Kain
It was completely dark in the room by the time I woke up. Carissa and I must have slept for several hours because my mind was now foggy and weak. I tried to raise my arms overhead, temporarily forgetting about the stab wound. It still hurt but the stiffness was bothering me more. I hated to feel inadequate, and with Eviana stolen out from under us, my injury only added to the insult.
Eviana. We needed to rescue her. I needed to talk to Abhainn. Carissa’s arm rested across my chest so I held it up as I slid out of bed. I felt kind of bad about sneaking off like this, but she looked content and her deep breaths told me she was still blissfully asleep.
I watched her for a few moments, stunned by her beauty. Not only was she perfect on the outside, but Carissa was a good person in her heart. She would be a wonderful girlfriend for anyone, and for some reason she wanted me. A part of me wished that I could completely close off my heart to Eviana, but that wasn’t going to happen. That girl has been the most important person in my life since I was a kid. She still is. And despite knowing better, I didn’t want to ruin my chances with her.
It was already night when I stepped outside on the expansive wood deck. Eviana’s family had lived here for several generations, allowing them the comfort of privacy. The closest home was at least a mile away, and the direct access to the beach was a luxury for our kind. My father and I would visit this house several times a year ever since I was old enough to travel with him. Eviana and I had been promised to each other for most of that time.
I tried not to think about that part. Eviana ran away the night before our wedding and I was humiliated and disappointed to say the least. I wanted to hate her forever, but it just wasn’t in me.
The nearly full moon lit up the sand in an unnatural way. Small waves echoed off the surf sending a hint of longing through me. I’d only been allowed to “swim” in the bathtub these past few days and I was itching to get in the sea. There’s nothing like the exhilaration of transitioning into my other form and leaving all of the perils of the human world behind.
Looking back inside the house, I noticed only a few selkies and protectors. But more were around. Most likely hidden in locations where they could scout for trouble. Lucian had been arrogant enough to attack us at our home once, there was no doubt that he could do it again. I stuck my head back inside to tell Troy that I was going down to the beach to search for Abhainn. The water sprite had been sneaking around here, so I hoped that I’d be able to find him quickly.
The beach glowed like a moonscape and the quietness of the night calmed me. I took a deep breath to smell the air and sea, reveling in the salty yet somewhat fishy scent. It was a reminder of who we were, and now more than ever, I was craving the change. Perhaps I’d be able to find Abhainn better that way, under the water.
Instead, I decided to walk up and down the beach, taking little care to miss the surf. The sprite could use the water to move around, whether that was in the ocean or underground. I called out to him a few times, feeling idiotic for talking to myself, but I had to try. For Eviana’s sake.
It had been two hours before I heard footsteps coming up behind me. They were light and graceful and almost hesitant. I turned from where I was sitting with my ocean view to see who my visitor was.
“Can I join you?” Carissa asked with a smile.
I couldn’t help but return it as I patted the beach next to me. She had a flannel blanket wrapped around her and maneuvered it so that she wouldn’t be sitting directly on the sand.
“Getting some fresh air?” I asked.
“Just wondering where you are.” Her voice was less than confident and it worried me a little. “Have you seen him yet?”
Knowing that she was referring to Abhainn, I shook my head. “I don’t know if he’s really here or not.”
“You’re worried about her, aren’t you?” Carissa said quietly.
“Of course I am. She’s an important leader and practically my co-ruler. She needs to be here with her clan.”
She looked at me for a moment before resting her head on my shoulder. I wrapped my arm around her back and pulled her close. “It’s more than that,” she whispered.
Although it wasn’t a direct question, I knew what she meant. “In a way. I care what happens to Eviana, but not for the same reasons why I cared before.”
Carissa didn’t speak for a minute. I was just getting comfortable with the silence and the feel of her body nestled up against mine when she asked me the real question. “Do you love her?”
Did I? Yes, in a certain way. But did I love her like I wished I could love Carissa someday? “No,” I finally answered.
I felt her muscles tense right before she let out a sigh. “Kain, you’re lying.”
“No, I’m being truthful. I swear.” I turned my body to face her, wanting her to know that I meant what I was saying.
She smiled but it barely reached her eyes. “You’re being truthful in your mind, but that’s not what your heart is saying.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I can tell when you’re lying and I can tell how deep the lie goes. You are an honest man, Kain Matthew, but it’s your heart that has betrayed you.”
“Carissa…”
“It’s okay, Kain. I think I always knew.”
“Knew what?” How could she know how I felt when I didn’t even really know? I’ve been so confused over my feelings for Eviana these past few months that it was almost a blessing for someone else to tell me how to feel.
