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(Page 2 of 6) The Cottage by R. A. Partain
"Ahh, poor baby. Feeling sorry for yourself again?" Rose's form shimmered and sparkled as she flitted around his head.
John growled and made his way back to the forest. There were preparations he would have to make since he couldn't sleep in the cottage tonight.
Rose landed on his shoulder. He attempted to brush her off. She whispered in his ear, "You'll never be able to fulfill your promise if you don't try to get to know her."
He stopped in his tracks. "I promised Anna that I would make myself worthy of her. Now that she's dead there is no way to break this damned curse."
Rose tsked. "Human women are all the same to us. I gave you what you asked for and in return, I want you to fulfill your promise." With that said, Rose disappeared in a prism of light.
John stopped, stunned. Anna had feared him as the devil when he told her of his curse. When she died, he had lost all hope of ever breaking it. A smile spread slowly over his face. Rose had given him another chance. There was hope!
John watched the woman as he had for the last two days. He was supposed to be filling a water jug at the loch, but the beauty walking on the shore utterly distracted him. When he realized that she was undressing for a swim, he quickly turned away. Half of him wanted to soak in the sight of her, the other demanded he act like a gentleman and give her privacy.
"She'll never know you were watching her." He heard Rose's voice before he saw her.
"I will know." He snarled. "I will not behave like an animal just because I can."
"Whatever," Rose said, dismissing what he said. "I'm here to help you." Rose sat on his knee full of fairy satisfaction.
"You only make things worse," John said suddenly fearful that Rose might actually try to help.
"Fine." She flitted off in a huff and landed on a nearby stump. Looking out over the loch, she said "Ohh, she's coming out of the water. Come see, Johnny, she's gorgeous! For a human, anyway." She tried to drag John over by the shirt, but he wasn't moving. "Oh, I'll just tell you then."
Rose proceeded to describe the dripping wet woman in complete detail. Somehow, that was worse than seeing her with his own eyes. He imagined his hands around her slim waist, sliding down to caress the roundness of her hip...
"Stop, damn you." He growled and he stalked off.
That night he huddled around a small fire that was in danger of dying in the wind and rain. The unexpected storm fit his mood perfectly. It was probably a good thing that he was drenched in cold rain. It took his mind off the woman in the cottage.
Rose danced with the flames of the fire. "Now's your chance, Johnny."
"What do you mean?" God, she irritated him.
Rose beamed with pride. "I damaged her lantern, and with the storm it will be pitch black. It won't matter that she can't see you."
"You have never helped me." It was a half-hearted statement; hope had returned.
"The storm will only last the night, so I would suggest you hurry." In a huff, she disappeared.
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