by E J Pay
“Evelyn,” Lady Pescara says, “though I appreciate your honesty, I don’t want you to take the burden of Pisces’ death upon yourself. Yes, you should have obeyed orders and stayed close to the army, but Pisces was your companion for a reason. He was there to protect you, even if it was from your own decisions. He knew the risks of being the companion to such a valuable asset and he was willing to take those risks. You would not have been attacked if you didn’t have the link you do to Ceto and her past. If you want to blame someone for Pisces’ death, let it be Ceto.”
I can’t help but think that Ceto’s lifetime of being unloved and unaccepted may be the thing to blame, but this isn’t the time to bring that up. I calm down so I can continue to share what happened that day.
“I would have been killed for sure,” I explain, “had it not been for Gwen. She came to help me and Pisces when Ceto’s soldiers were attacking us.” Lady Pescara seems unaware of who I am talking about. I guess she didn’t know the names of all of her recruits.
“Your Gwen?” Jack asks me. I feel guilt in my heart when he calls her my Gwen. We hadn’t had that closeness for weeks. Now I know she is my cousin. She saved my life. I am indebted to her. Yes, she is my Gwen.
“Yes, Jack. My Gwen.”
“I haven’t seen her here,” Jack says. “Are you sure she was with you? It was a battle. Maybe the person you saw just looked like Gwen.”
“No. I saw her in Ceto’s fortress as well.”
Jack sits back in his chair, a look of confusion on his face.
“Evelyn,” Lady Pescara says, “you actually saw this Gwen girl in Ceto’s fortress? How do you know her:”
“Gwen is my roommate at FIU. She’s actually the closest friend I have here.” I blush as I think of why I have avoided her for so long. “I knew that she had become a two-worlder as I had, but we were both so busy and preoccupied with our lives that we never really saw each other long enough to talk about it. The day of the battle was the first day I saw her with the army of Atlantis.”
Lady Pescara has a look of concern on her face as she turns to Jack. “Captain, you know this young lady as well?”
“Yes, Lady Pescara, I do,” he says. “I can ask the other officers in our meeting this afternoon if she is one of their recruits. Evelyn what is her last name again?”
“Mizrahi is her last name. Is that helpful?”
Lady Pescara lets out a small gasp then addresses me.
“Evelyn, Mizrahi is Ceto’s last name.” This news doesn’t shock me. I already knew that Gwen was Ceto’s daughter. I guess Uncle Adrian’s family didn’t allow her to carry on the Marin name. I turn to Jack.
“You’ve got to find your other captains, Jack, and find out who trained her. I’m not surprised by Ceto’s name,” I say as I turn to Lady Pescara, “Gwen is Ceto’s daughter by my Uncle Adrian. We are cousins.”
Lady Pescara sinks into her chair. I understand her surprise. I don’t think Gwen even knew who her mom was until she was captured. But she is on our side, so it must be a good thing. I explain our relationship, Uncle Adrian’s and Ceto’s secret marriage, the lava flow in Atlantis, Ceto leaving my mom and giving birth in a cove. It’s such a sad story to retell. My heart is breaking for my Aunt and her daughter. They have missed so much together.
“Evelyn,” Lady Pescara says, “I would have known if a Gwen Mizrahi were in our forces. That kind of last name isn’t something any of us would have overlooked. She isn’t an Atlantean.”
Jack speaks up, “We do know that several two-worlders have actually entered the ocean only to head to Ceto and her army. Many from the regions of the Indian Ocean have been living in her city for years. Recently, several from the Gulf of Mexico area have been drawn to her. It is possible that she was on Ceto’s side from the beginning. She is her daughter, after all.”
Two-worlders coming from the Gulf of Mexico. That would explain James being at Ceto’s palace – even as a guard, but it does nothing to convince me that Gwen is a traitor. But how can I convince them?
Chapter 29
“There has to be some kind of mistake,” my mind is racing as I listen to Lady Pescara and Jack tell me Gwen isn’t an Atlantean. “She was with us in the battle. She saved my life and protected me all the way to Ceto’s fortress. She was a prisoner too!” I am getting worked up. Gwen saved me. I know there is something they are missing. How else could Gwen have been at the battle with us?