She nudged my shoulder and then pulled away. “You’ve always been in love with her. Even when you were angry with her. Although I’m not sure how that’s going to help you any with Brendan’s return.”
“Oh,” I said, not knowing if I should tell her. Carissa looked at me quizzically and I decided that she deserved to know the whole truth. “Brendan and Eviana broke up. He felt the call and he can’t fight it anymore.” I guess that was one way to put it. Carissa didn’t need to know about his return and then quick departure after spending the night with Eviana. Besides, I didn’t want to think about that either.
“I see,” she finally said. “Well, that does change things.” My heart did something funny when I realized where this conversation was going. She turned her head and looked up at me. “Kain, I can’t compete with that.” Her finger pointed at my heart. “You are an amazing guy, but it’s just not meant to be.”
I wiped a small tear from her cheek and wished that there was something I could say to make this better. “I’m sorry.”
She tried to smile again. “Don’t be. But promise me that you will do this right. Don’t let her miss out on the best man she will ever find.” She pulled back from me again and wrapped the blanket tighter around her chest. “And you make sure that she treats you well.”
I swallowed hard, not really knowing what to say. Thankfully, the moment was lost when we heard the distinct sound of galloping hooves moving rapidly toward us. Why there was a horse on the beach, baffled me for a second, until I realized what was happening.
Carissa and I stood to watch the spectacle. “Is that Abhainn?” she asked.
Sure enough, running down the beach like a Lady Godiva reincarnate was the water sprite on top of a large black kelpie. With the way the moonlight peeked out from behind the clouds, the black water horse seemed almost invisible, creating an illusion that Abhainn was flying on his own.
I remembered our ride on those magnificent water beasts when we escaped from Lucian’s cave in Virginia. Carissa and I rode bareback through the night, afraid for our lives but loving the ride in the forest. She briefly grabbed my hand and I wondered if she was having the same memory. The sprite commanded the kelpie to stop just before running into us since we were too stunned to get out of his way.
In one amazingly graceful move, Abhainn dismounted and gave us a gracious nod. “Good evenin’ Master Matthew. ‘ave ye been waiting for me?” His Scottish accent was thick and even more difficult to understand with a neighing kelpie by our side. “Hush, Celopean. Thank ye fer helping me. Ye can go now.” Abhainn slapped the horse on the rump and it immediately turned and ran toward the surf.
Carissa and I watched as the black horse trotted straight into the water and disappeared under the first wave that connected with his body. It was like he simply disintegrated into the darkened seas.
“My whole life I’d been told that they were extinct, and now I’ve seen them twice this year,” Carissa said. She looked up at Abhainn, who had apparently fed very well because he was larger than me right now. Water sprites had a rather nontraditional diet of humans with a side of more humans. It was disturbing and I tried not to think about it. “I will leave you two alone to discuss matters.”
She began to walk down the beach but I had to stop her. “Carissa, where are you going?”
“Just back to the house. Don’t worry, I’m not running away yet.” I could hear the pain in her voice and I hated that I was the one that put it there. I should know better than anybody how it feels to love someone who doesn’t love you back. Yet even knowing that, I couldn’t pretend to like Carissa when all I thought about was Eviana. It wasn’t fair.
“Ye’re right lad,” Abhainn said, startling me.
“Huh?”
“Ye are right to let that one go when ye feel so strongly fer another.” I looked at him in confusion and he tapped his head. “Mind reading. No thought is safe around me.”
I cringed remembering some of the thoughts that I’ve had when Abhainn was around. Most were probably focused on Eviana. He laughed.
“Ye might be surprised to know that ye frequent her thoughts as well.”
“I do?”
“Aye, but that is a private matter between the two of ye.” He looked up at the house and I noticed that his demeanor quickly changed. “I know that she is gone.”
“Lucian kidnapped her.”
“Well, that is certainly a problem. Am I to guess that is why ye are waiting fer me?”
I nodded and crossed my arms over my chest. “Would you be able to find her like you found the selkies before?” I’d been there when Abhainn and his ratchet girlfriend tracked down the selkies that stole Brendan’s skin.
“I ‘ave already been looking. She’s not in this country, that much I am sure.” If she wasn’t in this country, how were we ever going to find her? “Don’t worry lass. I ‘ave eyes and ears all over. We will find her, and when we do, I wanna go with ye.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t have it any other way.” And I meant every word. Abhainn would be valuable in a fight and he and I worked well together. That is as long as we could find her.
“I am expecting to know her whereabouts tonight,” Abhainn said as he stared off at the horizon.
