Cirque Periculum

Chapter 15

"Are you trying to tell me you know this boy?"

"We were best friends sir. When I was in the orphanage sir."

"That wasn't a proper sentence, Sean. You could have combined the two. It would have saved you the trouble of saying 'sir' twice."

"Sorry sir. Won't happen again sir. Er, I mean-"

Someone laughed. "It's okay. You have a lot to learn."

Connor groaned. His head pounded and there was a nasty ringing in his ears that wouldn't go away. Cracking open an eye, he saw Mr. Summertin sitting across from him. It looked like they were in a car.

Wait, Mr. Summertin? His eyes shot open. "Sir, I can explain about last night. I- we were just- wait a minute. Who are you?"

Now that his eyes were open, he could see that this man was not Mr. Summertin, although he looked like it. His eyes were darker, his hair was too short and a lighter shade of brown, and this man's nose looked like it had been broken a time or two.

The man laughed a deep chortle, contrary to Mr. Summertin's tenor pitch. "You had it right son. I am Mr. Summertin, just not the one you know."

Connor furrowed his brow. "What do you mean?"

"I'm Saige's brother, Wesley Summertin, from Camp Caute. You can call me Captain though. I assume my brother hasn't told you much about me."

Brother? The head of Camp Caute is Summertin's brother?

Wesley Summertin smiled and continued when Connor didn't respond. "Well, I don't blame him. We aren't exactly on good terms you see. We've had some quarrels every now and then."

"They're way bigger than coral sir," a voice said next to Connor. He whipped around to see Sean sitting by him.

"Sean, what are you doing here with them?" he asked, gesturing to Captain Summertin.

"I-"

"Sean will have plenty of time to explain later," Captain said. "We're about to arrive at camp. And Sean, it's quarrel. It means an argument."

"Camp?" Connor said. "Why did you take me? What did you do to Meridian?"

Captain Wesley laughed. "Your little flying friend is fine. We unlocked her cage and set her free. We even offered to allow her to travel with us, but she flew away before we got the chance. I've heard that you can fly too, can't you?"

Connor looked away from the man.

"I've also heard you're a pyro. Quite the curious one, aren't we Connor?"

"What do you want?" Connor asked.

"What do I want, Connor? I should be asking you that question. What is it that you want? Why did you leave your friends in Greenview, like Sean here, for a travelling circus?"

"I'm not going to tell you anything!" Connor exclaimed. "Now let me out of here."

Sean grabbed his arm. "Just do what he says Connor. He wants to help you. Help you and Adam."

"Why would Adam and me need help?" Connor asked. "We're doing fine on our own."

"Are you?" Captain interrupted with a broad smile. "A little birdy told me that you and Adam have been playing as my brother's trained seals. Using your powers to entertain and to get my brother what he wants."

"That's what a circus is," Connor said.

Captain Summertin sat back in his seat. "The circus is just an excuse for my brother to travel around and search for magicians from the rest of the human population. He recruits them and then claims to save them from the 'real world.'"