“Why?”
“Magic doesn't allow me to do this. I felt that something was wrong as soon as I touched the water. It didn't like me. I think it protects whatever is hidden there from vampires.”
Violette shrank even more.
“No. You're not going to say that I should dive there, are you?” She glanced sideways.
Dante ran his hand over his jaw.
“What, Little Witch, are you afraid to get your hair wet?” His teeth flashed behind his mask in a teasing smile.
“Sorry, I just don't like diving into cold water almost in the middle of winter in a place I don't know. And I don't remember if I told you, but just for clarification,” Violette waved her hand dramatically, “I'm not immortal.”
Dante cast her a reproachful eye.
“Oh,” her voice trembled. “Fine…I'll remind you of this,” she muttered, reaching for the buckles of her boots for the magic wand.
“Great, cold water in the winter…Just the way I like.”
“I tried my best to choose this specific location,” Dante sneered, then his eyes lowered to the wand in her hand. “What are you doing?”
“I wasn't planning to catch a cold and die from inflammation,” she grumbled throughclenched teeth and with one wave of the hand, the air around the lake became warmer, steam coming out of the water surface.
She began to take off her boots, meanwhile, Dante settled on a rock nearby and carefully watched her every move just before she speared him with an evil look.
“What?”
“Nothing. Just enjoying the show,” he voiced satisfyingly.
One of her boots flew at him and he caught it with a smile, not saying a word.
Following the boots was her cloak, which she folded and laid on the damp ground, although she was tempted to throw it in Dante's face as well.
She once again shot a glance at him before reaching the water. “Are you sure nothing lives there?”
“Absolutely.” Dante rolled his eyes and leaned on his elbows.
“And what should I do? Just take what's there?” she asked, still expecting some trick from him.
“Yes. And don't drown,” he waved and then added, “if possible.”
Violette’s brows pulled together. “I know how to swim.”
“Good for you.”
The water wasn't icy, but it wasn’t really warm. Violette walked forward, dipping her feet into the black waters and wincing at the stickysand between her toes, which felt more like mud in a swamp than a seashore.
As the water hit her waist she twisted her head round in Dante's way. He was sitting on the rock expectantly, watching her as she moved deeper into the lake. Soon, as her feet no longer felt the ground beneath, she began to swim.
Her breath was intermittent, heart quivering as she was approaching the glow. It became brighter with every breath, with every blink. So far, it was not that bad, at least, she didn't feel anything around her. The sky had thickened above her head, the clouds covering the moon but Violette’s eyes locked on the gold light and finally she was in the middle of the lake.
One deep inhale and she was under the water. The light was slightly brightening the surroundings. She tried focusing her gaze on what she had to get from the bottom, and then moved deeper. The water, turbid and thick, was making it hard to push forward but she didn't think about giving up. The light shone brighter. She was almost there.
As she reached it, her fingers found something. She pulled it towards herself, and despite her clouded vision, she made out it was a scroll.
Feeling as if she was running out of air, she quickly started swimming up, pushing all her body as water seemed to thicken, trying to detain her. Something stroked her ankle, and it didn't bother her until it suddenly pulled her back. Her eyes went round – some kelp wrapped around her leg.She tried to take it off but instead, felt a pull again. Another piece girded her hand. Violette cursed in her head, her heart pounding in her ears. The strength was leaving her. Everything started to look blurry as she tried to fight water plants, only going deeper underwater.
Something tightly circled around her waist and she was ready to push it away just before realizing it was not a plant but a hand. Dante dragged her as soon as he cut the kelps tied around her.
