The Aquarium

by Emily Shore

  Once we’re inside, I have to take a moment to breathe. Similar to the Temple, the Aquarium lobby area is impressive, but this one is themed around the ocean. Dangling from the ceiling is a coral display stretching from one end of the lobby to the next, spanning at least five hundred feet. And all composed of a variety of gems ranging from rubies to crystals to emeralds to diamonds. No expense spared. On each side of the room are tanks with rotating sprite lights of dolphins, whales, sharks, and seals. There’s even a tide pool for children who want to touch coral, sand dollars, and starfish. That one befuddles me. What kind of a Museum is this?

  I pass by several different podiums, which pepper the lobby area where I assume sprite lights will project ads for various exhibits. Four enormous water tanks highlight the domed lobby. Teeming with all sorts of fish, it spirals up through the ceiling. As I get closer, I realize the fish are far more unique. Cross-hybrid species. A lionfish mixed with a puffer fish. A jellyfish crossed with a sea horse. To promote themselves, the Aquarium doubles in marine biology and conservation. Single-handedly, they’ve managed to recreate a whole new coral reef in this ocean sector, giving birth to old and new species of aquatic fish and enticing all sorts of aquatic creatures.

  I can only imagine what the lower levels must look like.

  Neil and I make our way to the lobby desk. Off to my right and left are lines of check-in booths equipped with screens that will undoubtedly log in reservations, credits, and identification.

  Not surprised the lobby desk is equipped with a digital receptionist with artificial intelligence instead of a human one, I glimpse the volumetric model with skin the color of lace-wrapped clouds, indigo mermaid waves, and the sweeping curve of her eyeliner accenting violet eyes. Perhaps it is based on a model or more likely an alluring program. As soon as she opens her mouth and speaks in a robotic voice, the words gut me.

  “Welcome, Serenity Storm.”

  We tried so hard.

  5

  H a V e n’ S W o r L d

  * * *

  A moment after the robotic voice spoke, the smoked glass doors on the left side of the lobby desk open to reveal a woman.

  Somehow, I know it is Haven.

  She is not what I imagined. Young. Far too young for a world-famous assassin, but I reckon that’s why she’s as good as she is. Her hair doesn’t move when she glides toward me, her feet clothed only in silk slippers. It reminds me of a fresh black quill, but one pointed down. Except for the blood-red streak that begins at her thick, broom-bristle bangs, follows the curve of her head, and spills down to her ends, which cling to her hips.

  Her eyes are long and narrow with sharp angles, predatory and feline as they assess me. A woman accustomed to this world and one who can conquer it whether as an assassin, a seductress, a corporate director, or any other mold she chooses.

  “Serenity Storm,” she echoes the receptionist program, but Haven’s voice is the opposite of robotic. It’s as pinpointed as the freckles that populate her cheeks, which do not detract from her Oriental beauty. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  Neil raises a hand. “I’m here, too.”

  “Good to have you back again, Mr. Bloode.” She does not lower her voice. It remains firm yet cordial at the same time. Professional courtesy.

  I turn off my DIM disguise, retaining my usual face. Neil mimics me a moment later.

  “Where are my children?” It’s my first demand.

  At least Haven doesn’t circle me like my father used to do. She remains where she is, posture needle straight. “Curious. I’m surprised you didn’t ask where your husband is first.”

  “Any mother would instinctively want to know where her children are,” I clarify, taking a step forward, inwardly incensed I still resemble a simple sixteen-year-old even at almost twenty. Despite this, I’m determined to show her we are equals. Just as I’ve been determined to show the world’s population I am equal. Sky is the only one who ever counted me as more than his equal. It’s another instinct to wonder where he is. After all, without Sky, Haven would have no knowledge of our real last names. Not even Neil knew of our new surnames.

  “But we both know you are not their mother, are you?” Haven summons her wrist cuff. Old tech like we used in the Sanctuary. Surely, she can afford more, so it must be a lifestyle choice. Projected in the air is an image of two sets of DNA labelled with Kerrie and Verity’s names. She swipes to Sky’s double helix. “Twenty-five-percent match between your “daughter” and your husband. He is not their true father.”

