Blood for Atlantis

by Anna LaVerne

  “How?” I gasp, ignoring all the people inside.

  “Benefit of being populated by the landborn. Water turbines power electricity using the currents. The hard part is keeping it hidden from humans. Thankfully, the ocean is vast, and the bases are far apart in mostly deserted waters,” Aden explains.

  All four of the men are smiling ear to ear, excited that they were able to introduce me to something new. I am fascinated by Triton’s bases and would like to visit them all.

  “Are all the bases like this?”

  “No, this is a deep sea base. One of my favorites,” Laki replies.

  “Well, Morgan, are you going to sit down, or are you and your men going to stand in the doorway all evening?” an old burly man yells from behind the bar. His long gray beard hides his face, but nothing can hide his ice-blue eyes. I peek around Aden to get a better look, almost falling over. The old man is dressed in a long-sleeve plaid shirt with suspenders. He doesn’t look much like a seaman, but he definitely looks like he can run a tavern.

  “Yes, sir. We will take the corner booth and whatever tonight’s special is. Beer for me and the guys, and a wine for the lady,” Morgan orders for us all.

  “A lass, aye? Let me see the tough lass able to keep up with the four of you.”

  Laki gives me a little push from behind, as Aden and Morgan move out of the way, exposing me to the old man's icy glare. I shiver under his eyes and the recognition that flashes in them. His mouth opens into an “O,” like he knows exactly who and what I am. Before he speaks, I shake my head no and try to silently plead with him to be quiet.

  “Well, fair lady, aren’t ye a beautiful sight to be seen? Lucky men you have there. Make sure to come to me if they don’t treat ye right. My name is Bailey, and I can get ye anything you need in Bathos.”

  I smile my thanks without a chance to respond as the guys usher me to a corner booth. A few people around the tables mutter hi to my guys, but not one of them even bothers giving me a glance. I am grateful, but I also wonder if my men bringing a girl in is a normal occurrence.

  Morgan gestures for me to have a seat in the corner of the booth. I enter, and Laki follows me in on one side. Aden sits on my other side, then Breck and Morgan take up the two edges.

  It isn’t long before a busty raven-haired woman comes bustling out of the kitchen with bowls of soup. She makes a beeline to our table, weaving her way in and out of the tables that block the way.

  “Morgan, Breck, boys! It is so good to see you.” She ignores my presence, altogether. A tinge of something nasty swells up within me, and I’m fully aware of how much I already don’t like our server.

  “Hey, Cara, how has business been?” Breck asks in a casual tone.

  “Oh, you know, dreadfully lonely since you've been gone,” Cara pouts and leans over to put my bowl in front of me, brushing her breasts on Breck’s arm.

  Once again, she doesn’t even look at me. Her not so subtle attempts to flirt with Breck have the hair on my arms standing on end. I am definitely not the same girl from Atlantis who would care less. A beast within me as been activated, and this beast doesn’t want that cat named Cara playing with her toys.

  “I will be right back with your drinks!” Cara chirps and turns, swaying her hips all the way back to the bar.

  “She’d better not touch Breck again, or Meri, here, might explode,” Laki observes from where he’s sitting next to me.

  “Was it that obvious?”

  “You tensed up as soon as she left the kitchen,” Aden replies.

  I attempt to ignore them and turn my attention back to the bowl of chowder sitting before me.

  “Yep, she is jealous,” Laki teases.

  My spoon drops into my soup, “I’m not jealous. I was gone for years, and I can’t expect you to have stayed committed to me during that time. I mean I am not even sure we had established any boundaries then. I am a practical woman.”

  “In other words, boundaries now exist, and Cara’d better not touch you again, Breck, or you Morgan,” Laki winks, throwing Morgan under the bus.

  “I knew she was looking at you, too. You worked hard to avoid her eye contact. Oh look, here she comes, better flirt back and give her a bit of what she wants.” I am being petty. I am never petty. What is getting into me?

  “Trust me, she wants more than flirting,” Laki quips.

