deep in the sea (I give you my heart) // jenlisa

Chapter 9: Book of Spells

A/N: Thanks for reading! Stay safe! Chapters are extremely long, that's why I'm taking longer than usual, I apologize!

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At first Lisa couldn't understand that subtle sensation under her fingertips. It felt like a whisper against her skin- A testing hint of what was there.

It wasn't until she dared to place her entire palm against Jennie's chest that she had felt the sure sign of a heart inside. It was thundering against her ribcage like a heard of wild horses.

There was no denying the vibrations against Lisa's palm, her own heart fluttering at the sensation.

"Your heart... I can feel your heart."

The instant she said those words she knew she was going to regret it.

The look of pure fear on Jennie's features as she stared at Lisa; her eyes were wide, emerald green shining dangerously. At first Lisa thought she was going to smack her.

Instead, it felt as if a cold, wet snake wrapped around her from behind. One moment Lisa standing in the river, the next she was submerged in the pool, having been ripped away from Jennie by some magical force.

It didn't take Lisa long to piece together that Jennie had used her powers to distance them, her fear having taken over.

Lisa was dragged down only two feet or so below the surface of the water before the pressure around her was suddenly gone. Moving as fast as she could, Lisa swam to the surface just in time to see Jennie yanking on her pants, having already grabbed her shirt and boots from the bank of the river.

"Jennie- wait!" She called out, splashing through the water to try and detain the woman who was now running from her.

But Jennie wasn't listening. She didn't even put her boots or shirt on, jumping onto Kuma barefoot as she kicked the un-haltered horse into a gallop. Lisa cussed loudly, just reaching the bank of the river.

She raced to put on her own clothing, foregoing her own boots and Leo's halter as she prayed her mare could read her mind as to where they needed to go. Thankfully Leo seemed to understand, rearing slightly before booking it after the fleeing stallion.

Lisa ducked low onto Leo's back, dodging branches that snagged in her hair and smacked at her sides. Jennie was a black blur multiple hundred yards ahead of her. Luckily Leo was able to follow the sound of her fellow mount, following them with ease-

Almost...

There was a fallen log that Lisa wasn't paying attention to, so she hadn't been prepared for Leo to jump. With no proper footwear, and no reigns to hold onto, she felt herself lift from the saddle. Lisa caught just enough air to reach a low hanging branch.

Luckily her face didn't smack into the branch, but her ribcage did, her arms too busy flailing to stop herself from smashing through the sturdy limb. All the air was knocked out of Lisa as she fell multiple feet to the ground, landing on the log that Leo had jumped over.

It felt as if her back had broken when she hit the wood, feeling it splinter under her spine painfully. Lisa gasped in a mixture of pain and need of air, her lungs screaming along with her ribs and spine. She soundlessly rolled onto her side enough to push herself off of the log, tears streaming down her face.

For multiple minutes Lisa just knelt in a ball, holding her bruised ribs in her arms as she hugged herself. She could vaguely process the snorting and heavy breathing of Leo somewhere close, but she couldn't will herself to look around.

Eventually, after at least twenty minutes, Lisa was able to slowly will herself to sit up. Her back was still screaming in pain, and her ribs stretched sorely, but she managed to lift her head and torso up. Tears were still rolling down her cheeks, sniffing pitifully as she tried to get her bearings.