Chapter Seventeen

Ari and Eoghan were chewing the last bites of their protein bars as they entered the gym for a workout. Ari had promised himself that he'd make a concerted effort to take better care of himself, and Eoghan had seemed very pleased with that decision. Sure enough, as soon as they walked into the gym and the scent of sweat hit his nostrils, he already felt healthier. He silently laughed at himself and swallowed the last of his protein bar, chasing it with a half bottle of water, then followed Eoghan to the registration desk to pick up day passes.

The clang of weight machines and the thud of heavy rope hitting the mat as someone lifted the length, only to slam it back down to work their upper arms and shoulders, brought back memories of only a few days before. He and Eoghan liked working out side by side in the I.S.R. gym, pushing each other to do better, checking each other's form, and spotting each other whenever they lifted. Ari liked the routine of going to the gym on a regular basis and jogging with Eoghan at his side when a gym wasn't always available. He patted his backpack and smiled just a little when he remembered packing his swim trunks. He was elated that this gym had a pool, and a saltwater one at that. When he'd perused the website, he'd noticed that the pool was billed as being great for overcoming injuries and he was intrigued to try it out.

"I'm gonna go take a swim," Ari said, pointing to the indoor pool adjacent to the two locker rooms.

"I'll meet you in there," Eoghan replied. "I'm gonna grab a steam first."

Ari smiled, wiping his forehead. Eoghan loved the steam room. Every time they went to the gym together, Eoghan spent half his time in there, coming out soaked and red-faced. Ari liked the look on his lover but personally, he preferred the sauna. He liked the pure sweat of the hot, dry air rather than the wet steam.

He often spent fifteen minutes doing laps after his workout which always invigorated him. He'd gotten used to swimming back home in Lexington where the summers were so humid, his clothes had rings of sweat under the arms. He mostly felt like he was walking around wet all the time. He watched Eoghan walk away as they split off in the locker room, admiring the wet stripe down the center of his tank top and his gorgeous bubble butt.

When he got to the pool door, he had a disappointing surprise. Someone had tacked a rope across it with a sign—Closed for Private Party. Ari thought that was odd and he frowned at the sign. He'd seen restaurants closing off a seating area for a private party or corporate meeting, but it was a busy time at the gym. He figured he'd be nosy and check for himself.

The door opened easily and the tang of the saltwater pool hit his nostrils. He heard a great splash before pushing the door wider and peered inside. "Hello? Is there anyone in here?" More splashing. The indoor space was unusually dark and the moment he put his head farther inside, he heard a huge slosh as though someone had pushed a great deal of water over the edge of the pool and onto the decking. He glanced at the tile wall and found a light switch. A row of fluorescent lights blinked on from above as someone started yelling.

"Can't you read, motherfucker? It's a private party!" the deep voice called out. More splashing followed.

Ari frowned. At first, he didn't see anyone but as he glanced around, he noticed a huge puddle of water at the far end of the room. Someone was sloshing water out of the pool, but no one was visible. He wasn't used to being sworn at. But was torn about disturbing someone's privacy, even if they were rude. Ari was in the wrong after all, but that didn't give anyone leave to call him names. He searched the room, noting the only movement was coming from ripples at the far end of the pool.

Someone is under the water.

A chill shot down his spine for some reason as he walked fully inside and made his way over to the edge. Even though it was still relatively dark, he could make out an even darker and unusual shape under the water at the other end. He turned the corner cautiously on the non-slip decking but kept one eye on the undulating, dark shape as he headed for the far side of the room. A minute or more had passed since the person had yelled at him.

Another shiver went down his spine and Ari realized his imagination was getting away on him. After meeting the Powmays and then having a run-in with the ringed octopus shifters who'd remained human-sized even after their shift, this is where his mind was going. He pictured his handgun tucked away in its holster in the Charger's glove compartment outside. Perhaps he should back out and go to find Eoghan. But he'd feel really stupid if it was just a regular human wanting some privacy.

