The Kelpie's Curse (book #1 in the Kelpie's Entrapment trilogy)

Day 4 Part 3

***

Several hours later and with eight o'clock quickly approaching, as she looked herself over in the mirror, Renestrae had to grudgingly concede that they were right. The dress she was wearing was emerald in color, had wide bell sleeves, it reached her knees so that it would attract his attention without showing too much skin, and while it was tight on top, the skirt flared at her hips. She wore green high heels that had a bow on the front and gave a peek-a-boo of her toes, which were painted a pale green, and her make-up matched her brown eyes which sometimes turned green so perfectly that, had she not been there to witness it, Renestrae might have thought it was done by magick.

However the thing that had her most amazed was her hair. Somehow by only using two thick strands from the front, Kali had woven them into the back to look like a Celtic knot, and loosely curled the rest of it. The ending result was a style that looked complicated yet simple and elegant yet wild. She absolutely loved it. Of course her bow and quiver of arrows were attached to her back as well, as per Evelyn's request. She had said for the hundredth time that she might have approved but you still could never be too careful.

The doorbell rang and Evelyn went to answer it while Kaloria stayed in the bathroom to add the finishing touches.

"You've really outdone yourself this time, Kali," Renestrae smiled as Kaloria began braiding a couple of thin green ribbons into her hair.

Kali shrugged. "It was no problem. It wasn't really that hard."

Renestrae laughed. "Oh, you're being too modest. You don't think you guys went a little overboard with the green, do you?" Even the body glitter they'd sprayed on her chest and neck appeared to be green in the right light.

Kali smiled at her in the mirror. "Of course not. We're in Scotland and you are technically half Irish."

Her smile dropped into a scowl. "Don't remind me."

There was a tug on her hair making her look up at Kali's serious expression in the mirror.

"Enough of that, Ren. You love it that part of your blood hails from Ireland. You just don't like the person that half of your bloodline came from."

Renestrae smiled. As always, Kali had a point. "Alright, you got me."

Kali quickly tied off the last ribbon and arranged the medium-dark brown curls so that they spread both down her back and draped across the front. It was probably only managed because of how thick her hair was.

"Now, don't you look like a wee bonny lass."

Renestrae raised a recently plucked and arched brow at her in the mirror. "Isn't he supposed to say that?"

"Oh, he will, but I just had to say it. I did just turn you into an Irish goddess. I deserve some kind of fun, don't you think?"

Renestrae giggled. "Of course, Kali."

"Come on, Lassie. We better get out there before Evelyn starts asking what his intentions are, though I dare say his answer will change once he gets a look at you." Kali wiggled her eyes suggestively.

As she walked out to the living-room hallway, she giggled at Kaloria's expression. Kali and Evelyn always seemed to know when her mood needed to be lightened.

As she entered the room and looked up she was shocked by his appearance, for he had done exactly as she had suggested and kept the 1940's style suit. His long and still wet black hair was down with several strands braided throughout, and at his hip sat what she knew from several trips to the Renaissance faire was a broadsword. The two opposing eras obviously clashed but the hopeless romantic in her, that she tried to keep buried, positively swooned at the gesture. Already her possibly dangerous impulsive decision was proving to be better than this entire vacation thus far.