Chasing Atlantis (13 page)

“Oh that’s comforting. I make you sick.” I snapped. He grinned at me.

“You know what I mean. But to answer your question,” He paused to choose his words carefully. Sometimes conversation appeared to be difficult for him, like didn’t often use certain words in his everyday vocabulary. “I know humans think that lobster and crab are good and all and I know a certain part of me knows that I might like them. It’s just hard for me to watch someone I care about order—bottom dwellers.” He shuddered.

I gaped open mouthed at him before the words I was trying to piece together came to me. “Wait a minute. You mean you don’t eat lobster or crab? But you will eat fish? I don’t really understand that.”

He squirmed uncomfortably in his seat for a while. The bright eyes dimmed with the seriousness of the conversation. “Well, it’s just that lobsters and crabs live on the bottom among the waste and the leftovers of other animals. It’s disgusting really to think about it. They are such easy prey it’s not even worth wasting the effort.” His handsome face scrunched up in disgust. “Now fish are a completely different matter. Even though I prefer to eat the scales, I can’t just ask for a plate of them at a restaurant. So I have to settle for the stupider fish without the chase.”

“The ‘stupider fish?’” I asked in disbelief. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“I can hear everything that is said, and that goes on underwater, just the same as I can on land. There are certain fish that make no more intelligent noises than chickens, and they give a halfway decent chase. Then there are the creatures, such as; octopi that speak the same language as we do. We don’t eat them because it seems slightly cannibalistic, at least to us. It works the same with humans, normally you don’t eat parrots because they can imitate your language. Usually we eat the stupid fish because we don’t have to hear what they say as you corner them. It makes it easier I guess you could say.”

“So is that how you were able to save him—that boy I mean, the first time I saw you at the beach? You could hear him underwater?”

“Not just him.” Ty pressed his lips together fighting a smile. “There was a baby fish that got trapped beneath him, too afraid to move out from under him. One of the fish in the school that was traveling with him screamed so loud I thought my eardrums would burst. Pat and Henry didn’t feel the need to run after the boy, they heard me say he was going to be fine.” He smiled slightly after that.

I was too stunned to move. “Let me get this straight. You eat the fish that you call ‘dumb,’ only if they give a good chase. You leave the intelligent ones alone because they talk to you, and you can still give orders to them and they will listen?” He nodded several times. My panicked tone made him nervous.

“Yep, that just about sums it all up.” His thumb caressed the hand he held lightly. Goosebumps swept the length of my arms.

“Can you tell me how you travel? I mean how is it possible that you can just come in through my bathtub?” He groaned loudly.

“Ugh. You have so many questions tonight.” He didn’t lose his smile. “I’m going to try and explain this the best that I can. Though I don’t know how much sense it will make to you. I have to be near the place that I want to travel, and I have to be in water. I assess the water near me and imagine that I’m in the place that I want to be in. My body just literally seems to melt into the water, and the water turns into my body, creating a vacuum. The vacuum then pushes me where I want to be, and I just open my eyes, wall-ah!”

“I have so much to learn.” I exclaimed. Instantly, his face was just inches from mine across the table, my slow human eyes missed his movements. My body stiffened in reaction.

“You don’t have to learn anything unless you want to, Amy. This is my life and I don’t want to bother you with it because I am an anomaly.” He bit his lip.

“I
want
to learn this Ty. If I didn’t I wouldn’t be here, I wouldn’t be with you.” I squeezed his hand reassuringly. His answering smile captured me, pulling me in. I couldn’t fight his eyes this time.

Dinner was brought to the table soon afterwards. I wrenched my eyes off Ty’s which isn’t as easy as it sounds. My once delicious dinner didn’t have the same look now that Ty had condemned the fish. It almost made me slightly nauseas to look at it. Once the dishes were placed in front of us I took my glass and raised it in the air.

“To bottom dwellers, and all screaming fish for making this meal complete.” Ty lifted his glass, and easily touched them side by side, without ever releasing my other hand.

“You have to be the most deranged girl I have ever met.” He said between laughs. “That’s probably why I like you so much.”

For once I didn’t try to hide my smile.

12.