Still, if something dangerous had decided to take a swim in the saltwater pool, he could be in trouble. Ari glanced down at his bare feet and the pool deck and made a quick calculation of how fast he could run before looking back at the object in the pool.

He was now close enough that he could see that it wasn't a single object but more than one. And as he crept even closer, he could make out two heads of dark, human hair, waving beneath the surface, near the bottom of the pool. He stopped in his tracks with shock, though, when he realized there was a third head…a much smaller head.

A child!

Under the water!

For more than a minute…

Cold fear shot though Ari like he'd been hit by a bolt of lightning. A child couldn't survive under water for more than a minute. For that matter, if they dunked their head underwater for more than a few seconds, circumstances would be dire. He didn't stop to think. He tossed aside the towel around his midsection before diving into the water.

The second he did, he realized his mistake.

His dive had given him momentum as he hit the water, unfortunately propelling him right toward the creatures who huddled in a corner clutching what turned out to be a toddler girl. Her dark, silken locks, similar to her parents', floated about her head, making her look so angelic with the addition of a button nose, soft pink lips, and pale green eyes, that she should've been the subject of a painting. Her mother, equally as beautiful with large, green eyes, held her baby in a tight hug.

But…it was the furious look of the strapping male that Ari would remember in his nightmares. Even though he tried too late to check his plunge through the water once he'd broken the surface, he couldn't stop his momentum and ended up coming to a halt only ten feet away from the male who shot through the water toward him at what felt like light speed. Ari didn't even have time to right himself before he was waving both hands out in front of himself, trying not to use the air in his lungs to scream, "I.S.R! Please…I'm I.S.R!"

Even so, bubbles flew out of his mouth and rose to the surface of the pool, six feet above.

The next thing he knew, the male was on him, hands around his throat, shaking him, wrapping his enormous silken tail around his body and dragging him so close he couldn't get free. Ari fought against the merman, trying not to take in water, his lungs bursting as he pounded against his chest with both fists. He used everything he had to fight the half-man, half-fish, even resorting to sending up prayers to a god he wasn't sure existed after learning all the things he'd learned since joining Eoghan on this crazy Don Quixote'esqe version of life.

Ari did his best to fight, but to his horror, realized his vision was starting to swim with black spots. He promised himself he wouldn't panic but no matter how hard he tried; he couldn't break the merman's hold. Ari knew in his heart he was losing. He held his breath but felt the fight going slowly out of him, feeling helpless against the inhuman strength of the merman and yet, unwilling to give up the fight until he absolutely had to. He kicked his legs, feeling them hit the merman's giant tail, oddly noting both the smoothness but also the muscular nature of the strange extremity.

I'm dying.

The horrible thought flitted through his mind as he suddenly pictured the despair on Eoghan's face when he saw him lying dead, choked, drowned, or both, floating at the bottom of the pool. Fleetingly, he wondered why he'd needed to explore the damned pool alone, even when he'd realized something was wrong. Why hadn't he gone looking for Eoghan? He was starting to drift, unconsciousness slowly overtaking him…

A shout rang out. It was garbled, clearly not coming from the creature he was fighting, and when he got a good look at the merman's face, he'd turned to look upward, seeming to watch something…or someone intently. He suddenly let Ari go. In an instant, the vise-like pressure he'd been feeling relented.

Overwhelming agony sent flaming hot fire racing along every nerve in his neck. It took him a split second before he'd regained enough of his senses to feel the next sensation which was the desperate need to breathe. He began kicking his legs, once again aware that he was hearing distant shouting. It felt so far away and yet so familiar, he somehow knew he needed to swim toward it.

