House of Dreamers | book 1

𝐯𝐢𝐢𝐢

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟖

𓆱

Hands wrapped around Ophelia's biceps, yanking her away from the pond. Caspian moved his body in front of her, standing while she sat on the ground. She slid her hand around his leg, eyes locked on the pale hand that slammed against the ground.

Caspian unsheathed his sword, pointing it at the body freeing itself from the water. Black hair brushed against the blades of grass along the edge of the pond, lean arms straightening to full length. The person flipped their hair over their back, grey-white ears poking up from the top of their head.

Ophelia stayed still.

"Who are you?" Caspian growled, shifting his stance. The girl pulled herself out of the pond, staring at Ophelia. "You weren't supposed to be here." The woman tilted her head, straightening to her full height..

Ophelia watched the woman, pressing closer to Caspian. The woman hummed, crossing her arms over her nude chest. Her scowling eyes glanced towards Caspian, then his leveled sword. "Eudoxia swore no one would be here." The black-haired girl started to pace.

"Who are you?" Caspian growled again, moving to stand in front of Ophelia. She stopped moving, flinging her arms down. "I'm Aisling. I was told to bring that girl on the ground there, back with me." She stated this as if it were obvious. Ophelia pushed herself to her feet as Aisling moved to step around Caspian. He moved quicker, plunging his sword in the soft ground in front of her.

"I'm afraid I can't let you do that."

Aisling rolled her eyes, stamping her foot. "I am sick and tired of men telling me what to do! First it's 'Aisling, get me this,' and 'Aisling, grab that'. I'm sick of it, sick of it!" She bawled her fists. Ophelia slowly rose to her feet, wiping her hands along the skirt.

"Men? Are... you talking about Perseus?" Aisling's icy stare slid to Ophelia, a smug look passing over her features. "Who else wants you so bad?"

Ophelia fought against a tremble, glancing towards Caspian.

Aisling released a sensual chuckle. "Perseus is...persistent on attaining you." Caspian barked a laugh. "Well, you can tell him that he can burn in Hell." Aisling turned her face towards Caspian. "I don't remember asking you to speak, dog." Caspian tensed, a muscle in his jaw feathering. Ophelia moved forward, sliding her hand around Caspian's elbow. He barely glanced at her, as Aisling tried to move around the sword.

Her fingers brushed against the hilt of the sword, yelping, and yanked her hand away. "What the hell?" Aisling glared down at her hand, eyes turning towards Caspian. "Oh, you're sneaky." She turned her attention back down to the sword, glaring at the iron wrapped around the hilt. "The iron around the handle. You're sneaky." She repeated, standing straight, dropping her hand to her side. Ophelia glanced down at the girl's hand, now welted and red.

"I suggest you leave." Caspian kept his voice low in warning. Ophelia brought her eyes back to Aisling's face, watching as she tugged her dark eyebrows together. "I have to bring Ophelia back with me." Fear spiked in her eyes. Ophelia turned, staring at the side of Caspian's face.

"You're not leaving with her."

A tense silence settled among them. Caspian and Aisling glared at one another. Aisling relented first, glancing towards the ground. "Fine." She tapped her foot against a rock, a series of complicated taps and the light in the pond dimmed again. "Fine." Aisling said again, quiet. She kept her back to them, leaping into the pond and disappearing.