Beneath the loch, p.1
Beneath the Loch, page 1
Table of Contents
Other books by S D Simper
Title Page
Copyright
Beneath the Loch Part One
Beneath the Loch Part Two
Further Reading
The Fate of Stars
About the Author
Other books by S D Simper:
The Sting of Victory (Fallen Gods 1)
Among Gods and Monsters (Fallen Gods 2)
Blood of the Moon (Fallen Gods 3)
Tear the World Apart (Fallen Gods 4)
Eve of Endless Night (Fallen Gods 5)
Carmilla and Laura
Beneath the Dark Moon (Sea and Stars Prequel)
The Fate of Stars (Sea and Stars 1)
Heart of Silver Flame (Sea and Stars 2)
Death’s Abyss (Sea and Stars 3)
The Moon, the Stars, and the Desert Below
(Patreon Exclusive)
Beneath the Loch
Forthcoming books:
Chaos Undone (Fallen Gods 6) – TBA
Beneath the Loch
A Dark Lesbian Romance
Includes and excerpt from The Fate of Stars
Beneath the Loch by S D Simper
www.sdsimper.com
Copyright © 2018 Endless Night Publications
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
ISBN 978-1-7324611-0-9
Enthralled by stories of faeries and spirits, Mairi snuck from her bed early one morning and ran to the meadow.
Every night, her mother told her tales of spirits who danced on the water at midnight, of sprites who urged the flowers to blossom, of shapeshifters and sorcerers, those who granted wishes – though perhaps not for little girls who snuck from their beds. And every night, Mairi asked if those stories were true.
The response was always the same: “They’re as real as you believe them to be.”
The sun had not yet risen, and morning dew clung to her skirt as she darted through the sea of green. Patches of flowers dotted the scene, but Mairi found no faeries there.
The forest was forbidden, marked by a wall of dense trees Mairi had never dared to pass. Yet, what if that were where her quarry hid? If spirits were easy to find, everyone would have seen one.
Mairi passed the invisible wall into the forest, the muted light from the morning sky disappearing behind dense branches and leaves. Within, night creatures squawked and chattered. Mairi kept her eyes alert, both for bears and for glowing sprites.
Sprites glowed, right?
Her boots broke branches and crushed fallen leaves. She should have been fearful, but the muted cacophony of the night’s singing brought peace, and when Mairi heard the distant babbling of water, she ran to greet it.
The sound grew louder as she approached, and what she found was no idle brook but a rushing river, wider across than her home and the road combined. Splendid warmth teased her through the break in the trees, the barest hints of sunrise sparkling along the rapids.
The dancing lights along the river’s current delighted her young soul. Mairi knelt along the bank and reached forward to touch the enchanting display. Disrupted, the spray of water splashed her face and clothing, gently sprinkling a bit of its magic onto her form.
Not the faery she sought, but a magical sight nonetheless.
When Mairi looked up, she caught sight of a shy interloper. Golden eyes stared from behind a rock jutting from the river, ones that disappeared when Mairi looked up.
Curious, Mairi stood and stepped into the stream-
And was immediately swept away.
Icy water engulfed her body. She couldn’t scream, couldn’t breathe. Her skin tore, scraped along the rocks.
Darkness threatened to consume her, and Mairi no longer knew which way to swim to find air. Her burning lungs screamed in revolt, but Mairi held her breath, petrified until something sharp gripped her arm and tugged.
Mairi saw golden eyes match her own.
Then, air. Mairi sputtered and coughed as she struggled to breathe, grasping at the smooth rocks along the bank for support.
She felt, again, sharp claws though her clothing, this time against her back.
A girl knelt beside her, one who appeared to mirror her nine years of age, with inhuman golden eyes larger than any Mairi had ever seen. Plantlike growths sprung from her head and fell down her face like water reeds, and her skin matched the grey-blue of the early morning sky. The girl’s clawed hand stroked soothing lines along her back.
Of all the questions she might ask, something more practical escaped Mairi’s lips. “Why are you naked?”
The girl was entirely nude, her skin sleek and shined like a seal.
“Aren’t you cold?” Mairi continued, and she sat up, oxygen calming her startled heart. Cold seeped into her skin, exasperated by the faint breeze and icy water clinging to her dress.
The girl shook her head, no other response leaving her lips. When her mouth spread into a smile, Mairi saw rows of razor-sharp teeth, more akin to a shark than a human girl.
Mairi knew not what sort of faery she had met – but a kind one, it seemed. “Thank you for saving me,” Mairi said, unsure of what else one might say to a naked faery girl who lived by the river.
Again, the girl smiled, and this time a dark blush colored her cheeks. Deep green, darker than her hair, and it blossomed all along her face.
“You live here?”
The girl nodded.
“What’s your name?”
This time, the girl offered Mairi her hand as she stood. Though hesitant, Mairi accepted, watching as her odd companion pointed expectantly at the water before dragging her toward it.
Mairi wrenched her hand back. “Why would I want to go back in?”
