It lasted for barely a heartbeat before it vanished. But that moment was enough for Silla to make out movement beneath the ice; the unmistakable red glow of an eye. Goosebumps rushed up her arms.Something wasunderthe ice, and it seemed to be very large.
Silla ran.
The ice beneath her buckled upward with sudden impact, making her stumble. Thunderous sound filled the air, the ice spirits darting feverishly about. Eyes wide, Rey charged toward her, and Silla picked up her pace.
She didn’t make it far.
The next impact broke through the ice, a thing of nightmares breaching the surface a few paces ahead of Silla. Its long, serpentine body was covered in icy scales, spear-sharp fangs visible as it opened its mouth and screamed. The noise was demonic, not of this world.
The mother serpent. It had to be.
Time slowed. Her feet stopped moving, yet her momentum and the smooth surface of the ice carried her hopelessly toward the monster, toward the widening hole in the ice. The ice spirits pelted the creature, drawing another shriek, but they could not divert it from its prey. Faster than lightning, the beast swung toward her, its mouth agape as it waited for her to slide within striking distance.
Instinct took hold of her, and Silla swung her sword at the creature’s underbelly. The beast reared back before her sword could make contact, then plunged below the ice. Silla was vaguely aware of Rey shouting as he stormed toward her, but the ice beneath her disappeared.
And then she was in the water.
A thousand knives plunged into Silla’s skin; the pain so intense it robbed her of the ability to think. It might have been a heartbeat, or five, or perhaps thirty before shock flooded her, numbing the pain. Silla kicked toward the surface, though her muscles were stiff and slow.
Something brushed against her calf.
Her sword had miraculously held steady in her palm. Curiously, the blade did not freeze the water, but sent a strange vibration as it cast shimmering light into the darkness. For the first time, she saw the full scope of the serpent. It was enormous—at least thirty paces long, rippling the waters as it undulated in place. And those eyes—glowing red embers—were honed in on her.
As Silla stared at certain death, her awareness sharpened, and she could feel itall—the frantic churn of her heart; the burn of her lungs; and a strange dark thread writhing somewhere deep within her.
The serpent lashed forward. Silla managed a clumsy swing, the water’s friction proving a new hurdle. Despite her awkward motion, the beast recoiled, and she kicked furiously. Breaking the surface, Silla sucked in great mouthfuls of air and searched for escape. She needed to get onto the ice. And then she needed to run.
“Silla!” Rey was lying on the jagged edge of the hole, an arm stretched out. “Swim!”
Silla kicked frantically, hope blooming brighter as the distance closed.
Ten paces.
Nine.
Eight.
She was going to make it.
Seven.
Six.
Before she could think to scream, Silla was wrenched backward by her tunic, dragged under the surface. The deafening roar of water against her ears drowned all else out; her terror climbed higher as the serpent pulled her deeper, deeper, deeper.
It released her.
It was blacker than midnight on the Shortest Day. By some miracle, her sword held steady through the confusion and terror of her descent, though its light was dull and flickering. She spun until she caught sight of the creature coiling nearby, watching her with its eerie, red eyes.
It was playing with her.
Silla shivered, though she was beyond cold at this point—she was so cold she actually felt hot. The darkness was smothering, pressing in on all sides.
Escape, came a voice from within.Exits. Not trapped.With one eye on the serpent, Silla fluttered her feet, pushing toward the dim gloam of blue above. Her muscles slowed, her lungs ached, but she just kept moving her feet.
Her senses sharpened, instinct warning her of the creature’s approach. It was as though Silla watched herself from above. She turned, sword low. Swung upward through the turbid waters. Sank the sword deep into the soft underside of the serpent’s jaw. The serpent’s agonized shriek vibrated through the lake, water billowing as it drew back. Twitching and shuddering, the beast slithered deeper until the light of her sword could no longer illuminate it.
Silla didn’t have long. Lights danced in her vision; her lungs were going to burst. She pushed, and kicked, and fought her way up through the icy waters.
