Her Alpha CEO

Chapter 7

A long time ago, in a land of green, gold and sunlight; lived a girl with golden hair. Her name was Arabella.

Now this girl was something else; she had a mischievous glint in her emerald eyes, a pertinent nose and always had an impish smile on her face.

Arabella was eight summer cycles old, born in the humid night of Litha. She knew many things, saw many things but said nothing. She knew the routines of the people around her and how to be able to give her tutor the slip. She did not like her tutor and thought of him as a sawdust-stuffed old fart. He was boring and she often fell asleep during his tutoring sessions.

She awoke early one morning, with the wind coming through the open window, playing gently over her hair. The breeze was warming and the sun starting to wake from its slumber.  She stretched and grinned. Got up out of bed and dressed quickly, in a long white robe with blue trim on the sleeves and hem, plaiting her long hair without bothering to brush it, slipped her soft shoes on, and opened the door slowly.

Peering around the corner, she noted there was nobody there. Walked softly along the corridor to the stairs and peeked down. Nobody… She was in luck. Quietly sneaked down the stairs, knowing exactly where to tread so that they didn’t squeak, she came to the entrance hall. Peeping around the corner, keeping herself concealed, she saw…nothing. Giggling with delight she ran for the door, pushed the heavy doors open, took a deep breath and smelt freedom. She smiled, hitched up her skirt and ran before anyone saw her. Reveling in her escape, she ran faster down the paved road out to the fields which beckoned her with their lush green and glinting blue in the distance.

Finally reaching the grass, she slowed down a bit but kept going. There was a willow next to the river, and she’d been yearning to go there. She saw many things on her way, butterflies of all colors flitting around, and a few bunnies, but she didn’t stop to see more.

Finally, at the water’s edge, the river tumbled along, crystal clear, making soothing sounds. She could see right to the bottom covered in pebbles but knew from previous experience that it was deeper than it looked. Looking around she notices a log, not too big, but big enough to help her into the tree. She pushed and pulled it along to the base of the willow, and after much blasphemy, got it positioned against the tree so she could reach the lowest thick branch. Smiling contently at her handiwork, she tucked her skirt into her bloomers, and climbed up into the tree, making her way to a branch that was over the river. Sitting down, she looked around her. She could make out the manor house in the distance, and satisfied that she couldn’t be easily spotted, relaxed.

She listened to the bees, and the songs of the birds, the gentle swaying whisper of the long, soft branches of the tree. Thinking hard of what mischief she could get up to, she remembered watching her grandmother do a strange dance and moving her arms and hands. Her older sister never did that kind of dance; hers was different, more agitated, more impassioned. Thinking of her sister brought to mind her new tutor with a grin. The mischief could start there today. Some ice-cold water in a pail, balanced carefully to tip eloquently down upon them opening the door. Giggling with the thought, her mind returned to her grandmother.

She missed her; she’d been gone for two summers already, to some place north. And while thinking of her grandmother, Arabella started to mimic the movements she had seen her grandmother do while she hid in the wardrobe. Balancing carefully on the branch, Arabella continued, finding it calmed her down, and felt like cool liquid flowing over her skin. Closing her eyes, she swayed gently with the movements. Lost in a world not of her own.

After a few minutes she noticed that the light that was badgering her eyelids was gone but the sounds of the area were still the same. The river water sounded closer though. Opening her eyes to slits to see why it went dark, she saw something she couldn’t place. Eyes wide, she recognized the thing in front of her, moving lazily as the river, but perpendicular to where it should have been. Giving a squawk of fear, she clutched onto the branch and watched in horror as the column of water rushed down to her, as if it finally realized gravity had hold and must return post haste. Water pelted her hard and soaked her through; while she clung for all her worth to the branch, so that she wouldn’t get washed off.

Breathing hard and shaking, the sound of water receded and Arabella quickly glanced round her, seeing everything returned to normal again. Loosening her grip, she carefully climbed down the tree, sliding every now and then with her wet clothing. Finally, on land again, she warily peered into the water, and then looked around her. Nobody was in sight. Shaking her head, she turned and ran home. The morning was proving to be a difficult one. Strange things happened. Not a good thing at all.

She ran past all the people staring at her, trying to slow her down, as she went up the paved road, thinking she needed to change before anyone saw her wet and she got a scolding and put to do something that will prevent her from any mischief for the day.

Opening the heavy front door, she peeped in. Seeing nobody, she tiptoed inside. She heard her feet sloshing in her shoes and knew she was leaving wet marks where she walked. As she reached the doorway that lead to the stairs, she heard a voice behind her, from the kitchen’s side of the house. Drat! Her father was up, and he’d seen her.

Her father slowly walked up to her, taking in her bedraggled and soaked clothing, and the way her hair was plastered to her head. His favorite daughter and the most mischievous. She’d definitely gotten into mischief very early today. Standing behind her, he touched her shoulder and asked her to turn around.

Arabella turned slowly, staring at the floor. Her father crouched down to her height, and lifted her chin, looking into her eyes.

”Did you fall into the river again, or fall out the tree?” Her father asked.

“No,” she softly replied. Her father watched her carefully but saw no lie.

“Then why are you wet?” her father asked. Arabella took a deep breath and spoke quietly.

“The river water rose and stood straight up, and then tried to swallow me.” Her father stayed quiet and looked at her. Arabella could see he was thinking it over.

“You were doing something at the time, weren’t you?” He asked. Arabella shrugged and looked back at the floor.

Her father frowned slightly and called out to a servant to bring a pail of water to him, while he watched his daughter. The only thought going through his head, was that she was only eight and soon to be nine. These things only came into power around puberty.

Taking the pail of water from the servant he set it down in front of Arabella.

“Do what you were doing at the river again.” She looked up at him, biting her lip. “Don’t worry you’re not in trouble. But you probably will be later in the day, if I know you,” he chuckled.

Arabella considered the statement and nodded. Closing her eyes, she mimicked what she saw her grandmother do. As she moved, the water rippled and started to rise. Her father watched and was surprised when she got all the water out of the pail and has it hovering in mid-air. Looking at her, he saw the serenity and peace in a face normally filled with mischief; and sighed softly.

”Okay, you can stop now,” he said. Arabella dropped her arms and opened her eyes in time to see water falling out of mid-air onto the floor.

Her father came closer and knelt down in front of her, soaking his pants. Kissing her forehead, he asked, “Do you know what you did?” She shook her head. “You have found your gift. Your sister found hers a little while ago. It is your heritage. You will be getting another tutor, and you will be splashing us all wet for a while still to come. Arabella you control water, like your grandmother. My daughter, you are a water mage. And I’m proud of you.”