Realistic or Modern Spellbound

[Soliloquy]

Willow wished she could tell Granya that she had nothing to be ashamed of, but with her level of irritation she had a feeling that it wouldn't go over well. Instead, she simply did what she could to offer comfort as they effectively shipped her off to sea. Knowing they'd done this for years, month after month felt both tiresome and also a tribute to just how much they cared for her. The dingy slowly floated away and she watched with a sigh. "Poor girl," she murmured once she had reached the far end of the chain.

The sudden song caught her off guard, looking around in confusion until Molly's realization hit her. The kelpie they'd been warned of, particularly by Theo was approaching them. While a small part of her recalled his words about what she'd done to his former girlfriend, those thoughts were drowned out by her beautiful song. The call was alluring and there was no doubt she might have wound up in the depths if Amalia hadn't come out at just the right time. The trance broke and she saw the unmasked beast, cringing as they backed away from the water.

"That was close," she breathed, carefully watching the water as they regained a sense of clarity. "Is she going to be like that the whole time we're here?"

Amalia frowned, "No, I will tell Theo. He will talk to her afterward." She turned to them. "If you need a break, just let me know. Now we wait." Molly nodded wordlessly, getting some color back to her cheeks.

That was a slightly upsetting thought, wondering if Kellsy had made an appearance in hopes of snatching up a couple more girls as servants. That set her jaw in a determined stance, even giving her enough bravery to take a step back toward the water. She might not be able to control Almaeri but she decided in that moment she could fend off one kelpie. "I'll be fine," she assured Amalia.

 

[xrakkax]

Amalia frowned still, feeling awful that this happened at all, “Alright.”

“Look,” Molly murmured.

They could see Granya’s silhouette shrug off her blanket, put it in the plastic tub, and then sit down in wait. It didn’t take long. Darkness finally embraced their side of the world. Above them, the moon came through the clouds. A shining beauty that brought such misery for the few of the world below subject to the curse.

Granya wrapped her arms around her upper body and bent forward towards her knees. Finn took flight. He circled overhead. From where the girls stood they could hear muffled cries. Granya’s silhouette rocked on the bench. As the moon rose her body jerked, twitched, and began to morph. She curled in on herself and fell to the basin of the boat. The first notable change was her size. Granya increased to the familiar giant she had been in the woods. The next change was her voice. Human wails blended into snarls. Finally Granya stood in full wolf form. The head of the wolf turned this way and that, as if curious about where it was, sniffing in the air. After a moment of uncertainty, she threw her head back and howled.

Molly thought the long, sorrowful sound had a melodic flow, “Oh wow.” She asked, “Does she do that all the time?”

“Da,” Amalia smiled sadly, “She’s trying to find her family. She will do it until she is either sick with exhaustion, or. . .” She cupped the sides of her mouth, “Ah-whoooooo!”

Granya paused, her head tilted in attention. The stillness of her body broke with the wagging of her tail. The little Shchenok bounced her forepaw once before howling again. This time the emotion of her call filled the air with comfort and excitement.

“Go ahead,” Amalia encouraged them.

Molly shared a look with Willow before doing the same, “Awooooo!”

 

[Soliloquy]

It felt a lot like a train wreck that she couldn't look away once the transformation had started. The mist was thick but not completely opaque, allowing her to see just enough of what was going on. Willow shivered, her stomach churning as she imagined how much pain Granya was going through. She'd have to make sure never to complain about cramps again. Finally the wolf was formed before them and she knew her body tensed in anticipation.

The sad song wrapped itself around Willow's heart, tugging and making her want to bury her face in the honey brown coat. Still, she'd been warned well enough before this to keep her distance that she would be doing no such thing. Instead she simply watched the sad wolf, Amalia's words of what she howled for crushing her a bit more. At the suggestion, Willow didn't hesitate to join in. Throwing her head back, she let out a long howl of her own, pitched a bit above them both, letting it run it's course until her lungs begged for a break. Cheeks flushed, took a deep breath, watching wolf-Granya's form.

 

[xrakkax]

Wolf-Granya indulged in another song with just the girls before Jovan, Theo, Micha, and Lyov came out to join them. Theo put an arm around Willow’s shoulder as he let out his own bellow. It carried the stony rasp of his normal voice. Jovan and Lyov took the deepest tones, with Micha slightly above Theo’s. Together they harmonized. Even Molly, helped by Micha, didn’t ruin the symphony. Satisfied, Granya let out a couple of barks. She occasionally howled to check if someone would still respond. Ultimately though she sniffled around her boat and bat at the water with her paw, just exploring her spot. Then she found a treat. Jovan had hidden the ball he got her for her birthday under one of the benches. Granya wrestled with it at first. Then it popped out into the ocean. Before she could decide to go after it, by magic, it arched over her low enough for her to catch. The dingy kept up despite her jostling. All this to make sure she was safe, they were safe, and no one got infected or died.

Molly looked out, tucked in the arms of Micha, “So what do we do now?”

“We take turns keeping watch.” Micha said. “Normally it is one at a time. But we can watch in pairs.”

Amalia was reminded, “That would be good. Kellsy was luring the girls.”

Theo frowned. He walked with Willow to the boat's rail. “Kellsy.” He called her in a tone that commanded a prompt response.

The kelpie dare not make him wait. She raised up and sat on the edge of yacht. The beauty she had shown Molly and Willow returned. That gentle, eerie glow eliminated off of her. Her colors were slightly different. Even her face shape. Though she had shifted her form and held a sweet, affectionate air about her large, crystalline eyes, all Molly could think of were her fangs and the red glow of staring into her.

“Yes, Theodraeus?” Kellsy posed her shoulders back and sat straight, looking up at him with doe eyes. “You called?”

Theo sighed in a slow, exasperated manner, “Kellsy, I commanded you not to harm Willow in any way.” He told her.

Kellsy’s lips quirked in a wry smile, “You did. And here she stands unharmed.”

“You were going to take her into the sea.” Theo accused. “You were going to play games.”

The kelpie giggled softly, plucking off a leaf of seaweed from her bare body. “Nonsense. I was merely singing. They were making those choices.”

Theo then realized he hadn’t safeguarded Molly. While Theo only reiterated his command to Kellsy as a form of powerplay she would understand, he had no doubt Willow would be safe, the thought to do the same for Molly only now occurred to him. Taking out a pocket knife, Theo pricked his palm, squeezed his fist, and said, “I command you never to harm Molly either.”

Molly didn’t know that was a thing, and she exhaled a breath she didn’t realize she was holding, “Oh hot damn.” She swiped a hand through her hair, “Uh, thanks Theo.”

Kellsy gave Theo a banal expression, “As you wish.” She glanced at Willow. “Anything else, Theodraeus?” She asked, eyes filled with spark and mischief.

“Yes.” Theo frowned. “You may not sing to them, or influence ‘their choices’ that may lead them to come with you.”

“Very well.” Kellsy played off being distracted, fiddling with the ends of her wet hair entwined in shells and thin gold chains. Mismatched jewelry found in the sea.

Now that he was satisfied, Theo said, “Go back into the sea, Kellsy. Be vigilant in your task.” The kelpie wordlessly eased her head behind her, bending her body until she slipped into the waters. Her feet being the last they saw of her departure.

 

[Soliloquy]

There was something oddly calming of their group howling, a wordless communication that left her feeling bonded even further with the family she'd found herself in. Willow watched the boat as best as she could, amused by the similarities Wolf-Granya had with her humanesque self. They were both playful and seemed happy-go-lucky, though there was no doubt that if they were on the same boat that the exuberant behavior could be replaced with aggression.

Theo's summoning of Kellsy raised the small hairs on the back of Willow's neck. She didn't think she could trust the kelpie even under Theo's command after seeing her beauty fade and true intentions reared. Either way, Willow wasn't about to let the water fairy know that, keeping still at Theo's side as her dark eyes watched her silently. Knowing that both she and Molly would be safe from the song seemed to help, her shoulders easing out some of the tension while watching her swim away.

"She really does like her word games, doesn't she?" she murmured, shaking her head and looking toward the boat once more. Still, if the kelpie made this possible so they could tend to Granya's infliction, there had to be some good in her. That or the control that Theo had over her was immeasurable. She'd have to question his blood pricking at a time when they weren't diligently watching their young wolf.

 

[xrakkax]

“Yeah, she’s tricky.” Theo sighed.

Kellsy had, more than once, got him with wordplay. The thing was if Theo wasn’t careful he could accidentally corner himself if he barred Kellsy entirely from Willow or Molly, or any of them. At one time Theo had a raccoon for a familiar. Kellsy kept trying to eat him. So, Theo set a boundary so strict that when a storm swept ole Nico into the sea during a Moon-Fishing trip, though Kellsy was around and could have technically helped, she didn’t. Spite often defined her actions.

The first watch went to Theo and Willow. The rest of them shuffled off to places inside the cabin to sleep. It was quite cramped. While they had time, Theo decided to discuss what he’d like for their wedding. After thinking it over it would be best to keep to a traditional Russian ceremony, with Willow’s American flare.

