At the Gate

Blue skies,

Makaya Gladwell twirled along the bridge that overlooked Atalka. She was patiently waiting for her mortality to arrive. Death was a strange thing to long for, but Makaya Gladwell had been alive for long enough. There were people she needed to reunite with.

Smiling at me,

It was nightfall, with a half-moon reflecting onto the river. Makaya glanced down, reminiscing. The water was once her home, but the two had been apart for several years.

Nothing but blue skies,

Jingfei was still unconscious. Makaya had tried to move her to a more comfortable position, but it was difficult in the cramped security booth. That didn't matter. Jingfei probably didn't have that much time left anyway. Makaya looked at the towering black gate behind her. It loomed back, its entrance firmly closed.

Do I see.

Ella Fitzgerald's voice continued to play from the speaker in the booth. Makaya hummed along, swaying with the music peacefully. A smile tugged at her lips as several black cars pulled onto the bridge. They all stopped before Makaya, waiting for her to open the gate.

Bluebirds,

The first car door opened, revealing the person she had expected. "Brandon Matthews." Makaya mused. Two more people exited the car. From the way they were looking at each other, they were husband and wife. Love. Despite being a siren, it was the one thing Makaya couldn't wrap her mind around.

Singing a song.

Makaya did know love. Once. It didn't last. "Agent Thompson, how has it been getting back on the field?" Agent Matthews asked the wife. He wasn't even looking at Makaya. It was like she didn't exist.

"Quite exciting." Agent Thompson responded in a British accent. "After our daughter, we were looking for purpose again. Returning to the Agency was the best decision we've ever made."

"I haven't been able to express my condolences about your daughter." said Agent Matthews. "The temptation of magic has a stronger pull on some of us, and we're not always able to resist."

Nothing but bluebirds,

"So, this is it." said Agent Matthews, gesturing in Makaya's direction. "It made all of this possible."

"It's so pretty." The husband noted, ignoring the glare he got from his wife. "Is it truly as intelligent as you say?"

"I'm not an 'it'." Makaya retorted.

All day long.

The strange, fixated gazes were nothing to her. She had dealt with stares as long as she could remember, even before the Forbidden brand had burned its way onto her skin. In both life and death, for better or worse, Makaya was something to look at.

Nothing made Makaya angrier than her death. She could recall each moment in vivid detail, from the sea breeze on her face to the cramped room they had forced her and little Jamie to stay in because there were no "colored" rooms available. "Colored" persons were not meant to be on the cruise in the first place, but upon the insistence of Mrs. Dorothy-Lousie Gartner, exceptions were made.

The back of the boat became a private reservation under the Gartner name. Makaya and her mother-in-law had entered the boat after the crowd, like a dreaded secret. James was supposed to be here. He had promised in his letter. That was the only reason she had come. She was here to see her love again.

Makaya scanned the dock one last time, but she already knew it was pointless. He wasn't coming, and he never would. A tear slipped down Makaya's young cheek, but she wiped it away. She had to be strong. For him.

"Daddy's coming soon." Makaya promised softly to the infant bundled in her arms. Little Jamie had his father's eyes, and a gorgeous hue that echoed his father's pale complexion and his mother's dark pearly skin. Jamie cooed back.

As Makaya walked behind Mrs. Gartner, she tried to make herself taller. It wasn't enough to make her feel like she belonged, but at least it salvaged the little dignity she had left. Dignity was hard to come by when people would spit on her for walking with James in the street.

"Come on, girl." Mrs. Gartner snapped. Makaya had wanted nothing more than to become Mrs. James Gartner herself, but the Gartner name had lost its enchantment. Mrs. Gartner was cruel, and her son wasn't even here.

"I promise I'll keep you safe, Jamie." Makaya whispered to her baby. "I'm never letting you go."

A worker helped Mrs. Gartner carry her suitcase, and she walked onto the ship empty handed. Makaya struggled to carry both her luggage and her child safely, but no one cared.

Mrs. Gartner had gotten her own suite. For Makaya, The crew members had cleared out a closet and hastily placed a cot inside. There was barely any space, and no crib to be seen. Someone had painted "coloreds only" on the door, just in case an innocent white passenger wandered too far. Makaya rolled her eyes, but the carrier was moving further and further from the shore, cementing her fate. She would be here for a while.

