There was very little indication about how far they'd swam, save for the perpetual darkness around them. Nikolai was guessing they'd been swimming for close to an hour, and still, there was no sign of the Eyes of Bourne or the precious jewels they were supposed to steal. He wasn't sure how much more of this darkness he could stand.

It was one thing to be in a dark, confined space with Nastasia's flickering starlight, and another to be swimming into unknown depths, unable to see a single thing. The only good thing about this is the other Knights can't see us, so they can't do anything to prevent us from completing the challenge, Nikolai thought.

All the same, it would be nice to see some sign of Human life. Everything down here was foreign to him. That fact kept him anxious and alert, constantly scanning for signs of movement. A shift in the current. A change in temperature. Not that he wanted something to happen; he just wanted to be prepared.

"Let me know when you start to feel the Voda Halitus wearing off," Nikolai called to the Silent Knight. His words were quieter than before, both intentionally and due to the weight of the water around them. The Knight nodded, but didn't look at him.

Nikolai grimaced and popped his ears for the second time. The changing pressure was already giving him a headache, though he tried not to dwell on it. They wouldn't have sent us down here if the pressure would kill us before we had a chance to complete the tournament, Nikolai reasoned.

He dearly hoped he was right and that surviving the pressure wasn't another aspect of the challenge they had to worry about. He'd heard stories about people imploding under pressure, and the idea didn't sound appealing to him. Nikolai pursed his lips. If I die, I'd at least like there to be something left so I can be burned.

That was the only way one could ascend to the Vale after death. If one was buried on land, their souls were trapped and tormented there for eternity, or until someone finally burned their remains. If there was no body left, a soul simply ceased to exist. No rest. No torment. Nothing.

Nikolai shook those depressing thoughts away as the Silent Knight tugged on the belt connecting them. He pointed into the void. Nikolai squinted and gradually made out a sliver of light reflecting from the lakebed.

"There shouldn't be light down here," he murmured. The Silent Knight nodded. "Let's check it out, but be ready for anything." The Knight nodded again and they descended towards the light.

The closer they drew, the brighter the light became, until the water around them was lit by a dim golden hue. Nikolai's eyes widened as he saw the source of the light. Hills of golden coins covered the bottom of the lake, unmarred by the environment surrounding them. Nikolai swam towards the gold, keeping his eyes peeled for the jewels or the Eyes that guarded them.

Something sparkled beyond one of the hills a few yards away. Together, Nikolai and the Silent Knight swam towards it. They crested the hill and came face to face with dozens of diamonds, each the size of Mischa's biceps. Nikolai gawked at the jewels, mouth agape. They were almost more spectacular than anything he'd ever seen. Only Nastasia's silver pupil-less eyes trumped them.

"We each take one," Nikolai whispered. "Keep alert. The Eyes are here somewhere." Already, an eerie feeling stole down his spine, leaving his hair standing on end. They were being watched.

Nikolai swam towards the jewels and reached for the nearest one. He slid it into the small pouch attached to his belt and watched as the Silent Knight did the same. "Let's get out of here," he hissed. The Knight nodded and they began to swim up.

On and on they swam, but the golden glow in the water did not fade. The Silent Knight was kicking frantically now, as if that could get him to the surface faster. Nikolai's heart began to race and blood roared in his ears. The light remained. It should've been gone by now. They should've reached the impenetrable darkness they'd left behind. They should've...

Realization dawned on him and Nikolai choked on his next breath. "They've already surrounded us."

As if summoned by his words, seven glowing eyes, each one larger than the palace, came into view. They were suspended atop thick green stems that stretched to the bottom of the lake. Their irises filled their entire enormous eye sockets, radiating shades of copper, crimson, and gold, like molten lava brimming within a volcano. Their pupils were deep black pits.

Nikolai found himself gazing into one of those pits, unable to look away. Inky blue smoke swirled within it, mesmerizing him. His limbs wouldn't respond, even as he told himself to swim. To flee the Eyes and whatever enchantment they'd placed upon him.

But he could do nothing. More green stems began to rise from the lakebed and snaked towards his legs, but Nikolai did not see them. He saw nothing. Only the vision the Eye had trapped him in.

•༻᯽༺•

He flew through the palace, heart hammering against his ribs. He had to stop them. He had to warn his Princess! She was in danger! They were going to kill her! She was... He skidded past an open door and quickly backtracked.

Standing before an altar, hand in hand, their wrists already bound by ribbons in the royal colors of Nyctoli and Andrian, were Nastasia and Emperor Kazimir. Nastasia's other arm hung limp at her side. She was completely unmoving.

He stared at the scene in horror, noticing the blood that crept towards his feet. Gavriil Morozov had collapsed across the altar, blood flowing from his riven throat. Queen Serafima's severed head lay at the base of the dais while her body had fallen a few steps up. And Alexei was still gasping for breath, his hand covering his blood stained side.

"What have you done?" He demanded, dropping to his knees beside Alexei. "Help! Healer! I need a healer!"

"There are no healers," Kazimir sneered. "I took care of them before the ceremony. The boy will die like his parents, and once my Saintly bride has borne me an Heir, she will join them." Nastasia didn't respond to the threat. She hadn't even turned around.

"Nasi, help me, please!" He pleaded. "Your brother is dying!" Nothing. Not even a rustle of hair. "Please!"

