The boy ignored Ryan. “What do you think you’re doing?” he asked Abby.
“Gregg, we were just talking, I swear.”
In that moment, David knew who their unwanted visitor was. Enter boyfriend, stage right.
The veins in Gregg’s neck stood out like whipcords, and he clenched and unclenched his fists. “With your tongue shoved down his throat? You’re a talented whore, aren’t you?”
Ryan knocked Gregg into the crowd. A couple of girls screamed, and those around them stopped what they were doing to watch the fight.
Gregg grabbed the back of Ryan’s head and shoved his face in the sand. David jumped in the middle of it, yanking Gregg off Ryan, and pinned him to the ground, as Bryce helped Ryan to his feet.
A bouncer stepped from the mass of spectators and scowled at the boys. “What the hell are you doing?” he demanded. “There’s no fighting in here.” He looked down at Gregg and then at David and his friends. “Out!”
David and Bryce followed Ryan outside. Even though it was hard to imagine stuffing anyone else in the bar, hordes of people still came in search of a late night romp. They gathered around the large pool and formed a single file line outside the door.
“You’d better watch yourself,” Gregg warned Ryan, stepping up to him. He towered over Ryan by at least four inches. When David intervened, Gregg stalked away in a rage.
Abby hurried past the boys to catch up to her fuming boyfriend. “I’m sorry, Ryan,” she said in passing.
“Abby!” Gregg screamed.
Abby looked back at Ryan and smiled. “Bye.”
“I’m sorry I got you guys kicked out,” Ryan said. “But thanks for sticking up for me.”
“Hey, don’t worry about it,” Bryce said. “I don’t expect you to let some jerk pound on you. We’ll find something else to do.”
David tuned him out and focused on the people relaxing by the pool. It looked like their entire school had shown up for spring break.
“You’re looking for Bethany,” Bryce said, interrupting his thoughts.
“So what if I am?”
“I didn’t think you wanted to see her.”
“Habit, I guess.” Even though his friend was right in his assumption, four years was hard to erase from his memory just like that.
“Why would she be here? I thought her parents sent her to Aruba,” Ryan added with disdain.
“She changed her mind when she heard about that girl disappearing some years back,” David said. “Besides, most of our class came.”
“We should have gone to Hawaii,” Bryce said. “The whole point in coming here was to help you get over that little–”
“Watch it,” David warned. “I don’t want things to be weird between us if Bethy and I decide to get back together.”
Ryan scoffed. “She’s a bitch, plain and simple. We’re all thinking it, including you, choir boy,” he added when David shot him a dirty look.
David couldn’t be too upset with Ryan. The guy was as tactful as a chimp–it was in his nature.
“Bethy has a side you’ve never seen–”
“Hey, David,” A slender girl in faded jeans and blue bikini top interrupted him. She was standing on the other side of the pool holding her purse in one hand and a drink in the other.
Speaking of Bethany.
“Don’t do it,” Bryce said.
David ignored him.
“And he’s going, ladies and gentleman,” Ryan added when David walked away. “The doormat returns.”
“I’m just going to talk to her,” David said, looking over his shoulder. “I’ll be right back.”
“Don’t you have any pride?” he heard Ryan call after him.
Before David could reach Bethany, another boy walked up and kissed her. When he wrapped his arms around her waist, David stopped in his tracks. Bethany stared over the boy’s shoulder at David as they kissed. It was obvious she was rubbing her make out session in his face.
David saw red. Even though he wanted to beat the crap out of the kid, he opted for a different solution. “I’m out of here,” he told Ryan and Bryce, walking away. “I’ll see you later.”
“Dave, where are you going?” Bryce asked. “Come on… stay. She isn’t worth it.”
David didn’t answer.
Ryan intervened. “Let him go. He has a right to pout.”
David ignored them both and made his way across the street to the beach, past thatched umbrellas and swaying palm trees. He stepped into the surf and stared out at the water. No matter how hard it was to see Bethany with someone else, tonight was a turning point in his life. David could put her out of his mind for good and move on at last. And Ryan was right–she was a bitch.
Bryce walked up behind him. “Hey, Dave,” he said. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Where’s Ryan?”
Bryce chuckled and pointed back at the pool. “He recovered.”
David looked over and shook his head when he saw Ryan flirting with a new girl. For the first time, he was envious of his friend. Ryan might never experience heartache the way he and Bryce did–not at the rate he was going. He was too self-centered.
“I need to get out of here for a while,” David said. “Do you care if I take the boat?”
“I don’t care, but be careful with it, or my dad will kill me.” When David started to walk away, Bryce stopped him. “Are you sure you want to go alone? I could go with you.”
David couldn’t tell if he really wanted to go or if he was worried that he might wreck the boat. He contemplated his friend’s offer. “That’s okay. I’d like to be alone for a while.”
He had only walked a few feet when Bryce called out to him again. “Dave, you might need these.”
David caught the keys and kept going.
“Come on. Don’t leave me here with Ryan.”
“You guys need to learn how to play nice,” David called back, jogging up the beach to the marina.
