Submerged

Darkness

My head felt like it was filled with bricks when I tried to lift it. There was no light around, and I could hear the echoing drip of water. I was freezing cold, and my skin was tight. The floor under me was jagged and cold.

Where the hell was I, was this a dream?

I heard something to my left and froze. Something large shuffling towards me slowly, and I couldn't see a damn thing. All I could tell was that there was something sitting beside me. Then it spoke.

"You were drowning," Said a watery cool voice, "I think. You aren't a very good swimmer."

"What?" I managed to scratch out, my voice sounded like someone took sand paper to my vocal cords. I tried to clear my throat, but it was too dry. I lifted my hand into the darkness, "Water?" I strained to say.

Shuffling to my left, some clanging, then I felt an icy metal something in my hand. I gripped it and put it to my mouth, for some reason trusting that this was water and not some nasty liquid from a creature, god only knew. I sipped the cold nectar and found it to be the sweetest water I had ever tasted. I gulped the rest down and cleared my throat again. That was much better. I tried to sit up, cautiously reaching around me so I didn't bump my head.

"Where am I?" I asked quietly. They were right beside me again.

"What were you doing out there so deep? You almost died." The voice sounded like a deep, charming voice of a, man. My breathing got shallow. "Your not going to kill me in here are you? Where is here, where are we!" My voice was getting louder and I tried to stand up in the darkness. I stretched my arms out to brace myself, but there was nothing to hold onto and I started to tip backwards when icy hands wrapped around my waist and steadied me. I screamed and pushed him away.

"Dont touch me, I dont even know you!" I scwinted my eyes to soak in light that was not there. "Let me out of here, I just want to go back to-" There was a thick hand over my mouth, and lips to my ear, "Shhhhhhh," I felt his breath on my neck, but he wasnt moving. We were just standing there, breathing. I shtruggled against his grasp and he let me go.

"What the FUCK! PLEASE! Just let me go." My voice was frantic now. "You saved my life, thank you very much, but I would like to have some light and make sure I'm not dead!" He chuckled, and I scrunched up my face. What the hell was funny? I was being serious!

"Are you listening?" I threw my hands in the air.

"I'm going to take your hand, and I want you to follow me." He said in a low, calm voice. I felt a tingling in my stomach. Oh god. I'm dead. I'm going to die, I'm dead. A gentle hand enclosed mine, and I took a ragged breath. He was tugging me, so I followed.

After a few hundred steps in silence, we stopped. He got very close to my body, because I feel the coolness of him in front of me. He spoke, and his chilled breath caressed my face. "We are going swimming." I shoved him away and laughed. "You think I'm getting back into the water?" I heard him sigh and he grabbed me, putting his mouth on my ear, "Take a deep breath, or you will drown again." I was so pissed, but I drew in a deep breath and rolled my eyes, gritting my teeth so hard I felt them grind.

Then he arms were around me and we were inthe water.

I felt the cool thickness of lake water around my skin like we were moving, though I didn't feel him kicking. It was smooth, and easy for him. I was holding my breath, afraid that we were going to run into something in this pitch blackness.

We went a little further, and the water started to get lighter. I could make out rock and cloudy shapes in dark blues and grays. We must be very deep, because everywhere you looked was dark, except for up. there was a beautiful light blue sheen up above. We moved toward the surface, and I could feel my lungs burning, screaming for air. I squeezed my eyes shut as we broke the surface and then I felt nothing around me.

He let go, and I was floating there myself. I spun my head in every direction to see where I was. The dock was right over there, to the left. He brought me back, just like I wanted.

I didn't ask questions, I just swam as hard as I could back to the dock.

The sun felt amazing on my face.

~~~~~~~

She was heavy in my arms, but so warm. I held her close and weaved in and out of tunnels. My eyes were adjusted to the darkness, but I'm sure she was wondering where we were going. I could see the dock now, and the deepest part of the lake was behind us. I could feel her heart slowing. Her body completely still against my skin. I brought her close to the surface and let her go, my skin where she was immediately icy cold in her absence. I felt lighter, too light, without her attached to me. I watched her take a breath of air and she looked around, then made her way to the dock.

I followed her, watching her pull herself onto the dock with her arms, tossing her legs up one at a time. When she pulled the last foot up, I saw her star down into the water, her eyes deep with fear and wonder. Could she see me now?

I floated closer, so I was almost able to touch the bottom. My face was but a foot from the surface as I looked up at her, and she stared right back at me.

She wasn't moving, just staring.

And I was staring back.

My princess.