The moment his head broke the surface, Ari gasped, sucking in great lungfuls of air. It came rushing into his lungs so quickly and so painfully, he began coughing. He tried turning his head to see where the shouting was coming from, only now recognizing Eoghan's voice. Unfortunately, when he moved his neck, the overwhelming urge to vomit rushed in on him. He was helpless to move, knowing if he tried, he might pass out. And then everything became clear. Instinctively, he realized if he didn't make it to the side of the pool where he could grab the edge, there was a chance he'd go under again.

And if I pass out, I can't help Eoghan.

The urge to help his lover suddenly became Ari's sole focus. He desperately began kicking his feet, moving his arms gingerly as he tried turning his body rather than his head to spot Eoghan that way. Sure enough, Eoghan and the dark-haired creature were in a tussle, rolling on the pool deck. Shockingly, Ari noticed the merman was no longer in half-fish form. He had two legs…and he was underneath Eoghan, being pummeled by him as his lover bloodied his nose, smearing more across his cheeks with every punch to the face.

Just as Ari managed to grasp the side of the pool with one hand, a high-pitched shriek filled the room. Ari clamped his hands over his ears clumsily, and Eoghan stopped what he was doing so he could cover his ears too. The moment he did so, the merman sucked in a huge breath of air and let out a similar sound, this one quieter, wobblier, and not nearly as high-pitched. If the call of a fish in human form could sound male, that's exactly what this was.

"Eoghan!" Ari tried to scream his name but nothing over a strangled whisper managed to leave his lips. Like him, Eoghan's hands still covered both ears, the exercise was bound to be futile. He wouldn't have been able to hear Ari.

Eoghan frantically looked around and spotting him for the first time, instantly dropped his hands, rolled off the merman, and shot to his feet, closing the distance between them in a matter of seconds. He hit his knees falling to the pool deck as he reached out for him.

"Ari!" Eoghan cried, tears flooding his eyes as his gaze raced over his face, neck, and upper body. "Where're you hurt?"

Ari could only imagine what his neck looked like. Even under his dark skin there had to be some visible swelling, if not bruises and he wasn't entirely sure he was even really alive judging by the pain he was feeling. He slowly nodded his head, wincing when the pain shot through him. It was hideous. "I'm okay," he croaked out, lifting one hand and holding it to his neck in the universal choking gesture. "Let them know I wasn't trying to hurt him or his family," he said in a hoarse whisper.

Eoghan stared at him with sympathy in his eyes, but only for a second before he hardened his gaze and glanced over his shoulder. When he saw the man kneeling on the pool decking with his wife kneeling before him, their daughter in a loving embrace, Ari felt embarrassed. Eoghan turned back to him, wearing a murderous frown.

"Don't…hurt…them," Ari squeaked as Eoghan helped him out of the pool. "It was my fault, Eoghan. I dove in—" He swallowed hard. "Before I knew what I was doing. He thought I was attacking his family."

Eoghan nodded, letting out a deep sigh as he made sure Ari was settled on the decking before he slowly got to his feet. "I'm going to go deal with this and then, I'm going to get you to a hospital, Ari." He turned to walk away but Ari grabbed his wrist. When Eoghan looked down at him, Ari swallowed painfully, wincing once more.

"No hospitals," he whispered hoarsely. "I'm fine."

"Let me deal with this," Eoghan said with a frown before gently pulling free of his grasp. Seconds later, he'd closed the distance between Ari and the small family.

The male stood, putting himself protectively between Eoghan and his mate and their child. Ari listened to Eoghan identify himself and Ari, stating they were I.S.R. and that Ari had only dived into the pool because he thought someone was trying to drown a child. He explained that Ari had a thing for kids and that he'd seen them in dire situations before. He hadn't actually told Eoghan about his affinity for children, but he'd picked up on it. He made apologies for Ari and then offered to introduce him to the merman, waiting for a full minute before the creature finally nodded his head, leaving his wife and child, and walking toward him.

