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"Go ahead and change," Maire says

I want to resist her, the way I refused to sit down on the chair, but I’m too cold As fast as I can, I slip on the dry underclothes, the pants and shirt My chilled fingers fumble with the buttons

"Finished?" Maire asks, and when I don’t answer, she lowers the blanket "There," she says "That’s better"

And then she takes ht into my eyes

"Rio," Maire says, "it’s time" She leans in and whispers into my ear, "You need to tell us who you are"

She pulls away "The people fro us," Maire says, her voice brutal and clear "Our mines are depleted and useless to the us food We’re a drain on their resources And you knohat happened in the deep- that the people Above caused the breach somehow?

The door opens, and Nevio colass "You’ve said too ht, as always," Maire says "By telling Rio what’s happening, I’ Atlantia a chance" She nods to me Her lips form the word speak But she doesn’t command me to say it Why? Even now, she still wants me to have the choice?

I don’t understand any of this They’re working together, that n of collaboration between the two of the, long-brewed hatred that she doesn’t bother to hide

Maire aze "This is the last chance, Rio," she says "We’re out of tio to the surface, this is the way"

My ave s I’d never known And I have no other way to the surface I have to trust her, too

And I want to speak I want to go to the surface

I tried to get there myself, and I failed

So I do it I use my real voice I say what I’ve wanted to say all my life

"I am a siren"

Maire closes her eyes

I’ve spoken the truth I’ve said what I am as loud as I can

It sounds so powerful that I feel my heart will break, or break free from me

I am

A siren

CHAPTER 20

Nevio stares at me

"But that’s not possible," he says "You’re related to Maire by blood"

"Nevertheless," Maire says "She is a siren You heard her"

Nevio keeps looking ather tomy aunt and me alone

"Why now?" I ask Maire as soon as Nevio leaves I usein my real one

She takes

"Good," she says "Keep using your old voice Save the true one You will need it Above" And then the peacekeepers catch up to us, and Maire lets go