Atlantis Vortex

by Sheila N. Eskew

  “Bruce, it’s Jessica,” she said simply, yet her voice too sounded tired, but held an air of strain, one Bruce had never heard before.

  “Jessica, what is wrong, what has happened?” Bruce asked with concern in his voice.

  “I’ve found something down here in Okeechobee you should see,” Jessica explained.

  “What did you do, catch a trophy big-mouth bass?” Bruce said, with some humor in his voice.

  “No…” Jessica laughed, “Unless that bass is a four sided-triangle and may be as old as the Pyramids at Cheops.”

  “You cannot be serious!” Bruce was incredulous. “It just isn’t possible. Tell me what happened. Have you been out in the sun on your bike too long?”

  “No more, not over a cell phone Bruce. Fly down to Okeechobee tomorrow and see for yourself,” Jessica told him. “I am almost home now. I called Skip earlier in the day just after I confirmed what I had found and he put a guard on the levy to keep an eye on it.”

  “Just a sheriff’s deputy, that’s all?” Bruce was amazed. “You need more security than that.”

  “Not for now, but later we will,” Jessica told him.

  “We?” Bruce’s voice rose in anticipation.

  “Well you want in on this, don’t you?” she laughed and turned into the driveway of her parents’ home.

  “Of course. I’ll meet you at the airport outside of Okeechobee tomorrow, what time?” Bruce’s excitement was building in his voice.

  “I’ll be there at seven,” Jessica laughed and disconnected the phone. She knew Bruce would not miss a chance to take his prize airplane up, or an opportunity of this magnitude.

  Jessica had lived in this house on the water with her parents for as long as she could remember - that is when she was home and not on an environmental project with her parents. Her parents had been in the environmental engineering management business. She had traveled with them all over the country and several times out of the country. When they were home, she had spent many a pleasurable hour behind this house snorkeling off the dock. Tonight, as tired as she was, it was relaxing to sit and stare out over the Atlantic Ocean with the moonlight reflecting off the gentle swells. Off shore, the lights of numerous fishing and pleasure crafts were visible and further out in deeper water, larger ships traversed the Gulf Stream. A chill raced through her, not from cold, it was a hot night, but she knew eyes were on her. Slowly she scanned the immediate area. Nothing, and though the lights were off and her night vision was excellent she could see there was no one nearby. The uneasy sensation persisted and she wondered if someone offshore was observing her through binoculars.

  *

  Xerxes decided to put looking through his father’s journals on hold for a while. Dealing with Marcus had left him unsettled. The realization that Marcus wasn’t just a disrespectful councilman, but a traitor, probably more saddened than alarmed him. He drew a sorrowful breath, convinced Marcus had murdered his parents. Xerxes suffered the oppression of his office for the first time in his life. Deciding to sneak away for a little time to think, he called the marina and ordered a vessel readied - one of his faster, smaller subs - for a quick journey offshore to the town of Jupiter, Florida, just north of West Palm Beach. He knew where Jessica lived and was gratified she had returned home for the night. Anchoring the sub safely, he watched her sitting on the dock outside her home. Since the dive mishap, he occasionally observed her in this manner. Xerxes knew he could easily abduct her now, but it would be imprudent to do so and he did not actually have cause at this point. Her mysterious disappearance could cause complications.

  He watched Jessica closely. Xerxes could tell she knew someone was observing her by her nervousness. Presently she rose from the dock, went inside, and double-locked the door behind her. She would not be back outside for the remainder of the night. Xerxes then set the auto controls for Atlantis and the sub took him on a course for home. He had brought a box from the archives with him and sat down with a glass of wine to go through it.

  Xerxes drew a deep breath and opened the box, which proved to be a box of photographs of his parents’ wedding. Their guests gathered around them to wish them well. One such picture caught his attention. In the foreground stood a younger Marcus unaware, his usually composed face had betrayed his displeasure with their union and been immortalized in the camera’s scope. Xerxes lay the photo aside. He looked through many other photographs but none was as candidly revealing as that one.

