Vivian Arend - Whirlpool

They were there.

A beam of light descended from above, cutting through the glittering surface and breaking into a million sparkles of light. Luminescent algae and starfish of every color and size were everywhere. A sunstar with over twenty-four legs decorated the near sidewall, and Jamie stopped to examine the rigid bumps and prominences on the creature’s limbs. There were few colorful fish in the cavern, but many crabs that darted back under rocky ledges at their approach. Jamie smiled as an eel bared razor-sharp teeth in his direction when he ventured too close to its hiding hole.

Paradise—an Eden hidden beneath the waves.

They spent as long as they could exploring. The direct sunshine entering the top of the cavern disappeared and the light dimmed, now reduced to the vertical passage cutting through to the underground grotto. Thomas tapped him on the wrist and pointed to his watch. They were at their agreed turnaround checkpoint. Jamie took one final pivot, soaking in as much of the beauty around him as possible.

They headed back out into the passage and Jamie noticed immediately the current had changed. Tide was sweeping in and the force of the water increased, propelling them backward if they didn’t deliberately kick toward the exit. He was glad of the extra light Braden carried that helped illuminate the tunnel.

Jamie caught a glimpse of the stalactite just before the force of the tidal rush snapped him into the wall. He twisted his body rapidly, but there wasn’t enough time to take the full force on his forearms, and the thud of his tank crashing into the rock made his stomach clench with fear. His oxygen tube ripped from the tank, air bubbles rushing into the water surrounding him, his lifeline disappearing in an instant. The escaping pressure from his tank jerked his body. He twisted to attempt to shut the air valve off at the source. Scrambled for the secondary mouthpiece and clutched it between his teeth. He flipped open the valve to clear the air passage.

Nothing happened.

His lungs screamed for a fresh breath of air. He locked his teeth around the mouthpiece to force himself to remain calm for another few seconds. Braden and Thomas both had buddy breathers on their tanks. He reached a hand toward Braden, signaling his need. Out of the corner of his eye he vaguely saw Thomas shoot out of sight down the passageway.

He grabbed Braden’s outstretched hand and grasped for the life-giving tube. Braden shocked him by ripping off his own facemask and regulator and then pinning Jamie’s arms to his sides. Jamie struggled—kicking and kneeing as hard as he could, striving for freedom. The man had gone mad. Without Braden’s help he was going to die in an underwater grave. Suddenly his regulator was torn from his lips and the pressure of Braden’s mouth over his registered just as he gave into the instinctive urge to inhale.

Sweet air.

It made no sense. Why was Braden feeding him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation when he could just use the tank breather? Still, he wasn’t about to complain. He was in no position to ask any questions. He clung tightly to Braden, staring at him through his facemask. A clear membrane covered Braden’s eyes, and Jamie blinked in surprise.

Another breath. Braden twisted them to head back to the entrance of the tunnel system. Braden’s tanks hung suspended in the current for a moment before slowly sinking and moving farther down the passage, dragging along the sandy bottom. As the abandoned tank vanished behind them Jamie felt lightheaded in spite of the regular oxygen supply.

Maybe he’d actually drowned and this was a part of the final journey?

The distance back to the surface took longer than he remembered, and he tried to close his mind to the hovering fear, the need to totally rely on Braden for his very life.

The world grew a little darker, and Jamie, embarrassed even as it happened, passed out.

Braden supported Jamie’s limp body against him carefully, his mind racing to figure out what in the hell to do.

Of all the stupid, dim-witted and foolhardy things…

He should have known to carry some oxygen. Merfolk always did when they swam with humans. Not a full tank, but enough in case of emergencies. It added to the illusion of using the tanks.

Braden headed toward the surface. There was no way he could let Jamie drown. The man’s incredible rapport and patience with Chelsea—how he went out of his way to make her feel successful and competent—she didn’t get that kind of treatment from her family, or from many of the folks around town who saw her as just a pretty face.

Jamie genuinely cared for Chelsea and it showed. And damn if that didn’t make the man even more attractive in his own eyes.

Thomas darted back, passing a thumbs-up before swimming toward the cave, no doubt to gather the tank he’d left behind. Help would be waiting at the shore. Help that could keep secrets and make sure that Jamie was all right without alerting the entire world to the existence of the merfolk.

Their heads broke the surface and Braden rolled to his back, cradling Jamie on his torso. He waited, making sure that Jamie drew a full breath of air on his own without any troubles.

Troubles. Now that’s something they had in plentiful supply. Braden adjusted his grip carefully and made his way to shore with his precious burden.

Chelsea hovered outside the door of the bedroom. She’d come over as soon as she’d heard to make sure Jamie was all right. Now she couldn’t seem to stop herself from fluttering around like a lost bird. “Are you sure he’s okay? We don’t need to take him to the hospital?”

Braden pulled her close and pressed her head against his chest, smoothing his fingers through her hair, rubbing her back gently. His touch calmed her, but still the ache in her belly refused to go away.

“He’ll be fine. He’ll come around soon. The doctor gave him a shot to keep him sedated for a bit, but Jamie didn’t get any water into his lungs. Come on, we need to talk about what we’re going to do before he wakes up.”

She took one final look into the darkened room, listening to Jamie’s uneasy breathing. Braden tugged her toward the second bedroom just down the hall. He sat her on the bed and pulled the chair from the wall to sit opposite her. Her fingers were cold as he took her hands in his.

“He’s seen us as merfolk.” Braden spoke quietly.

Chelsea looked him in the eye. “I think we should tell him everything. He’s smart enough to understand why we need to keep undercover. We can trust him.”

“It’s not our decision to make. You know the rules. You know why it’s important we stay hidden.”

“But the matriarch isn’t here, so it is our decision.” She clutched his fingers. “There are humans in town who know about us. The doctor who was here, he’s human.”

Braden reached out and cupped her face in his hand. “He’s married to a merfolk. He knows if he discloses anything his wife would face the same scrutiny as the rest of us.”

Her hopes rose. “So if Jamie’s connected with us, he could know?”

He paused. “It’s not as simple as that.”

“Why not? Braden, you know making someone forget us can be dangerous—it’s possible to go too far and wipe out huge portions of their memory. He’s a good man, and I don’t want anything like that to happen to him. Call Lady Victoria, call someone. Talk to the elders, make—”

“We need to make a decision now. Not by committee.” Braden took a deep breath, his gaze dropping from hers for a moment. When he lifted his head his eyes were dark, a swirl of his St Elmo’s fire showing blue and iridescent. “Do you care about him?”

“Of course I do. That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you, why I don’t want anything to happen to him.”