Page 8

CHAPTER SEVEN

KANNON’S Cell stopped ringing, so he called Brett back. “Hey, sorry I missed your call. I was in the pool.”

“No problem. Remember earlier when I said something about getting together tonight? Can we do it tomorrow night? I’ve got a guest insisting on taking Brooke and me to dinner. If he wasn’t such an important person I’d say no, but… well, I can’t afford to piss him off.”

“No problem.”

“Good. I’ll call you tomorrow evening with the details,” Brett said. “Thanks, man.”

Kannon rejoined Nisha by the pool. “Seems like tonight’s off. Something came up with Brett. Is tomorrow okay with you?”

“It’s fine.”

“Um, well, there go our plans for the evening.” Kannon scratched his head.

“Why don’t we shower and get dressed? The sun will set soon, but until then I could show you around the jungle.”

“Ah… the jungle. I… huh. I’m not really sure about that. There are all sorts of things in there that can kill you.”

“I grew up on the island. Trust me, I know the jungle. I’m not going to take you too far into it, just enough to show you different types of plants and animals. Nothing too scary, I promise.”

“Well, um, okay, I guess. It could be interesting.”

Once dressed, they headed to the very outskirts of the jungle. They didn’t go too far into the jungle, much to Kannon’s relief. He was immediately overcome by the screeching of tropical birds.

They sounded so much louder now than what they did from the bungalow. The chatter of monkeys high in the trees echoed around him. Odd noises like odd croaks and peeps came from every direction. Nisha pointed out the Seychelles black parrot, which was the national bird.

“Come here and look at this.”

Kannon joined Nisha by a tree with long, wide fan-shaped leaves.

“It’s called coco de mer, and it’s a species of palm. They only grow on certain Seychelles islands, and it’s dioecious. That means it has separate male and female parts. It has several nicknames, but the most popular one is ‘love nut’ because of its suggestive shape.”

Kannon looked at the bilobed fruit and choked with laughter. “I can see that.”

“The the coco de mer is also the world’s largest seed.”

“It’s twice as large as my head, so yeah, I can see that too.”

When the sky began to darken, they returned to Kannon’s bungalow.

Kannon pushed his hair off his neck. “Jeez, I’m hot. How the devil is it you’re not even sweaty? That’s just wrong. I feel like I could melt.”

“Really? Melt, huh? Well, we certainly can’t have that.” Nisha picked Kannon up and headed for the pool, an evil grin on his face.

“What…? Oh hey! No! Nisha!” Kannon kicked, laughing madly. “I’m not that hot!”

“Sure you are.”

Nisha tossed Kannon into the pool, clothes and all.

Kannon surfaced, spluttering. “You… you…That was—”

Nisha jumped in after him.

“Holy crap!” Kannon spluttered again as a wave hit him.

Before long there was a pile clothes by the pool, and Kannon found himself on his knees on the pool steps sucking Nisha off.

Afterward Kannon fixed them something to eat. They watched a little TV, and when Kannon yawned several times in a row, Nisha suggested they go to bed. Kannon was surprised Nisha didn’t try to fuck him through the mattress.

Instead all Nisha did was wrap his arm around him and pull him close. He didn’t have time to fret, though, because he was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

THEY SPENT Thursday wandering around the resort and doing some of the activities they missed the day before.

Later that evening Brett called. “Brooke and I are going down to the private beach that connects to the resort. There’s a couple of open fire pits down there. We’re going to cook out tonight—nothing fancy, just hot dogs. She wants to make s’mores too. Does that sound good to you?”

Kannon looked out the sliding doors at Nisha, who was sitting by the pool. Nisha stared back at him. “Sure. That sounds like fun.”

Nisha strolled over to the sliding glass doors and leaned against them, his arms crossed over his chest.

“Okay, meet me on the beach right outside of the resort about nine o’clock tonight,” Brett said. “I’m going to call Nisha and ask him too.”

“It just so happens he’s standing right here. You want to talk to him?”