Theo said, “So some of the traditions are: your parents would need to ‘steal’ you to their home. I come with an offer and ask for you. Sometimes they send out the bride, sometimes they send out a man dressed like the bride. If I see it is not you then I will ask for you again, but this time I have to do something extra.” Upon satisfaction, the family will give up Willow to Theo so he could take her back to the bridal party for the ceremony the next day. That was just one of a few traditions he read about.

 

[Soliloquy]

As comfortable as they could be on deck, Willow leaned against Theo, her eyes straining through the thick mist to keep an eye on Granya. She wondered if the wicked kelpie had ever tried to sabotage Moon-Fishing to get her hands on the young girl. Perhaps she had little interest in a wolf or maybe Theo kept her on too tight of a leash when it involved the family. Eventually, she managed to shake the thought of Kellsy from her mind, instead enjoying time with just Theo.

She agreed that it'd be best to maintain the illusion the family had worked so hard to portray if it kept with Russian culture. Out at sea where they could shed their accents it was hard to imagine just how much they had to work to keep their guises thorough. There had to have been a ton of researching and likely a few failed attempts while they created their identities. That or maybe an Almaeri trick? Willow would add that to her list of questions to pester him with when there was nothing better to talk about.

"See, that's so much more interesting than American traditions," she said, a smirk slowly forming on the corner of her lips. "That's fine, but you have to tell me what you're going to offer them. What price do you put on the woman you want to marry?"

Theo chuckled, "I would give up my life for you! That is my most expensive exchange. But unfortunately, it is worse than that; it could be anything. Usually, the bridesmaids set challenges I have to complete. And I've read some weird, embarrassing goofy tasks."

She joined him in a laugh, her thoughts immediately going to just what crafty responses he'd get. "Well you know if I leave that up to Molly or Amalia you might be hoping for death. They both seem to be a bit too quick on their feet for your own good." Nudging his shoulder with her own, she let her cheek come to rest against it, pleased with his initial response. It might have just been a cliche, sickeningly sweet remark, but from his lips, she truly believed he would offer up his life for hers or any of their family.

 

[xrakkax]

“Ah, I know!” Theo lamented. He could already tell Amalia was smirking about that very thing. Throwing Molly in the mix made a perfect storm. “But I will do it. To have you.” He smiled.

"Don't worry. If they get too vicious, I promise to come and rescue you," Willow reassured him. A comfortable silence fell between the two of them, met by the ambiance of the sea as the boat was gently rocked by the waves. Looking out at the dingy again she fell back to a gnawing curiosity, unable to contain it any longer. "So Granya...she wasn't born like this' you said it was an accident. Can I ask what happened?" She didn't know if it was something he felt comfortable sharing with her, but she felt as if she needed to ask.

The question wasn’t quite unexpected. Theo nodded, “Of course.” He thought over how to go about the story. “Well, we got to Scotland the night of the full moon, trying to evade a Hunter. We stopped in the Highlands when we believed we were safe. Granya got bored waiting for us to prepare a place to sleep. She decided to chase the rabbits.” Theo sighed, frowning, “We heard a growl, a scream, and thud. When we looked over we saw a wolf with a salt and pepper pelt ready to eat her. None of us had seen the curse, but we knew of it. We shooed away the wolf, bandaged Granya, and a few days later we were met by Velka.” The twin sister of Runa, who they met on the Applewood yacht last February, “She was profusely sorry she had infected Granya. She offered to help us understand all of the changes she’d be going through, tips on how to handle it, and said to look up her sister Runa when we got to America, if we needed help. My sister, Anastasia, was quite livid for a while.” Theo’s mouth drew in a sad smile, “But eventually she accepted Velka’s apology and the offer to guide us.”

Willow listened quietly to the tale, imagining the young Granya from the photos she had seen running about only to find herself in the worst possible predicament. That also helped her understand why Runa had assisted them with their citizenship, no doubt guilt like that would remain in their family even if it was the work of a curse. She recalled the sight of Anastasia as she had gathered their day scrapbooking, which only felt as though it opened more questions. Still, the loss that reflected in his eyes told her that was enough of sad questions for the day. She would learn of their family and past over time, reaching over and giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. "Well, you all seem to have adapted well enough if you've made it this far. I mean, teenage years on their own are hard enough, but you're living with one who could literally bite your head off," she chuckled once before shaking her head. "Sorry, that's a horrible joke."

“Ha ha, it’s okay, we make those teases too.” Theo said, then added, “Well, amongst ourselves. One day I think Granya will find humor easier.” Being able to laugh was a sign of healing. But right now she was still in her teen years. Joking would be, hopefully, something Granya did later. “Just careful not to make those teases with Granya just yet. It, uh. . .” Theo wondered if he should say just how close to home that would hit for the pup. After a thought, he decided it would come out at some point. “It is how she lost her mother.”

 

[Soliloquy]

It only made sense now in hindsight, all the photos they'd seen of Granya growing up had her without either parent from that time on. Willow thought of the countless tests this family had gone through, and not for the first time. While they'd welcomed her into their lives entirely, she still felt like it was a book she was going to learn chapter by chapter, far too much for tales by the campfire or chat while watching a stranded wolf.

Guilt twisted her stomach at how careless her words had been, her gaze dropping. "I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking to make a comment like that," she apologized. "I won't say anything like that around Granya, though."

“You didn’t mean harm, Красивый.” Theo assured her. “It won’t be hard forever. And the more understanding the better.” He smiled, rubbing her shoulder with his thumb.

Willow nodded, offering a weak smile in return. "I hope you're right, Kasavchik," she sighed, keeping her head rested against him while watching the dingy. She was grateful they had the first watch, her eyelids starting to grow heavy. The knowledge that they needed to keep both Granya and everyone on the boat safe managed to keep sleep at bay though, especially when they were quiet once more.

 

[xrakkax]

Theo smiled at Willow and gave her a kiss on the head, "Me too."

They snuggled where they sat watching Granya for two hours. Finn ended up perching on the boat. Their little wolf cautiously sniffed at him. Upon recognizing his scent she was content to let him stay. Granya didn’t do much aside from the occasional howl and growling at fish. Kellsy barely made a noise. Then it was time for the next watch.

Theo pat Micha on the shoulder as he and Willow passed him and Molly by. “Take care.”

“You too.” Micha murmured.

Molly gave Willow a good night hug, “Heads up, water heater is broken.” She said sleepily. Her hands felt cold from washing them after going to the bathroom.

While the drowsy couple took up the post, Theo and Willow fumbled around for a comfortable spot in the cabin. In the end, they squished together with Willow in his arms to make a little more room for people walking by. Bandit wiggled out to lay like a scarf on Willow's neck.

On deck Molly and Micha wrapped in a blanket. They brought out a thermos with hot tea to enjoy and to keep them warm. For some time they didn’t speak. They tended not to be the best morning people. Being ‘Middle-of-the-night’ people was out of the question. When they finished their first cup of tea Molly broke the silence.

“Micha, what’s gonna happen with Granya?” Molly sipped her rejuvenating drink.

It was likely that Granya would not want to burden either Micha or Theo with having to build families and have to deal with her monthly transformations. Especially since Lyov would need Theo’s help still until he passed. Natalia and Jovan didn’t have room on their yacht for all of her stuff. Amalia would probably have Granya with her at the pub. But the question of what would happen when or if Natalia and/or Amalia got families of their own, or when Jovan passed away, had been the real dilemma. Most werewolves who went it alone were easy targets. A lone wolf in any regard didn’t last long.

“We don’t know for sure.” Micha frowned. The family would probably try to work out a schedule to help her each month. “The ideal is that Granya meets someone who is willing to help her. Whether that is a strong friendship or a mate. But that will be harder for her than it was for us. We mean to bind our Almaeri one day. Granya may not survive without it.” The catch-22 of safeguarding sanity while risking immediate demise. “We all care for her, that goes without saying, but she is having a hard time believing life is worth living in a world where she just treads water and views her condition as a cruel burden on our lives. Her worst fear is that she won’t make it to a Moon-Fishing trip and accidentally hurt someone again.”

“Again?” Molly murmured, her brow perked in question.

Micha frowned, shifting uncomfortably, “You have to promise not to say a word. You can tell Willow if you want, but we don’t talk about it aloud. Especially around Granya.” Molly nodded and promised. After a moment of hesitation, Micha said, “Granya’s first transformation had been in the Highlands of Scotland. She made her first change with the help of Velka. She is the werewolf who accidentally bit Granya the month before.” There was a lot of story to this part of her life, but that could be saved for later, “That night we discovered two Hunters, a woman and a man, coming for the both of them. They attacked, we intervened. But in the chaos, Anastasia fell at Granya’s feet, and. . .” Micha saw Molly understood.

“Oh my god. Oh that’s awful.” Molly felt her eyes prick with tears. “Who the hell are these people?” She felt her throat tighten and her cheeks flush with anger.

Micha shrugged, “We don’t know. We managed to fend them off. We thought we were going to have a bigger fight, but the man shot the woman when she turned her back.”

“Really?” Molly blinked, wondering why two Hunters would work together at first only for one of them to kill the other.

“Yeah, we don’t understand it.” Micha shrugged, “There must have been some kind of shame in losing a hunt. Or maybe there was some kind of animosity between them.” He parted his lips, then closed them. Upon being prodded by Molly what he was about to say, Micha told her, “I just, I remember that fight. I kept thinking about how strange it was that the man lagged back so much. He barely did anything. The woman was caught in two death-defying situations. If we had not been trying to split our focus between Granya and them, the woman should have died.”

