Heart of Stone

by Debra Mullins

  He broke into a run, leaping over obstacles and pushing past fleeing citizens without a glance. He kept his gaze on the temple. Thunder boomed, and lightning split the sky. Huge waves dwarfed the buildings nearest the harbor, smashing down on them as if they were eggshells. The city shook as if Poseidon himself pounded his fist on the base of the world.

  And Selak, that arrogant statesman, was trying to perform the Sortu-Ka.

  Everyone knew only Seers could perform that ritual. It was they who were selected by the Creators to be the voice of the people. Not Channelers. Not Warriors. But the Channeler Selak had raised dissent among the citizens, questioning the old ways, making the denizens of Atlantis, especially some of the Zaindari—those gifted with special abilities by the Creators—believe the Seers were trying to enslave Atlantis.

  It was all fabrication and trickery, a political maneuver so Selak could seize power.

  But to go this far, to actually attempt the Sortu-Ka? Heresy! No wonder Poseidon was angry!

  Ja-Red burst into the great chamber of the temple. Agrilara was already there. And Selak, that madman, had already begun the Sortu-Ka. He had the Stones of Ekhia in the triangle frame, and he’d activated them. They had faded from crimson to clear, and red swirls of energy danced in their sparkling depths. Agrilara looked over at Ja-Red, her blue eyes wide and damp.

  He’s started the ritual, she mind-spoke. My abilities are in stasis.

  The stones always neutralized the abilities of any Atlanteans who handled them, and their field of power grew to anyone surrounding them during the Sortu-Ka. The only exception to this was the Stone Singer. It was up to him to stop Selak.

  He shouted for Selak to stop. Rushed for the frame. Reached tattooed hands toward the stones.

  And Selak blasted energy through the stones, through Ja-Red, snuffing his life force and leaving Faith a helpless ghost to observe.

  A mad scramble. The temple began to crumble. Those in the great chamber grabbed what they could and ran. Selak lay in the wreckage, laughing.

  A young Warrior snatched up the Stone of Igarle. Fled from the temple. Found space on a boat and watched as the great city of Atlantis sank into the sea forever.

  * * *

  Faith came back to herself with a gasp, her heart pounding. Darius crouched in front of her. “Faith, are you all right?”

  She nodded, swallowing as she realized she was in Arizona, not Atlantis. She licked her dry lips. “I could use a drink,” she managed.

  Darius straightened and went to the small fridge behind the bar. He pulled out a bottle of water, unscrewed the cap, and brought it to her. “Here. Drink slowly.”

  She ignored him and chugged several swallows before stopping. “Thanks.”

  He sat down in his chair and bent forward with his gaze on hers. “You’ve been gone for three hours.”

  “What?” She glanced at the clock. It was after twelve. “It only felt like a few minutes.”

  “Hours.” He reached out and brushed her cheek, his fingers coming away damp. “You’re crying.”

  She nodded. Sniffed. Took another drink of water.

  “What happened in there? You didn’t seem to be lost like before, so I didn’t go in after you.”

  “Give me a minute.” She swiped the back of her hand across her wet face. And noticed her fingers trembled. She curled them into fists, images from the stone’s memory lingering in her mind. The devastation. The loss. And the lie.

  Especially the lie.

  She took a deep breath, then another and another until her heart rate slowed. Darius waited, his patience like a warm blanket on a cold night. He was so different from the other men she’d known. Other Atlanteans, especially. She felt like she could tell him anything, and it would be okay. She sipped some more water, and when she decided she could talk without sobbing, she set down the bottle.

  “It took me to Atlantis,” she said.

  “Took you?”

  She shook her head. “Sorry, I’m still rattled.” She breathed in again, then out. “Not physically took me. It showed me Atlantis, through the memory of the last Stone Singer who had balanced the stone. A young man named Ja-Red.”

  “I’m sorry.” He squeezed her shoulder. “That must have been horrible, seeing the destruction firsthand like that.”

