Page 52 of Rise of the Melody
Oh. Oh, no. Sing to the mayor? What was this guy going to do? Kill people? Then what? Kill me?
“I don’t want any part in hurting people,” I said, my voice shaking.
“That’s adorable.” He looked amused. “But I’m no’ asking ya to hurt anyone. Just to get answers in any way necessary. Starting with your aunt.”
A fire lit inside of me, flaring to life as my face shot up to his. “My aunt? Why? She doesn’t know anything more than I do.”
“’Course she does.” His voice was firm. “She was stood right there beside my da as your ma sang us all to sleep.”
I blinked twice in rapid succession as his words sank in.
“No.” The world tilted, then began to spin. I blinked again to right myself, shaking my head, trying to shake away his words. “Myaunt? As in Lorna MacIntyre?”
“Aye.” He remained steadfastly certain, sending shockwaves through me.
“She wasn’t there!”
“Shewas.” His jaw locked, as if remembering. “Your aunt stood beside my father in front of that bloody cave. Stevens was on the shore, closer. That was my last memory of this realm.”
A tremor went through my body, and it was like I didn’t know where I was or what was real at that moment. My emotions dried up. Numbness seeped through me, as if my body and mind could no longer handle what it was experiencing. I just kept shaking my head.
“You have to be remembering it wrong.”
“Let’s see, shall we?” He motioned toward the house and fear raked my soul.
“Don’t hurt her,” I begged him.
He stepped forward but didn’t reach out to touch or push me. “Go. Dinnae make me force you.”
“No.” I stood my ground, terror stricken, speaking quickly. “Something is wrong with my aunt. Something magical, and we can’t figure it out.” My words were garbled as I tremored. “She’s fragile right now. Please, I’m begging you. If she was there, she doesn’t remember it. I don’t know why or how, but she truly believes that. And when she tries to think about it, she gets these horrible headaches and even passes out!”
“Stop.” His single word hushed my fast rambling, but my body still shook like a chihuahua. “She’s lying to you.”
“No.” I shook my head. “She’s not manipulative like that. I swear. Please, don’t say anything to her yet. Let me talk to her. I’m afraid this will…” I swallowed. “I’m afraid it will kill her.”
Not one ounce of sympathy filled his eyes.
“Please,” I whispered. “There’s so much going on. There’s the kelpie that I’m supposed to…take care of.”
His eyes narrowed. “You’reto take care of it?”
I nodded and told him the mayor’s plan. Amusement filled his eyes, though I couldn’t understand why.
“Very well, then. I’ll give you and your aunt a few days while I figure out some things?—”
“A few days?” I interrupted.
“I’ve waited nearly my entire life,” he said firmly. “A few days is all you will get.”
“Okay,” I whispered.
“Go,” he told me.
I nodded, still shaking, my mind reeling. It took all of my courage to turn my back on Zar and run from the trees toward the house. When I got to the porch, I finally looked back and realized CooShee hadn’t followed me. He stayed with Zar.
My heart shattered. I stood on the steps pulling myself together, slowing my breathing, forcing myself to appear calm, then lifted my chin and strolled into the house like nothing had happened.
Chapter14