“What do you mean?” Molly asked.

Micha frowned, “I think he wanted us to kill her.” And when she lived through the battle, he took it in his own hands.

Molly shook her head, “Horrible.” She sipped her tea, “And poor thing. I can’t even imagine. . .Does she know?”

Micha nodded solemnly, “She found out not too long after. She went into a daze for weeks.” Micha sighed, holding Molly a little tighter. “Since then she’s been withdrawn from the world.”

Molly peered out at the silhouette. Would Granya even risk a mate? A family? After what had happened, Molly wouldn’t blame her insecurities. But the family worked this hard for hope. There had to be a silver lining. “We’ll get through this together. All of us. And I know Willow would agree, we won’t let this take away the hope for a life worth living.” She looked up at Micha, “There’s gotta be someone who can stick by her side.”

Wistfully, Micha smiled, “Yes, I think I believe so too, Myshka.” He settled back comfortably with her. Ahead of them they could see Granya playing with a fish with Finn. “At least she has Finn.”

“Yeah,” Molly smiled.

They spent the rest of their time in silence. Soon it was Jovans turn. After him came Amalia. By the time Amalia’s time was up the horizon glowed with the dawn of a new day. The others were shuffling out on deck to deal with the morning tasks. The veil of mist slowly vanished as the moon went down and the sun rose. The men prepped for Granya’s arrival by making food and setting up her spot at the table so she might eat and get her little gifts. Then the men stayed below while the women handled the girl.

Willow, Molly, and Amalia pulled the dingy over. They noted that Granya was not visible. When the boat bumped the yacht they saw she was just waking up at the bottom of the basin. Amalia and Molly held the boat steady while Willow eased Granya to her feet. They managed to get her in clean, dry clothes, and wrapped the blanket from before around her. Granya didn’t speak. She appeared green with seasickness. Finn hopped onto her shoulder as they walked into the cabin. A slather of Natalia’s lotion later and Granya felt good enough to drink and nibble on food while she sat in her spot.

Theo came to Willow side, “So how was first time Moon-Fishing?” He chuckled. It was natural for the girls to be curious. There was no way this wasn’t going to happen at some point. And everyone understood if they were not comfortable coming again. But they were welcoming of any sign that the girls would want to help in the future.

 

[Soliloquy]

Cramped sleeping wasn't the most ideal, but it was the least they could suffer through to help Granya when she needed it most. Sleep found Willow after thoughts of what it must have been like to be so vulnerable and so powerful at the same time. She might not have had the power of Almaeri, but she knew that she would do whatever she could to help the young wolf she'd grown to love.

Morning came sooner than her body agreed with, but Willow swallowed a night of poor sleep to shuffle on deck and help bring Granya back aboard. Bringing her to a state of decency didn't take long with the three women working together, though she found she had been holding her breath until Granya was finally eating. There was a sense of relief, as if seeing her nibbling away was proof that they'd have her back to her normal self after all.

"A lot more exciting than any time I've been fishing before," she admitted, helping herself to kvas. "But I'm glad we came. I just hope I was able to help."

“You did, Красивый.” Theo assured her. Amalia was especially thankful for the help. And they all benefited from extra eyes for the night vigil. All in all, this was a step in their relationship that was scrapbook worthy.

Willow was pleased to have made an impact, something she had worries was harder to do for a family of mages, what with being a measly little human. She wrapped one arm loosely about Granya, offering a smile. "We'll get you on solid ground and home soon enough, Shchenok."

 

[xrakkax]

Granya visibly relaxed to that promise, leaning on Willow, “Sounds good.” She smiled weakly between bites.

The gifts helped cheer her up. The pup-peroni made her chuckle. Granya snacked on them a little while she got into the gift Theo and Willow brought. They got her a peanut butter cupcake made for dogs, with peanut butter frosting sweetened with maple. Jovan didn’t believe they should keep doing the gift thing. He believed it would ultimately make it harder for her to do this on her own, or if Theo wasn’t around when he focused on his own family. Amalia agreed. But they still shared in Granya’s delight. Lyov couldn’t help but encourage the gift-giving, and hoped his great granddaughter would meet someone who kept it up.

Sailing back to shore felt like walking away alive from a burning building. Granya smiled in genuine contentment. She and Finn joined in conversation, with Finn being particularly interested in speaking with Willow about the movies and actors she most admired. Finn admitted he loved musicals. The Sound of Music being his current favorite. Guys and Dolls, Meet Me In Saint Louis, and The Fiddler on the Roof were among his top ten. Molly still had to get used to an animal being so human.

Once they returned to the land they parted ways. Jovan stayed on the yacht. Amalia, Micha, and Molly left to the Old Bear. Granya got in the backseat with Lyov while Theo drove with Willow on shotgun to their house. They helped Lyov in first, then kept an eye on Granya as she shuffled to her room. She was better, but needed more sleep to be best.

They had eaten lunch on the yacht. It had been a few hours since then. Theo got out pots and pans to begin dinner, “So, the house.” Theo said as he pulled out a pound of uncooked steaks, “When do you want to move in?” He wanted to know for a few reasons, one of which was knowing when to throw his hat in the ring to the realtor.

 

[Soliloquy]

Willow was pleased to see Granya enjoying the treats they'd rounded up for her, deciding to make sure she found a little extra something for her to have for the next month's Moon-Fishing. While it hadn't been said for certain one way or the other, she did plan on offering to come on future trips, should they allow her to. Even if she hadn't felt like she contributed as much as the others who had been doing this for years, she did want to at least offer what support she could since they were so willing to do the same for her.

Back at Theo's house, she had just been about to unpack some of their things from the trip when he asked about moving in. Abandoning the cooler, she turned to face him in thought. "I mean, I'm fine with whenever you want to. This is a lot more your work than mine," she pointed out. "Besides, you know I'm dying to get out of that hell hole. Bandit might have gotten rid of my roach problem but I swear I hear scurrying at night when she's not around." The thought of a mouse or squirrel nutting around when she was trying to sleep was highly unnerving.

“Da, I saw mouse droppings in you bathroom wall.” Theo nodded in agreement with her concern. Back to his usual Russian accent and struggling grammar. “I think sooner is best too.” He speculated by next month they should have the house bought, fixed of any issues, cleaned, and furnished if he went to the realtor by the end of the week. “We should shop for what to put in house, get new stuff.” Especially if they wanted to avoid any possible infestations of mice and roaches.

She shuddered at the confirmation, only further urging her desire to move out. "Definitely sooner if you don't want to risk losing it," she justified. With summer quickly approaching, there was bound to be a good fluctuation in the real estate market. The idea of shopping together for furniture and decorations was a new form of excitement, making everything feel so official between the two of them. The idea they'd be opening a new chapter of their lives together was thrilling, and not just because it meant shopping. "I'm pretty sure you're supposed to buy the house before the furniture, that way you know that it's going to fit. We wouldn't want to wind up getting a bed too wide or anything like that."

Pulling out her phone, she glanced at the calendar, realizing just how quickly spring had passed them up. "Well, seeing as we're already about to go into May, we could try to move in June? That is if everything works out in our favor, of course."

 

[xrakkax]

“Ah, I like to get in earlier, but June is okay.” Theo said as he laid the steaks on a sizzling pan. “I’ll call about the house tomorrow.” He took a spoonful of the sauce he was making in a different pan. He was no Micha or Amalia, but he thought it tasted nice, “Here, test. Need salt?” He asked her.

Willow was surprised by the decisiveness of how quickly he was going to jump right into the house buying, although maybe he'd been considering this for a while before asking her? Either way, it meant she was going to have to learn to lessen her hold on reigns and let him have control over things she'd been handling alone for a few years. Stepping closer, she sipped at the edge of the spoon, closing her eyes as she let her tongue test it out. "Just a little salt and a dash of onion powder if you ask me," her palette decided.

“Okay, will do.” Theo trusted her tongue in more ways than one.

Theo managed to tour the prospective home with Willow and shop for furnishings around his work schedule. Willow was worried about the price for such a nice place, but Theo assured her he could handle it. Both his income and their stash would more than suffice. Aside from another loss of a child’s life at the clinic, Theo and the family didn’t have anything to complain about going into May. They held a relaxed party for Jovans birthday, Natalia joined in the next Moon-Fishing, Liam fit in well with the pub and earned some trust from Amalia (although, not enough to be invited to family events), they got sweet deals on some furniture, and by early June they got the house.

Monday June 4th, 2018​

The whole family, aside from Lyov, helped to move Willow from her apartment to the new house. The landlord stressed that the security deposit rested on the condition she left it in. Molly and Micha had come early to start on the bathroom and that yellow stain. Slowly the bedroom, bathroom, closet, and living room were emptied and cleaned. Theo worked in the kitchen with Willow. When he got to the fridge, he smiled to see the sketch Molly made of him and his lady love on the couch one night. She had done it out of boredom and left it behind without a word, but they loved it, so it took a spot on her fridge. Theo decided to fold that for their new home and keep on his work, but an elegant wedding invite caught his eye. Theo took it up and turned to Willow.