The girl’s eyes widened, and Mairi wondered if she’d hurt her feelings. The faery girl opened her mouth, and from her throat came a guttural screeching, like a sickly dolphin. Again, she pointed to the water.
If this strange interloper wanted her to drown, she would have let Mairi be whisked away down the river. Though instinct screamed to not, Mairi offered a hand and let the girl lead her into the water.
The rapids threatened to drag her away, but the girl’s arms wrapped around her, holding her in an iron embrace. Mairi took a deep breath. They sank, and once underwater, a melodic voice met her ears. “My name is Olphia,” said the girl, and through razor teeth, she offered a sweet smile. Green hair tangled with Mairi’s red, floating freely as they sank. At the girl’s throat, slits along the sides had opened. “And I’m not cold. I think humans are silly for covering themselves up.”
Then, cold air touched her face. Mairi took a deep breath, protected from the rushing current by the girl – Olphia. “My name is Mairi, and I’m lucky to have met you.”
Olphia shook her head, laughter in her wide smile. When she gestured down, Mairi took a breath before being dragged beneath the water.
“You wouldn’t have almost drowned if you hadn’t seen me,” Olphia’s magnetic voice said, and when she laughed, Mairi nearly forgot herself and joined her.
The water parted. Mairi took a breath. “I guess that’s true.”
Olphia took her back to the water’s edge, allowing Mairi to sit on the bank while she stayed in the cold water.
“Do you often find people here?”
Olphia shook her head.
“I came here looking for faeries,” Mairi admitted, amused when Olphia sat up with intrigue. “Is that what you are?”
Again, Olphia shook her head.
“My mother always tells stories about faeries and spirits in the forest. She says you have to believe in them to find them.”
Olphia simply stared, visibly hanging on to every word.
“It’s hard to have half a conversation-”
Mairi’s gasp stole her words. Olphia suddenly leapt out of the water and sat by her side, excitement in her expressive face. Startled, Mairi leaned away, but watched with interest as Olphia touched the nigh invisible lines on her throat. Olphia took Mairi’s hand and brushed it along those raised lines, though no more raised than if she’d been scratched by a cat.
Then, Olphia touched Mairi’s own throat, her sharp claws gentle against the tender skin.
Mairi furrowed her brow. “I don’t have gills,” she said, but then Olphia nodded rapidly, gesturing forward, trying to convey something-
Startled at the realization, Mairi touched the same invisible lines Olphia had drawn on her skin. “You want to give me gills?”
Delight shone in Olphia’s face as she nodded.
Wary, Mairi asked, “Will I still be able to talk on land?”
Olphia nodded.
“Will it hurt?”
Olphia brought her fingers together, scarcely an inch between them.
A little. It would hurt a little, the odd creature gestured. A warning sang in Mairi’s memory, bits of stories her mother so often repeated: “Beware of making deals with fey. There’s a cost to everything.”
“What do I have to give you?”
Dark green blossomed along Olphia’s cheeks. She brought two fingers together and placed them on her lips, miming a kiss before placing them against Mairi’s own. Those slick, cool fingers lingered a moment, and Mairi understood. “If you kiss me, it will give me gills?”
Perhaps she should have been scandalized at the notion. So often she’d
Kissing Olphia didn’t seem nearly so bad as being teased about the boys in the village.
So, when Olphia nodded, Mairi said, “All right. Do it.”
Lighter than butterfly wings, Olphia’s lips touched Mairi’s, pressing against the corner of her mouth less than a second before she darted away, a bee buzzing off to a new flower.
Then, pain seared Mairi’s throat. Gasping, she pulled back, her hand clutching tender skin as gashes appeared under her touch. No blood stained her fingers, but the skin split and tore. Tears stung her eyes.
Olphia’s arms snaked around her. Mairi clung to the comfort even as the pain dissipated, her skin still tender and raw. At her throat, she felt gentle, raised lines and wondered what other magic her new friend could conjure. “Can you grant wishes?” she asked, and she heard nothing guttural or coarse. All sounded as it should.
When Olphia beckoned, Mairi followed, allowing her to lead her back down into the rapid current.
This time, when they plunged into the icy water, it hardly raised goosebumps along her skin. Perhaps there was more to this magic than mere gills. Instinct screamed to not, but Mairi took a breath, panicking a moment as water filled her mouth and throat – and escaped through the slits at her throat. Air filled her lungs. It was uncomfortable, yes, but remarkable, and Mairi laughed. The sound echoed as clearly as Olphia’s.
“I do grant wishes,” she heard Olphia say. “But you have to give some magic of your own so I can give it back.”
“I didn’t know a kiss was magic.”
“Haven’t you heard stories of princes and princesses and ‘true love’s kiss?’ A kiss is a small bit of magic, and a first kiss is enough to give you gills and the fortitude to withstand the current.”
The logic seemed sound, as much as magic held logic. “So, the bigger the wish, the greater the cost?”
Olphia nodded. “There are sea witches out there with much more power than me, though. I’m still learning.” Olphia released her hold, and Mairi realized she could float perfectly still, if she wanted. “I’ve never had anyone my age to play with. Can I show you the river? Please?”
