Daria drew the covers up. Dazed by their assessment, she hid her shock with a change of subject and mood. “Kyla, just don’t make me eat any more for a while, or the eruption of Vesuvius will look tame in comparison to what I will do.”
Kyla raised her eyebrows. She gathered the tray, but her look was stern, “Very well. I will let you rest, but I will be back later. And full or not, you will eat.”
Kyla headed toward the door, “It is time to see about Mer-An anyway. Aris has probably driven her into a relapse by now.”
Ni-Cio chuckled, “No doubt.”
Kyla left and the door re-materialized. Daria sighed and closed her eyes. She couldn’t remember ever feeling so drained. Ni-Cio rose to join her. He settled beside her and took her in his arms. Daria snuggled onto his broad chest and inhaled the pure scent of him. “It will be all right, my love. You will regain all of your strength and more. Just be patient.”
Ni-Cio held her and stroked her hair, and Daria’s mind drifted. She thought about Na-Kai and all she had learned under her love and guidance. She didn’t want to think about their last conversation, but somewhere in that final exchange was the perception of a significant warning. Something tugged at the back of her mind, but she was too tired to exert the effort needed to remember.
She floated on the edge of sleep and her mind filled with random thoughts. It occurred to her that when she had consumed the meal Kyla had prepared, she had forgotten to take any of Travlor’s potion.
She stirred and took Ni-Cio’s hand. Aimless thoughts tried to coalesce…Travlor…the warning…something about the potion…a thought-form… nausea…. “Oh my God!”
Ni-Cio sat bolt upright. “Daria! What? What is it?”
She grasped his hands and tried to rise. She shook so much that she collapsed against his shoulder. Thoughts, like bolts of lightning, burst through Ni-Cio’s mind. “Travlor! Ni-Cio, he was trying to poison me…Na-Kai discovered the poison when she transferred her energy…her thought-form no longer binds him, and I don’t have the strength!”
Daria could tell that Ni-Cio wanted to ease her sense of alarm by the care with which he settled her back onto the pillows. He hesitated as he took his arms from around her. She was frightened by the suppressed reassurance in his voice, for she could see his fury rise. “Sleep. I will take care of Travlor.”
Ni-Cio crossed the room, and before the door materialized behind him, Daria heard his frantic thoughts summon Aris. “Gather some men and meet me at Travlor’s!”
Inside one of the lesser used exit portals, Travlor paced back and forth like a caged jungle cat. He waited for his son to surface. With each about-face, his stride accelerated, but his steps became more skittish. Heightened anticipation churned through his insides and he could smell the anxiety that poured from him, like a stench. His thoughts thundered with concussive force, “If I am caught, any chance of leaving this underwater mausoleum will be over! I will meet Death with measured finality!
“Even now, Ni-Cio and Aris have entered the main corridor leading to my chambers! An amassed group follows! The seconds tick, tick, tick, out of my grasp! I cannot concentrate! Focus! I must focus!”
An endless rage threatened to vomit from him. He clung to the fibers of his slowly shredding mind with frightening tenacity, “The light! It is there! I am free!” His thoughts spewed into Evan, “You are almost here…I see a brightening of the tunnel walls…hurry! You must hurry!”
The Oceanus crawled toward the pool entrance like a soldier navigating a minefield. So great was Evan’s concentration, he barely heard the violent thought-forms that hammered his mind. The tunnel allowed no leeway for error, and at this depth, if the Oceanus were to spring a leak, thousands of pounds of water pressure would crush him with the same nonchalant disregard that an insect is squashed underfoot.
The black water took on a lighter cast and he knew that the entrance was near. After what seemed like an eternity, the submersible cleared the tunnel. Evan started a slow ascent. He tried to regulate his breathing and failed miserably. However, as a scientist, he was amazed how quickly he began to hyperventilate. He forced himself to calm down.
The Oceanus broke the surface and seawater streamed, like tears, over the bowed windows. Evan caught distorted glimpses of a solitary figure at the edge of the pool and he realized that he was afraid to open the door. The unknown would be made known, and the events that Travlor had set into motion would play out with implacable certainty. Unable to move, Evan felt the craft drift under its own volition until it bumped against a tiled edge.
