The Pond Part 28

As a temporary measure, Izolda cast a spell on the paths leading towards the pond, to discourage visitors. It was not a perfect solution, but it was the best she could do for now. Discovering the identity of the invading entity was proving more difficult than she could have imagined.

More time passed. Fewer people were drawn to the pond, and no one cared to use it for swimming anymore. Those that went there for a picnic often returned with tales of glimpses of a beautiful woman. Sometimes she was floating among the weeds, just under the surface of the pond, and sometimes she was strolling along the edge of the water.

There were a few who claimed she appeared on the far side of the pond. She never said a word, but would beckon them forward and they would find themselves walking towards her, almost as though hypnotized, stopping only at the touch of the cold water on their feet. They would watch as she continued forward, sinking beneath the surface. Often they would hear an echo of a woman’s laughter as she disappeared.

Rumours sprung up that she was some kind of forest spirit, but no one could agree on whether she meant good or evil. At least until another of the villagers was found floating face down in the pond. It was Tomas, Nikolai’s nephew, son of his brother Sasha who had died in the pit.

Izolda felt his loss keenly. He was not much older than Mikhail and the two were often to be found together. He was almost like another son to her. To her shame, while she had redoubled the protections on her husband and children, she had not thought to extend that protection to others.

She did not normally tuck the children into bed at night herself, she left that to Marta, the housekeeper, but this night she had a desire to make sure all was well with her sons and daughter. Dmitri and Pavlina were already asleep, but Mikhail was not.

“It was my fault,” he told her, working to keep the tears at bay.

“No, my son,” she said, sitting down on the bed beside her. “Tomas’s death was a tragedy, but it was not your fault.”

“She wanted me,” he said.

Izolda’s hand, that had been stroking his hair, stilled. “Who wanted you?”

“The spirit in the pond. We saw her, we could see right through her. That makes her a spirit, doesn’t it?”

“So it would seem,” Izolda said carefully. “What happened?”

He gulped, and moved just a fraction closer to her. “We were at the pond. I know we weren’t supposed to be there,” he said in a rush. “But we just wanted to see what all the fuss was about.”

“What’s done is done,” she murmured soothingly.

Emboldened, he continued. “It just looked like a scummy old pond. But then Tomas said there was something moving in the water. Then the woman appeared, right up out of the center of the pond. She didn’t say anything at first, just smiled. Then she kind of glided towards us.”

Izolda held her son a little closer. “What happened next?”

“She reached out and tried to touch me, but something stopped her. She kind of hissed, and looked angry. Then she spoke.”

“What did she say?” Unconsciously, Izolda’s grip on Mikhail tightened.

“She—she—she said to tell my mother that her protections would not last forever. Then she sank into the water and disappeared. What did she mean, mama?”

“She meant nothing, my son. You saw naught but a spirit.”

Izolda kissed Mikhail’s forehead, murmuring a spell that would fog his memory. She stayed sitting on the edge of his bed, staring into space, for some time after he drifted off to sleep. No, her protections would not hold forever, she needed to try something else.

She had a thought of something else to try, but it was somewhat drastic. And Nikolai was not going to like it at all.