Page 17 of The Sea Witch’s Son (The Villains of Wolf Hollow #1)

Chapter 16

MELODY

I didn’t think people actually watched swimming.

During the Olympics, sure. But for varsity?

“It’s not the sport we’re going to watch.” Gus slings a towel cheerfully over his pit-stained shirt, “It’s the time trials.”

I follow his hulking frame through the swarm of spectators. The rows of benches are completely full, the heaving crowd adding to the muggy chlorinated air.

I recognize a few familiar faces among the spectators, but none of them look happy to see me.

After the party Friday, I found myself labelled as the new girl who fucked Marlin Seaborn on the dance floor. Didn’t matter he was the one carrying me , apparently I was the seductress who stole the town’s favourite villain off the market .

It’s the rumour that has most girls glaring at me in the halls. And besides Gus, the guys avoid me like the plague. Even Finley stopped talking to me this week.

That one hurts more than I care to admit.

“What are time trials?”

Gus grins at me over his shoulder, “It’s the pre-season meet. Sets the tone for the year and we get to watch Marlin kick ass.”

I look out over the railing to the swimmers warming up below. Most of the guys are wearing competition suits, the skintight shorts running down to the top of their knees. It’s a lot more coverage than a speedo, but it doesn’t leave much to the imagination.

The pool is packed, the guys diving and hopping out of the water in some chaotic form of warm up. Arms plow through the water while long bodies push off the wall in an endless circle of laps.

I’m getting dizzy just looking at it.

Gus keeps moving forward, barreling his way past people until we reach a group of gym bros. Almost all of them are wearing loose tank tops and gym shorts to show off bulging muscles and thick legs.

“Don’t bore yourself with those empty skulls.” A sultry purr hits my ear, “Come along with me.”

Calista places a hand on my lower back and steers me to a nearby bench. I stiffen at the intimate gesture, but she doesn’t seem to notice .

“Gus was lying through his teeth. He’s here for the same reason we are.”

“And what’s that?”

“The naked men, of course.”

Her hand brushes my ass and I quickly drop onto the bench. Calista settles herself down beside me, casually pressing her thigh against mine.

“This is the only time you’ll see more than three girls in a room.” She nods to the group sitting on the bench in front of us, “Our swimmers have quite the fan club.”

I sweep my eyes along the bleachers, and sure enough, petite bodies filling the spaces between the hoards of men. Still a significant minority compared to the testosterone packed into the chlorinated arena, but it is easily the highest number of women I have seen to-date.

“Why are there no girls in this town?”

“Most fathers have a soft spot for their daughters, so they ship them off to a safer place.” Calista sighs heavily, “The men here have a tendency of taking what they want when they want.”

She reaches over and strokes the bruise on my neck. Her touch is surprisingly gentle when she caresses the faded bite mark.

“They can be so cruel. So merciless in their pursuit.”

There’s an emotion hidden just beneath the mask of her beautiful face that I can’t quite decipher. She leans in closer, those painted lips coming dangerously close to my own .

“Men can be useful, entertaining even, but we both know the truth.”

I swallow drily, “Which is?”

“We don’t need them. For business or for pleasure.” Her eyes flick to my lips, “Women are fully capable of achieving it all on their own.”

My cheeks flush at the memory of the other night. Calista smiles, misreading my blush as arousal.

“I can teach you so many things, Melody. Show you places you haven’t discovered yet.” She leans in, her breath hot against my skin, “Just you and me in a queen bed. I’ll make sure you finish first.”

A beep echoes through the arena. I jump in my seat, feeling flustered and confused and terrified of the woman beside me.

Calista squeezes my thigh, “Think about it.”

The rowdy group behind us stands up and cheers. I quickly shift away, breaking the connection between our bodies.

“Let’s go Marlin!”

Gus lets out a hoot and a few guys stomp the floor. I look out over the railing and watch the swimmers haul themselves out of the water. Long, lean bodies amble around the pool deck, grabbing towels and rubbing themselves down.

It’s like watching soft porn.

“I almost missed the best part.”

A dark braid swings past my vision as a gorgeous woman struts down our row of bleachers. I use the opportunity to move farther away from Calista, letting the newcomer settle herself down between us.

Calista grins, pulling the woman in for a kiss, “I thought you were done breaking Sebastian’s heart.”

“Heart, yes. Body, not so much.” Dark eyes flick in my direction, “You must be Marlin’s new pet project.”

I smile sweetly, “And you must be Calista’s side fling.”

A sharp crack of laughter echoes from the blonde beside her.

“I told you she was precious, Tahira.”

“You did.” A slow smile spreads across her face, “I can see what all the fuss is about.”

A nose stud sparkles against flawless brown skin, pulling out the molten chocolate colour of her eyes. It’s the same woman I saw climbing out of Calista’s car at the house party and she is just as stunning under the pool’s florescent lighting.

“Do you have a name, pet project?” Tahira tilts her head, “Or does Marlin’s bitch suffice?”

Calista pats her arm, “There’s no need for name calling. The poor girl has suffered enough.”

“Yes, I can see that.” Her gaze drops to my neck and my cheeks flush.

“Melody St. James.”

“Ah, so that’s where he got the nickname from.” Tahira chuckles, “Marlin can be witty when he wants to be.”

I hold her gaze, “And you are?”

“Tahira Malik. The heiress to Wolf Hollow’s fortune. ”

Calista snickers, “Tahira is something of a princess over in the Middle East. Here, she’s just another trust fund baby.”

“Father enjoys sponsoring the local businesses. Although I hear Anton Clementon has called for an early election.” She lifts a brow, “Has the Dragon finally found a way to get rid of him?”