Ari rolled to his hands and knees, fully intending on standing when pain dragged him back down to the decking as he fell flat, painfully curling to his side on the hard cement surface. Eoghan rushed over, also falling to his knees and helping him right himself as the merman stood over them. Ari glanced up at him, wincing from the pain in his neck before Eoghan clasped his elbow and hand and helped him rise shakily to his feet. When he stood in front of the creature, he noticed gills on each side of the man's neck. They opened and closed with each breath he took. Bright red blood caked his nose and cheeks where Eoghan had hit him over and over.

"I'm sorry," he said, holding out a hand. "I'm Gael and they are Gialle and Jaelle. I thought you meant to hurt them."

Ari glanced down at his hand, groaning as the simple act of looking downward, made his entire neck ache all over again, but somehow managing to take the merman's hand anyway. "Sorry," he croaked, absently lifting his hand to his neck in the choking gesture again. The simple touch of his fingers made him hurt so profoundly, he felt like crying as his eyes welled with tears.

"He's having trouble speaking," Eoghan supplied, putting his arm around Ari's shoulder. "Come over here and sit," he said, pointing to a nearby bench. He guided him over to it and Ari complied, only because he couldn't speak well and at the same time, someone inside his noggin was banging cymbals, echoing hollowly inside his skull. The pain made it hard to think and at the moment, nothing sounded better to him than a long nap. At this point, he wasn't sure he'd survive falling asleep and couldn't stand the thought of how Eoghan would react if he didn't wake up again.

"I can help your partner," Gael told Eoghan, gesturing at his head and neck.

"How?" Eoghan asked suspiciously.

He simply nodded. "I-I can," he said, seeming to hesitate just long enough to hold out one hand. In an instant, one fingernail lengthened, becoming a point. Ari stiffened but before he even had time to scoot back, Gael sliced his own inner arm open. Blood welled and then began pouring out of the wound as it opened wide.

"Why-d why—?" Eoghan shouted.

"Watch," the merman shushed him. His fingernail once again returned to normal size and then he turned his palm up and held it out so that they could both see. Instantly, the center of his hand began to glow. The circle of red began to radiate out from the center, growing larger and larger until it filled his entire palm. "Feel my fire." He nodded at his palm and Eoghan reached out. But, before he could get close, snatched his hand away.

"It's hot." He frowned as he exchanged a glance with Ari.

Ari shrugged, feeling his own head pound as his headache grew infinitely worse.

"The fire will heal." With that, Gael instantly turned the palm and held it over his forearm. Ari watched in amazement as the sides of the wound began knitting themselves together. Within seconds, it had closed completely. He turned the palm up to show them, and Ari watched the glow fade to a tiny pinprick before completely disappearing.

"What the hell?" Eoghan said, reaching out but then stopping as he nodded at his hands. "Can I feel your palm and inspect the wound?"

"You may," the merman said.

Ari watched as Eoghan did just as he'd asked, touching the man's palm and then running his thumb over the place in Gael's forearm where the skin had completely split only a few minutes before.

"I don't believe it." Eoghan looked at Ari. "It's completely healed and cool to the touch."

"Let him do it, Eoghan," Ari gasped. "Feel like I'm dying," he whispered disjointedly, feeling like his grip on consciousness was weak at best.

Eoghan frowned at him and then turned toward the merman. "Are you sure this won't hurt him?" He sounded desperate.

"I promise it will not. I damaged your partner. Let me heal him," Gael said.

Eoghan turned to Ari, looking undecided. Clearly, he was terrified of making a horrible mistake.

Ari nodded. "Please, Eoghan," he croaked.

"Okay, fine. Do it, Gael." Eoghan bit his thumbnail as they both watched Gael once again turn his palm over. The glow began in the center and then spread before he took a few steps closer.

Ari wasn't surprised that Eoghan took his hand and held onto him tightly as the merman lifted his glowing hand and held it over the top of his head. Almost instantly, he felt warmth radiating over the crown of his head. It moved down to heat his face but not unpleasantly. In fact, as the heat moved lower, it felt like his entire being was being bathed in the warmth of sunshine from a summer's day.