  “It doesn’t make me any less their mother,” I declare, raising my chin. Neil keeps his mouth shut, though he swings his weight from side to side. He’s putting up a good front. His pinched lips betray something else—concern. For Lindy.

  “The infamous Temple Bride.”

  I expect her eyes to scan my body as Jade’s once had, but they don’t flee from mine. Instead, her focus builds a fortress around me.

  “Those twins are at least two years old. The timeline does not track.” Sighing, she swipes again. My double helix. “Even so, I gained your DNA transfer from your husband. You are a fifty-percent match.”

  “Which indicates a parental match,” I point out.

  Haven inhales, then smiles as if she can smell the lie. “Your children’s DNA also flagged another match in my system. You see, I have worked for a variety of Families in the past, including The Guild.”

  “Luc…” I breathe the name.

  “Another fifty-percent match. Pity the world never discovered your love affair with the former director. It would have thrilled audiences worldwide, especially after your infamous swim together during your final Aviary exhibit.” Ahh, Haven has done her homework. “A love affair would have made the history books. A curiosity that Director Force never used it to his advantage,” she reflects, then taps the wrist cuff to shut down the interface.

  I sigh, dropping my arms to my sides. “I think we both know there was no affair.”

  Haven nods, closing her eyes once. A gesture of respect. “At least not one that would have produced a pregnancy as your Immortal implant renders such an accomplishment impossible. There can be only one explanation.” She breathes in deep through her nostrils, eyes opening a little wider so I can finally see more of her irises. “The Temple’s urban legend was true. Identical twins. What happened?”

  “You seem to have all the answers…” I don’t mask my loathing.

  Haven looks down, hands joined at stomach level. “She perished in the Temple demise.”

  I don’t like to think about Bliss. “Is that what they’re calling it?”

  “I’m truly sorry for your loss.”

  What I hate the most is how genuine Haven looks. Her most notable trait is honesty. Unlike Luc, unlike Jade, unlike Force, unlike anyone I’ve ever encountered, Sky included, Haven seems to have no hidden agenda. She is not trying to bait me as her white whale. Sincerity as deep as an ocean trench steeps her voice.

  “I can’t imagine that level of grief.”

  “I want to see my children,” I demand.

  Finally, Neil sidesteps toward me, but he focuses on Haven. “And my wife.”

  Haven does not move, but she shifts her pointed gaze to Neil. “Your wife is in Tower Three. Dorm level eight. She is perfectly healthy and waiting for you. Your barcode will give you access.”

  Neil doesn’t waste any time saying goodbye.

  “Come, Serenity.” Haven gestures a hand to the double frosted glass doors at the far end of the lobby, which open a moment later. “Let me introduce you to my world.”

  For the present, I’ve decided to play along. If it will get me to the twins that much faster, then I will allow Haven to give me her little tour. Everything inside me wants to react. A lightning storm has forged a destructive path all throughout my blood, but I keep it at bay. Ironic, considering how I never bothered before. But the stakes are higher than ever. And something infinitely more powerful than my lightning overthrows the
storm inside me. A strength I never considered until now—a mother’s love. It combats the lightning, cools it…like water.

  Once we step through one of many sets of double doors branching out from the lobby, the first sight that greets me is a waterfall in the center of the sky city. It dives down several levels, disappearing to where I cannot see.

  “The waterfalls are perhaps my proudest achievement,” Haven declares. “One for each tower. They spill into a contained river that joins the sea. One of many self-sustaining energy producers we have.”

  Why does she say we unless she means the “royal” we?

  “This one is the highest manmade fall in the world,” Haven boasts while explaining how the hydro-electric generated turbines help power it. “Five hundred feet before it turns into a tube-contained river, which joins with the ocean at the seabed. That base level, along with the lower levels, have pressurized chambers that surpass modern submarines.”