“Oh really ? Yeah, put him on the line, please.”

“Sure thing. Hold on.” Kannon held the phone out to Nisha. “Brett wants to talk to you for a second.”

Nisha crossed the living area and took the phone from Kannon. “Thanks.”

Kannon grabbed another beer and slipped outside so Nisha and Brett could talk privately.

Nisha joined Kannon outside. He returned Kannon’s cell phone and held a fresh beer. “Here you go.” Nisha sat down on the lounger and crossed his ankles as he took a sip of his beer. “Brett said to tell you they’re also going to get in the water.”

Kannon grimaced. “If by water he means the pool at the resort then that’s cool. If not, then we have a problem. No way am I getting in the ocean, and especially not at night.” The thought made him shiver. Of course, that day fifteen years ago had been bright and sunny.

“I know you’re afraid of it, but they plan to go swimming.”

Kannon shook his head. “Then I’ll just sit by the fire.”

“But we walked in the waves just today.”

Nisha just didn’t get it. “Yeah, and it didn’t come past my ankles. I’m not getting in the ocean, Nisha.”

“Okay, okay. You and I can sit by the fire and eat all the chocolate while they’re swimming. How’s that sound?”

“Sounds devious.” He was relieved Nisha let it drop. “I love it.”

AN HOUR later he found himself on the beach, admiring an ocean-side stone fire pit. White Adirondack chairs set around the fire. On a small white table next to one of the chairs sat graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate. A cooler sat on the sand with a picnic basket alongside it. Close by, strategically placed tiki torches flickered as they casted shadows.

The ocean presented a perfect backdrop to an enchanting and romantic set-up. Brooke sat in one of the chairs, dressed in cutoff blue jean shorts and her bikini bathing suit top. Brett wore swim trunks. He and Nisha wore the same swim trunks they’d had on earlier.

“Hey, you guys, glad to see you could make it.” Brett used a long stick to stir up the coals. “Anybody hungry?”

Brooke opened the cooler sitting by her feet. “We have beer, wine coolers, plain water, and sodas if you’re thirsty.”

Nisha sat down next to Brooke and peered into the cooler. “Think I’ll take a water.” Brooke handed Nisha his drink. “Thanks. And yeah, I’m hungry.”

“Me too,” Kannon said. “Do you have Coke?”

“Yup,” said Brooke.

“I’ll take one of those, then.” Kannon took the drink from Brooke. “Mmm, good and cold. Thanks.”

“Now that everyone has a drink, let’s get on with hot dog roasting.” Brett put the long stick down by his chair. From one of the empty chairs around the fire pit, he picked up a hot dog roasting fork. “Here you go.” He handed one to Nisha with a flourish.

“How much you had to drink?” Nisha laughed. “And thanks.”

“You’re welcome. And nothing. Well, nothing alcoholic.” Brett handed the other roasting fork to Kannon.

“Thanks,” Kannon said.

“I got the hot dogs,” Brooke said, waving the package. “Buns are in the picnic basket along with paper plates and chips. Let me get those out too.”

Kannon took the package and got a hot dog out for him and Nisha. After they were skewered onto the roasting forks, they each claimed an empty chair next to one other.

“I forgot to bring the mustard.” Frowning, Brooke poked around in the picnic basket.

“It’s not a big deal,” said Kannon. “I like mine plain, anyway. Besides, I’m here for the chocolate, you know?”

“You want chocolate on your hot dog?” Nisha joked.

“Oh ha-ha. Everyone wants to be a comedian. We got the stuff to make s’mores , man,” Kannon declared dramatically, waving his hands at the goodies next to Brooke. “The rest of this stuff is just frills.”

“Now we know what Kannon’s priorities are.”

Kannon nodded. “Yep. It’s all about the chocolate.”

Nisha snorted but didn’t say anything. Once everybody had what they needed, conversation stopped. The fire crackled, and the smell of burning wood drifted around them. Kannon slowly relaxed. The night was cloudless and stars filled the sky—an endless network of twinkling lights.

