Love Never Dies

by Pelaam

  “If I thought you looked beautiful before, it pales into insignificance against the way you look now.” Tresilian stretched out beside Midnight, cuddling him close, and Midnight was more than happy to simply lie for a few moments to gather his wits and his breath.

  After a few minutes, Midnight rose up on his elbow and kissed Tresilian. As he did, he traced a single finger down his lover’s furred chest.

  “I love you.” Midnight kissed his way down the trail made by his finger, and Tresilian lay back with a smile.

  With slow deliberation, Midnight kissed his way down to Tresilian’s belly, and then lower still. He placed a light kiss to his lover’s rigid flesh, and then slowly took the head into his mouth.

  “Midnight—you don’t have to—” Tresilian gasped out a protest, but Midnight laid his hand on Tresilian’s chest and quieted him.

  Tentatively at first, then with growing confidence, Midnight moved his lips over his lover’s erection. He was surprised at how hot the organ was, even warmer than it had felt in his hand.

  Remembering how this act had felt to him, Midnight wanted to reciprocate that pleasure, and moved up and down, licking and kissing. He couldn’t take all Tresilian’s proud flesh into his mouth but took as much as he could. Judging by Tresilian’s deep, throaty groans of delight, Midnight was certain he was doing well enough.

  “Midnight. If you don’t stop, I’m going to spill.” Tresilian wound his hands into Midnight’s hair, tugging him up.

  Letting his lover’s cock slip from his mouth, Midnight met Tresilian’s gaze.

  “I want you to.” This time, when Midnight wrapped his lips around his lover’s flesh, Tresilian crested, his seed flooding Midnight’s mouth.

  The release still came as a shock to Midnight and he swallowed what he could, coughing a little, but licking and caressing as best he could. The low, guttural moan of his name, and knowing he’d been the one to make Tresilian sound that way, encouraged him to continue.

  “You’re a fast learner, my love.” Tresilian’s tug on Midnight’s hair encouraged him to look up.

  The look of open affection on Tresilian’s face warmed Midnight to his soul and he slid up his lover’s body and snuggled into Tresilian’s side, his head on his lover’s shoulder. Midnight sighed his contentment as Tresilian enfolded him in his arms.

  “That was as wonderful as it was unexpected.” As Tresilian kissed the top of his head, a flush of pride washed over Midnight and he draped an arm across his lover’s chest. His gesture was every bit as possessive as that of Tresilian.

  For a moment, Midnight was happy to simply lie in his lover’s arms. Then he wriggled and raised his head slightly.

  “I love you.” Although he’d only whispered the words, Midnight was certain Tresilian would hear. When there was no response, he looked up. Tresilian’s face was lax with sleep. Midnight sighed and lay back down. I wish I knew Tresilian’s heart. Does he love me as I love him? He’s been a man of his word. He’s courted me gently in every way. But he’s yet to say if he loves me.

  Chapter 23

  In need of time to process all that had happened, Aurora sat on her bed, mentally applauding her brother and Dru for their bravery and Voltaire’s quick thinking. At the moment, the last thing I feel like doing now is exploring this place. It’s more and more of a prison, and the more I see of it, the more trapped I feel.

  She had no idea how much time passed until she was disturbed by a quiet tap to her door, Aurora frowned. It wasn’t the usual rap from Lalia. Swinging herself off the bed, Aurora went to the door and peered outside. Tsillah stood there, glancing around constantly as if afraid she’d be seen.

  “Tsillah, what do you want?” Aurora asked.

  “May I speak to you? I feel I can trust you.”

  “Of course you can. Come in.” Aurora glanced up and down the hallway as Tsillah shuffled quickly past her.

  Satisfied there was no one in the corridor, Aurora closed her door and turned to face Tsillah.

  “You still tried to protect one of us.” Tsillah shook her head. “Despite my warning. Thank you, but all it did was reinforce what the Nisut-bity and Princeps had been told by Ferdinand-Ashdown. They think you’re weak. They aren’t afraid, or even wary, of you.”

  “Why should they be? I don’t understand.” Aurora held out her hands. “What happened to the server? Did they punish her even after saying they wouldn’t?”