  At last, Xerxes found the journals he sought. They began before Andros came to Atlantis. Before his father had met his mother and became High Lord of Atlantis, he was the second son of the High Lord of the Mediterranean City known as Minosia. Minosia was another of the twelve so called Lost Cities of Legends that the upper-world scientists and researchers often mistook for a possible Atlantis. Xerxes’ mother had been visiting Minosia as the Atlantian Ambassador, since she was the heir who would rule Atlantis, it was fitting that she become acquainted with the other High officials of Atlantis’ sister cities. Andros had written the entry of their meeting in his journal in Greek since it was the common language of Minosia. Xerxes was fluent and began to read where he found his mother’s name first mentioned.

  ‘Today I was introduced to the magnificently beautiful daughter of the High Lord of Atlantis, Astraea, or Starmaid! Legend, myth said she was Zeus’ daughter. I now believe in the old myths. Astraea is lovely beyond description. Her hair is golden and her eyes are the color of the sea. I became lost at sea the moment I saw her. If she were the daughter of a shrimp farmer, I would not care. I would marry her tomorrow if she would have me. Xerxes smiled, remembering that as a little boy of four, he knew his parents loved each other. He scanned on. ‘Astraea has stayed an extra week! My mother called her mother and assured the High Lady of Atlantis that all was proper and Astraea was well chaperoned. My father and Astraea’s father talked for a long time. Xerxes scanned through a few more daily entries, and then read on. Our solicitors have reached an agreement! Thanks be to God!’ Andros had written. I told Astraea I loved her and would gladly serve as her consort husband, allowing her full rule over Atlantis and Pacifica if that was what she wished. I wanted only to be with her and married to her. She smiled sweetly and kissed me. Never has a kiss affected me in that manner. She rose and left me in the garden. My heart sank, as I feared she was leaving. An hour or so later her solicitor approached my father with her terms. Joint rule of Atlantis provided we retain the family Atlantian name of Kallias. With father’s agreement, I gladly signed the documents. Tomorrow we will journey to Atlantis to begin preparations for our wedding.’ Xerxes scanned ahead; most entries were of their happy times together before their nuptials.

  Two days before the wedding, Xerxes found a disturbing passage Andros had entered into his journal. ‘As I was touring the City today, the people of Atlantis warmly greeted me. All I met seemed genuinely friendly, approving of Astraea’s choice of a husband and as their next High Lord. These are wonderful people and I find myself already at one with them. Upon my return to the palace through the gardens, I heard Astraea’s voice raised in anger. Shocked, I paused not wishing to interrupt, yet feeling much embarrassed by listening. Marcus Trident had confronted Astraea and I could hear his words in anger with her. I write this as a reminder to myself to be wary of this man.

  “Astraea,â€� he had said, “I think you a dimwitted female to marry a man from a foreign City, and if that isn’t absurd enough, you intend to allow him joint rule. Your parents have spoiled you! They will refuse you nothing.â€�

  “Marcus, even if I were not in love with Andros, which I am. I would not consider you in any stretch of the imagination, this I had already made clear before I went to Minosia. You are power-mad. You always have been. For some reason, you seem to believe you have a right to rule Atlantis. Why, I am sure only you could know or understand. Leave me! I do not wish to be near you. I will chose whom I will, and I have - At this point,’ Andros had written, ‘I walke
d out to find Marcus forcibly kissing Astraea. I immediately pulled him away from her. She was badly shaken and crying. Normally I would not strike another but Marcus now sports a blackened eye. Astraea found gentle comfort in my arms,’ he wrote, ‘as she always will.’

  Xerxes found an entry a little further on that explained Marcus had hoped to marry Astraea but she had made it clear to him before she had made the trip to Minosia that would not happen. It seems a distant ancestor of Marcus’ once ruled Atlantis for a short period and invested too heavily in his own interests. Removed in shame for his impropriety, Marcus seemed to feel it was his right to expunge what he considered a wrong. ‘Marcus will be a fine archaeologist, as is his father, but he is one man I will watch very carefully.â€� Andros had written.

  ‘So, Xerxes thought, ‘this is not a new thing.’ He looked again at the first picture he found of Marcus at his parent’s wedding. That one picture revealed so much that Xerxes made a point to keep it separate and placed it in the journal marking the entries about the argument between Marcus and Astraea.

