The cool hands of darkness surrounded her, holding her tightly. As the water seeped into her mouth and nose, when her tortured lungs could no longer stand not to breathe, her hyperventilating stopped. The water stopped up her ears.

Everything inside of her went quiet and calm. There was no reason to fight. She felt a strange peacefulness close over her even as the water filled her, and she longed for even one breath of fresh air.

For the first time in what seemed like forever, she felt safe. There was no danger now, nothing could harm her. The water's gentle arms wrapped around her, holding her, rocking her. It reminded her of her father.

"I'm coming, Father. Wait for me. Nickolas is with you, too."

She closed her eyes and willed it all to be over.

•>>><><<<•

"Cassie!" The voice reached her through a thick blanket of opaque fog. "Cassandra!" The darkness had a name. "Not like this, love." That was Nickolas.

The fog receded a bit, and a shuddering breath shook her. There was so much water. She coughed, and pain flooded her senses. Water spewed from her lips, and she lifted her leaden eyelids.

Nickolas's face loomed over hers. His face and hair were wet, and he was propping himself over her on his elbows.

"Nickolas?" Her voice was weak and small, a toad's croak in her own ears.

A smile tugged at his lips, and relief washed over his features as one of his hands tangled into her hair. He pressed closer to her as though he needed to feel her, to reassure himself that this wasn't some dream.

He was so pale, so wraithlike. Was this what death looked like? Had they passed into the afterlife?

She hadn't imagined movement would be so draining, she thought as she reached up with an arm that felt like stone to touch him. He was warm and solid, if a little wet. He felt so real. She found herself smiling up at him through the sudden flood of tears that swam about in her eyes.

"Hold onto me." He whispered, and she complied, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Nickolas tensed, and she felt him quivering as he lifted her off the ground. Why was he so weak? Her brain felt so sluggish and tired, and breathing hurt. Wasn't the afterlife supposed to be a little less painful?

"Charlie, we've got to get out of here. There's no telling who's watching." Nickolas's voice was all command, but it was strained as though it cost him even to speak.

"Right." That was Charlie Fergus's voice.

Cassandra turned to look in the direction of the sound. Charlie was pulling two horses toward them, and he was wet, too. Wait—

"You found me." She breathed. Not dead. She was not dead. She was still alive. "How?" She looked at Nickolas.

"A wild guess." He smiled weakly at her. "Did you think you could get rid of me that easily, sweetie?" There was none of his usual bravado behind the words.

"But I saw you fall." She protested, the memories resurfacing through the heavy fog in her brain. "They shot you."

He shrugged stiffly. "Just a few scratches." He spoke through gritted teeth, and she understood that he wasn't pale because of fear for her.

"Can you ride?" Charlie interrupted suddenly. There was a strange urgency in his voice, and his eyes darted wildly about.

"Yes." Nickolas answered shortly.

"I know a place we can stop a few miles from here for a wagon." Charlie said. "If you can make it that far."

Nickolas gave a curt nod before gently setting Cassandra on her feet. She wobbled slightly on too weak legs, but all her concern was focused on Nickolas now. He mounted one of the horses slowly, his limbs loose and almost floppy like a rag doll.

Charlie stood between the two of them for a brief moment, hesitating. It was obvious Nickolas couldn't ride on his own, but putting Cassandra on a horse with him didn't seem like a great option in her current condition. However, making her ride alone wasn't a very clever option, either.

"Come here." Nickolas's voice was hoarse, and then Charlie moved. The decision had been made for him.

Charlie took her arm, supporting her and helping her up. When she had securely wrapped her arms around Nickolas, she realized Charlie was tying them on. He gave no explanation, and Nickolas, probably knowing his own limitations, didn't ask for one.

Worry and concern shoved all other thoughts from Cassandra's mind, and as they rode, she peered over Nickolas's shoulder trying to catch a glimpse of his face. He expression was fiercely determined, and she tightened her grip on him in a feeble attempt to strengthen him.

To her surprise, he leaned back against her, and when she laid her head on his shoulder in response, he clutched her hand in his. She'd almost died just now. She'd almost missed out on all of this.

"I don't know what I would have done." He said suddenly as if he'd read her mind. "Hell, I'd probably have given up right there. It wouldn't be the first time I wanted to end it all."

Cassandra stiffened slightly. Not only had Granger and Fulsmith and all their minions almost taken him from her all those times, at some point, he had contemplated ending his own life. She might never have gotten the chance to meet him.

"As much as I appreciate the sentiment, sweetheart," Nickolas's voice was a broken wheeze, and she realized she'd banded her arms around him as though that would stop him from hurting. "I'm not sure that'll help me breathe."

He was trying to be lighthearted, but his voice was low and weak as though it took all his concentration to speak. Cassandra loosened her grip, and he slumped forward slightly, but his hold on her hand didn't loosen.

His rough fingers squeezed hers gently as if to say "Stop worrying. It's going to be okay." Though she didn't know quite how to believe that, she found herself feeling calmer. They were together now. Whatever came, whatever was going to go wrong next, they would face it side by side, because there was no way in hell she was going to let him leave now.

"Nickolas?" Cassandra lifted her head slightly, feeling strangely heavy and dull.

"Mmm?" He grunted softly.

"You're not leaving me again." She wasn't sure if it came out as firmly as she meant it, because she suddenly wanted nothing more than to fall asleep against him. "I don't care what happens next, and I don't care what kind of danger you think you're putting me in. I'm not letting you go."

He snorted softly, and she could see the twinge of a smirk on his face, drawn and pale as it was.

"You can laugh all you want." She raised an imperious brow, blinking against the blur in her vision. "I think it'd cause far more damage for us to be apart than together. I'm not throwing away the only shot at a future I have, and that's you."

"Do I have any say in this?" Nickolas's voice had regained a little of its usual life.

"Nope." Cassandra shot a glance at Charlie, wondering how much further it was until they reached this farm. If she could just keep Nickolas going until then. . .if she could just keep awake until then. . .

"Well, if I did, I'd tell you that I don't plan to let you out of my sight again. I'd tell you I intend to marry you and I won't take no for an answer." The more he spoke, the hoarser and more ragged his voice became.

"Who's saying 'no'?" She quipped, leaning her head against his back again. She was so tired.

Anxiously she looked from Charlie to what she could see of the road. How much further could it be? She felt heavy, and her thoughts were becoming muddled. Exhaustion was getting the better of her.

How long had it been since she'd slept properly? Too long. Far too long. But she could sleep yet! She had to make sure Nickolas was okay.

Nickolas drew a breath that rasped through his throat, and his grip on her hand loosened.

"Nickolas?" She heard her own voice as if from a great distance.

The horse came to a halt, and she heard voices. Charlie was at their side in a moment, untying the rope around Nickolas. There were other people, too, but she couldn't make them out.

The next thing she knew, she was falling. She hit the ground, and a great weight crashed into her. Her head struck something hard, and pain exploded throughout her body. The darkness was too temptingly peaceful, so she let herself be carried away by it.

—————————————————

Weeelll, so what will happen next? Will Cassandra and Nickolas be ok? Are they out of the woods yet? With the two of them, one never knows. . .*spoiler alert* I wouldn't expect their lives to calm down too much any time soon. . .Granger is still out there after all. . .

I got a lot of comments asking for this update which motivated me to finish this chapter as quickly as my schedule would allow. Yes, I know it's shorter than usual, but the next two installations will (hopefully) make up for its length! The end almost at hand. I don't anticipate more than two more chapters, but I could be wrong. I guess we'll find out!