My Immortal Playlist (The Siren Collection #1) (5 page)

“Adam. He was my first boyfriend,” I said, becoming a little nervous for no reason. “I had him grab a song from the basement and bring it to me.” I paused and closed my eyes, trying to hold back the lump in my throat. “I had him stand by me while I sung the words to him. I…um, I turned him into a tree.”

“A tree?
” Noah raised his eyebrows in shock. “Well, I’m glad I didn’t have to hear those lyrics.”

“I wasn’t even sure if it was going to work myself.
”

“
And yet you still went through with it. And plan on continuing I may add. There are…what, a hundred sheets of music back there?”

“Yes.”

“And they all can transform someone?”

“Yes. Each one is different,” I found myself saying. My vision began to blur and I scrunched my forehead in concentration. Why was I giving everything away so fre
ely? What was Noah doing to me? The more I stared into his eyes, the more I began to remember – this wasn’t how Noah was at all. He had never been a suave guy. Had he changed that much over a year, or was there something else happening to me?

“And it is how you extend your life
?” Noah continued the interrogation. “By singing to someone and taking theirs?”

“Yes
.”

“Yet anyone can sing these songs? If I desired, could I take someone’s soul by singing to them?
”

“
I don’t know. I don’t think so. The process is really for a Siren.”

“What do you mean?”

“This act of extending my life - it only lasts for so long. With Adam, I didn’t have to feed again for over a year, but the time between victims are getting smaller. I can only make it a couple months now. Eventually it will be down to days…minutes…”

“So how do you combat this slow death once you’ve reached that point?”

“I have to choose what to become…I have to sing for myself.”

“Ah, I see,” he said, staring into my eyes. “To stop your death, you will have to be
come a vampire, a zombie…a tree.”

“Or take a chance on a song I don’t know about,” I said, scrunching my face in Noah’s direction. His glare was so intense, and his face was getting hazy.

“When does this final transformation have to take place?”

“Two years from now.”

“Interesting.”

I stayed silent. I fought his hold over me as much as I could, willing myself to refuse his advances. Noah tilted his back and examined my neck
again before returning slowly to my eyes.

“I guess that’s enough for one night,” he said as my vision cleared instantly. I could feel my thoughts flooding my mind as if they had been held back by a dam. I immediately jumped up from the couch and backed away from him.

“What did you do to me, Noah?” I demanded. He continued to stare at me with those doe eyes.

“I hypnotized you,” he said flatly. “I wanted to know more about the secrets you’re hiding, and why you must keep them so close.”

“You could ask a girl on a date before you start diving into her private life.”

“Is that what you want? A date?”

“That’s not what I mean. Noah, listen. When I found out you were coming, I decided to tell you at least what happened that night. I owe you that much. But there’s no way I can trust you with this information if you’re going to hypnotize me.”

“I’m sorry,” Noah said, standing up to face me directly. “Where are my manners?”

“Noah…why are you here? Really? It can’t be for me.”

“But it is, Alexandria. I told yo
u that while I was traveling, you were all I could think about. You’re all I want…I need. If you are willing, I would love to go out with you. And no disclosure of your secrets required.”

I wasn’t sure what to say. Out of all of my ex-boyfriends, he was by far my favorite. And the only reason I had even betrayed his trust in the first place was because I was on the verge of death. But he had cast me under a spell so easily. If I let my guard down, what could stop him from hypnotizing me at my weakest and learning about all my secrets?

“I’m afraid of you, Noah,” I admitted as he bowed his head sheepishly.

“I only ask for a second chance.”

“A second chance after you hypnotized me three seconds ago.”

“I had questions that needed answering. And I knew it was the only way I could get them
with brutal honesty. I’m sorry I’ve made you suspicious, but I had to be certain you didn’t have any extra abilities beyond the songs.”

This was more like the Noah I knew. Cautious, nervous, unintimidating. I could already feel my fists clenching in fury. I wanted to hit him bad. I didn’t care if he was a vampire or not.

“Why didn’t you just ask me if I had any other abilities?” I said through grit teeth.

“Because, as funny as it may
sound…you terrify me, Alexandra.”

“So,” I said
. “By having no powers, it means that you’re still the dominant one?”

“One could say so.”

“What did you think I could do to you?”

“Before we went
out…I wasn’t afraid of anything. Heights, bullies, the occasional spider. Nothing. My life was pretty perfect and I had an outstanding childhood. No tragedy. No pain. No loss. I barely even scrapped a knee. But that night changed everything. I was in love with you to no end and I was sure that someday we would get married, have children and tour the world together. But…that night…you were different. And it was the first time I was truly scared of something. The way you kissed me, so dominantly, so powerfully, I nearly ran away. Perhaps I should have.”

“Then why did you stay?”

“Because I was a fool, and perhaps I still am. No matter how evil your deeds are to the men you lure into your basement, they still love and adore you, even after their transformation. Your zombie friends hanging around are a testament to that.”

“I do this
out of necessity – survival. Not because I want to.”

“
It shows that you are quite selfish.”

“Or maybe you misunderstand a Siren
’s need for survival. I don’t plan on dying young, Noah.”

“And that is what made
me forgive you tonight. I understood why you did it…but that didn’t mean I was going to come back here bowing to you. Though I want to pursue a relationship with you, I will still be very cautious.”

“As will I,” I said.

