The Siren and the Deep Blue Sea

by Kerrelyn Sparks

  Maeve curtsied. “It is an honor to finally meet you, Great Seer. I have brought you a gift from the Convent of—”

  “The Two Moons,” the Seer finished her sentence. “Where you grew up with your four sisters, who are now queens.”

  “Whoa,” Nevis whispered. “He does know everything.”

  Maeve winced. He knew who she was, but only because of her sisters.

  The Seer reached the base of the hill and paused. “You are Maeve. The most beautiful of the five sisters.”

  Her mouth dropped open.

  The Seer walked slowly toward her. “You are special. A selkie. And a siren. When you sing, men will cross oceans to hear the sound of your voice. When you laugh, they will lose their hearts to you.”

  Maeve was so stunned she was speechless for a moment. “I—surely you are exaggerating, Great Seer.” She turned to Nevis. “Would you cross an ocean to hear my voice?”

  He shook his head. “No. Though I might if you made a cherry pie.”

  She snorted. Nevis and his priorities.

  “You have a long line of suitors at Ebton Palace,” the Seer continued in his grumbly voice. “That is where you should be.”

  Her back stiffened. Here was yet another person who was trying to order her about. And get her married off. “Begging your pardon, Great Seer, but I did not come to have my future told. I came—”

  “Because you are looking for Brody,” the Seer muttered. “And the Embraced army.”

  Her mouth fell open again, while Nevis cursed under his breath.

  The Seer picked up his staff and planted it hard on the ground between them. “What you seek is dangerous. You must go home to Ebton. I have seen your future, and that is where you belong.”

  She swallowed hard. “I appreciate your concern, but I prefer to make my own decisions.” A chill ran down her spine as she felt the Seer glowering at her through the dark gash of his hood. “Do you know where the Embraced army is hiding?”

  “Would I be foolish enough to tell you that?”

  She winced inwardly. She’d always heard that the Seer was a kindly old man, but this person was decidedly unfriendly. And overbearing. “Will you at least tell me where Brody is?”

  The Seer’s bony hand tightened around the staff until his knuckles turned white. “He is fine. There is no need for you to be concerned—”

  “I will be concerned until I can see for myself that he is safe.” She took a deep breath to steady her nerves. “I have reason to believe he was here on the Isle of Mist.”

  The Seer tilted his head. “Why do you think that?”

  “I—” She shifted her weight. “I saw him in a dream. He was burying someone on a bluff overlooking the ocean.”

  The Seer flinched. He turned away for a moment, his hand flexing around the staff. When he finally spoke, it sounded as if his teeth were gritted together. “You are mistaken. There is no one here but me.”

  “I told you it was just a dream,” Nevis whispered to her.

  Maeve groaned. This meeting was going nowhere. Frustration pricked her, and as her gaze drifted about, it caught on something moving stealthily through the long grass. Orange-striped fur and a pair of golden eyes. “Oh, you have a cat.”

  “Trouble,” the Seer muttered as the animal stalked closer to them.

  “He causes trouble?” Maeve set the basket on the ground as she hunkered down and beckoned to the cat. “But he looks so cute.”

  “He is Trouble. That’s his name.” The Seer turned toward the cat, his brown cloak swinging around his long legs.

  Maeve reached toward the cat to pet him, but he suddenly arched his back and hissed at the Seer. “Oh, my.” She jerked her hand back.

  The cat growled at the Seer, then darted away, disappearing over the hill.

  How odd, Maeve thought as she straightened. The cat didn’t seem to like his owner. “Is your house far away? We would be happy to carry this basket—”

  “No need,” the Seer replied, his voice sounding like a rusty hinge. “I thank you for the gift, but I can manage on my own.”

  “We will take our leave then.” Nevis set the basket close to the Seer’s feet. “Thank you for seeing us.”

  “But I need to know where Brody is,” Maeve insisted.

  “Maeve.” Nevis leaned close to whisper in her ear. “I think we’ve overstayed our welcome.”