A river of white glowed on the surface of the water from the moonlight. At night the water was opaque, a deep inky blackness full of mysteries. The waves flowed to the beach, a gentle caress that lapped at the shore. A light breeze ruffled Kannon’s hair, and peace stole over him. Never had he felt so relaxed, or so comfortable. The feeling of belonging surprised him.

“Think you might need to flip your wiener to the other side,” Nisha said. “Don’t want to burn it.”

Brett snickered from the other side of the fire as Kannon turned his hot dog. Kannon cut his eyes at Nisha. “Sexual innuendo much?”

“That was nothing. Seriously. You have no idea,” said Brooke. “Of course, I used to think Nisha was the worst, but then I met Brett. I quickly found out Nisha wasn’t the worst. Brett was.”

“Hey! I represent that remark.” Brett grinned at the group.

Kannon flipped his hot dog a couple more times then held his hand out to Brooke. “Think I’m done here. Hit me with the bun please.”

“Here you go.”

“Thanks.” Balancing the paper plate on his knees, he wrapped the bun around the hog dog and used that to pull it off the stick so he didn’t singe his fingers.

“All we got is just plain old potato chips. That okay?” Brooke asked.

“Absolutely. I’m starving,” Kannon said.

“Make sure you leave some room for s’mores,” Nisha said.

“Trust me, I’ll have more than enough room.” Kannon bit into his hot dog and groaned. Nothing beat a hot dog cooked over an open flame. Nothing.

After they finished, Brooke handed out all the things they needed to make s’mores. Laughter echoed around the fire as they joked. It didn’t take long until Nisha became the center of attention. He kept burning his marshmallow until it was a charred mess, then cussing when it fell off into the fire. That, of course, sent Brett into a gale of laughter.

“Why does it keep falling in the fire?” Nisha glared at the sizzling mess burning in the open fire.

Kannon finally took pity on him. “Of course it’s going to fall into the fire. You charbroiled the thing. Let me show you how it’s done.” Kannon held his hand out and wiggled his fingers. “Just give it to me, would you? And here, hold my stick.”

“I’ll be glad to hold your stick any time you want.” Nisha took Kannon’s stick, leering. He immediately started nibbling on the roasted marshmallow Kannon had already cooked.

Brett moaned. “Really, Nisha?”

“I’m not even going to comment on that one.” Swapping roasting sticks, Kannon roasted the marshmallow to a perfect golden brown. “Ta-da. One perfectly cooked marshmallow.”

“You can’t just stop there,” Nisha complained. “You have to finish it out.”

“All you have to do is slap the marshmallow on top of the chocolate… that just so happens to be sitting on the graham cracker. It’s not rocket science,” Kannon said.

“Please?” Nisha wheedled.

Laughing hysterically, Brett managed to wheeze the word, “Sucker.”

“Better hush before I throw one of these charbroiled marshmallows of Nisha’s at you,” Kannon threatened, pointing a sticky finger at Brett.

“Anything but that.” Brett chuckled.

Nisha grabbed Kannon’s marshmallow-coated sticky fingers. “Just what do you have here?”

Kannon looked down at his fingers. “A mess.”

“Here, let me help you with that.” Nisha dragged Kannon’s fingers to his mouth. One by one he sucked sticky marshmallow from Kannon’s fingers.

Kannon fought to keep his eyes from crossing. “Oh, my.”

Brett grabbed Brooke by the hand. “That’s our cue to hit the water. Come on, Brooke.”

Giggling, Brooke let Brett drag her off. “Don’t do anything we wouldn’t do!” she yelled over her shoulder at them.

Kannon’s gaze never left Nisha’s mouth, but he did grin at Brooke’s words. “Right.”

Nisha let go of Kannon’s fingers, but held his hand still. He tugged gently on Kannon’s arm. “Come here.”

Kannon got up and moved onto Nisha’s lap. In the distance he heard a splash as Brooke and Brett made it to the water. “It’s just us now.”

