Kyra trembled as Mercer hovered above her. He blade sat in his hands just above her head. Pain and anger flashed through his eyes as they bore down into her. Kyra raised her foot and settled it onto his chest then pushed. The sound of the blade leaving his body echoed through the cave. Then his body fell, laying lifeless next to her.

" Lass! Lass are you ok?"
Brynjolf slid on his knees next to her. She winced as her hand moved to her shoulder.
" Just a little bit of pain." She laugh nervously. She pulled back her hand revealing her skin drenched in her own blood.

" Can you heal it enough to stop the bleeding?" He asked. She gave a weak nod then placed her hand back over the wound. Her mouth parted slight from the pain as she used her magic, falling into Brynjolf's chest. Without missing a beat his arms were around her and held her.

" Is she okay?" Karliah rushed as she finally made it down. Brynjolf pulled her hand away once she was done.

" She's healed it enough to were the wound is practically closed completely."
" Good, now let get her out of here before this place fills up completely with water."
Brynjolf pulled his focus from Kyra long enough to realize water began to pool around them. She was right. If they didn't hurry they drown.

" Come on lass, we've got to find a way out." He tried to pull Kyra to her feet when she made her way over to Mercer.

" Let it fill up." She spoke as she searched him.

" What do you mean let it fill up?"
Kyra quickly slipped both Eyes of Flamer, his sword, bow into her purse or attached them to her person. She reached back down and grabbed the key. If something was to be washed away this would be the last thing she would want to disappear. So she tucked it safely in her bosom before standing, the water now around her thighs.

She looked around, her eyes scaling the the roof. With in a few moments the water was swallowing her waist.

" Lass what do you mean?" He growled. " Now isn't time to play games!"
" We could try to go back through the door." Karliah spoke as their feet began to levitate off the floor. So that's what they tried to do. As soon as the water rose enough they could climb back onto the ledge they aimed directly for the door. But the pressure of the water was just too much to fight against and soon they were all swept away from the handle before they could give it another try.

" There isn't a way out." Karliah whispered. Had Brynjolf not known any better he could have sworn he heard fear in her voice.

" No, there has to be a way out." He argued.
" We need to let it fill up." Kyra pushed again.
" I don't know if you realize this but if we let it fill up then we won't have any air left to breath." He shot. Kyra scowled.

" Look. You want me to be the new leader then listen to my orders." She snapped. " I'm just as terrified and scared as both of you. But if we let this fill up we can pry away at those loose rocks at the top. There has to be another way out of here besides one way. We are in Skyrim for divine's sakes!"

Doubt flooded his mind but what other choice did they have? Inch by inch, foot by foot, the room began to be swallowed. Which meant that much more of their precious air was being stolen.
As soon as their finger tips could graze them they pawed at the rocks Kyra had pointed out. Crumbles were chipped away but crumbles weren't enough.

Brynjolf looked over at Karliah as her hands pushed against the rocks, tilting her head back to gasp for as much air as she could salvage. Then he glanced over at Kyra. The fear was clear in her eyes but she still tried her hardest to pry the rocks away.

" Lass, it's not going to work." Brynjolf spoke softly. Kyra shook her head.
" It has too. There isn't another way-"
He was tired of hearing her words. So he ripped her around and slammed his lips to hers. Perhaps it was out of comfort, or maybe even out of fear. But he needed to do it.
" There isn't lass." He corrected gently, resting his forehead against hers. Now the water was rising to their lips and it wasn't long before they were completely swallowed. But Kyra kept fighting. With each kick the rock began to shift little by little. With nothing else left to try, the other two joined. If they were going to die they would die trying.

Then it seemed as if Nocturnal had blessed them. The rocks caved and tumbled into the water below. Quickly Brynjolf ushered the two women out before following behind. All three of the them gasped for air as they were shown to another passage way. But they weren't safe yet. Kyra stumbled to her feet, tugging at the other two to join her.

" We have to go before this pathway fills up!"
So that's what they did. They ran with all their might until they finally saw the sun and felt the ground under their fingers.

When they staggered into the hideout they were all surrounded with each one of them still drying from their swim. They were all offered a warm bath and fresh clothes then after, a hearty meal. The moment they returned Vex had taken Kyra away to help tend to her wound after her bath while Sapphire had shown Karliah to her own bathing quarters.

He had finished cleaning up, had hung up his armor to dry and found a seat in the cistern and he had still yet to see her. He finished his third drink with a final swig. As he sat he thought back to his actions in the cave. He wasn't sure on his emotions towards the lass. Some times they'd mess around so much that it was like they had grown up with each other, other times he'd look at her and had his breath taken away, then there were times where it was strictly business. While he sure she was unintentionally making him feel like this he still couldn't help but get frustrated. What was a man to do?

Across the Cistern was Karliah. It was clear she was relieved to see that the guild was slowly warming up to her after everything. But still no Kyra.

" Hey there she is!"

Brynjolf's head lifted up as Thrynn called out. He turned and saw her emerging from the hideout with Vex at her side. She wore a simple night gown, which was odd for him. Not because it didn't look nice but because it made her look so delicate.

" The new head leader! Bryn couldn't have picked a better person." Thrynn continued as he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. She gave a smile but he frowned as he looked down. She hadn't understood why he had done that at first then she glanced down. His rough hug had pulled down the sleeve of the gown, revealing a slightly blood stained bandage.

" I'm alright. Vex helped me clean it up which is why I'm wearing this." Kyra explained calmly.

" Yea well it's all we have that's loose enough. The women in this guild don't exactly have a classy wardrobe." Vex added as she stepped forward. " No serious weight on it, don't want it to reopen. Outside of that, she's fine."
" Glad to see you're ok." Cynric added in.

" I think we are all relieved that all three of them came back safe and sound. Not to mention with the eyes of Falmer too." Delvin cracked a grin and passed a mug of mead to her. " To a new beginning!"

" To a new beginning!"

A new beginning was right. Brynjolf new that defeating Mercer was only the first step. As he watched Kyra take a small sip ( which was followed by a scrunched face of disgust from her) he knew that there was going to be much, much more of to be followed. But that he could worry about in the morning. Until then, he would celebrate their new victory.