Chapter Seven

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THE OCEAN HAD ALWAYS been a place that washed my mind clean, eradicated the shit I did, and baptised me into the sin I’d chosen.

It was also my personal gym—a nightly ritual to swim in the moonlight as often as I climbed the slippery rocks by Nirvana before leaping off the top and plummeting with the falls into the pool.

I liked to think I was fit and strong. I knew how to propel myself through waves and salt. I had an affinity with the finned creatures beneath me and wasn’t afraid that something could bite me for invading their domain.

I belonged in the sea.

And that was why it gave me cocky belief that I would win over the man who’d become more and more distracted from our conversation about yacht building and business dealings the moment his Phantom had appeared.

He’d practically walked into the ocean fully dressed, signalling an end to our discussions and his undeniable need to trade shore for sea.

Cal had been the one to challenge us to a competition. Jokingly, perhaps, but he was still the instigator and the reason Elder had stripped his shirt, pulled off his trousers to reveal tight black swimming shorts and passed his belongings to Cal. “First to Phantom wins.”

“Wins what?” I crossed my arms. “Another yacht?”

“Respect?” Prest’s lips twitched. “An IOU, perhaps? A favour for the future.”

I didn’t like the thought of owing anyone—even someone I’d grudgingly started to like while sharing a few beers and talking nonsense. He was standoffish and guarded but also quick with sarcasm, which I found mimicked my own love of duelling with conversation.

Cal and I had made it a game.

Elder made it a challenge.

So, of course, I wasn’t going to let him wade into the ocean without accepting his current dare. Stripping off my t-shirt, I kept my shorts on and dumped my cell phone and keys to Singa Laut into Cal’s hold. “See you there, Cal. Bring my wife.”

Cal rolled his eyes. “It’s dusk.”

“So?”

“Feeding time for sharks.”

“Only if they catch us.” I smirked.

“Only if they catch you, you mean.” Elder sniffed. “I’ll be too far ahead for them to bother.”

“Pride goeth before the fall, Prest.”

“We’ll see.” Elder traded dry sand for lapping waves, rolling out his shoulders in preparation.

I followed, sighing in pleasure as the sea welcomed me back, licking at my ankles. “See you soon, Cal.”

Standing beside the man who had admitted he was well trained in martial arts and even that he played the cello—two things that I’d guessed about him back on Calypso—Prest cocked his chin arrogantly. “I’ll warn you, Sinclair. I swim every night around Phantom.”

“I swim every night around Batari.”

His hand came up. “In that case, let the best man win.”

“You’ll be eating my bubbles, Prest.” I shook his hand before tossing our grip away and striding into the water.

He followed, our speed increasing the more competitive we became.

We dived at the same time, swallowed by the sea we both loved, and the rest was a blur as we cut through the warm salt and struck off toward the towering floating city about a kilometre away.

The thoughts in my head vanished.

My body became master over my mind, falling into a meditation of stroke, stroke, breathe. Kick, kick, push.

I didn’t bother looking at where Elder was. I didn’t waste time or energy worrying if he would win. I set myself to the task of pulling ahead and propelled myself as quickly as I could.

At some point, the growl of a boat shot past us, leaving a spray of wake and the rock of displaced waves.

That was most likely Cal, driving Eleanor, Jess, and Tasmin.

I didn’t stop.

That bastard had beaten me thanks to a motor and machine, but I’d win against the other bastard swimming beside me.

The farther we swam from shore, the darker it became. Black reef beneath us and blackening skies above.

No sound apart from the systematic splashes and the rasp of my lungs as I exhaled and inhaled on alternating strokes.

I was used to swimming long distances around my island. I enjoyed the lactic burn and the challenge of pushing myself past my abilities, improving on my endurance with each round, so when the pain in my legs began—still weak in places from harpoon scars and broken bones—I ignored my body’s urge to slow down and added more power.

Lights flickered ahead, pooling on the ocean from the mega yacht.

The final stretch was both the easiest and hardest—easiest because I reached a state where the burn became inconsequential, and hardest because that same burn made my legs heavy and my lungs beg for a better breath.

Spying the platform that’d been lowered at the rear for our arrival and the moored speedboat that Cal had commanded, I changed my direction a little and ploughed the rest of the way to the finish line.

A round of applause and whoops sounded as my hand slapped onto the platform, hauling myself from the depths onto Prest’s expensive yacht.

Beside me, Elder launched from the sea at the same time, leaping to his feet within microseconds of my own standing.

We eyed each other. Dripping wet, chests heaving.

We scowled.

Who the fuck won?

“It’s a draw,” Cal muttered. “Photo finish. We’d need a video-tape and replay to know who arrived first.”

“Shit.” I swiped a hand through my soaking hair. “That’s just aggravating.”

