Fire

Chapter Two - Burn

As the water enclosed over her head, panic engulfed Cassandra. Her first inclination was to cry out but Ignatio's mouth was sealed over hers, providing a little bit of air and a much needed distraction.

She began to flail in the water, desperate as her body screamed out for air but he held her tight to his body, so close that not even the water interrupted their embrace.

Air! I need air! I'm going to drown!

She wished she could open her eyes and communicate this to him but her mind was filled to the brim with thoughts of her untimely death by water. Pushed by the burn in her chest, and the fact that her brain was telling her she was going to pass out and die soon, Cass pushed against Ignatio and tried to break contact with him so she could resurface.

No! She heard him say in her mind, if you breach the surface, you will die! You need to trust me and calm down. I will breathe for both of us. Open your eyes.

Against her better judgement but out of faith in the fact that the man who loved her would not allow her to die, Cass opened her eyes and nearly gasped as she saw the bubbles filter out of Nate's neck.

What exactly are you?! Her mind screamed to the water around her, and how are you doing this?

I can't explain now, but I need you to calm down. They can no longer track me but you are broadcasting panic. Breathe with me and trust me to take care of you... I would never let anything happen to you.

As she gazed into his ocean blue eyes, emphasized by the water surrounding them, Cass knew he meant what he had said and actively worked at calming down. Ignatio –as crazy as the thought sounded- had the situation under control. Cass gave him a single nod and tried to breathe with him as hard as possible and for as long as possible.

Soon, the adrenaline wore off and the drudgery from her earlier efforts were starting to take their toll on her body and mind.

How much... longer?

Ignatio opened his eyes and glanced at her worriedly.

Don't give up, love. Just give it a few more minutes and we can surface.

He felt, rather than heard her whimper.

I don't think I can... Nate. I'm...tired... cold.

Ignatio slowly started to rub her back in order to give her some more warmth but knew that while he could survive underwater, Cass could not –and if she didn't get enough oxygen and some heat soon, she would die in his arms; everything he had done would be for nothing...

He hated that he couldn't use his heat to warm her or they would be found, he hated that he'd had to put her through all of this because she didn't deserve it. For a long time now, Cass had been the only good thing in his life, the only reason he didn't give up on hoping he could have a normal life and live like a human –even though he didn't think he was one. She represented more than just love and family to him, she represented a chance at humanity and there was no way in hell he was going to let her die.

Cass, I'm going to leave you for just a second.

Her eyes went wide and she jerked in his arms.

NO! Please!

Ignatio rubbed at her arms to soothe her and brushed her floating mass of hair behind her ear.

It will only be a second, love. I promise. I need to see if the coast is clear and we can surface. There's a cave nearby here. We can rest there if the coast is clear.