Makaya set the suitcase down in her room, if she could even call it that. Her baby fell asleep with the rocking of the waves, and Makaya watched him, a gentle content in her soul. Despite everything, she had Jamie. This was all she needed. Maybe this was what love was supposed to be.

There was a knock on the door. Makaya bundled Jamie safely into her arms before answering. When she opened the creaky door, she was surprised to find Mrs. Gartner.

"Come to the balcony with me." Mrs. Gartner had carefully placed her platinum blonde hair into pin curls, and had tucked it in a white hat with a thin brim. Her blue pinstriped dress stopped short of her ankles, and a belt cinched it at her waist. The innocent look in her hazel gaze felt genuine, and Makaya trusted it. She was still recovering from James' betrayal, but it looked like Mrs. Gartner was too. James had left both of them.

Makaya nodded humbly, and stood up. She slowly walked to the railing, watching the waves.

"I thought he would come," said Mrs. Gartner, lighting a cigarette. She didn't bother to look at Jamie, who was still peacefully sleeping.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Gartner." said Makaya, her shy voice barely audible.

"Speak up, girl." Mrs. Gartner commanded.

"Yes, Miss." Makaya obeyed.

"I see why he wanted you." Mrs. Gartner continued. "You might be beautiful if you weren't so dark."

James had never looked at her that way. When they danced under the stars to that Fitzgerald song, he wasn't focused on the way his pale hands sharply contrasted hers. His eyes were always locked in hers. He was in love. Or so she had thought.

"Why would you cut him off?" Makaya asked, a hint of bravery shining though. "If it was just love, why would you punish him for it?"

Mrs. Gartner laughed. "Honey, he didn't feel any love for you. No one of his stature will ever love someone like you. He had lust." She took a drag of her cigarette. "If it was really love, he would be here, don't you think?"

Makaya looked down at Jamie to quell the sadness in her heart. It worked miraculously well. "He's still here in a way. Through his son."

"So that's really his." said Mrs. Gartner, looking at the baby. She sounded disappointed.

"Of course. We couldn't have rings, but we never strayed." said Makaya, kissing her child's sweet forehead.

"How tragic," said Mrs. Gartner. Makaya looked at her in confusion. "I just... Well, what do you think about Greek mythology?" Mrs. Gartner asked.

"Never got the chance to study it." said Makaya, shrugging.

"Well, can I tell you a story?" Mrs. Gartner asked. Makaya nodded. "The adventurer Odysseus was warned that as he journeyed the seas, he would encounter creatures called sirens. They sang an irresistible melody that would cause seafarers to fall into the sea, never to be seen again. Odysseus was the only one to hear their songs and survive. He had his sailors tie him to the mast with rope, and commanded that they never let him go, no matter how much he begged."

"Nifty." said Makaya, unsure of why she was being told this.

"Isn't it?" Mrs. Garner asked. "I'm very sorry, honey." She pulled earplugs out of her pocket and put them on. "I didn't bring any rope."

"What?" Makaya asked. Fear rushed through her body as she realized what was happening. Mrs. Gartner exited the balcony and shut the gate behind her, trapping Makaya.

From somewhere, Makaya could hear music play for the other passengers of the ship.

Never saw the sun shining so bright.

Fitzgerald. It was their song. Tears fell down Makaya's cheeks as she looked across the empty balcony, and the ugly painted words, "colored persons only". It made her sick, and more than that, humiliated. As she began to emit ugly, heaving sobs, she realized that she had no dignity left.

Never saw things going so right.

The song was coming from a new place. The waves were calling to her. Singing about a life with James if he had stayed. Her mind was gone, dancing under the stars with the love of her life. When her consciousness returned, she was standing on the other side of the railing, her dirty dress flying in the sea-breeze.

Noticing the days hurrying by.

The ocean begged Makaya to join her in the waves. Beneath the sea foam, she thought she could see James. She thought she could see him smile, like he was there the whole time. Makaya's hand uncurled, and she began her descent to the sea forever.

When you're in love, my how they fly.