“I wasn’t expecting to have to work so hard.” Prest wiped his face. “You weren’t lying that you swim a lot.”

“Pity you didn’t get nibbled by a shark, seeing as you were behind.” I smirked.

“If anyone was gonna get eaten, it was you.” Prest panted, accepting a towel that one of his crew passed him. “You were the one splashing around like a dying seal.”

“Sore loser, huh?”

A girl in a trim uniform passed a towel to me. I accepted it with a nod and ran it over my chest and arms. “Regardless of my technique, I still kicked your ass.”

“Maybe I let you win.”

“Maybe I felt sorry for you and slowed down.”

He laughed. “Rematch?”

I narrowed my eyes, judging the length of his yacht. A couple of laps around the hull would ensure we were both fucking exhausted.

“Maybe another time.” Eleanor came to join me, kissing my cheek with a smile. “If it was up to me, you won.”

Tasmin went to Prest. “But if it was up to me, you won.”

Typical women, working on our pride to distract us from another challenge.

Prest eyed me with the same suspicion I did. It was just some friendly competition, but who did win?

Cal stepped between us, waving a white towel like a flag of surrender. “Shake and accept the draw, gentlemen.”

I gritted my teeth.

Prest paused.

The idea of a rematch still hovered between us.

“Sully...” Eleanor squeezed my waist.

“El.” Tasmin did the same to Prest, revealing who was in charge even when we pretended it was different.

“Fine.” I sighed and held out my hand.

Prest moved at the same time. We shook once before letting go. “Good race.” He nodded, rubbing his wet hair with his towel.

“Evenly matched.” I nodded back.

“Least no one got eaten.” Jess chuckled. “No limbs lost.”

“Eh, sir?”

A captain appeared on the above deck, the brass buttons of his uniform glinting off the lanterns hanging from the back railings. “If you wish to make your appointments on time, we have to go.”

“Okay, Jolfer. Thanks.” Elder passed his towel back to a staff member before guiding Tasmin to the bottom of the stairs. Taking her hand, he turned to face us. “I hope you enjoy your new purchases, Mr and Mrs Sinclair.” He smiled at Eleanor before looking at me. “If you have any issues with Thimble, which has already docked in Rapture according to my crew, just email.”

Eleanor smiled and went to Tasmin, giving her a gentle hug. “Goodbye and congratulations in advance for your wedding.”

Prest stiffened, his face clouded as if that piece of news was private.

Tasmin remained frozen in Eleanor’s embrace, her shock hinting again at her past. “Thanks for the drink.”

“You’re welcome.” Eleanor pulled away. “Anytime.”

Clearing my throat, I waited for her to return to my side.

Jess strode forward and also hugged Tasmin, the two women whispering something that made Cal’s forehead furrow with curiosity.

What the hell had they all talked about on the beach to have this level of friendship already? Obviously deeper subjects than what Cal and I discussed with Prest while sharing a beer or two.

“Stay in touch.” Jess pulled away, going to Cal’s side. “And all the very best, with everything.”

“Thanks.” Tasmin nodded, her brown hair dancing a little in a sudden ocean breeze.

Elder’s captain waited as my family and I hopped into Singa Laut and cast off. Once we were no longer tethered to the Phantom, he waved goodbye and vanished into the helm. The soft purr of expensive engines sounded as he prepared to disembark.

Prest raised his arm as I started my own engine. “Nice meeting you, Sinclair. Appreciate your business.”

“Appreciate your craftsmanship.” I added power to the throttle. “I’ll be in touch after our maiden voyage to Tahiti. I’ll let you know how we find travelling on Calypso.”

“You do that.” He smirked. “You might trade land for the sea because you enjoy it so much.”

“Doubt it.” I pointed at the flickering lanterns and starlight illuminating Goddess Isles. “I like palm trees and waterfalls too much.”

“Could install those onboard.” Prest shrugged. “Anything is possible.”

I chuckled. “Imitations.”

“Improvements.” He slung his arm around Tasmin’s shoulder. “Goodbye, Sinclair.”

“Bye!” Eleanor and Jess waved as I turned the rudder and left a nautical home for our island one.

* * * * *

That night, with Eleanor fast asleep beside me, Pika snoozing on the sheet between my legs, Skittles nestled in Eleanor’s gorgeous hair, a Komodo dragon sleeping by the open doors to the deck, and the resident sugar glider blinking with nocturnal happiness, I cyphered a fantasy.

I used the code I’d designed to script common animals beneath the sea, along with a few mythical ones. I conjured magic for my wife and seasoned it with debauchery.

Tomorrow night, as we sailed on Calypso and travelled on the open seas, I would load us into an illusion that would guarantee a visit to Euphoria we would never forget.