  “She’s dead.” Tsillah’s voice sounded flatter than ever and she toyed with the cloth collar around her neck before lowering her head.

  The news struck Aurora like a lightning bolt, shocking her to her core. But she had the eerie feeling that the worst was yet to come. Locking her door to ensure they were undisturbed; Aurora crossed the room to perch on the edge of her bed.

  “I’m so very sorry.”

  “She was flogged, killed, and her body sent to the catacombs.” Tsillah looked up and her dark eyes were filled with such pain that tears burned Aurora’s own.

  “The catacombs, but why? Why would they send her there? Tullia said they were the home of the wy…the w…oh, damnation!” Aurora dashed angrily at a tear that slid free, furious with herself for being unable to remember the word that had been used.

  “Because they who dwell there are her people, my people. The Oannes. Or what you from the land call merfolk.”

  “What?” Aurora felt her head spin and was glad to have the solidity of the bed beneath her.

  “Those in the catacombs are their failures. Those the Atlanteans couldn’t tame, or who didn’t develop into a creation like me.”

  “Create? You?” it was all too much, and Aurora shook her head. “I-I don’t understand.”

  “This.” Tsillah rolled up her skirt and now Aurora saw why, unlike the others, she wore hers long.

  Where her legs should be was something more like a fish’s tail which split into rudimentary legs halfway down what could be called thighs and ended in wide, flat feet. Allowing the skirt to fall again, Tsillah unwrapped the collar she wore to reveal gills.

  “We can live on land or in the ocean but need to be in water for at least part of the time. The soldiers are their greatest successes. They are no longer Oannes. Instead they are a being without a mind or will of their own. But there are still too few of them. The Atlanteans wanted an army and many slaves. They have some of both and not enough of either.”

  “But…but how can they continue with these…experiments?” Aurora hardly knew what to call them, her senses still reeling from the revelation.

  “Because our people will not abandon us. We aren’t warlike, or have the desire to kill, but would fight if need be. A pod of Oannes always remains nearby. The Atlanteans have tried to breed us for several generations. Apart from my legs, I am the pinnacle of success. I can speak, I have intelligence, and I breathe air for large parts of the day. The soldiers, while more mobile, understand little and are simply taught to obey and kill.”

  “Then the catacombs aren’t filled with mindless, bloodthirsty creatures who’d kill us on sight.” Aurora rubbed her face. “That was just a way to keep us from going down there, or anyway in the palace without someone as a chaperone.”

  “Yes,” Tsillah nodded. “Exactly. The Nisut-bity and Princeps prefer Ferdinand-Ashdown. They understand his motivations and know how to control him. You, Voltaire-Crevin, and the rest of your people are a mystery to them. What they can’t understand, or control is treated as a threat.”

  “We’re rather stuck here.” Aurora sighed. “As much as we want to get away, our ship is too badly damaged.”

  “No, it isn’t. That’s what they want you to think. That you’re trapped here. Your ship will be damaged, yes, but the Atlanteans keep all ships that they can. Ready for the day of ascension.”

  A bark of laughter escaped Aurora and she held up a hand as Tsillah stared at her.

  “Sorry, sorry, but what? Do they think they need ships to get to heaven?”

  “I don’t know where
that is, but if that place is on the surface, then yes. They have waited, with time running out, for the weapon to mature, and to be certain that this one will be mindlessly loyal to them. They are almost ready to go.”

  “On the surface.” Aurora’s amusement died instantly. “What weapon?”

  “The weapon which caused them to be entombed down here in the first place and forefather of the one they are now almost ready to unleash once more. The Leviathan: it’s the most destructive weapon ever known.”

  “Oh, dear goodness.” Aurora fanned her face with her hand, her heart racing. Now’s not the time to become a shrinking violet and have an attack of the vapours. I’m a ship’s captain and need to behave like one. “And do what?” she asked.

  “They intend to ascend and take control of your world, reclaiming their place as the greatest civilization on earth. The ships they’ve salvaged will form the basis of their fleet. They have also built mechanical soldiers over time, ready to battle, but these will only be activated when they are ready to sail out with the Leviathan at their head. They daren’t do so before in case they put too much of a drain on their power. To maintain air and light for the whole of the city takes a great deal of energy.”

