by S. K Munt
‘Where’s Tristan?!’ Garridan demanded, his voice pitchy and panicked.
Ivyanne looked over and spotted him at once-his muscular upper body was curled around a sharp rock much lower down than the last time she’d seen him.
‘There!’ She screeched, pointing, devastated to see that the wave she’d drawn in by accident had reached high enough to put Tristan in harm’s way or rather-to yank him down into it. A sob escaped her-the ocean was pulling at his lower limbs, calling him home as it retreated. Even in the darkness, she could see blood flowering in various places on his body before the churning water washed it away.
A second, smaller wave, unbidden but just as eager, shoved Tristan forward as she staggered to her feet. She could see that it was breaking his grip-as powerful as he was, he couldn’t fight against the very source of his own strength, not when Ivyanne had riled it so. She moved to run for him, to dive into the furious froth below, but Garridan flew past her and hit the water already in mer form-she hadn’t even noticed him stripping! That gave her pause, and the confidence to halt and keep look-out instead. Garridan’s head resurfaced just as one of Tristan’s hands slipped free but Garridan didn’t need her cry of warning-he shot forward, caught Tristan’s loose hand and pulled him off the rock so fast that Tristan’s body missed the rocks and vaulted into the ocean beyond them.
He was safe. Instead of fighting the waves, Garridan had merely pulled Tristan into them. And Ivyanne knew that he wouldn’t let Tristan go until they were clear of the rip.
Ivyanne sank to her knees on the grass and sobbed, more afraid of herself and what she was capable of, then the murderer she’d washed away.
*
Lincoln could not believe how packed the bar was on Saturday night. He hadn’t seen it like that any night before, aside from New Years. The bar was twice as full as when he’d hired this band the last time, and the girls behind the bar were run off their feet. Lincoln wanted to be in there helping them-but every time he went inside, he got sent off on one errand or another.
Lincoln barged through the crowd and tossed a sack of change onto the bar in front of Adele. ‘Here’s your change. What can I do now?’ he asked her.
Adele looked up quickly and smiled. Lincoln had to admit that she was handling these stressful situations much better now that she was a mermaid. ‘Remi hasn’t seen Michael in a while. Apparently, he had a few shots when he was talking to the band earlier and he’s pretty wasted.’
Lincoln raised an eyebrow. ‘Your husband doesn’t drink!’
‘He rarely drinks,’ Remi corrected him, her dark eyes full of concern as she yanked a bottle of Kahlua out from behind Adele’s arm. ‘Well, he didn’t until recently. Now that he’s got it in his head that my refusal to try for children means I’m going to leave him, he’s started drinking a few nights a week.’
Lincoln winced. ‘He won’t believe it’s just a rough patch or something?’
Remi’s eyes flashed. ‘He probably would if I said as much. But I love him too much to lie to him. And assuring him that I’ll be around forever is a lie isn’t it?’
Lincoln felt a pang in his chest. Of course. Without him being able to turn and Ardhi off the wagon-Remi’s hopes for changing her husband had been dashed. ‘Remi I-’ he began.
‘Just keep an eye out for him, okay?’ She said quickly, looking away.
‘I’ll go find him.’ He assured her. ‘Where was he last?’
‘He went to the bathroom half an hour ago.’ Remi said. ‘I haven’t seen him since.’
‘Okay, chill. I’ll find him and take him back to my room to sleep it off if he’s too far gone.’
‘Thanks Lincoln,’ Remi looked visibly relieved, though no more gladdened.
Lincoln turned and hurried outside, headed for the men’s toilets. He stuck his head inside, trying not to look at the seedy looking guys lined up at the urinal. ‘Michael?’ he called out, embarrassed. ‘Guys is that stall being used?’
One fellow, with a face full of metal, shook his head. ‘Sorry dude. Your boyfriend isn’t in here.’
Lincoln rolled his eyes before backing out, knowing he’d flatten the little punk if he didn’t need the business so badly. He walked around the back of the toilet block and glanced down the hill, next to the function room. There were a few couples making out in the shadows, but no passed-out loners. He turned back, his feet crunching on gravel, until he was back at the pool, deciding to walk the perimeter before searching the crowded bar.
