Water's Edge [Quin x vmpdevil101]

[Rudolph Quin]

Keogh Lake. A virginal pool, set deep in an old forest, surrounded by massive trees, thick and ancient with winding, curling roots that snaked over the ground untamed. Nature's architect had been hard at work at this place, the north side of the lake dominated by a craggy, vine swathed outcropping, from which water gushed through the slit in the rock's side, trickling with the remains of the Keogh River. Large branches, weighted with feathered leaves slung over the water's edge on all sides, as if the trees weren't content to let only their roots dip within the depths to get a drink. Wildlife could be felt in this place, even when it was not seen. Birdsong lilted over the sound of insects humming, competing with the cascading laughter of the falls, the occasional avian swooping low with colored wings spread to catch glimmers of the sunlight that sparkled on the water's surface. Golden rays broke from the cover of the clouds to kiss the rippled mirror and coax the fish within into warm, dreamy slumbers.

This was his home. Beautiful, untainted, and innocent, Keogh was his mother, his sister, his soul. Every piece of this land, but especially the Keogh's water were a part of him and gave him life, and he felt every movement that was made on his territory. Even as precious as she was, she was as cruel and wild as an ferocious beast with the taste for spilled blood. Very few human eyes had lived to see the glen once they entered and Howe wouldn't have it any other way. Through the depths of her heart he swam now, letting out a chuckle like rushing water as the fish glanced at his ethereal form through the murk before scurrying away. And there were other things in the water here with him. Through the crystal clear liquid, he watched as a woman's face appeared near him. Her hair was golden-green through the water, her flesh the color of ash, and her eyes a snowy blue, blank and forever unable to see what was before them. Because she was dead. A human spirit whose life he'd claimed in greedy lust, trapped here forever within his waters. Howe smiled in renewed desire, gently letting a hand cradle her incorporeal visage as she floated beside him. She belonged to him and she always would. Her and all the others...

Further in the depths still, more spirits faded into existence, even as the yellow light from above filtered down in broad strokes. Men and women were among their ranks. His treasures. His victims. He felt no sympathy for the unwary traveler or the overly-trusting maiden that fell for his guises as he tempted them to the water's edge. Sometimes, an elderly man would be lost in his woods for hours and Howe would appear to the exhausted Irishman as a horse. His back, sleek and black, inviting as respite from the man's tired feet, as soon as he mounted Howe, would take off running, plunging headfirst into the water, where the frightened man would choke on his last breathes in a burst of bubbles. Or the beautiful youth, incautious when faced with another beautiful youth such as themselves, welcomed to Keogh's edge with a smile and cold skin, only to be pulled under with an unforgiving embrace.

Gaily, he kicked away from the beautiful lost looks they gave him, his body twisting freely as he snaked his way up the falls and squirmed and slithered through the river, rushing against the current as he made his way north. As he did with every deer that leaped across his river or every fox that stopped in it's hunt to take a few laps from the gurgling edge, he felt the presence of another on his land. Another visitor, somewhere nearby. Someone new to cradle in his arms and pull into the murky depths with him. Even without seeing them yet, he felt his body prickle and tingle with the familiar excitement in anticipation of their thrashing and eventual stillness as they gave into the water's will. Someone new to add to his collection. He couldn't wait to meet them.

 

[vmpdevil101]

Emily was eighteen and finally able to travel outside the US without her parents which just made her beyond happy. Emily always had a sort of love for the outdoors, animals, landscapes, just the wilderness in general. She couldn't help but want to take pictures and she was sure this area was where she wanted to be. There was a legend or more like a warning the villagers told her. It was creepy that they said how many had gone in but never came out. Emily wasn't going to be one of those people she was going to make sure she didn't get lost and die.
She had been walking around this area for about an hour taking pictures of animals and just everything she could take. Emily pulled the camera away from her face and bent down putting her camera back into its small bag. Emily was a petite girls she had almost always worn heels to make her feel taller but when she was out in nature she couldn't exactly do that. "Crap." Emily puttered as her long two shaded blonde hair whipped into her mouth trying to make her swallow it. She quickly yanked it back and pulled a rubber band off her wrist and tide it back in a loss ponytail.
Emily typically wore contacts to hide the fact she had two different colored eyes. One was a soft honey brown while the other was a blue-grey color that seemed almost silver. She loved her eyes but most people thought it was creepy so she wear brown contacts. "don't go to far in." she had to keep reminding herself as she pushed throw the denser parts of the area.
This place was amazing and she'd brought a sleeping bag and a tent with her to camp out here in which just made Emily even more happy!!! "I think tonight I'll camp here." she patted her foot down and pulled her back pack off her back and pulled a small one person tent out.
It had taken Emily longer then she imagined to put together and she cursed the man that had told her the tent was easy to put together that a three year old could do it. Emily stood up in triumph as she looked down at the hour long work she did to put it together. "Done!" she smiled clapping her hands together to get the dirt and dust off them. She set her things down inside the tent and pulled her camera out and began her new adventure to find more wildlife out there to take pictures of.