Fire Stones

Chapter 3

I twisted my way through the waves, my heart pounding louder than the ocean roar. There was no way I could outstrip these sharks. They were agile, hungry, born to kill. Their teeth snapped at me as I furiously scrambled to the surface, gasping for breath as I looked around me in desperation. It was too far from the rocks; even if I made it to them I'd never be able to climb them, but would rather be thrust back down, falling from the slippery moss into the water. The sharks circled closer, their yellowing eyes hungry for a meal. For me.

The stone. I felt in my pocket for the smooth, round stone. It gave off heat, and I clutched it tightly. It was supposed to bring the possessor courage and protection, was it not? Well, I didn't feel particularly courageous at that moment, but I figured it was my best bet.

The stone seemed to give off a strange, purple light – a glow that seeped through the water like ink. For a moment, the shark backed off, closing its mouth. I breathed a sigh of relief. But out of the corner of my eye, I saw two more sharks approaching, each larger than the last. I shuddered. There was no way I was going to be able to repel all three. I started flailing about in the water, trying to remember my swim team training, but paralyzed by fear...

And then I saw it next to me – the flash of a trident, blinding me with its brightness. Blood filled the water – my own? In a panic I looked about.

But it was the shark who bled, not me. And atop the shark, his muscular thighs digging into his side, was a figure I knew well, riding the back of the shark, commanding it in a tongue I could not understand.

Varun.

His hair was soaked and matted; he wore no shirt and his chest glistened in the moonlight. “You will return to where you came from!” Varun was shouting to the shark, his trident stained with blood. “You will let her be.” The shark reared up with a roar, plunging Varun into the water.

“By my power as the Water God, let her be!”

The shark, however, did not feel particularly inclined to listen. Yet I looked up in shock to see at least ten more glistening tridents in the water. An army of mermen had encircled the sharks, their gazes menacing. They were looking at Varun, awaiting his command.

The shark stopped thrashing, and Varun dismounted, his trident still in hand, his expression dark. The shark seemed to bow low, turning on its fins and swimming away, followed by his companions. Varun turned to the merman, giving them a careful salute. One by one, the men responded in kind to his gesture, and then vanished into the darkness of the water.

I stared at Varun in shock. His eyes were brilliantly blazing; his hair was like spun gold. My mind was hazy; I'd swallowed a lot of water, and there was no room in my lungs for air. I began to grow dizzy, losing consciousness as I thrashed about in the water, gasping for air. This is an Immortal, too, I thought vaguely, as my eyes began to close. This wasn't the Varun I knew from high school, jocular and easy-going. This was the Water King, Poseidon, coming in all his power, commanding the waves. This was the true self of Varun.

Mac. The voice seemed to be coming from within my own mind. Breathe into me. We need to get you air. His arms were tight around me as I lost consciousness. It's the only way to stay alive.

My lips parted; his lips were against mine. He pressed my chest, expelling the water, and then began to breath fresh, sweet air into my mouth. My lungs expanded; consciousness returned to me. The waves and surf came over us intermittently with the lapping of the tide; we were both soaked and exhausted. I clung to Varun hazily, his mouth like a lifeline – the source of air of life.

“I have you, Mac,” Varun was holding onto me tightly. “You're safe, don't worry. Relax. The shark won't come after you again. He knows that this area is my dominion – if he harms any of my creatures or friends, he will have to answer to me.” His voice was strong and dominant – the voice of a true ruler.

“Varun...” was all I was able to say. My mind was still in such a haze; adrenaline was coursing through me. All of this was so surreal...like a dream, I thought. Like a memory from a past I could not quite recall: Varun's mouth on mine, his arms around me.

“Mac...” he placed his lips against mine again, but this time it was no attempt at rescue. I could feel the heat of his kiss.

I pulled away. “Varun, no...” My voice trailed off. “I can't. Not like this. You know I'm with...”

“Don't think, Mac,” Varun pulled me closer. “Just feel me against you. Feel what I know you feel – in your heart.”

I sat up, trying to create distance between the two of us. I couldn't feel him like this – his smooth, wet skin, his salty sea-taste. “I'm with Chance, Varun. We're together now.”

He sighed. “Because you think you're Vesta.”

“I am Vesta...”

“So you feel it?” He grabbed my shoulders. “You must be able to feel it!” Now he was frightening me – his intensity dark and foreboding.

“Please, Varun,” I looked away, a crimson flush coming over my face. “Just get me out of the cove – I'll make it back to the hotel on my own.”

“You have to remember...” he was pulling at my clothes; I could feel the frenzy of his heartbeat. “Remember how we were. How you were with me. You could breathe underwater – you could...we did...Vesta...together, in the waves, you have to remember...” He was covering me with kisses; I backed up.

“I have to go!” I cried.

He pulled me back to him, his voice urgent. “You have to remember. Didn’t being in the waters with me just now trigger any memories? Maybe you’ll remember this.” He kissed me with a hunger that left me breathless. I closed my eyes and then shoved him back. “Stop it, Varun. Thank you for saving my life but I can’t do this. How could you kiss me like that when I’m with Chance now? I trusted you!”

“And I trusted you,” his eyes grew dark. “You were with me – before you left me for Chance. And once, Vesta, we were together, centuries and centuries ago...”

“Listen to me, Varun,” I said, growing angry, “if you don't get me to the shore right now, I swear I'll never talk to you again.”

He stopped, looking abashed. My words had taken him aback. He changed his tone. His voice was lower, now – more caressing. “Mac, please don't be mad at me,” he whispered, taking my hand. “I can only try…”

I said nothing. Varun's intensity, his surety, was making me uncomfortable. What did he remember that I didn't? I remembered what I knew about Poseidon and Vesta – their forbidden love? If I was Vesta – had I experienced that, too, with Chance? And, if so, then why didn't I remember it?

I took Varun's hand and allowed him to swim me to the safer part of the shore. I kissed him awkwardly on the cheek. “Thanks again for saving me,” I muttered. “But that's all. I can't promise you anything else.”

We were standing on the beach – not far from the garden where we had first kissed. He was staring at me, his eyes sad but serious. I wanted to avoid that intense imploring look and that nagging feeling that I should have remembered something important.

“Vesta,” he said softly, taking a step towards me.

“Sorry, I can’t. You’re the God of Water, and I’m of fire…” I turned and ran, away from Varun and away from the confusing conflicting feelings I had for him right then.

How could Varun think I wanted him? I loved Chance – I knew I loved Chance, with a passion that made me insatiable for his touch, his taste. Yet Varun was telling me that once I had abandoned Chance for him – an old affection that still burned bright in his heart.

How could I have done that?

The question lingered in my mind as I made my way home.