Siren Song by A. C. Warneke

you and all of your sisters are all touched by it, naturally.”
    “ Naturally,” Lexi agreed simply because she had no idea what else to say.
    “ We just assumed you only got a smidgen of Siren blood,” Charisma continued, visibly distraught at having to have the conversation. “Since you used to shun the spotlight.”
    Lexi nodded, remembering how her sisters loved preforming in the school plays, and how adept they were within their social circles. But what did that have to do with her? She’d rather have been caught dead then have to get up on the stage and say her name. Thoughts were raging through her head and her scalp was itching but she ruthlessly ignored it; she had the feeling she needed to concentrate completely on the conversation she was having because it was all very random, what with the talk of her extroverted sisters, her dotty Aunt Cassandra, Sirens, and sex. “All of you are the life of any party.”
    “ It’s more than that,” her mother said. “People, men especially, are drawn to us and there are certain things we can do that… increase the attraction. It’s the allure of the Siren.”
    “ Of course it is because why wouldn’t it be?” Lexi couldn’t take anything they were saying very seriously because Sirens were a myth, to explain manatees and shipwrecks. Standing up, she started to leave when the waiter appeared with her wine, his puppy dog gaze traveling to Agatha with devotion.
    “ Thank you,” Agatha murmured, dismissing the poor man with a smile.
    Lexi could only stare as the man handed her the glass and then blissfully made his way back to the kitchen. Looking at her family, seeing their expectant expressions, she exhaled, “Come on; that doesn’t prove anything. He’s a waiter; he's doing his job.”
    “ Thea?” her mother said while holding Lexi’s eyes.
    Thea preened, straightening her shoulders and thrusting out her generous breasts. With a demure smile, she met the eyes of a distinguished older gentleman across the room and with a come-hither glance, she silently invited him over to the table. When he arrived, he stood proudly before them and cleared his throat, “Ah, the lovely Rudnar women and Ms. Beauregard; it is a pleasure to see you looking so well this afternoon.”
    “ Thank you, Mr. Lenao,” Thea purred. “That will be all.”
    Lexi shook her head as the gentleman left, a loopy grin at odds with his dignified mien. “Still doesn’t prove anything. Mr. Lenao has always been friendly. Now, if you could make Mrs. Lenao act as graciously I might believe you.”
    “ Oh, sit down, Alexandra,” Thea growled.
    Lexi sat and then glared at her oldest sister, “You did not make me do that.”
    Thea looked startled for a moment and then the whole table chuckled softly, the tension of a moment before eased. Reluctantly, Lexi smiled, “So, it’s a sort of mind control?”
    “ No, not at all,” Aunt Sophie smiled. “It’s simply the Siren’s allure; her… influence. We cannot make anyone do something they truly don’t want to do; we can only… nudge.”
    “ Until we push them right off the cliff.” Lexi shook her head, torn between laughter and pulling her hair out by the roots. Luckily, the green wig prevented the second option. “Say I believe you about being a Siren, or whatever; what does that have to do with me? As you said, I was an awkward child, preferring my books to the limelight.”
    Aunt Sophie and her mom exchanged looks again and Lexi slammed her hands down on the table, “Would you stop doing that? I’m not a child; I can handle whatever you have to tell me.”
    “ We think you might have a little bit more Siren blood in you than we first realized,” Charisma said slowly. At Lexi’s blank expression, she caught her lower lip between her teeth and frowned, “You see, the Siren gene is passed from mother to daughter but not every female shares the same... gifts. Those with a higher concentration of the Siren gene tend to be