I scoff. “Charming,” I mumble, shaking my head and turning to rummage through a cupboard.
I turn to face her again as I shove a piece of bread in my mouth. I have trouble closing it around the hard, stale bite. “What is your name?” The words come out muffled.
“Kezra.”
“I’m guessing you already know mine.”
She doesn’t even acknowledge that with a response. “I’m going to leave you now, but know that now that I have revealed myself, I shall not go away easily. I will be checking on you, as a mother checks on her babe.”
“Mother, huh? You don’t look any older than me.” I can see her more clearly now that my eyes have adjusted. She appears similar to an elf, just much, much smaller. And there’s a more… luminous quality about her. Every inch of her glows faintly. She has smooth golden skin, glowing green eyes, tight turquoise curls that are pulled back in a bun, and she wears golden shorts with swirling patterns and a revealing matching top.
“Your actions equal that of a petulant, aimless adolescent.”
“I’ve been through some things,” I mumble, hating to even speak the words out loud.
“Storms visit us all. What matters is whether we build shelters… or learn to dance in the rain.”
I pinch my eyebrows together. “I’m starting to think half the words you speak are utter nonsense, Kezra.”
“And what are words, really, but nonsense we all agreed to believe? Perhaps it’s time you created some of your own nonsense.”
I stare at her blankly, then shake my head. “I’m too drunk for this.”
“See you in the morning for a swim!”
I wave at her as I exit the kitchen.
~
“Farther, my little fluttering princess!”
I ignore Kezra and turn around as flashbacks of the water overtaking me the other day fill my mind. It should create more of a panic in me, but mostly, I just don’t feel like drowning today.
Seems unpleasant.
“Tomorrow is a new day, one which shall show great progress,” she rambles, flying above me. Easy for her to say. She’s not swimming through icy cold waters, pushing herself to her limit.
Though I act annoyed, a small part of me has to admit that it’s nice having her above me prattling on about anything and everything. Sometimes I enjoy the quiet solitude of the sea, but it’s become monotonous. Having Kezra here is a distraction that I think is helping push me farther than I thought I could go.
“Let me tell you the tale of Lyrinx, the fuddy-duddy fairy who thought he could win this fair lady’s heart.”
She goes on and on, regaling tales of the forest that she came from, some seeming to be absolute nonsense. And sometimes, she simply remains quiet.
I reach the shore, groaning as I spot Adrian waiting up by the castle. Kezra is nowhere to be seen. She must not want to reveal herself to him.
Or is she simply something I’ve crafted from my imagination, not real at all?
I head toward the castle. Unfortunately, I’d really like to get out of my cold, dry clothes, and I won’t let his revolting presence stop me.
“Elysande.”
“Are you leaving this island anytime soon?”
“Yes, actually.”
I halt midstep. “What?” I whisper. The fact that he gets to leave is so unfair. It devastates me in a way I didn’t expect.
“I have to be back in Ellyar in a few weeks. I’ve been extending this as long as I can.”
