All Chapters of Fire and Water: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

“Boom, boom, boom,” the bass blasted from the speakers drawing everybody in the room into a rhythmic trance. As the beat pulsed and vibrated through his bones like the strikes of a war drum, his turquoise-blue eyes raked the dance club hoping against hope to spot a new object of desire. Seeing a possibility, the young man put a hand up to ruffle his sandy blonde hair, swallowed back his nerves, took a deep breath, and made his way through the throng knowing that tonight was going to be a productive night. He saddled up to the bar and turned to his left. “Can I buy you a drink?” he asked the raven-haired beauty. She was resting against the polished metal countertop in a suggestive way: all hips and attitude; she wore a skin-tight black dress that came down to her knees and left little to the imagination. A slight smile broke across her face as her eyes took him in, but then slowly, sarcastic indulgence washed out all else from her expression. “Maybe next time, sweetheart,” she

“James, I’d like you to meet Captain Mars Roberts, USMCR,” said Blakeney as he introduced the newest member of the team. Mars Roberts was of average height, dark-skinned with an ath-letic build, and was maybe in his young thirties. The man held out a hand in greeting, the morning sun glinting off his polished bald head. “Good to meet you James,” he said as James shook his hand. He had a slight New Englander accent. “You too, Captain Roberts,” said James. The man smiled warmly, his dark eyes crinkling. “Please, call me Mars.” “Eliza, I believe you’ve met Captain Roberts?” ventured Blak-eney. She nodded. “Yes, sir. Nice to see you again, Mars.” “Likewise,” Mars stated. “Alright, James,” Blakeney continued with all eyes on him, “as I’m sure you’ve noticed, we are going to change things up a bit. What with Eliza here as a new trainee and myself taking you as far as I can, it was time.” James nodded mutely in agreement. “C

The flashes of lightning, pure arcs of energy, filled the air all around him. Dark and angry clouds rumbled as if the sky itself was furious with him. For what, he didn’t know. Only the bubble of air that surrounded him kept his skin from the harsh rains hammering down against the thin protection. He took a deep breath of the electrically charged air: it tasted like newly minted copper pennies. At that moment the bubble that had been his protection burst, the icy pellets of rain crashing into his body. The downpour increased intensely as if the clouds wanted to drown him. Every nerve ending screamed in pain and protest at the freezing deluge. Slowly, a smile crept across his face despite everything else as he realized an important change to this nightmare. No longer was he afraid of dying and maybe because of this, he floated perfectly suspended in midair. He studied his surroundings, his blue-gray eyes searching for clues. Placing his exact elevation turned out to be impossible, he

By the time they made it back to the house, walking together and perusing along at leisure, the sky had completely darkened, stars coming out to play. He held the door open for her, but she paused before going in. “Thank you for the necklace and earrings, James.” “Your welcome,” he said with a smile of accomplishment. Without warning—he did have the hormones of a teenaged boy—he grasped her around the waist and pulled her close; Eliza gasped then giggled at the move. Though they had been out on the water for more than an hour, the scent of her soap still lingered on her skin. He breathed deeply, the soap and the sweet, fruity scent of her perfume created an intoxicating mixture. James reveled in the feel of her warmth pressing against him and with one swift look into her welcoming eyes, he brought his lips to hers. His body responded instantly as his senses sharpened and every portion of his body felt tingly and warm. Eliza sighed softly, wrapping her slender arms around his

Myrtle Beach is roughly halfway between the borders of Georgia and North Carolina along South Carolina’s coastline. Though mainly a tourist town for beachgoers, a sizable local population thrived as businesses had to be on hand in order to serve the vacationers and as with any city of its size, Myrtle Beach had its own local college. He, Eliza, and Blakeney found themselves pulling onto a street not more than two blocks from the campus; students were the main residents. The drive had taken the remainder of the day and now it was only a couple of hours until midnight. Normally, trying to speak with anyone at this time of night would be difficult, but seeing as it was a Friday night—and Amanda Hanson was a college student—they were sure she would be awake. Blakeney took the last turn and the three of them found them-selves facing and army of police and ambulances. The red and blue lights flashing off into the dark, reflecting every shiny surface in the vicinity, were like heral