Moontide
Amanda V. Shane
Copyright © 2018 Amanda V. Shane
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, redistributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, print, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of Author except in brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead is coincidental.
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Editing by WV Edits
Cover Design by Ravenborn
Dedicated to Winona and Wendy. Thank you so much for all of your love and support. I could never have finished this book without your encouragement and the tireless reading and rereading of my efforts and, not to mention, your listening ears for all of my ramblings.
Part I
Atlantis 10,500 b.c.
Out of time, he was out of time. The summons had been put off as long as it could and now Gadeiros walked with measured strides to the temple of Poseidon. The structure stood proud and majestic at the center of five rows of stone rings. It mimicked the sacred temple that had been erected on his brother Atlas’ land. Older than he was by minutes, Atlas was responsible for all of Atlantea but Gadeiros didn’t envy his twin the governance of their nation. Gods knew he had enough to worry about in his own region and he’d rather leave matters of state to his advisors anyway so that he was free to run his military campaigns.
What more could the sea god want? Gadeiros was responsible for gaining over half the territories that Atlantis ruled. He never lost a battle. If only his state’s coffers reflected his victories.
He knew that was what this meeting was about. Poseidon had probably gotten wind of his financial troubles. He couldn’t go to his brothers anymore for monies, so he’d decided to make alliances with the Greeks and the Egyptians – something that the sea god would likely not be pleased with.
He ascended the stone steps, sending his attendants away at the top. The temple guards shifted, moving their spears to open the doors for their king and he walked through, neglecting to don the blue ceremonial robe that one of the temple priests held out to him. Appearing before the dais bare chested and unadorned save his crown, a jewel at his throat and a shendyt, Gadeiros stopped in the middle of the temple.
“My son,” Poseidon’s voice reverberated off the stone columns and rang through the very fiber of his body. The gods spoke in millions of different tones at once that could cause the human skull to burst if not tempered. Even a demigod such as Gadeiros was affected thus.
When the sea god spoke again, it was in a single human tone, but still his voice shook the place.
“Axo,” Gadeiros responded with the Atlantean term for lord and bowed his head.
“I have not visited your region for a long while but I hear all things,” Poseidon said.
Gadeiros waited.
“Your lands are troubled my son,” the god went on, “and yet you ignore the needs of your people.”
“I have gained many territories. Gades is revered and feared throughout the known world because of my success.”
“You have warred, yes,” Poseidon acknowledged, “But your investments lack good judgment and your coffers are perpetually bare.”
Gadeiros shifted. It was true.
“I am currently in negotiations. I have allies that are willing to invest in my pursuits.”
Poseidon’s eyes widened at this news and Gadeiros straightened. He couldn’t help being pleased to have surprised the god. Then Poseidon’s demeanor turned dark.
“Greece and the Egyptians do not have Atlantis’ best interest at heart. I forbid an alliance with them. Those nation’s rulers have long envied Atlantis and are seeking to dominate the world. If you give them the Fire Stone they will use it against you.”
“There is no chance of anyone besting my army,” Gadeiros scoffed, “I am undefeated. And why shouldn’t we barter with our neighbors? Enlightening them out of their primitive ways would make things easier for all of us. Besides, they lack knowledge of the Fire Stone’s uses.”
Poseidon sighed.
“Arrogance will be all that is needed to best my sons. Think you that you are the only ones with interactions outside of the earth realm? Those nations have ties to the underworld. If they learn how to make a weapon of the Fire Stone it could be the end of Atlantis.”
Gadeiros almost chuckled at the absurdity.
“Atlantis cannot be vanquished Axo, it is not possible and the only ones that have knowledge of our crystals are Atlantean or have Atlantean interests.”
Poseidon just shook his head and a look of sadness came over his divine features. Finally, he took the discussion in a different direction.
“You have been on the march for too long my son. You risk becoming a battle hardened veteran with no knowledge of domestic pursuits. It will be your undoing.”
Gadeiros said nothing.
“I would see you settled. Since you have shown yourself to be inept at making alliances outside of your war efforts, I have taken the liberty of procuring one for you.”
Gadeiros suppressed the groan he felt building in his chest. How many times had his father god suggested he marry?
“This alliance will serve not only you my son, but all Atlantea and the sea realm as well.”
And there it was, Gadeiros thought. Poseidon thought to lecture him about thinking of the people when he sought power for himself.
Poseidon’s eyes narrowed, he let the silence hang for a moment as he dissected the atmosphere in the manner of the gods. It was said that, as each new generation of kings was born to Atlantis, their energy structures compounded on that of their forefathers and tied them more closely to the God of All Seas. The ten kings were descendants of the original five sets of twins birthed by their human mother, Kleito, to Poseidon. They always retained the name of their forebear though. Poseidon was most likely tapping into Gadeiros’ history of energies right now.
Finally, the god lifted his gaze to the back of the temple and extended his hand.