“The early election was called on his own, actually. Something about not wanting the competition to have enough time to retaliate.” Calista shoots me an amused glance, “The mayor is an idiot if he thinks two years is enough to deter a well thought out plan.”

Tahira smiles, “I heard Marlin put the daughter out of commission. Playing dirty before the campaign has even begun.”

“Freya just got released from the hospital.” I find myself speaking up, “I’m going to visit her tomorrow.”

“How... kind of you.” Tahira grimaces like there’s a bad taste in her mouth, “I suppose I should join. Touch base with her before I fly back home.”

Calista sighs, “Abandoning me already.”

“I’ve already told you, come with me. We can find ourselves a pool boy or two to play with.”

“You know the pampered lifestyle doesn’t suit me. I would be bored within twelve hours.”

Tahira shrugs, “Suit yourself.”

Another beep fills the arena, followed by a sharp whistle. The swimmers lined up behind the blocks step forward and mount them, each one wearing identical caps and goggles.

“How can you tell them apart? ”

I squint at the half-naked bodies, trying to find a distinguishing marker. Glistening muscles flex as the men bend down and position themselves on the block, the tension in their shoulders echoing the stillness of the water below.

“The fastest seed times go from the middle lanes outward. These are the slow heats, so all the rookies who don’t have times will be here.” Calista points at the swimmers lounging in sweatsuits nearby, "The fastest times are always in the final heat. Those races are much more exciting.”

The buzzer sounds and the men fling themselves into the water. Powerful arms break through the surface as they go charging for the other side. Two of the swimmers have already pulled ahead by the time they do a flip turn.

Unexpected excitement hits my veins as the spectators start cheering on the final length of the race. Gus and his gym bros are hollering at the back, and a few of the girls in front of us are screaming encouragement as the two rookies go racing towards the wall.

I find myself clapping along with the crowd, swept up in the energy vibrating through the bleachers.

The guy in the left lane manages to out touch the other swimmer. I cheer loudly, watching the victor take off his cap and goggles.

“Oh my God. That’s Finley!”

Tahira looks at me in amusement, “Am I supposed to know who that is?”

“He’s a... never mind. ”

I quickly sit back down when I see the next line of swimmers step up to the blocks. We watch heat after heat go by, the adrenalin from the first race quickly fading into a lull of never-ending races.

“100m freestyle is a popular event.” Tahira muses, “Almost everyone competes in it.”

“The most boring event, in my opinion.”

I glance at Calista, “There’s more than one event?”

“Plenty more. I’ve always preferred watching butterfly or breastroke.”

Tahira snickers, “Nothing like a man who knows how to pull out.”

The final heat gets called up and there’s a noticeable shift in the air. The excitement from the first race is back, except this time there’s an electric anticipation rippling among the crowd.

“Show these bitches how it’s done, Seaborn!”

The shout comes from the other side of the bleachers and laughter ripples along the crowd. I snap my eyes to the front, watching the guys step up to the blocks.

I spot him immediately. The white hair is covered by a black swim cap and the violet eyes are blocked by the tint of his goggles, but it’s impossible not to feel the weight of his presence.

Not to mention, he’s about three inches taller than all the guys out there.

“Does he not eat carbs?” I grumble under my breath and Tahira barks out a laugh .

“He’s a freak of nature. Only eats to sustain himself, works out until his physique is up to standard, and swims like his life depends on it.” She shrugs, “Although I guess it kind of does.”

“What do you mean?”

I can’t tear my eyes away from the guy standing in the middle lane. All the swimmers are in peak shape, but Marlin is something else. His torso looks like someone took a knife and started chipping away pieces of skin until every vein and muscle was on display.

“Haven’t you heard the rumours?” Tahira glances at me, “The Sea Witch used to hold his head under water until he overcame his fear of drowning.”

Goosebumps break out as I stare at her, waiting for the punchline.

“You can’t be serious.”

She shrugs, “That’s my favourite theory.”

The girl in front of us turns around, “I heard it was his father. He threw him overboard and he almost died swimming to shore.”

“No way.” Another person pipes up, “Marlin was a water birth, but the doctor fucked up, so now he only has one lung.”

More and more theories start to circulate, each one circling back to the question of Marlin’s one and only fear.

Water.

“Is it true?” I look at Calista, desperate for some clarity, “Marlin is afraid of water? ”

She shrugs, “The man who feeds on fear forces himself to face his own. Sounds believable to me.”

“But... why?”

The whistle blows and the swimmers mount the blocks. I watch as Marlin rolls his shoulders before bending down, the dark smudge of his tattoo visible from here.

“Why does he swim or why does he spread rumours about his childhood?”

Ice trickles through my veins as I watch his back flex under the harsh lighting.

“Why does he do that to himself?”

Calista doesn’t say anything for a long time. She studies her childhood acquaintance quietly, watching him brace himself against the block.

“Wolf Hollow isn’t just a place, Melody. It’s a disease that festers on your soul, and after a while you stop trying to find an antidote.” She casts a glance in my direction, “The question you should be asking is why would a man allow his greatest weakness to become public knowledge?”

I stare back at her, “So nobody can use it against him.”

“And?”

The weight in my chest unfolds as I turn and look at the man about to dive headfirst into his own nightmare.

“He’s sending a message.” I swallow thickly, “By mastering his only fear, he makes himself untouchable.”

Calista smiles, “Take away a man’s fear, you take away his weakness. ”

It’s genius in the most manipulative way possible.

Any notion of sympathy vanishes as I watch Marlin position himself on the block. He’s in the fastest heat and the fastest lane, making a point to everyone who’s watching.

I hope he fucking loses.