My hand reaches out and grabs Mal’s, but before I can cringe in horror at my action, he squeezes my hand warmly and does not snatch away from my touch. My heart flutters and my stomach flips.
“Please! Please, anyone, please help. Please save them.”
The voice rings out in my mind as clear as a bell. It is Lello. Along with his words, I see a flash of images. Carter and Ned fighting kelpies. It seems not all of the herd was caught by Blue’s singing.
Now the rescuers are outnumbered, and it doesn’t look good. They are in trouble. They need help. I want to help.
I look up at Mal. He turns to me, dark eyes inquisitive and thoughtful.
“There’s been a problem?” he asks.
I nod.
Under the starlight, he grins. A big wide grin that flashes his sharp white teeth. He releases my hand.
“Go unleash hell, Little One.”
I glance at Blue and the others standing by the lakeshore. Some of the kelpies are breaking free of the enchantment.
“I’ll get them out of here,” promises Mal, with another malevolent grin.
I grin back at him and dive into the cold water.
It is freezing, but being uncomfortable won’t hurt me. Not breathing is also unpleasant, but I can do without it for a while. It will cost me some ether, but I’m sure Mal will be willing to feed me later and that is certainly no hardship. It is actually something to look forward to.
But right now, I need to ignore my avarice and the discomfort of my body. Lello needs me. I have to concentrate. The hazy trail of his psychic plea spools out before me like a rope. All I have to do is follow it. It is leading me down and down. Towards the bottom of the loch. It takes me to the entrance of a cave and then up into air once more.
The cavern is a good size. Illuminated by phosphorus moss. Sounds of fighting echo from a nearby chamber. I walk towards it.
It doesn’t take me long to find it. Lello is sitting on the ground, leaning heavily against the cave wall. He is pale and drained of life force. His mate and the vampire are heroically battling several kelpies.
A flash of my will sends the kelpies into sleep. They drop heavily to the ground and lie motionless.
Carter and Ned whirl to face me, their eyes wide in astonishment.
“Are they dead?” Lello asks in a shaking voice.
“Sleeping,” I say.
Carter sheaths his sword and the sound hisses and echoes around the cavern. “If you are such a capable badass, why didn’t you offer to help in the first place!” he snaps.
I shrug. It is too much to even attempt to put into words, let alone ones he might understand. I’m not foolish enough to snap about no one asking me and no onetrusting me.
“Why did you decide to help now?” demands Carter relentlessly.
Suspicion and doubt roll off of him. He is a dangerous man. He needs to be appeased. I’m going to have to try some sort of explanation. Let him know my motives.
I look at Lello. It is easier to talk to someone who isn’t glaring at me. “You called for help and I remembered your voice. You were kind to me before.”
“You truly remember me?” Lello smiles. “I used to sit in your room and talk at you.”
I nod solemnly. I vaguely remember the harem, but there are other more recent kindnesses he has given me. “And you offered to share your food with me.”
Lello beams brightly at the memory. This little kelpie is lovely. His herd abducted him, drained his life force, and he is still smiling and being kind.
Carter makes a noise of disbelief as he gestures around at the sleeping kelpies. “This is over toast?”
Ned slaps him on the back, hard enough to make Carter stagger forward a step.