“Calm down, Evelyn,” Jack puts his hand on my arm again. “We’ll figure this out.”
“Yes,” agrees Lady Pescara, “We will look into it further. If indeed Gwen was an Atlantean, we will know by sundown.” She takes a quill and seaweed parchment and scribbles a few notes. “Simmons,” she addresses the guard by the door, “Please take this to General Levey immediately. Let him know he can report in tonight’s council meeting.” Simmons leaves his post by the door, gathers the note into a satchel around his neck, and swims out the door. Lady Pescara folds her hands on her desk and returns her attention to me.
“Now, Evelyn. Why don’t we discuss your time in captivity with Ceto? What were your accommodations like? How many other prisoners did you see? How were you treated by the guards? Did you happen to overhear any kind of information, anything at all?”
I have helpful information. It was only a few weeks that I was in Ceto’s custody, but I learned and experienced so much. I tell Jack and Lady Pescara about my first prison cell and interactions with Gus. My eyes tear up again as I think of his life so unnecessarily lost. I make it clear that he had no real allegiance to Ceto and that I think other neglected sea creatures could be accepted by Atlantis and joined to our cause. This news is a surprise to Lady Pescara and she makes some notes for herself.
Then I tell her about the several times I was with Ceto herself. Lady Pescara seems astonished that Ceto reached out to me, a prisoner of war. As far as either of us knows, there is no reason to suspect that Ceto knows about my abilities with the air lingering above the ocean. If she had, I don’t think I would have been allowed to have such freedom of movement in her presence. I would have been shackled and imprisoned or escorted to my cell by Ceto herself. It’s a trait she has been looking for in a follower for years. She never would have let me get away if she had known. Thankfully, I still have that secret from her. I learned so much about myself that Ceto knew but I did not. It is nice to have the upper hand in something.
It is difficult to talk about Gwen and the meeting we had with Ceto. I believe that Gwen is on our side. I don’t doubt her. But I know Lady Pescara and Jack feel differently. I know they suspect the worst. All I can do is wait and hope the council is able to find evidence that will clear Gwen of any wrongdoing.
It is uncomfortable when I finally tell Jack and Lady Pescara about Kai. The idea that he claims to be my father (let alone if he actually IS my father) is still so new and strange to me. I haven’t had the time to process my feelings on the subject. Lady Pescara listens intently as I tell her about my first visit with him, how he tried to help me, and how he has acted since his capture by Atlantis. She listens like she is completely enthralled by what I have to say. When I finally finish, she lets a moment of silence pass by before she responds. She lets out a long and slow breath into the water and raises out of her chair before she speaks.
“Evelyn, if there is any reason to believe that this man is indeed your father, we will be able to discover it.” She moves to the front of her desk and rests on it, arms folded as she continues, “I’m sure that these allegations are very emotional for you and something that you will need time to work through. However, until we can fully determine the validity of his claims, I think it is best that this conversation stays between you and me and Captain Jack. Please don’t mention it to anyone, not even your mother.”
Mom. I haven’t had a chance to send a note since my return to let her know that I am okay. That should have been the first thing I did. After the way we parted, she must have assumed that I was being emotional a
nd angry with her. Ugh. Mom.
“I will keep this to myself,” I assure Lady Pescara. “But I haven’t spoken to my mother since before the battle began. She can’t possibly have a clue about what has happened. I need to see hear, to speak to her, to let her know that I’m okay.” I am filling with anxiety. “May I please take leave for the week so I can visit her?”
“Evelyn,” Lady Pescara says as she rises again, “There will be no trips to Arizona for you.” My heart beats a mile a minute as I realize I am being told no. I can’t go see my mom. The best I’ll be able to do is send a message. I can’t call from Atlantis. I open my mouth to protest, to beg really, for Lady Pescara to reconsider. But she stops me before I can start. She holds up her hand to silence me.