  Alone, the waterfall looks like something out of a fantasy. A long, silver-plated ribbon accenting the Commons. Various digital signs pop up before us, directing future audiences to different attractions. Plenty of elevators, moving stairways, and even a tram will carry passengers all over these central levels, which contain everything from an oceanic outlet mall of shops selling souvenirs to the Atlantis-style theme and water park taking up multiple levels and spanning what must be at least a dozen acres to the acrobatics theater. Haven has managed to capitalize on various franchises as Force once had.

  And all along the surrounding tower framework are under-the-sea views of the coral reef with its thousands of fish.

  “I want this to be a destination attraction for elite families,” she explains as she leads me to an elevator on the far west side. “Its purpose is not solely sex work.”

  “How entrepreneurial of you,” I remark as the elevator descends, giving me speedy glimpses of various parts of the Commons. At one point, I see a waterslide tube passing through an aquarium filled with sharks and fish before it dives to a wave pool.

  “Would you like to know how many women are multibillionaires in this country?” She directs her gaze to me, her eyes squinting becoming the height of a needle. Jade had the ability to dethrone me with her eyes. Haven is different. Like her ocean scraper, her gaze plunges down into my depths to probe my soul. I imagine it’s why she’s as untouchable as she is.

  “One,” I finally respond because she wasn’t planning to relent until I did.

  “One,” she confirms. “Women have two choices. Let this world break them or break it instead.”

  “Or the third option.” Clutching onto the railing, I watch the last level of the Commons disappear above my head, ads for an undersea restaurant flickering in my mind like visual echoes.

  “There is no third option. Your presence here is proof,” Haven points out from behind me.

  I pause, turning. “You think you can break me?”

  Haven smiles. It’s unsettling because of how settling it is. Again, there are no agendas. Unlike Jade, who wanted to train me and adopted a warped matronly relationship with me, Haven is nothing of the sort. Instead, she’s caught halfway between my father’s all too personal and Jade’s it’s-just-business demeanor. A healthy balance because she commands respect but will grant it in return…for a price.

  She stops the elevator on floor three hundred, but she does not release the doors yet.

  “You’ve already broken the world, Serenity.” Haven’s arms remain at her sides. “You brought it to its knees. You have left them wanting—panting—for two years. It is time to repair it. To bring beauty. A certain…serenity if you will.”

  After dealing with my sociopathic father, Haven leaves me at a loss. On one hand, she’s created this aquatic paradisiacal retreat, but what lingers on floors five hundred and below turns my stomach, creating eddies and currents there, my intestines tangling like a kelp forest.

  The sprite-light screen playing on each side of the elevator announces a warning—any patron must be sixteen or older to access the next level before summoning a barcode reader and additional scanner.

  “My exhibit levels double as expensive resorts with attractions. In order to partake in more than just an exhibit viewing, one must book a resort stay. I intend to have lifelong clients.” Haven indicates a tropical-style resort complete with faux beach and sand dunes, palm trees, various wading pools with and without aquatic life, snorkeling, water-skiing, and more.

  “I anticipate our most popular interaction will be the hike through our flora and fauna forest, which leads to the wading pool where our waterfall spills and connects to our river.” The undertone in her voice suggests just what will occur in such a wading pool.

  The lower we descend, the more impressive the exhibits and resorts become. Opportunities are endless—from pearl-diving with mermaids and dolphins to a shark encounter with a call girl.

  On level 305-350, which I learn is the final set before maintenance and submarine ones, we arrive at Haven’s crowning spectacle. From an observation deck, I marvel, careless of how my mouth drops. Glimmering like liquid gold under the solar streaming spotlights is an Atlantis-style mini city complete with a towered palace.

  “You arrived at just the right time,” Haven announces. “The girls are getting ready for rehearsals.”

  Just then, the spotlights darken until only the palace is illuminated while serene but haunting music infiltrates the speakers of the observation deck. Then, a mermaid swims out a tower window, followed by more a few seconds later. Choreographed to the music, they spiral in an underwater dance, swimming ever closer to the exhibit windows where audiences will follow a parallel walkway. From here, I can see the walkway branching off in multiple directions, allowing patrons to choose their journeys.

