Tzelica: Good Beasts Bad Creatures Vol. II

By Veronica L Krug

Nick Watters is enjoying a weekend innertubing on the French Broad River near Asheville, North Carolina with his friends, until the voice of the siren, Tzelica, haunts him. She demands the recovery of a missing young woman. When he discovers her, Nick finds himself in a race to identify the killer before he becomes the next victim; and in the pr

• Language: English
• Publisher: Veronica Krug
• Release date: Mar 30, 2024
• ISBN: 9798869040459

Veronica L Krug

The author has a masters in art and reading from Kent State University and has authored several books.She received an honorable mention from The International Screenwriters' Association for her screenplayabout Lorenzo DiMedici, which she has now made into a novel after many years of research.She taught middle school art and reading for 24 years and was a recreation director for 10 years before that.She draw huge mandalas on the beach in her spare time.

Book preview

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Tzelica

Good Beasts Bad Creatures Vol. II

By Veronica Krug

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Tzelica

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Copyright @ 2022 by Veronica Krug. All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner without the expressed written permission of the publisher except for the use of quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

First printing: 2022

Second printing: 2024

Emerald Isle, NC 28594

This book is dedicated to all the young readers curious about folklore and the world around them. May they never lose their sense of adventure.

To the people in western North Carolina and the stories surrounding the north flowing

French Broad River.

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Tzelica

Brooding thus, and weary, a song rises,

From the very billows, soft and clear.

Such as evening bird, with parting ditty,

Pours at twilight to the floweret’s ear.

Wild and sweet, and passionate and tender.

Now full, now faint; with such a touching art,

His soul dissolves in weakness, and his spirit

Goes with the throbbing sweetness at his heart.

He looks with strained eyes at the lapsing waters,

And gleaming bright beneath the billows, LO!

Flashes white arms, and glides a lovely damsel,

Bright eyes, dark locks, and bosom white as snow.

He sees, but still in moment glimpses only,

Gleams of strange beauty, from an eye all bright, —

As when some single star, at midnight, flashes

From the cold cloud, above the mountain’s height.

As raven black as night float free her tresses,

Outflung above the waves by snowy arms,

Now o’er her bosom spread, and half betraying,

While half concealing still her sunny charms.

And then again ascends her song of pleading——

"Ah, but thou failest with the noonday heat,

Thy brow is pale with care, thine eyelids drooping,

Thy soul is sad, and weary worn thy feet.

"Oh, come to me, and taste my waves of cooling.

I’ll soothe thy sorrows; I will bring thee rest.

Thy fainting limbs grow strong in my embraces,

Thy burning cheek find pillow on my breast.

Oh, come to me! was still the loving burden,

With charm of such a sweetness in its swell,

That every fancy in his bosom kindled,

And every feeling woke to work the spell.

Wild was the dreamy passion that possessed him.

Won by the siren song, and glimpsing charms,

He leapt to join her in the wave, but shuddered

At the first foldings of her death-cold arms.

Fiercely against her own she pressed his bosom;

’Tis the ice-mountain whose embrace he feels.

Within his eyes she shot her dazzling glances:

’Tis Death’s own stony stare the look reveals.

He breaks away, the shore in horror seeking.

But all too late--the doom is in his heart:

He sinks beside the fatal stream, and dying,

Deplores the prayer that pleaded to depart.

His dying sense still hears the fatal Siren.

She sings her triumph now, her love no more:

A fearful hate was in the eldritch music,

And terror now, where beauty swayed before.

No more the pleasing wile, the plaintive ditty:

He strives in vain the wizard strain to flee.

Death, ran the song, no more of peace and pity,

To him who madly seeks embrace with me.

Excerpt of The Siren of Tzelica, from Poems Descriptive, Dramatic, Legendary and Contemplative, Volume 2 by William Gilmore Simms; Copyright 1853.

What’s in the Water?

