The Changeling

Chapter XI- Missing

Ciardha's pov:

No matter how hard I tried, it was impossible to rid my mind of those eyes. They were pale, soft, green, with a slice of gold in them. I remember how at first, I thought it was a trick of the light, the flame's cruel reflection, teasing me. But as soon as we locked gazes, I knew she was mine.

After all these years of searching, and finally giving up, I never, ever, imagined she'd be so beautiful. Or imagine she'd be a mortal girl. It's not possible... but she sure as hell looked mortal.

As soon as I saw her, I needed her. But she disappeared, seconds later. That merrow girl was calling her Sophie. Turns out, there's only one Sophie in this god forsaken town, and, unsurprisingly, she's not from here. If she was from her, I would have found her sooner.

"Ci- I mean Dougal," Conrí called to me, pulling me out of my thoughts. He called me a name that wasn't mine, because, names have power, especially our names. Maybe this Sophie knew that, her name sounded unfamiliar on my tongue.

"What is it?" I snapped in a tone barely above a growl. Conrí might be the only being in existence to only roll his eyes in response to my anger.

"This is the woman- Bébinn's home, where Sophie had been living."

I looked up at the rundown, white washed building. It was very tradition, of someone who's lived here for ages. I wouldn't be surprised if this woman had some affiliation with the Aos sí.

I reached my hand up to knock on the door, gently, but firmly. I heard someone faintly call, "coming!" from inside, and I leaded back, with my hands folder over my chest.

A petite, middle aged, redhead woman opened the door. We made eye contact, and I saw her eyes flicker between Conrí and I nervously. I could even hear her heart thump, and I knew without a shadow of a doubt she was mortal.

"Hi, would you mind if we come in?" I asked, smiling gently, charming this woman the best I could.

I saw her eyes meet mine once more, and I knew she hadn't even registered that she was nodding. I didn't wait for more of an answer, before I walked into the house, Conrí in tow.

I looked around the hodge podge room, and had to resist frowning at it's disarray. She had been living in this? I couldn't help but lift my nose to sniff the room, and I found the irreplicable smell of jasmines and fresh mint in the air, and I recognized it immediately from before. She had been here.

"We know Sophie, we were wondering if she was here?" Conrí said, disguising his words, to make them digestible, while they were still the truth, while hiding the truth.

The woman glanced between us, a frown beginning to form on her face. I flashed her another smile, which seemed to sooth the panicking growing on her face.

She nodded quickly, "I'll go wake her, she should be just in her room." The woman padded out of the room, and up the stairs. I watched her as she went, listening carefully to her footsteps.

I listened as the footsteps seemed to quicken and walk over and over in the same place, while no words were being said. I frowned and ran my hand through my hair, What's taking so long?

A wide eyed woman with confusion written all over her face appeared. Alone. I felt an unknowing feeling of fear rise in my chest.

"She-she's not th-there." the woman stuttered. I glanced back at Conrí as I clenched my jaw.

"Do you know where she could be? Or who she could be with?" he asked, gentler than I ever could.

Still wide eyed, she nodded slowly at us. "Sophie is normally with Muirgen or Conall," I gritted my teeth at the thought of her being with another male, but said nothing, "but at this time of day-"

She was interrupted by someone opening the door. Both Conrí and I spun around to face the same damn Merrow girl from the other day. Had this girl lost her hat or pelt? Why was she living as a mortal? None of these questions would be answered, as I saw her face go pale at the sight of us. Even when disguised as mortals, there'd be no mistaking the power radiating either of us to a Merrow

"Where is she?" she hissed at me.

"I'd ask the same to you, Merrow," I spat the word, not caring if the Bébinn woman heard us.

"Sophie's gone?" panic filled the woman's voice, words I felt my own heart sink at.

The Merrow seemed to ignore her words as a pure rage filled her voice, "I knew you'd come to take her back."

"Take her back? You've kept her from me," I growled a warning.

"I met her only a few days ago, I assumed she was not of this earth, but I didn't think she'd be one of you."

"It's not possible for you to only just know her-" I began, but Conrí cut me off, not allowing me to detail any of our secrets.

"If you don't know where she is, where could she be?"

I say the girl hesitate, "I saw Conall this morning, so not with him... she doesn't know anyone in this town really, she only met people last night at the Beltaine where she was crowned, but I walked her home, she didn't go home with anybody else."

Her words first filled me with relief, then panic, "Were she was what?"

"Where she crowned Banríon an tsamhraidh and presented and offered to the..." her voice trailed off and then her eyes snapped to mine.

"Offered to who?" I spat, stepping closer to her.

She seemingly ignored my question, "There's no way! No one has accepted any of our offerings in Centuries."

"Offered to who?" I growled loudly, not trying to mask any of the anger or power in my voice.

Her eyes locked with mine, and said the words I never wanted to hear, "To the Aos sí, to the Samhradh Court."

Introducing some new characters! would y'all want me to post some character aesthetics/ what I image them to look like? Thanks for reading!