“You!” Lorelei screeched. “Interfering again. What’s the matter? Can’t you find a man of your own?”

In answer, I dove straight at her, talons fully extended. At the last second she ducked and evaded my attack. My claws grasped a hank of her hair and ripped it out. She screeched and flailed her arms, reaching for my wingtips. I beat the air backwards to evade her grasp, and landed on a branch just above her head.

Lorelei snarled and snapped her teeth at me. “So now you’ve become a hunter, doorkeeper.” Through her defiance I heard the fear in her voice. It made me even hungrier for her blood. I spread my wings out for another attack and her eyes widened. “Keep your prize, Doorkeeper, I like my meat fresh and this one’s nearly dead.”

As I dove, she plunged into the water in a great wave. My claws grasped only water. I could just make out her long sinuous white body cleaving the black water and then she vanished in a flash of light. I felt an urge to follow her, but then I recalled what she’d said about young Stewart. I swiveled my neck and saw that he was still lying on the muddy bank, but the water level had risen above his head. He’d drown if I didn’t do something. I flew over him and snagged his shirt collar in my talons, dragging him backwards. It was hard work: he was a big guy, his sopping clothes and rubber waders adding weight. I got him halfway out and then cocked my head to his chest to listen for breathing. Even my acute owl senses couldn’t pick up any.

I gave one more screech and then I willed myself back into human form. I tilted back the young fisherman’s head to clear his airway and struck his chest, once, twice, three times. Opening his mouth, I winced at the reek of chewing tobacco, but still I blew in. I repeated the procedure until he heaved and spit pond water in my mouth. I spat, wiped my mouth and sat back on my heels to watch him cough and retch, not sure what else I should do, but not feeling right about leaving him. It was too late to try to follow Lorelei anyway. Besides, now that I was in human form, my blood lust had dissipated.

When he’d finished coughing up water, I patted him on the back and, not sure what else to say, said, “That a boy. It’s okay.”

He turned and stared at me, his eyes going round as marbles and then moving up and down. Crap. I was naked. I started to cross my arms over my breasts, but then thought, Heck, what’s the point? Covering myself at this point seemed kind of cringing and undignified.