“Yeah they are but I've never met one. I think they live further south around Europe.” She says with her eyes closed and faced angled to the sun.
“Really?”
“Yeah! They're nothing like The Little Mermaid though. Their skin is shades of blue, green and grey with scales and they're eyes are massive and yellow.”
“So basically all the monsters and creatures from movies are a real thing?”
“No not all of them. Fairies aren't real. Witches yeah but not like Harry Potter. Their powers are similar to yours in a way just nowhere near as powerful. Umm... Big foot is a myth but Skinwalkers are beyond freaky. I've seen one and couldn't sleep for months.”
“What's a Skinwalker?”
“Basically a creature that doesn't have a body of its own so it inhabits a recently dead corpse. Could be anything but the only sound they can make is the last sound that their victim made. The body will still decompose so they have to kill over and over to have a host body in which to survive in.” She swallows hard and shakes her head as if brushing away a bad memory.
I look over the lake at a world that now seems so much bigger and more terrifying. I reach my bubble of awareness over the forest and everything feels as it should. I sense Lukas heading our way but he doesn't seem to be in any rush. Me and him haven't spoken much since my first day when he showed me around. He's been a little distant the last couple of days but I put it down to him being busy. We've all had loads to get done. I've often caught him watching me though and I'll smile andhe'll smile back. Izzy has kind of taken over the task of showing me around and I've loved her company, but I'd like to get to know Lukas more. Aside from looking like a Viking God there's something about him that really intrigues me.
A couple of minutes later he comes out from the trees across the lake in wolf form. His wolf is double the size of Izzy's. More bulky and powerful but he moves gracefully. His fur is sandy brown with streaks of grey and a black ridge down his back. Even from here I can see his green eyes but as they settle on mine they flash with amber. He shakes his head and they go back to green before he strides into the water. He disappears under the water and the surface ripples as he swims toward us. He emerges a few meters from us as a human. He stands waist deep totally naked as he runs his hands over his face into his hair. I can't take my eyes of his perfect physique. The tattoo that goes up his arm extends onto one side of his chest. It depicts a wolf howling up at the moon. He has a smattering of chest hair that ends in a V at the top of his defined abbs. The water conceals everything else though unfortunately...
“Afternoon ladies.”
“Dude! Clothes!” Izzy exclaims as she throws him a towel.
He chuckles as he wraps it around himself and steps out of the water next to us.
“My clothes stash is the other side of the lake and I didn't wanna get it wet.” He chuckles.
“Oh I see. That makes perfect sense.” Izzy replies sarcastically. “Don't worry Krista we're not all nudists like this one.” She rolls her eyes as she stands and grabs her backpack. “I've got chores to do so I'll see you at dinner.” She winks at me before heading into the trees.
Lukas takes Izzy's spot on the rock next to mine. Water drips down his powerful chest and I watch it trickle lower andlower... Shit I'm staring. I tear my gaze away and hope he didn't notice.
“So what brings you out here?” I hope my voice comes across nonchalant.
“I was nearby doing some work for Caleb and thought I'd see how you were settling in.” He smiles as he leans back on his elbow.
“I love it here. Feels like home already.” I smile back.
“But...?”
“But what?”
He gives me a knowing glance and I raise my eyebrows, fanning confusion. He raises one eyebrow back and I let out a sigh in defeat.
“I miss my old home. My friends.”
“You'll see them again I'm sure.” His eye contact is mesmerising.
“We'll see. My dad has no intention of ever letting me leave here and I understand why. I do. It's just... Everything has changed so much in a, what is it? A month?”
“Yeah I get it. Your life is far from what you though it would be. People and things your care about have been taken, but you've also gained so much.” His deep, soft voice is filled with understanding.
“And I'm grateful for what I have now.” I take a deep breath. “I sound so selfish I'm sorry.”
I look down at the water by my feet.
Lukas reaches up and brushes my hair from my face. His fingers trailing from my ear down my neck.
“Not at all.” He breathes.
I look up at him and his deep, green eyes hold mine.
