Friday, April 13, 2012

Creepy Hollow Fae: Leanan sídhe



Year of study: fourth
Assignment type: paired





“How do you even say that?” asks Honey, peering over my shoulder at the assignment briefing.

“Um, I think it’s something like Lah-nan Shee-uh,” I say, trying to remember what I learned in Classification of Fae in first year.

Honey sits down beside me on the Guild staircase and absently plucks a leave off the banister vine, which hoots in protest. She doesn’t notice. “Wait, don’t tell me.” She twists the leaf between her fingers. “The Leanan sídhe is ... a woman, right?”

I can’t help rolling my eyes. “Oh yes, it’s important to get the gender right.”

“Yay, one point for me!” My sarcasm has obviously gone right over Honey’s head. “Okay, okay,” she continues, “I know this one. Um ... she seeks out human lovers?” I nod. “And she always goes after the artsy kind, right? Because she’s kind of like their ... what’s that word?”

“Muse?”

“Yes! She inspires artists. And in turn she drains their life force.” Honey pauses. “And they go mad. And die young.”

We stare at nothing for a moment.

“It’s kind of tragic,” whispers Honey.

“Yup. Totally. So let’s go save this guy’s artsy butt.”

~  ~  ~

Like this flash fiction? Find out more about the Creepy Hollow series.
If you'd like to know more about my A to Z flash fiction pieces, read my A to Z Challenge Theme for 2012 post.


8 comments:

S.A. Larsenッ said...

Like the voice! Great excerpt.

Cherie Reich said...

Hehe! Love that last part about saving the guy's "artsy butt." Made me giggle.

Johanna Garth said...

LOL, very important to get the gender right!

Brooke R. Busse said...

Maybe Van Gogh had one of these...

Amy said...

Great piece Rachel! I particularly love 'artsy butt' - too funny! :)

Anonymous said...

It took me awhile to pronounce that.

Great excerpt.

Jemi Fraser said...

Let's go save some artsy butt! love it :)

Theresa Milstein said...

This is such a smart way to do A to Z--promotion. Do you really have a name for each letter of the alphabet?