"Ari?" Eoghan questioned.

"It's getting better, Eoghan." He wasn't kidding. The feeling was incredible. The temperature didn't grow the least bit uncomfortable as Gael worked his magic. Instead, it simply felt as though he was being bathed in sunlight. Every hurt in his body fell away bit by bit and within a few minutes, the pain entirely vanished. Along with it, went the heat, and Ari opened his eyes again, noting the smile on Eoghan and Gael's face as they each stared at him.

"Good?" Eoghan asked.

Ari sighed. "Perfect." He reached up, testing his neck again with a hand and found absolutely no pain there. He twisted his head from side to side, nodding before smiling as he got to his feet. "Thank you."

Gael reached out, and Ari took his hand, shaking it. "It was my fault. I am sorry."

"It was my fault," Ari said, noting that his voice was back to normal as well. "I was the intruder, but I acted on instinct when I saw a child under the water. I truly thought she was drowning."

"It is fine," Gael said. "We come here each week for a special time with my daughter. The owner of this establishment is a goldfish shifter and he allows this because merfolk cannot take our offspring to the ocean until they are older."

"I don't understand," Eoghan said. "Your people…merfolk…your people aren't born in the ocean?"

"We are but we are being forced from the seas," Gael said. "They are being polluted by human waste and garbage, so we are forced to live deep underwater to keep away from the danger."

It made sense to Ari. He exchanged a glance with Eoghan who looked as outraged as he felt himself. The very fact that these beautiful creatures were forced out of their home by something as terrible as the humans who dumped trash in the world's oceans, was the saddest thing he'd come across since realizing the paranormal world existed.

"Why are you here, though?" Eoghan asked.

"Because our bodies require salt and the sea to survive. This saltwater pool and others like it, provide a haven for our people," Gael said.

"I mean—I'm sorry—I mean, why are you and your family not on the bottom of the sea where it's safe?" Eoghan pressed.

"We must come to the surface once a year. We need the sun as well. After, we can dive back down, but sun is needed annually," Gael replied. "We have been here—" He turned to gesture for his family to join him before turning back. "We have been here for more than a year since Jaelle's birth. We cannot return home."

Ari was furious as he stood here listening to Gael talk. His mate and their offspring came over, smiling shyly at them and only then did he spot the tiny gills on the sides of the baby's neck as well as the larger ones on her mother.

"I'm so sorry to have scared you," Ari said to Gael's mate.

"You did not know," Gialle said. She glanced at her baby who sucked on two fingers and then held them up before grinning. Jaelle let out a delightful coo which sounded like a much quieter version of the high-pitched scream which her mother had let out when she'd witnessed her mate being attacked. Gialle returned her daughter's smile and then kissed the drooling child's cheek before turning back to him. "You are brave. Thank you for trying to save us."

Ari bowed just a little bit. "You're welcome. I only wish the humans who pollute the oceans could be more easily punished. I feel powerless that I can't help the merfolk with this terrible problem."

"Pollution of the oceans is a terrible problem for all creatures," Gael said. He slid his arm around his mate and child before looking back at them. "Someday it will be too late for the humans as well."

Ari nodded, feeling the creature's sadness and knowing he wasn't the only one feeling powerless. They left the small family a short while later, walking out to the car in relative silence. Ari couldn't imagine how horrible it could be to be a creature whose very existence depended upon humans simply being kind. It made him ashamed to be counted among them.

Several hours later, in hindsight, he'd be reminded by his partner that even though what he'd done made him too stupid to live, he'd done what he'd done to save a child and was ultimately a kind and caring person.

But this was more than a child and two adults floating lazily at the bottom of the pool. Ari had disturbed the private bath and "party" time between other mythic creatures…a family of mermaids…and as it turned out—very outraged—mermaids.

As it turned out, I.S.R. Marshal Aristotle Brown was batting a thousand, and the universe was laughing its ass off at him.