“Красивый, is this you brother?” Theo approved of the color and the fancy paper. “Oh, this October!” He smiled, thinking at first it had been from before he met her. “I think I can schedule to come.”

 

[Soliloquy]

Despite Willow's concerns that the two of them were going to have difficulty managing the cost of a four-bedroom house, by the end of May the paperwork was signed and they were home owners officially in June. Although it was painful for her to do so, she forced herself to be more comfortable around the idea of finances. She wasn't a twenty-year old college student who was trying to shove a wedge of distance between her and her overbearing parents. No, she was getting dangerously closer to thirty and was engaged to a doctor. It may not have been quite the life of luxury she had been born into or that had been danged before her nose, but the years of struggling were in the past.

Packing up her apartment and tearing it down to it's less-than-impressive skeleton was a bittersweet moment. Even if it was a pretty crappy place, it had still been her home for two years and it now housed pleasant memories of her and Theo. The knowledge that they'd be making new memories and have a larger bathroom and backyard seemed to help ease the bitterness away. That and the knowledge that there were confirmed mice trying to live there rent free.

Since most of her furniture wouldn't be coming with, she considered offering it up to Liam. He was still camping out on the stage in the pub, but she imagined he'd be moved into an apartment at some point. The only problem there being storing everything until he had some sort of living situation of his own. She knew better than to recommend the soon opening up bedroom joined with Granya and Lyov, none of them showing enough trust in him at that point.

Willow was elbow-deep trying to battle away grease in the stove when Theo held up the invitation. Glad for an excuse to stand up, she shed her gloves and stepped closer to confirm it was her brother. "Honestly, I still don't know if I'm going," she said, readjusting her hair that was steadily falling out of it's tie. "I tossed away the RSVP card after I spilled something on it, but it mentioned something about it being held in Ireland. Even if we both had the 31st off, we'd need more days for travel and plane tickets. I wouldn't ask to put you through that much."

 

[xrakkax]

Theo puzzled over her comment of not being sure she’d go. The idea that they may be bad people came to mind, but, that didn’t seem to fit with the numerous tales of fun holidays. Or, was it that there was a particular person in her family she dreaded? That was something Theo could relate too. Not everyone from Aarin of their family left with them.

First, he would address the time issue, “New doctors work now, we have easier time scheduling. I take extra load, we do trades, is can work.” Theo got that out of the way, “But maybe. . .Is someone there you worried about? Is bully?” Theo asked, frowning. That would be an issue in his mind. And maybe he’d go just to give that person a stare down.

It never failed to impress her just how nonchalant he was when offering to take extra steps to do things with her. Granted, it was still almost six months away so there wouldn't be too much trouble trying to make arrangements by then. His question caught her off guard though, trying to imagine why she gave off that feeling. "A bully? No, no bullies. Just haven't really had much to do with my family for about seven years." It sounded horrible when she said it aloud.

No bullies. Yet she didn’t interact with them. And for so long! “Seven?” Theo blinked. She could see on his face his mind trying to figure this out. “Why you not do anything with family for that long?” There had to be a reason. If not a bully or someone in her family who was being awful, then what?

Willow shifted, feeling slightly judged by his glance but willing to explain it. "Like I said before, they wanted me to work at their business and thought it was dumb to go into acting," she shrugged it off. She explained that they hadn't pressed as hard until she moved to Texas, though when she finally put her foot down and said she wasn't going to give up on her dream her mother threatened to have her cut off from the family. It was a bluff, no doubt, but it was enough to push Willow to making that step for her, insisting she'd rather struggle than do something she wasn't happy with. In fairness, she couldn't say she would completely hate working in accounting, but it sounded utterly dreadful. "I answered their calls at first but they just slowed down after my grandma died. I think my father was pretty pissed that I didn't come home then, but I thought it was just them trying to get a reaction out of me. He stopped calling himself after that."

“So, uh. . .” Someone being pushy about their opinion over your life in Aarin was most likely a creature like Mamon. Perhaps for Willow this was similar. And thinking of it this way made it easier for him to relate. Theo smiled, “. . .like Mamon? How he try to force us to be slave?” He was proud to have found a way to get on the same page of understanding. “Do they try to make you work for them, and then you escape, and the grandma was like a fairy trick. . .” But the grandmother wasn’t a trick. Now Theo furrowed his brows and raised his eyes in confusion. None of the reasons why she didn’t stay in contact seemed to land for Theo. Especially hearing that Willow didn’t go to them after she learned they weren’t tricking her about her grandmother. “I uh, I don’t understand. . .wait.” Theo took a step back to think about this, to wonder if perhaps this was one of those times he would need to trust in Faith that Willow wasn’t being unreasonable. It wouldn’t be the first time he had to remind himself that the actions of people directly corresponded to the degree of hardship they’ve suffered, and no one born on Earth had to deal with the kind of life-crushing devastations of a beast demanding human sacrifice of your firstborn child. A person's family's opinion on what career they entered would have been a blessing in comparison. Priorities shifted to match the circumstance though, and Theo couldn’t fault someone for being born into a situation where their helicopter parents were about the worst thing they had to deal with growing up. Theo smiled and said, “I’m sorry, I sometimes don’t understand right away.” And a part of him still struggled to fully get her here, and maybe that part of him thought there was no reason why not to try to reconnect, “They should not have been pushy. . .” He realized that it was important for her to know he acknowledged that. Obviously it meant enough to keep them apart for seven years, “I hope, though, we can go to meet them. We don’t just marry us, we marry family. I want our children to have big happy family.” And just so she knew, he took her hand in his and said, “But if you think they are not good. If they would not be good for our family, or our kids, then. . .” Well, he can’t see why himself, but he’d trust his fiance, “Then I will stand with you.”

 

[Soliloquy]

The image of the vicious creature Molly had drawn from her dreams made her shudder in thought. Was this the same as slavery? Of course it wasn't, and having him put that into perspective for her did summon a wave of small guilt. While she did want to be her own person, she had taken a rather selfish approach to doing so. True, by the time she realized their warnings of her grandmother's health were not a ploy it was too late and she had passed on, it had been her decision to continue and keep distance between her and her family. Also knowing that Theo had lost so much of his family on a more severe level was quick to ground her thoughts. That or perhaps it was just looking back and saying things aloud with a few years of maturity added to the mix. Her parents and brother were all the family she had left, aside from the upcoming addition of his bride. Maybe it would be better to try and patch that bridge before it was too late.

Squeezing his hand, she was grateful for his support and attempt to understand her views. "No, you're probably right," she admitted, grateful for the wake-up call she was getting while they were emptying her apartment and moving on. A fresh house might as well come with a fresh start for her family. "I would want our kids - and you of course- to at least meet them. It's been so long and I'm probably just being dramatic about it. It's not like they can actually do anything at this point; I'm a grown woman. Worst I'll get is a few disapproving looks and maybe a short remark."

Theo gave his sweaty lover a kiss, "If anything happens, I will be you support." Then he scrunched his nose a little, "Eh, maybe kisses after you shower. So stinky." He chuckled.

Her mouth dropped in visible offense, grabbing a rag off the counter and tossing it at his face. "You don't exactly smell like roses yourself, Theodraeus," she scoffed, shaking her head and suiting back up to finish her intense cleaning of the stove. He might of heard a huffed threat of "I'll remember that come bed tonight," under her breath.

There was no keeping in his laughter. Theo teasingly gave her butt a light smack, "Woops, so sorry, such small kitchen. Bumping all things." He packed the last of the fridge related items in a box hastily and took it in his arms out the door.

A scowl laced with the power of a thousand women scorned followed him out the door and Willow was happily plotting up her revenge as she scrubbed at the last of the build-up.

 

[xrakkax]

At the end of the day, when the number ‘2’ on Willows door finally got tacked into place, and the keys of her apartment were safely back with the landlords, Willow got her deposit and they stacked the last of her boxes in her new home with Theo. The good mood followed throughout the month. They celebrated Amalia’s birthday on the sixth, Theo worked out a schedule with the family to help Granya with Lyov at night, it didn’t take long for Theo and Willow to properly ‘break-in’ their new house, and they made some friendly acquaintances on the other side of the street. An old couple and a single man.

The only thing that seemed to trouble Theo was that when he came home late sometimes he would bump into things. A corner table left close to the door, or the coat rack would catch his shoulder. One night, cuddled with Willow on the couch, he voiced they may be dealing with a fairy escaped from Aarin or something, because he can’t figure what the hell was up.

It seemed like he had suffered long enough, tilting her head up to smirk at him as she came clean. "I'd say it was less of a fairy and more of a vengeful fiance. One who was far too stinky to kiss, but not too stinky to swat."

The realization he had been pranked was taken in stride. Theo pursed his lips in amused defeat at the hands of her triumph, "Ah! You got me!" Theo admitted, “You not too stinky now.” Theo grinned, “Maybe ear needs a little clean though?” Theo licked his finger and stuck it in her ear, giving her a wet-willy. Having the advantage of strength, Theo managed to get a good one in before he gave up to any immediate retaliation.

Her joy in her days of hard work and impish behavior was quickly thwarted as he had the audacity to take revenge on her revenge! Squealing against the wet infiltration she squirmed away enough for him to stop. "Okay, truce. I'll stop moving the furniture," she said once they'd both relaxed again.

