15. Deeper and Deeper – Rosemary
Deeper and Deeper
ROSEMARY
I jolted awake, gasping, my heart racing and skin slick with sweat. The dream's remnants clung to my mind like cobwebs, fragments of Elias and me, connected by more than just this quest. Morning's soft light streamed through the waterfall as I groaned, sitting up with aching muscles.
Elias's bedroll lay empty beside me, looking as though it hadn't been slept in. He'd never woken me for my watch.
"Good morning," he said softly, not turning from where he knelt by a small fire.
I sat up slowly, acutely aware of how the dream had changed something within me. "How long have you been awake?"
"A while." He finally looked at me, and I saw my own uncertainty reflected in his eyes. "I've been thinking about yesterday. Everything that happened."
I held his gaze for a moment, the vividness of last night's dream flooding back, and I felt the heat rise to my cheeks, surely turning them the color of ripe cherries. "Did I? Did we..." I stumbled over my words, my voice barely a whisper.
"You talk in your sleep." He chuckled, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Did you dream about me?"
A wave of mortification washed over me as I realized he knew exactly what had filled my subconscious hours. I narrowed my eyes at him, trying to muster some semblance of defiance. "I did not dream about you, only that I was stabbing you."
"Sure, that's why you moaned my name," he said, leaning closer.
His smirk was infuriatingly sexy, and his words were like a melody that lingered in the air.
"Oh, princess, I love the sound of my name as a moan on those beautiful lips.
" But then, like a storm cloud passing over the sun, his features turned serious, and the playful mood vanished, replaced by something darker.
The shift felt like a splash of cold water on our heated exchange. "Elias," I said softly, sensing the weight of his thoughts. "What's really bothering you?"
"I need to check something," he said, standing abruptly. "Stay here for a moment."
I stepped out of the cave, navigating the narrow ledge to a nearby waterfall. The forest beyond was bathed in soft golden light, but there was no sign of Elias.
"Elias?" I called out, my voice echoing through the tranquil woods.
A twig snapped behind me, and I whirled, hand reaching for my dagger. Shock replaced fear as I came face to face with Elias. He stood at the edge of the trees, his pewter gaze fixed on the river behind me, a grim expression etched onto his handsome face.
"Where did you go just now? What’s going on?" Relief and irritation warred within me. "And why didn’t you wake me for second watch?"
"I didn’t wake you because I couldn't sleep, so I went to scout ahead.
" His voice carried a weight I hadn't heard before, rougher somehow.
"I guess I lost track of time." He cast a look over his shoulder, to where he’d come from before turning those stormy gray eyes to me again. “I told you to wait inside. I thought I heard something. I couldn’t find the source of the noise, but…”
He gestured to the river. I turned and gasped. The once-clear stream now swirled with tendrils of inky black, like smoky serpents writhing beneath the surface. A sickly-sweet scent hung in the air.
"What happened to it?" I whispered, staring at the unnatural darkness. "Could this be connected to the magic in the water?” My mind flashed back to his snapped warning last night as I’d tried to refill our canteens at the river’s edge.
"I don't know, but we need to be on our guard. Step away from the water, princess."
A bone-chilling screech tore through the woods, making every hair on my body stand on end. The birds and forest creatures fell silent as those dark tendrils began taking shape.
A thunderous noise erupted, and a behemoth creature emerged from the depths. A kelpie, its body a monstrous mix of horse and fish, scales gleaming with an eerie glow. Its eyes were deep pools of darkness as it reared up onto its hind legs, standing atop the water's surface.
"Rosemary, run!" Elias shouted, his blade already flashing.
I stumbled into the forest but couldn't bring myself to go further. Something about the creature transfixed me, not just fear, but a strange recognition. The air thrummed with ancient energy that set my teeth on edge and made my blood sing.
Elias danced around the creature, his sword a blur of silver, but every blow seemed ineffective against its armored hide.
"What is that thing?" I demanded as a lengthened claw nearly tore through his middle.
"A kelpie. One of the queen's creations. Stay away from the water!"
The mention of the queen sent ice through my veins. Of course this creature would be connected to her.
Despite the danger, I found myself studying the beast. Its sharpened teeth curved in perfect arcs, its powerful hooves, its fish-like tail hovering above the water. There was a terrible beauty I couldn't deny.
Elias lifted his sword for a killing blow, and my heart twisted. "No!" I cried, rushing forward. "Spare him, please!"
In an instant, I was between his blade and the kelpie. The creature's waterlogged cackle echoed as something clamped onto my corset, yanking me beneath the surface. The river was darker and deeper than I'd realized. Panic seized my chest as my lungs burned for air.
Through the haze of bubbles and shadow, Elias dove through the depths, his powerful body cutting through the water. His hand closed around mine as his dagger slashed at the kelpie's muzzle, forcing it to release me.
We broke through the surface, gasping. Elias dragged me to shore as the kelpie snapped at our heels. We scrambled onto the rocky bank and dashed into the forest, collapsing in a mossy meadow.
"Don't kill it," I gasped hoarsely, even though it had nearly killed me.
"It tried to kill you. I cannot let it live," he replied through clenched teeth.
"Let it go, for me, please," I begged.
His eyes found mine, storm-gray depths filled with something I couldn't name. "Princess, you have no idea the things I would do for you. The lengths I would go to keep you safe. But don't ask this of me. It tried to kill you. I cannot forgive that."
I pulled him to me. "Please," I whispered, bringing his face close to mine.
My lips found his in a soft, searching kiss. His sword hit the moss as he knelt beside me, his hands clasping my cheeks as he kissed me back, letting the kelpie go.