Undine -

Chapter 21

Fear warred with common sense. Was this what Elizabeth warned against when she spoke of water contamination; some bizarre hallucination? Was this the reason the sip wells were sealed?

Inexorably, curiosity drew Sophie's eyes to the en suite doorway. A low moan escaping her as her gaze dropped to the floor.

Glistening and stealthy, a trickle of water seeped from beneath the closed door then snaked across the carpet towards her. Sophie watched it approach, saw it hesitate, then stop, its surface tension quivering in the lamplight.

Does it see me? she wondered hysterically. If I stay perfectly still will it go away?

The water trembled, welled into a fat pool, spilled, then continued on its way across the room. She became aware of a terrible roaring emanating from the en suite, as though the aberration in the shower cubicle was raging at losing her.

When the finger of water meandered up the single stair dividing the bedroom, something in Sophie snapped. She fell to her knees, both palms pressed to the floor.

'Go away,' she screeched. 'Leave me alone!'

She didn't dare look up; not any more. She didn't want to see anymore; couldn't contemplate or comprehend what might happen next. As she cowered on the floor, too terrified to move, Sophie heard the bedroom door burst open. There was movement at her side, a warmth and strength that was Michael. His arms encased her and she could feel the beat of his heart.

'Raif!'

She glanced up, saw that he crouched beside her, his handsome face twisted with fury. He was staring at the water, his eyes narrowed to slits. Sophie twisted her head to follow his gaze, saw the water pooling innocently at the base of the step as it sank  into the carpet.

A spasm of uncontrollable shivering took her. Kneeling next to him, arms crossed over her naked breasts, her hair hanging in damp, taffy coloured coils around her shoulders, she sobbed gently and noiselessly.

Michael held her, stroking her hair. 'It's alright, sweetheart.' he murmured. 'I'm here.'

She felt him rise, and a few moments later the soft fabric of her robe fell over her nakedness. Clutching the garment, Sophie raised her tear stained face. 'What was that?' she choked. 'What in Christ's name was it?'

Footsteps in the doorway heralded the arrival of Elizabeth wearing a blue linen nightgown, her hair twisting over one shoulder in a thick plait. The old woman took in the scene before her, raised her chin and muttered beneath her breath, 'God in heaven!'

'The seals have been breached,' Michael said. 'It's our own fault, we should have checked them.'

'Are you alright, Sophie?' Elizabeth enquired.

Sophie nodded, brushing back her hair and trying to smile.

'I'll stay with her, Michael,' Elizabeth glanced pointedly at Sophie's nakedness. 'Ask Thomas to staunch this leak, then go fix us some drinks in the library. We'll be down presently.'

When Michael was gone, Elizabeth helped Sophie rise, then sat next to her on the bed and gently dried her hair with a towel. 'You've had rather a fright, haven't you? And the carpet's quite ruined, I fear.'

'It attacked me,' Sophie rambled. 'It attacked me.'

'The damned water pressure has gone haywire again.'

'Water pressure?'

'This house is old, my dear. Almost as old as the stone from which it's built. The plumbing's ancient too.  Do you understand what I'm saying?'