Cailín (Lass) (Anam Céile Chronicles) Read online

  Cailín

  Rosalind scarlett

  Love came, and became like blood in my body.

  It rushed through my veins and encircled my heart.

  Everywhere I looked, I saw one thing.

  Love's name written on my limbs, on my left palm,

  On my forehead, on the back of my neck,

  on my right big toe . . .

  Oh, my friend, all that you see of me is just a

  shell, and the rest belongs to love.

  ~ Rumi

  Note from the Author

  Here is a Foreign Language Glossary so that you may familiarize yourself with some terms used in the story. They appear in the order they will within. Also on website.

  chuba (Tibetan) A long sheepskin coat made of thick Tibetan wool worn by many of the nomadic peoples of high altitude in the cold mountains of Tibet.

  Síolmhar (Gaelic) The time when females come into fertility, only once every century. The female is in a hypersexual craze for two weeks and will mate with any and as many males as she can, disregarding love or ties. She must be isolated in a prepared room (iron walls filled with mercury so as to contain them, and completely smooth on the surface, so she will not be able to grab hold of anything to tear apart), and only visited by her mate, as she will attempt to kill any other females that come near her. Her mate then has to attempt to calm her enough to have sexual intercourse with her, lest he be injured. She will tend to be wild and ravenous, and when he is drained of all his essences, she will demand to be serviced by other males, and will attempt to say and do anything to have her insatiable lust satisfied. If she were to escape, it would most certainly be a tragedy, as she would (or attempt to) murder any female in her path, and rape all males she could come into contact with during her brief breakout. This would result in much dissention within the clann, and she would be outcast.

  feis (Gaelic) sex

  Diabhal (Gaelic) devil

  chéile (Gaelic) mate, spouse, lover

  arracht (Gaelic) monster

  álainn (Gaelic) beauty; beautiful

  Dia (Gaelic) God

  Éire, Éireann (Gaelic) Ireland

  Boireann (Gaelic) The Burren (Irish: Boireann, meaning "great rock")

  Iarlais (Gaelic) changeling

  sidhe (Gaelic) faeries

  raths (Gaelic) faerie mounds

  aiteann (Gaelic) horse

  ceil (Gaelic) music

  cailín (Gaelic) girl

  tréidlia (Gaelic) veterinarian; animal doctor

  Eejit (Gaelic) idiot; Imbecile

  cailín feirme (Gaelic) farm girl

  ceangal (Gaelic) special connection

  tinn (Gaelic) sick

  Árainn (Gaelic) Aran

  Inis Mhór (Gaelic) Inishmoor

  Dún Aonghasa (Gaelic) Dun Angus

  Inis Meadhóin (Gaelic) Inishmaan

  Aillte an Mothair (Gaelic) Cliffs of Moher

  cochall (Gaelic) hooded cloak

  chalice : a cup, vessel

  athame : a small dagger representative of a phallus in ritual

  aiteacht (Gaelic) the sensation of thing or place being "not quite right" but not being able

  to tell why.

  maighdean (Gaelic) young woman, virgin.

  Dearg-dul (Gaelic) vampire

  Eiseadh síoraí (Gaelic) immortal being

  athdholb (Gaelic) shape shifted form

  nascmhíl (Gaelic) spirit animal

  athionchollú (Gaelic) reincarnation

  Prologue

  1862- Village outside Shigatse, Tibet.

  This may well be the determining moment of me long journey. A journey over centuries, countless lives, thousands of miles, and yet still far from complete. Crouching here I be over this innocent, old woman, petrified at the realization of her life so near its end. Merely to search fer her escaped feline did she step out. Unfortunate fer her that search instead led her to me.

  Undeniably, not proficient I be in this method of acquiring me victims— in killing them swiftly and discreetly. Upon seeing the blood thirst evident in me eyes as I seized her, startled a scream which elicited innumerable villagers out in a gust. All focus fixated upon us. Her acute horror; me blatant nakedness overshadowed by the murderous intent clear in me eyes. Judging the terrified expression upon every one of their faces, they and I both be aware that they recognise the creature ‘tis I be.

