Kelpie - A short story
White…A bright white light. The sound of rushing water beside her. Dazed, unable to regain focus. Each time her eyes come to open, they are heavy. Though she sees him. Wet black locks frame his chiseled face… His eyes…Oh how she became lost in them. She felt his hand upon the side of her face, the touch gentle and caring. Her eyes close again, opening. The white light was gone, and so was he.
The distant horn causes her to turn her head slowly. Sky blue eyes come to settle to, at first, a blurry animal. Focus comes, and off to the side a magnificent stallion stands by…His mane held bits of kelp, as did his tail. Pelt is as if he were the soul keeper of the night himself. Feathered hooves pivot as he slowly walks over to her. Large head lowers before he comes to lay down beside her.
Her hand reaches up slowly, feeling the locks of mane and kelp between her fingers. She takes hold, and with what little strength she has, hoists herself onto the back of the stallion. Long strands of honey tendrils drip water onto her already soaked frame. The midnight blue dress tattered and torn.
With a flawless motion, the stallion comes to a stand. His ears swivel at the sound of the horn as it draws near. The faint barking of hounds soon follow, and at that he turns and runs alongside the stream.
She clings to his mane, her body hunched over for her strength is gone.
She could hear him, though. Hear his words within her thoughts.
"Trust me…Hold tight to me…“
She did not understand why she could hear him. Though she does cling to him, feeling the wisps of his mane against her own face as he runs. The sound of his hooves soon come to follow with the splashing of water with each step. A cliff off in the distance where water pours over draws near. She barely catches sight of it, her heart racing.
Once more his words come to her, as if he knew of her fear.
"Trust me…Hold tight to me…”
Arrows scream past them, and his pace quickens. The water beneath him crystal clear yet deep. Yet he does not sink. She watches as they draw closer…Closer to the cliff. More arrows fly by them, all missing their target and embedding into the trees or the grass or even the water itself.
And then… All becomes still.
Her breath draws in as she holds tight to the stallion. His powerful haunches launch both himself and the rider over the cliff. Below, a large river awaits them. She had never seen such a clear river before. Oh how beautiful it was to see as the sun glistens upon the ripples. To feel as if she were flying towards it, as if the stallion gave her some ability to fly..Yet the feeling of his mane entangled with her fingers reminds her that she is not.
Just as it appears they were to hit the water..White..A bright white light.
The distant horn call and the wailing of the hounds fade. She could hear her breathing, hear the faint rustle of leaves as the wind dances through them in a symphony so tranquil. Slowly, she opens her eyes to see a forest that appears to have never been touched by a human hand. She goes to take a step forward, but a hand gently takes hold of her arm and she turns to see.
He stood there, black hair framing his chiseled face. His eyes resting to her own gaze as his hands slowly come to slip around her waist as he guides her close. Left hand rises, softly cuffing her chin between his thumb and the crook of his forefinger, tilting her head up as his lips lower to press to her own.
They say to be careful by the side of the waters..For the Kelpie always takes what he pleases. Drawing in his victims before drowning them beneath the murky waters from whence he came.
If this was death…It was the most alive she has ever felt.
Copyright angelicadvocate
5/19/2018