“As I said, my son, I would see you and the Tides settled. To that end, I have made a pact with the gods of Emanis to ensure a strong dominion over the waters. To seal the agreement between our realms, the Emanians have made an offering from among the moon land’s treasures and, in good faith I have given them mine from Atlantis.”
Movement from behind Poseidon caught Gadeiros’ attention then there entered a shining entourage of fair haired gods and goddesses from the back of the temple. At the head of the procession were three leading figures, a tall male and female, both flaxen haired and of regal bearing. The third figure was smaller and stood betwixt the two.
It was this young maiden that Gadeiros’ eyes settled on. Her hair was more golden than that of her escorts, reflecting the light that streamed in from the temple’s ceiling above. Her skin was paler than his own but seemed to drink in the sun and radiate it outward, instantly brightening the whole of the temple dais. It was a mesmerizing effect, Gadeiros was struck by it. The girl’s eyes were two clear gray-blue pools. They lacked the heavy kohl lining that the Atlantean and Egyptian women wore and he found the absence of artifice refreshing.
“My son, King Gadeiros of Gades,” Poseidon’s voice rose to fill the temple though he still spoke in a mono-tone, “I present to you King Borean and Queen Llysswen of the Moon Realm and their daughter, the princess Aureliaura, g
rand-daughter of Arianrhod.”
Gadeiros sliced his gaze to the girl again looking for any signs of malice or greed, he found nothing of the sort. She was all openness; taking everything in and sending it back out. Nothing to fight against there, he decided.
“I welcome you all to Atlantis,” he said because it was expected of him, “I hope that you will find Gades most hospitable for however long you wish to stay.”
The moon king nodded.
“We thank you, Anax Gadeiros. With appreciation, the people of Emania present you with our offering of good faith as well.”
Here the man stepped forward with the girl. They walked to the edge of the dais where he stopped but released his daughter and sent her down the steps. She halted in front of Gadeiros and dipped her chin, closing her eyes in the barest flutter of deference. Gadeiros wanted to reach for her but stilled the impulse. She was the moon people’s princess, here by Poseidon’s invitation so he had no doubt as to the Emanian king’s meaning. He was caught in a trap with no way out.
Poseidon smiled down at him, arms crossed, his trident clenched in his fist. He lifted a brow in challenge. Gadieros’ jaw tightened but he didn’t rise to the bait. Instead, he focused on the princess.
“Welcome, ankassa,” he said using the Atlantean word for princess but said no more before Poseidon started speaking.
“Six moons from this day will see the realms of Emanis and Atlantea joined. The treasures of each land will be bound to each other and will strengthen one another. To the goddess Arianrhod, Gades gives the power of the Fire Stone crystal as is apportioned to that region.”
Gadeiros jerked at that, his hand making a fist at his side. The sea god had just given away his bargaining power with the alliance.
“Five suns from this day,” the moon king, Borean, pronounced and Gadeiros could feel the walls of the temple reverberate from his voice, “our goddess will bless the ritual of binding over both our worlds with the Pearl of the Moon. Two souls will be given one to the other and two powers to govern the moon and tides.”
At that, the crowd inside the temple erupted into cheers from the Emanians. Gadeiros wondered that there were no representatives of Atlantis other than himself and Poseidon but felt sure that that was his father god’s intent. He looked at the inside of the temple, at all the shining faces staring at him, waiting for what he would do next. His eyes flashed up at the trio of greater gods then settled on Poseidon.
The sea god’s voice came into his head so that the others could not hear.
“Do not defy me in this my son. It will do you no good, the matter is settled. You will take the princess as your queen.”
Gadeiros glared at him. His mind swirled with rage trying to find a way out of this decree, but the sea god’s eyes were hard and unyielding.
It was obvious he had no more patience but Gadeiros felt the same and wasn’t he king of his own land? Shouldn’t he decide who he allied with? These Emanians didn’t seem like they would be useful in battle. He looked at the girl with disdain even though she’d done nothing to earn it. He wasn’t able to think rationally at that point, as angry as he was at being defeated.
He reached out and grabbed the princess’s hand and dragged her to him roughly just as he fingered the crystal ankh at his neck. She gasped but the sound was swallowed up as they both disappeared from the temple into thin air.
Prologue
Astral Realm – present day
Sounds of humming sifted into the atmosphere with no one to hear. The goddess worked alone, scanning through the mists of her observatory. Swirling cosmic strands stretched and wound like spider webs as she pulled scenes out of the ether.
Being hunted by all manner of god and demon alike for millennia had taught Panacea to enjoy the seclusion that her hidden realm afforded her. She didn’t mind talking to herself for company. Though she made a habit out of ignoring most beings’ bids for her attention, one cry for help had stood out above the rest and she was having a hard time ignoring it. Even though she took extreme care never to give away her secret location, she couldn’t help having a tender spot for the travails of the human race. So, when one of the only souls she trusted in all the realms had called out to her on behalf of one of those fragile earthen creatures, she knew she had no choice but to intercede.