Theo chuckled, “Fine, a truce.” He dried his finger. “See?” Theo pulled her to him and this time he kissed her gently, “I think we celebrate truce. Call it Unification Day.” He took her there on the couch, ending the feud between their kingdoms.

Moments like these brought Theo the tangible hope of their future and he couldn’t wait to live them out day by day. Come Summer Olympics the atmosphere had become so much more relaxed since the camping trip. Granya openly chewed on pig-ears, it was harder for anyone to cheat using Almaeri, and information about their lives in Aarin trickled out here and there so that Molly and Willow could have a fuller picture of their family and understand them.

One thing the girls learned was that the years spent being cautious meant things like The Lion King and concerts were new for them. Upon getting out of the water after the swimming portion of their Olympics, Molly said, “Oh stars, I think I needed that. It’s been gettin’ so hot lately.”

“We should do that thing you talk about,” Micha said, drying off his hair. “The board you stand on, to ride water.”

“Surfing?” Molly got confirmation. She smiled, “Yeah, that’d be fun. Ya’ll want to learn to surf and ride the waves?”

Granya shook her head, feeling her face getting green. But not everyone was opposed. Theo said, “Da, I want to try.” Since the McQueen family and Alassiel had decided to stay for longer, they often were happy to care for Lyov. The only man held no grudge for being left behind when they took these long days off. In fact, he saw it as a good sign of his success. By then they decided Liam was safe enough to keep an eye on the pub. He had been diligent, honest (to what he admitted to), a good singer, listener, and a patient man, and promised that neither the McQueens nor Alassiel needed to come or worry over the Old Bear. Molly noticed that he often avoided seeing them. In fact, he had yet to be in the same room. But, coincidences happen all the time.

The family planned out their trip. They needed lessons, so they reserved spots at the place they were going to vacation. Boca Chica offered great waves. It would be a three or so day trip out of town. The family had to limit their traveling to driving, due to the animals they had to bring, but like the drive for camping, this was just as pleasant, stocked with stories and games.

They arrived on the morning of the twenty-third of June to their hotel suite. They got a nice one so that they could cook and watch movies at night. In the day they took lessons for surfing. Molly, being a dancer, had great balance. Micha was her best competition. Jovan and Theo had trouble keeping themselves upright. Natalia wiped out over and over and finally decided she was better off cheering for them. Willow took a few practice runs and some tips before she got the hang of it. She was decent, but a wave too big wiped her out. Granya outright refused. She swore they were crazy and said that the sea was for fools.

On the twenty-fifth, their last day to enjoy the water, the family caught mediocre waves. Try as they might, if they didn’t plan on using Almaeri, odds were none of them were going to get a nice big one. Micha threw a ball of wet sand at Theo when he saw the look on Theo’s face. The same one Molly saw the day he fixed her car of ‘goo’. Snapped out of his temptation, Theo sheepishly grinned and shrugged with his palms up in peace.

Molly had not backed down. She wanted a nice, big one; compared to what they had been getting. And she wanted Micha to compete with her. She had been the one to encourage just one more wave. They paddled out, felt the swell of water, and soon the wave picked up. Molly shouted “Woo!” She laughed to see Theo wiped. “Oh come on, Theo! Even Willow’s got this one!” She was proud of her besty who wobbled for control. “Yeah, Willow! WOO!” Molly looked over just as Micha and her board collided, “EEE!” She yelped, folding into the wave.

Water pulled Molly into a roll. All she could ear was the muffled rush of the sea. As her body flexed to find the solid sand beneath her, she felt something brush against her leg. Molly figured it was Micha. When she broke the surface, she looked over to see Micha spitting out water.

“Woo!” Micha excitedly hollered.

Molly laughed, raising her hands, “Woo-- ah!” Suddenly she felt a woosh. The water sucked her in, pulling her along the current. The thought she had accidentally stood in the path of a riptide came to mind. Calmly, Molly pushed herself up to the surface again. Though she knew riptides were powerful, she hadn’t been in one before. Already she was taken several yards away from the shore. Molly had no strength to fight the current. And even if she did, she knew she’d never win. No, Molly knew she had to slowly wade towards the side, with the current, until she felt the waters relax and could go straight to the shoreline.

By the time she got back to the lapping edge Micha came over, worried, “Mollyshka, you okay?” He frowned, “I almost use Almaeri, I was scared you got taken by the sea.”

The sentiment made her heart flutter, but she was glad he hadn’t, “No, it’s okay. It’s a riptide. They can happen between waves. There’s a calm part. It’s not really calm. People get swept away all the time because they don’t know what to look for.” Molly stood up, tired. “I’m fine.”

Theo came up, staring out at the sea. “Does Willow know?”

“Uh, I think so, why?” Molly asked, looking in his direction.

All the saw were one or two strangers, waves, a calm part of the ocean, no Willow, and a lonely abandoned board. Molly’s heart sank. She was sure Willow had told her about this very thing. She had to know. And how to get out of one. Molly shared a look of fear with Micha and Theo before heading straight back into the sea, “Willow!?” Molly shouted.

Theo, pale faced and heart-thumping, cupped his mouth and bellowed, “WILLOW!?”

A hundred miles away, rushing down, down, down into the deep, blindfolded in seaweed, Kellsy held Willow. The thousands of pounds of water were kept at bay by her fairy magic. Willow could feel the bubble around her mouth filled with breathable oxygen for her to inhale. But it was cold, and she could feel the strange skin of the kelpie against her. This time Kellsy presented herself in one of her horse-like shapes made of tendrils. Willow felt them cling to her.

What felt like forever suddenly stopped upon feeling the dampness of stale air. Willow’s body plopped on squishy sea moss, on the rocks of some cave deep within the Earth.

Looking around, aside from Kellsy’s massive form, she saw this pocket of space was decorated with treasures of the sea. A large, ancient mirror sat next to a modern baby grand piano. There was a flat area where a short table with cushions to sit on had broken fine china, a crusty silver kettle, and not far from that were layers of bedding for sleeping. A fire pit to the side burned bright under a cauldron. A woman sat by it, slowly stirring the contents of the pot. Her long, damp hair spilled limply over her grey, bare body.

 

[Soliloquy]

The tug of the water at first was only mildly upsetting. She'd long since grown past her fears from nearly drowning as a young child, learning how to combat the fierce power of the waves as they tried to overcome her. She tried to move back to the surface, but suddenly the water's force was no longer a push but a full on grip on her leg. Before she could look about, her vision was blocked and she found herself held captive.

The time between being tugged beneath the surface and dropped on the squishy ground floor of the cave had stretched on, leaving her with her thoughts and worries. The fact that she hadn't drowned meant some sort of magic was at work here, although she couldn't imagine Theo or any of the others being responsible. As she was released and looked about, her dark eyes found Kellsy and narrowed at the kelpie. "Kellsy! What are you doing? When Theo finds out -"

Her trembled threats to the water fairy were stopped suddenly when she caught sight of the second body in the cave. The naked woman wasn't someone she'd ever seen before, but somehow she felt she knew the answer to her next question before she even asked it. "Who..who are you?" she asked, forcing herself up on her feet and tugging away the seaweed and other oceanic life she'd gathered in her kidnapping.

 

[xrakkax]

The woman peered up at Willow. Her face expressed no particular emotion. She parted her mouth to answer, more out of old habits than interest to engage, but Kellsy snapped at her for her attention, “Olivia! Pack my trinkets. Leave the larger items.” Kellsy commanded, “We must be quick if we mean to have a chance.” Kellsy turned an impish, fangy grin at Willow. She let out mocking laughter that echoed in the cave before she dived back into the sea.

Not a moment after the task had been given did the grey woman ease up from her task at the bubbling pot to start gathering items into bags with haste.

The kelpie confirmed her suspicions before vanishing with that horrendous cackle echoing about them. Wrapping her arms about her, she looked about the mess of clutter before eyeing Olivia again. This was the woman Theo had loss to Kellsy already, which appeared to be a horrible fate. A fate it seemed the kelpie was trying to repeat, Willow quick to gather just what she hoped to accomplish. "Why are you going to help her do this?" It was a question she already knew the answer to, but she knew she'd need to buy as much time as she could.

“Because Kellsy can’t both pack her things and find a new lair at the same time.” Olivia said, as if it was so simple. She didn’t imagine by now Willow would be unfamiliar with her or her situation. It didn’t come to mind that Willow had asked for an entirely different reason. “Kellsy knows he’ll try to come here if she doesn’t manage to convince him you’re not here. But he can’t form a gate to a place that is buried in rock.” No matter how powerful a Mage is, a gate would never be able to connect between two places if one of them could not accommodate the gate. “But a kelpie needs a lair. And a kelpie is possessive of their things.” Olivia picked up a 133 carat diamond from a shelf made of seashells. If Willow knew it by sight, she would have realized that, somehow, Kellsy got a hold of the Florentine Diamond. There were other lost treasures of Earth that were dropped unceremoniously into the burlap sack. "So to get both done, I help."