Jennifer tosses clothes into her backpack. She needs only enough to get her through the first few days away. She zips it, hefting it onto her shoulder. The scarf her mother gave her hangs over the mirror. She pulls it off and wraps it around her neck. She catches a glimpse of herself, strokes the silken material in her hand before hurrying into the kitchen of the trailer she shares with her parents. Snatching a pen and paper from a drawer, Jennifer scribbles a note, and places it under her mother’s favorite coffee cup so she’ll find it in the morning.

The early fall dawning is heavy with humidity. Jennifer glances about nervously. She jumps at a rabbit flushed from under a bush at her passing. Her walk is brisk along the bank of the French Broad River. She must get to the station on time. Her love is waiting. Only two blocks to go. She swivels to the snap of a twig.

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Nick screams, jerking his leg out of the water. He peers over the edge of his innertube. A head of long brown hair flows underneath him in the river. A split second later, water bursts in a spray toward his face.

Ha, ha, got you! Kayla laughs, snatching Nick’s tube.

That wasn’t funny! I almost had a heart attack.

It was funny. You shoulda seen…ha, ha. Seen your face.

No telling what’s in this river. Lookin’ at all the kids here, I’d bet they aren’t getting out to use the toilet. Nick waves toward the dozens of people floating on innertubes along the French Broad River in Asheville, North Carolina.

He has been in this river before with a bunch of guys from the football team. They spent a crazy summer weekend here. The river flows north 218 miles from Rosman, North Carolina to the border of Tennessee. Nick thought only the Nile River in Africa flows north. He doesn’t know why the French Broad does. Maybe it’s because of the weird stuff that happens here. Folks really seem to like it though. Dozens of hotels, parks, bars, campgrounds, and restaurants line its banks. The river is calm here, making for fun stops to hang out and cool off with friends on a hot day, but Nick has seen for himself the dangers of deep eddies and rapids. He lost one of his buds that weekend. The river just swallowed Ted up. Nick thought he saw a clawed hand reach out, but the police said he was tangled in a branch underwater and that was why he drowned. He would have never returned if it wasn’t for Kayla inviting him to come for the weekend. He’s surprised she invited him. It’s been a year since high school. She always wanted to hang out, but he was too busy with sports.

Ew, pee! Kayla shouts, lifting herself onto her own float. Her german sheppard, Shep, is lying on a boogie board tied to Kayla’s innertube. He yips happily. Nick wonders why she had to bring Shep along—surely it’s not to protect her from him or she wouldn’t have invited him on this getaway.

He latches onto Kayla’s tube. I’ll build us a nice fire when we get there. I have a good scary story to tell you.

Oh yeah, I love your stories…but you won’t make me do something stupid this time, will you?

Not this time, I promise. Nick chuckles to himself remembering when he told Kayla to call a creature by holding a paper towel tube to her mouth. He had dipped it in ash. Black soot formed a ring around her lips. It was hysterical. No jokes, it’s a true story. He can’t wait to give her a good scare. She’ll be afraid to sleep alone. Nick reaches out and places his hand over hers. Kayla looks up at him with a grin reminding Nick of his mother when he tries to feed her a pile of bullshit.

Wait a minute, is it about Tzelica? She pulls her hand away and splashes Nick.

Nick frowns, his secret is out. How did you know?

Cause, I did research before this trip. That’s why I wanted to camp here.

Oh. Nick sighs and resumes paddling.

Nick, Kayla calls out. I want to hear your story. I love your stories. Really.

Really?

Kayla paddles to catch up with him. Yes. You tell tales better than anyone I know.

Nick grins wide.

How did you know about her?

Who?

Tzelica, silly!

Nick hesitates a moment and decides not to tell her about his friend’s death. I camped out here a couple years ago with the football team. One of the locals told us about her. If she was real, she was bad ass. He reaches out to take hold of Kayla’s innertube brushing her hand with his.

Kayla pulls her hand away to adjust Shep’s float. I think she is real. Guys disappear from this river every year. I heard about Teddy. They say Tzelica rises from her watery grave to seek revenge for her death. I’m sorry she picked your friend.

He got caught in a tree branch.

That’s what they want you to believe.

Who? Why?

Kayla paddles at the water. The locals. They want to keep their tourists.

Nick rolls his eyes. It’s a ghost story. Don’t you think tourists would like that? He paddles up to her.