  Aden reaches his long arm behind me and pops Laki on the back of the head in an attempt to tell him to shut his mouth. Cara approaches the table, placing our drinks in front of us. She leans over Breck again after she is done and runs her arm behind his shoulders.

  “Are you free any time during this trip?” she asks.

  “No, my schedule is full,” Breck keeps his eyes on his chowder.

  Cara lifts his arm and turns to sit her ample bum on his lap. I take a deep breath to control my actions.

  “Cara, now isn’t a good time,” he counters, trying to politely untangle her arm from around his neck and maneuver from underneath her.

  Her full perfect lips pout as mine draw tight in a straight angry line, “Aww, you can’t even spare an hour for little me?”

  I’ve had enough. I slam my spoon down on the table, “He is busy indefinitely.”

  She stands from Breck’s lap, acknowledging my existence for the first time. “I want to hear him say it.”

  I look to Breck.

  “I’m with Meri now, Cara,” he confirms.

  She turns her attention to Morgan, “How about you, handsome?”

  The moment her arm touches Morgan’s back, I stand up, slam my hand down on the table, and hiss. My breath is rapid, my eyes are wild, and my fangs are exposed.

  “He is mine, too,” I hiss at her.

  She drops her serving plate that she’d had tucked under her arm, “A pure?” Cara’s eyes turn to hatred, but before she could gather the balls to say anything more, a man dressed in fine clothing steps into the tavern.

  “Meri, Daughter of Aphrodite, Granddaughter of Amphitrite, and Niece to Triton, you have been summoned to the palace,” the man in the doorway announces.

  Everyone’s eyes are now on me. I roll my eyes, cover my fangs, and follow my men out of the booth. Everyone drops out of their chairs and onto their knees like I am some kind of royalty. Even the haughty Cara is now on the ground, looking up at me with tortured eyes. I must not be the first who took something she wanted, but I am certain I am now her most hated.

  21

  I shoot the man who came to retrieve us a dirty look. Still on edge from the woman touching my guys, my anger is on a short leash, and we all know it isn’t a good time for me to speak with my uncle. I am still uncertain that I can trust Triton, but I also realize I may owe him something for giving my men work and keeping them free from Poseidon. Sea politics are the absolute worst.

  Once outside, it takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the darkness once again. I can see the lights from the palace at the end of the gorge. Like the tavern, it appears to be built within the stone walls. It doesn’t even look like a palace. Instead, it is more like a temple. Glowing dark-purple columns are at the forefront. Light flows out onto the street from windows.

  As we near, I realize it is both farther away and bigger than I first thought. It is every bit as tall as the palace in Atlantis, but with a temple face. The steps are the same stone the gorge is made of. It is fascinating that all of this was built under the sea. Atlantis was originally built above water, and then Poseidon sunk it to give sanctuary to his people. At the top of the steps, a giant door opens of its own accord.

  “Triton must like his theatrics,” I whisper.

  “You have no idea,” Aden speaks into my ear.

  His voice is a source of comfort. I lean back into him as we wait in a grand hall with two spiralling staircases on each side. One of his hands rests on the small of my back. I inch closer, allowing his touch to relieve some of the agitation Cara caused. My fangs, however, are still exposed. I can’t help it when I’m hungry.
A small part of me fears I will never gain control of them.

  “Welcome to Bathos, my beautiful niece!” a thundering voice shouts through the hall. I look around, trying to find where he is standing. To my surprise, I find Triton standing in a doorway to our right. I was certain he would have come down the stairs in a show of strength and elaborance.

  I feign a smile at his arrival, “Oh, dear uncle, I barely remember you.”

  “Ha! That is likely so. Touché niece, touché.” He walks over, stealing me from Aden by taking my arm and hooking it to his. He turns to lead me in the direction from which he came. My men follow, but I get a sense of annoyance wafting off of them.

  “How have you been this last decade?”

  “I barely remember, but I believe the words distraught, hopeless, and lonely would suffice.”

  That brings Triton back to a roaring laugh, “I daresay they would.”

  We enter a study full of books and then go through another door into a room full of oceanic maps. There he stops, takes a deep breath, and turns to us all.

