by M. Arcturus
Jarrah had spent most of his life riding the waves. Every notion of beauty he’d ever had of the sea paled in comparison to the beautiful sight that greeted him at the top of the stairs. If he had witnessed anything more breathtaking, he would have guessed that he was in Heaven. He had just walked into the night sky. The walls were dark brown with specks of gabbros, which sparkled in the candlelight lighting the halls. The floor was echoing the star-like speckles of the gabbros on the mountain’s walls on its own mirror surface. There were natural openings in the ceiling, appearing to be made by ancient lava flows, which opened up to the starry sky above. Never having been in the palace before, it was an amazing sight! Looking at the palace from the sea, all he ever saw was a mountain with a large glass dome on what could have been a smaller peak close to the lowlands. As he stared up at the sky, he knew that’s where he was: under the glass dome. Apparently, the Atlanteans didn’t want to alter the ceiling for storms, so they encased it under glass.
The whole place had been created by lava flows from days long ago. The only things that had been tampered with was the mirror floor and columns that had been smoothed out of stalactites that were anchored to the floor by stalagmites. Some of the columns were as much as ten feet thick in diameter. Because the columns had been sanded down smooth, the gabbros, which looked like stars on the walls, were more like speckled comet tails that horizontally swirled about on the slick rock surface. Kajaka started to slip off of his back. Jarrah threw him back over his shoulder, and finally grimaced showing signs of discomfort.
His new Bennu friend grew, towering way above his own height. Its wings went to a spread eagle as it stood behind Jarrah’s back. Not understanding the reason for the Bennu’s defensive stance, reality hit as he focused on the situation ahead. At the main entrance, some sort of amphibious race of creatures was attacking the palace guards. They almost looked like the mermaids he had seen at sea. Their purple tails flopped around, hitting the floor as they moved, slithering around and recoiling between attacks. Their long fingers were like talons as they scratched at the metallic surface of the guards’ shields. There were still some traces of Campanula’s icy departure. An occasional guard was frozen, but it looked like she’d had some trouble with the demonic mermaids as well, for two of them were frozen by the doorway.
The Bennu bird looked at Jarrah with concern when he chuckled at the sight. He pitied the guards, but also wondered what it must have been like to be one of them at a time like this. First, they were up against Campanula and now, demonic mermaids. He was horrified, yet thoroughly amused at the ironic turn of events.
There was one figure amongst the guards that didn’t seem to quite fit in. Either the guards knew him well, or they were too preoccupied to even care who he was. The black turban on his head was just knocked off by the long tail of his attacker. His long black hair rolled down his back until it reached its actual length, six inches below his shoulders. In the pale moonlight, his hair possessed a brown sheen when it flew about him as he fought. Fighting with two swords, he took on more than anyone else around him.
More guards joined the fray, which allowed this unusual stranger to look around himself. It was almost as if he felt something in the air, for it took him no time at all to sense Jarrah standing off in the distance with Kajaka draped over his shoulder. Without delay, Seth came running over to investigate the situation.
“What happened? Who else is injured? Is there anyone else with you?” Seth looked frantically behind Jarrah, hoping that Pandora was with him.
Jarrah looked at him in surprise. He wasn’t used to strangers coming up to him as if it was as natural as talking to a friend.
Irritation streaked across Seth’s facial scales when Jarrah just stood there staring at him in shock.
“That’s my friend Kajaka,” Seth said. “What happened to him?”
Now Jarrah understood.
“There was a freak accident down in the jail cells.” His deep rich voice grabbed Seth’s attention. Seth’s face went white, but he wasn’t given the time to respond before Jarrah continued. “A vampyre was given Bennu blood, which caused a disturbance amongst the great shadow birds. They were flying everywhere! I’m not sure what happened to your friend, but I’m sure if you talk to his mate downstairs you’ll hear more of the story.”
At first, Seth thought Shadow had been caught and was thrown in jail due to Jarrah’s term, “mate.” Had their plans been discovered? Was Juron onto them? Was he already too late?
“I’m surprised she chose to stay down there,” continued Jarrah.
“Pandora!” Seth almost took off without any further discussion. Then he paused to ask one more question. “What are you going to do with Kajaka?”
“She asked me to take her friend to the northeastern shore. Her father will be expected to arrive there. According to her, someone will be there to greet him. Hopefully, this individual will know how to heal her feathered friend,” he stated, gesturing to the man slung over his shoulder. “I asked if she wanted to come as well, but she declined, and said there would be a greater impact on the situation if she stayed in her cell. I’m sure triggering her father’s anger has something to do with it.” Jarrah grinned and then continued. “True, it’s not a likely day that a mercenary goes out of his way to help an outsider, but she was very convincing. Something to do with her father coming—the way the earth shakes in response to his presence. Her father must be very powerful! I figured that if I helped her friend, I wouldn’t get in the line of fire.”
