Chapter Thirty-Five

Nesta is dragged underwater by a kelpie into a dark bog. Disarmed and suffocating, she fights back using her magic to locate a golden object in the water—the Mask—and defiantly places it on her face despite the mortal danger of doing so.

Nesta finds herself underwater in complete darkness, clutched by a kelpie's clawed hands. She draws parallels to her traumatic encounter with the Cauldron and the assault by Tomas in the human lands. Initially paralyzed by terror, she retrieves her dagger and slices at the creature's grip, severing its arm. The kelpie overpowers her, forcing her to the silty bottom and engaging in a disturbing, mouth-to-mouth interaction where it breathes air into her lungs while simultaneously taunting and molesting her with crude, possessive touches. Nesta realizes this creature embodies the same predatory monstrosity she thought she'd escaped. The kelpie systematically disarms her, removing all weapons while dragging her deeper through the bog past metallic objects and decomposing bones. Desperate, Nesta reaches inward for her ancient, slumbering power. Instead of locating her own magic, she senses something else—a golden disk drawing closer as she is pulled through the water. She recognizes it immediately as the Mask, an object of power calling to her own. Despite her deteriorating state and the kelpie's continued assault on her body, Nesta makes a fatal decision: she grabs the Mask and slams it onto her face, knowing full well the danger this action poses.