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All I had to do was swim.

Even with the gloves, my fingers were icy and stiff. I removed the mask from my diving vest, fastened it over my face, and switched on the built-in headlamp. Next, I returned my torch to my belt, leaving my hands free, and activated the tracking beacon in my watch.

‘Terebell,’ I shouted, trying to keep a finger on my earpiece, ‘come to the Grotta Azzurra. There are steps. Nick, get Federico to bring the boat, quickly.’

If anyone replied, I couldn’t make it out.

I made a grab for a rocky outcrop, stopping myself. There was a good chance I could drown in this cave. I pressed a button on the mask, causing statistics to scroll. I had plenty of oxygen.

The torchlight caught on a chain that led into the cave. I used it to drag my body along. My breaths were laboured. Thick seaweed threatened my grip, even with the gloves.

The sea gave a sudden roil, dashing me into the rock. At first, I thought the crack had come from my own skull. I illuminated the mask, just in time to see a teardrop seep in through a hairline break.

Fuck.

I steadied my breathing and forged on, keeping hold of the chain. When the space widened, I dialled up my headlamp, revealing the immensity of the cavern ahead of me. In the dead of the night, it was unfathomably black, like the basement of the Westminster Archon.

Drink.

Once more, I checked the golden cord. Still it was calling me deeper. As I faced the prospect of answering that call, the fear threatened to overwhelm me, but Arcturus was so close. I was right above him.

Dread tightened like a belt around my ribs. Drawing a long breath, I dived.

At first, my lamp revealed nothing. At once, water began to pool beneath my chin. I swam towards the bottom of the cavern, which I couldn’t see. When I tasted salt, I turned back, nearly choking in panic.

Do it for him.

I emptied the mask before diving a second time, racked by memories of the flood in Paris, getting no farther than before. Teeth gritted, I tried again, pushing a little deeper into the abyss, but I soon became disoriented. By the time I found the surface, I was close to passing out.

Come on, I told myself.Don’t you dare leave him again …

With fresh resolve, I went under a fourth time. I focused on the golden cord, following it to one side of the cavern.

At last, I saw it. A limestone coffin, which had somehow been secured to the wall. Its sides were adorned with carvings of naked humans, writhing in ecstasy or torment. I swam to it, my chest straining, and read the words on its lid.

HERE LIES A FLESH-TRAITOR

My stomach turned. I dug my fingers under the lid and used my heel for purchase. Gathering all my strength, I pulled.

The seawater was about to blind me. I kicked off the coffin and back to the surface, where I wrenched the mask off. More of the sea rushed in from outside, almost crushing me. Shaking uncontrollably, I unclipped my vest, letting it float away with the oxygen, then adjusted the broken mask, sucked in a breath, and returned to the coffin, faster with less weight on me.

Once more, I planted my boot on the side. With every tug on the lid, my arms protested. Arcturus had always been strong for me, and here I was, too human and weak to free him.

A shiver in the æther. I spun to see Terebell, dark hair billowing around her face. Errai and Lucida appeared from the gloom, their eyes like headlamps. Never in my life had I been so relieved to see them. I pointed at the coffin. Terebell swam to one side, Errai to the other. Together, the two Rephs drew the lid off, letting it fall into the depths.

When I saw what was inside, I was sure this was my first nightmare, even though voyants never dreamed.

Arcturus was chained in the coffin.

The sight of him stopped the blood in my veins. He wore the same uniform as when I had last seen him.

Before the Ranthen could get near him, I grasped his lolling head between my hands. There was even a chain around his throat. Holding my breath as the mask filled, I shook him, fingers bunched in his doublet. I could feel his spirit in his dreamscape, but it was as motionless as the cord.

No.

Terebell broke my grip on him. She pushed me towards Lucida, who gave me a boost to the surface. I clung to the cavern wall with one hand, groping for the mask with the other. As soon as it was off, I hurled it aside, and an animal sound of denial tore out of me.

If we cannot feed, we become delirious. We lose ourgifts. Our ectoplasm vitrifies, and finally, we cease to function.