“I didn’t think they’d ever leave.” Nisha slipped his other hand around the back of Kannon’s neck and urged him closer. “I have a sudden, pressing need to see if you taste like s’mores.”

“Well, I think you should find out, don’t you?” Not waiting, Kannon pressed his lips to Nisha’s.

Nisha had his hands down Kannon’s shorts when a sharp yell caught his attention. He glanced up and looked around, trying to pinpoint where the sound came from.

“Nisha, did you hear that?”

“I—”

The yell came again. The full moon provided plenty of light, and out in the water Kannon could see something thrashing. “What the…? Is that—” Dread filled him. That sounded like Brett. “Nisha…?”

“Shit!”

The fear in Nisha’s voice left him cold. Something was going on out there in the water, and Brett and Brooke were in the middle of it. He scrambled off Nisha’s lap.

“Stay here!”

Standing, he watched Nisha sprint toward the water. Stay here? But, but... His knuckles turned white from clutching the back of the Adirondack chair. Part of him demanded he follow Nisha into the water. The other part of him was cemented firmly on land.

As he stood there arguing with his body about what to do, a shrill trilling sound came from the water. The sound scraped across his nerves, and every hair on his body stood up. What is that? Never in his life had he heard such a noise. It vaguely reminded him of nails on a chalkboard.

He shivered in the warm tropical night air. More sounds—more frightening sounds—came from the water. He couldn’t see very well, even with the moonlight shining down. All he could hear was splashing, odd noises, grunting… then a feminine scream of anger and fear.

His stomach roiled. The only reason Brooke would scream that way was if Brett was in trouble. Every thought about safety flew from his head. That was his best friend out there, and damned if he was going to stand there on the beach like some helpless maiden.

He raced toward the water, determined to help, even as his mind recoiled in fear. He hit the water running and dove in. Surfacing, he swam hard, thankful he worked out in his pool at home every day, and made a beeline toward the thrashing.

Even with his heart pounding in his head, and the roar of the ocean in his ears, he could hear screams… and what sounded like growls. He couldn’t think of any possible explanation of why whatever was out there in the water would growl . He drew closer and dove under the water.

All the thrashing made it hard to see, but it looked like someone was trapped in a net. Bubbles from the struggles enveloped whatever it was. Then he caught a flash of a long tail. Oh God, oh God, not again .

For a split second, he debated surfacing and heading back toward the shore. Not that would do any good. He knew Fate just dropkicked his ass right there in the ocean. He prayed it was a dolphin and not what he thought—of course, it could also be a shark.

At this point he didn’t know which would be worse. He surfaced, dragged in a couple lungfuls of air, and went back down. What greeted him was straight out of a nightmare. It was Brett, tangled in the net, fighting to get free.

That was scary. But what terrified him was the person next to the net. Brooke no longer had legs. What he saw was a long, iridescent bluish green tail that shimmered in place of legs. Shut the front door. She tore relentlessly at the net, and her desperation was obvious. Kannon shoved his fear side and swam closer.

Brett would drown if they didn’t get him free.

As he drew near, Brooke suddenly turned to face him, her teeth bared. Well, that’s not normal. Right, like a tail is . Blue hair floated around her head. The shocked, surprised look on her face was almost worth his fear.

Brooke blinked at him, and her look changed to sadness, but that was gone immediately and replaced by fear. That terrified Kannon even more. Kannon pointed at Brett, and then pointed up, signaling they needed to get Brett to the surface.

Brooke shook her head and pointed at him, then back the way he came. Kannon gaped at her. Was she trying to get him to leave? Surely she understood Brett was not like her and couldn’t breathe underwater.

Kannon pointed to the surface again, motioning frantically they needed to get Brett to the surface. Again she shook her head no and pointed at him, her motions more frantic than his, if possible. What was she trying to tell him? Why wasn’t she trying to help?

And by all that was holy, where was Nisha? Forget this! He’d get Brett to the surface on his own. He grabbed the net and agonizing pain tore through his hands. It felt like his skin had been scraped raw, and then acid poured all over the wounds.

