The Pond - Part 26

The deaths of the three youths hit the community hard. They had been well-liked with bright futures ahead of them. Many looked to Nikolai for blame, for it was he who tested the ice just two days before.

“I tell you, the ice was solid. Ask Yuri or Stefan – they accompanied me. Our families were going to be on the ice as well. We would not take any risks with our own blood.”

But neither Yuri nor Stefan could remember if they’d actually tested the center of the pond, where the ice broke. The edges, yes, but it had been very cold that day and they’d been in a hurry to return to the warmth of their homes.

Izolda felt a chill go through her that had nothing to do with the temperature outside. Something wasn’t right, she could feel it. The first chance she had, she wrapped her heavy, woolen shawl around herself and went to the pond.

“I do not know who or what you are, but I will find out, mark my words.”

In response, the ice in the middle of the pond cracked with a sound like a rifle shot, startling her. Izolda’s lips tightened in anger as a woman’s laughter drifted over her like an errant breeze.

“Do not underestimate me,” she said. “I have power you can only dream of. And I will use everything at my disposal to end you.”

A spiderweb of cracks appeared in the center of pond, spreading outwards. Izolda stood her ground as a column of water speared upwards. It spun furiously and took the vague shape of a woman.

“You will not prevail,” the entity whispered. “I will see you and all you love in your graves.”

“Who are you!” Izolda shouted.

“You know who I am,” the voice whispered.

The column of water collapsed, the wave flowing towards the edge where Izolda stood. She refused to be intimidated and did not move, but she was more shaken than she would have been willing to admit to anyone.

“We need to put a fence around the pond,” Izolda said to Nikolai that night.

“A fence? Around the pond? What nonsense is filling your head,” Nikolai said.

“It is too dangerous, I do not wish to see anyone else hurt.”

“Bah, you make too much of a few accidents. If you must worry, worry for our business.”

“Our business? What is happening with our business?” Izolda asked, a little alarmed.

Nikolai sighed. “The river has never fully recovered from the drought. The water level is lower and it does not flow as fast. We are losing business to the steam powered mills.”

Izolda thought for a moment. “What can we do about this?”

“There is nothing be done,” Nikolai said with a shrug. “At first we thought perhaps someone had built a dam to control the flow, but we have traced the river to its source and there is nothing to account for the lower level. If there is a dam, it is invisible.”

Something unseen, Izolda thought. Like a water spirit in a pond.