The Seelie Curse

Chapter 18

Kyma's mouth twitches into a smile for a moment, but she's too busy staring around the clearing in awe to keep it there.

"How-"

Ro grins. "Watch."

She kneels in the dirt and places her palm flat against the ground. After a moment, she pulls her hand away and sits back to watch a small shoot emerge from the ground. It spears up towards the sky, but it doesn't grow very much before it stops. The tip of the small plant breaks in two, branching off from the main stalk to droop to either side. A bud forms at the tip of each and blooms into a small pink flower. Kyma sits beside the flowers to examine them better. She reaches out to one of them and lifts the flower up, looking into its center. She lowers it again and looks to Ro.

"What type of flower are these?"

"They're called twinflowers. They're rare here in Scotland now, but they didn't use to be."

"Why did they disappear?"

Ro frowns, hesitating. "I don't- I don't know, actually. I think it was because they just died out."

Kyma nods. "What is this place?"

"My clearing. This is where I learned to control my magic, this is where I truly became immersed in the magical world. The trees here know me as well. In fact, let me introduce you to someone."

Ro walks around the clearing to one of the trees on the opposite side. Kyma follows her a few paces behind. When Ro stops, Kyma looks up at the tree with curiosity. It's different than the others, this tree doesn't look as vibrant. It looks normal. The branches don't move without guidance from the wind while the other trees in the clearing reach out to each other and Ro, their movements shifting with the movements of what they wish to touch.

Ro steps up to the trunk of the tree and raps softly on the bark. Kyma's brow furrows in confusion and curiosity, and she has to withhold her gasp when a girl steps out of the tree. Her pale skin is tinted green and her brown hair has flashes of green between the strands. Kyma peers closer. It's leaves. The girl has leaves in her hair. The girl beams.

"Ro! It's been so long!"

Ro looks taken aback. "It's only been a few days."

"In this world. You think I can't tell how long you've been with the kelpies? For you, it's been a week!"

Ro's eyes widen and she looks like she's struggling to keep her composure. "A week still isn't that long."

"You're my only friend. I don't even know many other dryads. Now, will you introduce me to your new companions?"

Ro smiles weekly and beckons Kyma closer. "This is Wave. That's her cousin Star."

Ro nods to Astrila, who is standing a little ways back. She's staring at the dryad girl with alarm in her eyes. The girl skips over to Astrila, grinning broadly.

"Hello, Star!"

Astrila's eyes grow wider with panic. She looks to Kyma pleadingly. Kyma winces and steps over to her cousin, looking at the dryad girl.

"I'm sorry. Star isn't used to people coming out of trees."

"Well, I'm a dryad. You can call me Darach." She frowns after a moment. "What's wrong?"

Astrila smiles weakly. "I'm still getting used to trees in the first place, and now that-"

"Getting used to trees? Where are you from?"

"I'm from a place where they can't grow. Above the arctic circle."

Darach's face falls in dismay as she whispers, "That's horrible. Why can't trees grow there?"

"It's too cold."

Darach continues to frown for several moments before she shakes her head and looks to Kyma. "There are trees where you are from, yes?"

Kyma quickly nods. "Oh yes. We have whole groves of trees on our island."

"Where is your island?"

"In the Dominican Republic. Our island is named Eilean Mhara."

Darach's eyes light up. "You're a merrow! And your friend?"

Kyma smiles at her cousin and squeezes her hand. "Star is a selkie."

Darach smiles. "Oh, yes. I see your pelt now. But . . . there's something more."

Kyma and Astrila exchange a glance before Astrila speaks, her voice low. "How do you know?"

"Dryads have an affinity with the air. You do as well."

Do you know what type of Aos Sí it could be from?"

Darach shakes her head. "I'm sorry, I'm still young. I don't know enough about other Aos Sí yet. But . . . the Forest King may have the answers you seek."

Astrila smiles. "Thank you. Where would I find him?"

Darach's eyes widen. "Oh, you don't find him. He comes to you."
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Do you think the Forest King will have the answers Astrila seeks? I love how Darach reacts to hearing that Astrila doesn't live in a place with trees. Do you like her reaction? Tell me your thoughts!

Happy reading and I'll see you next chapter!

~Goddess of Fate, signing out.