Bermuda Triangle Blues: An Urban Fantasy Action Adventure (Scions of Magic Book 4)

by TR Cameron

  The entrance offered no indication of gender restriction so they went in together. They found the expected facilities and locked themselves in stalls to change. Fyre curled under a row of ornamental sinks.

  When she emerged in street clothes, Cali felt a hundred times more like herself. The styles around them were varied, from strange robes she’d never seen the likes of to jeans and hoodies and everything in between. Tanyith had decided that khakis and a sweatshirt were the perfect combo. They both still wore their uniform boots, though, with their reinforced striking enhancements.

  “Okay, back to the original question,” she said. “Where do you think we should go?”

  Her partner shrugged. “We might as well move toward the center, right?”

  “It looks like a serious hike from here to there.”

  He hefted the backpack repeatedly until he found a fit that satisfied him. “I guess we’d better get moving, then.”

  The streets were similar to cobblestone but not uniform in any way. Different sizes, colors, and seemingly varied materials had been worked into the surface. None of the books she’d read had referred to them, so she was left with questions. What are they made of? Who made them? Why did they do them like that?

  It would make sense if those who built the city used the substances they had at hand, so it was possible the stones under their feet had been reclaimed from wrecks or dug from the ocean floor. She shook her head at the enormity of being in such a place so unlike anything she knew.

  The people varied widely as well. Some were big and others small with light skin or dark, and every hairstyle, tattoo, and jewelry option she could imagine. A preference for nautical themes was obvious but it was far from exclusive. She touched her compass pendant, which rested over the healing burn she’d received when her shield charm had finally been consumed.

  To their right and left were residences about the size of some of the fancier homes in New Orleans. Not the mansions, certainly, but nicer than anyone she knew lived in. They were mainly white or gray stone with colorful accents. After a while, the buildings changed and gave way first to slightly bigger houses and then to shops as they neared the outermost ring street.

  They emerged into the intersection, and Cali realized what had bothered her. She hadn’t seen any vehicles—no cars and not even bicycles. The history books had failed to mention that too. She chuckled inwardly.

  Maybe I should try to get the Tesla franchise down here. I’d make a mint.

  Other Draksa were present as well in a variety of colors and textures. Some wore collars and leashes while others didn’t. There was something pleasant about being out in public with Fyre in his native form. “Onward?”

  Tanyith nodded. “Yep. Straight toward the palace.”

  The following block started with businesses, transitioned to even nicer homes in the middle, and returned to storefronts as they neared the next ring. A clear progression of increased wealth and status was visible as one drew closer to the center, at least in this section of the city. It was certainly logical to assume the same would be true everywhere in New Atlantis.

  “I’m starting to feel a little low rent for this area,” she muttered.

  He laughed. “I hear you. Even Sienna’s house—which is the nicest I’ve ever stayed in—doesn’t compare to the first one we saw, much less these.” He pointed at a storefront. “The merchandise quality seems to have improved too. Plus, there are more luxuries and fewer necessities.”

  When they entered the next ring, she noticed two things. First, tall flagpoles stood at the corners. The one on the left side of the street ahead looked vaguely like a stylized anchor while the one on the right resembled an eel or a snake coiled around a dagger. Second, armed guards stood beneath each in matching armor. “That’s interesting,” she said and nodded discreetly at them. “Something to be concerned about, maybe?”

  Tanyith shrugged. “There’s no way to tell. But if you’re suggesting this might be a good time to stroll along in a different direction rather than continue to the Empress’s house, I wouldn’t argue.”

  She looked at Fyre. “What do you think?” He sent ambivalence to her over their connection. I wonder why he isn’t talking. The Draksa we fought didn’t talk either so maybe most can’t? “Okay, let’s do it.”

  Cali turned right since they were closer to that side. The area they’d come from was to their right, the guarded one to their left. Where the former had multiple storefronts, the latter had only what looked like estate buildings decorated in similar enough styles to suggest they were all of a piece. “So, the nine have a ton of money, apparently. I guess each owns a whole section? Block? Whatever you want to call it.”

  He nodded. “That’s what the map said. It didn’t label them at all, though, which I thought was weird.”

  She shook her head. “It’s totally like what I found with the histories. They acknowledge that there are nine families but don’t say anything else about them. Unless they’ve been destroyed and kicked out, apparently, in which case they’re free to dish.”

  Her companion laughed. “You’re reading some interesting stories, clearly.” He frowned. “You know what, we should try to portal out of here if there’s a good space to do it in. Just to see if we can.”

  “I have to imagine that would mean we’d have a legion of guards on our tails in no time,” she protested. “If Zeb is able to monitor the use of portals in the Tavern, I’m sure the Empress has people to do the same for New Atlantis.”

  Tanyith looked embarrassed. “Okay, yeah, I should have thought of that. I think I need a nap.”

  “Don’t we all.” They walked in silence for a while until they reached another of the streets leading toward the palace. They turned to face it and this time, the flag on the left held the serpent and dagger and the one on the right featured a set of swooping lines that didn’t look like anything when you focused hard but resembled a sextant when you defocused enough. The same arrangement of guards was present there as well. “Is it me, or is that thing rough on the eyes?”