He strolled down the boardwalk, watching the tide roll in. From this distance, David could still hear the people partying at the bar, but their voices sounded muffled. The soothing ebb and flow of the tide dominated the night.
David boarded the royal blue speedboat and sped away, avoiding the ten-foot tall wooden posts marking the entrance to the marina. The water sped past a blur. Now that it was just him and the open ocean, he could relax and push Bethany to the back of his mind.
The moonlight barely lit up the surface of the water. The sea made David feel small, but it was also comforting–like a home away from home. Ever since he had arrived in the Bahamas, it called to him–more so than the beaches near his Florida home–and he didn’t know why.
David drove another ten minutes before turning the engine off. It felt good to be alone. He settled back in his seat and closed his eyes, relaxing to the boat’s soft rocking. Back and forth he floated, too caught up in the moment to expect what happened next.
The back of the boat dipped suddenly and then sprang up again. The sloshing water splashed David’s clothes. He straightened up and looked around, but there was nothing there. He leaned over the seats to get a better look, but he couldn’t see anything beyond the railing of the boat. The gentle rocking continued as if nothing had happened.
David sat back and clenched the wheel with both hands. He stared into the pitch black, unsure of what he was waiting for. Seconds later, something seized the front of the boat and climbed aboard. He couldn’t make out details–it was just a black shapeless form, but he could see it coming closer. Its breathing was growing heavier, and its stench was getting stronger. David couldn’t move. His fear imprisoned him in a cast iron grip. He held his breath as the beast inched toward him, panting and stinking. When it was close enough to touch, David climbed over the seat and crawled to the back of the boat. He crouched there, waiting for the creature’s next move.
To David’s horror, it followed him. He didn’t know what to do. He couldn’t keep running from it forever, but the thought of jum
ping overboard terrified him. When the creature lunged at him, he hurled the cooler at it, knocking it into the water.
David acted fast. He hurried back to the driver’s seat and fumbled with the key still lodged in the ignition. Before he could start the engine, however, the creature was back. It grabbed his arm and yanked him overboard. David fought to get away. He kicked his legs and pummeled his attacker in the head.
“Where do you think you’re going?” it croaked.
That was David’s breaking point. What rationality he had left evaporated. He swam in circles, still clutched in the beast’s tight grip.
Without warning, the creature jerked him under water. David fought to see through the inky blackness. He tried to pry its hands from his arm, but he wasn’t strong enough.
When David was sure he would drown, something rammed the creature, knocking him free. He fought his way back to the surface and gasped for breath. Before he could get away, something yanked him under again. Two bodies crushed him from both sides, but the darkness hid them well. It seemed like forever before his attacker released him and he was free again.
The boat, silhouetted in the moonlight, was over fifty feet away and still drifting. David focused on the vessel and swam as fast as he could. His arms and legs couldn’t get him there quick enough. Every now and then, he looked over his shoulder to see if his unwanted guests were following him. They weren’t–not on the surface anyway. David felt something brush up against his leg, and he reached down to slap it away. When he realized it was just a fish, he let his breath out and continued swimming.
As soon as he reached the boat, David climbed aboard. With shaking fingers, he started the engine and sped the mile and a half back to the marina. The ocean was no longer a comforting friend. Now, it felt more like the means to an end. David wasn’t the innocent tourist he had been an hour earlier. Now, he was one of the few who had looked death in the eye and survived to tell the tale. He was one of the few who knew a devil lurked around the unsuspecting paradise.
When David pulled up next to the dock, he saw something alarming. By way of the marina lights, he could see jellyfish tentacles caught in the railing on the front of the boat.
Where in the hell did those come from? That thing had to be human; it had hands. It spoke to me for goodness sake.
With his mind on overload, David anchored the boat and jogged back up the short stretch of beach to the bar. He looked a mess with his clothes torn and soaking wet, but his appearance was the furthest thing from his mind. Now, all he wanted to do was get back to the villa in one piece.
The pool was nearly vacant of tourists. From the looks of it, many of them had retired to the bar. He could see their happy faces through the large windows lining the front of the building. He found Bryce sitting by the pool talking with a boy from school and dropped the keys next to his lounge chair.
“What happened to you?” Bryce asked. “Did you go swimming?”
“Yeah, something like that.”
Bryce hopped up when he got a good look at David’s clothes. “Hey, are you okay? What happened out there?”
“Nothing, I’m fine.”
“But your clothes–”
“I’m fine,” David said again. The last thing he wanted to hear was how there had to be a logical explanation for his attack.
“How’s my dad’s boat?”
“Don’t worry,” David said, looking back at the beach. “It’s fine.”
“Hang on,” Bryce said to the boy sitting at his feet. “I’ll be right back.”
When he stood, David held his hands up in front of him. “It’s okay. I’m going back to the house to get some sleep.”
“Does anyone need a ride?” a man asked, hanging out the window of a blue and yellow bus. When David gave him a signal to wait for him, he ducked back inside.
“Don’t go,” Bryce said when David turned to leave. “Why don’t you hang out with us?”
“Thanks, but I’m ready to call it a night. It’s been a long day.”
