Fall in love in a weekwe get by

Norwood didn’t even think about letting go of my waist; we were transported to the other side. It was gentle, sandy, smoothly descending to the water itself, and this water got closer, swayed, caressed my feet, slightly touching the toes of Dougal’s boots and my shoes, leaving wet marks on them, but not seeping inside. The splash of the waves changed, became… sonorous? Distinct and as if alive.

– Come out, Kels. I already know that you are not sleeping. Why did you need Miss Sullivan, you could have called me.

And again I felt… not in words, not in images, but rather with emotion. Rejection? Mistrust? Whoever lived in the lake, I was a stranger to him.

I looked at Norwood: did he feel it too? I wanted to be away from the water… at least a few steps, although the question is whether they will save me if the “living embodiment of ancient magic” decides to attack. But Dougal still held him by the waist, firmly and confidently, and this gave him courage. He probably knows what he's doing?

“That’s enough,” he said impatiently. – I understand. You don't trust. But for some reason you needed to drag her into the water. So come out and let me look at you.

The lake began to swell with large, high waves. In the very center, one, gigantic, reared up, the ninth shaft, no less. The water began to bubble and foam around. A wind came whistling in my ears from somewhere and bent down the trees. On the shore from where we were transported, mossy boulders rolled into the lake.

A giant wave rushed, spreading around, towards the shores, becoming higher and higher, bending with a predatory foamy crest. Higher than the trees, higher than the steep far bank. Tsunami! We're about to be blown away! It will be carried away, drowned, smeared on the rocks, and what remains will be dragged to the bottom of the lake… but we won’t care anymore.

It would be logical to scream. Rush somewhere in a panic. But my feet seemed rooted to the ground, and the voice, although it seemed neither mine nor Charlotte’s, but generally alien, sounded absolutely calm:

“It seems we don’t have two days anymore.”

“Poser,” Dougal said just as calmly. – All possible effects for an unprepared beginner. All for you, Miss Sullivan! – And shouted towards the enraged lake: – Enough! We were absolutely impressed! We fear and bow!

Another gust of wind came, almost knocking me off my feet, and suddenly, as if by magic – although why as if?! – everything has calmed down. The lake was again perfectly smooth, quiet, mirror-like. And right in front of us, a translucent, gigantic horse, woven from water and foam, rose to the surface. A foamy mane flowed down his neck, his powerful wide chest shimmered black and blue, even the muscles on it were clearly visible. A back appeared above the water, a powerful rounded croup. A foamy tail waved over the waves. They hit the water surface, knocking out fountains of spray and huge hooves. I suddenly noticed that I had pressed myself closer to Dougal, clutching his hand like a child seeking protection. When? – Don't know. I wanted to open my fingers, but I couldn’t. It became awkward, but… since he doesn’t mind…

The long neck bent in an arc towards us. From the translucent muzzle, absolutely alive, meaningful eyes, glowing with an eerie purple fire, looked at me.

– K-Kelpie? – the word seemed to float to the surface of consciousness, like this monster from the depths. Although I was sure that those kelpies that I read about in our fantasy or heard in legends were not so creepy.

– Yes. I will not undertake to pronounce his real name. There are one and a half hundred sounds that are poorly adapted to human speech. So just Kels.

? the horse kept growing. It pranced on the surface of the water, showing itself in all its glory, its height was equal to the edge of the cliff, to the tops of the trees…

– What about smaller ones? – asked Dougal. – Delusions of grandeur, I understand. But Miss Sullivan has already realized everything and is imbued with it; there is no one else to show off to.

I swear, if I were Dougal, such a derogatory and condemning look would burn with shame and fall into ashes. Or fell through the ground. And he stood there as if nothing had happened. Only, after a little hesitation, he grinned and said:

– Sorry. You know that I am not a connoisseur of your performances. Meet me. I won't interfere.

– Um… hello? – I asked uncertainly. The horse snorted contemptuously, clouds of steam escaping from its nostrils. – I wish I knew how to meet people like that… I hope they don’t sacrifice girls to them.

– Don’t give him such ideas. Suddenly he becomes interested.

The horse snorted again and stepped with its hooves, this time so lightly that there wasn’t even a ripple in the water. And it began to decrease.