The Seelie Curse

Chapter 10

Rowan frowns. "We heard talking and came to see what was going on."

She looks at the two strangers, both female. The younger girl looks to be about Rowan's age, if not younger. She almost looks like a ghost. White skin, white hair, light-coloured clothing. Her clothing looks like its designed for someplace hot, even the material looks light. Rowan would think she was albino if not for her dark blue eyes. The older girl is almost the polar opposite of the first.

She has dark skin and inky black hair pulled back in a long braid. She's wearing a fur coat, though it must be quite hot for her to be wearing that. Her hands are clasped in her lap, but her knuckles are white. She's gripping the fur of the coat just like her companion has one hand clutching a pendant. The older girl has light grey eyes, and they feel like they are piecing into Rowan's very soul. She's shifted slightly, putting herself between Rowan and the other girl. Rowan's frown deepens.

"Who are you?"

Andrian touches Rowan's arm. "Let's sit down."

He guides Rowan to the armchair, her eyes focused on the two girls. Once Rowan is seated, Andrian perches on the edge of the chair. He could squeeze onto the couch with the other girls, but there is no way in hell that Rowan would let him do that. The two girls are strangers, who knows what they're here for? Rowan repeats her question.

"Who are you?"

The ghost-girl, that's what Rowan will call her, she shifts in her seat. Her words are accented, softening her speech and blurring sounds together. "It turns out that I'm his cridhe."

She points at Cáel. Rowan's eyes widen in shock and she doesn't need to look at Andrian to know that he reacted the same way. Despite her unease around the girl, her unfamiliarity, Rowan can't help but beam.

"You found your cridhe? That's amazing! How?"

Cáel flushes at Rowan's excitement. "Cam almost drowned her."

Rowan's face falls in dismay. "Oh, that must not be good." She looks at the ghost-girl. "Are you alright?"

The ghost-girl nods and releases her pendant. Rowan frowns slightly. It's a flower made of blue stone, but something about it seems familiar. Something is niggling at the back of her memory. Rowan glances at Andrian, curious if the pendant is bringing up any memories in him, but he's too busy looking at Camden.

"How did she not drown? Cáel wasn't in the other realm so how-"

The ghost-girl inches back against the back of the couch, unsure. Rowan frowns at her. "What are you scared of?"

The other girl responds for her friend. At least, Rowan thinks they're friends, although this girl has a different accent. Her words are rolling, flowing together. "She doesn't know you."

"And I don't know you. I apologize if I'm invested in the safety of this community first."

The girl sighs. "You really want to know? You'll have to tell us something about yourself as well. Are you a kelpie?"

Rowan places her hands on her hips. "I asked first. Show me how your friend isn't dead."

The girl nudges her friend, prompting the ghost-girl to speak. Her voice is soft, a bit musical. But Rowan can hear that if needed, her voice has a sharp edge to it. "Do you have any water?"

Andrian slips off the chair and heads into the kitchen. He comes back a moment later with a cup. 'Here you go."

He hands it to the ghost-girl. She looks down at the water inside, her gaze steady. Rowan leans forward in her seat at the slight movement that catches her attention. Is it the water moving? The girl isn't moving the cup. Rowan swallows her gasp when a bubble of water rises from the cup. The bubble lengthens, its edges stretching out. Rowan watches as it wraps up and around the air, creating a shield of water with air trapped inside. The other girl twists to look at the bubble and Rowan actually does gasp this time. A little funnel cloud appears at the top of the bubble, pulling air into it.

Rowan takes a breath before she speaks, trying to reign in her shocked awe. "What type of Aos Sí are you two?"

The ghost-girl smiles. It looks soft, but her expression tells Rowan that she won't deal with any arguing. "You first. We showed you how I'm still alive, you have to tell us about you."

Rowan's mouth twitches. "I might actually like you." She sighs. "I'm not a kelpie. I'm part Seelie and part human. And don't try and control me, I won't allow it. Just because I'm human doesn't mean I'm defenseless."

The ghost-girl laughs. "I should hope not!"

Rowan frowns again. "Why?"

The ghost-girl glances at her friend. "We were both born human and found out we were Aos Sí quite recently."

"Really?"

The ghost-girl nods. "Yes, and to answer your question, I'm a merrow and she is a selkie."

"Selkies can control the air?"

The ghost-girl's friend shakes her head. "No, I have other Aos Sí blood in me and that is what gives me that gift. I don't know what type of Aos Sí though."

Rowan nods? "What should we call you? I'm Ro and this is Andrian. You've already met Camden and Cáel.'

The ghost-girl frowns. "They said something about names having power. I don't understand that, could you explain it first?"

Rowan gapes at her, too stunned to speak.
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It was fun writing the accents for Kyma and Astrila. I tried to keep it accurate, but I don't know if it's perfect. But that's okay, it doesn't have to be. Not yet.

What do you think of this chapter? Will the three girls get along? What's going to happen next? Tell me your thoughts!

Happy reading and I'll see you next chapter!

~Goddess of Fate, signing out.