  Damn, but this was too frustrating. “You know everything, don’t you?” she asked the Seer. “So you must know where Brody is. Please help me. I can’t go home until I see him.”

  “Why?” The Seer’s voice sounded strained. “Do you really care that much?”

  “Yes. I do.”

  The Seer turned away, his head bowed as if he were in pain. “You must cast those feelings aside. It is a waste of your time.”

  She bristled. “How can you say that? I’m beginning to wonder if you even know Brody. Because if you did, you would know how wonderful he is. He’s smart, loyal, courageous—”

  “Stop! He cannot be the man you wish him to be.” The Seer turned to her, pushing back the hood from his head. “You must believe me.”

  She quickly noted the Seer’s wrinkled face and long silver hair, but what drew her attention were his eyes. A white film clouded his pupils, but she could still spot a glint of blue. A familiar blue. And there had been something odd about his voice when he’d shouted. The grumbly tone had disappeared, leaving his voice with a much sharper sound.

  “Go home,” the Seer snarled.

  “Maeve.” Nevis took hold of her arm.

  Her eyes burned with hot tears. “I will not give up on Brody.”

  The Seer stabbed angrily at the ground with his staff. “You must! The man is cursed. He will not allow anyone to share his miserable life. Especially you. Go home where you belong.”

  She gritted her teeth. “I will remain at the convent. If you see Brody, tell him to meet me there. I will not return to Ebton Palace until I have seen him.”

  The Seer leaned on his staff, closing his eyes briefly. “Then wait till tomorrow night. When the moons are full, you will have your answers.”

  Her heart leaped up her throat. “Brody will come see me?”

  The Seer gave her a sad look. “You will have your answers, but they will not be what you want to hear. Farewell to you both. Do not come here again.” He leaned over to grab the basket, then started slowly up the hill.

  “Farewell, Great Seer.” Nevis bowed his head.

  “Take care.” Maeve watched as the old man trudged slowly back up the hill.

  “Let’s go,” Nevis said as the Seer disappeared from view.

  “Just a moment.” Maeve waited a while, then started up the hill.

  “What are you doing?” Nevis whispered as he followed her. “We were told to leave.”

  She reached the summit and noted the Seer in the distance. He had walked much farther than she had expected. In fact, he was moving rather quickly now. His back was straight again, his stride young and purposeful.

  “That’s odd,” Nevis grumbled.

  “I know.” Maeve narrowed her eyes as she watched the Seer. Why was he walking so differently now? Why had his own cat hissed at him? And why had the blue in his eyes reminded her of Brody? She turned in place, scanning the island from the summit of the hill.

  Her breath caught. There, far to the east, was a cairn marking a grave. A pile of stones on a grassy bluff, just as she had seen in her dream. Brody had been here. She was sure of it.

  “Can we go now?” Nevis asked impatiently.

  “Aye.” Deep in thought, she followed Nevis down to the beach. Tomorrow night she would have her answers? She hoped that meant that when she shifted into a seal, Brody would come see her. She needed some answers. For this trip to the Isle of Mist had only left her with more questions.

  * * *

  Damn, damn, damn! Brody cursed with each step he took toward the cottage. He never should have agreed to meet Maeve again. But at the same time, h
is heart was racing at the thought of spending time alone with her.

  You, fool! Now she would know that he was the one who had played with her every month in the guise of a seal or otter. If she discovered how much he cared for her, he would never convince her to forget about him. But at the same time, a secret corner of his heart thrilled at the idea that Maeve would finally know his true feelings. His beautiful, sweet Maeve.

  But damn, he’d never realized before how stubborn she could be. The woman had refused to leave until he’d agreed to see her. A startling thought made him stumble to a stop. How well did he really know Maeve? Whenever he was in human form, he had avoided her. And the times he’d visited her as a seal or otter had merely been spent playing chase in the water. Hell, this was the longest conversation he’d ever had with her, and she hadn’t even known it was he.

