Page 86 of The Sea Witch's Son

“This is a bit of a delicate situation.”

“What is more delicate than a matter of the heart?” Clicking his tongue, he starts walking back the way I had come, “Even a clownfish knows the distinction.”

The moon shines on us overhead, the sharp crescent a perfect match for Chester’s grin. I watch his grey tuffs of hair blow in the breeze, the wiry ends curling in every direction. The frayed material of his sweater bunches around a swollen stomach while hole-ridden leggings cling to the silhouette of his skinny legs.

He is a peculiar man, Chester Shoreshire. Refusing to live anywhere beyond the walls of his maze, he is the keeper of the Queen’s most treasured garden. Some call him mad, like his brother, but I think there is genius to be found in the madness. A sense of privilege, knowing you see the world for what it is rather than what it should be.

A small blue caterpillar makes its way across the material of his shirt. Tearing my gaze from the fuzzy creature, I find Chester grinning at me over his shoulder.

“The mind pitted against the heart. I wonder, what bet should I place on each part?”

“To whom are we speaking of?”

“Anyone. Everyone.” His eyes glow as the smile creeps higher, “Maybe no one. A simple ghost.”

“A ghost has no body parts, though I suppose the mind could be tied to the spirit.” Checking my watch, I hold back a sigh, “The mind has greater potential than the heart, but without the heart, there would be no mind.”

“And yet I hear the Sea Witch’s son has no heart.”

We come to a stop at an intersection. Two paths veer sharply to each side, the roads identical except for destination.

“I am alive, aren’t I?”

“Are you?” Those eyes shrink as the smile consumes his face, “Are you the man who breathes or the ghost who lives? I find myself at a crossroad.”

Ignoring the question, I turn and study the two passages. The path on the right holds an uneven trail that disappears into a foggy cloud while the path on the left boasts a clean road.

It’s another puzzle, except this one requires knowledge of the woman who rules the Heart residence. A woman whose rage is almost as strong as her need for perfection.

Satisfied with my deductions, I turn to Chester with a smile.

“You have been most useful. Try to keep out of trouble.”

“But you haven’t made a decision.”

He gestures towards the two paths. I stare at him curiously, wondering if he wants me to say the answer out loud.

“It’s the one on the left.”

“Of course, but what about the one on the right? Where does that one lead to?”

“That is none of my concern. Goodbye, Chester.”

I turn and start walking towards to the promised land. I’m just about to enter when the old man starts laughing behind me.

Glancing over my shoulder, I find Chester with his head thrown back, gurgled croaks flowing from his mouth whileblood dribbles past his cracked lips. His laughter echoes through the darkness, loud and clear when I reach the first turn.

“Marlin Seaborn! What do you call a song stuffed full of water?”

I pause, turning to face the man fading into the night sky. There’s nothing but sharp teeth and laughing eyes when he casts one last riddle my way.

“A broken melody.”

Chapter 30

MELODY

I break through the surface with a gasp.

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