Chapter 3

                                    

                                          
Sophie's POV

                          
During the day, I swim lazily, until I am frightened into the reeds as a small boat passes through with two male visitors. They look like they are inspectors, the usual half year check-up for the orphanage. Even so, I hide. 
                          
Frogs croak as I lie within the reeds.
                          
The oars of the boat paddle through the water calmly, and I watch as they leave ripples behind.
                          
I stick my finger up through the water, and a butterfly with blue wings lands on the tip.
                          
Another one flies close by and hovers, so I lift my little finger and it also lands on the same hand to be with its mate.
                          
They are inspecting my river flowers, choosing which to take nectar from. They grow all along my hair.
                          
I bring them over very slowly, and I place them on my head, gentle to the touch.
                          
As I concentrate on being too careful, I lose my other senses. Another boat unexpectedly passes by. But this one comes much closer.
                          
I turn abruptly to see another two men – one holding a long weapon I've never seen before. But I've heard of them in the stories.
                          
I stare wide eyed at the musket.
                          
The man holding it is middle aged with greying but clean cut brown hair. 
                          
He's also looking right at me. 
                          
The musket is on his knee, but when my eyes collide with his, he slowly raises the musket and points the barrel at me. I'm frozen and my heart almost stops beating, but then he lowers the weapon and smiles, saying to his rower, happily, "Already found vermin and we just arrived. We need payment first of course."
                          
"Have you already seen an intruder?" his friend asks, bored.
                          
"I even saw some fleeing a camp site at the very sight of me – I know that lot, they're scared of me... hence my job, Dougy."
                          
"Yes sir Beaux."
                          
"Lord to you."
                          
They row by, and I sink into the water, as the butterfly's flit away to another nectar source.
                          
Oh, goodness... was I going to die today?
                          
Ezra's POV
                          
"Cora pack your things, Merwyn make sure there isn't anything else left behind – Ezra, Ezra! Ula! Come!" Titan is in a typical panic, after seeing the one man who hunted me on a yearly basis.
                          
Fucking Beaux. A mortal lowly Lord hell bent on taking my title – and all supernatural creatures from this realm.
                          
I stand by a tree, watching the boat with the idiot disappearing into the far distance, approaching the orphanage. Ula spits in his direction.
                          
"Did you see that, Ezra? One coward's shot and he'll kill you with that weapon, and take a trophy too," Ula growls, and I feel her overprotection. But I don't welcome it.
                          
"It takes him a full minute to reload, and it doesn't work when wet," I counter, bored, "He does not scare me –"
                          
"Ezra," Titan slams a hand on my shoulder, forcing me to face him, "We need to go back. I made a promise to your mother... any sight of that kind of danger, we return immediately. The adventure is over."
                          
I turn without a word – because all words would only offend and ignite violence.
                          
Titan takes my silence as compliance.
                          
A lot of Erebos tended to assume that – not realising I was just more patient than the lot of them.
                          
And now, we could return home if we so chose.
                          
However... Sophie the River Nymph – should come with us.
                          
Or she would die by Beaux's violence laced stupidity.
                          
"Come," Ula tries to grab my arm, but I step aside.
                          
"Go," I tell Titan, "I will follow at midnight. Wait in Black Hallow's Inn. I will come."
                          
"The girl," Titan guesses, raising a brow.
                          
"The prince wants to save a princess," Ula makes fun of me, "It was bound to happen one of these days."
                          
"Ezra," Titan begins to scold me, but he must notice the look in my eye, because he hesitates, and then ushers Ula forward, quietly looking to me and back to Merwyn and other others already rushing off back to safety, "Midnight – and if..." he stops himself.
                          
"If what?" I ask, calmly.
                          
"Doesn't matter. You'll be there," Titan guesses.
                          
"I'll be there," I confirm, with a smile.
                          
The tides were changing and Titan knew it. He could not guide me forever. 
                          
I had to guide myself. Danger was a part of the territory.