  Xerxes eyes smarted with tears from many of the entries. His parents had been utterly in love. His birth brought them great joy, as had his sister Alena’s, eighteen months later. Andros’ entry of Astraea’s accidental death when Xerxes was four was heartbreaking and Xerxes put the journals aside for a time. Reflecting on his father, he knew only his children and the strong sense of responsibility to Atlantis had kept Andros from joining Astraea.

  Further devastated by the unnecessary events that caused her death, it was determined there wasn’t a reason for the accident. Xerxes remembered Andros had been in Pacifica overseeing the working government there, as was his responsibility, when a new section of what the Archaeological Department, Marcus really, thought was the Old City had been exposed.

  Astraea and several others, including Marcus, went to investigate in a sub when mysteriously a slide-in a sea ridge buried the craft. Astraea, the sub’s pilot, two students and Marcus were in the sub. Marcus dressed in a pressure suit, managed to get out before a second slide hit and completely covered the sub. Andros’ entry explained the incident in depth. Geologically stable with no traces of any archaeological importance located after the sub’s recovery, Andros had been puzzled about the area where the presumed discovery was and why a slide of that nature would occur.

  Andros had written his suspicions about Marcus into his private journal. Since there was no proof of foul play, he could not charge him with anything. From all indications, it was a freak accident.

  Andros had written ‘I instinctually know it was not an accident! My beautiful wife is gone from me and our children deprived of their mother because of that mad dog’s lust for power. He will not have it. Atlantis and Pacifica belongs to Xerxes and Alena now. I will hold it in trust for them.â€�

  Xerxes now understood what had driven Andros to become the great administrator and leader who had shaped all three of his children. Xerxes, who ruled Atlantis, Alena, who, became Ambassador for both Atlantis and Pacifica and Ainu, who ruled Pacifica. Lurking in the shadows, trying to steal Atlantis and Pacifica from Andros at any given opportunity, was Marcus. In his journal, Andros had written the old cliché;

  Keep your friends close

  And your enemies closer!

  This is what Andros had done.

  Marcus believed he loved Astraea, but what he really loved was power. He believed he should have been the one to rule Atlantis, not a Prince from another city. A sudden pall of fear passed through Xerxes. This obsession drove Marcus to treason and murder. Now Xerxes understood. Marcus was dangerous, capable of any act to achieve his own end. Xerxes knew too that he had murdered his mother, Astraea, and two others, scheming to gain control of Atlantis in that manner, at that time. Later entries mentioned Marcus’ remarks, “Astraea was the legal heir, and Andros should step aside and allow a true Atlantian to rule until Xerxes was of age.â€� However, the Atlantian people came to love Andros as Astraea had and Andros retained his position unquestioned by anyone but Marcus. Now Xerxes also understood why his father had not set Marcus aside as Councilor. To do so would have invited criticism, as it was the people of Atlantis had tangible proof of Andros’ compassion.

  Xerxes would watch Marcus carefully, now he was certain he was the traitor. If this man were capable of murder, and it appeared he was, what he was scheming now would be perilous and tricky.

  A low toned beep alerted Xerxes he approached home. He looked up from his father’s journals, amazed as always by the beauty of his underworld Kingdom. With patience, soon he would bring home his wife. He wondered how she would feel about Atlantis.

  Xerxes smiled to himself, he had seen Jessica’s temper from a distance, “At first she is going to be too furious to see anything but red,” he said aloud to the padded walls of the sub, and then laughed to himself. “Atlantis control,” he said into his radio communications device, “this is Xerxes requesting entrance to the City.

  “Of course my Lord,” the control confirmed, and the sparkling vortex that protected the city briefly stopped. His sub passed and the vortex returned seconds later. Xerxes proceeded to dock his sub in its berth near his palace apartment. He gathered the box of photos and the stack of journals. It was late, and few people were still out on the walkways, several offered to assist him with his burdens. He declined, thanking them, and went to his chambers, and for now, large comfortable, but solitary bed.