When You Play With Fire

Three weeks passed in this fashion. The summer wind whispered joyfully as it caressed my happiness. During the day I would be forced to spend time with the Greys, while regretting every word I uttered on the beach during my date with Adam.

Adam’s behavior had turned from slightly flirting to all but getting down on one knee. He frequently ignored my pleas that we just remain friends for the duration of my visit, claiming he would rather see where “this relationship would take us.” I had doomed myself in my desperate attempt at saving Henry all. I could see was blackness clouding out the sky in every direction, but one.

The only solace I found came from seeing Ty. At night he would come see me for a few hours discussing alternative solutions to the Greys, while revealing little to nothing about himself. Ty always left in the same manner. Out of the blue, he would say he had to leave, grab me and kiss my hand, cheek, or my forehead. Never my mouth, and I didn’t miss that.

During the day, if it was possible, I snuck out to the beach to see him for what little time we could spend together in public. We would practice swimming, for my benefit, clearly not his. Even in his human form he could easily glide through the crashing waves, slipping gracefully between them, weaving a complicated pattern only the most daring swimmers would have attempted. I splashed along noisily, embarrassed at my own clumsiness. Ty never gave any indication that it bothered him, but I worried that I annoyed him. It may be silly, but my frail insecure human instincts constantly got the better of me.

There were still so many questions I wanted answered. Ty would only tell me the answers of questions pertaining to his biology. He often left questions about his personal life hanging, and the main question I wanted answered completely alone.

“But why won’t you tell me why it’s not a good idea for me not to know why you keep bringing up this important thing I’m supposed to remember?” I whined, on a lazy sunny day along the beach. He sighed, exasperated at this stubborn question that I refused to let die.

“Why isn’t my word good enough for you? Come on, don’t make that hurt face. I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just that…” He racked his brain hard, trying to find the correct words. “I just don’t want it to come as a blow to you, that’s all. I will explain it to you. I’ve given you my word on that. So just be
patient
.” My face instantly set in a pout. Being patient wasn’t one of my best qualities. I crossed my arms in front of my chest, staring straight ahead, ignoring Henry’s snide remarks and Ty’s laugh.

“Wow. It’s amazing how much she can imitate Patrick’s scowl. She has seen it a lot though, I’ll give her that.” Patrick turned to glare angrily at Henry’s comment, before he turned his death-stare back to scan the beach.

Henry continued as if he didn’t see it. “When’s the last time we got some real food, Ty?” I understood there was more to the question than what was on the surface. Ty scratched his defined chin, thoughfully.

“Hm. Since Wednesday, I believe. It’s only Friday. Are you that hungry already?” Henry’s only answer was to rub his stomach furtively, and open his puppy dog eyes up wide, so that he looked like he hadn’t eaten in weeks. Both Patrick and Ty threw their water bottles at him in mock disgust.

“You are truly unbelievable, talking about things like that in front of a mere human.” Patrick’s sour tone dragged the mood down.

I glanced do
wn at the sand, angrily. It wasn’t exactly my choice to be a human. Ty snarled a gurgle that sounded very much like a profanity at his older brother. Patrick’s low seductive answering gurgle was calmer, yet filled with a menace that chilled me to the core. Ty glared angrily at Patrick while Patrick’s hate filled stare never wavered an instant. The tension was thick in the air as neither one blinked for what felt like an eternity. Henry was the only one not to let this drag his mood down. A hard pit in my stomach had formed, as the realization that I had caused this fight became clear. I didn’t want to be the one to break the family apart, but in my selfish desires I didn’t want to let Ty go either.

“Well if you two ladies are done with your little tiff now,” he placed a hand on each of his brother’s shoulders, “there will be a school of fresh fish in the bay around eight tonight. Some of our ‘friends’ are driving them in so that there will be a good feast for all. That is, if you two would be kind enough to grace me with your presences.” Both of them let their gazes drop at the same time, so no side won the argument. They nodded in agreement before going in opposite directions. Ty grabbed my hand, pulling me towards the beach, while Patrick took off for a brisk walk down the coast. Henry’s complaints were barely audible above Ty’s nearly endless mutterings.

