Dimitri's expression became dauntingly grim when he realized there was so much dead marine life. The pair's hands had detached by this  point, but Dimitri hardly registered the lack of physical contact. He took the fish and held it, looking at the seared side. Growing up, Dimitri hadn't had any particular fondness of the sea, or the life in it. With every single day that had passed, Dimitri grew closer to the sea. Seeing the fish broke his heart. Dimitri held it in his hand, and silently wished them a better afterlife; wherever it may be.<br/><br/>At that point, Dimitri wasn't sure what was most respectful for the fish. He could always drop it, and leave it with its kin. But Dimitri figured that the sea would want things to continue in their natural order. If he could somehow bring the fish to sharks, then they wouldn't go to waste, and the ocean would continue to stay in harmony. He didn't like the idea of disrespecting the fish, but it was what was best for everyone involved. He hoped Alannah would agree.<br/><br/>Dimitri gently set the fish down on the pile and turned his head back to face his ex-girlfriend. He was distracted by her in the moment. The glow reflected on her features perfectly. Dimitri felt secure for once; Alannah would help him fix this. Then he would get rid of the ichor.<br/><br/>Then in one split moment, Dimitri's security escaped with no trace.<br/><br/>Alannah's hand touched the glowing ball of ichor. There was no noise, especially in the depths of the ocean. Everything was dead silent, and Dimitri's heart stopped beating in his chest. Dimitri had felt many foreign emotions of upset since he'd become a full-time scion, but none of it had prepared him for the sheer gut-wrenching anguish he was experiencing. Dimitri's expression morphed into one that was disturbed and utterly distressed. His joints and muscles locked up tightly for the moment. He was only feet from her, but he felt so helpless.<br/><br/>After what was only just one more moment, Dimitri dashed forward to catch her body before it hit the floor of the ocean. Despite how soft the landing would have been, Dimitri couldn't bare to see it float lifelessly for even a single moment.<span style="color: #0040BF">"Alannah, please, no."</span>Dimitri choked out in a desperate and husky tone. A sharp ringing ran through Dimitri's ears as he attempted to process something so disturbing to him. Everything was moving so slowly, and yet, he couldn't even begin to keep up with it.<br/><br/>With some force, Dimitri boosted himself up, Alannah now cradled tightly in his arms. He wished he'd never let her go. Dimitri came to a screeching halt only a few meters from the floor of the ocean.<span style="font-style: italic">It was Friday.</span>Dimitri started flooding tears, though he wasn't exactly crying fully; he didn't have that time to waste. Friday night was always her soak day. She would go straight from work to the ocean in her uniform, just like when they'd met. Alannah had to re-hydrate for twenty-four hours straight or else she would<span style="font-style: italic">die</span>.<br/><br/>Dimitri couldn't find any solace or calm in the storm. All he could see in his head were the countless dead fish. Alannah couldn't be dead. She just simply couldn't be. There was too much Dimitri hadn't told her yet. She wasn't supposed to go. Tears continued to flood the demigod's eyes while he desperately searched for the right thing to do. Glancing at the motionless body in his arms twisted his stomach. He couldn't stand the sight of it.<br/><br/>Hardly able to even keep himself up, Dimitri still kept Alannah tightly into him. He thought of all the people that he'd bring her to to save her from this. None of them could help. None of Alannah's friends or family could help either. Someone would have to be in the ocean in order to help.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0040BF">"Nereus!"</span>Dimitri suddenly shouted. The legend was that saying a sea god's name in the sea was to alert them. Dimitri yelled it again, waiting for his father to show up. He lowered Alannah down into a coral reef.<span style="color: #0040BF">"Nereus, please! I won't resist anymore!"</span>Dimitri begged of his father, but still, he didn't show up. No one could do anything for Alannah except for Dimitri. Dimitri continued to lose his grip on the situation, but didn't stop acting on it.<br/><br/>Dimitri sat with his legs crossed and layed Alannah's head in his lap. He gripped her hand in his own, trying not to feel the intense guilt when he saw the mark on her hand. He'd had much more experience with healing people with fresh water, and even then, it had generally always been simply open wound cuts he had to heal. He wasn't sure if this was a burn or worse, but he was desperately hoping it could be fixed. He gripped the other side of her hand, even though it wasn't burned, just to have her hand surrounded by his hands. He applied everything he'd ever done with healing to the palm of her hand.<br/><br/>Dimitri remained in this position without fault. He'd lost track of time, but it didn't bother him. The utter distraught in Dimitri was at large. He was certain Alannah was gone. He looked down at her face once more, and he continued to shed tears. All he saw in his head was her smiling. From the first time they met, to the first time they shared their secret lives, he'd had so many mental images of her smiling. The most recent one was just before Dimitri's nightmares became a reality. He locked up at the thought: he'd never get to ask her why she was smiling.<br/><br/>Dimitri finally broke out into a sob while he tried to heal her. The desperate attempts at being strong meant nothing. All he could do was hope that something would work. While tears continued to pour out of his eyes and straight into the ocean, he leaned his forehead onto hers.<span style="color: #0040BF">"What I said. Y'know, 'bout not bein' able to catch my breath 'nd all. I've seen so much. So many bad people. But you're precious, worth more'than gold. Please, Alannah, don't go. There's still so much left. <span style="font-style: italic">PLEASE.</span>"</span>Dimitri pleaded with her, hardly being able to speak clearly.