  In this moment, exposed fer that creature, which path should I choose?

  Perhaps I may massacre the entire village: men, women, children, young and old equally; leaving naught fer the bloodstains on the scenery. Surely do I feel the motivating hunger fer such a voracious feast!

  Then rather, flee I may into the snow-covered mountains clutching this old woman to me side as a ragdoll, leaving the residents of this place harrowingly aware of the menace lurking in the shadows of their hidden, peaceful village.

  And yet, after this disruption— and the havoc resulting consequently— would the old woman’s blood in all actuality gratify me thirst, after bearing her agonizing terror fer her own imminent death?

  Consider it prudent I simply depart from here, ravenous as whence I approached. Rehearse I must this stalking and attacking of me prey; yet then by what means, lest again I invite similar consequences?

  Chapter One

  A young Buddhist monk stands, his eyes scanning as he searches over the vast, ice covered mountains of the inhospitable landscape. His extraordinary inhuman vision passes over the small herd of yaks in the alpine tundra below, to spot an argali ram high upon a jagged ledge.

  However, the creature he seeks is not a usual inhabitant of this harsh land. It would not be thriving comfortably within this unforgiving terrain. The slight build of its limbs would certainly betray it in this moment of panicked escape.

  Suddenly, he glimpses the creature for which his search had been brought here. As it steps out from behind the snow covered drift, the abrupt radiance of its crimson coat is akin to the contrast of warm blood splashed upon the arctic backdrop.

  There it remains motionless, and he perceives its immense weariness. Overcome with a sorrowful sympathy for this creature, he knows he must relieve it of its fear. If only he can hold eye contact with it long enough …

  Even at this great distance, both the monk and the creature can look into each other’s eyes and reach into their depths. Guardedly, the creature receives his compassionate eyes into its tortured soul, yearning for an empathetic understanding. Their eyes affix for an indeterminate span of time. The monk infiltrates the troubled creature’s mind with a sense of calm.

  “Rest assured, you may confide in me,” he expresses to it through his eyes, never ceasing contact, as he effortlessly scales the massive mountain range.

  He senses the creature imploring him, “So lost, lonely and frightened I be. In meself I do not feel safe any longer. In the prison of me own skin, I do not wish to continue living.”

  He knows there is a destiny in his being summoned here, to this creature so distressed, urgently in need of his guidance and companionship to prevail over its present circumstances.

  Yet, as he draws ever nearer, again panic arises in the creature, its wild eyes piercing his like a shrill scream. It surges to and fro, feeling ensnared on the rim of this jagged peak.

  The monk, not dissuaded by this abrupt behaviour, humbly moves forward with a calm so pure it warms the air surrounding him. Instead, he induces the creature to reestablish eye contact with him. Once more they connect, its eyes softening. The creature’s panic assuages, and is slowly replaced with hope.

  As the creature is entranced by the heartening effect of his eyes, it senses a kinship to
his soul. In that moment, it grasps the knowledge their existence shares the same rare, though mystifying, origins.

  Infused with the promise of understanding so desperately needed, its anxious prancing stills. Now, merely a few steps apart, the monk smiles sincerely.

  The creature comprehends his intention is honourable.

  Possessing full awareness he has only to lift his arm for contact to be made, the creature hurriedly considers whether it will tolerate such an interaction. Directly, it determines his sympathetic touch will not only be admissible; moreover, an intense craving for this connection instantaneously manifests deep within its soul. Observing the contemplations of the creature, the monk still raises his arm lightly, to reassuringly convey his offer of support.

  The creature feels the dense anticipation in the meagre space between them as his fingers extend closer to its flesh. It longs to stretch forth its muzzle to meet them, yet for all its hunger, there still subsists a fearful apprehensiveness.