Seth smiled, but at the same time, his heart fell to the floor as he reflected on Pandora’s decision. He knew that Pandora staying in her cell would add to their argument against Juron, but a prison cell was no place for her. “Believe it or not, you’re now a part of a rebellion against the Atlantean Republic. As long as you carry Kajaka, you are one of us. I’m sure the Bennu will keep you in line if you try anything to hurt him,” Seth said with a smile half-jokingly, then continued. “She’s right; I bet Shadow will be the one on the shore waiting for her father’s arrival. They both can help Kajaka. Stay safe, and do the best you can. You may be a pirate, but your heart is like mine—a warrior filled with honor.” They clasped hands to forge their unstated alliance. “I’ll hold off the sea-folk as you leave the palace,” Seth added. “Be wary, they’re everywhere, in the woods, in town, and on the shores. They were summoned from all over the seas.”
Seth hopped back into the fray, clearing a path as best he could. Though Seth managed to take the brunt of it, Jarrah still got scratched and torn by their talons as he rushed out of the palace.
Chapter Four
The Heartbeat of a Thousand Ships
The fog was thick as they traveled far from Avalon. Even though their rustic, wooden boats were imbued with magic, reducing the distance they had to travel, the journey still wore on the crew. While Sorbek rowed the boat headed southwest toward Atlantis, he looked at Lord Oberon, watching his every move. Even as his Lord put his hand in the water, Sorbek began to question his courage about the mission. He had never been betrothed before. Battle and vengeance came easy to him, but a family? Prepared more for combat than earning a woman’s heart, he wondered if his Sovereign would be disappointed in him. Being with a woman was unnerving enough, but planning on marrying his Lord’s daughter was a whole other matter—especially seeing the silent rage fester in his Lord’s soul.
Avalon’s ruler sat in the boat across from his most trusted warrior. He seemed calm on the outside as he dangled his hand in the water, but on the inside, the trip was just allowing his emotions to fuel his internal fires. They were getting close to the Atlantean shore, for Oberon spotted the miniature mermaids that swim in Atlantis’s shallows. He wasn’t used to seeing them in waters this deep before, but they seemed so excited to see him. They were very meek and small as they gathered around his hand. Their shimmering purple fins were no more than four inches in length. In their own si
lent way, they fretted for their Lord, and with one violent surge of energy, he told them the news.
“They have my daughter. I saw it in a Bennu feather. There’s no way it could have been forged. The owner of the Bennu feather is imprisoned with her and showed me everything. She is dying, and Juron is forcing her to stay in a state of suffering. He has imprisoned my daughter, enslaved a Bennu, stole the Bennu’s blood, and injected it into another only to cause more pain and suffering. By these actions, he has attacked our bloodline and our cousins. They must be freed and avenged.
“I will see what the cause is for all of this. If the answer is not satisfactory then war he shall have! It will not just be against Atlantis, but also toward their descendants. I will not rest until his blood echoes my daughter’s pain, and if she dies, Atlantis will cease to exist!”
They were quiet at first, not knowing how this was possible. Their Lord had been given the task to protect their kin, and he had the power to vanquish their pain. Why would anyone personally attack his immediate family? He wielded enough power to scare anyone into submission. Who dared test his strength? Their anger grew as well as their size. The water glowed and bubbled in the excitement as the most precious sea-folk turned into beasts. No one aboard any of Avalon’s sea vessels reacted to the waters. They knew the anger of their Lord, and anyone in his way would pay!
“My children, don’t kill our enemy just yet. Hold him until tomorrow’s gathering. Scare him, break him, make him our slave!” Those were the last thoughts given to the sea-folk from their cherished Lord Oberon. He recollected himself and sat back in the boat waiting to reach the shores of Atlantis. It wouldn’t be long now.
Shadow had paced on the shore for most of the evening hours now. The fog had rolled in, and he couldn’t make out anything more than ten feet in front of his face. Shadow knew that his guest’s arrival was at hand, for over the course of time, the rumbling of the earth had become much more frequent. Slowly, through the sound of the crashing waves, he started to hear the sound of oars hitting the water. The entourage of boats from Avalon wouldn’t be big enough to bring attention to themselves, but there would be enough of them to make a scene if necessary.
Five feet from the shore, the first bow parted the mist. Just moments later it was joined by several others. The bow right before Shadow belonged to the boat of his long-awaited guest. There was a great splash of water as one of the crew stepped off the boat. His massive structure broke through the mist, and shock seized Shadow. He knew this kind of breed existed, but the size of him overwhelmed Shadow. Reaching seven feet tall, he was an all-gray wolf, except he walked on his hind legs like a man. His long, royal-blue hair with a white underlayer draped impressively over his shoulders, and his torso was adorned with a bright medium blue breastplate trimmed in gold. With his gold and lapis Egyptian headdress tucked under his arm, he was a sight to behold! His sharp reddish-orange eyes made contact with Shadow. They didn’t glow, but within their movement, they revealed a reflective quality.
Sorbek didn’t care much for what he was about to do. Since there was not an envoy on board, the act of servitude now rested on his shoulders. While in the water, he started to lower himself into a crouching position on all fours to allow his Lord to step on his back to reach the dry shore.