  With a sigh, he started toward the cottage once more, his steps going faster and faster. His allotted time as a human must be almost over, since it had taken him so long to bury the Seer this morning. That was why he had tried to get rid of Nevis and Maeve as quickly as possible. It would have been awful if he’d been forced to shift in front of them. They would have realized the trick he’d played on them. And that he was capable of impersonating people. Just like that bastard Chameleon.

  He dashed into the cottage and quickly unloaded the basket on the table. Good goddesses, fresh bread. It had been two months since he’d last eaten any. He tore off a hunk and spread strawberry jam on it. Oh damn, that was melt-in-his-mouth good.

  Worried that at any minute he would have to shift and lose the ability to use his hands, he quickly sliced up the cheese and opened the bottle of wine. Meanwhile, the cat snuck into the house and began rubbing against his legs.

  “Oh, now you want to be friends?” He tossed some leftover chicken into a bowl. “I see your attitude has changed now that you’re hungry.”

  He took off the brown cloak and hung it on the peg by the door. As he returned to the table, his gaze caught sight of the journal on his bed. Even though he could read while in dog form, turning the pages would be difficult. He’d better get some reading done while he still could.

  With a plate full of food and a glass full of wine, he settled at the table and opened the journal to the first entry.

  Late summer, Year 624.

  This morning I buried my father.

  Brody sighed, then took a sip of wine. It was year 700 now, and he’d just done the same thing.

  My father was the Seer. My grandfather was the Seer. And now I am the Seer.

  My name is Burien of Aerland, the last full-blooded male of an ancient race of sorcerers. I came here to the Isle of Mist two years ago to take care of my ailing father.

  For the first twenty-three years of my life, I lived with my mother on the Isle of Moon, while my father lived here alone. We visited him occasionally, but he always claimed that the visions were clearer when there was no one else around, no other noise or distractions to clog up his mind. It was the fate of the Seer to endure a life of loneliness.

  That is now my fate.

  I am prepared. I have started this journal as my father instructed, so I can record my visions. My father was ninety-three when he passed away. I am twenty-five. The thought of living here alone until I die is daunting.

  But this is now my fate.

  Right after my father exhaled his last breath, I felt an odd tingling sensation in my head as his gift was transferred to me.

  Brody stopped reading to take a bite of cheese. Had the Seer’s gift been transferred to his daughter last night? When would she be arriving here? He slathered more jam on a piece of bread so he could eat while he continued reading.

  Tonight, in my sleep, I may experience my first vision. According to my father, it will come to me in my sleep as a dream.

  A dream. Brody finished his slice of bread, then licked the jam off his fingers. A dream? Something needled his thoughts, something just beyond his reach. Dammit, what was it?

  He took a long drink of wine. “I saw him in a dream. He was burying someone on a bluff overlooking the ocean.”

  He choked and sputtered wine onto the table. Good goddesses, when Maeve had said that, it had sent a chill down his spine. How the hell had she known? He hadn’t been able to believe it, and so he had dismissed it. Ignored it and gone on with his attempt to get rid of her and Nevis as quickly as possible.

  But had Maeve actually dreamed of him burying the Seer?

  With a jolt, Brody leaped to his feet, causing his chair to topple over with a clatter. The cat sprang into the air, then hissed at him and ran out the front door.

  “Maeve.” The cottage swirled around him, and Brody stumbled, catching onto the edge of the table to keep from falling. The Seer had claimed that his daughter was coming, and the only female to arrive so far . . . “Maeve.”

  She’d come to the island. She’d had a dream that had come true. And she’d grown up not knowing who her parents were.

  “Goddesses, no.” Brody shook his head. If Maeve’s father was the Seer, then her mother was Cahira. Her parents would be the first two members of the Circle of Five.

  “Oh, shit, no.” He dragged a hand down his face and was surprised by the large number of wrinkles he felt. Oh right, he was still in the guise of the Seer. But dammit, if the old man was her father, then did that make Maeve the Seer now?

  “Oh, hell, no.” He paced about the cottage. No, dammit, he didn’t want that kind of future for Maeve. He’d known the Seer for fifteen years. He knew too well how heavy the Seer’s gift had weighed on him.

