River Horse

Chapter Three

Dedicated to DaughterofNemesis, since she's the only other person I've ever met who knows about kelpies AND an incredible writer :) Also, The second character I promised comes in the next chapter. Ladies, look forward to add another member to the love square in the next chapter ;)

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"Alicia. Alicia! Damn girl, what is it with you and getting hit with poisoned missiles?" I sat up suddenly and almost slammed my forehead into Eric's. He pushed me back down gently. I was lying on a couch in a studio apartment. It was devoid of decoration, only containing duffel bags piled in a corner, rolled up sleeping bags, some cushions, and the couch I was resting on. I could see Ivan cooking something in the small kitchen.

"You guys have an apartment?" My tongue felt thick and fuzzy.

"Nah, we're just crashing." Eric said sarcastically.

I closed my eyes again, feeling sick. Nasty kobold. They're servants to the swamp sirens. Of course, they used their most potent poison for the arrow. Why do I keep on getting poisoned? Do I have bad karma? Thoughts whirled through my mind like dead leaves.

"So she's here?" That was Hans' voice.

"Yeah."

"We need to find out why she was targeted by a kobold and why the kelpie saved her." I heard him sigh. "Everything was so simple before. Kelpies were bad. They eat humans and enjoy terrorizing people. The one I met was clearly protecting those two little girls, and they obviously trusted her. The way she tore in those sirens was horrifying! It was like a mother bear defending her cubs."

"Anyway, we need to capture the kelpie and return it to its human form. We can mark it so that any hunter will know what it is." Eric leaned against the counter frowning. "Hold on a sec. Don't they become non-aggressive after they find a mate?"

I stiffened on the couch.  Unfortunately, Hans noticed. He came over to me and knelt next to the couch.

"Why are you being attacked by kobolds? And why were you saved by the kelpie?" I winced. There was no way out of this one.

"The kobold was aiming for me. Alicia was between us, so it shot her first. After she fell, it aimed the bow at me." Ivan finished speaking and waited.

"Well, I guess makes more sense than Alicia being a target." Gareth walked over to the kitchen and whistled. "Ivan made ramen, everyone!"

Immediately, everyone's head snapped up. They all raced for the kitchen and grabbed bowls, pushing and shoving. Ivan shouldered his way through and brought me a steaming bowl of noodles.

"Thanks." I said before carefully lifting a few noodles into my mouth. Flavor exploded on my tongue. It was spicy and salty, with a slight tang to the broth. I slurped up the ramen as quickly as possible. Who was I to care about manners? I ended up eating two more bowlfuls before laying back, full and sleepy.

"Alright, time to bed down. Everyone, get out the sleeping bags and change in the bathroom." This last comment was aimed at Eric, who had begun pulling off his shirt before glancing at me and turning bright red.

In a few minutes, all the boys had changed into pajamas and rolled out sleeping bags. I deliberately looked away when Gareth came out in only pajama bottoms and wiggled his eyebrows at me.

I tried to sit up, but Hans pushed me back down. "There's no way we're letting you go home in your condition." His eyes were kind, but his voice was firm. I nodded reluctantly and turned over away from him. Suddenly, a stray thought floated into my mind. I'm a girl, alone in a room with four good-looking topless men taking care of me.
My life is horrible.