Read with BonusRead with Bonus

6. Going Hunting.

Caspian

I may be over excited. In the course of the past forty-eight hours, I have returned home and caused a riot. My family are overwhelmed with joy, my sisters and mother have aided me by tormenting the tailors to no end on behalf of my beautiful Catherine. Before long she will have a wardrobe fit for the beauty she is. But, more importantly, I have whipped the best healers we have into a frenzy; the transition is difficult enough for humans as children, but as adults it can be dangerous and I will not take any more risks than necessary with her. I must have her by my side, it has been too long already.

Too long in which I have spent my time alone, without the completion of my other half. Too long I have spent my time wandering the palace alone, as every other Kelpie here spends time with their fated pair. But now, now our time has finally come.

As such, I am currently headed back to the bay to wait for her. I already know she travels there every day to ease her pain and I could tell by the use on her small craft, she is frequently on the water as well. The thought of easing that pain permanently for her spurs me onward.

My desperation pushes both myself and my beast to swim faster than we have ever done, and we are leaving an almost razor sharp jet stream in our wake. I can't even bring myself to feel guilty for the currents I will have altered in my haste, I know I should have more care, but right now all I can see is her. The creatures I’m sure will survive, evolving and adapting as they always have, and though I know I should feel a pang of remorse, I cannot, because I do not know how I will manage if I do not have her back in my arms again soon.

I swim into the bay in the early hours of the morning, and as expected the place is deserted, the sky only just lighting with the dawn. Even the earliest rising mortals will still be abed, the thought of my own sweet bride asleep makes me smile, those freckles wrinkling upon her face as she scrunches her nose.

I may have spent too much time watching her sleep in the boat the other day.

Before long I am upon the sand, surveying the area. I brought clothes with me this time, carried in a waterproof satchel across my neck. I can't be seen in my natural form by any other mortals while I wait, it would raise too many suspicions. But, rather than dress straight away, I decide to run. Galloping on the sand is nice, not as enjoyable as swimming, but the impact on my muscles from the ground is a different kind of work out, and not one I like some of my brethren are adverse to. Also, it will dry me off suitably for when I dress.

So, I allow myself to gallop free along the two mile stretch of sand.

The wind whips at me in a way the sea never does. It causes my own mane to lash at my body, in complete opposition to the sea; she caresses me as I cause her to part in my wake. But the air is hard against my body, and I relish the strength I feel as I force it to allow me through at a speed which is of my choosing.

But then that is the thrill I get knowing I have dominion over the water and not the air, yet even she must submit to my strength.

Unfortunately for my ego, even the air here is laced with water, the moisture it naturally holds giving me an extra boost that it would not naturally hold, meaning it is not my pure strength alone that aids me. But, this has always been the way, especially here. This land has always held special meaning for my kind, it is why the royals of our species hunt for mates here first.

I was lucky, I was blessed with a beautiful mate and I didn't even have to hunt the rivers to find her. But, that is where my luck left me it seems, giving me a taste before ripping her cruelly from my arms.

However, I will not dwell on past unpleasantness. Soon Catherine will be in my arms once again.

Sensing no one is around, I shift and dress. I am wearing human clothing, the breeches itch my skin and the course linen of the shirt bristles uncomfortably against me. But, it is done and I will not raise anyone's suspicions of my true nature now. So, I stroll down towards Catherine's little boat to await her arrival.

Only, it seems I am not the only one interested in her small vessel. There is another who has it in his sights, and my anger is instantly palpable underneath my skin. How dare he presume to touch that which belongs to my beloved. The waves automatically respond to my emotions, their swell becoming more charged as they make to move inland at a quicker pace than normal.

I am upon the man in an instant, feeling pleased as he jumps in fright at my sudden appearance.

"What do you think are doing?" I snarl at him, noticing the clouds darkening, what was becoming a bright morning.

"Excuse me, Lad," came the unruffled response, "But, I don't believe I can see any reason that it would be any business of yours. Now bugger off!"