“Really?” I asked, finally feeling a glimmer of hope.
“Aye.”
“Abhainn!” Daniel yelled. We turned to see him running down the beach, a small flashlight beam bouncing aimlessly against the surf. “Abhainn wait!”
I heard the sprite chuckle and watched as Daniel took in his unusually large size before focusing his eyes. It was a bit unnerving how different Abhainn looked each time we encountered him.
“Hello, lad.” Abhainn smiled wide enough to expose a mouthful of pointed teeth. “Where ‘ave ye been hiding?”
“Hiding? What? I’ve been trying to talk to you for the past several nights!” Daniel glared up into Abhainn’s face. “Why wouldn’t you come to the house?”
Abhainn shrugged and shook his head. “Too many selkies for my taste.”
I cut in before Daniel could argue more. “Why do you have that?” I asked pointing to the flashlight dangling from Daniel’s hand. We could see very well at night, not to mention the moon was bright when not behind a cloud.
“I…I don’t like being in the dark,” Daniel said. “Plus I can use it as a weapon.” I looked down at the four inch piece of metal and smiled. “I could crush your skull with this,” he added as soon as he saw my reaction. I laughed. “Fine, but I could temporarily blind you.”
“That is true,” I conceded, and had to shield my face when Daniel tried to prove his point. “I said I believe you.”
In a move so quick I hardly saw it, Abhainn reached out, grabbed the flashlight from Daniel’s hand, and threw it into the ocean. “I guess ye will need to use yer natural abilities now, lad.”
Daniel looked from the sea to Abhainn and back again. “Why did you do that?”
“I didn’t want ye to hurt Master Matthew here and ye looked like ye were going to do some serious damage.” There was no mistaking the sarcasm in Abhainn’s voice and the glimmer in his eye.
Daniel huffed and threw up his arms. “Very funny, Abhainn.” He moved into the sprite’s personal space. “I think I saw a water bottle over there. Maybe you’d like to spend some time thinking about how you don’t have to be so rude?”
There was a hint of stiffness to Abhainn’s shoulders. Daniel’s water control was probably good enough to capture the sprite if he took him by surprise. For a moment I wondered if he was serious, but when I saw Daniel wink, I knew he would never do that to our friend.
“So do you know where she is?” Daniel asked, moving a few steps away and getting to the real reason why he was here.
“Not yet,” Abhainn said.
“But we should know soon,” I added before Daniel could say anything else.
“Aye, I think…” Abhainn’s words were suddenly cut off by the soulful howl of a hound. Shivers ran down my spine, recognizing what that sound meant. I looked at Daniel who was frozen in place, and then to Abhainn. His face lit up as we all turned to face the water. “I think we will know now.”
In an instant, Abhainn’s body exploded into millions of water droplets and fell quietly into the surf. Daniel and I backed up, trying not to get any on us. ‘”I really hate it when he does that,” I said.
“Is he okay?” Daniel asked. I looked out into the glimmering sea and saw the sprite’s head emerge next to the ratchet that was calling for him.
“Yeah,” I said. “I’ll bet that’s Isabel.”
“That ratchet?”
“Yes. I think she’s Abhainn’s girlfriend.” Eviana and I had a chance encounter with the two of them in a nearby park. Apparently we’d interrupted a private moment leading me to believe they had a romantic relationship. “She’s the one who found Brendan’s attackers.”
“Interesting,” Daniel said quietly while watching the two water fairies converse in their human forms. “I hope she found Eviana.”
“Me too.” I sighed, trying to relive some of the tension in my neck. The movement sent a wave of pain through my side and I cringed. I was tired of being in pain.
“You should sit down,” Daniel said.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not. You were skewered. By a sword.” He stepped in front of me. “Stop trying to pretend it doesn’t hurt.”
“I’m not.”
He huffed. “I don’t get that macho thing you all do. Why can’t you just admit when you need help?”
“I’m fine,” I said a little louder.
“Whatever. Be in pain.” I had to smile. Daniel couldn’t be mad at anyone. He was simply too nice and nurturing. “Here he comes.”
I turned to see Abhainn walking out of the surf and marveled as he shifted himself into clothes. I was slightly envious of their abilities to turn into anything or anyone. Although, I’d rather protect humans than eat them, so I suppose I was better suited as a merman.
“Well?” Daniel eagerly asked.
“Did Isabel know anything?” I added.
Abhainn smiled and slapped both of his hands on our shoulders. My body protested, but it was a secondary concern. We waited for him to say something. Finally he spoke.
“We found her.”
