A shout of pain came from between Atem's lips as the shockwaves of the explosion forced him against the metallic bottom of the loch but it wasn't the impact that had been the cause. The crushing pressure was preventing him from moving, even stealing away his ability to move as the image of her face filled with agony flooded his mind. Burning need filled him the longer his chest remained unmoved and the heart within his chest was pounding so loudly that he was sure his ears would burst. He couldn't breathe and would soon drown if this pressure didn't release him but it told him all he needed to know: Anzu was in trouble and needed him.
The water above him was disturbed, a dark shadow looming over him, and willed everything within him to move as they slowly sank until their form was suspended just inches above his own. Amethyst widened as hands grasped his shoulders and found himself being propelled upward towards the surface. Oxygen flooded his lungs as they hauled him up from the water and onto shore. "Never thought I would see a merman on the verge of drowning." Mai tossed her blonde hair back over her shoulder, shedding the suit coat with a shrug of her shoulders. His wide eyes were locked upon the dusk colored tail resting beside his own, lips parting then closing as he looked from it to her slightly amused gaze. Her hand suddenly flattened against his chest as he gasped for breath then stiffened as her nails lightly dug into his skin as she trailed downward over his torso. "That is for letting her go off on her own.
"You of all should know its impossible to stop Anzu from doing something she wants." He grunted, the light waves of pain helping to clear his mind as his breathing leveled. His hand lashed out, catching her wrist as she made to pull away.
"Oh, I bet you're curious about this., right?" Her tail waved, as if introducing itself, as she slipped from his grasp and swept her hand across the rose hued scales. "Quae nunc in duas." In a flash of faint pink light, the tail vanished and was replaced by two legs. "With practice, you too can learn how to do that," she huffed, rising to stand, directing his attention to the goddess who watched eagerly as the flames slowly died down. "But for now we have to focus upon what you need to do about those two. That Ainma Vinculum of yours is still developing, though I'm fairly surprised with how forceful it is when it's at this stage, and it will only continue to grow stronger. I can tell you that she's crafty so just rest here for now and she'll find her way to you one way or another." She bent at the waist so that their faces were inches apart, her mauve eyes never wavering from his amethyst. "I know you have the power to stop them, cousin, we all do, you just have to believe that you do too."
He blinked as she turned away, disappearing up the path that lead to the now ruined mansion. The pressure had lessened, the image of Anzu and drive to climb farther upon land were now gone, and his racing thoughts slowly quieted with each now calm heartbeat. Atem's hand rose to scratch the back of his head as shock filled him. "Cousin?!"