The submersible slanted crazily to starboard with the impact of Travlor’s body. The man clung like a leech while one fist frantically pounded the hatch. Evan heard the scrape of his metallic voice even over the engine noise, “Open it!”
The Oceanus rocked with such violence that waves splashed onto the dock and splattered the walls with black. The urge to turn around and leave almost won out, but the need to help Daria steadied Evan’s hands. He reached to unfasten the hatch.
Travlor lurched into the submarine, catching his robes on the instrument panel. He heaved himself into the seat, yanked at the cloth as though offended by the grasp of instrumentation and turned to face Evan.
Evan was speechless. He looked upon the man that had fathered him for the first time in his life. The resemblance, although uncanny, still exposed their differences. They scrutinized one another until Travlor broke the silence.
“I…see traces of…your mother.”
Evan’s mouth was dry as dust. He swallowed hard to ease the passage of words. “How would you even know?”
The moment shattered.
Travlor relinquished his stare, “We leave, now!” He signaled the portal entrance. “It will not be long before a sweep of Atlantis is initiated.”
Travlor’s voice grated on Evan’s frayed nerves. He knew that he had lost control of the situation, but he didn’t balk, “What about Daria? Where is she?”
Travlor shifted in his seat and nailed Evan with a narrow glare. He seemed to consider his response, “They hold her against her will. If you do not get us out of here now, there will be nothing we can do!”
A whirlwind of emotion charged through Evan, hindering his ability to reason. He didn’t want to trust this man he grudgingly accepted as his father, yet he couldn’t think of another alternative. Against his better judgment, he swung the craft around. He adjusted the controls and took a deep breath.
Evan glanced surreptitiously at his father. What he saw made his blood run cold. The OceanusVI plunged back into the onyx maze.
“He is not in there…I feel no trace of him!”
The group of fifteen men gathered around Ni-Cio to force their way into Travlor’s abandoned chambers, and under the onslaught of their combined energies, the door dissolved. They crowded into the darkened chamber.
Ni-Cio scanned the premises, but nothing moved, and even the air suggested an unused staleness.
Aris walked farther into the room and sniffed, “Do you smell that?”
Ni-Cio pushed by him and entered the kitchen area. The men followed, and as the lights came up, shadows scurried, like rats, into the corners. On a large stone table isolated in the center of the room there was a jumble of cooking instruments. A cloying smell assaulted Ni-Cio’s nostrils.
A thick glass bottle lay on its side as though it had been knocked over in haste. The liquid contents dripped from the narrow mouth and oozed over the table in an ever-widening stain. Ni-Cio dipped a forefinger into the concoction and brought the oily residue to his nose. His eyes watered and he jerked his head away, “By the gods, this is Sacred Datura! Aris, if this was in the potion he gave to Daria, he truly intended to kill her!”
He signaled his friends, “Rogert, take Ennael and go to Daria. Guard her with your lives. Half of you follow Aris, the rest of you come with me. Search every room and every turn in Atlantis. This madman must be stopped!”
Thought-forms flashed throughout the community
. Ni-Cio and his men sprinted through the tunnels and people catapulted into the corridors to help search for a person who for ages had barely merited a passing thought.
Ni-Cio and Aris led their men toward a fork in a passageway. They each took a different corridor. Ni-Cio careened onto the left path with his men on his heels. His thoughts swirled through his companions, “Aris, take your men and start at the north exits…we will take the southern routes…count the biospheres…we need to know if any are missing…if he has taken a ‘sphere, we will be able to track him!”
The sounds of their racing footsteps faded down the opposite tunnel.
Urgency mounted and the hunt intensified. Still, no trace of Travlor could be found. Thought-forms poured into Ni-Cio as area after area was searched to no avail.
