Submerging Inferno

by Brandon Witt

  “Uhm, yeah, that sounds great.” I handed him a glass, forcing him to put down the plate. “Did you have something in mind?”

  “Not really. You know, get your car, go to a movie, grab some dinner, go to the beach, go swimming, whatever.”

  I peered at him quizzically. “Swimming? Why swimming?”

  The tone of my voice made him glance up from drying the dishes. “Just an idea, I don’t actually care what we do. I like the beach, and it’s a gorgeous day out. I’m fine with anything.”

  I felt my eyes narrow. “Can you read… I mean, can witches and warlocks read minds?”

  “Yeah, some can. No one in my family. It’s not where our strengths lie. Why?”

  “I was just wondering. It’s funny that you should mention swimming. I love to swim more than about anything, that’s all.”

  Now that we were talking about it, the need to be in the water became almost a physical necessity. My skin felt dry, the air thin and gritty. I hadn’t realized it, but I’d not been in the water, except for the few moments searching for my clothes yesterday, and I actually hadn’t swum since the day before that. I couldn’t even remember the last time I had missed my nightly swim. “Let’s go swimming. Right now.” I plopped the silverware I was rinsing back into the sudsy water.

  “As in now, now?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Don’t you want to go get your car first?”

  “No, it’s fine. We can get it later tonight.”

  Finn grinned and shook his head, dumbfounded. “Okay then, let’s go now. I haven’t been swimming in La Jolla for a long time. Wanna go there?”

  At his words, I felt some of the tension loosen from my body. “I haven’t been swimming with the seals in La Jolla for weeks! That sounds per…. Oh wait, no. Not there. I have family that lives in La Jolla. My grandmother. With the luck I’ve had the past couple of days, she’ll be sitting there on the shore waiting for me. I don’t think I could handle that today.” Then another thought hit me. “Plus, I haven’t exactly called in to work the past couple of days. Probably shouldn’t show up to simply go swimming.”

  Finn stood there, mouth open, seemingly missing most of what I had said. “Wait, you’re telling me that you go swimming with the seals? Often?”

  I shrugged. “Yeah, sure. They’re a lot of fun.”

  “Wow. That’s crazy. They’re not scared off by you?”

  I’d never really thought about it. I had always swum with the seals, sea turtles, whatever animal happened to be present at the time. “No, why would they be?”

  He let out a snort. “Okay, this I’ve gotta see. And if you don’t want to do it today, that’s fine, but seriously, wow!”

  I’m not sure why his reaction bothered me, but it did. “You look almost as shocked as when your dad said I was part demon.”

  “Well, yeah, I guess I am. I’ve never met anyone who could swim with seals like it was a normal everyday thing. And, now that you mention it, that’s doubly true since you’re part demon. Animals should shy away from you.”

  “Really? Because I’m part demon?”

  “Yeah, animals always recognize a predator, and demon blood, unless it’s extremely diluted like it is with witches and warlocks, definitely sends out a predator vibe.”

  “Well, cats and dogs don’t like me. When I was a kid, Grandma got me a little golden retriever puppy. We kept him for about a week. He’d never quit crying and growling when I was in the room. I think I cried for the next month. I’d wanted one so badly.” It was mind-boggling how finding out my heritage was making so many pieces fall into place.

  “Yeah, that makes sense. Still, I’d think it would be the same for all animals, sea life and fish included.”

  “Not that I’ve noticed.” Nearly every time I went swimming, I was surrounded by some type of sea life—most often schools of fish, but sometimes dolphins and rays and larger animals.

  “I’m surprised no one has found this strange before me. Your friends at school never thought it was odd?”

  “I’ve never really swum with anyone in the ocean before. It’s always kinda been my ‘get away from the rest of the world’ time.”

  “Oh.” He glanced down at the dishtowel in his hands. “Well, we don’t have to do it now. I could let you go swim on your own.”

  “No, don’t be silly. Let’s go.”

  He patted his pockets as if looking for something. “I just thought, I don’t have swimming trunks.”

  The voice of the boy telling me the same thing two nights ago echoed in my ears, but I shoved it away. “It’s okay. I’ve got several pairs. I’m sure one will fit you.”

  BY THE time Finn drove us to Mission Beach, it was nearly six, and I was already starving, despite the sandwiches. The beach was especially crowded, which would typically make me choose to go somewhere else, but given the events of late, I figured this time it might be a good problem to have.

  “If I’d been thinking, I would have stopped by the grocery store and picked up some burgers or something to grill after we swim.” Finn’s stomach must have been growling as well.

  I peered around him to see what he was looking at. There was a family with four little kids sitting around a portable grill cooking hot dogs. “Yeah, I’m not sure if we’re allowed to have fires on this beach. I’d say they’ll be lucky if the beach patrol doesn’t pass by and make them put it out. Good thing I’m off duty.”

  “It would be worth the risk, I say.” Finn rubbed his stomach. It seemed he was already becoming less self-conscious around me. I wanted to reach out and do the same, but I figured that might be a little too soon and make him revert back to trying to hide it. “You’re hungry already too?”