  “Yeah. Totally. I wonder if there’s something magical about it? I wouldn’t be surprised if magic is a part of everyday life here.”

  Cali rolled her eyes. “Amazing.” She turned to peer at Tanyith and noticed that he did look exhausted. “Do you want to go in the other direction? See if we can find a hotel or something?”

  He laughed. “And pay them with what? I’ll be honest, it’s possible we didn’t make quite enough preparation for this trip.” He shook his head ruefully. “No, let’s press on. I can use my magic to pep me up if I get too tired. Plus, I’m carrying energy potions in the bag. I’ll be fine.”

  “Okay. How about we quit being wimps and take a stroll toward the palace again?”

  He straightened with a nod. “Sure. Let’s do it.”

  They walked between the guards and although she had no small amount of trepidation about it, nothing bad happened. In fact, they received no more than a casual glance before the armored figures returned to inscrutability. As they neared the center ring, the palace grew larger and the buildings to either side became bigger and statelier. By the midpoint of the block, they were clearly recognizable as parts of a much grander building that probably filled the entire forward part of the section, oriented toward the regal structure in the middle of the city.

  She whistled in admiration. “Damn. Now I feel really low rent. Even the fanciest houses in NOLA can’t compare to these buildings.”

  “Well, when you think about it, these families have been in power for generations and they needed to have money simply to be here. It stands to reason they’d be comparable to the richest folks. Maybe not Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates but definitely somewhere in the multimillionaire range at least.”

  “So if they have all that, I wonder why they even care about the whole fight to be the ruler thing. Why screw up something that’s already amazing?”

  Tanyith grimaced. “The short version is that people suck. And the lo
ng version? Having more makes you want more, and more after that.”

  Cali frowned. “That sounds exactly like something Emalia would say.”

  “She’s a smart woman.”

  They exited the street and turned right to look at the house they’d walked beside. The sextant symbol was clearer in its etched form on a broad flat surface that faced toward the palace. Beneath it was an enormous mansion, all in pure white stone with carefully tended greenery and flowers fronting it. The huge front doors looked like they were solid gold and they held imprints of the image as well. It was the decoration that ran horizontally below the large symbol and graced the area between it and the doors that caught her attention, however.

  She tugged her companion’s sleeve and pointed at it. “Am I wrong or is that the same set of symbols that are etched on the sword? The language of the nobility?”

  He nodded. “It seems like the gang wench told the truth. We need to find a way to translate it.”

  Fyre sent a wave of excitement to her and she stared at him. “What is it?” The Draksa looked away, then turned back to her expectantly. She frowned. “What?” He rolled his eyes and straightened his body like a pointer dog. She followed the line of his spine and her mouth fell open.

  There, at the head of the next block and directly across from the one with the sextant on it, another flag rippled gently in the thin breeze. It held the identical symbol she wore around her neck. That same symbol was hidden under the flaps of their uniforms and apparently denoted one of the nine noble families of New Atlantis.

  Chapter Twenty

  Cali walked in a haze toward the flag. Only when she came close did her gaze lock onto the house behind it, another mansion with a symbol set high in the center and strange symbols below. She dragged in a breath. “I must be dreaming.” Fyre nipped her hand and she snatched it back. “Ow. You flea-bitten smart aleck. I’m aware that I’m not literally dreaming. But this is nuts, you know?”

  Tanyith stepped beside her. “Although it makes a ton of sense if you think about it. For one thing, it explains why the Atlantean gang is interested in you. They could believe they can wipe out your family line if they eliminate you. Maybe the Empress has someone she wants to elevate who would be supportive of her.”

  She frowned. “Well, hell, she could have simply asked rather than try to kill me.” Plus, she might be wrong. The plaque with her brother’s name on it swam in her vision.

  “Perhaps she’s heard about how eminently reasonable you are.”

  “Shut it. If she’s running a gang that does things you don’t agree with, you’re probably right. I’m unlikely to be reasonable.” She frowned. “Why are there no guards here?”

  “Turn around,” he replied quietly. She complied and saw that the other side of the ring street bordered the outermost palace grounds, a vast green space that was guarded by a circle of armored defenders positioned at symmetrical intervals.

  “Oh. Okay.” She turned back to the mansion. “So, let’s assume for a second that this house belonged to my parents, or their parents, or something.” How is that even possible? “Do you think there’s a place where I go to get a key? Or should we simply knock?”

  “It looks like we could probably walk up to the front on the paved section without ticking anyone off. Maybe we’d get a little more insight if we did. I’d suggest sending Fyre up to take a look but I haven’t noticed any other Draksa flying. It might be against the rules or something. Until we know for sure, it’s not worth the risk.”

  “Okay. Let’s do that.” Fyre nudged the side of her legs and she lurched into motion. She tried to keep it casual but was fairly sure her head bobbed around like a children’s toy. The building was immense, far larger than the biggest mansion she’d seen in New Orleans.