She squints into the sun and shrugs, Right. They want to keep it a story, not something that really happened. She was a Cherokee maiden, you know?

No, I didn’t know. Nick stops paddling to listen to her.

Kayla cocks her head to one side to study Nick. Shep mimics her. "Anyone tell you, you look Indian?’

Nick blinks in surprise. Indian?

I mean, like, you could be Cherokee. Like, your hair is so dark and straight, and your nose…well…

Nick’s brows knit. What about my nose?

I mean, it doesn’t curve up. She swoops her hand, making a smile in the air.

What? Indians have straight noses? Nick feels his nose.

Kayla scratches her head. Indian guys do. I saw it on TicToc.

Ugh! Nick grimaces and splashes Kayla. He has better things to do than study Indian noses on TicToc. Especially since working in his Dad’s hardware store.

Kayla winces, holding her hand up to protect her face from the spray of water. Well, you were adopted. Maybe your real parents are Indian?

Nick stares blankly at Shep licking up river water. Maybe. Mom said she’ll tell me who my parents are when the time is right. When will that be? I’m almost nineteen!

Shep, cut that out! Kayla cut into his thoughts.

No way could she be real. Nick says, but his mind disagrees. It could have been a claw he saw.

Kayla shields her eyes with the palm of her hand to gaze toward the shore. She points ahead of them. There they are!

Nick turns toward the direction she’s waving. There is a group of people standing on the bank. Who…?

It’s the gang.

What?

You know, Sarah and Jerry. Uncle Mike had to come along to chaperone. Sorry about that. He’s so old fashioned. He’s worried ‘cause Sarah and I are sixteen. Sarah drives for Pete’s sake. We’ll have fun anyways. It’s a nice roomy cabin. I missed you and Jerry after you guys graduated. I thought this would be a fun way to get together, don’t you? Isn’t this fun?

Uh…I thought…well… What’s the use? Damn there’s Jerry waiving like a pussy with his messy hair and droopy eye. Shoulda known Kayla likes strays.

Nick!

He snaps out of his thoughts.

It’s going to be fun. Kayla’s narrowing eyes once again reminding him of his mother.

Jerry wades out to grab the innertubes to pull Kayla and Nick to shore. Shep jumps, shakes the water off, and lopes up the bank.

Come on, really? Nick thought Kayla still had a crush on him and they could get something going. Apparently not.

Get your tubes. This is a blast. Kayla wades with her innertube in tow.

Sarah runs to get one from a rack holding several colorful floats, her wavy long blonde hair flowing perfectly behind her. She picks one that matches her sun yellow bikini. It makes her tanned skin appear even darker. Jerry is already carrying an innertube, and he’s wearing a bright orange life vest. He waves to Nick who hasn’t budged from his seat in the water. Hi Nick.

Yeah, hi. He doesn’t bother to wave. He wants to push Jerry off and let the current take him away. Heck, it wouldn’t be hard. He outweighs the geek by forty pounds. Nick doesn’t want to be on some kind of group date. He grew up with Sarah. She’s like a sister, so forget that. Kayla’s probably going to hook up with Jerry. Then, Kayla’s uncle had to come along. Nick’s tube wobbles in the water. Shep is pawing at it, doing his best to keep Nick from floating away. That leaves me with the dog. That’s why she brought him along. I’m left to take care of her freakin’ dog. I guess I got nothin’ else better to do this weekend.

Nick reaches out and pets Shep. The dog wags his tail wildly.

Uncle Mike begins to walk to his car. You guys go on. I’ll take your stuff to the cabin. Meet you there.

Thanks, Uncle Mike. Kayla paddles to catch up with the others, drifting past Nick. Shep yips happily.

Thanks, Uncle Mike, Nick sneers under his breath. He takes a deep breath and paddles hard with the current, passing Kayla and ramming his innertube against Jerry’s. He splashes him with a deluge of river water.

Jerry closes his eyes, breathing fast and hard. I…can’t…can’t swim, he cries.

Oh, come on, you’re wearing a freakin’ life vest for Christ’s sake. Nick laughs.

