Chapter Two: The Unusual Rebuttal

My hands clenched tighter at my satchel, as I lifted my gaze. I stole a glance at the face observing me with detail. Jade eyes gleamed as long brown hair flowed gracefully over his shoulders. His nose was sharp, and lips were an intricate carved petals of roses.

Beautiful…The very beauty that had betrayed the Great Màha and stole her magic. No wonder he is a royalty. Only direct descendants of Nüan have jade eyes afterall.

"Show me your eyes, Merina," He said slyly, and I bit sharply into my bottom lip. The instant he sees them, he will know I am not one. If not for this damned net, I would have traced him and go back home.

"Are you perhaps impaired with your hearing, or the salt water has treated your horse ears, poorly?" Fingers clutched around my neck, pulling my face up as I see the glowering light above me and then he inched closer as his grip tightened.

"What are you doing here?" His eyes gleamed with threat.

How could he… unless…

"You could fool all but me, Centaurian…" He whispered close to my ear.

"Everybody resort back. I will take care of the Merina. She is deaf, needless to say." He yelled, and like slaves to their master; the faes left me with him.

"It's just you and me, and the dead of the night," He said, his grip tightening with every second. Only a fool would do that… He thinks he has got me under the pad of his nasty, magical thumb? I will give him a taste of his own medicine…

I pulled out the dagger, charging for where he held me. Before I could think, my dagger had scracthed his arm. Golden trickles of Fae blood dripped down, as he slithered in pain. Well, well isn't it a pretty sight now? To see the beauty cower.

"Fàesia coståva, 

[Repair, Fae Magic!]" 

The wound closed up on its own. My head pounded, as his grip loosened. The pain in my hoof taking the opportunity to pronounce itself loud. I slithered.

"If I were you, I would beg and swim back home to take care of my hoof," He said haughtily as his lips pulled into a smirk.

"Beg? That certainly sounds very Fae like indeed…" I remarked, trying to asses his standing. Or hovering.

"Don't test my patience, Silly Goat," He said, as his eyes gleamed golden. Fuck the Fae fury, I am not begging to anyone especially after the big stunt some idiot fairy pulled off at the Centaurian Waters.

"Ah, patience you say? Is that why you have made no effort to write back to the Council when we told you to?" I scoffed back.

"Don't get political, now. Will you? Especially when you are trespassing forbidden territories," His tone lowered.

"I would have been surprised if the faes could for once think with their brains and not with their wings!" I rolled my eyes, as he cursed under his breath.

"I will ask nicely, and only once… What are you doing here?" He said impatiently.

"One of your kind had managed to swim in our waters. The beach is infested with Fae blood, and the water is no longer fit for Pearls…I was so close to catching the trespasser, and then-"

"Do you think I will believe your silly story, and let you pass as an innocent lost horse?" Are you kidding me?

"I have the Fae hair," I said, and his face ashened. 

"You have the fae hair? He mumbled, contemplating in his head. Finally… Some lingering wisdom. 

"Now, if you would let me go, I have wounds to tend to…" I said, and he reached for my arm. 

"Listen carefully, you give me the hair and I will track your trespasser down myself," He said, his eyes staring into mine.

"And why would I believe you?" I scoffed.

"You are not really in a position to negotiate. Don't get ahead of yourself. Needless to say, if you don't swim back to the Satyrian Waters; you are as good as dead."

"And if I don't get back there, you are dead too…" I was making no jokes. If he thinks his pretty wings are going to save his ass when he stops me from swimming back, he is mistaken. 

"Haughty little, stupids you Satyrs are!" He laughed hysterically.

"We know how to mind our own business unless pretty stupids such as yourself pollute our territory!" I glared.

"Now, now… I am not here to test your sparing skills. Do yourself a favour and give me the fae hair when I am asking nicely," He said, impatiently.

"Why are you so keen to help me out? We both know Fairies are nothing but two faced scoundrels," I chuckled, as his eyes glowered bright.

"Watch your tongue, Satyrian." He challenged.

"Or…?" I pressed, too aware of my hurting hoof.

"Or, this would be the last-"

"Hush. Just tell me what do you get out of this, and maybe I will think…" I narrowed my eyes on him. The glowering balls of fae lights surrounded us. 

"If I catch the trespasser for the Satyrians, I will gain their favour. That's what I want…" He slithered close to my neck, his feet touching the water as he leaned in.

"For what I wonder…" These scheming flies!

"Can't you see? I am next in line to the throne, if I can have the Satyrians on my side; my work will become easier," He smiled slyly.

"Oh my my… The Great Fae Prince is so incompetent he can't make decisions diplomatic enough to bring peace but wants to get favour of the goats? Hmm?" I said, cockily and his fingers wrapped around my neck.

I reached for his hand to push him away, but found myself held in place by the lights. They had somehow curtained me in the water with him.

His nasty fingers moved down my throat.

"You are too pretty for a foul mouthed idiot," He hissed, his torso submerging in seawater as he lowered himself.

"What are you doing?" I asked, and his eyes glowed golden.

"Fàesia coståva," He said, moving close as his lips touched mine as my eyes widened.

The pain in my hoof subsided, as I pulled out; shoving him away.

"Get away from me," I warned.

"Is that how they say thank you, in Satyrian Sibil?" He smirked.

"Also, you taste like seawater and weed…Blergh!" He added.

"I didn't ask you to do anything for me, you obnoxious, self entitled, bassoon!" My hands curled up on my side.

"I didn't save you to hear that nonsense… Now…Go back to your filthy horsey land," He said, as the lights swirled above; making way for me.

"Well, may your blingy little wings get wet!" I said, intentionally treading water back at him as I swam away. Bloody faes!

"I will find you," He said, loud enough for me to hear. Good luck cleaning your own mess… What a piece of haughty shit!

I tugged hard at my satchel. And I will find whoever he was… The damned little trespasser who nearly got me killed, needless to say kissed by a Fae. I will be so doomed if anyone finds out about it.

"Grandua falsé."

The seaweed curtain disappeared as I swam past the Fae waters.