I grab mortal things. I want them. I wanted the woman’s comb. I wanted her flute. I wanted her golden spinning wheel. But most of all, I wanted her man. Then I lost him. Why? Because I wanted it all! I wanted her comb. I wanted her flute. I wanted her golden spinning wheel!

Nixy in the Mill Pond in The Nixy, Yellow Fairy Book. Illustration by H.J. Ford.