  In the seeming eternity of seconds later, the long-awaited encounter transpires. His fingers finally contact the sleek coat of the creature. It eagerly presses its nose into the heat of his palm, letting its eyes fall closed in contentment, its breath eases as his hand gently folds over its bristly muzzle.

  I know you are weary, but come, I will show you the path.

  The vulnerable creature opens its eyes to gaze deeply into his, in which it sees a new safe haven. And in this very moment of surrendering its woes to him, the creature’s form astonishingly dissolves, transfiguring into a young woman.

  Not in the least stunned by this phenomenon, the monk swiftly moves to clutch her before she crumples to the hard ground beneath. She drops into the shelter of his arms, melting limply against his body.

  And as this so they remain for some time, for the monk earnestly recognises her acute necessity to simply be held close without inquisition.

  Whilst patiently awaiting the prompt indicating her readiness to be released, he finds himself examining her. Initially, it is her distress at the crushing heaviness of emotions she bears that is so prominent. He senses she has long been in need of a true confidante and guide; he feels honoured for the privilege of being potentially chosen to be this to her.

  Then, he unexpectedly feels himself becoming mesmerized by her inimitable beauty. All his senses immerse in her presence as he strives to grasp the splendour of it all.

  Surrounding her petite head are buoyant ringlets of fiery red. The sun striking upon her, they shine brilliantly, like the radiance of a halo upon an angel. He marvels at the lushness of it, the cascade of curls stream past her shoulders, tumbling down her back and the grand finale where they provocatively brush her hips. Never has he seen so many locks on a woman, and of such vibrant a shade! As his arms are draped about her, he allows his fingers to weave through its lustrous softness. His nostrils are bathed in the floriated fragrance emanating from it, intoxicating him.

  Eventually his hands travel through her gorgeous mass of tresses, coming to rest upon her back. They commence to leisurely glide over it, feeling the smoothness of her supple skin; glowing skin seeming to exemplify purity with its shade of alabaster. In his many years, he has not beheld any such vision as she, especially the striking contrast of tints emphasised between her crimson hair and pearl white skin. It is an inexpressible revelation to the eyes that holds them in awe for an indefinite moment.

  Inexperienced hands wander further down her back. The downfall of his will originates in the valley below her ribcage. The slenderness of her waist seductively leads him to the outward curve of her hips.

  Abruptly seizing control of him, the hands roam unrestrained to discover the firmness of her buttocks, as both hands fondle their voluptuous flesh. Like a shooting star, a new sensation rapidly builds in him, traveling from his hands directly to his loins. Feeling the enticement grow, he closes his eyes, reveling in the unfamiliar sensation now swiftly enveloping him.

  To his surprise, his ear is indulged to a long sigh of seeming feminine desire. He quickly tries to retrieve himself, remembering his lifetime of devotions to God and renunciations of all pleasures of the flesh, of which— up until now— he has not had to brace himself against the influence of its lure.

  Carefully he places his hands upon each of her delicate arms and disengages himself from the scorching heat of her increasingly desirable form.

  This only serves to exacerbate his troubles, as he is now beset with the full view of her frontal nudity, highlighted by ample milky breasts crowned with pale rosy nipples. While at the same time he pains to contain his hands from reaching forth to caress their fullness, contrarily he likewise fancies taking them into his mouth to suckle.

  Conscientiously, he forces his eyes down. Nonetheless, they are further lured by the scene of her slim, yet delicately rounded abdomen which leads to a beckoning mound of scarlet fluff, forming an immaculate triangle of enticement, at the uppermost of her creamy thighs.

  His head reels in the ambush of this unaccustomed lust. Straining against the fierce ache in his loins, he counters with the convictions of his soul. He attempts to steady himself, taking in a purposeful inhalation.

  What is intended to control his dominating physical demands, rather to his vexation, surges his newfound carnal appetite; for as he inhales deeply, her scent permeates him, and his sudden yearning to taste her dominates his mind.

  She is an angel of lust sent to rouse temptations and test the dedication of any good man drawn to her path!

