Page 98 of The Secret of Drulea Cottage
Except he’s na a man at all. He’s a selkie. A selkie I summoned here and even considered marrying. And one who may very well kill me if I don’ stop him.
A Killer
Just before she crested the hill, Briony hesitated. She looked at the sealskin in her hand as she considered what she was about to do with it.I can’! I can’ use something so precious to manipulate someone, na even when that someone is Niall!
Briony slipped the pelt beneath her clothes, right next to her own, as she decided she would only use it if absolutely necessary.Maybe he can still be saved.
She took those last few steps purposefully, mentally preparing herself for whatever Niall might do—
“Ah, there you are. Back fer more fun?” Niall had spotted her instantly, though he made no move to approach her from his position a few feet away. His hands were still raised, funneling tremendous amounts of energy into the clouds above.
Briony tried to make her voice as even and calm as possible as she said, “Niall, yer killing people. I can’ let that continue.”
Niall snorted. “And you think you can stop me? I noticed yer attempts to get rid o’ my storm. I knew you’d try something like that, but did you honestly think yer tainted blood could compete with mine? The water may hear yer call, but it shall always obey mine first.”
She’d been tormented for her lineage all her life, but for some reason, Niall’s words still stung.I thought knowing my selkie nature would finally make me feel like I belonged somewhere, but now the only selkie I know is throwing those hopes back in my face.
Briony felt that very blood he’d been mocking begin to boil as hurt and anger swirled within her. Heat pulsed beneath her fingertips, and power beckoned from the sky above.Would the water truly obey Niall first? Or would my own rage be enough to take control?
Briony reached upward with her mind, reached out to touch the storm—
But then her mother’s face appeared among her thoughts. All those moments when Bethany had smiled as she held a newborn babe. All those moments when she’d encouraged Briony to keep moving forward, to do everything she could to foster better relationships. All those moments when she’d urged Briony to forgive, even when it didn’t make any sense.
The memories brought a sense of peace to Briony’s heart, reminding her of what was truly important in that moment—not her anger, not even justice for all the offenses against her…
Nay, ’tis the people. And now I’m the only one who can save them. Even if most o’ them would na bother to save me, I can make the better choice. I can choose to do what’s right.
’Tis what Mum would have wanted. ’Tis what Dr. Sherwin would have wanted. And despite all my neighbors’ failings, ’tis what I want too.
Briony lifted her chin and glowered at the man. “I know what yer trying to do, Niall, but this time, I’m na going to lose control. Na with all these people’s lives at stake.”
Niall raised a surprised eyebrow, lowering his arms as he took in her words. The storm didn’t dissipate, but now that he wasn’t adding more fuel, the lightning started to die down.
Niall pointed to the houses below them. “Those worthless worms deserve far worse than anything I’ve done so far. This storm is only the start.”
“Iknowthere’s good in you. You don’ have to do this!”
“Don’ be so naive, Briony! Do you think this is the first time I’ve taken a life?”
Briony’s eyes widened. “What do you mean?”
Niall smiled, stretching his lips back from his perfectly white teeth. “We selkies learn how to harness our powers from an early age. Why do you think Everton has so many storms? Did you think it mere chance how yer beloved merchant’s ship arrived here?”
All the color left Briony’s cheeks, and a gasp filled the air. “Are you sayingyoumade the storm that night?”
Niall scoffed. “Nay, if it had been me, that ship would never have made it to the dock. You can be sure o’ that. But after hearing the captain talk about how the storm came out o’ nowhere, I knew ’twas the work o’ a selkie. We’re all around, after all. Maybe even closer than you think. And killing humans can be so…entertaining.”
Briony shook her head, not believing the words coming out of the man’s mouth.
“Don’ look at me like that. If I had na stopped you before, you would have already wreaked havoc upon the very people yer trying to save. You have the same desires in yer heart as I do, and fer good reason. After all, that boy almost killed you, and if I had na stopped him, he might have tried again.”
“What are you—Alastair Oliver?You killed Alastair?!Nay, that can’t be right! He died eleven years ago! He…”
“Drowned? Ah, I take it back, Briony. Yer na naive. Yer just stupid.” Niall threw back his head with a laugh.
“But you would have still been a bairn…” Briony whispered.
“‘Twas na so hard. The boy thought himself invincible. I simply pretended to be a poor wounded seal lying on the sand. He must have thought I was an easy target, fer he wasted no time in coming at me with a stick.
