Chapter 4 #2
“Ah, damn it!” Theo cursed, throwing his hands up and closing his eyes. When he turned back towards the water, it was as still as glass again, and a curvy woman was standing in the shallows. She was a few feet from them, and the water reached her knees.
“Emmett,” the sprite smiled and then nodded her head politely at Theo and Pippa, “and friends.”
“Nessie.” Emmett grinned, returning the short bow. “This is Theo, Calum’s brother, and Pippa—”
“Your mate!” Nessie clapped her hands together excitedly. “Oh, I can sense the bond from here. How joyous!” Nessie smiled, and a dozen rainbows materialized, dancing across the water around her legs.
The water sprite was only about five feet tall with voluptuous curves that looked like a coastline brought to life. Her body was almost entirely transparent, but she had white hair that floated on the surface of the lake and stretched for what seemed like miles behind her.
“It's lovely to meet you.” Pippa smiled. “I do hate to get down to business immediately—”
“No, you don’t,” Emmett interrupted.
Pippa tossed him a glare and then continued. “We are here to ask you about information.”
Nessie nodded eagerly, taking a step closer to them. “Ah, yes. I would assume about Theo?”
Theo froze when Nessie mentioned him directly and stared at the personification of Loch Ness herself. While she looked youthful and pleasant, there was an ancient power in her body that Theo did not want to be on the receiving end of.
“How did you know?” Theo blurted out.
Nessie looked at him with sympathy. “You are right to come here and ask,” Nessie sighed.
“Cliodhna has been in these waters. Not literally, she wouldn’t be allowed, but she’s powerful.
She manifests as an apparition and disappears before she can be caught.
I’ve heard plenty of water creatures complaining about her.
She’s been very pushy in trying to recruit people to capture you for her, Theo.
” Nessie looked apologetic. Her face was so pure and kind that it made Theo forget she was a primordial spirit and feel sorry for her.
“My deepest apologies if my presence has caused you distress.” Theo bowed at the waist, deeper than Emmett and Pippa had, needing to appease Nessie. She smiled.
“Ah, you take after your brother. Always very polite. And respectful. Those are good qualities in princes that you don’t see much nowadays,” she murmured wistfully, as if remembering royalty of the past.
“Nessie, do you know if anyone has taken Cliodhna’s side?” Emmett asked, then he launched into their plan, explaining their idea to go to the Blue Men of the Minch to get the details of Theo’s curse.
Theo started sweating when Emmett outlined their plan to travel by water, especially as Nessie warned them that Cliodhna was already attempting to recruit along Scotland’s waterways. When Emmett was done speaking, Nessie nodded her head solemnly.
“I do think it’s a good plan,” she said cautiously.
“Every curse can be broken. It depends on the language. You’re right about that.
Even with Cliodhna in these waters, everyone is loyal to Calum and to Scotland.
You are wise to travel under her nose through the rivers, with the support of their inhabitants. ”
“Thank the gods.” Theo breathed out, a sense of relief, although small, settled on his shoulders.
“Nessie,” Emmett held his hands together like he was praying, “I hate to ask for a favor…”
“Ha!” Nessie laughed, and the water rippled around her. “You’ve never hesitated before. Do not insult our friendship and hesitate now. Although flattery would help.”
Pippa snorted. “I like you.”
Nessie winked at Pippa and gave Emmett a mock glare.
“O, most ancient and powerful of us all, supreme being of the loch,” Emmett held his hands out wide and dramatically dropped to one knee, “would you ever so mind bestowing us poor heathens with a drop of your almighty blessing?”
Theo bit his lip to keep from laughing too hard. He was relieved to see that Pippa and Nessie were both doing the same.
“Oh, all right, get off the ground.” Nessie waved her hand at him. “Of course I’ll help you. You’ll have my blessing. I’ll let everyone know to keep an eye out for you and that you’re on the prince’s business.”
“I’m much obliged, my lady,” Theo offered his thanks.
Nessie looked at him with kindness, although he could see her calculating gaze sizing him up.
“Young prince…” Nessie’s voice started echoing in Theo’s head, where only he could hear her. “A goddess of the sea has cursed you, but her mark is not the only one on you. You are a favored son of the water. Time will tell what that means and how it shall come to pass.”
Theo froze. He opened his mouth to beg Nessie to stay and explain what she meant by that, but she melted into the water and was gone without a trace.
Emmett and Pippa gasped at the sprite’s sudden disappearance, turning to look at Theo.
“Did she say anything to you?” Emmett asked gently. “Sometimes the primordial sprites can see things like the fates. Whatever it was, I’m sure Nessie didn’t mean it to harm you.”
Theo appreciated Emmett’s rush to console him. He realized his face must be giving away his supreme horror at the other piece of the puzzle that Nessie dropped in his lap.
“Come on then.” Pippa clapped her hands and turned on her heel, headed for the Jeep. “Let’s go find a place to get some lunch. I’m feckin’ starving, and we’ve got a long journey ahead of us.”
Emmett followed Pippa, but Theo took a moment to stare out at the horizon, wondering what was waiting for him in the water.
“A long journey, indeed.”