Page 7 of A Contemporary Mythos Summer
“Nah. Nothing like that. Look. Take that group of chicks tanning near the shoreline.” Poseidon nudged his chin at the women before idly twirling his finger in the space between him and his brother.
Though they were far away from the tide, the Gulf waters plunged, soaking them. Shrieks and gasps sounded as the women leaped to their feet and grabbed the soaked towels from the sand to no avail.
“What the actual fuck?” One woman yelled, standing with her arms dangling at her sides like a drenched rat.
“Seid…” I started, glaring at him once he looked at me and biting back a smile.
He pressed a hand to his bare chest, feigning innocence. “Aw, come on, babe. We’re at a beach. Surrounded by water. They should expect it, right?”
I said nothing more and shook my head with a slight grin.
“Come on, bro. Let’s see what you got.” Poseidon clapped Hades between the shoulder blades.
Hades slumped his shoulders. “You know I can’t control the water.”
“Doesn’t have to be the water. Like Z would zap them in the ass or something, and they’d be all what the—no carpet, not a cloud in the sky…how strange. Get it? Just do something in your wheelhouse.”
“Oh, boy,” Stephanie muttered beside me, absently sipping more of the Bushwhacker.
“Fine.” Hades flicked his wrist at the shoreline.
At first, it seemed like nothing had happened, and we all exchanged perplexed glances. That was until a bone-chilling scream made my spine twist. Several beach-goers sprinted from the water, shrieking and pointing. A lifeless body washed ashore in tattered clothing, their skin white and blue.
“Shit. Shit,” Poseidon stammered as he ran to the scene. After making the Gulf swallow the body back into its liquid embrace, Poseidon proceeded to touch the shoulder of every mortal who witnessed it. I knew the actions performed would make them forget they ever saw it from the sudden changes in their expressions once Poseidon removed his hand.
Stephanie swatted Hades in the shoulder. “A bit overkill, sweetheart?”
“What? He said, and I quote, in my wheelhouse.”
“Eh, I was thinking something a tad more subtle. Just a smidge.” Poseidon chuckled as he dragged a hand through his long hair, eyeing the once startled mortals over his shoulder to ensure he didn’t miss someone.
“Tell me, brother.” Hades widened his stance and crossed his arms. “What would you have had me do?”
Poseidon scratched his chin. “I don’t know, send a ghostly chill up their spine or something?”
Stephanie slapped a hand over her face.
Hades slow-blinked, staring at his brother. “A…ghostly chill?”
“Yeah. All ooo creepy.” Poseidon wiggled his fingers.
I couldn’t stand watching him bob in the water without life support.
Stepping to his side, I wrapped a hand around his bicep. “Best to quit while you’re ahead, honey.”
“Sometimes, brother, I wonder if you still don’t understand what I do down there even after all this time.” Hades squeezed his arms, keeping them folded.
“Well, maybe you should stop being so closed off and let me shadow you some time.” Poseidon stepped forward with a raised brow.
I caught Stephanie’s gaze, and we both kept grips on our husbands.
“Maybe I will.” Hades tightened his jaw.
“Hey. Why don’t we all play a friendly game of beach volleyball, hm? There’s an open net.” Stephanie rubbed Hades’ chest through the fabric of his tank.
“That sounds like a great idea. Right,Simon?” I slipped a finger into his board shorts, tugging on them.
His eyes snapped to my hand at his hip bone before he lifted his gaze with a grin. “Couple versus couple.”
