Page 76 of Hidden Kingdoms

Had they dumped me in her garden?

Her skin was a rich brown, and large almond-shaped eyes only a shade lighter shone brightly, a slightly amused look filling her face as she watched me watching her. Black hair with a liberal amount of silvery grey strands was woven into hundreds of tiny plaits that reached down to her hips. She wore a long, light blue dress, and silver jewellery adorned her neck and wrist which contrasted beautifully against her skin. A ring was piercedthrough her nose and attached to a small chain that trailed over her face and connected to the large white gems that hung from her ears. The longer I looked at her as she glowed from across the water, the easier my heart settled, along with my magik.

“The guard brought me here. Sorry if this is your garden.” I was desperate to search this place for somewhere she could have come from but equally not wanting to take my eyes off her.

What were you supposed to say to the glowing woman who appeared from nowhere?

“It’s not,” she said right back, her voice smooth and calming.

Well, that’s… helpful.

I waited for more, but so did she.

“I think they will be back to get me soon,” I tried, and she only nodded, dark eyes roaming my face.

My initial fear was fast becoming replaced with the need to remove myself from this awkward situation.

Slowly I stood, and as she took a step forward, power skipped inside me, as unsure as I was whether she was friend or foe. I was suddenly and pointlessly glad I was wearing shoes with real soles, though it wouldn’t help me remotely. This woman screamed magik and having sensible footwear wasn’t exactly going to tip the scales in my favour.

I could feel the waves of her energy pulsing in the air. I wasn’t sure she was even doing anything, but it seemed to spill from her, floating across the pond until it brushed against me.

It was then I noticed she hadn’t been standing on the other side of the water, she had been standinginthe water. Long dress flowing seamlessly with the liquid that rippled from her, the glow emanating from her growing more erratic the longer she looked at me.

Surely she couldn’t have just popped up out the water? I’d like to think I would have noticed that happening, even if I was busy drowning in my own sadness at the time.

She didn’t even look wet?

It’s either that or she flew over the wall like a human bat, which wasn’t a comforting thought, either.

“I’ve been wondering how long it would take before I got to see you.”

Cryptic.

“To see me?”

“Mmm,” she replied. “I’ve been waiting a while.”

“Waiting for me?” I repeated stupidly.

Who was this woman?

“Yes, for you.” She took another step forward, braids swishing as the water responded to her movement, the calm ripples of the water mirroring my quieting pulse.

“Right.” I mentally crossed my fingers hoping I wasn’t about to be kidnapped again by this water lady. It would be a pain to change things up just yet. “And you are?”

“I have many names.” Another step through the water. “But you call me Dalila.”

The name crashed into me with a familiarity so strong, I reeled. It flooded my mind in a wave before it crashed into barriers, hitting places even the force of this tsunami couldn’t penetrate. But with it came the knowledge that this woman in front of me was someone to trust, someone who would protect me. I took a step towards her, my feet hitting the edge of the water, my arm half raised in her direction—the lines by her eyes deepened as she beamed at me.

Water lapped at my foot, soaking my shoes, breaking the iron clad certainty I had felt, and I jolted backwards, my arm dropping back to my side.

Mentally screaming at myself as I realised what I was about to do, I felt as though my mind was trapped in a fog. There was a connection that stretched between us but none of that madesense. I didn’t know this woman; I’d never seen her before in my life.

I was pretty sure I would have remembered meeting a glowing water lady before.

“I don’t know you,” I breathed. I didn’t, couldn’t.

Her head tilted slightly to the side, assessing me. “Perhaps not.”

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