  And how would Maeve feel if she ever found out that both her parents had been in the Circle of Five? As far as Brody could tell, this Cahira had been the one to pervert the Seer’s idea and turn it into an evil plan to take over the world. Cahira was the one he needed to get rid of in order to protect the Seer’s reputation.

  Oh, dear goddesses, how could he kill Maeve’s mother? He winced. That would certainly put an end to any feelings she might have for him. But how devastating it would be if Maeve learned what her parents had done.

  He couldn’t tell her. If what he suspected was true, it would tear Maeve’s heart in two. It would destroy any chance she had for a happy life.

  Hadn’t he promised the Seer that he would look after his daughter? So obviously, he had to keep Maeve from becoming embroiled in this mess. It would be too dangerous for her. Too painful.

  Tomorrow night, he would convince her to go home. Then he would take care of Cahira himself. And the Chameleon. The Circle of Five would be no more. The world would be safe. The Seer’s reputation would be safe. And Maeve would be free to live her life without the burden of knowing the truth.

  Brody took a deep breath. He could do this. For now, he needed all the information he could gather on Cahira. As far as he could tell, she was not a nice woman. She’d used the Seer to promote her own evil plan. And she’d abandoned Maeve as a wee babe. Hell, she’d even told the Seer that his daughter was dead.

  If Brody was going to succeed in this masquerade, he needed to know everything the Seer had known. He set the chair back on its legs and sat down to read.

  For the next fifty pages or so, the journal described the Seer’s daily life and the visions he had several times a week. Always bad. War. Destruction. Plague. Despair.

  Brody finished the bottle of wine and kept reading. When the light began to dim, he lit the lantern and built up the fire in the hearth. And that was when it struck him.

  He was still human. Still the Seer.

  His heart raced. Was he cured? He attempted to change back to his own body, but instead, he ended up as a dog.

  Trouble, who had come inside earlier, hissed at him.

  Brody trotted outside and lifted a hindleg to relieve himself against the garden wall. How had he managed to stay human for so long?

  He thought back, remembering that horrific day. The sound of the witch’s voice would be forever imprinted on his mind, but
what had been her exact words?

  He’d been so frantic and terrified at the time. The ship had suddenly cracked in two. Sailors had screamed and scrambled to latch on to anything in order to keep from falling into the ocean. As the ship began to sink, there were more screams. Brody’s father had desperately tried to protect his two sons. Unlike the other sailors, Brody and his brother had known how to swim, and they had stayed close to their father, hanging on to broken boards. But drowning sailors had kept grabbing at them, pulling them under.

  It was during one of these times, when Brody had been yanked far underwater, that his Embraced gift had suddenly been activated for the first time. He’d shifted into a seal. Able to wriggle free from the grasping hands, he had surfaced, only to find his father floating lifeless among the wreckage.

  Desperate, he’d dived back into the water, trying to locate his brother. But by the time he found him, it was too late. His brother was gone. All the sailors were gone.

  Devastated, he’d let himself sink. And that was when he’d heard her voice, laughing at him through the depths of the ocean. Taunting him.

  “You think you can escape my wrath, boy? I could kill you in an instant, but instead I will make you suffer. From now on, you are doomed to live with a curse. You will be able to maintain your true form for no more than two hours a day.”

  True form? Brody paced about the garden. He’d always interpreted that as being able to hold a human form. But the Seer was not his true form.

  He snorted. So he could be human for longer than two hours as long as he wasn’t himself. He’d never realized it before because he’d never masqueraded as another person before.

  In a way, it stank. He still couldn’t be himself for very long. But it was also a good thing. Whenever Cahira came to pick up the Seer, he would be able to hold that form for as long as needed.

  He shifted back into the Seer, then strode into the cottage to continue reading the journal. When Cahira’s ship arrived for him, he would be ready.

  He would do everything in his power to safeguard the Seer’s reputation. And protect Maeve.