“Council Hall secure…”
“Nothing in the Great Hall…”
“Nobody in the kitchens…”
Ni-Cio and his group inspected the southern exits and accounted for all of the biospheres. He knew that Aris’s cadre mirrored their actions in the northern exits. It was as though Travlor had been swallowed by the sea. Ni-Cio was baffled, and his men gathered around him while he queried Rogert. “Rogert, are Daria and Kyla all right?”
“They are fine…do not trouble yourself…”
Ni-Cio thought for a moment, looked at his men and contacted their Council Leader, “Marik, are you in Council?”
“I am here, Ni-Cio…”
“Aris, are you through?”
“Done and nothing is missing, Ni-Cio…not even a towel…”
Ni-Cio made his decision, “All right…everyone convene in the Council Hall…immediately!”
He led his men through the corridors at a dead run. They raced into the Council Hall just as men and women spilled into the room from every portal. The Council of Ten was seated upon the dais and Marik stood at the edge of the stage, ready to take action.
People converged upon Ni-Cio and bombarded him with questions. Information, everyone needed more information. Marik held his arms up in a bid for silence. “Ni-Cio, I cede the floor. Speak so that we might better understand what has transpired.”
Ni-Cio swiped the damp hair from his face and strode to the podium. He leapt up the stairs and gripped the sides of the rostrum as if he had his hands around Travlor’s neck, “Travlor has escaped.”
The Hall echoed with the ferocity of his statement. Questions erupted, but Ni-Cio shouted above the noise and people settled. “We cannot figure how he escaped. Every biosphere is present, and a thorough scan was made of all the exits, as well as of every chamber small enough to hold a seahorse. We can find no trace.” Ni-Cio paused. “We found Sacred Datura in Travlor’s quarters. He tried to poison Daria so that when Na-Kai transcended, he could leave Atlantis at will.”
Pandemonium broke out. Ni-Cio knew that no one could understand the depths to which Travlor had fallen. The shock of such depravity in their midst could be seen in the sickly green and yellow colors that swirled over the features of his friends.
The commotion would have continued except that Aris made himself heard over the noise, “What do you want us to do, Ni-Cio?”
Ni-Cio looked at Marik, and once the Council Leader signaled for him to proceed, he shared his plan. “We must treat this man with utmost care and caution. He is extremely dangerous and he will to do anything in order to achieve the goals he has set forth. You can put it to vote, Marik, but I think it is imperative that we find him. I suggest a search outside of Atlantis. He must be apprehended and brought back.”
Marik nodded and took a rapid survey. The vote was unanimous. The Council Leader turned his black gaze toward Ni-Cio. “Take whom you will, Ni-Cio. Find Travlor and bring him back. This time, he will face retribution!”
A quick count, and Ni-Cio knew he had more than enough volunteers. “Aris, you take the swimmers. Break into pairs and head for the exits.”
Everyone chose a partner while Ni-Cio pulled his friend aside, “Take only the fastest swimmers. The rest can use biospheres.”
Aris nodded and motioned to the men and women who were to follow him. He walked toward one of the portals and stopped. “There are fifty exits, but remember, once out of Atlantis, it’s a systematic search. Scan quickly but be thorough. We have no idea what he is up to or where he might have gone.” Aris glanced at Ni-Cio, “Ready.”
Ni-Cio stepped in front of the teams of swimmers, “Be on your guard. I cannot stress this enough. If you find Travlor, do not try to take him yourself. Summon others. He is desperate enough to try anything. His energy wanes, but he is still stronger than most of us. Not one of us has ever faced a threat such as this.”
Varying shades of red showed the grim determination housed in every heart.
“Very well. Remember, have a care for yourselves and each other.”
He gestured a heartfelt goodbye and watched Aris lead his cadre out of the west portal. Ni-Cio addressed his remaining group, “This is how we will break out, two to a biosphere, one biosphere for each exit. I think Travlor is making his way topside. However, there are so many small islands that rest in our ocean, it is anyone’s guess as to where he is headed.”
He reached into the sash that surrounded his robe and pulled out a clear, wafer-thin marinus. He initiated the device with a quick thought. A three-dimensional map unfolded and soared into the air. Islands closest to Atlantis were highlighted in a yellow bioluminescent glow. People moved closer for a better look.
