Rick's hand stayed still and patient in the water between them. The one tear that had fallen from Nerissa's eye slowly floated up, lighter than seawater, and drifted toward the cathedral ceiling like a bubble of pure grief made real.
There was no sound for thirty seconds. Every ocean dweller in the throne room held their breath, and their gills froze in place.
Rick could feel the stress through his network of connections. Carmilla's hand on his shoulder gave him steady support.
Natasha used her analytical mind to figure out the odds. Liora prayed in her head, feeling divine energy humming under her skin.
Zara had to fight the urge to yell at Nerissa to just take the hand already, and Sylvia? Well, she's resting outside the ocean.
Nerissa gazed at Rick's open hand, perceiving it as both a portal to escape and a portal to hell. Rick couldn't quite figure out what was going on with her empty blue eyes.