Willow was digesting what information she could as Olivia spoke, trying not to let the 'trinkets' as Kellsy referred to them distract her. So Theo would know where they were, or he at least knew of the lair from what she was saying. That gave her a shred of hope, even if they were hastily trying to relocate. Knowing she couldn't just leap back into the pool she'd been tossed out of, she walked slowly across the cave floor toward where Olivia was packing. "Possessive but she trusts you with them," she pointed out, glancing over at a shelf.

“Trust? No.” Olivia shook her head, folding clothes woven with gold, “No, she doesn’t trust me. A kelpie’s only friend is herself.” She tucked the shining yellow into the bag. “But I can’t help it. I am. . .unable to break my contract without suffering the consequences.” Olivia frowned, shuddering. She glanced back at Willow, her eyes fell to the jade bracelet, then back up at her. “Don’t let Kellsy see that.” She murmured. Getting a roll of cotton she unfurled a foot of it, “She’ll try to take it. Here, we can say you sprained her hand.”

It was quickly becoming clear that while she might have been bound to the kelpie, Olivia was still very much human. She also didn't seem to be a bad person, given her attempts to keep Willow in contact with the gift Theo had given her when their courting began. Thanking her, she took the cloth and began to weave it about her wrist and added a loop around the palm of her hand. "Are the consequences painful? Does she hurt you if things don't go your way?"

After a moment of silence, Olivia nodded, “Yes.” She murmured. Olivia didn’t elaborate. She avoided looking at Willow as she finished her tasks. Three bags, two slung on her back and one around her arm, weighed on the body of Olivia. The grey woman stood at the edge of stone. Her image blurred in the ripple of the still water. Her hair skirted around her face, “How is he?”

Willow was mentally preparing herself to draw Kellsy's escape out further if needed, but for now she was interested in Olivia. She didn't need to say a name for her to know just who she was asking of. "He's been doing well. He finished his residency and has been working at a clinic. Bought a house close to the family so everyone is still taken care of." She paused, wondering if the next statement would be in her favor before adding, "We're engaged. The wedding is supposed to be next June." She held her breath, knowing there were only two true responses this would gain from Olivia and praying it was going to be the second.

Silently Olivia nodded. A moment passed, then she said, “Talk as little as possible. Fairies like to talk. They want you to talk. Despite what Kellsy may say she doesn’t know as much as she says she does. Don’t try to be a smartass. A fairy will be playful as long as you come off gullible and naive. But if they think you’re getting wise, they’ll become cruel.” Olivia sniffed as she inhaled, “Never play games with her. They’re never just games. Theo can't stop her from making contracts, deals, and games. That isn't in his power. . . and she may have been commanded not to harm you in any way, but Theo has no such ability to prevent any other creature from doing so. . ."

Olivia managed to get that last sentence in just as they saw Kellsy coming to them through the watery dark.

Willow soaked in the advice from Olivia, not planning on having much she'd want to say to Kellsy either way. She knew that she just needed to get time or distract the kelpie. Time was everything. Her eyes fell on the sacks that were hoisted on to Olivia's grey back, weighing her options and as she'd mentioned, the consequences. "I'm sorry she did this to you," she said softly, adding a silent apology for everything she might do as well.

A glance of acknowledgment was all Olivia could do before Kellsy slid onto the crags. Water sloshed off of her green-blue body. Wordlessly Olivia climbed onto the kelpie’s back. The seaweed-like tendrils laced around her to keep her in place. The fairy horse's large, deep green eyes fell onto Willow’s hand, “What happened here?” She questioned Willow. Olivia's face could not be seen by Kellsy, so she made a knowing nod to Willow.

Willow's gaze followed Kellsy's, even holding up the hand to show she hid nothing. "It's sprained," she said, even meeting those large eyes as she spoke. She had no problem conveying a lie as the truth, her face giving away no tells of anything besides an injury. She thought of saying more, but kept to Olivia's advice of refraining from talking.

“Hm.” Kellsy gave Willow a cursory evaluation. There was nothing to “Get on then.” Kellsy rolled her shoulder so that Willow had an easier time getting up. As they waited, they heard the groaning of rock. The walls began to weep seawater, the pools around them rose inch by inch. Droplets fell on Willow’s head. “I will not harm you, Willow.” She promised in truth. “But I do not speak for the rocks.”

The sounds of the cavern around them slowly succumbing to the ocean meant that before long they'd be submerged. She stood looking at the kelpie's back as long as she could manage, knowing that it was going to be her only way out alive, maybe even at all. Keeping her bandaged arm to her chest as if she was nursing it, she slowly slid her way on to Kellsy's back, trying to avoid the scaly sensation on her legs.

Willow felt the tendrils hold on to her as she sat in place. Just then Willow saw the glowing symbols of a gate forming on the flat area of the cave. Kellsy smirked as chunks tumbled over the slopes of the moss and crashed the piano. The kelpie dived back into the water with the girls. Behind them they heard the groaning of rocks colliding against each other. They traveled for several minutes. At one point they swooped through a school of hammerhead sharks.

Just on the other side of them Olivia asked, “Does Theo know?” It was strange to hear a conversation in the water. It felt like it was in the head rather than the ears.

“I believe he suspects. I managed to avoid answering directly.” Kellsy said. Though obviously Theo did mean to check the lair, if the gate was any indication.

“Won’t he come to the next lair?”

“A master can’t come to a lair he’s never been invited to, and it takes blood. He’s shed much already. Unless this woman happens to be truly someone of worth to him, he won’t expend it.” Kellsy said, confident.

Whether Willow wondered if Theo would arrive in the new cavern of the kelpie or not, she need not spend another thought on it. A sudden thickening of the water slowed Kellsy. They looked over her shoulder to see a bubbling tornado. Kellsy chuckled, breaking out of the hold with a wiggle of her body. A chase began. The kelpie swerved, rose, and dived. Even dipping into the abyss where flashes of glowing fish crossed Willows face, and she felt the legs of squid slide across her back. Kellsy’s fun didn't last too long. A rush of bubbles formed around Kellsy like a net-cage. She swam around in it like a goldfish in a glass tank.

Theo, enrobed in foam and rushing currents, grimly held out his hand in a silent command. There was no mistake that he was in no mood to play her games.

“Well, Theodraeus, that is surprisingly quick.” Kellsy giggled and shook herself. Willow slipped away from her body and her protection. Theo caught Willow in his arms. As she was embraced, the responsibility of keeping away the pressure of the ocean and giving her oxygen transferred to Theo. The wrap around her hand loosened, revealing the jade bracelet. Kellsy observed the jewelry, “Hm, I see.” The kelpie glanced back at Olivia with a suspicious eye. But she did not dwell long. Kellsy felt a sharp pain and she snapped her head to Theo.

“I told you not to harm her in anyway!” Theo frowned.

“And she is here, unharmed!” Kellsy grimaced, “The sprain is not from me. If it is a sprain at all.” She sneered. “The wave threw her, the current pulled her out to sea. I merely helped her from drowning. Am I banned from helping her? Just say the words, Theodraeus. Shed the blood, and I will never help your lover again.”

Theo recalled his old raccoon. Willow was safe, she was with him. And he did not want a tragedy to condemn her if Kellsy did happen to be around to help. Theo held Willow with one hand and bit his thumb on the other. The droplets wisped from the wound like red smoke, “You will never separate us without the intention to reunite us as soon as possible.”

Kellsy snickered, swirling around them, “Aaaaassss yoooooou wiiiiiiiish,” she hissed. The bubbly ropes dissipated. The last they saw of them was a longing look from Olivia.

Wordlessly, Theo held Willow to him and they shot off at a speed that sucked surrounding sea life in their wake like a trail of fish. Several minutes later Willow and Theo came to the surface by a hidden cove, where no one could catch him doing magic. Once they got onto the warm stones Theo pressed Willow to his chest. She could hear his heart beating wildly, slowly steadying the longer he felt her in his embrace. “I’m so sorry.” He breathed, “What did she do?”

 

[Soliloquy]

Willow could have sworn she felt Theo approaching, but it was likely just the torrents of the water about them as he slowed the escaping kelpie. She prayed nothing would happen to him in his attempts to rescue her, though she didn't dare do anything to disrupt Kellsy below her and aggravate her further. Soon enough, she was stopped in her tracks, the sound of her beloved's voice music to her ears, her heart quickening more from his presence than being torn through the watery depths.

As she was released by the tendrils, she quickly wrapped her arms about Theo, trying to make this as easy as she could on him. She couldn't even imagine just what he had to harness to find them in the water let alone him supplying her with everything so she didn't drown or her lungs collapsing. She scowled at the kelpie from the safety of his arms, though the look from Olivia earned one of pity from her. She'd be trapped like that forever, servant to an impish water fairy seemed to constantly be up to no good.

Their embrace on land was much more satisfying than the water's chill, and as the salty air hit her so did the weight of everything that had happened. The terror of being sucked beneath the water, the dread that somehow he might not have found her all collapsed and she shook in his hold, silent tears falling. He was fine, he was there and he would always be there. Swallowing hard, she shook her head at his question.

"Nothing, she didn't have a chance to," she said with a wet spoff. "Some pissed off mage showed up too fast for her to get away with anything."

