The Siren and the Deep Blue Sea - Kerrelyn Sparks Page 0,13
he referring to Lord Morris? General Caladras? “What are you saying, old man? What did you do?”
The Seer’s hand clutched his shirt as he grimaced once more in pain. “I am the first member of the Circle of Five.”
Chapter 3
Brody paced about the garden. Not the Seer. Not the man who saved me. Not the man who has been like a father to me. He didn’t want to believe it. He didn’t even want to hear it. He’d stormed out of the cottage, unable to listen to any more.
“It’s bullshit,” he said softly. The old man was losing his mind and spouting nonsense. He’d spent too many years alone with his horrific visions. It would be enough to drive anyone insane.
But the Seer had lost his visions. Punishment for his crime—the creation of the Circle of Five.
“No!” Brody clenched his fists. Anger replaced his shock, and he stalked across the garden, ready to punch something. How could the Seer have done such a thing?
But what had the old man done? He’d never hurt anyone. Dammit, he’d never even left the island.
Brody slowed to a stop. Why was he angry at the Seer? It was the other members of the Circle who had usurped his idea for their own selfish purposes. No doubt, the other four members had never intended to let the Seer be a benevolent ruler. They had wanted the power for themselves. And if they had taken over the world, they would have killed each other to be the last man standing.
A crashing sound came from the cottage, and as Brody turned toward the door, the orange tabby ran out and meowed at him.
“What have you done now, Trouble?” Brody asked the cat as he walked back into the cottage. “Seer!”
The old man had collapsed on the floor next to the table.
“Seer?” Brody rolled him onto his back. The old man’s skin was ashen, his sunken eyes closed, his breathing shallow. “Don’t die on me now.” When he picked the Seer up, his heart ached at how light the old man was. He gently deposited him on his bed.
The Seer moaned and opened his eyes.
“I’m here.” Brody enveloped the old man’s hand in his own.
“I thought you’d left me,” the Seer whispered. “I thought you must hate me.”
“No, no.” Brody sat on the bed beside him. “How can I stay angry with the man who saved my life? Don’t worry about anything. I’ll nurse you back to health, just as you did me.”
The Seer’s eyes filled with tears. “You are the best thing that ever happened to me. You and my daughter.”
Brody blinked away tears. He could only hope that this mysterious daughter would make her appearance soon.
The Seer drew in a long breath that seemed to rattle in his chest. “When you washed up half-dead on the island, I realized my mistake. The people I had trusted were evil. And that was when my visions started to fade. I no longer deserved the gift, not when I was so guilty.”
“You’re not guilty, old man. You simply wanted a better world. There is no crime in that. It was the other members of the Circle who used your idea for their own selfish gain.”
The Seer gave him the hint of a smile. “You were always a good boy, Brody.”
He winced. “Not that good. I know you’re not up to it, but I need to ask you some questions.”
The Seer shook his head. “Too tired. The answers are in my journal.”
“Where is that?”
The Seer’s eyes closed and for a terrifying second, Brody thought he was gone. “In the hiding place,” the old man whispered.
That didn’t help much. “You may not know this, but two of the Circle members are dead: Lord Morris and General Caladras. The Chameleon is left.” Brody grimaced. “And you. Who is the last member?”
“Cahira.” The Seer’s voice was so faint, Brody wasn’t sure he’d heard it right.
“A woman?” Brody asked. Oh, right, it had to be the woman who had seduced the Seer and said she would help him. “Who is she? Where is she?”
“She . . . she lied to me,” the Seer whispered. “Told me our daughter was dead.”
“She’s the mother of your daughter?” Brody asked. Then this daughter couldn’t be that old, after all.
The Seer squeezed Brody’s hand slightly. “Please look after my daughter.”
“Of course.” Although Brody had no idea who or where she might be. “Is she with her mother? Where can I find Cahira?”