  *

  Marcus enjoyed little home life despite an attractive and devoted wife who cared for him. Hours passed since the Council meeting from which he had been dismissed. He remained balled into a tight mass of seething nerves, muscles, and indecision, thinking about his next move against Xerxes. He had to do something after the way Xerxes had humiliated him, he was just not sure what. Marcus was not above a direct act, but that would mean immediate action against him, and he needed to be careful if he wanted to rule Atlantis.

  “I want to see you squirm, Xerxes. I want to see you pay,” he said in a voice so quiet. It was barely audible and so full of hate Marcus’ face contorted as if he were in physical pain.

  Marcus knew to leave Atlantis, and be caught again could mean imprisonment, and total failure of his original plan to discredit Xerxes. It was a simple plan to expose Atlantis’ location to the government of the United States of America and make it appear Xerxes had done this for his own gain, or so he thought. Nevertheless, Marcus needed his upper-world connection to make his plan work.

  Ms. Carter’s discovery of the ancient entrance would change his plans. Now Xerxes had become overly cautious of security. He could only get in touch with his upper-world contact by the cell phone he had purchased when he was in West Palm Beach. To make a phone call with the cell phone, he had to take a sub to the surface. That was also a risk now.

  In a way, that woman had ruined his plan, but she had also given him a new opportunity. Xerxes’ would attempt to cover Atlantian security by recovering the artifacts this woman unearthed and by abducting her and anyone else that she brought in on the project if Xerxes felt they knew too much. It only proved to Marcus that Xerxes was not a fit man to rule. Marcus would not hesitate to terminate anyone threatening Atlantis’ security, even a pretty woman. Her beauty didn’t affect his logic, and murder didn’t leave him squeamish. Instead, Xerxes allowed his lust for a pretty face and body to overrule his concern for the security of Atlantis.

  “If I can get my hands on those artifacts before Xerxes can recover them, and Ms Carter is given time to expose the entrance for what it is, it would prove Xerxes is more interested in her than Atlantis’ security.” Marcus theorized allowed. “He would be proven an unfit ruler,” he mumbled. Ms. Carter would do the job for him, she would cause Xerxes downfall. Marcus would recover the artifacts for Atlantis and he would be a hero. “If luck is on my side I may be able to keep Atlantis’ location a secret.â€� Marcus began to laugh his manic laugh, it was late and he was alone in his office, no one heard
him. His disturbed mind failed to see the flaws in his logic, or account for the fact that people didn’t always act the way his mind expected them too.

  Chapter Three

  Jessica had not slept well, again. Troubled by the reoccurrence of the dream, disturbed and mesmerized by aquamarine eyes, now the Pyramid had become an element of the nightmare. Awakened abruptly just before dawn, shaken and drenched in a cold sweat, her emotions far too disturbed by the annoying apparition to return to sleep, Jessica sat on the dock with a hot mug of tea watching the sunrise. It puzzled her how the last few seconds of the dream now included the swirling mists of the open chamber of the Pyramid.

  She sighed, “If this continues, I’ll need a shrink for sure,” she said to the half-tame pelican sitting at the end of the dock. He knew he could always get a free meal here if there was someone home. Jessica tossed him several shrimp that she kept in a live bucket just for him and dropped the buck back into the water.

  “Good morning, honey!” the lilting voice startled Jessica though she had known the neighbor most of her life. She was a little jumpy this morning.

  “Hi Belle. Sorry, I was lost in thought and didn’t know you were there,” Jessica apologized. Belle was like a surrogate grandmother to her.

  “You got home late yesterday, are you alright, dear?” Belle asked.

  “Sure am, I just stayed over in Okeechobee a little longer than I had planned,” Jessica did not elaborate.

  “How are your parents doing in Hawaii?” she asked.

  “Having a grand time, last I heard,” Jessica replied while she watched Belle prune her prize roses.

  “Good, tell them I said hello when you talk to them,” Belle smiled and went back inside with an arm full of multi-colored sweet smelling blossoms.

  “I will,” Jessica guaranteed her. She rose and went back inside herself. It was time to leave for Okeechobee. Bruce would be ready to land by the time she got there.