Page 76 of Hooked on a Witch
Eli glanced between the two of them. “What’s on tap for today?”
“Dad said he found someone I can talk to. We’re Skyping in an hour.”
***
Merck’s boat rocked on the offshore waves while he gazed up into the sunny morning sky. The light was so bright it burned his retinas. A few scant clouds lazed high overhead. He leaned over the side and touched the water. All still remained stable. Two dolphins appeared. He recognized their leader, having known the old guy since he was a teenager. The whole pod swam around the boat. He touched the nose of the leader, instantly understanding one of the younger dolphins had an injury. The hurt dolphin bobbed too far away for Merck to reach it.
“I’m not going to hurt you, buddy. If you want help, it’s yours.”
The juvenile didn’t move to get closer.
“Show me what’s wrong.”
The young dolphin surfaced, exposing his tail and entire backside, which were covered in fresh, deep lacerations indicative of a propeller collision. The leader of this pod kept his group away from all boats except Merck’s. This meant someone ventured close, maybe even chased them. He wanted to hit something, but took a deep breath, knowing any outward sign of anger would terrify the young dolphin.
“I’ll help you.”
The older dolphin pushed the juvenile toward Merck. He kept his hand steady, hovering a few inches above the water. The juvie touched his nose to Merck’s fingers. Merck envisioned the wounds healed, and within seconds the dolphin scurried away. It did a flip and chirp before disappearing below. He smiled, relieved to see the damage repaired.
The older dolphin returned to Merck and touched him in thanks. As if the dolphin spoke, he heard a warning in his mind.Athena. Ericthonians. Onshore and fighting.
His heart pumped hard as worst-case scenario images flickered through his mind. Stupid of him to think Athena done. What better time to go after Shannon than when he was offshore.
Damn it.
He whipped out his phone. No text from Danny. The Ericthonians must’ve come in from the shore side then.
He said to the dolphins, “This fight is about more than the Trident. I don’t know if Athena understands that.” The pod leader blinked up at him, offering help. “I don’t want you or your pod hurt. I need to convince Athena this is much bigger than getting the Trident for its power.”
He waited for the dolphins to swim away before cranking the boat and pushing her to top speed. It wasn’t a speedboat, but she could move when asked. Merck calculated time to shore at fifteen minutes. The bow slapped against the water. He wove through the familiar buoys into the coastal channel and toward the Randolph property dock.
He hoped he wouldn’t arrive too late.
