Fairy Tale Assassin - Chapter 20

Kelpie

Chapter 20

Even after a few minutes, I still had difficulty trying to grasp the concept of a shadowed creature talking from the reeds. From my vantage point, it looked like the vague outline of a horse’s head.

A horse in the river?

However, the soothing voice slowly enticed me, halting my disbelief. I walked closer while the creature spoke. Sweet tones came from the riverbank, and I found myself visualizing my past. Images of a child fishing, happily looking at me while I baited the hook on his fishing pole. Memorizing sounds filled my head. I heard nothing else as I stepped closer.

“I’ll take you across. Just ride on my back,” the creature said.

A beautiful and large black horse rose from the reeds. The powerful animal lifted its gigantic head above me with its red eyes staring down. When the creature opened a mouth filled with sharp teeth, my mind suddenly sensed the danger. Yet, my body continued to move forward. The slaps and pounding on my back felt distant but familiar. Only when a sharp pain erupted in the back of my arm did I finally hear Ruby’s voice.

“Covan, wake up! Get away from there! It’s a kelpie!”

Coming out of my senseless state, I immediately grabbed my left arm and felt blood. Ruby jumped in front of me with the cursed dagger in one hand and a short sword in the other.

She stabbed me?

“Back away!” Ruby yelled.

While I wasn’t sure if the redhead was talking to me, I backed up while digging into my belt for my air pistol. I knew I couldn’t get my bow off my shoulders and loaded quick enough to help. The black monster snorted, then attacked.

The black horse’s burst of speed was incredible. Ruby positioned herself the split second before one of the creature’s front hooves came down as the animal lifted its front high above her. However, Ruby deflected the blow with her sword while backing away. We continued to back away as the kelpie snorted. Its red eyes turned crimson with growing fury.

“Wretched humans, I drag you into the water now!”

On the next attack, the kelpie feigned an attack with its front hooves, then snapped at Ruby’s head. Fortunately, her training kicked in automatically and she sliced the creature’s cheek with the cursed dagger. Immediately, the kelpie screeched loud enough to make us wince in pain. When it snapped its jaws at her again, she tumbled away. That’s when I got my perfect shot. I pulled the trigger, and the poisoned pellet shot from my pistol.

“Aaagghhh!”

The kelpie’s snarl came out as it turned toward me. It was a mistake since it received a slash from Ruby’s sword. Sensing trouble, the monster backed away. While it shook its massive head, I clumsily tried to reload the pistol while holding a sword in my hand. It was a stupid idea. The monster attacked me while I was struggling.

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