  It’s a place for an extended family, not merely one set of people or a single generation. The realization instantly made sense. If you had that much money, you could easily afford to stay together and what could be better? And if some chafing occurred between relatives, well, that was probably what the buildings farther toward the second ring were for.

  The front doors weren’t as opulent as the house next door, a flat ebony instead of shining gold. They reminded her of the backing of her compass necklace. She’d often thought the item had a strange polish to it and the portals before her felt the same. “This is so weird. I feel like something this important to my family ought to be familiar but there’s nothing there.”

  Tanyith’s voice was full of warmth, either understanding or sympathy. “I get that. But don’t forget, you might never have been here. If your parents left before you were born, there’d be no reason for you to remember it. They probably wanted to bring you back here when you were old enough. Or when it was safe to do so.” His tone hardened on the last sentence as if her being in danger offended him. Me too, buddy.

  Fyre wandered in a serpentine path and stepped off the wide walkway to traverse the grass to either side. It looked like grass, anyway, in the same way the stone underfoot looked like concrete. For all she knew, they might be genetically engineered sea creatures. She snorted at the idea and imagined that sharks combined with Doberman pinschers awaited them inside the building.

  “Do you think it looks like anyone lives here? The grounds are well kept but it doesn’t seem…alive.”

  “I have that same feeling—as if the place is dormant. Or waiting to be turned on.”

  “Kind of like your girlfriend.” He groaned and she laughed. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t resist. I’m sure she’s very satisfied despite the expression on her face the last time I saw you together.”

  “I can go, you know. Portal right out of here and leave you on your own.”

  “First, we’re not sure you actually could. And second, you wouldn’t. You’re too curious. And third, don’t forget we’re here because of you, pal. If you weren’t some kind of player in this game, Fyre and I would be at home asleep.”

  “You make a good point. I retract my complaint.”

  “Damn right.” They reached the doors and she examined them carefully. A handle was attached to each at stomach level in the center but that was all. There seemed to be no obvious lock, no peephole, and no sliders to slide or buttons to press. She was momentarily flummoxed until Fyre bumped into her again and spoke to echo the words he’d said when they attempted to discover the secret of her parents’ bunker.

  “If two magical people were going to lock a door so only their magical child could open it, don’t you think they might, maybe, just possibly, use magic?”

  She was too excited to smack him for being a smart ass. Later. You’ll get yours later. She pulled the compass necklace over her head and held it in front of her. Exactly like she had in the cemetery, she focused on the object and let her magic trickle out to it, wishing for any secrets to be revealed. She had the sense that there was something there but nothing happened with the portal.

  Strangely, though, her hope didn’t diminish. The butterflies in her stomach told her the secret was incredibly close. “Maybe this isn’t the correct entrance. There has to be more than one, right? And this faces the palace, which might not be the best choice. Hell, they may have never even used this one. Let’s go around.”

  The next door they came to on the side also failed to acknowledge her presence, and she began to wonder if perhaps she had the key to one of the smaller buildings rather than the main house. But when she tried the same procedure on the rear entrance, which had the same black surface, it glowed briefly before the lock clicked and the door swung inward as if opened by an unseen hand.

  Startled, she looked at Tanyith. “I feel like we pulled up in the mystery machine. I’ll be Velma, you be Fred, and Fyre can be Scooby.”

  He shook his head. “You are one hundred percent Daphne.”

  “Daphne,” the Draksa agreed.

  Cali frowned. “You guys suck. Okay, let’s find out what’s waiting inside.” She led the way and held her breath as she stepped across
the threshold. The interior was lit only by the sunlight filtering through the doorway. Ahead lay another door, also closed, and to each side, she had the impression of benches and maybe a shelf running around the space. “I think it’s a coat room or something. I don’t see a light.”

  Tanyith spoke behind her and a glowing orb floated past on its way to the ceiling. The area came into relief in the overly white light. Elegant wooden benches ran along on both sides, and the shelf was actually there with a series of hooks beneath it. The space was empty of objects and people other than them. She desperately wanted it to seem familiar, to feel like home, but it was merely another room.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  She nodded. “Yeah. I’m good. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but this isn’t it. Let’s keep moving.” She opened the door opposite the entrance and the globe floated through to illuminate a short corridor with doors to the left, right, and front. The door to the outside clicked closed and she turned quickly as Fyre stepped away from it, evidently having decided it should be shut. She didn’t feel any concern from him, only anticipation, which helped her to maintain her calm.

  The door to the left led to a storage area, as did the one to the right. The first held pantry items and cleaning equipment filled the other, which suggested that not everything in New Atlantis was done by magic. Her guess was that the next room would be a kitchen or perhaps a servant’s corridor if they had those.

  She was correct. It was a large cooking area with prep spaces on all four walls along with a broad cold storage unit that would have looked right in a restaurant. A center island had pots and pans hanging over it. She shook her head. “Old world in the back, commercial kitchen in the front. What is up with this place?”

  He shrugged and tapped one of the pots, then threw a couple more globes above them to illuminate the shadows in the large space. “They have the best of both worlds, I guess. There’s nothing wrong with that, although I don’t see a microwave. Heathens.”