A corpse’s face appears only inches from mine, startling me. My silver threads stutter.
His light hair floats around him like a halo as he shakes his head, his brow furrowed in what disturbingly looks like worry.
He’s mouthing something.
I frown, my mind growing foggy. His mouth moves again, slower this time, but I still can’t make out what he’s saying.
Maybe he doesn’t want to be reaped?
Sorry, buddy, I don’t want to join your undead cult.
The corpse grabs my arm, just as the threads dancing over my hands glow brighter. The moment wemake contact, a piercing shout echoes through my mind, as though someone is screaming in my ear.“Hide! He’s coming!”
He releases me, jabbing a finger toward my light as he urgently shakes his head.
The fire in my lungs is getting worse. I need to find air.
The wide, dead eyes turn pleading.
I look around, desperate, only to find the other corpses are wearing the same expression, some bordering on distraught.
Unease unfurls inside my gut. I’m definitely going to die down here.
Resigned, I pull back my power.
The darkness consumes me.
Something cold and firm bumps against my leg, but I don’t have any air left to scream. Still, nothing grabs me. I take that as a promising sign that the undead aren’t the biggest threat.
Layers of my dress billow around me, and I try to feel the direction it’s floating, hoping that’s the surface.
Each beat of my heart feels like an eternity, as I stare into the darkness.
Finally, I see it. A faint light, only visible through small gaps in the now lifeless limbs of dozens of corpses above me.
Someone is holding an orb over the watery crypt, searching.
Leon.
I don’t move. I don’t even dare to blink.
My body is screaming at me to breathe, and I remind myself that I was able to hold my breath for ages at dinner the other day.
Immortals probably can’t even drown. Or maybe we have better lung capacity? Either way, I’m ready to risk it.
Another moment, and the faint light disappears. Still, I count to two hundred before daring to bring back the slightest thread of my Reaper power. Hopefully, he’s moved on to searching other parts of the castle.
The dim light illuminates the same pale-haired corpse that warned me of Leon’s arrival. Briefly, I consider giving him a thumbs-up in thanks, but I really would like to find air sooner rather than later.
Just as I flex my arms to swim to the surface, he takes hold of my hand. I startle as I watch the silver thread curl over onto his lifeless fingers.
My jaw drops. Water fills my mouth.
“Do not be afraid.”
The voice is inside my head again, but it isn’t Cassandra. It’s a man.
The chatty corpse stares at me knowingly, and I nod – or maybe convulse. Honestly, I can’t tell.