  “Now, I have a surprise for you, and I need you to not be angry.”

  My eyes narrow on the uncle I barely know, “This isn’t a good time for surprises, King Triton,” Morgan says, stepping in to my rescue. “Meri hasn’t fed yet since the long swim, and she almost killed Cara in the tavern before your summons stopped her.”

  Triton grins, “Cara, huh? The only loss there would be to the beds she warms.”

  He shrugs off my beef with Cara, as if it would do him a service, if I ended the obnoxious mermaid. In response, I smile sweetly, making sure he notices my fangs are still out.

  “Well, feed then, we only have a few moments before our other guest will become impatient.”

  “Who is the other guest?” Aden questions in his beautiful British tone as he holds out his wrist to me.

  I ignore the conversation, “I can’t feed in front of you, it is intimate.”

  Triton looks to me as curiosity crosses his face, “Do you have to do more than sink those pretty little fangs into his supple wrist?”

  The heat rushes to my face, and I know I go crimson, causing Triton to raise an eyebrow and reply, “You may be more like Aphrodite than I thought.”

  His remark pulls me out of my embarrassment as I take Aden’s wrist and bite down. The blood instantly takes over my senses. I close my eyes and suck what I need, becoming completely unaware of the eyes that are on me. Aden pulls away, and Laki takes his place. I look up from Laki’s wrist, giving Triton a warning glare. I do not need much more, only a taste of Laki before I feel sated, and my fangs retract.

  “She went years without feeding, so until she builds up her strength, we expect her to need to feed more often,” Morgan explains, coming to my defense, and I smile at his understanding. Triton holds out a handkerchief, so I can wipe the remainder of blood from my mouth.

  “Like I said, try to keep a cool head. I am trying to save the ocean before the damage is irreversible.”

  “You didn’t invite Poseidon here, did you?” Morgan questions.

  I shake my head, “No, Poseidon would never leave Atlantis. He has grown into a lazy bully.”

  Triton chuckles, “That he has. That is why we are going to try to smooth things over without him.”

  He turns, giving me a look as if asking if I am ready. I nod to him, and he opens the large door. I peer in and see a large man with dark-black curly hair, a black beard, and golden eyes staring back at me. The smile he sends me is sinister. Is this man evil?

  We step into the room with the stranger, and he never takes his eyes off of me. He doesn’t even acknowledge the four strong men I am surrounded by. The intensity in his golden eyes is only directed towards me. My stomach flips from nerves when I realize just who I am looking at.

  “Ares,” his name leaves my lips like a curse.

  “Meri,” he says my name as nothing more than a whisper of longing.

  “I am going to leave you two to discuss things in private. We know there is a lot to get out on the table.” Triton’s worried smile comes from a place of strength. He is taking a chance by throwing the dog, Ares, a bone–me.

  My fangs reappear, and I have to fight off the urge to hiss at him. My men stand solid at my side even when Triton tells them to leave.

  “These are my men now, Triton. I may not be a King of the Sea, but I am born of the gods, and these four are mine,” I smile inwardly for the backbone I have suddenly grown. I will not be separated from the only true family I have. The only people who took the time to search for me and bring me home to the sea.

  “They are fine.” Ares waved a hand at Triton, “Leave us. The men can stay,” Ares looks tired. His golden eyes are glossed over in what I can only assume to be tears.

  I nod to him curtly, not knowing how to interact with the man who has waged war on the sea since my birth.

  “All I ever wanted was this moment. My only wish is that it happened sooner.”

  I say nothing in response because honestly, I don’t know what to say. I grew up not knowing I was anything special, or that I had a father–let alone one that is killing my home in retaliation for losing me. The gods have never made sense. I am actually annoyed that I am considered to be one.

  He continues, “You were taken from me before you were even born. I have spent years searching for you.”

  “You mean waging war on the ocean in anger,” I accuse.

  “I am a god of war. What else would I do? Poseidon wouldn’t answer me, and Triton spent all of his time fighting every move in my attempt to find you.”

