Drowning

She sucked in a breath, or tried to, in the midst of the black water. The ocean was everywhere, in her head, up her nose, burning her eyes, strangling her lungs.

It was impossible to tell which way was up, and she struggled, lightning bolts of terror flashing through her writhing body. She couldn't tell if those were snakes wrapping around her, or her own red hair. 

The water seemed to be pressing in on her.

But suddenly, she broke the surface, gasping in air as if she had never breathed.

As her pounding heart slowed, she gazed around, shock widening her eyes. She saw another world, one with black, twisted trees and a blood-red sky.

Fear pounded at her heart.

Were those eyes watching her? Or merely fireflies?

A shadow broke apart from the black trees, approaching the edge of the crystal water. 

It studied her with impossibly violet eyes, she was mesmerized by them, so much so that she couldn't tear her gaze away.

The being gasped silently, then whispered one word.

"Princess?"