“I’d like that,” Mairi said, overjoyed at the prospect.
A new friend and a set of gills seemed as perfect a day as she could imagine.
For hours, they swam, with Olphia excitedly showing off every particularly lovely patch of water lilies and babbling about frogs and fishes. They chased schools of fish; they chased each other.
When the sun shone directly above, Mairi realized the discomfort gnawing at her stomach. Olphia, a perfect hostess, offered to catch her a fish.
“Ew!” Mairi replied, giggling fiercely at the prospect. “Humans don’t eat raw meat.”
“I only ever eat raw meat,” Olphia said. “But we can build a fire.”
Mairi swam toward the shore. “I should go home. My mother will be worried.”
She didn’t expect small hands and sharp claws to suddenly clutch her arms. “You don’t have to go!” the water spirit said, and when Mairi burst from the water, Olphia followed, her eyes larger than Mairi had ever seen as they watered. That throaty, wordless noise cried out instead of her voice, but Mairi heard despair.
“I’ll come back.”
Still, Olphia attempted to pull her under the water.
“If you don’t let go, I won’t come back!”
This time, Olphia’s grip left her, and the little girl looked near tears. Mairi watched her tremble, and she wondered if Olphia had a mother to go home to at all.
“Do you have a family?” Mairi asked, unsurprised when Olphia shook her head. “I promise I’ll be back. Tomorrow morning, same time. Will you be here?”
Olphia sniffed, dark green spreading across her cheeks as she nodded.
Mairi swam back to her side and pulled her into a hug. Claws dug into Mairi’s back as Olphia clung to her, but her quivering form relaxed. “I promise,” Mairi repeated. “You won’t be alone for long.”
She felt Olphia nod against her shoulder, enormous eyes watching as Mairi left the water and climbed onto the shore. The familiar set of rocks jutting from the river meant this was where she had first fallen in, and a quick run through the forest would take her to the meadow beside her village. “It was good to meet you!”
Olphia nodded, smiling wide.
Mairi didn’t think those teeth were so scary. With a wave, she ran into the trees.
* * *
“I’ve told you time and time again to be careful of the loch, Mairi!”
Mairi shied from her mother’s scolding, her frazzled wet hair hiding her face.
The path to her home was laden with stone, and wild grass grew out in sparse sprigs beneath. Mairi’s mother had been waiting at the door of their cottage of brick and wood.
“What if you’d drowned?! What were you doing, sneaking out so early, anyway?”
“Looking for faeries,” Mairi said quite honestly, and her mother released an exasperated sigh.
“Perhaps you’ve grown too old for bedtime stories,” her mother said, and she knelt to face her downcast daughter. A warm hand, rough from years of housework, touched her chin, forcing Mairi to match her mother’s green eyes. “You won’t be a child forever-” Her mother frowned as she brushed back Mairi’s hair and carefully grazed the raised lines on her neck. “What’s this?”
“I fell.”
“If you’re lying, you know I’ll find out.”
Mairi shook her head. It was much easier to lie nonverbally. She held out her arms, showing the scrapes from the rocks beneath the river.
“Oh, Mairi.” Concern furrowed her mother’s brow, but she smiled and patted Mairi’s cheek. “Let me clean those, wildfire. Get some breakfast; I won’t have you put to work on an empty stomach.”
Mairi quickly ate her meal of leftover potatoes and fish as her mother patched her scrapped arms and hands.
When she’d put on fresh clothing, she ran out the door to her father’s brewery, where she helped him each day.
* * *
“I can’t stay as late today. My mother will be furious if she knows I’ve disappeared.”
This time, Mairi brought a second dress. How she’d explain away her wet hair would be a problem for the future.
The little water spirit beamed as Mairi approached. Olphia offered a hand, and the moment they touched, Olphia all but threw her in. The cold water embraced her, as did the girl’s laugh. “Or you could stay. If you never return, your mother will stop looking eventually.”
Under the water, Mairi shook her head. “If she thinks I’m dead, she’d tear this forest apart to try and find me.”
“She’d never find my home. No human can swim to the bottom of the loch.”
The loch in question was Loch Loraine, and it connected to the river scarcely a mile upstream. “My mother would still try. That’s what mothers do.” Olphia’s palpable confusion sparked a question. “Don’t you have a mother?”
“I used to,” Olphia replied, and then she tugged on Mairi’s hand to pull her forward. “I found some coins in the water yesterday. Want to see?”
Mairi did. She followed.
* * *
Thus sparked a friendship Mairi kept close to her heart. Every morning before sunrise, she left to see Olphia and explore the river, and she’d return in the morning with a bundle of flowers, or perhaps fresh bread for breakfast – something to explain her early morning rising to her parents.
Until one day, Mairi returned home, her pockets jingling with gifted coins from Olphia, only to linger at her cottage door.
“. . . worried she may have been charmed. I know it’s blasphemy to speak of such things, but-”
“It’s not blasphemous to suggest there are spirits who work against our Lord,” said the second voice. The first was her mother, the second was . . . familiar.
