Serena went deeper into the water, letting the cold current wash over her skin as she descended. Her tail flicked powerfully through the depths, sending ripples of pale blue light behind her. She searched the dark waters anxiously, turning left and right as she scanned the gloom. But Amethyst was nowhere in sight.
Her chest tightened. Panic crept in like icy fingers.
Was she wrong? Was her vision mistaken? Was the princess not in the water after all?
The uncertainty clawed at her lungs more than the lack of air. She twirled in the water, scanning the murky space below her. Nothing. Just silence and shadows.
Then, a faint glow.
A small, flickering light rose from the darkness below her, like a dying flame fighting to stay alive. Serena's heart leapt. She turned immediately toward it and swam, pushing her tail harder, fast enough to cut through the water like a blade.
The deeper she went, the darker everything became—except the growing light. When she reached it, her breath hitched.
There she was.
Princess Amethyst floated limply in the water, her long hair spreading around her like a cloud. Her eyes were closed, her limbs still, her lips pale.
Serena's heart lurched painfully.
Without hesitation, she grabbed the princess's hands and pulled her close against her chest. She wrapped an arm around Amethyst's waist and began swimming upward with all the strength she had.
Please hold on. Please. Please.
Serena moved at full speed, her tail kicking furiously as she ascended. She feared Amethyst had been without air for too long. The water dragged at her, slowing her movement, but she pushed harder.
Finally, their heads broke through the surface.
Serena gasped loudly, sucking in breath after breath. She hooked an arm under Amethyst's body and paddled toward the rocks where Alexander and Arthur stood waiting patiently. Alexander's eyes scanned the area, he felt something uneasy before he could act on his feelings, he heard Serena's gasp.
Arthur immediately rushed forward. He knelt, extending his arms, and lifted Amethyst out of the water first, laying her gently on the ground. Then he reached back down and helped Serena climb up onto the rocks.
Alexander and Arthur turned their full attention to the princess. She lay motionless, her skin cold and pale. Arthur lowered himself until his ear hovered near her chest, listening.
After a moment, he looked up, fear written across his features. "She's not breathing, Amethyst can you hear me?" he called out shaking her slightly.
Serena's tail shimmered and began morphing rapidly, the scales dissolving into skin as her legs returned. She pushed herself closer to Amethyst despite the ache spreading through her bones.
Her green eyes began to glow faintly.
She parted the princess's lips and placed two fingers just above her mouth. The glow intensified—then a stream of water evaporated from Amethyst's lips as though it were being pulled out by invisible force.
Suddenly, the princess sat up with a violent gasp, coughing out the remaining water. Arthur immediately rubbed her back in soothing circles.
"Are you alright?" Alexander asked, concern etched into every line of his face.
Amethyst heard his voice and turned instantly toward him. She threw her arms around him, clinging tightly. "I'm not okay," she cried. "I was so scared. Someone pushed me into the river. Do you know how terrified I was?"
Alexander gently but firmly pulled her away, causing her to frown. "You're wet," he said simply before rising to his feet."We need to head back to the palace."
Arthur placed a hand on her shoulder. "We were worried. You almost gave me a heart attack." He helped her stand before shrugging off his jacket and wrapping it around her shivering body.
Amethyst steadied herself, then walked toward Serena, her steps shaky but determined. She wrapped her arms around Serena's. "Thank you for saving me. But… how did you know I was in the water? No one would have guessed that."
Serena hesitated, then answered softly, "I gave you a piece of my scale yesterday. It allows me to sense where you are if you're in danger."
Amethyst blinked in confusion. "Scale? What does that mean—?"
"We need to get back to the palace," Arthur cut in firmly, eyeing the princess's wet state. "Everyone is worried, and you need to change into dry clothes."
Amethyst nodded and allowed Arthur to guide her. Serena followed closely behind.
Unbeknownst to them, a figure stood hidden behind a large tree a few yards away, watching everything with unsettling stillness. Its eyes were red like lava, glowing faintly in the shadows.
The figure snapped its fingers.
A sharp, blinding pain exploded inside Serena's head. She staggered, barely keeping her footing as she clutched her forehead.
"Serena?" Amethyst turned immediately, worry filling her voice. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"
Serena winced, trying to force words out. She shook her head slightly, the pressure growing unbearable. Amethyst began to call for her brother, but Serena grabbed her wrist weakly.
"I'm… fine…" she whispered, though every inch of her body burned.
She took a step and her knees gave out.
Amethyst gasped, dropping beside her. Her heart raced wildly as she stared at the crimson liquid dripping from Serena's nose, staining the grass.
"Brother! Arthur!" she screamed, her voice trembling.
Alexander and Arthur spun around immediately and sprinted toward them. When they reached Serena, Alexander's expression darkened.
"What happened?" His voice was dangerously calm.
"I—I don't know," Amethyst stuttered. "She had a headache and then she collapsed. What's happening to her?"
Serena turned her head weakly. Her vision blurred at the edges as though the world were dissolving. Her insides felt like they were being scorched from within. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't hear. The voices around her faded to muffled echoes, and all that remained was a piercing ringing in her ears and the rapid, frantic beating of her heart.
"I… I don't feel good…" she whispered. Speaking felt like pushing through fire.
Alexander knelt beside her. "Talk to me, Serena. How do you feel?"
Before she could answer, she coughed hard and a large amount of blood spilled from her mouth, staining the front of her dress. Amethyst almost screamed, her heart beating so fast they could explode.
Arthur's eyes widened in horror.
"We need to get her a physician."
Without another word, Alexander swept Serena into his arms as though she were made of glass. He held her tightly, protectively, and in a swift blur of movement—he vanished.
Arthur gently lifted Amethyst and began guiding her back. She kept glancing over her shoulder, tears gathering in her eyes.
Behind them all, the red-eyed figure watched, unmoving. A slow, cold grin curled onto its lips.
In a low, foreign tongue, the figure muttered,
"So… the cold vampire king is starting to melt?" It scoffed softly. "A pity."
Then the figure dissolved into a cloud of black smoke, which disappeared into the air within seconds.