Rhionan (A Gurruffallo Accessory)

  fourteen

  Me ears were flooded with another ringing, this time a twisted and arrogant tune causing me stomach to twist and turn in tight knots. I returned me new, little niece to her mother. She stretched in Catriona's arms and yawned before falling back into a deep sleep.

  As the ringing came to an end a large man made his way toward me, unlike anyone I ever saw. His dark hair accented his coppery skin. His eyes were a shocking white-blue, I had a hard time looking away from them. Taking me hand, he pulled me to the other side of the room, out of earshot to anyone else.

  “I am Meleseus.” His arrogant voice surrounded me. 'Tis one of the first immortals, one Armand told me about. An awkward silence filled the dead air between us. Should I curtsy or bow? “I am the first immortal–”

  “I know who ye are.” I didna mean to be rude, but I want to see me family, no deal with him.

  “You are far more beautiful than the men led me to believe. Your strength baffles me as I have never met a woman such as yourself before.” Meleseus' overly straightforwardness caused me stomach to knot with discomfort again. He glanced at me, his creepy white-blue eyes lingering on me form sent a chill down me spine. “You are the first female immortal and I would like to offer you to rule by my side. As my wife. I understand you have experienced a terrible loss, but it will pass. I have waited a long time for this chance and together we will do many things. I can give you things you could only dream of.”

  Me first reaction were to slap his overconfident, arrogant face. However, I were distracted from Meleseus words by a simplistic tune that played in me ears. Remembering the twisted and arrogant tune I heard right before Meleseus appeared and how uncomfortable it made me feel. He reminds me of the tune. Could the tune be a warning of others like meself?

  Meleseus had surprised me with his haughtiness, or maybe his conceitedness. His proposal were positively disgusting. He doesna know anything of me loss. Had he known he wouldna speak to me this way. This man isna someone I wanna be around, especially by the way he holds me with his eyes, almost as if he put a spell on me. Maybe he's capable of doing such things.

  Tearing me gaze away, I looked across the room to me family. Armand stood among them talking to Thor and a short stocky man I didna know. For each of these men, there's a tune. I heard Armand's when I returned to his house in the woods yesterday, and Thor's tune when we entered the castle. Meleseus' tune announced his presence right after I reunited with me family. The short, stocky man, standing between Thor and Armand, must belong to the simplistic sound I just heard.

  I watched Thor give proper introductions between me family and Armand, the man who saved their daughter's life. Seeing Thor, standing next to Catriona, surprised me. Even though Armand explained that Thor is immortal, 'tis weird. His throat were slashed from ear to ear by the guards. I watched him die. Me breath caught in me throat.

  What's happening here?

  Armand fit well with me family, as though he belonged. They welcomed him with open arms, grateful for what he had done to help me. When he looked at me, I smiled expecting a smile in return. But his eyes stopped short at me hand still clutched in Meleseus' obnoxious grip. Armand's smile faded as he turned and sulked away. Wanting nothing more than to run after Armand, Meleseus held me in place with his firm grasp. His pleasantly smiling face guided me attention back to him with two fingers, placed gently under me chin.

  I wanted to yell at the miscreant standing before me. I wanted to tell him what I thought of him and his inappropriate proposal, but something told me to keep me mouth shut and play nice. “Sir, I'm certain ye're no a lonely man and ye needna me company.” Keeping me voice light, I tried no to show the disdain I felt toward him.

  “You are smart as well. I never said I was lonely.” He arched a dark eyebrow, “I just want the company of someone more like myself.” Looking down at me hands, still clasped in his, I canna look in his eyes. If I do, I'll be lost to his will, and no of me own.

  “There're others such as yerself here, I can feel 'em.” Ooops. I didna mean to say that.

  Meleseus didna seem to notice.

  “Yes, but none female,” he persisted. I have to end this, but how?

  Doing me best to bow out gracefully. “If ye dunna mind, I havena seen me sister in some time, Sir.”

  Returning to me family I never looked back at him. His gaze fell heavy on me back causing me stomach to curl, but no in a good way like Shawn made me feel. This man made me sick.

  He is evil.

  Me family waited for me with smiling faces and wide-open arms. Catriona handed her babe to me. She laughed and cooed as I kissed her sweet cheeks.

  “I named her Rhonnie,” Cat whispered, next to me. Me face lit up as I reached out to hug her. She laughed with me and the rest of our family.

  “The bairn's named after me!” I grinned

  Later, Cain explained he's going back to the Sturgeon Clan, in a few days, for Chloe. He'll marry her here, in Atleah, safe out of the reach of the British guard. Just like he predicted, all will be well. Arbus told Cain he's welcome to bring as many Clansmen as will come. Due to large groups causing suspicion among the British, Arbus stressed concealment.

  The people in Atleah are friendly and well adjusted to living peaceful, they work together to sustain a natural but prominent way of life. Even Clans who rivaled among one another for years, on the outside of Atleah, are peaceful on the inside.

  I met most of the immortals, according to Arbus, who showed me around. He said Hector and Achilles are feuding. I asked what he meant, Arbus laughed adding, “It is a one-on-one competition they have once a century to see who is the best. Currently, the score is thirteen to fourteen in Hector's favor.”

  I nodded, pretending I understood, and Arbus continued by telling me Marc's working with Atleah's guards. He teaches them different battle techniques and Alex is... Alex is out. Arbus vaguely talked about Alex, as his black eyes became bottomless. I wanted to ask him more questions, but now isna the right time. Arbus glanced at me as we walked through the marketplace in front of Atleah. The look were chilling, causing violent tremors to pass through me body.

  By me count, there are eight immortals, no counting meself, and I only met half of them.

  I spent the evening with me parents. They're excited to have me home again and glad I'mna depressed. There were many questions about Armand, I were unable to answer. I laughed and joked with them in good humor for a while, but I retired early. I'mna ready to share the sadness I feel for the loss of me Shawn with them or anyone else. The loss of me Shawn is something that'll take more than a few days to recover from.

  Right now, me parents are treating me normal instead of tiptoeing around me emotions, as they did at the Clan. The normalcy of everyday life is something I crave. Something I'll fight for. If that means hiding the emptiness that still absorbs me from Shawny's passing, then that's what I'll do.