Alexei's rasping breaths were growing fainter. He covered the Prince's wound with his own hands, but it was no use. Blood gushed between his fingers, staining his pants and the floor beneath them. Alexei shuddered one last time, and fell still.

"No, no, no! Alexei!" He shook the boy, but there was no response. "Nasi, please! Alexei..."

Tears burned his eyes. He was dead. Alexei was dead. He pushed himself to his feet and dashed towards Nastasia. The Emperor made no move to stop him. He ducked in front of her and cupped her pale face in his bloodstained hands.

"Nasi, please, look at me." She was staring at the floor, unmoved by his sudden appearance. "Nastasia, please!" He tried to force her to meet his gaze, but she held strong. "Moonlight..."

"Come, Wife," Kazimir commanded. Nastasia faced him.

"Nastasia!" Guards were racing towards him. Nastasia didn't look back. "Nastasia, please!" Rough hands grabbed his arms and forced him to his knees. "My love..." Steel sliced through his flesh, and all that was left was an endless ringing.

•༻᯽༺•

Shadows covered Nastasia's eyes, preventing her from looking directly into the Eyes of Bourne. She gasped, spying Sir Arlov. Green tendrils had wrapped around his legs and were dragging him back towards the bottom of the lake, where a fissure had opened, revealing rows of jagged, bloodstained teeth. Apparently, they were not the only ones the Eyes had attacked.

Nastasia struggled to swim up, but the tendrils clutching Sir Arlov were too strong. If she couldn't break free and find a way to shatter the Eyes' hold on Sir Arlov, they would both be dead! Nastasia yanked Morana from her belt and attempted to slash through the vines, to no avail.

"Come on! Think," she hissed under her breath. Nastasia looked up at the Eyes. They loomed above them, their dilating pupils fixed firmly on Sir Arlov. All seven of them were unblinking. 

Nastasia instantly began fumbling with the belt that joined her and Sir Arlov, the ghost of a plan taking shape in her mind. If the Eyes didn't blink, that left them vulnerable. Eyes were every person's weakness. A simple eyelash could irritate them, while thumbs could gouge them out. If Human eyes were vulnerable to pain, surely the Eyes of Bourne were as well!

The belt sprang loose and sank towards the bottom. Nastasia pushed herself towards the Eyes, not sparing a moment to doubt her scheme or attempt to free Sir Arlov again. If her plan worked, the Eyes would release him themselves. Nastasia tightened her grip on Morana, but didn't summon her magic. She couldn't risk Sir Arlov seeing it when he was freed from the Eyes' influence.

The shadows parted just enough to let Nastasia pick her target. She focused on the central Eye directly above her. Its pupil slid to her, but the shadows had already resumed their protective position. Water roared around her ankles as more tendrils came shooting up to grab her.

Nastasia forced herself to swim faster, angling Morana towards the Eye. A vine touched her boot, and she thrust her sword up. It sliced cleanly through a soft but thick substance. Nastasia fought the urge to gag. She withdrew her sword, then stabbed again. She kept stabbing until the vine around her foot released her and the water was saturated with black blood.

Nastasia lowered her sword as her shadows retreated. The glow of the Eyes faded as they receded into dark waters. She didn't wait for them to vanish entirely. Nastasia plunged back down and found Sir Arlov floating near the bottom of the lake. He'd only been a few feet from the gaping mouth. His eyes were closed and slow bubbles leaked from his nostrils.

Nastasia grabbed him by the shoulder and shook him, but he didn't respond. She gave a frustrated sigh. Her eyes widened as water flooded her nostrils upon her next breath. Nastasia exhaled sharply, her lungs already screaming for air. If her Voda Halitus had worn off, that meant Sir Arlov's was about to as well! She ran her hands down his body, searching for the remnants of the plant.

The pounding of her heart stretched into her temples and black spots tinged her vision. Nastasia stuck her hand into another pocket. Relief washed through her as she pulled out the plant. She plucked two leaves and stuffed them in her mouth, not caring about the water that went in with them. She choked them down and took two more leaves for Sir Arlov before the effects of her own began to kick in.

Three tiny bubbles drifted from Sir Arlov's nose before his mouth fell open and he began to convulse. Nastasia clamped a hand beneath his chin and forced his mouth shut, then pinched his nostrils closed with her other hand. The unconscious Knight continued to thrash, his face growing purple.

Thinking quickly, Nastasia brought her mouth down and took the leaves from her fingers that were tucked beneath Sir Arlov's chin. She slipped them into her mouth, eyeing the Knight nervously. Forgive me, she thought, but one more breath and you'll drown.

She pulled her scarf down and pressed her lips to his, loosening her hold on his chin just enough to crack his mouth open. Nastasia pushed the leaves into the back of his mouth with her tongue. Sir Arlov swallowed instinctively and his eyes fluttered open. Nastasia drew back, wiping a hand across her mouth. She turned just as Sir Arlov's gaze landed on her. Nastasia pinned her scarf back in place.

"You..." Sir Arlov gulped down a few deep breaths. "You're a woman?"

Damn it, Nastasia swore internally. She gave a hesitant nod and slid an arm beneath Sir Arlov's.

They swam in silence for several minutes, but finally, Sir Arlov spoke. "Thank you. You saved my life. Your secret is safe with me, I swear." Nastasia barely inclined her head and they swam on.