At the bottom of the lake, on soft fine sand, a nymph lay slumbering. Her dreams were like a swarm of tiny fishes, now twinkling on a sunbeam, now obscure in the murk. They were old dreams, primal dreams, dreams like an endless river.
Except they abruptly ended when someone rattled her by the shoulders.
"Lykke, Lykke, Lykke, wake up!"
She got slapped up a bit. Her eyes opened.
"Akka, what in the name of the Abyss are you doing."
"There's a human at the shore," the other nymph shrieked. "A boy!"
"Is he harming our fish? Just seduce him and drown him."
"No! He's just resting! Listen! He's beautiful!"
"Then just seduce him. Why the fuck did you wake me up?"
"You're not listening! He's just right! He's just what the Lady wants!"
Lykke jolted, suddenly wide awake.
"Oh?"
Two silvery shapes darted upwards through the water. Two humanlike heads emerged above the surface, low, like crocodiles, just enough for their eyes to peer at the dry world. On the shore, a human boy in a plain linen shirt was sorting through his small canvas bag, wind messing with his blond hair.
"Oh." Lykke's head emerged further, revealing a delighted smile. "Oh, he's fucking gorgeous!"
"He'll see you, fuckwit!" Akka grabbed her by the hair and dunked her back in. There was a quick argument among the bubbles.
The boy glanced up, worried blue eyes scanning the water. Waves in circles were spreading from where some large fish had just made a splash. The lake was beautiful, but for sure something about it was eerie. No wonder nobody ever fished here, or even really went here.
He finished tying up his bundles of herbs with twine. That should do it for the apothecary. The man never got off his arse to gather his own plants, always sent a servant. Maybe in secret he feared the enchanted forest, just as the peasants did. The boy touched a small iron amulet tied around his neck. He wasn't sure himself if he believed the tales, but people did disappear in these woods from time to time. Might just be wolves. For sure he'd ventured too far alone. It was time to get back home.
He tossed the bundle over his shoulder and turned around, and froze.
Standing face to face with him were two naked young women. They were very good-looking, lithe and graceful, but he didn't even notice that. He did notice their fish-silver skin. He did notice their eyes, pond-green like human eyes weren't. Their dripping pondweed-strewn black hair.
They were leering at him.
"Hi! My name is Lykke," one said, and gave him a friendly smile. Her mouth was filled with fangs.
The boy screamed, jumped backwards, and fell on his arse into the water.
"Well done Lykke," the other one whispered.
"Akka, shut your carp face."
"What are you?" the boy whimpered.
"Oh." Lykke shoved her friend away. "We're water nymphs. We live in this lake."
"Why... why are you walking on land?"
"I don't know, why are you sitting in the water?"
The boy jumped on his feet and held his amulet in front of him.
"Please... please don't hurt me. I've done you no wrong!"
"Oh? No, yeah, we're cool. Why would we hurt you?"
"I've heard stories. You seduce and drown men... don't you?"
"What? Pfft. That only happened like twice. We have a proposition for you."
"A proposition?"
His heart was pounding. He had to get out of the water, immediately. But they were blocking his way on the shore. Maybe if he circled them. How fast can nymphs run?
"A proposition," Lykke confirmed.
"...from the Court of Erinome!" Akka finished proudly.
The boy suppressed a whine. That name rang a distant bell. Something about demonic forces. Forbidden magic. Night terrors. He took a very careful step sideways. The nymphs didn't appear to notice.
"Tyris, the Lady of Erinome, seeks a new pet for her collection. She sent word to be on a lookout for suitable human boys. We think you're very suitable."
Terror flooded his mind. He had to keep them talking. He diagonally inched away from them and towards the dry land.
"You want to snatch me away to a demon's castle?"
"Yes!" They squealed with delight. "The Lady will reward us handsomely!"
He desperately tugged at his amulet.
"You can't do this," he pleaded.
"I mean, if you want to get all your things in order then sure, but don't take too long. Because others are on the lookout too and..."
He bolted out of the water and dashed like a deer across the beach, in sprays of sand, and disappeared among the trees.
"...Oh. Um." Lykke looked at the bushes, swaying where he had passed. "Hey, if not then maybe you want to fuck at least!" she yelled after him. Akka crossed her arms.
"Lykke, do you think we should get out of the lake more? Learn to chat people up proper like."
Lykke punched her on the shoulder and waded back, dejected, into the water.
*
"Finally lad, what took so goddam long?"
"Loafed about in the woods, didn't he. You take pity on an orphan and take him in, and never get no gratitude."
The boy eyeballed the cantankerous head of household staff and his equally cantankerous wife, seated on their high chairs in the servants' dining room. He tried to imagine their reactions if he told them what had happened.
"I got lost on the way," he mumbled.
"Not too sharp, are you?" the old man said. "Go gather brushwood. And don't lose your way or I'll whack you good, you understand?"
Though the manor stood just by the forest, he kept well clear, and went instead to the beech grove beyond the barley field. As he was returning, the heavy bundle balanced on his shoulders, he heard horses on the road behind him. Ten or so riders were returning to the estate. He stood by and bowed his head. He watched their fine riding boots as they passed. One was wearing a rich embroidered green dress. He glanced up, curious. It was Lady Lyssa, the Baron's daughter, with her beautiful cold face and long brown curls. She looked down at him, and his eyes dropped.
But hers stayed on him. It's that servant boy again.
The horses passed. He stole another glance at the back of lady's head, and suddenly she turned around and their eyes met again. He blushed and hauled the wood back onto his shoulders.
*
The hall was loud, cramped, dim, and filled with smoke. The Baron, bearded and enormous, roared out another toast and was met with cheers. The fiddlers played frantically, the courtiers danced. He was pirouetting around the tables with a jug, making sure everyone's goblet was full. He filled up the one belonging to the Lady Lyssa. She watched him intently from the corner of her eye.
"Thank you, boy."
"My lady." He bowed, startled. It was rare for any noble to notice his existence. Still bowed, he scurried away.
My lady. What a soft voice. She smirked to herself and her head swayed from side to side, and torchlight glinted in her black eyes. Another roar of laughter from her left. She downed the goblet and got up unsteadily. She slipped away from the table unnoticed. By the door she whispered something to her attendant, a small middle-aged woman. The attendant argued with her about something, but was soundly defeated. The lady departed. The woman waited some five minutes, fidgeting uncomfortably, then grabbed the boy by his sleeve as he was passing by.
"Boy, drop this jug for a moment. I need your help with something."
"Yes, ma'am."
The hallway outside was cooler, the air thankfully fresher. The woman ascended the stone stairs.
"What can I help with, ma'am?"
She didn't look back, only flicked her ringed fingers. "Just follow me, boy."
He rarely ever went upstairs. The Baron's family chambers were here. The long dark corridor filled him with unease. He walked a few paces behind the woman, their footsteps softened by the fine carpet. The woman knocked on a door, and received some unheard reply. She opened it, and waved him inside.
It was Lady Lyssa's bed chamber. The large window was open, and warm summer breeze disturbed the candlelight. There was a large bed with blue canopy, and because of the shifting shadows he took a moment to notice her, the Lady, sitting on it, with only a thin nightshirt on.
The door shut behind him. He pressed his back against it with a yelp and fumbled for the handle.
"My lady, I'm so so sorry, I thought I was supposed to come inside, I'm..."
"Quiet." She got up, and the nightdress flowed freely. His eyes dropped to the floorboards.
"My lady." The wood creaked, and then her bare feet stopped right in front of his.
"What's your name, boy?"
"Alvy, my lady. I..."
