Free Deep Water by Nicola Cameron Page A

“This was fun,” Griffin said, grabbing the cooler and climbing onto the
pier. “If you’re around any time in the next two weeks, we should do it again.”
    “I’ll be popping in and out as duties
permit, but I believe I can set aside some sailing time,” Dunn said, smiling.
“Pick a day and I’ll arrange it.”
    “Great. I—”
    Actinic lightning sizzled across his vision,
whiting out Dunn, the beach, everything. He smelled ozone and tasted metal,
sharp and nauseating.
    And then there was nothing.
    ****
    Shocked, Poseidon watched as the laughing
man he’d just spent the morning with went rigid, then collapsed onto the pier.
He lunged forward, grabbing Griffin before the mortal could tumble into the
water.
    Muscles twitched hard under his hands as
Griffin began to shudder, limbs twitching awkwardly. His eyes rolled up,
showing a sliver of white.
    Poseidon scooped the man into his arms and
scanned the cottages. Thank Gaia he’s
home. He opened a portal directly to Nick’s cottage, stepping through to a
tiled living area.
    “Nicholas!” he bellowed. “I need help!”
    There was a clatter in the kitchen before Nick
ran into the room, a small dog at his heels. Both of them skidded to a halt as they
saw Poseidon and his cargo. “What happened?” Nick asked.
    “We were out sailing and he collapsed,”
Poseidon said quickly, cradling the twitching man. “Help him!”
    Nick switched over into doctor mode. “Okay,
lay him out on the floor, carefully,” he ordered. “Keep your hands under his
head. Don’t let him bang it on the floor.”
    Poseidon did as instructed, dropping to
his knees without a flinch and laying Griffin out on the cool tile. He slid
both hands under his mortal’s skull, cradling it as Nick checked his pulse.
    Just then Griffin relaxed, arms dropping
to the tiles in a boneless flop as the seizure ended. There was a sharp smell,
and Poseidon saw a dark stain bloom across the front of the man’s shorts.
    Nick caught the god’s glance. “People can
lose bladder control during a seizure. It’s no big deal,” he said.
    “All right.” Unsure of what else to do,
Poseidon remained in a crouch, still cradling Griffin’s head as Nick examined
him. “Does he need any medication? I’ll fetch whatever is required.”
    The doctor sat back on his heels, shaking
his head. “If he was still seizing I’d have you go get some Keppra ,
but right now we just have to wait until he wakes up.” He grabbed a cushion
from the sofa and offered it to Poseidon. “Here, put that under his head so you
can sit back.”
    “No,” Poseidon said fiercely.
    Nick’s expression turned wary. “Some
patients are really freaked out by people hovering over them as they wake up
from a seizure,” he said carefully. “Also, I may need you to help me get him
up.”
    “Oh.” That made sense. Poseidon accepted
the cushion and slid it under Griffin’s head, settling back to wait. The dog
trotted to his side and sat there, quiet but watchful.
    After a few minutes Griffin’s eyelids
fluttered, opening slowly and blearily. “ Wha ’
happened?” he mumbled.
    “You had a seizure,” Nick said calmly.
“I’m a doctor. Have you had seizures before?”
    Griffin’s brown eyes swiveled, focusing on
Poseidon. To the sea god’s dismay they filled with shame and anger. “Yeah. I
thought—” Griffin grimaced, looking back at Nick. “Where am I?”
    “My living room,” the doctor said. “I’m
Nick—I hosted the cookout last night.”
    “Yeah, I remember.” Griffin glanced back
at Poseidon. “Shit. I’m sorry, mate.”
    Poseidon was mystified at the apology. “You
have nothing to be sorry about.”
    “Yeah, I do. Must’ve scared the shit out
of you.” Griffin struggled to get up and Poseidon leaned in to help, sliding an
arm under the mortal’s back and easing him into a sitting position. “I didn’t
think that was going to happen. I—” He stopped, jaw clenching briefly.
    “Feel like you’re going