“Wait! Please rise; you don’t need to do that here. In most cases, it is necessary to exaggerate my reputation toward foreign lands, but I have already proven myself here,” said his Lord as he splashed down with both feet into the water. His long brown hair whipped majestically in the wind, and his hazel eyes smiled at Shadow.
Sorbek sighed relief and straightened himself back up.
“Lord Oberon, it is a pleasure to see you again,” Shadow said, bowing with his wings stretched out. Given the severity of the situation, Shadow no longer cared to hide his wings. “I just wish it was under better circumstances.”
Lord Oberon was taken aback in astonishment. He had seen the truth in the feather, only sharing parts of what he had seen to his Lady since he wasn’t convinced of what he saw. Now that Lord Oberon had seen Shadow’s wings, Kajaka and Shadow’s secret had been revealed in that one brief moment. Oberon silently vowed to himself not to mention it to anyone for their safety.
He walked up to Shadow and bowed even deeper. “It is all my pleasure.” Sorbek’s eyes went wide with shock. His Lord actually bowed to another being! “I know how much Kajaka means to you, my friend. You are in just as much pain as I am. I’m just not tied to laws that restrict my interference with this matter like you are. Otherwise, I’m sure you would have been able to take care of this yourself. It must torment you dearly to have your mate caged.”
“Yes, I hate to think of how he must be right now. He is my mate in every way. It is rather frustrating since we are here only to observe unless there is no other hope, but I have taken the liberty of contacting the Galactic Council. It appears that we have their support.”
Oberon smirked, “Let’s talk about the situation and plot our plans for action.” About this time, loud splashes reached the shore only to give way to something far worse to Shadow than Oberon’s wolf-like companion. Large, light-purple demons, with long purple tails, came slithering up onto the shore. Algae and seaweed caked their hair. They crawled on their hands, making their way past the shore and into the woods. Oberon smiled.
“Ah yes,” he said, “As you can see, I have already taken my first few steps in this revolution as well.” Shadow gasped in horror until he realized that they were Atlantean mermaids. Then he chuckled alongside Oberon.
Knowing that Shadow’s sanctuary was probably under surveillance, they stayed on the shore and talked around fire circles. The fog never did lift, but Shadow could tell that it was long into the night. Just another few more hours until his beloved and Pandora were free once again. To top it off, Oberon was not pleased to hear that the traveler was being held hostage as well.
“I see that my counterpart, Juron, has exceeded his stay,” said Lord Oberon.
“We did not doubt his capabilities in the beginning, but I’m sure the Elders didn’t have this in mind. When they left, they made sure they didn’t ever need to come back.”
“Yes, I’m afraid humanity’s greatest ally, and resource gave up on them a long time ago. I have a feeling that before long, they will have to fend for themselves. I assume once this situation gets settled that you and Kajaka will meet with your own Council to see if you should stay or go. Is this correct?”
“I’m afraid so. Our kind will not come back for a long while, and the fae?”
“Avalon’s presence has not yet been determined, but it’s not looking good. Juron has hurt Kajaka and Pandora most likely out of greed, and who knows how many other people he has harmed. It is no longer wise to ally ourselves with Atlantis; I have to keep my kin’s safety as my top priority.”
“Then their only aid will be the dragons.”
“Even that is under discussion.”
Seth covered Jarrah the best he could, but there were a few water demons that escaped his distraction and clawed at Jarrah’s back as he disappeared into the night. Most of the guards were preoccupied, so Seth slipped away from the scene practically unnoticed. His first destination was the palace jail.
Pandora hung there in silence. The mental and physical strain of being chained to the wall, and caged in a dimly lit cell with no one around, was almost getting to her. She was actually beginning to miss the female’s screams from the hours before. The time had long since passed that she lost feeling in her arms as they were bound to the wall above her head. Her hair was matted with blood, which had seeped through her bandages, and the drip of condensation above her head was starting to hurt every time it hit her scalp. As the water ran down her face, it brought with it a trail of blood as it moistened the dried clumps in her hair. Trying to keep herself from panicking in the silence, she thought of the cool Atlantic waters. When she wa
s almost in a meditative state, she thought she heard a scuffling sound just down the hall. Someone was coming, and they had just run across some of the glass that was lying on the floor. Not knowing how to react, she kept her head down and acted as if she was unconscious—or, better yet: dead.
With the keys slightly jingling in his hand, he opened up her cell door and stepped inside. He walked up to her, and without saying a word sat down on the ground beside her feet and lowered his head in grief, convinced that he was too late. The Bennu birds that chose to stay with her woke up from their nap and hopped out of the shadows to investigate their new visitor.
Realizing that her visitor had just made himself at home and had no intention of leaving, she cracked open her eyes to see who it was. There was no mistaking it. It was Seth. He sat there silently as the Bennu popped up all around him. They could tell that he was upset, so they perched themselves on his crossed legs and started nuzzling into him.
“I see how you are. Just sit there without saying hi.” Pandora’s voice was raspy, and she coughed trying to clear her throat, but it didn’t improve the sound of her voice.
Seth shot up and went to touch the side of her face, then stopped short as he realized that she was more precious than all the riches of the world. Why would his touch be accepted by such a creature? He put his hand down quickly.