‘Lincoln…’
Lincoln glanced up, his heart somersaulting in his chest when he saw Grace hurrying towards him from the front of the resort. She’d squeezed herself into a skintight, black leather dress with spiked heels, and her long hair was wild and fluffy. She looked... incredible. There was no denying it. He couldn’t help but imagine Ivyanne in a similar dress- all curves and sweat against him on a dance floor.
‘Dammit.’ He said, shoving his hands in his pockets as they approached one another. ‘Don’t you own anything baggy?’
Grace’s eyes were sparkling. ‘No. Sorry. And if I did, I’d never wear it around you.’ She glanced behind her. ‘Where were you going? Looking for me?’
Lincoln chuckled. ‘Actually, looking for Remi’s husband. He’s AWOL at the moment and the last thing I need right now is a distracted barmaid.’
‘Well, I’ll help you find him.’
Lincoln had known she would say that, so he nodded and allowed her to fall in step beside him. Her arm brushed up against him as she walked, but he kept his hands within his pockets, determined nip the question of ‘them’ in the bud. He’d been weak the day before, but Ivyanne had been texting him all day-proving that absence truly did make the heart grow fonder. He wanted to keep his advantage and get out of Grace’s heart without having to kiss his way out. ‘Thanks. What are you doing out with this crowd anyway?’
‘I was thinking of getting drunk,’ Grace said frankly.
Lincoln laughed. ‘Oh yeah-because that’s what you need-less inhibitions.’
Grace laughed and threaded her arm through his. ‘Hey! This is the first time in my life that I’ve actually been old enough to drink somewhere, remember? I’m still three years shy of the legal age back home.’ She nudged him with her hip. ‘Besides, I figured you’d watch over me.’
Grace had him there. Besides, if she let loose enough, maybe she’d find somewhere else to focus her attentions-especially if he managed to make himself scarce. ‘Fine.’ he said. ‘Drink. But just know that moderation is key so you can keep some defenses up.’
Grace stopped, lifting her face to his, her eyes smoldering in the low light. ‘Or I could spike your water and we could let our defenses down together.’
There was no chance of that happening. Ever since the night he’d gotten hammered of one rum and had ended up with Sherri in his lap, he’d sworn off booze. Lesson learned. Lincoln sighed and disentangled himself.
‘Grace... don’t, okay? You need to behave yourself, especially in public. Your brother wants everyone to think you’re the lady you aren’t, Lolita. You owe him that much.’
‘Well-then let’s get somewhere private!’ Quick as the slap of a tail, Grace dragged him to the left, so that they crashed through the gardens next to the deepest and seldom used diving pool. She had him against the pump shed before he had time to even realize what was going on.
15.
‘Ivyanne I said get inside!’ Lachlan snapped, using his body to propel her back into the laundry while Sahori covered them with a raised rifle.
‘Jesus guys! Can’t anyone keep this crazy bird locked down for thirty damn seconds?’ Garridan demanded, holding the towel Joyce had thrust at him in place around his hips with one hand, as he half-carried, half-dragged a wet and bewildered and furious looking Tristan over the threshold with the other arm.
‘You try it!’ Camus snapped, rubbing the arm that had come between Ivyanne and Tristan minutes before on the lawn. She’d shoved him into the pool fenc
e. ‘It’s like trying to hold onto an oily, violent slinky possessed by a sea demon!’
Ivyanne barely heard them. She clawed at Lachlan’s arms as he tried to restrain her. ‘Tristan!’ She yelped, ducking under her cousin’s bracing arm and flinging herself up against Tristan’s wet, bloody t-shirt-pressing her face against it and sobbing in relief at the feel of his steady, though accelerated heartbeat against her cheek. A hand tried to swipe her free but she shoved Garridan into the door jamb.
‘Garridan let GO of me! He’s hurt!’ She pulled back, scanning Tristan for injuries. ‘I need to see!’
‘Of course I’m hurt! Someone just threw an ocean at my god damned head while I was standing on rocks!’ Tristan snapped. His hands caught her shoulders and he shook her. ‘What in Neptune’s name were you doing outside?! I was coming after him! I would have had him if you’d just let him make it to the water!’
‘You were alone!’ Ivyanne cried. ‘You called for back-up but they were too far away! Someone had to help!’
‘No. They. Didn’t.’ Tristan snarled, over-emphasizing every word. ‘They should have been locked in a secure room. They should have realized that they were the target and that they were going to piss a lot of people off when they got in people’s way!’