  “You’re in for a treat.” Haven overlaps one hand over the other before taking a seat in a leather armchair behind her. “The show is about to begin.”

  I don’t sit. “I’ve been here for over an hour.” I blow my aggravation through my nostrils. Despite the acrobats suspended from flex cables taking their places above the castle, ready to dive at the precise musical moment, all I can see are my twins. All I can see is Sky.

  Haven raises one hand, signaling for me to be quiet. “This show is my finale. I believe you will find it quite thrilling.”

  Once the show begins, I want to prove her wrong, but I find myself transfixed by the story and by the aerial and underwater stunts. Especially when they bring in the dolphins. The story revolves around a mysterious sea king who the audience never sees, but the entire mer-kingdom is dedicated to searching for his lost love—the Sea Star Queen—only to learn she is trying to establish her own kingdom.

  Sidestepping toward me, Haven murmurs, “In the end, the sea king and his sea star will come together in a marvelous water battle. It will look like a fierce dance. And, of course, it will end in the best way—love and death.”

  It annoys me that she spoils the ending. Only when the show ends midway through do I understand why. Multiple ads project in the air and on individual screens for every private box. A sprite light of my face appears. Above it, shimmering blue neon text crackles with lightning.

  Announcing the return of the Swan as Serenity Sea Star, Queen of Atlantis, and introducing Skylar Storm as King of Atlantis.

  Rising from my seat, I must use all my strength to keep from diving right over the edge of the observation deck. Because I see him. Even with the darkened exhibit, I can discern the outline of his body. And as the exhibit darkens, bass thundering, fire spitting from the top of the towers, the palace splits apart to reveal Sky. Merman tail. Chest bared. A triton in his strong hand.

  Sky—my Sky—has become an exhibit.

  “I was quite amused by your husband’s attempt to infiltrate our empire via our system.”

  Again, how she resorts to our doesn’t escape my notice, but I still can’t fathom who she means. I take my eyes off Sky to glance at Haven, who idly inspects him. At f
irst, the automatic desire to launch myself at her, to serve threats through action, to show her who she’s messing with, is so tempting. But Haven knows exactly who she’s messing with…and she respects that. Not once does she regard Sky with anything more than assessment. The striking opposite of Jade. She scans his form as a manager would to determine if her model is performing well. Haven does not view Sky as a hunk of meat to be conquered like Jade does. Or a thorn in the side like my father had.

  “I’ll admit I didn’t anticipate him performing as well as he has,” Haven proclaims, tapping the sprite-light screen in front of her and enhancing it. Since it’s the closest view of him, I rejoin her so I can make sure he’s okay.

  “See?” Haven’s finger rides an invisible swing as she points to Sky. “Perfectly healthy. There is no cause for alarm.”

  We were only a few hours behind Sky, but if someone had caught him, I would have expected some sign of foul play…reminiscent of Neil. However, she’s speaking the truth. Sky appears perfectly unharmed. The opposite in fact. In his costume, Sky plows through the water, molding into the character of a king searching for his lost queen. It’s not so unlike real life. Since the beginning of our relationship, he’s always searched for me. Hide and seek as a child. Later…the Aviary, the Garden, and even the Temple in its own way. This time, it was my turn to search for him, but I never considered I’d find him like this.

  I stand again. “I want to see him.”

  “The show is not finished yet, Serenity. Please…” Haven gestures to my seat, her eyes pinching into a plea, which would seem unusual, but Haven has much in her arsenal from the little I have seen. A master of a multitude of expressions. I didn’t expect to encounter so much from an assassin.

  If it were Force in that chair, I’d have attacked him by now. Or simply walked out. That was our dynamic. I played it to my advantage just as he did. But Haven is not my father. And I am…a mother. I must channel my lightning in a different way in the Aquarium. It cannot strike to my every whim no matter how much I want it to, especially since Haven forces me to endure the rest of the agonizing show. Agonizing only because of the circumstances, but the show itself is earth shattering even if they end it before the finale.