Halfway through descent, Makaya screamed with horror. She had never let go of her baby.

Blue days,

Makaya screamed, not for her life, but for her child's. Desperate bubbles flew to the surface, but hands pushed her down. Sirens, with their cruel, beautiful faces, pushed her deeper into the blue abyss. Makaya fought as hard as she could to make it back to the sky, but even the sky held no hope for her.

All of them gone.

There were no stars in the sky. Not like that night with James. It was starless. Hopeless. This was where her life would end, with Jamie. With no choice, no power, no control, nothing. She would disappear. No one would miss her.

From now on.

Agent Matthews looked at Makaya with a mixture of horror and awe. Never before had a Forbidden gotten control over their death. Makaya would be the first. This was her story, and she had made sure of it. Her life was going to end, and it was going to be her call.

One of the Agent Thompsons walked over to the security booth and shut off the music player. Ella's song went mute as the gate slid open, welcoming several black vehicles inside. Death descended upon the town of Atalka, with the steady hum of engines as its score.

"I have everything I want," said Makaya. "It's time." Only Agent Matthews and the two Thompson agents remained.

"The way to kill a siren is simple. She must sing for him, and he must live to tell the tale." said Agent Matthews.

Makaya laughed. "I've sung for several, and they have lived, whether they remember it or not."

"You need to be vulnerable," said Agent Matthews. "Something tells me you're not familiar with that."

"Vulnerability got me killed," said Makaya.

"All you need to do is sing for me. Release everything. At your most vulnerable, I'll shoot. I'll live, and you'll stay dead." Agent Matthews explained. "Of course, that's what you want, isn't it?"

"Backing out, Agent Matthews?" Makaya asked. "Because I came prepared for that. You will end my life, and it will be my choice."

"What makes you think I'll follow through on a promise made to a Forbidden?" Agent Matthews asked, his voice venomous.

"Agents. So predictable." said Makaya.

"You're not bound by a promise made to one of those creatures." said Agent Thompson, his voice gruff. "Tie her up, and we can put her with the others. She doesn't have to win."

Makaya smiled. She had planned for this. It had taken a lot of careful thought, but it was finally paying off. Agent Matthews wasn't going to keep his dignity. She was. She had made sure that he would kill her tonight.

"I never saw the sun shining so bright, never saw things going oh-so right. Noticing the days hurrying by, when you're in love, my how they fly." Makaya sang, thoughts of James, Mrs. Gartner, and Jamie filling her voice.

Nothing was able to heal Makaya's scars. Not even taking lives through Jane-Anne. The only way for her to heal was to die anew, this time with all the cards in her hand. Then, finally, she would see Jamie. After almost a century of waiting, she would see her baby boy at last.

Every emotion she had hidden behind a smile was finally visible, and even Agent Matthews couldn't ignore the pang in his heart. Still, a wicked grin spread across his face as he emptied the bullets from his gun. They clinked against the pavement, each small projectile delivering a devastating blow to Makaya's plan.

"Brandon Matthews." said Makaya, making a small tsk sound. "You're gonna regret you did that."

Agent Matthews didn't say anything. He wordlessly nodded to Agent Thompson, who approached Makaya with handcuffs.

"Wait!" Makaya called. Her voice held enough power to make everyone stop in their tracks. "Brandon Matthews, I killed your daughter." She smirked as horror filled Agent Matthews's face.

"That's right." Makaya continued. "It was easy, honestly. I can't believe you didn't notice that your daughter's been acting differently. You know, deep down, something about her changed. I'd check her right wrist for a Forbidden brand if I were you."

"Blue days, all of them gone. Nothing but blue skies, from now on." Makaya sang, her soul once again on display. In a flash, Agent Matthews snatched a gun from Agent Thompson's waistband. Before he could be stopped, Agent Matthews had pulled the trigger.

Bang.

A/N: So we finally know the full truth. As twisted as it is, it looks like Makaya got what she wanted. I'm not going to lie, this is actually my favorite chapter in the book. It was just so fun to write, has a different tone from the rest of the book. Makaya may be gone, but the Agency is now heading for Atalka!

QOTD: What do you think about Makaya now?