‘I know and I’m sorry! I freaked out okay?’ She exclaimed.
‘No! Not okay! Really, really not okay!’ Tristan’s eyes flashed dangerously. ‘Dammit Ivyanne you have one job-stay safe so we don’t have to worry about you! I know you think I signed up for this gig to get into your pants but I actually take you not getting killed by Ardhi pretty fucking seriously!’
‘I know!’ Ivyanne wiped tears away from her face. ‘But you guys have spent so much time just standing around with guns that I kind of forgot why in the heat of the moment!’ She rested her forehead against his chest, tears wracking her body. ‘And now you’re hurt because of me and I’m so sorry! You have every right to be mad!’
Tristan’s pushed her back again and gaped at her, incredulous. ‘That’s what you’re worried about?! My injuries? Ardhi got away Ivyanne! Because of you! And that means he can come back for you!’ He looked at Garridan, eyebrows near his hairline. ‘Are you hearing this shit? She doesn’t get it! Two weeks of training us and it didn’t occur to you to put a leash on Miss Fix-It here?’
Garridan held up his hands in a demonstration of helplessness. ‘I ordered her to stay in the surveillance room!’
‘I’m sorry.’ Joyce said, sounding guilty. ‘I should have blocked the door.’
‘It’s not your fault Joyce,’ Lachlan muttered, inspecting the red welts on his arm Ivyanne had left as a token of her lack of affection. Seeing them made her cringe. ‘It’s like trying to wrestle an octopus. Garridan I think that should be the focus of out next training session-how to restrain the queen.’
‘Slippery when wet,’ Tristan muttered, glaring at her with narrowed, dark eyes. ‘I remember.’
Ivyanne bit her lip, knowing he was mocking her and wondering how he managed to make it sound sexy anyway. ‘I’m sorry,’ she whispered. ‘I tried to shoot him but someone-’ she turned and gave Garridan a pointed glare- ‘hasn’t taught me how, or even how to release a safety. So before you all burn me at the stake hear this: I had a clear shot twice. I had him sitting like the duck you all hoped for and when the gun failed, I tried to pull him to me-and brought the sea by accident.’ She turned back to Tristan, satisfied to have seen a hint of contrition on Garridan’s face. ‘And for what it’s worth-he’s not out to kill me. He wants something that’s worth more, and that’s a quote verbatim!’
‘Worth more?’ Garridan parroted, momentarily distracted from his ire. ‘To you-or to him?’
‘Beats me. It’s not like I had a cup of tea and biscuits at the ready to sit him down for a chat. But he was going to leave that threat behind and scram as always-but then he spotted Tristan and decided to get all purple power ranger!’
‘Hmm…’
Garridan turned to Sahori, who was pulling the door shut behind her.‘Did you two have any luck?’
Sahori shook her head. ‘We heard Tristan cry out and abandoned what we were doing-not that we were even close to catching the one we were tailing.’ She looked at Lachlan. ‘He was fast, wasn’t he?’
‘Yes that-or he went up a tree and we were chasing a scared roo instead,’ Lachlan said. ‘Either way, if they come back for the car-I’ll be waiting. My feet are killing me now-someone’s going to pay for making me jog!’
‘You’re amusing.’ Sahori said. ‘I like that.’
Lachlan blushed.
‘Damn it!’ Garridan glared at Ivyanne again. ‘I still cannot believe that you left the house, Ivyanne. And to rescue a guard, of all things!’ He shook his head. ‘Tristan’s here for one simple reason-to chase bad guys in the dark. I know you’re feeling guilty right now but can you imagine how much worse it would be if Tristan had gotten electrocuted?’
‘Tristan’s invulnerable to that!’ Ivyanne protested.
‘He was last month.’ Garridan pointed out. ‘If you’ve learned to whip the ocean like a magician with a tablecloth since then, who knows how Ardhi’s managed to develop his own powers?’ He frowned. ‘And even if it had failed-what if that wave had smashed him against the rocks before I could pull him clear?’