  He grinned. “Always. Plus, I haven’t had my quota of pastries today. I’m gonna have sugar withdrawal here in a bit.”

  I laughed. “Well, I’ll try not to keep you out in the water too long. Don’t want you to pass out and get carried out to sea.”

  “Oh, well, you could just call one of your seal friends to come get me.”

  “How about a great white, instead?”

  WE PLACED our blankets out of reach of the surf. Finn bent down and dug a small hole under one of the corners of his.

  “What are you doing?”

  He looked up and gave a crooked smile. The sun glinted off the golden-brown muscles that rippled over his shoulders and upper back. I tried to keep my eyes focused on his. “I always bury my truck key. Don’t want it to get lost.”

  “You know, those trunks have a little pocket in them.”

  “What? If it falls out in the water are you gonna have a little hermit crab hunt it down for me?”

  “Fine. But don’t blame me when someone moves our towels and you can’t find your key.”

  He shrugged. “Hasn’t happened yet.” His hand shot out and smacked me in the stomach. “Race ya!” Before I could respond, he was off, tearing across the sand. He made a little waving motion with his hand over his shoulder. “Last one in over their head is a demon!”

  Within five paces, I caught up to him, our feet now covered in the lapping waves. “You were saying?” I managed to get out between breaths.

  Finn raised his left hand, making a flicking motion with his fingers. I felt my knees and elbows lock, and before I could even think of trying to steady myself, I dropped like a fallen tree face first in the shallow water. I landed hard on my stomach and felt the wind knocked out of me. Before I could get my breath back, a small wave hit me in the face. I felt my joints unlock. Sputtering and spitting out water, I hopped up and glanced around.

  Finn was in front of me, the water already over his waist. He turned around and waved at me. “What’s taking you so long?” With that he plunged himself under the water.

  By the time I reached him, he was standing again, his dark hair plastered and dripping. “That was you, wasn’t it!”

  He raised both his hands, declaring innocence. “What? I never said we couldn’t use spells.”


  “Oh right. What did you want me to do? Set you on fire?”

  “Well, if you’re ever going to, this would be the place to do it. Fire demons can’t do much surrounded by water.”

  “Really?”

  “Of course not. What would you expect them to do, set the water on fire?”

  “Well, yeah, actually.”

  Finn shook his head. “Don’t get me wrong. Put a fire demon in water, and he’s still a demon, and if he’s looking to kill you, you’ll die, just not with fire.” Finn cocked his head to the side, his eyes narrowing as he peered at my face, his voice taking on a softer quality. “Are you okay? You look kinda worried all of a sudden.”

  “No, I’m fine. Trying to take it all in.” If fire demons couldn’t use fire in water, then what did that mean about me? Had Wendell been wrong? And if I wasn’t part demon, then what was I?

  “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “Yeah.” I glanced around, trying to shake it off. There were scores of people around us. “Let’s swim out farther. Are you okay with that?”

  “Sure, I’m not afraid of water.”

  “Sonia wouldn’t even come out this far. She’s terrified of sharks.”

  Finn gave me a little smirk. “I don’t really want to come face to face with one, but if I do, at least I have Aquaman here to talk the shark into eating someone else.”

  “Shut up!”

  I WAS surprised as we swam out farther. I didn’t feel like anything was watching me. Even swimming underwater, I didn’t see anything out of place or feel things touching me. I didn’t even see the normal amount of fish that typically would have been swimming with me. That was standard when I was lifeguarding, because there were too many people around, but it didn’t seem like just being with one other person should scare them off. Or maybe I was somehow different after the vampire bite.

  Although the absence of ocean life was somewhat disconcerting, it was a relief to not feel the alien presence with me. I pushed that worry from my mind.

  The ocean worked its magic. Even the new worries about fire demons being extinguished in water didn’t concern me. All I felt was the warm fluid surrounding my skin and the distant currents whispering to me. I stayed under, diving deep, coming close to the surface, and diving again for quite a while, until I remembered Finn was with me, and was probably freaking out somewhere above. With a few swift kicks, I broke the surface.

  Finn was only a few feet away, treading water. From the look on his face, he had most definitely been worried. “You really are Aquaman! You were under there forever.”

  “Sorry, got lost in the joy of it all.”

  “You weren’t kidding when you said you loved swimming, were you?” He swam closer to me, stopping less than an arm’s length away. He inspected me closely, his eyes wide.

  “What? Is there something wrong?”

  He continued to stare, openmouthed. “No, it’s just, well, I don’t see how it could be possible.”

  A tinge of anxiety crept in, despite the healing effect of the saltwater. Had I burst into flames while I was diving and didn’t notice?

  Finn reached out toward me, stopping shy of touching my face. “It’s just that you are somehow more beautiful now than you were before.”

  I felt the tension leave my body once more. “Oh please. Come on!”

  “No, really. It’s almost like you glisten out here or something. You’re radiant. Like your skin is covered with mother-of-pearl.” With that, his fingers touched my face, tracing down the skin on my cheek and then moving to do the same on the other side.

  My skin tingled wherever he touched, and my breathing started to become shallower.

