Rays of sunshine danced on the surface of the pond, and if Lavaine looked closer, they might catch sight of fairies playing among the water lilies. But Lavaine didn’t care about the fairies and carps living in this pond, as their eyes had glimpsed something more interesting. Something more to their liking.

Just below the surface, two eyes as bright as their own, as bright as twilight, looked at them. Curious. A creature they had never seen here before. A creature they didn't know could live here. In the many times they came here to enjoy the sun warming their skin, and listening to the fire birds singing, Lavaine had never encountered such a creature. They had the same eyes, the same hair with that blue-ash colour running in their family, the same freckles on pale skin, the same pointed ears.

Mesmerized, Lavaine couldn't take their eyes off that silhouette. They could have, though, if it had been their own reflection. But Lavaine lacked scales, gills, and sharp teeth. Couldn't breathe underwater.

It was like looking in a mirror, smiling at their own reflection. And at the same time, it wasn't. Because their own reflection would never reach for their face, with the same curiosity in their eyes. Would never smile at them, in a way that put all of their senses on alert. In a way that told them to run far away from here, maybe never come back, and seek shelter in Dorian's arms.

If Dorian had been here with them instead of attending to his business at the castle, maybe Lavaine would have never looked into this pond.

So, instead of fighting back, instead of listening to their guts, Lavaine let the creature grab their arm and drag them with them in the water. Slowly. But was there a reason to fight back when the creature looked at them with such fondness in their eyes? Was there a reason to fight back when they looked just like Lavaine? If they looked like them on the outside, did it mean they looked the same on the inside? Lavaine had a heart of gold, a precious soul, someone who would always prioritize their loved ones' well-being before their own. They might not know how to use magic like Dorian did, but if Lavaine had to fight for the ones they loved, they would put their heart and soul into doing it.

That creature didn’t mean any harm.

Yet, falling into this pond had never felt so long before. It was like falling in a dream, never reaching the bottom. Only trapped in darkness, surrounding by their fears. Lavaine could have screamed, kicked, begged the fairies to help them, but they couldn’t take their eyes off the creature.

And, when the creature wrapped their golden tail around their limp body, a hand on their throat and mouth coming closer to their neck, Lavaine knew it was the end.

But they felt no pain.