Siren's Song, NaNo 2008, Chapter Twelve

A few more weeks had passed and life had never more blissful for Senga. She finally had someone sturdy, someone steady to hold on to. And Tucker didn’t seem to mind. She liked the pattern that was emerging: wake up, have breakfast, learn and help Tucker practice poker, lunch, work, dinner, work, then capping it all off with sexy fun times back in their suite. Hades hadn’t even bothered them. Hades didn’t even seem to be around at all, which was fine by them.
Life was good.
For a while.

Siren's Song, NaNo 2008, Chapter Eleven

Senga rolled over, groaning. Her bed was entirely too hot and something kept kicking the back of her legs. For a brief moment, a cold pit formed in her stomach. This wasn’t her bed. And that was…a man? Tucker. She let herself breathe, and settled back against him. His arms just curled around her tighter.
This was different. And she liked it. Opening her eyes to wipe the sleep out, she thought she saw Hades glaring at her. And flames coming from his hands. She blinked, startled, and the image was gone. Tucker stretched behind her, his hands creeping up her stomach to her breasts. They paused momentarily, and he let out a loud yawn.
“Mmm, what have I found here?” he whispered into her ear. She giggled and rolled over to face him and kiss him.
“Just a strange, naked girl in your bed.” She said when she pulled away from kissing him.

Siren's Song, NaNo 2008, Chapter Ten

Tucker picked her up at the apartment an hour later. Senga was giggling like a school girl when he buzzed up to the apartment.
“I got the Jaguar, I mean your chariot awaits, my lady.” Senga grinned to herself, and adjusted the neckline of her barely appropriate dress to make her boobs look bigger.
Down the elevator she went, hopping from foot to foot in her heels. And there Tucker was, looking as handsome as ever. With more roses. Senga grinned so wide, her face would have broken. Tucker offered his arm to her, which she took gladly. He smiled down at her, and led her out to the car, the flashing neon lights of the Strip reflected in the windows and glossy paint job of the sports car. Senga reached a finger out to touch the car. Tucker laughed and playfully slapped her hand away.
“It’s a rental, Shhhh.”
“We’d better stay out of the backseat then.”

Siren's Song, NaNo 2008, Chapter Nine

The night was a success. All 20 people who came and listened were upset that the regular girl wasn’t there, but Senga soon won them over. Why wouldn’t she? She had a sad beauty, and the crowd seemed to love it. One person in the crowd commented she had a voice like an angel. Senga just smiled and went on with the lounge tunes. Maybe if more people came, she’d sing her own stuff.

At the end of the week, the manager gave her the pay for a week’s worth of singing. And what did she do with it? She went to the casino. She hadn’t had the chance to try out any of the slots.

She happened to glance over at the private poker rooms, out of curiosity, and saw the man being frog-marched by two rather rough looking men from the room. Not good. She tossed down the last of her drink and followed them, pausing at the slot machines every so often, just in case she was being watched. The guards led the man out to a loading bay, a rather dark and barren area to go in the middle of the night. Senga couldn’t head back there, so she went around the building. Which took forever. There was no time to sight see, not yet. When she finally reached the back of the building, the guards had gone, and the man was on the ground, groaning. His two black eyes were beginning to swell, as was his bottom lip.

“Hey…” She said softly, when she crouched beside him. “Need a hand?”

Siren's Song, NaNo 2008, Chapter Eight

The flight landed in Vegas, first thing in the morning. Senga was excited. As soon as she got off the plane, she could feel the change. It happened in every city she went to. There was a pulse, a thumping that couldn’t be denied. And she loved it.

“Ready for some action?” Hades asked, grinning over at her.

Senga laughed, “Maybe, I’m exhausted though. Kinda wanna just go and unpack and sleep for a very long time.”

“You’re no fun! We should go to a casino. Or a bar. Or both!” he bounced a little, tugging on her arm.

“Maybe tomorrow, let’s just get to your place for now. I really need to sleep.” She said, yawning to illustrate her point. Maybe she was exaggerating, but she wanted to get used to the city slowly. She had a feeling Andy wouldn’t find her here.

Hades nodded. “Ooooookay.” He even pouted a little. “Baggage check is this way.” He said, tugging on her hand to lead her in the right direction.

She just smiled and was lead. Glancing around and getting her bearings. The terminals had slot machines. And it was awesome.

Siren's Song, NaNo 2008, Chapters Six and Seven

Senga went back to her car, alone. She needed to get out of there. Trying to party and be happy with her friends just wasn’t in the cards tonight. She’d done the rounds, congratulated her friends, and hitched up her skirts and beat a path out of there. Couldn’t stand watching them celebrate.
Her powers were nothing to laugh at. They’d manifested a little early, but no Sirens were needed. The Fates had let that slide. As a Siren, she could control men with the power of her voice. The Siren language was a force to be reckoned with, and no mortal man could resist it. She’d made that mistake with Andy, figuring it would put an end to the abuse she’d suffered at his hands. But it hadn’t.
She got into the car, laying her head on the wheel, and sobbed. She had no one now. Her friends were gone, and replaced with the gods of old. She put the key in the ignition and put the car into reverse. She needed to get back to the apartment and sleep. Ohhh, glorious sleep.
As soon as she reached the building, she knew something was wrong. The door handle to the tenement was broken. And when she went inside, the other tenants stared at her, wide-eyed and scared. Senga climbed the stairs to her floor, and rounded the corner to her room. The door had been flung wide open, and her possessions strew like garbage throughout the hallway.

Siren's Song, NaNo 2008, Chapter Five

“And she's watching him with those eyes
And she's lovin' him with that body I just know it
And he's holding her in his arms late late at night
YOU KNOW I WISH I HAD JESSIE’S GIRL
I WISH THAT I HAD JESSIE’S GIRL
WHERE CAN I FIND A WOMAN LIKE THAT!?”

Henry was singing along at the top of his lungs in the passenger seat. Paul had his fingers in his ears, and Senga had to drive. And was thinking dark, dark things. Like justifiable homicide. Henry rolled the window down and shouted the lyrics of the song out at random passers by, while Paul leaned forward and tugged at his seat belt to get him back in his seat.