~Kaida Orion POV~
Cold swallowed me whole, the weight of the water pressed against my chest, squeezing air from my lungs. Above, the rope dangled like a fading hope; below, green light coiled like a serpent around my ankle. The cord was alive...pulling, pulsing, whispering.
'Come down… give me your years…'
I gritted my teeth and gripped the knife, my fingers were numb, but I still had strength. The First Bride's wolf-shape had torn most of the root apart, yet this last piece clung like iron.
Lupus's voice echoed faintly from above. "Kaida! Hold on!"
I kicked, but the cord tightened, my lungs burned, and one breath left...maybe less, I knew if I opened my mouth now, I would drink the well.
I raised the knife and slashed down hard, the blade bit deep and green fluid bled like sap, glowing bright in the dark water. The cord writhed, wrapping higher, lashing my thigh now, trying to stop me. I screamed inside my skull and hacked again, again...each swing weaker than the last.