“You are all leaving me? What? I’m the one who told you about the party tonight and this is the kind of thanks I…” Henry was forced to stay and perform the lifeguard duties. A task he hated because it forced him to stay in the chair away from all the action. Someone in the family had to do it though. It at least gave them the outward appearance of being a normal family, just life guarding to earn some extra money for the summer. It was hard to feel sorry for him when all the ladies turned to eye him hungrily after the party had dispersed.

“I’m sorry about Patrick. I don’t want to be the one to drive wedges between you and your family. Maybe he’s right. Maybe you shouldn’t discuss things like that in front of me, I just don’t know anymore.” Ty jerked his head down, letting the full power of his blazing eyes nestle into mine. I felt powerless, my anxiety instantly melted away.

“Don’t ever let Patrick get to you like that, okay, Amy? You are so special to me and I won’t let you go, not because of something stupid my brother said. I have already lost you once. This time I won‘t go down without a fight. If something happens, it will be because of something between us, not Patrick and us.” I nodded my head in understanding. It felt good to know that Ty wasn’t going to let his brother’s intense dislike of me get in the way of our relationship, whatever type of relationship it is. In some demented way it made me happy to hear that.

“Now, let’s move on to something that actually matters. How’s Gaby?” His body fluidly sliced through a wave that left nearly knocked me off my feet, dragging me down into the sand.

“She’s not doing great.” I sputtered, brushing the sand off my legs. Ty’s lips twitched, fighting a smile, as I glared up at him.

“Juan’s condition is continually getting worse. Last night, I found her outside my room, rambling on about how my being here is the greatest gift that I could ever give her. I think she’s losing it. The worst part is no matter how much I beg my mom to help her out, she won’t! She just keeps repeating that they are paying the medical bills. It’s up to the doctors now.” Gaby was one of the few people that mattered to me at Vero Beach. I couldn’t live knowing that I didn’t do everything in my power to try and help her.

“That doesn’t sound so terrible if they are paying the bills. Maybe they’re right.” Ty sounded optimistic, trying to get me not to hate my parents, I guessed. The attempt was made in vain, but it was still sweet of him to try for me.

“It’s not terrible,” I agreed. “It’s just that I know they have the power, and the money to make almost anything possible. They could hire specialists to take a look at him. It’s just their nonchalant attitudes that are ticking me off! Like they know what’s wrong with him, and they are just waiting for the right moment to do something about it.” My blood actually boiled as I thought of Gaby’s torment. Ty was patient enough to just sit back and listen which can be more helpful than actually giving advice, occasionally.

Ty calmly let me mull my own words around while he floated along the waves. It was impossible to stay mad around him, especially in water. Water is truly his element. There didn’t seem to be any restraints on him, the way a normal human would be chained down to the earth. His movements mirrored the waters, softly gathering speed, until he crashed heavily against the shore. I couldn’t imagine him as being dangerous, he didn’t look at humans the way Mina looked at me, or even Henry’s menacing glare as he stared at Adam. I knew that he and his two brothers were very perilous, but I couldn’t force my brain to really comprehend it.

“What exactly are you going to do tonight with the fish? I mean, are you quick enough to catch them? Swimming that late at night can be dangerous what with sharks. Are you going to be alright?” He rolled his eyes with an exaggerated gesture. I knew my fears were silly. Still, I worried about him.

“Amy, do you realize that we are far more dangerous than sharks, because we have the capability to lure our prey into a false sense of security? Not to mention we can hypnotize them as well to do our bidding. Now, as for the first part—” Before I could blink he dropped below the surface of the water. I saw only a quick shadow dart around me before he quickly emerged from a different spot twenty yards from where he left not two seconds ago.

At first I didn’t notice that anything was unusual, until I looked at his face. There in his mouth, wriggling furtively was a small fish. H
is eyes glinted dangerously, with the knowledge of one who knows that he has just shown his most prized secret. He quickly dropped the fish back into the water before slowly approaching my shocked face.

“We will eat them later tonight, scales and all. Although we do prefer softer skin other than scales. It will have to suffice. Does that answer your question?” He asked his eyes gleaming with chagrin. My open, gaping mouth was the only answer he got in return. He looked up towards the sun to judge the position before turning to me. “I suppose it’s time that you head home. Any longer and they will send out a search party.” His tone had a dark edge to it, as if he actually believed they would.

