Ch. 2 - Morven, The Loch's Voice

Liam followed the voice. He could hear it clearly now, and he was sure he'd never heard anything like that before.

"Ooh-vey-ah, sii-lah rey...Ah-ah-ah, ly-oo-ra leen..."

He got to the loch-side, and the guitar fell from his hand and so did his jaw. Not literally on the ground though.

"G-g-g-ghost!" He stuttered.

In front of him was a hot looking lady. A hot mermaid lady. A hot mermaid-ish ghost lady.

She had silver scaled skin and deep blue hair. Though her face was normal, save for her forehead that still had feint scales. Half her body, from the waist down was transparent and seemed to disappear in the water. Her entire body was faintly transparent, giving of a light blue glow.

"Ghost!" Liam yelled again and ran off.

She pouted and waved her hand to the side. Liam came running from the opposite side he ran.

"Aaahhh!" He passed.

She waved again.

He passed.

She waved again.

And he passed. Yeah, he was dumb enough not realize he was trapped in a loop, until after ten trials. He came in the tenth time, gasping for air and he turned and went on his knees and bowed.

"Oh, great witch, demon, ghost of the water, free me from your sorcery and I promise never to come back again! Spare me! Let me live!" Liam said, then slowly raised his head to peek at her.

She smiled. "Oh, mortal. Why shall I spare you? Muhahahahaa." She said in a dramatic tone then giggled and pouted again. "You're an idiot. Get up."

"Eh?" Liam looked puzzled as he stood up.

"My name is Morven. Not... Witch, demon, ghost of the water." She added. "What's your name?"

"Oh, uh… I-I-I'm Liam. Liam, yes. Liam." He stuttered, forcing a smile. His heart on the other hand was having a drum festival.

"Nice to meet you, human Liam. I was resting when I heard you play something that calmed me and intrigued me as well. I couldn't help it so I came out to sing, hoping you'd come. But then you started running like an, idiot, just like every other human, when they mistakenly see me." She waved her hand dismissively. "I didn't let you go, because of your music. I like it, can you play for me again, human Liam."

Liam, still not believing his eyes, nodded. "S-sure. And it's…just, Liam." He picked up his guitar.

"Okay. Come sit here." She pointed to a stone, just a few feet away from her.

"Huh? N-No, don't worry, I can stand." He forced up another smile.

She understood what was going on and frowned. "Alright, come stand here." She pointed at the land, just a foot away from the water.

"Uhhh. I guess I'll j-just sit down, then." He muttered, walking slowly to the stone. His inner self was already in a battle with him.

'What if she tries to eat you?'

'She doesn't look like she's gonna harm me... anytime soon.'

'I've seen evil witches who had brighter smiles. Don't trust her.'

'She just likes the music.'

'What if she's planning entertainment before dinner?'

"Shut up!" He said out loud.

"Huh?" She looked at him, confused.

"Oh, it's not you. It's…nothing really." He shook his head and sat on the stone. He took deep breath in and out, calming himself. Then he started to play.

Morven smiled, closing her eyes and then started to float around the loch, like she was skating. With half a body.

Liam loosened up and smiled. Then he started to put more heart into the play.

Morven made elegant gestures with her hands, that made water raise as she danced. Then with a final flick up, the water went and came down like rain. Liam laughed, getting a little soaked.

She covered her mouth. "Oh gods, I'm so sorry."

"Nevermind, it's alright." Liam said, standing up.

"No, no, let me help." She raised both hands in a slow, elegant motion and closed and drew them back. The water in his clothes started to go towards her and in a matter of seconds, he was dry.

"Wow. That's…just wow. What are you?" He asked, curiosity taking over.

"I'm a water spirit. Here to keep 'the sleeper beneath'…well…asleep." She said, playing with the water.

"The sleeper beneath?" Liam questioned.

"Yes. A great being who mustn't leave the loch, for the safety of you humans. It's not necessarily asleep, but I sing to it everytime, to keep it in check." She replied.

"W-wow. I…I can't believe all of this is actually happening. I can't believe it's all…" Liam put a hand on his forehead. "Real. Maybe it's a dream."

Of course. You get soaked and it still feels unbelievable. Typical.

"Mhmm. We went into seclusion centuries ago, for the betterment of humans." Morven shrugged. "Well, that's what they'll tell you, but it's actually because there is more in the water than the land."

"Wait, wait, wait…how old are you?" Liam asked.

"Me? About one and half a century old." Morven replied, casually, like it was the most normal thing in the world.

It is NOT!

"Pardon?" Liam blinked, convinced that he heard the wrong thing.

"One. Century. And. A half."

"You're ancient. That's like a hundred and fifty years old. You've been singing lullabies to a lake monster even before my grandma was born?" Liam held his head. "Wild! Y-y-you look like you're twenty-something."

"Aww. Don't tease me like that, hihihi." She giggled. "How ancient are you?"

"I'm Thirty-one. Or rather, I'm three decades and a year old." He laughed. "That's…not ancient, is it?"

"Oh, I forgot that humans have shorter life spans." Morven palmed her face.

"Are you with your family here?" Liam sat back down. Of course, he was enjoying it. Dinner getting back on the table.

"Family? Guardians like me, don't have that kind of life. You just get spawned and when you're about to die, you spawn a new guardian. Other water spirits do have, but not guardians." She explained with hand gestures.

"Wow. Fascinating and interesting." He nodded.

"Yes, it is. But…" Morven trailed, her features softening. "Sometimes I feel lonely and…I just wish I had what the others did. Even if it's just for a day."

Liam's features softened as well and he became sympathetic. "Ah, I see. So that's how it is." He looked down at his guitar. "That kinda feeling, when everything goes right for others but it doesn't for you." He looked up at her and realized she wasn't listening.

She put on a serious look and was busy trying to pick a stone with her hands, but her hand kept passing through. She looked up and noticed him then stopped. "Oh, don't mind me. I just try to see if I can carry things outside water without my magic... I can't." She smiled. "What were you saying?"

"Oh…uhh, it's nothing." He smiled, rubbing the back of his head.

"Oh, okay." She nodded.

Someone say something.

Well…no one did.

The silence grew more and more awkward and they both blurted at the same time: "Well, goodnight."

They both laughed and turned to leave, then stopped again, turning. "Wait. What's your name again?" They said in sync.

"It's Morven." She giggled.

"Liam." He bowed his head, like a gentleman he wasn't.

"Goodnight, Liam."

"Goodnight, Morven."

And they both went their seperate ways.