  His eyes resolutely close in a dwindling effort to ward off her beguiling erotic magnetism. In their place his ears are teased by the sound of her whimpering at the parting of their bodies. Compelling his mind to think rationally, he persuades himself that she merely whimpers from the chill of exposure. He quickly removes his chuba and drapes her in the dark cloth, praying to be dismissed of the enchantment of her tantalizing figure.

  She lifts her eyes to look upon him. Only now, for the first time does he gaze into her female eyes, finding himself instantaneously spellbound by their cosmic alluring quality that undeniably is her most stunning feature: the luminous topaz of her irises, which seem to reflect the gleam of her hair. Unfathomably, the prevailing impact of her striking eyes overshadows the striking curves of her luscious body.

  What eyes . . . So hauntingly unforgettable . . .

  Struggling to break free of the trance of those eyes, he urges himself to scan the rest of her face. Her remarkable eyes, the glittering stars amidst her immaculately molded facial outline; placed below delicately arched chestnut eyebrows, and set atop high, well-defined cheekbones.

  There in the centre of her exquisite face, a delightfully childlike nose, with ginger freckles sprinkled across.

  Then, contrasting the innocence of it, below her sinfully delectable mouth, offering up its succulent pink lips. He knows he must call forth all of his strength to stand face to face with her and not permit his consuming desire for her to infringe upon the vital role he has been chosen to fulfill.

  Yet again, he is befalling enrapture— fantasizing what his primal instincts are directing him to do with each part of her. He feels his resolve deteriorating as he glimpses her moist tongue as it deliberately glides along her bottom lip.

  Looking away from her inviting mouth, once again he meets her smouldering eyes, only to be engrossed with the obvious desire burning in them. Urging to fling his will to the cold wind, he draws her against him, reveling in the pleasurable torture of absorbing the sweltering heat of her body into the throbbing ache at the root of his groin.

  As it pleads for release, her profuse imploring moan triggers his awareness of the peril of this looming situation. At once, he recollects alarming legends of female beings such as she entering their centenary Síolmhar— an extraordinarily rare stint of fertility wherein they are precariously uncontrollable, entirely abandoned to their all-consuming need to copulate heedless of the often fatal consequences to those whom they encounter.

/>   Just then, he feels her ravenous hands roving the skin of his bared body. Agonizingly, he asserts dominance over his raging carnal demands, knowing he cannot be ensnarled in her hex which would assuredly bring his demise, in one way or another.

  Attempting to distance his body from hers once again, this time she stands not motionless; rather she skirmishes at the parting, aggressively thrusting herself forward to clasp at his visible, engorged organ.

  He struggles to hoist her up as she battles to grasp at his flesh. He heaves her form above his, her arms flailing violently in the air. Briskly he descends down the serrated ridge.

  Only accelerating the fierceness of her carnal lust, she expels a scream. Her body wildly writhing above his head emits with it her pheromones, once more enticing his senses. Its ever growing potency so excruciatingly lovely when he samples her essence upon inhaling her scent into his throat.

  Increasingly aware of the urgency of these tempting circumstances, he calls upon his seldom required unearthly speed at the foot of the ridge to reach their destination precipitously. A Tibetan fox scatters to hide behind a snow drift, startled by the undistinguishable blaze disturbing the landscape.

  He reflects upon the situation at hand amusingly, his excessively rapid movement through space having nil effect on her plagued thrashing female form.

  He strains to maintain focus on that which he knows he must do to contain the dangerous condition of this creature compelled by her rampant instincts from the already disturbed nearby village. On this oddly still day, a gathering of inhabitants from the nearby village gape in bewilderment at a pole of prayer flags unexpectedly whipping vigourously in the wind.

  Circling overhead, a Griffon vulture squawks its protest at the sudden blurring of its perusing the terrain below.

  Before long, and still yet, after what seems an unbearable length of time, he arrives at an isolated place he has never had cause to visit prior to this moment, but which has been foretold by those who have come before him.