Chapter 5

Get off me! Ivy screamed, almost immediately feeling foolish. It was a horse — what was it going to do, apologize and let her go? But it wasnt a horse at all, was it? Horses didnt have teeth like that… horses, she realized with fear thumping through her chest, didnt have manes interwoven with reeds. Horses didnt spend their nights standing in the shallow waters of lakes. This was something else entirely. This was a predator… and right now, she was its prey.

Ivy fought for dear life, yanking herself away from the creature with all the force she could muster, adrenaline giving her more strength than shed thought she had available… but the horse, too, was even stronger than the creatures shed ridden in her youth, and she felt its hooves (or whatever it was that lay under the water) digging hard into the lake floor and pulling her deeper. It had her by the blazer, but with panic surging through her, the thought of taking the garment off didnt occur to her — instead, she yanked at it furiously in the hopes that it might tear, still screaming at the top of her lungs. Horses were meant to be frightened of loud noises… but this horse didnt care a bit about the sound she was making. She saw its legs move and felt a sickening lurch of dread as it began to move deeper into the lake, the water rising around its belly… and as it moved, it pulled her with it, her feet scrabbling helplessly for purchase in the soft mud on the bottom of the lake.

The water was rising. Past her legs now, past her hips, over her waist… the cold was gripping her and she felt like she was going to scream as she fought vainly against the slow, steady pull of the horses sharp teeth. Was this really how she was going to die? Drowned in a lake in the middle of the night by some kind of carnivorous species of horse shed never even heard of? Rage and despair burned in her, and she screamed at the top of her lungs, her voice echoing up and down the lake. But there was nobody around to hear her… and the beast seemed to know that its breath puffing out of its throat for all the world like laughter. It stank, she realized, revulsion joining her anger and fear. It stank like rotting fish, like dank, still water, like mold and mildew and all the filth associated with damp and rot…

And then there was a new sound. The distant sound of something hissing through the air… and then a dull thud. Ivy registered the light touch of a breeze against her skin, but before she could think any more of it, she was distracted by a horrific, keening shriek that set her teeth on edge and made her whole body shudder. The beast was thrashing in the water, shrieking and kicking its legs furiously, body twisting back and forth as it tried to reach — Ivys eyes widened — an arrow, sticking out of its rump. An arrow, like something out of some medieval fairy tale. Did that mean…?

Run, lass!

There, on the shore — the source of the voice. A tall figure was standing on the shore — she didnt waste any more time on trying to make out the details or wondering at the mans Scottish accent. The horse had let go of her sleeve, and she waded through the water at top speed, gritting her teeth as the water slowed her progress. At any time, she expected to feel the beast take hold of her clothing again with its jaws… but then she was splashing out of the water, feeling strong, warm hands helping her up onto the shore. Breathing hard, relief coursing through her, Ivy spun to make sure the horse wasnt chasing her. It was still out there, whinnying with fury as it snapped at the arrow jutting from its rump with its sharp teeth…

Was that you? she gasped, gesturing at the horse.

The man gestured wordlessly with the bow in his hand, and her eyes widened a little as she took it in. Shed done a bit of archery as a Girl Scout, but shed never seen such a heavy-duty bow in the flesh. Why on earth was he carrying it around in the middle of the night? Not the most important question right now.

Theres something wrong with that horse, she said breathlessly. Its rabid, or something. We ought to call someone.

Its not a horse, the man said grimly, his eyes fixed on the creature still struggling in the water.

As they watched, it had finally succeeded in getting its jaws around the wooden shaft of the arrow, and it yanked the arrow out with some difficulty. Ivys eyes widened a little as the unmistakable sound of hissing reached them, as though the arrow had been burning the creatures flesh somehow… but the rest of the arrows in the strangers quiver looked completely ordinary.

Iron, he told her, as though sensing her question. They cant stand it.

Its coming this way, she pointed out suddenly, her eyes widening. The beast was shuffling through the water toward the bank, limping heavily on its hind legs, and something significant had changed in its demeanour. Shed worried about it coming after her, but something about the way it was moving told her the beast was more interested in getting out of the water. Scared of the arrow? Then why was it heading straight for the man whod shot it?

Not for long, her rescuer said, nodding at the water. Look at the waves.

Strange — just behind the creature, the surface of the lake was covered in ripples much larger than the ones the wind stirred up. It was as though something was stirring in the depths, something enormous… but what could be big enough to cause that kind of disturbance? She was just about to ask when the creature shrieked again, this time even more loudly than before, high and unearthly and just about as far from a horses whinny as you could get. Thrashing and shrieking, the beast was yanked bodily away from the shore, some unseen force dragging it out, further and further… the last Ivy saw of it was its wildly rolling eyes.

Then it was dragged beneath the surface of the water… and the silence closed in as the sloshing of the waves faded.

What the hell was that? Ivy whispered finally, feeling like she was going to lose her mind completely if she didnt ground herself by speaking.

That, lass, was a Kelpie. Didnt your mother ever warn you not to fall for their tricks?

Tricks? She blinked, not understanding. Was a Kelpie a breed of horse, or something? The cleverest trick Ive ever seen a horse pull was finishing its oats then pretending it hadnt been fed yet.

That was no horse, lass. The man shook his head, as if impatient with her. That was a Kelpie, clear as day. And it wouldve had you, too.

Had me? She felt a chill run down her spine.

Aye. They feed on weary travelers. Id imagine it was pretending to struggle in the reeds when you came upon it?

Pretending to… She nodded. I guess it was.

The man nodded. There was barely enough light to make out his features, but by moonlight she could tell he wasnt much older than her, despite his height and intimidating bearing. His voice was a little softer when he spoke. Apologies, lass. I dont mean to be rude. I suppose Im used to my folk knowing the Fae back to front.

The Fae, she repeated, beginning to feel like a parrot but unable to help herself. By which you mean…

The Fair Folk. The Fae. The Sidhe and their pets. He nodded to the water, where the last few ripples were disappearing. Allies and enemies alike, of course. Ill make sure to give our thanks to Maggie to pass along to the Monster next time she sees it.

Ivy held her tongue on the desire to question most of those words. Something told her that interrogating this man wasnt going to help. Well — let me thank you, first, she said firmly, feeling a brief pang of embarrassment for not doing so earlier. Whatever that thing was, it wouldve drowned me without your intervention.

I dont wear Clan tartan just for show, the stranger said with a smile, tapping his chest.

For the first time, she took in what the man was wearing, realizing with a start that he seemed to have matched his outfit to his accent. Shed never met a man in a kilt before.

Im Edward, of Clan Grant.

Ivy Jones, she said, extending a hand for him to shake… which he did, after his expression flickered with something like amusement. Its nice to meet you, Edward. Strange circumstances.

I think theyre about to get stranger, Edward said, studying her face thoughtfully. That is, if whats happening here is what I think it is.

Ivy looked back at him, thoroughly mystified and more than a little impatient. Still… it felt good to be in the presence of another person. Something about this strange man with the Scottish accent made her feel safer than she had since shed pulled herself out of the lake.