The gods had troubles of their own but the human world was in transition. From what she’d observed while in hiding, a mounting disturbance in the balance of powers had reached earth’s boundaries and the human realm was heading for some dark times. It was in dire need of some champions, but there were few left to be found.
“Bring me the serpent.” She spoke the request aloud, and before her the mists cleared. A lurid scene spilled into her domain, surrounding her where she stood.
Sounds of heavy breathing mixed with throaty feminine laughter made her turn. In the cramped dark space of a room she could make out a narrow bed where cheap thin sheets undulated.
“Good gods,” she said out loud, though no one could see or hear her. Of course Krav would call on her, rousing her from hiding, and then sneak off to go get some action in a college dorm room. The serpent demon had absolutely no reverence for divine protocol whatsoever.
The sheet slipped down and a slender arm flailed out, revealing two naked torsos. One belonged to a sinfully gorgeous dark haired man and the other a curvy young blonde.
“Mmmm Krav, you taste so good,” the girl murmured then swirled her tongue around the man’s nipple and traced a path along his glistening olive-skinned chest. She slid up; trailing the demon male’s body to lock on his lips in a devouring kiss that Panacea thought surely reached to his tonsils. When the co-ed finally let him up for air, he pushed her up from him and palmed both of her full round breasts in his hands.
“You’re pretty appetizing yourself Katie,” he said, weighing each plump globe in turn.
Just then the covers at the foot of the bed flipped open and a brunette popped her head up.
“I’m Katie, sheez Jesshica!” the girl slurred.
“Hmmm,” Krav drawled extending his hand to her. She took it and eagerly crawled up his body until she rested at his chest opposite the blonde. When the demon moved, Panacea could see his appearance flicker back and forth between his human and demon forms like a hologram. He hadn’t even bothered to fully cloak himself! No wonder the humans made such easy prey.
Krav’s hand came up and rubbed at his jaw as he eyeballed the deliciously rumpled brunette with consideration.
Panacea would have rolled her eyes skyward if she wasn’t already so high up into the star realm. She nearly transferred him out of the room right then.
He went on.
“I could have sworn it was the other way around, are you certain sweet?”
He snaked an arm around her waist and stroked her hip. She looked up at him through squinty eyes for a long drawn out moment. Pan thought she heard brain matter crackling. She really couldn’t remember her own name?
They all three dissolved into an inebriated fit of laughter.
The goddess huffed in disgust then flashed the dorm room scene away. The sea demon, Krav, remained however. He gaped at the change in surroundings, dumbstruck at finding himself yanked from his soiree and clouded by mists.
“What in every layer of hell...?” He sputtered and looked around in confusion until he turned and spied Panacea. He immediately manifested a pair of black leather pants. The goddess scoffed at this belated show of modesty.
“What on earth is more like it Krav. What are you up to, bouncing around between realms? Hasn’t Poseidon been keeping you busy enough? I should send truth sprites to whisper in his ear about all the mischief you’ve been getting into.”
Krav dropped his head but only enough to peek up through coal dark lashes and slant a lopsided grin at her. Gods, those poor human women hadn’t stood a chance!
“I was just passing the time until you saw fit to answer my summons. Would it hurt you to be a little more available P?
“P?” she asked, brows arching.
He shrugged.
“Just trying to modernize you a bit. I know you don’t get out much.”
The goddess shook her head at his cheek.
“I can see why Poseidon turns a blind eye to your escapades. He’s probably just glad to have you out of his hair. But be warned serpent, if he catches you meddling in the human world…”
“Poseidon doesn’t care if I use his crusty old Tides accesses to skip worlds. He’s barely been around lately anyway ─ much like someone else I can think of,” he muttered on a pout that rendered him nearly adorable.
“Your lord and ruler,” she stressed the titles, hoping to make some kind of impression on the demon, “has a lot on his mind at the moment and those ‘crusty old accesses’ are powerful vortexes. They’ve been the bane of travelers ever since the sea god haphazardly scattered them between worlds. They hold the key to maintaining the balance of powers and are currently coming under siege.”
He blanched at her words. There, finally, she had his attention.
“I know, goddess, I’ve seen what’s happening. That’s why we need your help.”
“There’s a lot more going on than you know.”
“Yes, well…” Krav cleared his throat, preparing to launch into a dramatic appeal.
“Save your breath,” Panacea sighed, “I already know what you need.”
“Just a dose of your elixir P, that’s all, you’ll never miss it and it’s for one of the humans you’re so fond of. A case of true love, no less, what cause could be nobler?”
“Don’t scoff at the power of true love,” Pan admonished, “we need more of these unions in the universe and the gods are all too immune to making any on their own. The humans may be our only hope to fight the darkness that threatens all. What with the majority of the higher gods in self-induced comas or just not giving a damn, we need all the help we can get. The sea god’s realm is our last real stronghold and well he knows it.”
Moontide (Tides of Atlantis Book 1) Page 1