“Then you are considering my proposal?”

“I’m thinking about it…but back to your fear of me…you’re a vampire. I’m the one that should be afraid.”

“Don’t let my appearance deceive you. I am the same Noah. Though certain…appetites have been intensified.”

Though his eyes didn’t move, I could feel him staring my body up and down, taking in the acidic smell of my blood, his fangs tingling at the sight of my soft and vulnerable skin, my veins pulsing, calling for him to
rip through them and enjoy their sustenance. His lips involuntarily trembled and I felt my throat go dry again. Forget the hypnosis. Should I be worried that one day he was going to dive into me like a lion devouring a wildebeest?

“Unless, of course,” Noah continued. “You have feelings for one of your zombies.”

“Oh, no,” I said quickly. “They’re just friends.”

“I would hope so. They are dead.”

“Look who’s talking.”

“I guess you got me there,” he shied away from my gaze and turned around to face the wall.
“So when do you want to have our date?”

“I didn’t even agree yet.”

“Your body already has,” he said confidently. I snickered.

“That’s completely different, and you know it. What you desire to do, and what your heart and mind tells you are two distinct things. As a vampire, you should know that more than anyone.”

“That I do,” he said, turning around and smiling. “Well…I must go and feed, unfortunately…but, I do have one more question, and I promised I wouldn’t hypnotize you so I would be real grateful if you answered it willingly.”

“Since you asked so nice and elaborately, go ahead.”

“I realize that you have men hear your songs so you can see what they turn into, so you can make a decision of what to become when it’s time…but, if you don’t know what’s in the lyrics in the first place, how will you know which song to sing when it’s time?”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Say you want to become a vampire like me. What do you do?”

“Oh, I see now,” I said, shifting my eyes to the left. Noah patiently waited for my response. “I
t’s simple. If I want to become a vampire…I sing your song – to myself in the mirror.”

“I understand
.”

“Then…if you wish, you could join me as a stalker of the night.”

“I could,” I said flatly. “If I wanted
– but I don’t care for the word ‘stalker’.”

“But you want to see what else there is out there
, don’t you?”

“I still have two years. I don’t want to become
something and then come to find out that there are other, better transformations I could have experienced. As of right now, I’m hoping for one that turns me human.”

“And these songs
are permanent? Can’t you just have me hear all the music one by one and learn their contents in one night?”

“No…” I whispered. “That would kill you. Your body wouldn’t be able to t
ake it. That’s what happened to -”

“
- One of your exes?”

“Yes,” I said solemnly. “And I don’t care how strong you think you are. You’re not doing that to yourself.”

“As long as you know the offer still stands.”

“And it won’t be taken up.”

“Then the last order of business we have before I go is when we’re to have our date. How about at the Day Owl bowling alley tomorrow night? At nine? I hear their galactic bowling is to die for.”

“I have school the next morning, but I guess I could stay up a little bit.”

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow, Alexandra,” he said deliciously. Before I could breathe, he rushed forward, held me in his arms, and pressed my lips against his tenderly, letting my body go numb from the sensation. I felt him smile, and then he was gone. As if I had been alone all along.

I wipe
d my lips and rushed to the Lyric room, quickly counting to ensure all the music was there and then threw on the dead bolts. I usually left the door unlocked like an idiot, but with the men of my past appearing suddenly into my life; it would be wise to keep my treasures under lock and key, including the house.

When I was finished, I went upstairs and made sure to lock the basement door
behind me as well. When I turned around, Elliot was behind me, sitting up against a wall.

“Where’s Henry?”

“He left. You know how emotional he can get.”

“I
hope he’s not too angry with me.”

“Don’t fret,” he said solemnly. “We’re all in love with you, remember?”

“Noah was here,” I stated flatly. Elliot sat up the best he could to attention.

“Where? Don’t tell me he was downstairs with you alone!”

“He appeared out of nowhere.”

“And are you okay?”

“Very,” I said. “Um…actually I have a date with him tomorrow night.”

“Ugh,”
Elliot groaned. “I knew this would happen. Tell me, what else transpired in that dark room?”

“Nothing much. He did kiss me though.”

“Of course he did. Why didn’t you call for help?”

“I don’t know…he did hypnotize me for a bit.”

“WHAT? And this
is not a cause for alarm?”

“It was just to learn more about me and the music. He needed answers.”

“Oh is that all? Tell me something. When you and Noah were dating, what was he like?”

“Very sweet and kind. He wasn’t a jerk like you or passionate like Henry. He just wanted to be with me. To hold my hand and talk about a future together. If it wasn’t for the fact I was on the verge of death, I would probably still be with him.”

“And what was he like tonight?”

“Seductive,” I said, nodding at my words. “Yep. Very seductive and sensual. But I figure that’s because he’s a vampire.”

“No, Alexandra. That isn’t it at all. If there’s one thing I noticed about the men you’ve changed, including myself, it’s that they retain their personalities. If he is being seductive, it’s for a motive, I assure you. Tell me now, what appeals to you most in a man?”

“Why do you want to know?” I eyed him suspiciously.

“WHAT APPEALS TO YOU MOST?”

“Power,” I declared. “All the men I lure into that basement fall head over heels for me and n
ot one has fought back. I understand they’re infatuated, but it disgusts me that we’re barely a week into the relationship and they’re willing to do everything I say. It’s all so easy and boring.”