“Avery, I don’t think this is a good idea,” a man said hesitantly, quivering with fear.
“You’re not a child anymore Zanther,” the pale beauty replied, an edge to her voice at repeating this again. “You have to learn how to swim, you’re simply to big to rescue if something happens.”
“Never thought I’d miss being little,” came the sullen response.
As a child Zanther’s body was put into a type of supernatural stasis, allowing him to live a perfectly normal life but physically unable to age past nine. Due to his demonic genes he was guaranteed a long life span and, much to his displeasure, the majority of it had been spent as a child. The stasis had finally been removed a few months previously and he’d quickly filled out to the broad shouldered 6’3” frame he was meant to have.
It still caught Avery off guard when she’d look down to talk to him only to crane her neck up. His face still held a boyish charm, blue eyes sparkling with mischief and a too wide grin. His voice had deepened but, despite being higher than most men, she found herself occasionally missing the bright childish chirping. Still, Zanther was a grown man and his fear of water had to be dealt with. Eyeing the tall blond gingerly looking over the edge of the dock at the clear water below she gave a resolute nod.
“What’s so great about swimming anyway?” Zanther muttered, “It’s not like I have an urge to sail the seven seas or become a pirate. Actually, I’d love to be a pirate. Hector could be first mate, you can navigate, and Celesta could be the cook. We’ll be sky pirates. Do they make airships? Hey, Averaaaiiii!”
A loud splash filled the air as the flailing Zanther plunged head first into the water. Avery, knowing it would take a lot of dithering before he even put a foot in, decided the best way to teach him was a firm push. Literally, as the case may be. It’s better, she reflected as electricity arched through the water, not to teach a terrified lightning demon how to swim by example. As scorched fish began to float on the water a blond head broke through the surface taking in greedy gulps of air.
“You push…” Gasp! “You pushed me,” Zanther sputtered, outraged, as he tried to keep his head above the water.
“I did,” Avery agreed calmly, crossing her arms as she leaned against a post of the dock.
“Help meee,” he gurgled, arms waving desperately above the water.
Pitifully pleading sapphire eyes met cool crimson, widening in horror when she quirked an eyebrow.
“Swim or drown, I won’t save you.”
“Aberwy,” he burbled, disappearing under the frothing water as sparks of electricity danced across the waves.
Well, she thought as more fried fish sizzled on the surface, at least we won’t have to worry about dinner.
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