  “Excuses. Poseidon didn’t even know I existed. Neither did Amphitrite or Triton, for that matter. I didn’t even know I was anything special. I grew up spending my days training to be a guard or captain of Atlantis. Then someone went and killed the Key of Atlantis, forcing my happy life into a tailspin.” I glare at him.

  “You fight then?” he asks. Wow, they really told him nothing.

  My glare becomes more intense, yet Ares stands his ground, “I didn’t kill the Key of Atlantis. I couldn’t even find Atlantis.”

  “How can I believe you couldn’t find Atlantis when I was conceived there?”

  “You weren’t conceived there. You were conceived on Mount Olympus. Aphrodite went missing in her eighth month of pregnancy. I have never been to Atlantis, and have done everything in my power over the years to find it.”

  “Triton!” I yell, turning my back to Ares.

  On command, Triton opens the door. Before he can say anything, I ask, “Is it true I was conceived in Olympus and not in Atlantis? Is it true that Ares doesn’t even know where Atlantis is?”

  Triton slumps his shoulders defeated, “Yes, it is true.”

  “If Ares didn’t kill the Key of Atlantis, who did?” I ask them both.

  “I think we can all agree it was Aphrodite,” Ares said with his hands on his hips.

  “Yes, it makes the most sense for it to have been her,” Triton agrees.

  Anger roils within me, “A puppet! I have been nothing but a puppet my entire life!”

  Triton continues to look casual, “‘Tis true. Aphrodite is diabolical, and no one ever expects it of a goddess of Love and Sea.”

  “How does she benefit from me being the Key to Atlantis?” I look to Ares for answers.

  “She doesn’t. She wins, that is all. I ended our escapades while she was pregnant. She knew I had high hopes for you. It is rare for a full blood god to be born any more. Most are demigods at best, or children of lesser gods. You are something special, even Zeus has shown interest in you. So much so, he hasn’t lifted a finger to stop my actions.”

  “He hasn’t lifted a finger because he has grown lazy just like Poseidon,” Triton returns.

  “Well, to be fair, not defending my dear mother, but I am made for the sea. Mermaid and all. What happens if I let things be and don’t return to Atlantis?”

  “You mean stay out here?” Triton questions. Ares
’s eyebrows raise, and my men perk up with attention.

  “Well, yes, and on land. Fixing the mess Ares and Aphrodite made.” I cross my arms, signalling that even though Ares found me, I refuse to be a pawn in his story like I have been in my mother’s.

  “That would be excellent, except for your men.” Triton gestures towards them.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Don’t you realize you are immortal? They may be mermen, but eventually, they are going to grow old the more time they spend on land,” Triton explains.

  “Honestly, I have been wondering how that works. What is the fix?”

  “Simple, they have to be made the gatekeepers to Atlantis.” Triton crosses his arms.

  “What do you get out of this?” I narrow my gaze at him.

  “Nothing, just trying to help.”

  “Stop the bullshit, Triton. You know you want to see Poseidon knocked down a notch or two. Now you want to use my daughter to do it.” Ares takes a stride towards Triton.

  Triton throws his hands in the air in response, “Everyone would like to see Poseidon taken down a notch. He does nothing for the sea. I organize everything, trying to keep it clean and healthy.”

  “Why are gods always so petty? Why can’t everyone just leave each other alone?” My voice is exasperated.

  “Immortality gets boring, I am sure,” Laki says, drawing my attention back to my guys.

  “So, you don’t want to be immortal with me?” I ask, feeling a bit hurt by the truth he spoke.

  “No, I want to be with you as long as you are living. All of us do, but we need a purpose. Immortality without a purpose causes disasters. Bored gods find reasons to fight and cheat each other. I don’t know the force that brought us together, but I will do anything to stay with you,” Laki takes a serious tone, sending my heart into butterflies. The others all voice their agreement.

  “I have a purpose, to stop the destruction caused by Ares!” Triton announces.

  “Stop right there,” I demand, even though I am in no position to do so. “Destruction caused by Ares and your sister, Aphrodite.”