Page 52 of Found at Sea

Candles lit the dark cavern, placed on various altars, and taller ones sat atop iron spikes. In one corner there was a bed; the frame made of bone and the blanket covered in leaves. The seer kneeled in front of the largest altar, wearing a black gown and veil that hid her face. Cobwebs covered the dress.

When we entered the room, the humming stopped. The candles flickered, and in an instant, the seer was gone from her spot at the altar.

Before my mind could process the sudden shift, she was right in front of me. The see-through veil provided me glimpses of her face: black lips, sickly pale skin, black shadows around her milky-white eyes.

She smiled, and my stomach turned at seeing her sharpened, rotten teeth.

“Captain,” she greeted in that same two-toned voice. The higher pitch was airy and light while the deeper one rumbled through my chest. “You’ve returned for my guidance.” She waved her hand to the left where a wooden table sat. “Come.”

I followed her to the table and took a seat. A red cloth covered the top, filled with moth holes and dark stains. In the center sat a large round jewel with various sizes of bones scattered around it.

Alek had placed Fletcher behind him and Dax stood behind Fletcher. They were still in the entryway, probably too nervous or too stunned to step farther inside. Fletcher peeked out at me from Alek’s arm and the concern on his face caused a tingling in my chest.

The seer sat across from me and slowly swayed from side to side. Her hand rested on the table and her fingernails were long and pointed.

“An offering first.” She lifted her upturned hand. “He demands it.”

I didn’t know whohewas, and I didn’t dare ask.

After I placed my hand in hers, she flipped it palm up and held it in a tight grip. With her other hand, she brought forth a dagger. The blade was blackened and a red jewel decorated the top of the handle.

I heard a faint gasp behind me right before the seer sliced the blade across my palm.

The sting of it made me wince, but I gritted my teeth to keep from voicing my pain. She placed my hand above the orb in the center of the table, and the blood pooling from my wound dripped over it.

“He is pleased. We can begin,” she said, releasing my hand. She lifted the bottom of the veil and licked along the bloodied blade before giving me a chilling grin. “Speak.”

“I wish to know where to find the lost heart of Triton.” My voice remained steady despite the chill creeping along my spine.

“The answer you seek cannot be given, but must be found deep within,” she responded. “You must ask that which your heart truly wishes to know.”

Confused, I was quiet a moment. Thatwaswhat my heart truly desired.

“I wish to know where to go to lift my curse,” I asked instead, hoping it would suffice.

The seer’s posture straightened and her head tilted back before she slumped forward. A clicking sound left her as she started swaying again.

I was not a spiritual man, but Ifeltit—the unseen presence in the room. For a moment, I could’ve even sworn I saw a monstrous hand with long dark fingers on her shoulders, as if it was the one causing her to sway.

When she spoke again, her voice not only had two different pitches, but it echoed all around me.

“You must travel to the place where all is lost,” the seer said, swaying faster. “And those who seek it must pay the cost.”

“What cost?” I asked, frustrated once again by the vague answer.

She stopped moving and made more clicking sounds. Lifting her hand, she turned her head in the direction she pointed.

When I saw she was pointing toward Fletcher, my heart dropped into my stomach.

No.Surely it didn’t mean I’d have to sacrifice him to retrieve it. The thought made me consider, though, of what I’d do if itdid. If the only way to get the shell and lift my curse was to sacrifice him, would I do it?

And if I did, could I live with myself afterward?