David didn’t wait for a response. He walked up to the bus, paid the driver and climbed aboard. He settled in toward the front of the vehicle and dug his knees in the back of the seat in front of him.
“Thanks, man. I really appreciate this,” David said. “You saved me a phone call.”
“Where to?” the man asked.
“Bimini Sands.”
David relaxed in his seat and watched the lights of Port Royal roll by.
* * *
David was relieved to see the beach deserted when he got back to his villa. It would be easier to ponder over the terror lurking beneath the waves without the sounds of laughter in the background. The tide was stronger than he remembered. The rolling surf was proof that the winds had picked up.
His assailant’s voice haunted him. David could still smell its putrid odor, and if he closed his eyes, he could see its indistinct form crawling toward him. The creature had to have been human. But why would a human attack him? And what saved his life–a shark or a dolphin perhaps?
He looked up to see millions of stars staring back at him. The sky’s intense clarity made him feel as though he were gazing up into the heavens. He lay down and locked his hands behind his head before looking back at the sea. The last thing David remembered before falling asleep was the sound of the surf and the beautiful melody of a distant song.
* * *
Faren stopped singing and moved in closer to get a better look at the human she had saved. He was lucky she had been there. She had never swum among humans before today, let alone witnessed an attack on one.
Faren floated in place for a few minutes, watching the beautiful boy fall asleep. He looked so peaceful. All she wanted to do was curl up beside him, to feel him against her. She wished she could run to him and call him hers.
The sound of her name snapped Faren from her trance, and she whirled around to see Tristan behind her.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Nothing.”
Faren tried to stop her gaze from falling to the divine human again; she failed.
Tristan followed her eyes and gasped. “What are you doing, Faren? And why are you this close to a human? Only the scouts interact with humans, you know that.”
“I’m just watching him.”
“If your father knew you were here… if the High Council knew you were here, do you know what kind of trouble you’d be in?” Tristan grabbed her arm a little too rough. “You need to come with me before we get caught.”
“You’re not my father, Tristan!”
His hand fell away, and his eyes grew big. Faren could see that her outburst caught him off guard.
“I want to keep you safe,” he said, softer this time. “I know I can be overbearing, but that’s just because I care about you.” He reached for her again.
Overbearing? Don’t you mean suffocating?
When Faren refused to take his hand, he took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Please, I’m sorry. I just worry about you.”
Faren felt bad for snapping at him. Out of guilt she accepted the gesture, and they ducked beneath the ripples skating across the surface of the water.
The reef swayed back and forth with the undertow, coming to life with the multitude of marine activity found within its boundaries. A school of purple and yellow fairy basslets parted for the mers to pass. They treated Tristan and Faren like royalty. In a manner of speaking, the mers were kings and queens of the sea. Many other sea creatures respected them.
Two Caribbean reef sharks darted around in the distance, tormenting the smaller fish living along the reef. They took turns lunging for the animals hiding in the crevices until the mers swam through their domain. They made a quick getaway as soon as Faren and Tristan’s scent invaded their territory.
Faren reached out and stroked the back of a baby sea turtle. He darted away, kicking his little feet as hard as he could.
“Don’t worry about it,” Tristan told her telepathically. “
He’s too young to know who we are. To him, you’re just a giant animal that tried to squish him.”
Faren smiled, but couldn’t help it when her mind wandered back to David. Why did she feel such a connection with someone she had never met? Why was she so distracted? Was it love at first sight?
How ridiculous, she thought to herself, feeling a bit foolish.
Thank goodness, Tristan couldn’t overhear her secret thoughts. In the past, she’d wished that he could. If he knew she wasn’t in love with him, maybe he could put his dreams of their being together out of his mind for good; he could move on and find true love.
Tristan smiled, his blond hair floating around his face. Even though she wasn’t in love with him, Faren still saw him as an attractive mer. His dark eyes and devilish smile got him pretty far with the females living in Atlantis. Tristan had many interested mers waiting in the wings.
He playfully smacked Faren with his ashen tail and curled his lips into a wicked grin before swimming away. Faren could tell he was trying to make peace, so she chased after him.
He mocked her. “Come on, slow one.”
“You’ll think slow one,” she declared.
Tristan’s cockiness caught up with him. When he turned to tease her again, Faren grabbed his tail, ignoring his futile attempts to knock her off.
She gave him her most mischievous smile. “You really think you can get rid of me that easily?”
Before he could react, she pinned him to the ocean floor. A look of surprise crossed Tristan’s face.
When she pulled away, feeling triumphant, he leaned forward and tried to kiss her. Faren moved her head to the side, and his lips grazed her cheek. Tristan pushed her away and commenced to travel home alone.
“Tristan,” Faren called after him. “Tristan, come on, don’t swim away angry.”
He refused to look back. Before he got too far, Faren caught up with him. She reached for his hand and gave him a warm smile. Despite his pain, he intertwined his fingers with hers.
They swam in silence, for a short time, before the Bimini Road came into view. The reef was long gone. Now the underwater beach remained, stretching into the deep. The delicate ripples etched into the seabed flew around in dusty clouds as the mers’ flukes grazed its surface. Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.
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