opening the door with a loud creek. The children jump to their feet and hug me. Petula starts to cry while Pecker is talking non-stop about how they end up here until I hush both of them. "We need to get out of here. Hurry up!"

I take Pecker into my arms and lead Petula away from the prison towards the nearest river. Pecker flinches when a few Minotaur howls echoes through the woods. I speed up and pray that Denise knows to avoid the river area. 

"Can you two swim?" I ask them outloud the moment we reach the river. The current is moving and strong, which should help shorten our journey.

Both of them nods. 

"Thank God," I say, taking off my mask and gloves, stuffing them into my bag. "This is the river that will lead us towards Jesseltown. At this rate, it'll take about 10 minutes to get there."

"Ye want us to swim to another town?!" Petula screeches.

"Yes," I reply bluntly, taking out my phone to check the map again. I hate swimming in rivers since it's shallower than the sea, but I have no choice. I put all my fragile technology into a water-proof bag. "I'll help you. I will help get to the surface to let you guys breathe every 20 seconds."

"How are ye going to help us?" Pecker asks softly, staring at the river in fear.

I jump into the river and let the transformation change me. When I'm done, I swim to the surface to find the two children looking startled at my Siren form.

"Yer a Siren?" Petula asks in surprise. 

I ignore her question and orders, "Jump in. Quickly. Now, I want you to take in a deep breath and hold onto my hand. Close your eyes too, the sand can irritate your eyes. I'll take you up for a breathe in 20 seconds' time."

The children are cooperative as I swim us towards the outskirts of Jesseltown. 

Once we reach our destination, the children are shivering violently while I will myself to transform into my human self and stay dry. We stay where while we wait for the Dark Pegasus. 

"It makes sense!" Petula says excitedly while she shivers in cold. "Ye can communicate with us because yer a Siren!"

"Are there more Sirens with ye?" Pecker asks.

"How come ye can change into human form?"

"Where is yer village?

"I don't want to talk about it," I snap angrily at the both of them and then they fell silent, scared to anger me again. I sigh in guilt. "How did you wander into the Minotaur's territory anyway? You guys should have known to avoid these places."

The both of them look at each other in sadness, making me fear of the worst.

"We were getting away from the Hunter's grasp, but instead, we were led straight into an ambush," Petula says, eyes glazed. "Pev fights them off with the warriors, but there were too many of them. The Hunters, I mean. I took Pecker and ran as far as I can away from the fight. It's my fault that we were caught."

She looks down in shame while her brother hugs her. 

"What happened to the others?"

"We don't know," Pecker answers for her sister since she's crying. 

I sigh at the unfortune they have to face. I don't blame Petula for trying to save herself and her brother. I'm just glad that I happen to be around to find where they are captured. 

If I hadn't come... they would be in the Minotaur's clasp and in the Hunter's lair by afternoon.

Speaking of the afternoon, I check my phone to see that it's 4 a.m.. I need to be home and try to get some sleep before heading to school. Not to mention I have to pretend that everything is normal.

At that moment, Denise appears from the trees with scratches on her hinds and back.

"Denise!" the children yells happily, running towards the Dark Pegasus.

Denise nuzzles the children tenderly and looks at me with a strange look on her horse face. "Thank you for saving them, youngling."

I shrug. "Anyone would have done it. You guys need to be on your way before any other supernatural scents or spots you."

I help to get the children to sit on Denise's back and give my bag to Petula. "There are some survival tools in there that you may need. Be careful and stay hidden, okay? You're in charge of your brother now, so listen to Denise."

Petula nods with tears in her eyes. Denise whines as she looks at me.

"Will you be okay?" Denise asks me, concern lace in her voice. 

I nod with a small smile. "I will be. Just take care of these two. Make sure you don't stay in one place for too long or else the Minotaurs or werewolves will catch up to you."

Denise stares for a moment and then turns back into the forest. "We will meet again, youngling."

Once the Dark Pegasus is gone, I book an Uber to head back to Newborough and go back to my regular life.