Free Curse Of Wexkia by Dale Furse Page A

reached in and withdrew a long, bright yellow dress, sleeveless and similar to the fashion she and Cay-meka wore with its scooped neckline and flowing fabric. It had a luminous quality and looked much too big for Nell.
    ‘It will fit perfectly,’ Dar-seldra said with a smile.
    Nell made a doubtful face.
    ‘You will see,’ Dar-seldra said, as she left the room.
    Nell didn’t think so, but she tried the garment on anyway. The material immediately shrank until it was a perfect fit. She looked down and felt front and back. ‘Wow,’ she whispered, shaking her head.
    When Nell re-emerged, heat rose in her cheeks at the admiring look Sam gave her. She returned a shy smile, ignoring Cay-meka’s look of contempt. Usually she preferred to wear jeans or shorts; nevertheless she liked the silky feel of the material.
    ‘Come along, Nell.’ Dar-seldra led her to the water. ‘You are a child of Linque.’
    ‘And of Gramlax,’ Cay-meka hissed, as she ran past and onto the wet sand.
    Nell disregarded Cay-meka’s spitefulness. She felt like a princess in her dress.
    Sam came up behind. ‘Can I come too? That is … if it’s safe?’
    ‘It is safe, but we don’t have clothes for you,’ Dar-seldra said.
    ‘That’s okay,’ Sam said. ‘If you can swim in those dresses, I can go in these.’ He tugged the sides of his jeans.
    Dar-seldra started to shake her head.
    Nell grinned as Sam pleaded with his eyes, but jerked her head back when Dar-seldra spoke.
    ‘Once we know if Nell can swim, you can hold her hand but you cannot let go,’ she said.
    The two friends stared at each other. Sam looked as horrified at the idea as Nell felt.
    ‘A problem?’ Dar-seldra said. ‘I think I understand. Did Nell touch you and your thoughts?’ Sam nodded and Dar-seldra looked at Nell. ‘But you couldn’t control it?’
    Nell also nodded.
    Dar-seldra glowed. ‘That is definitely a phib ability. Your father will be pleased.’
    Nell was glad, although she didn’t like the thought that her father wouldn’t be happy if she gained wintar traits. After all, her mother was a wintar and he had loved her.
    ‘You will hold my hand, Sam,’ Dar-seldra said.
    Sam hesitated.
    ‘No.’ She laughed. ‘I won’t read your mind.’
    Little lines formed at the corners of Dar-seldra’s eyes. Although they made her appear older, they suited her. She took Sam’s hand. ‘Don’t let go.’ She motioned with a tilt of her head for Nell to follow.
    Nell stepped into the warm water and the crumbly coral moved under her feet.
    Without waiting, Cay-meka waded out until the water was waist high and dived.
    Dar-seldra bent her knees as if about to dive but Sam stayed still. She gave him a questioning look.
    ‘Um,’ he said. ‘I can understand your protection aura or whatever it is might cover me but how am I supposed to breathe under water?’
    Dar-seldra straightened. ‘My aura will encompass you.’
    Sam gave Nell a dubious look but allowed Dar-seldra to take him and they vanished under the surface.
    Nell waited a moment. Taking the biggest breath she could, she shut her eyes and with her heart in her throat, slid under the surface. On contact with the water, she was surprised her dress shrank even more. It bonded to her body like a second skin. Sliding her hands over her hips, she pinched the material. It yielded to her fingers like the rubber of a wet suit. She smiled. The material was clever.
    Warm tropical waters caressed her. In that instant, she realised water had been missing from her life. Keeping her eyes shut, she enjoyed the sensation of being one with the ocean. Not afraid in the least, she tasted the salty liquid. She opened and closed her mouth a few times but stopped when she thought she probably looked like a fish. She was only slightly surprised to find she had no need to breathe. It was as though her skin collected the oxygen her body needed.
    When Nell opened her eyes, Sam’s face filled her vision. His white teeth exploded from