Nick! Quit scaring the guy. Sarah splashes Nick. He splashes her back.

Just havin’ some fun. Kayla ordered me to have fun. Nick throws both arms up in the air. So, here I am. He grins wickedly. You know what’s in this river, don’t cha?

Don’t say it! Kayla shouts.

What? Sarah tilts her head in confusion.

Piss.

Dumbass. I know that. Fish shit in here too. I’ll just take a shower at the cabin when I get out. Big deal.

Nick has forgotten that Sarah isn’t the priss she appears to be. Damn.

Kayla and Shep are closing in on him. Kayla kicks her feet to splash Nick in the face. Shep barks leaning forward from his perch on the boogie board.

Hey, Nick laughs.

Shep slips off of the board into a swift current in the river. He paddles his paws frantically while rapidly floating past the others.

Somebody get him! Kayla jumps off of her innertube without thinking. The water is over her head. She catches up to her float and grabs it with one hand while paddling with the other.

Sarah and Jerry reach out for the dog, but he is inches from reach. Nick paddles hard to catch up with Shep. He hooks a hand through the dog’s collar, slowing them down. With tremendous effort, Nick reaches his free arm around Shep’s chest and hoists him onto his lap, almost tipping the innertube over. Shep licks Nick’s face furiously. Nick wags his head back and forth trying to keep the dog’s tongue from his mouth to no avail.

Okay, Shep. I got you now, boy. Shhh. Calm down now. Nick pets the wet dog until the licking subsides.

Over here! Sounds from shore. Uncle Mike is waving to Nick. He paddles toward the bank. Uncle Mike wades out to get him. Shep jumps out and swims to shore. Happy to be on land again, the dog rolls in the grass.

Nick dismounts and hikes up the ridge. Uncle Mike pats him on the back. I saw that. You’re a hero. Good job!

Uncle Mike turns back to help the others onto shore. Nick thinks about what he said, a hero. He wasn’t a hero when his friend drowned. It was all surreal. The whole weekend Ted acted like a zombie. Everyone ignored him thinking he was just stoned or drunk. One minute the guy was floating on an innertube in calm water, and the next, he’s going under in a whirlpool. Nick and the other guys watched the whole thing go down. It really looked like something or someone reached up out of the water and took him. He was dazed until a black bird, maybe a crow, swooped at them screeching and nipping…crazy.

Nick doesn’t see why Kayla had to invite Sleepy Eye Jerry. It’s probably because the girl likes to mother guys. That’s why she’s so good at being a crew member at McDonald’s. Everyone is important to her. Maybe he’s too independent for her. Maybe he should be needier. That could win her over. The thought made him spit onto the grass. Needy is the last thing he wants to be.

Here’s our home away from home. Uncle Mike stands in front of a one-room stone cabin. Its roof is covered in moss. The front porch is just large enough for a few plastic chairs. There is an old picnic table in front of the cabin—the wood, grey and warped. A fire pit fashioned from a rusty semi-truck rim sits next to it.

Sarah enters the cabin in front of the group surveying the room. There are three sets of bare bunkbeds lining the walls. On the fourth wall is an ancient stone fireplace filled with ashes, partially burned wood, and a few empty beer bottles. A thick layer of dust adorns the wide plank floor. A corn broom leans against the far corner.

Could you guys choose a creepier place? Sarah asks with a smirk.

It looked a lot different in the ad. Uncle Mike, hands on his hips, studies the structure. Well, the price was right. Besides, it’ll make it more fun listening to scary stories by the fire pit.

You mean wheel rim.

Kayla pushes past Nick and stands next to her uncle. He isn’t a tall guy, only about an inch taller than his niece. There is a definite family resemblance in the two. They both have dusky brown hair and kind eyes. Nick thinks they would make a good real estate team. Come on, it’s gonna be fun. It’s just for a few nights. I’ll sweep this out and we’ll have hot dogs over the fire after our showers. There’s a central bathhouse just down the lane.

So, we don’t even have a bathroom? Sarah gasps. Now I know I’m in the Twilight Zone…I mean, really.

Kayla brushes back her long wet hair, grabs the broom and starts