Theo chuckled through his worry, "Oh, Красивый, I don't know what I would have done. I am so glad you are okay." He sighed, "We looked for you when you didn't surface. I called her to me, but she played off well. I was suspicious. I tried the cave, but the gate failed. . ." Theo ran his fingers through her hair, "I promise you, that won't happen again."

She pressed her forehead into his shoulder, exhaling slowly letting her eyes close for a moment. "She left that lair anyways, was going to find a new one," she murmured, ignoring how preposterous this all sounded to say. "She just likes to get a rise out of you. I think I'll stick to land besides Moon-Fishing for a bit at least."

Theo frowned, “Kelpies don’t just leave lairs. They spend time crafting them. If Kellsy was leaving, it was for the purpose of withholding you from me for as long as she could.” He kissed her head, “Yes, I think so too. The only water I’ll swim in right now is a pool.” Theo was glad they had one at their house. No more waves for now. Just simple pools.

Willow nodded in agreement, pulling away enough so that she could look at him. Her brows furrowed in concern, now taking the time to carefully examine him. "Are you okay?" She remembered Kellsy talking of him using blood to get to her. "Theo, are you going to be okay from all of this?"

Theo nodded, "Yes, I just. . ." He sighed, "I just need to be careful how many commands I give, that's all."

Her frown only deepened with his words, knowing she'd personally witnessed three commands in the span of only a couple of months. "Don't make any more commands for me. I can only imagine what it's costing you and it feels like it's your blood on my hands." As much as she was grateful for the protection he offered her, it pained her to think it was draining him.

"It's okay, Красивый, it is not lethal," Theo assured her. "The contract I inherited from her former owner dictates that if I am to compel her, then I am to protect her." Theo's blood is the binder to his command. But as much as it sounded like a deal, Kellsy hated it. It was a debt. Fairies rather have others in their debts. This made it a mutual agreement, too beneficial to pass up. Equal footing. With a human.

Willow would take his word for it, she decided, for now simply resting against him for both reassurance and warmth. "Maybe it's just taking me on vacations that's dangerous. This is a sign that I'm supposed to just stay home," she sighed. "Do the others know that we're okay?"

 

[xrakkax]

Theo spoffed, shaking his head, “Oh I hope not! I love going out with you. Aside from Agnar and Kellsy, these trips have been transformative in the best ways.” He held her in his arms, keeping them warm. “Yes, they know. I left Bandit to tell them. Just sit with me for now. We’ll leave in a moment.”

They stayed there, drying in the Texas sun. Finally, they made their way to the others. Amalia was heard cursing in Russian. She had been against keeping the kelpie. But Theo believed it would be better not to let her loose on an unsuspecting world. They had a few harsh words with each other. Nothing that exploded into an argument. Jovan checked on Willow. When he was satisfied, he figured the sea was probably safer now than it was an hour ago. So he went back into the water. A man who had faced worse than a water fairy didn’t fear much in Earthly seas. Natalia, as always, readied some tea. Micha and Molly greeted Willow and Theo with earnest concern.

“That bitch, I swear, she’s a lucky ass thot for having Theo as a master,” Molly growled. Her arms crossed and her foot tapped.

Micha hushed her, “She is a fairy, Mollyshka, don’t make war.” But he did say he understood the frustration.

While Micha handled Molly’s temper, Theo went to sit with Willow and Granya. The young wolf had come right to Willows side and sniffed at her. To check for injury and unrest. She stuck by Willow for the rest of the day. Finn commented that Kellsy is on thin ice.

Molly eventually cooled off enough to the bond fire and learn of the whole story. It made her sad to hear about Olivia, but what was bothering her was how Theo go to Willow, if the gate failed and the kelpie was surprised he reached them so quickly, “How did you find her so fast?”

“Oh, right.” Theo had almost forgotten. He pointed to the bracelet he gave Willow so long ago, “That. It is like a pulse or a call. Not quite like GPS. It only helps know her general direction.”

Willow lifted up the bracelet to examine it more closely. She'd often wondered what was in that little scroll, and even had tried to open it a few times, though her fear that she'd ruin it kept her from drastic measures. "Hmm, interesting. So you can basically bloodhound track me with jewelry but I can't get you to answer a text when you're Moon-Fishing," she poked at him.

“Ah!” Theo pressed a hand to his heart in mock pain, “Oh, that hit.”

They all laughed, joining in on the fun. Theo pointed to their situation on sea, and he said was pretty sure Willow had failed to text him in the past, but ultimately he said, “Eh, you know, she comes to them now, so is okay.” And that was his response to teases and playful pokes until Natalia came with tea.

All the world seemed to have settled after a sip or two. Stress left them, their muscles relaxed, and the sunset filled them with better thoughts than the scare they had that day. The family eventually packed up, went to bed, and made the trip home without any more trouble.

The following month of July had a few exciting, interesting events. Aside from the unexpectedly extravagant Fourth of July party that lasted a day and a night, they learned that Mr. Chekov was going to visit the ‘Old Country’. Molly, although she had her quarrels with him, admitted to Micha she’d miss the old hoot. In a small way he reminded her of Grandpa Lyov. A grumpy version of him anyway. The next big thing to happen was Theo taking Willow to shop for a ring. Molly felt this had to be a special moment shared between them. So, she stepped back. Well, more like, shifted her weight to the side and peered over Willows shoulder, whispering, “Tell me all the details; call me right after.” She was starved for wedding details. Micha had yet to ask her romantically. Molly had yet to indicate acceptance of his proposal. They were in a classic Micha-Molly-Stand-Off.

Theo and Willow took a Sunday afternoon to Kay Jewelers. The building was pleasant, and he enjoyed simply being with Willow. But he too held excitement for what Willow would pick. Theo himself had no preference. This tradition of rings fascinated him though.

 

[Soliloquy]

Willow wasn't sure if she should be concerned by how smoothly they were able to transfer to normalcy or not. She'd been ripped out to sea and kidnapped by a creature who found it a prank and amusing, something she'd have thought was impossible only a few months prior. Settling into bed that night, she came to terms with the idea that no matter how normal of a life the family might have desired, they'd never be immune to events like they'd experienced that day, which also meant she would face the same. A sleepy gaze around the suite and she decided that was a fate she was worth facing for what she'd found.

The shopping trip might have been prefaced by a few comments from Willow of how some of their favorite babushkas poking at why krasavchik hadn't put a proper ring on her hand. It was endearing to see the pub patrons as an extended bit of family, whether it was Mr. Chekov's bantering or the older women fussing over the young couple. Either way, between that and Molly they wound up heading in for a long set of staring at ring sets of every color, shape and size.

Wandering feet had her in the more pricey section and while one had caught her eye, a price tag that made her frugal habits rear their head in protest quickly had her changing directions. A part of her regret pushing him into the trip, but knew she couldn't back out and insist the promise ring would be sufficient. Finally, her hovering around the white gold section felt that it had reached it's end, at least of her anxious tolerance seeing more and more rings with five-digit price tags.

"We could just get a simple band. Maybe one stone?" she suggested, her frugal habits completely voicing the idea, even as she lingered on a few different sets. The older woman who'd been servicing them, Luanne, seemed to know precisely what was going on here, likely meeting more than one couple where the bride was the one with a guarded wallet of the two.

"How about I wind up a couple for you to take another gander at?" she offered, pulling the ring of keys off her hand. "I've been keepin an eye on what caught yours, Miss Willow. Maybe tryin' them on will help ya decide?" Even if it wouldn't end up being a large sale for her, she found just a much joy as some of the young brides-to-be found. Once Willow agreed, she was weaving through the different cases, pulling out a small collection of rings and set them all before the couple.







Willow moved, ring by ring, trying each one on and turning to both Theo and Luanne for their feedback on how it looked. Was it too much? Was he sure he didn't want to get just bands? It felt like too big of a decision for her to make on her own, and though Luanne was mentally keeping tabs on which rings she went back to try on a second or third time, she held her tongue for a moment while the very attractive groom was placed on the spot by Willow. "Which one do you like best?"

 

[xrakkax]

Theo would hear none of this nonsense about frugality when it came to the wedding. They had cash to spend. And probably a good thing too, since that much needed to be gotten rid of anyway. Paying things in cash also helped keep Hunters from tracking them easily.

While Theo was probably not as diligent as the clerk he was glad she had been. The options before them were stunning. But one stood out to Theo most. He picked up the ring with the inscription and smiled, “This one.” It spoke of everything she meant to him. He took Willows hand and slipped it on her finger, “I love you today.” He said, “I love you tomorrow.” he closed his hand on hers, but made sure the ring could be seen, “I love you always.” Theo gave Willow a kiss on her cheek.

 

[Soliloquy]

Willow beamed at his decision, likely more for his reaction to it than the beauty of the ring itself. Her free hand slid up to cup his face, thumb brushing along the edge of his groomed facial hair. "Always," she repeated back, lost in his eyes for a few moments before Luanne politely pulled their attention back to the counter.

"I think it looks lovely on you," she agreed, enjoying the sentiment of the young lovers. "The triple band doesn't look too thick on your fingers with their length, which is great. Now most will choose to wear just the middle band with the center stone until you've exchanged your vows, adding the two other bands once you've both 'I do'd' and have them soldered on. We offer that service - with a small fee - but would love to help you maintain the ring to symbolize your love for each other."

