|[ THE FAERI'S KEEPER ]|

Chapter 39: Memory

The cold water slipped over my skin like an icy wind. Claude moved before me, graceful in the ethereal world of moving glass. The hand holding Cedric's soul glowed in the gloom, a beacon that drew me towards it. We swam further down, towards the darkness of the bottom. Claude faded out of view, even Cedric's soul sputtering out of existence in the gloom. With a panic I strove to move faster and to catch up.

Something brushed against my arm, slippery as satin and as cold as death. I flinched away, eyes scanning the watery darkness but I saw nothing. I turned away only to feel it again, on my leg, freezing even through my pant leg. I reached down to feel slimy reeds wrapped around my ankle. I tugged, fingernails scrabbling at the unyielding ropes, and I was glad that Claude had taken Cedric's soul.

When my fingers made no progress on the reeds I reached for my knife, numb fingers scrabbling for the handle in my boot. The blade flashed dimly in the gloom and I sliced through the reeds. Just as I was free more wrapped around my wrist like a frozen hand, holding me in a vice-like grip. Shocked, I dropped my knife and watched as it quickly sank into darkness.

Fear gripped me in an iron fist. My heart raced in my chest as more reeds wrapped themselves around my limbs. Bubbles escaped my lips as I tried to make a noise, tried to alert Claude. But I was alone in the dark water, with nothing but the trapping, cold reeds to keep me company.

My lungs burned and I tried to rip the reeds from whatever surface they were attached, jerking my limbs painfully. They didn't budge. The fear intensified. I was going to die here. Suddenly just above my elbow I felt a sharp burn and looked down to see the rune Claude had given me glowing bright. The reeds relinquished and I flailed away through the water, moving down.

My heart was racing, counting out the beats until my aching lungs would finally run out of air. I blindly threw my hands out forwards.

Suddenly light flickered below me – or was it above me? I didn't care, only focused on moving towards it. My vision swam into and out of focus and I felt my body slow down. I screamed at my limbs to move faster, but as if the water was turning to ice around me I came to a halt.

I was too late. I was going to die. I closed my eyes, feeling the water hold me like a soft hand. I had been so close. I opened my mouth, letting the last of my air drift up to the surface, so close yet so far above me. My vision sputtered out.

And I swallowed by the darkness below.

***

I coughed up water. My eyes flashed open as something hammered on my chest, forcing me to splutter.

"Don't you dare die on me!" a voice snarled in my ear. My eyes rolled in my skull, searching for the person still doing compressions on my ribs.

"I'm awake..." I cried, trying to wave away the hands, "I'm awake!" My eyes found Claude, his hair soaked and hanging in curtains around his face. His green eyes were wide with shock and concern.

"You..." he breathed. He was shaking, "You need to stop dying!" he snapped.

"Wait!" I cried, "Where's Cedric's soul?"

"You're welcome." Claude said bitterly, standing up. He offered me a hand and pulled me to my feet.

"Where is it?" I asked, locking my eyes with his. He glanced away, looking at the water. "Claude?" I snapped, "I don't have time for games."

"It's by the water." He said coldly, "I was a bit preoccupied pulling what I thought was your dead body from the water!" he dropped my hand and turned away. I wanted to apologise – say something to him – but I didn't have the time. I dropped down by the water's edge, grabbing Cedric's soul from where it lay on the grass, glittering like a rare stone. I spared a look back at Claude, who watched with a distant expression, before I dove back into the water, swimming down to where Cedric's body lay, encased in a liquid glass tomb.