The White Sheep's Disguise ✓

Chapter 33

I can't breathe.

The deeper the serpent pulls me; the more pressure squeezes my skull. My lungs scream for air as I struggle to free myself from a binding vise. Fingers slipping upon a slimy, slithering body; I can't catch a grip.

Tighter and tighter, the serpent wraps around my body to halt any attempts I may make to free myself. It wouldn't be of any use anyway; I stand no chance against a beast destined to drown me. Which is exactly what it plans to do. Not kill me quickly or toss me around the waters until I lose consciousness from a heart attack. This serpent desires a slow death, a different ploy of a cruel game.

I can't hear their distant shouts anymore, and to my surprise, their names elude me. Who is waiting above the endless water, hovering over the side of the bridge and waiting for me to break through the glass surface, gasping for air? My spine barks at me and I focus. The moonlight eludes me and quickly; we sink into an endless darkness.

My lungs are ready to burst.

I know what I must do.

There is only one way out of this, and if I deem myself stupid enough to take this risk, it could prove to be fatal. I don't remember exactly who waits for my survival, but they're destined to be the end of me. I suppose the water has already claimed me, same as this beast, and there's no harm in attempting what might save my life.

My family needs me, and I won't allow them to hear of my death from a letter penned out by a servant assigned the unwanted task.

The serpent continues to dive deeper, tugging me along in a crushing grip. I wiggle and twist, but nothing works. Even the moon can't illuminate its deep blue scales, we're so deep down. The slithers of other beasts threaten to close in on us, and the farther we go, the more I fear we'll stumble upon something that hasn't seen the light of day since before a Luminary's existence. 

With no other options, I ready the power at my hands and shove them underneath the coil threatening to take the remaining air in my lungs. Black spots fill my vision. I must work fast. Increasing doom hinders my focus and I lick my lips, tasting cold water. Focus, I tell myself. Focus on the shield.

A small burst escapes my fingertips, brightening our dark space, and it halts the serpent for a moment. The tail loosens from around me, and a small fraction of my body slips through before I'm thrust back into the fray. Stronger this time. The serpent tries to squeeze the remaining air stocked within my lungs, kept roped tight by the Luminary within. 

My head pounds, my lungs begging me to take a breath. If I inhale any water, I'm done for. Shifting into my Luminary form gives me extra time and the hair billowing above my head in a helpless array of tangled strands fades to white. I thrust my hands underneath the coiled body once move and shove out. Light flickers, breaking through the spindled cracks, and the serpent squeezes tighter.

Something in my abdomen cracks. A rib, most likely. I cry out, but no one can hear me.

Panic sets in. My throat swells with emotion. I'm not ready to die, not yet. The endless river won't end me, neither will this serpent. Feigning desperation, another blue flare rocks the serpent's body, this time hard enough for it to release. A chunk of its strong body splits; I've done enough damage to grant myself an escape. I tuck my knees against my chest and thrust upward as it spins for me, jaws snapping. Teeth clamp onto my arm and I scream out. Before the beast can thrash and snap bone, my magic shoves down its throat, blue haze emerging from between a closed maw.

A gagging sound ruptures in my ears, muffled by the pressure of our deep descent. The serpent slithers away and slinks back in shock to test the strength of its throat and still-working teeth.