“Evelyn,” she says, “Your mother came to Atlantis to look for you after we left for battle. Unfortunately, we had already been out to sea for several days and she was not allowed to follow us. She resided in my home while we were away, every day asking the Atlantean Guard if they heard any word of your whereabouts or our battles. I have been told that she was quite persistent.”
Yes, I am sure she was persistent. She came for me. My mom is in the ocean like a two-worlder. She is a two-worlder. I am surprised that she didn’t defy orders and follow us out to sea. Of course, I am a rule breaker and look at where that has gotten me.
“Once she heard you were captured, she nearly went out of her mind. She tried to leave despite the order she was given to remain in Atlantis,” (Way to go mom!), “but she was restrained. We had to keep her under a guard so she wouldn’t do anything foolish that risked both her life and yours.”
I smile at the thought of my mother yelling at the guard to let her go. I can imagine her scolding them for keeping her from going after her daughter. I am familiar with those guilt trips.
“Where is my mother now?” I ask. “When may I go to see her?’
“Your mother is being escorted here, Evelyn,” Lady Pescara answers, “I expect her at any moment.”
There is a knock at the door. Simmons enters and announces that my mother has arrived. Lady Pescara turns to me with a gentle, but warning eye, “Remember what we have discussed, Evelyn. Remember what you can and cannot share.”
“I will, Lady Pescara.” With a satisfied look, Lady Pescara tells Simmons to allow my mother in. Simmons disappears for a moment before the door to the room bursts open, my mom charging through like a woman on a mission. It is like watching slow motion. I haven’t seen my mother in the ocean, not one single time in my whole life. I know how much she detests it. I haven’t even imagined her here, it is so out of place. To see her here, in a place where she tried to convince me she didn’t belong, is like watching a dream. Her gorgeous, dark hair moves like the wind as she advances toward me through the water. Even in the hazy light of Atlantis, I see the little shimmers of grey peeking out through her hair. She is wearing a white tunic and flowing pants. She is a blur of tan skin and white clothing as she rushes toward me. She looks like a sea angel. I rise from my own chair for the embrace I know is coming. My mother bowls into me like a bull after a cowboy and I am wrapped in her warm embrace. She is sobbing and saying my name over and over again.
“We will leave you two alone,” offers Lady Pescara, “please feel free to use the room for as long as you need.” With one more furtive glance in my direction, both Lady Pescara and Jack exit the room.
Once the door closes behind them, my mom pulls me out in front of her.
“Evelyn, I have been worried sick! I am so sorry for not telling you about your water abilities or mine. I should have trusted you to be able to handle that kind of information on your own. You are such a smart and capable girl. You’re a young woman.” And she pulls me into her embrace again with more tears and assurances of how much she loves me and has worried about me. I hug her back and tell her I love her. I am sorry I left my mom in anger and I want to be sure she knows it. Eventually her tears soften. We sit together and talk about what has happened in our lives for the past weeks.
I tell my mom about my capture and captivity and fears for Gwen and James. I answer all her questions until she is satisfied that Ceto hasn’t done any lasting harm to me. If Ceto had really hurt me, there would be no need to have a war. My mom would have ended it with Ceto personally. I do as Lady Pescara asked, however, and don’t mention Kai. This is for the best. My mom has enough to keep her mind and heart occupied. She asks me the same questions over and over, ‘Were you hurt?’ ‘Are you sure you are okay?’ ‘Will you forgive me?’ and tells me how much she loves me. It is nice to hear that my mom loves me so much. I know how lucky I am.
Once she is satisfied about my health and wellness, it is time for me to hear about what has been happening in her life. When I left her in the hotel room with all of those journals, she figured I needed some time to myself. She didn’t want to crowd me or force me to do what she said. She figured I would come to my senses better if left alone. She went back to Arizona and let the letters I sent be our communication. Then she received a note from Uncle Russ telling her that the Atlantean army left for battle, and that I went with them. He assured her that I was in Pisces’ care and would not come to any harm. But that was not enough for my mom. She came straight into the ocean and headed straight for Atlantis, demanding answers. We were too far gone by that time for her to follow so she waited very impatiently for our return. Once she heard of my capture, she really let the guards have it. “They locked me up like I was a lunatic,” she says, “I railed on them continuously until word reached us that you were safe. I questioned if they were making their mother’s proud by locking me up and keeping me from my baby girl.” She looks a bit sheepish. “Maybe I did go a bit overboard. But I was worried SICK!!!”
