Chapter Text
Rin couldn’t breathe. Rin couldn’t breathe.
No breath.
No warmth.
Just the ice cold water,
Making her float.
Her breaths were coming short–
A blur,
A vibration.
For a few seconds. Just for a few moments, Rin felt something she doesn’t often feel. Relief. Relief was so rare. Peace was even rarer. She could stay like this for a few moments, maybe a few millennia, the freezing water, numbing her pain. No Nezha. No phoenix. No war. Her mind went to her seal where Altan was.
“What are you doing, you cunt? I died for you, and this is what I get? A tired ex shaman who can’t swim? How do you think I feel?” Altan said to her, his voice echoing.
“I think you felt peace,” replied Rin.
“ Peace isn’t for a Speerly. Get your ass up, bitch,” he said in her ear before punching her in the gut.
***
Rin choked a non existent gasp, her eyes stinging from the salt. Nezha’s hands, clinged to her wrist, trying to make her write some kind of character. Her wrist was bleeding, stinging from Nezha’s dagger. Rin didn’t panic. No. Fang Runin, the last Speerly, didn't panic. Ever. That’s the tale she spinned for everyone. And the tale was true. She wasn’t scared. She was raging. She was a volcano that you could never predict. She was the monster in every tale, every witch who wanted revenge. Even without her fire, there was no doubt in her devil eyes that she was the Phoenix Reincarnate.
Rin kicked Nezha or at least, tried to. Her vision was blurring, her eyes stung. Nezha dodged easily, water being his main domain. Where the fuck are his eyes? Rin looked through the water, siren blue-glowing eyes staring dead into her soul. Yeah, fuck this guy. With a desperate movement, she punched Nezha in the eyes, trying to swim to the surface. Then – whoosh! Went Rin as she got hauled up to the surface.
***
HOH , Rin went as she gasped for air, the current pushing her toward the surface. She sighted a wisp of white hair, a manic gaze. Jiang Ziya. This bitch. When he hauled her up to the sand she didn’t have a lot of energy, no certainly not. But she had enough stubbornness. Smack, she went to his face.
“I just saved your life darling! Aren’t you happy to see me? Or even a bit grateful?” Jiang pointed out.
“First off, you left and fled to Chuluu Korikh and I had to deal with your monster shit, and you think I should be grateful? You did the fucking bare minimum!” scolded Rin.
“Easy there Rin, you need some rest after what that bastard did to you,” said Venka, who Rin didn’t even notice was with Jiang. Venka lowered her voice. “Look I don’t like Master Jiang either, but he kinda saved your life and plus, I can yell at him for you,” she whispered.
“What she said,” Jiang said, rolling his eyes.
***
Daji and Kitay were underwater with Nezha, their breaths running out like quicksand. Nezha was fucked. But he wasn’t a coward. He was in his domain afterall. A snake queen and a student from Sinegard isn’t going to stop him.
Nezha saw an opening, putting his hands around Kitay’s neck, choking her without mercy. Too late he noticed the glint behind Kitay’s eyes. Nezha turned, a needle stabbing his shoulder. Daji smiled at him, letting her teeth show.