  “Why do they keep all the lights on?” Aurora grasped at something she felt able to cope with. “It seems a waste.”

  “To keep the pods of Oannes away. My people would fight to free us. Even those in the catacombs are family. We do not abandon family. But not only that, some…some failures escaped and made their home in the city itself. Even I cannot call them family anymore. They are dangerous, they kill anyone and anything that enters their domain.”

  “What’s the Atlantean’s energy source? Surely they don’t have your people stoking huge furnaces down here.”

  “The volcano that was beneath them. It’s been the source of their power for a long time, but it’s weakening, dying. Soon it will die out completely, denying the Atlanteans the energy they need.”

  “So much to take in.” Aurora held her head as if to stop the thoughts from whirling around.

  “I mustn’t stay too long.” Tsillah sighed. “I’m in demand by the Atlantean women as I’m still deemed something a little different. They’ve known each other for so many decades; they find each other’s company too dull.”

  “Decades?” Aurora asked and Tsillah nodded.

  “There have been no new births for many, many years. Their refusal to ascend until Leviathan was ready has almost been their downfall.”

  “How old are Tullia and Maximus?” Aurora asked.

  “They rule.” Tsillah shrugged. “They have always ruled during my lifetime.”

  “Look, let me get my friends. You may be able to help us and in turn, we will help you.”

  “I cannot be found in you room.” Tsillah shook her head and looked around as if searching for somewhere to hide.

  “Go into the bathroom. I’m certain even an Atlantean won’t look in there.” Taking a deep breath, Aurora smoothed her hair and walked slowly to her door.

  Head held high, Aurora left her room, but she let her breath out in a sigh of relief to see there were neither guards nor Atlanteans to be seen. Deliberately avoiding Dryden’s room, she gathered the others and led them back to her quarters.

  Once everyone was inside, Aurora locked her door and hurried over to her bathroom.

  “Tsillah, it’s safe to come out. It’s just my brother and our friends. Perhaps you can help us.”

  Tsillah shuffled out, peering around and her relief on seeing the others was almost palpable.

  “Tell them what you told me.” Aurora sat beside Dru as Tsillah gave a shortened version to the others

  “Aurora mentioned I could help, but what can I do?” Tsillah held out her hands.

  “Do you know anything of a man being held prisoner here?” Midnight asked.

  “There is a legend.” Tsillah stared to move toward them, then stumbled slightly. Before she could fall to the ground, George raced over to catch her in his arms.

  “Are you all right?” he asked, looking anxiously from Tsillah to Aurora.

  “Water.” Tsillah gasped. “I need to be in water. I’ve been out too long.”

  “George, if you wouldn’t mind, take Tsillah back into my bathroom. She’s…um…she’s a mermaid. She needs water.”

  “Mermaid.” George breathed the word his eyes wide, then he nodded. “Yes. Yes, of course.”

  “A mermaid?” Dru stared at Aurora, her eyes wide. “A real mermaid?”

  “They call themselves Oannes.” Aurora nodded. “They’re also prisoners and slaves of the Atlanteans. It seems our hosts are far from the cultured and civilized people they portray themselves to be. Now, what about this man?”

  “He’s in chains.” Midnight looked at Dru who nodded. “We found that there are tunnels under here. He says he was created but abandoned. The Atlanteans took him in, but then started to use his blood to extend their lives.”

  “Which would be in keeping with Tsillah saying that Tullia and Maximus have always ruled.” Aurora began to pace. “If Tullia and Maximus had a way to extend their lives, they would rule through multiple generations of the Oannes. I can’t see any of them making it to old age.”

  “We can’t leave Adam there. Not the way he’s being treated. We have to free him.” Dru folded her arms and gazed directly at Aurora.

  “Adam’s the name Dru gave to the imprisoned man.” Midnight leaned around Dru’s unmoving figure.

  “I don’t know—” Aurora started but was instantly cut off by Dru.

  “We are not leaving him there.” Dru snapped out the words, aiming her chin at Aurora.