Finally I composed my shocked features. “You can’t do something like that right in front of me, and then just tell me it’s time to leave? You can’t do that! It’s not fair.” He laughed blackly.

Henry gave us thumbs up as we walked past his gaggle of women that he attracted with one of his outrageous stories. He had his arms looped around two of them, as four others passive aggressively fought to be near him. Ty rolled his eyes while I giggled. There was something childish about Henry that added to his loveable charm. Henry actually made an attempt to get along with me, which is more than I can say for Patrick.
That
relationship was doomed from the start in my book.

The walk back to my car was silent accept for the occasional shout of a child. I hated leaving Ty, especially to go to the house. Tonight was an exceptionally terrible night because Mom had agreed that I would go out with Adam to get ice cream. I hadn’t consented to this, throwing the tantrum of a lifetime when I discovered what she did. This time I told Ty the moment I knew there was no getting out of it so that he couldn’t be angry. I cringed internally as I dreaded the night and what it would bring. Ty squeezed me much tighter than usual as we parted. He bent his head down
to mine so that his mouth was level with my ear as he whispered,

“I have no problems if you want him to be near you, but I swear if he does one thing that makes you uncomfortable, even if it’s as silly as brushing against you. Just go near water, and whisper my name. I’ll be there.” I felt his hands tremble with ferocity, there was real menace in his expression.

“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry.” I ignored the instant glare I received as I asked him not to worry. It was like asking a mother to let her child play with alligators without caring. “Tonight, presents me with an opportunity to do the thing I’ve wanted to do for a while. I’m going to set him straight. I’m going to do it face to face and without parents so that there won’t be any distractions, for either of us.” Although his face remained smooth, his eyes betrayed the overwhelming feeling of relief that washed over him.

“Whatever you think is necessary.” I scoffed at his sad attempts at sounding casual about the situation. His answering grin raised my heart through my chest. He pulled me up in his arms once again, burying my face in his chest. “I lied. I am so ecstatic that you are finally going to say it to his face. Just be careful, that’s all. You don’t want him spreading this to his parents, or you’ll never hear the end of it.” I groaned as he mentioned that little inconvenient fact.

“I don’t care anymore what they say. It’s not important to me. You are important to me now. I think it’s time that they understand that.” Ty bit down on his lower lip doubtfully. I wasn’t sure myself if my family was ever going to accept Ty but I had to at least try.

I scrambled into the car while Ty carefully shut the door behind me. He lingered by my car, watching me leave. His strangely beautiful face was creased with agitation. I thought it was odd that he was this worried about Adam; it wasn’t as if it was my life hanging in the balance. Adam was just a boy my mom had hopes for and it didn’t work out, but we could still be good friends if he allowed it. Nothing more.

I got ready for my date with a new determination than ever before. I no longer dreaded the date just what would come after it. Trivial things such as; outfits and hair no longer mattered. The only thing that mattered was that Adam understood we could be nothing but friends. I regretted not making my intentions clear sooner. However, what is done is done. Now I just had to clean up my mess. I’ve made my bed now I must lie in it, as the old expression goes.

Mom and Steve were strangely calm about this date. They had a quiet, smug air that seemed to linger about their stealthy figures, lately. It was very obnoxious. They stood straighter and talked to me with much more authority than before, as if they had won some secret battle that had raged on while I was out. I didn’t like it. It made me feel very self-conscious.

I waited for Adam in silence, hearing their silent whispers from the foyer. Both eyes watched my every movement with great detail, never making a single comment. They were suspiciously quiet. I shifted uncomfortably as the minutes dragged on.

By the time Adam arrived I had run through my speech in ten different scenarios trying to predict his every emotion, my reaction to it, in a delicate juggle to keep a friend while not to lead him on anymore than I already have. A very tricky situation. I tapped my foot in impatience as I waited for him to ring the doorbell. He didn’t have time to pull his hand away before I was standing by his side, careening him to the car.

“Once again you look fantastic.” It took a lot of guts for him to fake that lie. I barely looked passable in a yellow tank top combined with jeans. Adam tried to keep some of his bravado as I revoked his man card by opening the door before he could get to the car.

“Thank you Adam, you look good too.” Good wasn’t quite the word, fantastic was more like it. I didn’t want to think about that though. I had more pressing matters at hand.