Page 3 of The Sea Witch's Son

“No.” She smiled, “But one day they will be afraid of me. Just wait and see, Marlin. I’m going to make them pay for every ugly mark they left on my body.”

There was an undeniable truth in her words. A truth that made me realize Calista was playing her own game.

“How about a deal?” I asked suddenly, sure that whatever this little girl had planned would happen with or without me, “You help me take over Wolf Hollow and I’ll help you get revenge on your uncles.”

She clapped her hands in delight, “Are you asking me for a favour, Marlin?”

“No. I’m asking if you want to be part of a team.”

“But maybe I want you to be part ofmyteam.” Calista pursed her lips, “We have the beauty and the brains but there’s something missing.”

I shook my head, “I’m not interested in being part of your team.”

“Too late. You already are.” She reached over to pat my hand, “Don’t worry, I’ll still help you take over this town. Once we get our brawn, we will be unstoppable.”

“Brawn?”

“You know, the muscle. The guy who can beat up the people who don’t fall in line.”

I glanced over at the playground, scanning the park for the smallest kid in our grade.

“In that case, we should recruit Gus Cartier.”

“Why would we pick Gus? He’s tiny.”

“Because.” I smiled, looking at the dark-skinned boy eating the same dozen eggs he ate every lunch hour, “It’s not about who’s the biggest right now. It’s about who’sgoingto be.”

We both turned and looked at the son of the famous French bodybuilder. His father had won Mr. Universe a couple of years ago while his mother had won the pageant for Miss Nigeria. All power and strength without a hint of intelligence.

The perfect pet project.

“You know, Marlin.” Calista nodded, casting those snake-like eyes over me, “I knew you were something special.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah.” She tilted her head, “People said you were smart, smarter than most adults even, but I knew you had something more to offer.”

I looked at her curiously, “A notebook ranking everyone’s greatest fear?”

“Even better.” She grinned, leaning over to kiss my cheek, “You’re the Sea Witch’s son.”

Chapter 1

MELODY

Present day…

“You are going to get us killed.”

I shift in the passenger seat and look at my stepfather. He sighs heavily, tearing his gaze from the road ahead to glance at me.

“We don’t have a choice. You know this.”

I do know this. Which is why the dire state of our situation is finally starting to hit me.

“Surely there is somewhere else we could run to. Literally anywhere is better than this place.”

The dread in my gut unfolds into a million furious butterflies as I voice the thought that has been haunting me all day long.

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