Though it hadn't been easy, Willow had turned her gaze off of Theo to listen, nodding in agreement. "I think this is the one. We'll need a band for him to match," she insisted. Luanne nodded in agreement, motioning toward the men's section of the cases. There were a few that stood out to her and she pointed them out to him.





"Okay how about any of these?" she offered, knowing he had said he was indifferent about rings and truly having little idea of just what his thoughts were on jewelry in general.

Theo hummed in thought. He held the ring for Willow against each of them and decided the widest one looked best against it. "Is good, I think."

She smiled, thinking the choice suited him well, the band looking quite strong. "I like it," she nodded in agreement, though a thought struck her. "Are you planning on wearing yours before the wedding?"

"Is that what people do?" Theo asked. He glanced with a sheepish smile to the clerk beside them, "I'm from Russia."

Luanne was happy to jump in and offer her expertise on the matter. "Some men do, some choose not to," she said with an encouraging smile. "I'llsay that, as someone who's seen my fair share of couples come and go, the women do seem to prefer when the men wear it. A sense of shared territorialism, if you ask me."

Willow couldn't help but smirk, agreeing with that theory. "But it's your choice," she agreed, not at all worried about his eyes or other body parts wandering off from her.

Theo bowed his lips in approval, "Da, okay." He hadn't thought about that. Most of the women he worked with knew by now that he was taken, but most women were old lady's anyway. Theo did like the idea of wearing the ring despite that. It felt good to see it. A little reminder. "Thank you." He told Luanne.

"If you are going to wear it, I'm declaring now that at some point before the wedding you have to give it up to me. I want yours to be engraved too," Willow insisted, already

"I usually say a month prior is safest. That way there's no worry of it returning in time," Luanne added her input, collecting both rings from the couple in the palm of one hand. "So our minds are made up then?" She had began to reach for boxes to place each ring in.

Willow felt everything was perfect, accepting Theo's offered arm to lead them over to the register where a small chunk of that saved cash was offered in exchange for their two rings. She only managed to contain her excitement long enough to get to the car before she was sliding the middle band over her finger, admiring it in the sunlight. As promised, pictures were sent to Molly for immediate feedback before they could fawn over it in person next. While it was far from the first step they'd taken toward the wedding that was now less than a year away, it was tangible and made the engagement feel that much more solid in her mind.

Friday, July 13th, 2018
Denver, Colorado​

It had been two months since Rosalie finalized her degree at UCLA and immediately dove into her own personal research project. With the help of Everest and some of his connections he'd made over the years, she'd acquired a personal laboratory that was neatly tucked under assets of Cross Accounting and Associates. Although there were still some doubts, she'd come to the conclusion that the current formula was ready for a test run. The only problem, of course, being a lack of volunteering subjects. As grateful as she was for her cousin's assistance, she didn't want to come running to him every time she needed something, especially if she was supposed to live up to a family name. Instead, she reached out to the hunter she admittedly had a soft spot for.

Rosalie:
Hey Cory. Any chance I can borrow you for the weekend? I need an extra pair of hands for my project.

Cory:
Sure Rosy!​

Rosalie:
Perfect. Also, I'm going to need a test subject. Know anyone we can get ahold of easily?

Cory:
Yeah, actually. Some Mage headed to Russia. They're intercepting him now. I can have him taken wherever you need.​

Rosalie:
You're the best! I'll shoot you an address and time. See you soon

The testing site was planned a short distance away from her laboratories for a few reasons. While she assumed that between her and Cory they'd be able to handle a single mage, she also didn't want to take any chances. If word got out to the Almaeri community of what she was working on, hunting would become even harder than it already was. She also didn't want to risk something going wrong and all of her progress being lost, one way or another.

The tools Rosalie would need were transported to a small warehouse that would work perfectly for the purpose she needed it to; shielding prying eyes. She might not have had quite the same technology as Wesley with those wonderful holographic displays, but she was still top of the line for her equipment. The center of the room featured a chair with restraints on each arm, leg and across the head, backed with stainless steel. Beside the chair was a long table filled with a few instruments, several for medical diagnostic reasons to keep her research as accurate as possible, but ending with two long syringes. One syringe had a faint blue glow to it while the other was milky white.

When Cory arrived with her guest of honor a pleased look replaced the typically set jaw, though she moved quickly to help secure the mage to the chair before sparing any pleasantries. She hoped they'd have time together before he'd have to depart, only seeing each other briefly since the Hunter's Ball. This time of course, a white lab coat felt much less elegant than a ball gown, albeit infinitely more comfortable. Once the older man was restrained to the full extent the chair provided, she straightened up, giving him a proper glance over. "You look well," she commented before nodding toward the mage, "And you deliver in a hurry. Very impressive."

Cory knew that his title, money, and status as a hunter were motivators for eligible hunter women to talk to him at all. But he hoped Rosalie wouldn’t be that kind of person. Cory really liked Rosalie and he truly felt she liked him. And he didn’t want to lose that.

As soon as they had texted, Cory had promptly snatched the old Russian man and made off to Rosalie as soon as he could. Tips on how to play it cool ran through Cory’s head when he walked in with their subject. All the while they had secured the mage Cory’s mind was buzzing with what to say. It had been a while since that night on New Years. It felt like his throat tightened.

“Yeah, just-- you know, not far--in town, so to speak-- You look sweet-- great, you know. You look pretty in that coat. Not that you don't always look pretty. You'd look great without the coat, or anything--” Cory coughed, and fidgeted with his sleeve. He inhaled and exhaled trying to reign in his weirdness. “Good to see you Rosy.” He smiled.

Her smile only grew at his bashful blabbering, glad to see he hadn't changed all that much more in the past months. "There's an extra coat by the table if you want to play dress-up as a mad scientist with me," she offered, knowing better than to push talk of how one or the other of than looked. She didn't know how comfortable he'd be in participating, but in truth wanted to keep him around in the event that something went wrong. They were the only three bodies in the building which meant they'd be responsible for keeping him in isolation.

Whether or not he'd accept, Rosalie moved toward her table, slipping on a pair of surgical gloves and starting to gather bits of information. She called out his blood pressure, heart rate and temperature, a computer a short distance away gathering the audible data and tracking it for her. "So how did you confirm he was a mage? Seems a bit old for video games," she inquired as she worked.

Slipping on the white coat, Cory felt like a fancy nerd. He didn’t say so. There was a chance he could come off offensive in his stammering. But really, he felt cool. “Oh uh, to be honest, Everest and Wes were talking and I overheard.” He smiled sheepishly. Cory didn’t tell her he whipped around and begged to take the mage off their hands. He needed a mage right now! Wesley and Everest immediately started busting his chops over his crush on Rosalie. Cory endured it for the mage. This had been a great way to contact Rosalie. Usually he spent days thinking of excuses. “Told them you could use one and they let me take him.”

Mr. Chekov groaned, his head fuzzy. The older man had been escorted off for some contraband. Providentially he was evaluated by a hunter contact. It only took a couple calls and a quick test to pin him.

That was confirmation enough for her, still not prepared to risk a Hunter or Mundie possibly having a bad reaction to her own form of testing. She might not have wielded crosses or holy water as others often did, but she was prepared to begin relying on science. Though few knew it, a lot of her work had been growing after time spent with a young mage girl that Everest so conveniently had at his disposal. Unawoken, she had still provided enough information for Rosalie to confirm her theory of a physical component within that she was now using to work on the ultimate hunting weapon. If they could neutralize the Almaeri within a mage, effectively making them no more powerful than a Mundie, eradication would be a breeze.

The mage stirring didn't seem to alarm her, though she did call out. "Am, music please." The computer chimed in response before letting music seep into the room. Work was always less tedious with the right music, after all.



She picked up an Otoscope and moved to glance over Chekov's eyes. No sign of a concussion, meaning Cory and whoever had handled him previously did so well. A perfect specimen. Humming along with the music as if it were normal to have someone strapped to a chair, she next took a sample of his blood, distributing it into three separate vials. One of the vials was a vibrant purple color after a few shakes while the other two appeared the normal dark red hue. All three were tucked into a small silver case while she moved down the table.

"Do we know how actively he practices?" her next question was a bit muffled while she was turned away, picking up the two syringes at the end of the table and pocketing the milky one. The blue glowing syringe was examined against the light, tapping a few times to ensure the air bubbles were removed.

Since Rosalie had started focusing on work, Cory felt more relaxed. He figured it was because their attention was off of each other and dispersed around the lab. “Actually I was talking about that with Wesley. He said an old man like this one probably has consumed at least one child.” Or so they calculated the average, “And as evidenced by his relatively calm demeanor, most likely used magic sparingly to not get caught.” An attempt to smuggle a Ukrainian potato spelled his doom. Well, it got him off the plane and questioned. The little test they did revealed him to be a mage.

Rosalie nodded, lowering the syringe and crossing over to the drowsy mage. A strip of elastic served to tie a tourniquet on the arm beside her, using her thumb to find precisely where she planned to insert the needle. Pausing, she looked over to Cory, flashing an apologetic smile. "You may want to stand back, I'm not certain how this is going to work out." Before he could gain full consciousness, she plunged the needle into his skin, steadily inserting the serum into his bloodstream.