I put my foot on the side of the boat as he tries to lift the bow onto his cart, halting his progress. "This is Catherine's boat, I will not be allowing the like of you to pilfer it." I sneered at the man.

The man froze, "Aye that it is, now tell me, what gives you the right to speak of my daughter, so intimately!" He snarled back at me.

Shit.

Human men treated their women as property, and I just fucked up.

I remove my foot from the boat, and attempt to back off from him, feigning submission.

"My apologies, Sir." I state, "I was not trying to overstep," the words taste bitter in my mouth, for Catherine is mine and the last thing I am doing is actually over stepping my bounds. "I thought you to be stealing her property, and only meant to aid your daughter."

"Aye, there seems to be a lot of that going on at the moment, Boy." He stated, seemingly placated by my apology. "Now give me a hand then, and grab the stern," he asks, implying I am to help him in his task.

"Forgive me,” I begin, as I give in and help him, "But is your daughter well? It was my understanding she frequents onto the water often, yet you are removing the boat she evidently cherishes."

Apprehension grows in my gut. Something has gone wrong again, I can feel it.

The man sighs turning and looking at me once he has tied the boat down. He seems to be evaluating me, or maybe my intentions at the least. Yet, there is something hidden behind his eyes.

"Aye, she is quite well," he states, still watching me closely, "Her mother has sent her away inland, in the hope of securing a wealthy husband."

My world simultaneously stills and implodes at the same time, and something tells me he knew the affect those words would have. The sudden rain hits the ground with a force hard enough that it bounces even on the soft dry sand. The clouds have blackened, and the sea behind us is roaring. Yet I stand staring at him, anger in my veins that he could allow such a thing. Worsened still when he nods in understanding.

"You are too late, Kelpie," He states, pulling my full attention to him, "She is gone from your grasp, and it makes me suddenly thankful for my wife's choice."

There is no need for pretence anymore, he already knows what I am, and though I am curious how, that is not at the forefront of my mind. Catherine, my Catherine has been taken from me, again.

The sea is around the wheels of his cart now, my instability evident at they way she has breached her usual timeline.

"You know what I am." It is not a question I offer him, more of a promise of retribution, "Where is my bride?"

"Gone, to be a future Duchess, if my wife has her way. The man is a snake as much as any, but at least her soul is safe from the likes of you." He answers, moving to turn his beast of burden away from me. His path is blocked by a sharp sting of lightening, and he looks at me with horror, likened has just understood exactly who he has angered.

"I am not the monster among us, old man. But, I will find her and take her home. I promise you that. It is not a case of if your daughter will be mine, but when Catherine will become mine."

"Ha!" he spat, suddenly confident in himself, "She is over fifty miles inland now, you have lost sea dweller."

I walk to his cart, and rip the boat from its ties. throwing it to the sea uncaring, while enjoying the fear on his face as I reveal my strength.

Then I smirk at him, walking ahead of where he was himself headed.

"Where are you going?" He demands horrified.

I laugh, adoring the obvious that mortals always miss.

"I am going to get my wife," I state without looking back.

"But, you cannot. She is on land, and away from the sea. My Cathy is safe." He desperately clings to his belief.

I look at him, holding my arms out.

"But, there is water everywhere, Sir. Even in the air you breathe, in the rains that water your crops, the rivers that nourish your fields. You are mistaken if you think Kelpies only exist at sea. Oh no, we can be quite versatile when it comes to it. Now, if you will excuse me, I'm going hunting."

Author's Note: Okay, I have not proofread this fully, but I will come back to it. I wanted to get this to you while I had the chance, as my current wifi issues are causing update delays. For those not aware, I should (fingers crossed) be back online full time in July. In the meantime I am still writing and working away, and have even began a new story, which was not the plan, but apparently my imagination doesn't know the meaning of the term "time and place". The goodbthong about pen and paper is it is much easier to pick up and put down therbefore progresses quicker for me. It may be a permanent change, to do my first drafts there now. who knows. Anyway, I hope this is alright for you guys, and thank you for your understanding. B x

Previous Chapter
Next Chapter