The Looking Glass

Ensley and Calev (Part 6)

Ensley came out of the water coughing. She felt like she had been in the lake for days. Ensley looked around trying to get her bearings. She knew she went to a different place, she just didn’t know where slowly she swam to the shoreline. Once she felt the sandy bottom she stood up and licked her lips. Salt?! She looked around how is that possible? She was just in a lake. She turned backed the way she came. The water went on for miles. She took a deep breathe in and could smell the sea air. She felt at home for the first time. Ensley slowly walked out of the water watching her surroundings with each step. She pulled her hair forward wringing the water out of it. She didn’t see the fairy standing behind the tree watching her. Yet she could feel someone or something.

“Hello?” she called out as she walked toward the trees. She stepped lightly scanning her surrounding with every step. The fairy watched Ensley closely. He could see her red hair and green eyes clearly. He knew she wasn’t a mermaid or a siren. Yet she is water fae. She moved along the tree line looking for any signs of life. This only made him hide deeper into the tree. If you didn’t know what you were looking for, you would never see him. Calev liked it that way. He liked knowing he could hide from almost everyone. He went back to watching the girl in front of him. She was almost next to him.

Ensley felt the need to drive back into the sea. She knew something bad was watching her from afar. She turned just in time for the arrow to miss her. She watched it sink into the sand. She took off toward the water. Calev moved out from behind the tree just as another arrow flew past him and nicked Ensley. He watched her hand grab her arm as she fell into the sea. Calev took off to the sea, he could see she wasn’t breathing. He slowly pulled her out of the water. He knew he had to protect her. The arrows started up again. He quickly picked her up. He knew they had to get to the castle fast. Good thing he knew the forest well. He took off running as the arrows started to come down faster. Who wanted this water fae dead? He looked down to see her color slowly turning blue. The arrows were poisoned. He was almost to the castles front gate when he saw the marksmen. One last arrow he had, Calev watched him pull it back with intent, the arrow flew and hit the water fae in the chest just as he reached the grounds of the castle. He ran faster to the healer.

“Riona!” He roared as he reached her house. Riona came running out.

“What happen, young Prince?” She asked.

“I’ll explain inside. Please help her.” He said as he walked inside and laid her down. Riona walked over to her and quickly jumped back.

She looked up at him and whispered, “Where did you find her?”

“The sea, she came out of it.” He stood there staring at her.

Riona brought her hand to her mouth, “That’s not possible. All water fae are dead.” He could barely hear her. She took another step back. “I can’t help you, Calev.” He walked around the table.

“Why not?!” he yelled in her face. “that is unacceptable, help her now!”

“I can’t. she is water fae. She should be dead. They were wiped out over 100 years ago.” She explains.

“I am the crown prince of the Unseelie court you will help her, or I will lock you up!” he whispered. Riona simple nodded her head and went to work. She pulled out the arrow and inspected it.

“The tip has been dipped in or rubbed on a dart frog. I take it she is a half breed. This would only slow down a fae but to do this means she has to be, or she was hidden in the human world for a while.” Calev let her work on the water fae. He took a seat in front of the door in case anyone tried to walk in.

It felt like hours had passed when he finally heard Riona talk.

“She will be fine. The first arrow that nicked her arm was a silver tip. I got all of that out and the tree frog. She should wake up in a few days. Go home and if she wakes up before I’ll send word.” She spoke softly. He was about to leave when he heard the water fae.

“You’re the one who saved me. Don’t you have wings?” she asked in a whisper. Calev chuckled, “Yes I do. Would you like to see them again?”

Ensley nodded. “Are you an angel?” Calev shook his head “No. I’m a fairy.” She smiled at him “There’s no such thing.” She whispered before falling back to sleep. Calev stood beside her with his wings out. He slowly bent down and kissed her forehead. “My dear sweet water fae, you have no idea just how real we are.” With that, he walked out of the tiny house and up to the castle…