We talk for several hours until there is a knock on the door. Jack peeks his head in.
“I’m sorry to bother the two of you, but I was wondering if I could escort you ladies to your quarters.”
My mother gives me the “don’t you think he is a cute guy? You should date him” look and smiles and nods to Jack. “Thank you, Captain, we would appreciate that.” We get up and head arm-in-arm through the doorway behind Jack. He leads me to my quarters with the other trainees but continues ahead with my mom. She will be staying with Lady Pescara. As I enter my tent and turn to my hard and lumpy bunk, I remind myself that this is the life I have chosen and I lay down and fall into a deep sleep.
Chapter 30
I am soundly asleep, not even dreaming. My poor body and mind need a break. But I am awakened by a light tapping on my cheek and a tiny voice whispering in my ear.
“Miss Evelyn.” Tap, tap. “Miss Evelyn.”
I stretch and roll from my side to my back, blinking my eyes so they adjust to the darkness. I must have fallen asleep before dinner.
“Who’s there?” I grumble, “What time is it?”
“Shhhh,” whispers the voice, “Please, Miss Evelyn. We must be very careful to not wake anyone up.”
I blink a few more times and can make out the shape of a little seahorse swimming by my head. But it is unlike any I have seen before. It is a little more than a foot long and has the head and long nose of a typical seahorse, but its body looks like it is growing out stems and leaves in all directions. If it hadn’t been speaking to me, it would look like a plant.
“What in the world?!” but the little critter spits at me one more time.
“Miss Evelyn, you MUST keep quiet. I have an important message for you from Miss Gwen Mizrahi.” All of my wonder at this little creature vanishes as I hear the name of my friend. I sit up straight in my bunk, tossing my blanket to the side.
“What message? What did she say? Where is she? Who is her Captain?” I do my best to whisper as I sit up on my bunk.
“She desires to meet with you. Please follow me and make your movements as quiet as possible.”
“Wait,” I whisper. “I can’t just up and follow you. That has gotten me in plenty of trouble before. Ho
w do I know Gwen really sent you?”
The little seahorse parts his leafy arms and pulls out an octopus crystal. It is from Ceto’s chandeliers and could only have come from Gwen.
“She said to remember your uncle,” the seahorse says again.
I know Gwen wants me to remember our familial connection. She has never had positive family connections and now she has the chance to have that in me. I am nervous about leaving again, but I want her to know that I am family and I will come when she needs me.
“I’ll come,” I say to the seahorse and I hop down from my bunk. I grab my small pocket knife just to have some protection and I hide it in my clothes.
The creature swims out of the tent door and I follow as quickly and quietly as I can. My bunkmates are all in various deep-sleep poses, at least one of them snoring, so I am sure I haven’t awakened them. I have to blink and rub my eyes when I exit the tent so I can see clearly enough to follow it. The creature is a yellowy-green color, glowing in the reflected light of the full moon in the sky over the ocean. It must be a cloudless night above sea; I can see almost everything with complete clarity. The little sea creature swims quickly down the row of tents with me close behind. He says nothing and neither do I. I don’t want to risk waking up any others and having to explain where I am headed. Gwen isn’t out of the clear yet.
Suddenly the little horse darts between two of the tents. I hear a guard coming and I follow the little seahorse, thinking that we are trying to avoid detection. But when I stop, I realize the creature is still swimming, just heading down another pathway that leads to the outer city wall. I continue to follow it, wondering where we are headed. Once we make it to the wall, we hide in the shadows quietly as two Atlantean guards swim above us, watching the open sea on their patrol. Once they moved far enough away from us, I follow the seahorse over the wall then sharply down the other side into more shadows. After a moment of pause and silence, it speaks to me in its regular voice. It sounds male, his voice oddly deep and raspy for such a small creature.