  Still treading water with his other hand, he moved his fingers down my neck and followed the path of my collarbone, over my shoulder, and then lower, beneath the waves, making patterns on my chest.

  I could hear his breathing grow faster, felt it on my face as he drew closer. His hand, which had been treading water, was now secured behind my neck as he relied on me to keep us both afloat. His other hand now lay flat against my chest, slowly caressing each curve. It passed over my stomach and circled around to my back, pulling him closer, until he was pressed against me. “It’s so warm next to you.”

  I barely had time to make sense of his mumbled words before his lips were on mine. I felt him pull at my lower lip and heard myself groan.

  His lips were soft but hungry. Not your typical “let’s-get-it-on” kiss. Deeper. More tender. Captivating.

  “No!” I shoved him away. Hard. He flew backward in the water several yards, flailing his arms to keep from going under, a look of pain on his face like I had just backhanded him.

  I shouted again and then dove beneath the surface and took off for the shore.

  Chapter 14

  I SAT on the beach towel, my arms wrapped around my knees. I guessed it had been nearly fifteen minutes since I returned to shore. Had I swum in that much faster than Finn, or was he just mad and not wanting to see me?

  I started to get up to search when I noticed him slowly wading through the receding tide. He was a silhouette in front of the first orangish-pink rays of sunset. His shoulders were slumped, and he kept his eyes focused on the ground.

  He paused at the water line, glanced up at me waiting for him, and then glanced back down, his face reddening in the fading light. He took a deep breath, attempted to square his shoulders, and picked up his speed. He didn’t look at me when he arrived at the towels. He squatted down, lifted up the corner of his towel, and stuck his hand in the sand, digging for his key.

  “Finn, listen, I….”

  “No, don’t.” He still wouldn’t raise his eyes to me. “You don’t need to say anything. I’ll take you to your car.” His voice was emotionless, flat. He pulled the key out and automatically wiped it off on his wet swim trunks, leaving a streak of sand behind.

  “Finn, please, let me explain. You don’t understand.”

  “You don’t need to say anything, Brett.” He lifted his head and tried to look at me, but the moment his eyes met mine, they darted away. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to… well, I guess I thought that… I don’t know what I thought.”

  “You’re sorry? I’m the one who should be apologizing.”

  He shook his head. “No. I’m the one who kissed you. I shouldn’t have done that. I guess I was reading into things.” He paused awkwardly.

  “I wanted you to kiss me.” The depth of emotion in my voice surprised even me.

  Finn’s face jerked up, and he cocked his head at me quizzically. “You wanted me to kiss you?”

  I just nodded.

  “Then, why did you… what was wrong?”

  I hesitated. I wasn’t sure if I really wanted him to know. It was bad enough thinking I was a demon. What might he decide I was after hearing this? It would guarantee he would never kiss me again. Who could blame him?

  He started to stand back up, but I reached out and pulled him down.

  “Okay, listen.” I glanced at him to make sure he was going to stay and then turned away. “Everything has been strange lately. Maybe it was just the part-demon stuff and maybe it wasn’t, but I was starting to think I was going crazy.”

  He started to say something, but I cut him off. “A couple of days ago, my grandfather died, and it brought up a lot of my old ‘family issues’ crap.”

  Finn’s face took on the countenance appropriate for when someone’s puppy gets run over by a semi. “Oh, Brett, I’m so sorry.”

  I waved him off. “Anyway, in the whole mix of everything, I decided I was going to go end my five month celibacy streak.” I glanced at him to make sure he was going to be okay with this. He gave me a forced, yet encouraging, smile. “This guy and I went swimming at the beach a couple of nights ago. We were lying on the sand and… well, you know.”

  He smiled again, less enthusiastic this time.

  “Well, somehow, while I was kissing him, he started to drown, but I didn’t realize
it.”

  “Wait. He started to drown? Were you in the water?” He forgot his reluctance in discussing my hooking up.

  I shrugged. “Kinda, but not really. I mean, the waves were lapping at our feet, but our heads were never underwater or anything.”

  “Well, maybe some of the water just seeped in and he choked.”

  “No. I thought about that too. He coughed up gallons, Finn. I mean buckets of water. I don’t even know how he could have that much in him.”

  Finn thought for a moment and started to speak. I cut him off again. “That’s not all.” I’d been unable to look directly at him, but now I held his gaze. I needed to see his reaction. “Finn, the guy’s skin was like it had been boiled. It was bright red and had blisters everywhere.”

  Finn’s eyes bugged slightly, but other than that, he gave no reaction. I could see the thoughts whirling through his mind. After several seconds, he asked, “What happened next?”

  “He was screaming at me to get away from him.” I looked down at my lap. “So, I did.”

  Hesitantly, I glanced back at Finn, who was deep in thought. He sat there, a puzzled expression on his face, his brow furrowed. “Say something.”

  He leaned forward. “Were you mad or something?”

  “No. At least I don’t think so.” I gave him a moment, then rushed forward. “I went back the next day. I couldn’t find any sign of him, so I guess he’s okay.”

  Finn didn’t seem overly concerned about the boy. “So, are you thinking you somehow filled him with water while you were kissing?”