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1
A kelpie, an incubus and two wraiths walked into a bar. A human mage trailed behind them, a slightly bored expression on his face. They were here to see the Loch Ness monster, also lovingly known as Aunt Nessie.
It was a pub as Scottish as they came. Slightly dark, slightly smelly, and full of loud people. A sign by the door announced live music later that evening and Macey was a little sad that they'd likely be gone by then.
This was Aunt Nessie's favourite haunt. She knew most of the local fishermen and had helped a few of the tourist businesses in the village to see a glimpse of 'the monster'. Not that she was actually a monster. She was a kelpie, just like Macey, but her temperament was a little more volatile. She was a loud and very determined old lady who didn't take no for an answer. Macey loved her aunt and had always found her advice invaluable. Which was why she was taking the others to see her.
She spotted Nessie in a corner, surrounded by a few older men, all of them wearing the thick oilskins the fishermen here preferred. They certainly weren't in here for a pint, judging from the agitated manner they were talking to her. In contrast, Nessie was looking relaxed, calmly sipping on her large glass of the local frothy ale.
However, she did look a little relieved when she spotted Macey making her way through the crowd.
"My baby niece, come over here!"
"Baby niece?" Cam chuckled and Macey elbowed him in the ribs.
"Not a word. My brothers are older so I've always been her youngest niece."
"Don't think we won't forget this," Jared laughed. "My little baby."
She aimed at him with her other elbow but hit Izban instead.
"Watch it!"
"Sorry," she muttered. Izban and her were still not on the best terms. They were both headstrong, and neither liked agreeing with the other's opinions. Even if they were right, in Macey's case. Her three men seemed to be okay with having the mage around, but she was going to need some more time to get used to it. If he wasn't one of the Seven Wardens, she'd tell him to fuck off.
"Feasgar mhath," Macey greeted her aunt in Gaelic. "Everything okay with these gentlemen?" She shot them a curious look. Everybody loved Nessie, so seeing them argue with her was very strange.
"These 'gentlemen'," the older kelpie emphasised the last word, "were just about to leave me the hell alone before I tell their wives what they've been up to."
That got the men muttering amongst themselves, before one of them said angrily, "We'll be back tomorrow, and the day after, until you tell us." He left and the others followed them, leaving some empty seats for Macey and her guys to take.
She gave her aunt a quick hug and sat down on the wooden bench next to her. "Good to see you, auntie."
"And you. I didn't expect you, is something wrong?"
"There's a lot going on that I can't go into right now," Macey said, trying not to give too much away. Aunt Nessie may be formidable but she was also getting old and she didn't want to worry her. "But I need some advice."
Nessie chuckled. "Oh no, not like that, young lady. I want the full story, gossip and all. Make it a juicy tale, then you can have my advice."
Macey launched into the twisty tale that has somehow landed her here. Even as she spoke, she realised how ridiculous it all sounded; to her own ears as well as to anyone else's. Who was going to believe the things she'd seen and done? That she'd been under a dome in the sea? Or in a house in the mists? Not to mention being hunted by a disembodied voice that just appeared in her head at the worst possible point in time.
But, to her relief, Aunt Nessie not only listened, but she nodded along, clearly understanding the complexity of the journey Macey and her Wardens had been on. She didn't even interrupt to ask to be introduced to Macey's men, which was actually a little out of character. Aunt Nessie was no shrinking violet, if she wanted to know something, then she'd butt in the moment she thought of it and demand to know it.
Macey stumbled in her retelling, and a wide grin spread over Aunt Nessie's face. That was never a good sign. Normally it meant mischief, but there was something sinister about the look she was currently giving her niece.
Something wasn't right here. But Macey couldn't put her finger on what. And why was she here and not in the warehouse with the men? Her last memory had been of meeting Izban, and trying to convince the mage that he should travel with them. He'd agreed so long as they went to save Amber, who oddly wasn't here with them.
It definitely wasn't right. She knew her guys, no way would they be this cool and collected if they knew someone needed saving.
"What's going on here?" she asked, her voice shaking. Aunt Nessie's smile broadened, filling her with dread. No, something definitely wasn't right here.
"What do you think is going on?" Aunt Nessie's question set off all kinds of red flags in Macey's mind. It wasn't something the older woman would ask. She'd tease and prod for Macey to work it out herself, but she wouldn't be quite so sinister about it...
"Auntie?"
"You don't seem certain."
Beside Macey, her men stayed suspiciously quiet. She knew they'd leave her to do the talking if they thought that was what she wanted, but at least one of them should have offered her some support right now, even if it was just a gentle touch. She liked it when they did that, it gave
her a satisfied sense of support. Made her feel loved and wanted in a way no one else had ever quite managed.
"This isn't real," she murmured to herself, not quite believing it. She'd been in a lot of outlandish situations recently, this could just have been one of those, but she doubted it. "This isn't real," she repeated, louder this time, and she made sure to look into Aunt Nessie's eyes.