  “Dru, we’re prisoners ourselves at the moment.” Midnight laid a hand on Dru’s arm. “I agree, we need to help Adam. But given what he told us, the Atlanteans aren’t going to allow him to leave where he’s currently imprisoned and we have no tools by which to set him free. We need to see if they’ve lied about other things, too.”

  “Oh.” Dru’s shoulders drooped. “I’d forgotten that.”

  “Such as what?” Aurora asked as Dru unfolded her arms, the defiance and anger draining away at Midnight’s words.

  “Just how severely damaged is our ship? Maybe I can get her working. And if we’re to set Adam free, I need tools.” Midnight clasped his sister’s hands and she could almost feel his enthusiasm.

  “Tsillah said they’re keeping ships to create their own automaton-controlled armada. With their ultimate weapon at its head.”

  “Then the Freedom may be all right.” Midnight’s eyes danced with excitement. “I just need to get to the ship, and—”

  “You’ll go nowhere on your own, and we don’t even know where the ship might be.” Aurora held up her hands as Midnight turned as if to run off and try to find the vessel right there and then.

  “Aurora’s quite right.” Voltaire nodded. “We’ve already had one escapade that nearly ended badly, we daren’t risk another so quickly. I suggest that for the rest of today we ensure we’re the most agreeable guests the Atlanteans could possibly wish for. Tomorrow is a new day, and we’ll meet after breakfast to decide what we’re going to do and a timeframe in which to do it. Agreed?”

  There was a hubbub of agreement and people filed slowly out of Aurora’s quarters, leaving George who returned to the bathroom to keep Tsillah company, and Voltaire.

  “I should leave.” Tsillah appeared in the bathroom doorway. She glanced at George and smiled at him. “Thank you. George.”

  That Tsillah didn’t use George’s surname instantly struck Aurora, as did the way the couple looked at one another before Tsillah hurried across the room and left.

  “I’ll leave too.” George followed her out.

  A step or two behind him, Aurora made sure her door was closed before leaning against it and turning to face Voltaire.

  “We were so lucky. We may not be the next time.”

  “I know.” Voltaire began to pace. “For our next indep
endent foray into the palace, we need to be more careful. And armed.”

  “Armed?” Aurora’s stomach flipped, but she couldn’t deny that if they were to find a way of escaping Atlantis, it may involve the need to battle their way out. “Yes, I-I suppose that we should be.”

  “That’s the gal.” Voltaire patted her shoulder and offered a beaming smile. “Right then. I should get going, too. See you at dinner.”

  The moment she was alone, Aurora went to the bed and sat down heavily. Then she sat up straight and took a deep breath. Voltaire may have more experience in these matters, but I’m still their captain. I can’t indulge in self-pity, and I mustn’t show I’m afraid. No matter what, I remain Captain Aurora Pendragon and I’ll do whatever it takes to get my people home safe.

  Chapter 24

  At the sound of the gong, Midnight and Tresilian joined the others in the walk to the dining room. On this occasion, Tsillah wasn’t their only escort. A couple of armed soldiers marched blank-faced behind them.

  “Seems word of your little escapade may have got through to Tullia and Maximus after all.” Trevilian leaned down to whisper in Midnight’s ear.

  “I agree.” Midnight nodded. “I hope that doesn’t mean trouble for us all.”

  “I think we’d know by know if it had. I think this is a little reminder that not only do they have armed guards but that we’re their prisoners. You know, in that nice, civilized way in which the Atlanteans address us.”

  “Oh yes, very civilized.” Midnight pulled a face. At that moment he fervently wished he and Tresilian were back in their room making love. Or even in the library reading. In fact, anywhere but having to face those Atlantean rulers.

  However, Midnight’s wish wasn’t to be granted and he kept pace beside his lover, head held high. As usual, the dining room was already filled with Atlanteans, but this time Midnight and his friends weren’t the only guests.

  At the head of the table Tullia and Maximus gazed implacably toward them, and on Tullia’s right sat Ferdinand and Lynch. Their gazes looked every bit as menacing as those of the Atlanteans. Alongside them was Dryden who glowered at Dru.