“ Oh , don ’ t worry ,” she said with a laugh . “ It ’ s harmless .”
“ All I know about the lotus flower is that it ’ s associated with Greek mythology .”
She turned her head in the water to look at him , dark hair fanned out around her like a crown . “ Very good ! I ’ m impressed . Dryope would approve .”
“ Dryope ?”
No answer . She was still floating on her back , but something about the reflections on the surface of the water made it appear that she was being lifted up . Hovering . She smiled dreamily and kicked her feet , sending vibrations through the lake that rippled around his body .
“ I ’ m so glad you came here with me . I feel it ’ s important to get to know someone away from the noise of the city . How can you truly understand a person within the stink of a bar , with people pressing on all sides of you ?”
He didn ’ t reply but stood very still , unable to look away from her hair . It was beginning to lengthen and curl in Lovecraftian tentacle-shapes around her . They slithered silently toward him in the water , ancient and sentient things that could sense him ; could maybe even hear his thoughts , he realized .
He blinked and saw only her hair .
“ I think you can really see a person ’ s soul when you ’ re nightswimming in a lake with them ,” she went on . “ Every compulsion they have is written on their face .”
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