Kelpie Boyfriend: Fionnla (special preview)

The kelpie walks closer to shore, allowing me to speak without water filling my mouth. “But I am hungry now,” he growls.

I cough and sputter. “I don’t have anything else to offer! I can only promise you myself when the time comes.”

The kelpie walks out of the water and I drop to the ground. I look up at him, seeing he is wholly different from before. His legs are stick thin like bones, wrapped with a stiff sinew that coils up to the torso where gathered water is spilling from the holes. The head is skull like, sharp, with a ghastly pink glow coming from the eyes. The once beautiful hair is stringy and draped along the body like a cloak.

“I don’t trust you,” the kelpie tilts his head. “You must take me with you.”

I shudder as I try to stand. My hands and legs that were trapped in his body have pruned up and grown weak. “That’s fine,” I whisper. “Whatever it takes, I’ll comply.”

The kelpie returns to the beautiful horse guise I had seen before, the one that had lured me into the trap. “Who are you, girl?”

“Imogen,” I sputter. “And you are?”

He hums and shakes his head. “No one has ever asked,” he says. “I have never had to respond to such a thing.” He tossles his head a bit. “Let me think about it.”

“Oh,” I gasp. “I suppose no one would ask. Given you uhm-” I stop myself before I go any further. “Nevermind.”

The kelpie stomps his hoof then gasps softly. “Call me, Fionnla.”

It’s an odd sounding name, especially on the tongue, but who am I to question his choice? “It is a good name,” I tell him. “Have you never had one?”

He casts me a dark look. “Does it matter?” He growls.

“No,” I take a step back from him. “Whatever you wish to be called, I’ll honor it. I promise you.”

Fionnla nods. “Good, then hold out your hand.”

I stretch my hand out to Fionnla and he chomps down on my finger. I cry out in pain as I pull my hand back. My blood is smeared on his lips, which he licks away with his bright pink tongue.

“This is a bond,” he tells me. “From now on, I will be able to find you anywhere you are. Just in case you decide to run away from me.”

I clutch my hand close to my body as my palm fills with blood. “I was never going to run!” I snap at him.

“I cannot tell what you will or will not do,” Fionnla scoffs. “I do not know your heart. I do not know your morals!” He sniffs and shakes his head. “I am taking care of myself. I am protecting your promise.”

“My son’s life is at stake, that is our bond!” I bark at him. I rip a bit of my skirt off and wrap it around the bleeding finger. “I would never betray my son, therefore, I would never betray you.” I storm away from him to collect my bag. I check the contents inside, finding everything is still there.

“Why not send the father to do it?” Fionnla quips behind me.

“Because he is not around,” I glare back at him.

“Ooh,” Fionnla awes. “I see. Unwed mother, are we? Illegitimate son, is he?”

“No!” I scream back at him. “His father is dead! He was also a horrid bastard!” I sigh and shake my head. “That’s why I have to do this alone.”

“Aren’t you worried your son will turn into his father?” Fionnla asks. 

“No,” I grumble. “Because already Olwen knows better. He will never know his father. For all he knows, he is a miracle.”

“That bad, was he?” Fionnla walks beside me as I go back to the road. “What’d he do then that made him a ‘horrid bastard’?”

“Please, just leave it alone,” I scoff. “I don’t wish to talk about it. All I want is to make sure my son will be healthy and cared for before I uphold our bargain.” I glance up at Fionnla. “If you want this journey to go faster so we can see to it, then why not let me ride on your back?”

“I figured you’d want to take your time.” Fionnla kneels down to allow me to ride him.

I grunt as I climb onto his back, relieved I no longer stick to him. “My son is sick, remember?”