Was it my imagination, or had her cheeks darkened slightly? Was she flustered? “Imitation is one method of learning, and you haven’t exactly had time to study or practice. Who knows what else you might be able to do.”

Slowly, Kiyoko lowered the laser pistol.

“Thank you. Don’t go anywhere.” While Lena took the gun, I dissolved my shield generator, just to be safe. I hurried to the tanks next. Simple padlocks held the lids in place. “Do you have the keys?”

“There’s an emergency release.” Kiyoko turned to the control panel. Charles started after her, but I waved him back.

The side of the first tank cracked open. Water sprayed out in a thin, scalding sheet. It smelled like salt and blood and worse. Kiyoko turned a metal wheel, triggering a squealing sound from the tank, and then a curved, rectangular section was flung open.

I did my best to catch the siren as she slid onto the floor. She was naked, her skin scalded red. Abrasions on her wrists and ankles showed where she’d been restrained. Medical sensors—the same patches I’d created, the ones I’d seen on Lex after her procedure—were secured to her scalp and throat.

She was thinner than she should have been. Healthy sirens kept a thick layer of fat to help them survive the cold water, but this one’s skin sagged loosely, and I could see the curved lines of her ribs. I grabbed the healing cordial.

Her eyes widened, and she tried to squirm free.

“You’re safe,” said Lena through clenched teeth. “This is to heal your injuries.”

A flailing fist struck the side of my face. I almost dropped the potion.

Lena caught the siren’s wrist. She screamed in pain, screams that only grew louder as Kiyoko crouched and whispered into her ear.

The siren sagged, blanketed by magical sleep. I maneuvered a drop of the potion into her mouth. Blisters melted back into her skin, and the redness faded.

“Thanks.” Once the siren’s body was restored, I offered the potion to Lena for the wounds from Kiyoko’s laser. While Lena healed herself, I pulled Kiyoko’s sleep spell from the siren, like clearing cobwebs.

The siren gasped, then looked down at herself. Kiyoko had already moved back to the controls to free the second. The first crawled over and scooped the second into her arms, holding her and crooning softly while I healed her injuries. Soon, all three sirens were huddled together on the floor, trembling.

I looked around for blankets or spare clothing, but found nothing. The sirens didn’t appear to care. The first one stood, completely unselfconscious. “Where are we?”

“The New Millennium complex outside of Las Vegas,” I said. “The middle of Nevada.”

She shuddered, though I suspect it was mostly at the idea of being stuck in the middle of a desert. “Are there others?”

“I don’t think so. Not here.”