Deep Water Read Online Free PDF Page B

somewhere. Sorry.”
    “Yeah.” Griffin flexed his fingers.
“Static electricity.” But he didn’t sound convinced.
    With Aphros in charge of cooking and the
others still gathered around the grill, Poseidon took the opportunity to claim
a deck chair overlooking the cove. To his dismay Griffin followed him, sitting
down heavily in a nearby chair.
    Wary, Poseidon extended his godsense , trying to confirm his suspicions. The mortal had
recently lost a fair amount of weight, judging by the way his clothes hung on
him. Even worse was his aura, the bioelectrical field surrounding every living
creature. Whereas most human auras were a swirl of colors with one dominant
tone, Griffin’s aura was shot with thick streaks of grey and black, indicating
a serious illness.
    But the general pattern of the aura was
one Poseidon most definitely recognized. I
can’t believe they did this. The Fates’ comment about the wheel turning now
made perfect sense.
    Ill or not, Griffin’s dark eyes were clear
and full of intelligence and good humor. “Remind me not to stand next to you in
a thunderstorm,” he quipped.
    As if Zeus would
dare. Poseidon forced a smile. “I think you’re safe. I do apologize for jolting you
like that, though.”
    Griffin grinned. “I’d had worse. To be
honest, you’re the one who looks a little peaky.”
    Poseidon hunted for a safe lie. “I haven’t
eaten since this morning, and I received some unexpected news earlier.”
    Griffin’s expression cleared, turning
sympathetic. “You’re in luck, then.”
    Poseidon looked up and saw Aphros bearing
two loaded plates. “Here, Father,” the demigod said, handing over a plate and a
fork. “Griffin, do you want this one?”
    The mortal gave the food a longing look,
but shook his head. “Not right now, thanks.”
    Poseidon frowned. He’s lying. He hasn’t eaten since this morning.
    I know, Father. Let
him be. He can eat later if he chooses. “Suit yourself,” Aphros said out loud,
leaning against the deck railing as he shoveled a forkful of chicken into his
mouth. What’s wrong with you, though? You
look as though you’d seen one of the Titans.
    Poseidon took a bite of what turned out to
be potato salad. No, not a Titan, thank
Gaia.
    Then what? He could sense
his son’s attention on the mortal. Is he
a threat of some sort? By and I can remove him—
    Leave him!
    Aphros winced at the order. All right. But what’s going on?
    The food, delicious as it was, turned to
ashes in Poseidon’s mouth. He swallowed with difficulty. I didn’t realize it until I touched his hand, but I knew him. A long time ago.
    His son stiffened a bit at that. I see. Was he one of your lovers?
    No. Poseidon stopped,
wondering how much honesty he owed Aphros. At
least, not in this form. When I knew him, he was a young woman. The
familiar wash of grief and regret surged through him again. One I betrayed, most cruelly.
    Aphros stopped eating and stared at him. Father, he isn’t—he can’t be—
    He is. Poseidon sighed. Your mortal neighbor is Medusa, reborn.

Chapter Two
     
    Bythos sat back in shock. “Father, are you
sure?”
    “I’m sure,” Poseidon said stiffly. He’d
gotten through the rest of the cookout with a modicum of grace, managing to
chat with Nick and his mers and laughing at one of
Griffin’s stories about a group of American researchers getting seasick after
enjoying a pub crawl and an introduction to British beer. He’d even managed to
eat one of Aphros’s perfectly cooked steaks, seared on the outside and red and
juicy at the center.
    But he’d been very careful not to touch
Griffin, and had escaped to the cottage as soon as it was polite to leave. His
sons and Ian had joined him soon afterwards, and now they were seated around
the old table in the cottage kitchen.
    Both Ian and Aphros seemed willing to
accept that their neighbor was the reincarnation of a figure from ancient
legend. Poseidon’s grey-eyed son, however, wasn’t convinced. “It’s