Drake Sisters 03 - Oceans of Fire

otherwise occupied.”
    “That’s definitely got a touch of Elle in it,“ Abbey said with satisfaction. ”The seagulls are Elle’s work.
    Hannah likes drama, but Elle goes for the throat.“ She dove under, kicking strongly to take her along the bottom toward the northern side of the cove.

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    Joely followed her, Aleksandr close behind. They stayed in communication through touch. The water was cold and Aleksandr feared hypothermia would set in before any of them realized it. Both Joley and Abigail were shivering continually although neither appeared to notice. He knew the adrenaline pumping through them would be giving them a false feeling of warmth.
    He felt the brush of a larger body and was aware the dolphins were close as they swam along a shallow channel. Just as he was certain his lungs would burst, Abigail rose to the surface and drew a deep breath of air. Her anxiety was plain as she regarded her sister.
    Joley’s eyes were wide with horror. Aleksandr caught her to him. “Listen to me.” He kept his voice gentle. “You can do this. When you feel panic because of the smallness of the space, concentrate on something else. Use lyrics of songs or poetry. Make up a song, and remember you are not alone. I’ll be close enough to touch.”
    “I’ll be in front of you, Joley,” Abigail reassured her, “and I’d never leave you.”
    Joley regarded them both for a moment, then nodded. “I’m ready.”
    “A big breath,” Abigail cautioned and once more went under.
    Aleksandr shoved Joley ahead of him, propelling her through the cold waters into the underwater cave.
    His shoulders scraped as he went through the entrance. Abigail had been right when she said they might feel claustrophobic. Every instinct told him to get to the surface. He could feel rock above his head and on both sides. Worse, he couldn’t turn around. If he felt that way, he knew Joley must be going through hell. He brushed his hand along her leg several times to reassure her. He concentrated on ensuring she made it through the watery darkness.
    Abigail was aware time was running out on them. They’d been in the water too long and her body was becoming sluggish. Joley rarely went swimming in the ocean and she would tire easily. Abigail pushed herself, stroking through the disorienting tunnel to emerge in the small interior cave at the end. Her head broke the surface and she gasped for air even as she reached back to pull Joley up. Joley coughed and clung to Abigail as Aleksandr joined them.
    Aleksandr helped both women out of the water. It was so dark that they had to feel their way to the water’s edge to pull themselves onto the dry rocks. Fortunately, without the steady wind, it was a little warmer in the cave but Aleksandr was worried about both women. They were shaking uncontrollably.
    “We have to get you somewhere warmer,” he said. “We need light to see what we’re doing.”
    “There used to be a torch on the north wall,” Abigail said, her teeth chattering. “A lighter was kept right under it, on the ground for any divers using the cave. It might still be there.”
    Aleksandr felt around until his hands encountered the torch. At the base lay the lighter. “Does everyone know about this cave?” He lit the torch to illuminate the small grotto the ocean had carved out of the rocks.
    “Only a few divers and history buffs. I haven’t been here in about five years, not since I did my research on the dolphins in this area.” She rubbed her hands up and down Joley’s arms to try to provide her with some warmth. “I’ve never used the stairs out of here, but I know the tunnel was intact five years ago.”
    “How come I’m the only one who doesn’t know these things?” Joley asked. “I grew up here—you’d think I’d know about things like hidden caves.”

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    “You were too busy singing, which is a good thing since you have a beautiful voice,” Abbey pointed out, kicking at the small rocks she was worried Joley might stumble over. “Over here, Sasha. Can you bring the light?”
    “And you spent all of your time in the sea,” Joley said. “Aleksandr, thank you for helping me in the water. I didn’t like not being able to see. For a moment I thought I’d have a heart attack and then you touched my leg and it was all right again.”
    “I was happy to