Ni-Cio enlarged the scene until everyone was encased in a nautical map of their underwater world. He structured the map to indicate orientation. The marinus twirled about and came to rest as it floated in midair. Views of the headings needed to reach the nearest islands were available in fly-by mode or in a stationary overlook.
Ni-Cio showed each team their exit and the island that was their destination. He held up his marinus, “Imprint your course.”
A shuffling of robes was heard as Atlanteans extracted their devices. As fast as thought, their nav-systems were imprinted with the course and heading specific to each team. Ni-Cio looked over his group, “Our time grows short, so I only have this left to say. If you have not found Travlor by the time you have reached your assigned island, do not go topside. I cannot make myself clear enough on this point. Even if you see Travlor’s body leaving the water as you are pulling up, do not attempt a topside excursion. Without knowledge of Terran ways, it would only lead to events I am not prepared to sanction. Look sharp and be wary. I want nothing more than to have Travlor back, but not at the expense of anyone here.”
He sighed and again gave the gesture for a heartfelt goodbye.
Atlanteans raced to their biospheres. All hoped that a hasty conclusion could be reached with the apprehension of someone they no longer recognized as one of their own.
Ni-Cio, with his partner, Peltor, arrived at their appointed exit. Ni-Cio’s thoughts found Daria, “Love, are you all right?”
A quiet return, “I am well…look to yourself, Ni-Cio…I need you back…”
Ni-Cio shrugged out of his robe. His bioskin sent shimmers of light cascading across the floor. He crossed to the pool and bent down next to a biosphere. “Fear not, sweetest…I am back before you know I am gone…” His muscles tensed and flexed as he and Peltor pushed the transport off the deck and into the dark water.
A return sighed through his mind, “My heart already knows your absence…”
Ni-Cio lowered himself into the biosphere and waited for his companion to settle behind him. He allowed himself one last reply before the mission engaged his full concentration, “Until I am with you again, let your heart know this…”
Daria’s worries were forgotten when a thought-touch such as she had never known swirled into her heart. The radiance of Ni-Cio’s love suffused her entire being until she felt she would burst with joy. She gasped and touched her heart, “I can feel him, Kyla. He is here with me.”
A look of deep longing played across Kyla’s love
ly face. She sat on the bed next to Daria. “And it will always be thus between the two of you, Daria. That is the magic of love.”
Daria reached for Kyla’s hand. She recognized her friend’s solitary yearning and she ached to ease her loneliness. “Kyla, I know your heart. Believe me when I say, it will happen for you too.”
Kyla shrugged and she pulled her hand away. “You are right. Love comes in its own time and not a moment sooner.”
She stood to leave, but Daria stayed her departure. “I probably shouldn’t share this with you, but just as I know the color of your beautiful topaz eyes, I know that love approaches you. And it comes from a most unexpected source. Now, don’t ask me who, what, where or when, because I’m a little fuzzy on those details myself.” Daria laughed to cover her embarrassment and joked to soften the mood, “So, how do you like that for some down-home fortune telling?”
Kyla stood immobile for several moments, and with a look of wonder, she cocked her head and put her hands on her hips, “Is there no end to your talents?”
Daria lowered her gaze and plucked at an imaginary string on her bioskin, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Kyla plopped back onto the bed, “Daria, not every Healer is also able to foretell the future. After Kai-Dan, only two others illuminate my remembrance, and one of them had sporadic abilities at best.”
Daria frowned and she sifted through her own memories. “I’ve no recollection of any premonitions before the age of five. But now that I think about it, after my parents died, well, I began to sense things. I just thought it was the loneliness. Maybe Atlantis has enhanced this ability.”
Kyla shook her head and stood. She plumped some of Daria’s pillows. “Maybe so. Nevertheless, it is time for you to rest. Rogert and Ennael are outside your door. Should you need anything, let them know, otherwise, I will be back in a few hours.”
Tides of Change Page 14