He let go of the net and looked down at his hands. He couldn’t see anything, but they burned. If the net felt like that and he barely touched it, what was it doing to Brett? He took a closer look at Brett. He could see blisters on him. Jesus, they’re everywhere the thing touched him .

Now he understood why Brooke was desperately trying to get him out of the net, but Brett drowning might be a bigger problem than the blisters. Except… he took a closer look at Brett. What was that on his neck?

Kannon narrowed his eyes in an effort to sharpen his gaze. What was that? It almost, almost looked like Brett had… gills. But that couldn’t be, could it? That was impossible. And his soon-to-be wife is half fish, so hey, why not gills?

He turned to Brooke, wishing desperately he could communicate with her, but then Brooke opened her mouth… and the sound that came out was completely inhuman. He slammed his hands over his ears and glared at her. Suddenly Kannon found himself jerked around.

He came face-to-face with another merman, but this one had long, dull red hair. Its face was eerily human—except for the sharp teeth bared at him and seafoam green eyes narrowed in malice. Holy moly, seriously? How many of them are down here?

Brooke barreled into the other merman, but with a sweep of his arm he sent her tumbling away, head over tail. Then the redheaded merman reached out and grabbed hold of Kannon’s forearms. He jerked him closer,, but they were practically and his nails sank into Kannon’s skin. Ow!

Trails of blood from his arms danced in the water. He struggled to get free, but they were practically hugging. And he was running out of air. The creature grinned at him with a malevolent smirk as it pulled Kannon farther down—down into the murky depths of the ocean. Fucker is trying to drown me!

His temper ignited as his lungs burned. Panic rode him hard. The need to breathe was overwhelming, but he wasn’t going to die without a fight. From somewhere behind him, Kannon heard a trill of notes sung through the water.

The creature fighting with Kannon froze then snarled. Kannon turned to look. Through the water something was coming fast, heading toward them at an amazing speed. Stunned, Kannon watched as two more of the mermen came out of nowhere.

One of the new mermen crashed into them. The redheaded merman let go and turned toward the new one. Kannon immediately started swimming toward the surface. He glanced down briefly as he swam and saw the two mermen fighting viciously.

It was then he noticed the other merman had blue hair. As Kannon watched, his savior made a fist, and three long spines erupted from his knuckles, but Kannon didn’t wait to see what the other merman planned to do with them. He faced the surface. The sound of a sharp scream echoed through the water behind Kannon as he struggled upward.

He flinched when he felt hands grasp his waist. He turned his head and saw the other merman who came to his rescue next to him. The one pushing him toward the surface also had blue hair. Anger flooded his system. Not only did the merman who propelled him toward the surface have long blue hair, he had blue eyes too.

It was Nisha.

But this wasn’t the Nisha who spent the day at his bungalow and fed s’mores to him. It’s him. The one who bit me. Dear God, Nisha is the merman from fifteen years ago. But at the moment, Kannon had more pressing issues. He turned his attention to the surface.

Fading light filtered through the turbulent water. So close… but I’m not going to make it. Just as Kannon gave up the fight to breathe, Nisha shoved him upward hard. His head broke the surface, and he gulped precious air, his lungs starving for oxygen. He coughed horribly, still struggling, as Nisha surfaced next to him.

They stared at each other then Nisha disappeared below the surface. Seriously? A moment later Brooke surfaced, holding Brett close to her. Somehow she’d removed the net from Brett, who was cussing a blue streak.

Obviously his best friend was going to be okay, and he was glad, even as it horrified him that apparently Brett wasn’t freaked out about Brooke being a mermaid. But then, why should he be? His best friend was sporting gills on each side of his neck.

A million questions crowded his mind, but those would have to wait. He had one thing and one thing only on his mind. Time to get the hell out of Dodge. Adrenaline spiked as he took off toward the shore. Land meant safety. His head spun at what he’d seen, but he kept going.

Just as he was closing in on the shore, something latched onto his ankle. Not again!