Ivyanne dissolved into tears again. She didn’t need that pointed out to her-she’d seen how she’d endangered Tristan up close and in technicolor. She buried her face back into his chest again and mewled. ‘I’m-’
‘Yeah yeah, we know.’ Tristan pushed her free and limped past her, into the kitchen, cursing rapidly as machine gun fire, leaving Ivyanne hugging herself and alone behind him. Garridan, Camus, Sahori and Lachlan filed after him-for once not badgering her to go first. ‘Unbelievable!’
Ivyanne wanted the earth to open up and swallow her, and then realized that she had to be mighty careful about what she willed to happen from then on lest the earth complied and took the guard out instead!
‘For what it’s worth-if that was Camus, I probably would have taken off to his aid too.’ Joyce patted her shoulder as she passed by and smiled a conspiratorial smile. ‘It’s not the mermaid way, to sit idly by while our men fight our battles. You’re very brave, and very strong, my dear. As far as I’m concerned, it’s Tristan who got in your way, not the reverse.’
‘I heard that Joyce!’ Tristan snapped. ‘For the love of god woman, don’t encourage it! Why are human women allowed to come out of the kitchen but mermen who act like actual men require repression?’
‘We need a suffrage movement of our own,’ Lachlan agreed.
‘And maybe lock them in the kitchen for awhile and see how they like it...’ Tristan griped.
‘Hey merman-if you want this mermaid to do her womanly duty and heal you, you’ll watch your tone.’ Joyce said this with good humor as she entered the kitchen. ‘Okay! Let’s see what injuries we’re dealing with here!’
Ivyanne hurried in after her, amused by the sexism allegations. Mermen took the woman’s last name in most cases, and couldn’t give a human woman a mer child-that was it. And those restrictions actually bound the women more! Ivyanne rolled her eyes and exchanged a smile with Sahori, who looked just as amused. Clearly, Ivyanne pulling the ocean up and then beating the men out of her way had bruised a lot more than limbs!
But it wasn’t the time to ask if she needed to kiss some wounded egos better. She was already in enough bad-books. ‘Is it bad?’ she asked, stumbling wet and dirty into the pristine kitchen with the others in time to see Tristan vault himself up onto the island bench, groaning.
Tristan extended an arm to her. ‘You-stay there. You’re bad luck!’
‘A few superficial cuts-nothing too bad.’ Joyce hovered around him, inspecting his flesh. ‘One on your scalp, a few on your arms...you’re limping though-where’s the pain?’
‘Shin,’ Tristan muttered. ‘And my back is killing me.’
‘You’ve got a bruise,
’ Camus said from behind. ‘Your shirt’s almost sliced to ribbons back here so I can see it.’
‘I’ll go get an ice pack.’ Garridan said.
‘One for his ribs too-’ Lachlan indicated to Tristan’s bloody side. He’s got only a nick here, but part of his Ivy is turning purple.’
‘I was sliding down the rock feet first when the wave hit,’ Tristan complained, tossing Ivyanne another dirty look. ‘To hide behind a bigger rock, I should point out, where I would have been safe.’
Ivyanne wrung her hands, wondering how long it would take for the word ‘Sorry’ to lose it’s value if it hadn’t already?
‘Well it’s a big one with some grazes around it, but no broken skin. I dare say they’ll heal overnight.’
‘This won’t,’ Joyce said softly. ‘This one is pretty deep.’
Ivyanne looked down to see that Joyce had rolled up Tristan’s pant leg and was wincing. When Ivyanne saw the congealed and painful-looking laceration-she flinched.
‘Oh my god! That’s-’
‘To the bone.’ Joyce agreed. ‘I’m going to need to stitch it up, but Tristan you’re going to need to shower first so I can clean it out.’ She stood up. ‘I’ll go get some saline-when you’re ready to get out of the shower, pour a few tubes of it over the injury and come and see me, okay?’
‘Okay.’ Tristan said, cringing as he pushed his jeans back down. ‘Thanks Joyce.’
Joyce straightened, blushing. ‘No problem. Nicest looking leg I’ve ever had to examine, I’ll tell you that.’
‘Hey..’ Camus muttered.
‘Is what it is.’ Joyce slapped her husband on the backside as she passed him by. ‘But you’ve got the tush, hon.’
Tristan chuckled as Joyce hurried off, and in the corner, where she’d backed into in guilt, Ivyanne even smiled. It was funny that a woman who appeared to be in her late forties and happily married, would not even be immune to Tristan’s natural splendor.