  “It was horrible, but amazing, too. I saw it, Darius. I saw Atlantis as it was, not as we speculate it to have been.” She rubbed her face with both hands. “And I felt him die. Ja-Red. He was trying to stop it.”

  “Stop the destruction? How can you stop an earthquake?”

  “By shutting down what was causing it.” She got to her feet and paced. “The Stones of Ekhia caused the destruction of Atlantis. No, that’s not exactly accurate. Let’s say misuse of the stones caused it.”

  Darius sat back in his chair, a frown on his face. “So it wasn’t just a tragic natural disaster?”

  “Nothing natural about it. Someone caused it.”

  “Using the stones.”

  “Yes.” She swept a hand through her hair and kept pacing, one hand on her hip. “I’m trying to process this, trying to accept what I just saw. Because if it’s true—and it has to be, since the memories are stored in the stone—then everything I believe, everything every Atlantean believes, is based on a lie.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Selak. He destroyed Atlantis.”

  “Who’s Selak?”

  She stopped pacing to stare at him. “Are you serious? You don’t know about Selak?”

  He shrugged. “I told you, I know very little about the history of Atlantis. Until recently, I thought my ancestor was the only survivor.”

  “Hardly. The entire island of Santutegi was founded by Atlantean refugees.”

  “What?” He leaned forward. “Santutegi, where Jain Criten is from? That Santutegi?”

  “Yes. You could call it the homeland of the Atlanteans. It was founded by Selak.”

  “So the guy who blew up Atlantis founded the new home for its people?”

  “Oh, yeah. He’s a hero, like George Washington is to the United States. He’s revered. There are statues of him and buildings named after him.”

  “I don’t get it. Why would the guy who caused the destruction be revered?”

  “Because until this moment, no one knew he caused the destruction. The history books say he was the leader of the refugees because he was the ranking council member, the only council member, to survive.” She held his gaze. “He told everyone the Seers got greedy for more power, abused the stones, and destroyed the city.”

  “Wow.” He slumped against the chair back. “That takes balls.”

  “Don’t you see? That’s what the Mendukati believe. It’s what drives them: ‘The Seers blew up our utopia, so they all must die.’”

  “What about the Seers who survived? There must have been some. I know Agrilara, my ancestor, survived because I exist.”

  “I saw her. Ja-Red knew her.”

  “No way.”

  “She was beautiful. Blond hair and those gorgeous blue eyes all of you have. She called Ja-Red to come to the temple to help try and stop Selak. Once the stones were activated in the Sortu-Ka ritual, only a Stone Singer could disrupt that. When Ja-Red attempted it, Selak killed him with an energy backlash.” She cleared her suddenly clogged throat. “Sorry. He was a nice guy, in love with a young man named Kindin. Anyway, about the Seers who survived. Santutegi history talks about a disease that only seems to affect Seers. There was some kind of plague that killed a lot of them off.”

  “Handy, considering they thought the Seers had blown everything for them. I can’t imagine Seers would have been very popular in the new place.”

  “I have a feeling—and this is not based on any fact—that they might have been killed.”

  “What does the stone say about that?”

  “Nothing. This stone never made it to Santutegi. It left Atlantis in the possession of a young Warrior, who ended up somewhere else
. I broke off the memory at that point. However, and this is what is bothering me, the Mendukati’s mission is to get rid of the Seers. They truly believe the Seers destroyed Atlantis in some kind of power grab, and they’re determined to set things right.”

  “By wiping the Seers off the planet? Great.”

  “Don’t you see? It’s not just the Mendukati. Every single Atlantean believes this. Everything I was told, everything I believed, the entire history of my people, was a lie.” Her eyes stung as she looked at him, her certainty about her place in the world crumbling beneath her. “So where does that leave me? Who am I?”

  “Hey, hey.” He rose and came to her, pulling her into his arms. “You’re still you. Still Faith Karaluros. That hasn’t changed.”

  She buried her face in his shoulder, her hands pressed to his chest. He smelled like soap and laundry detergent, with a hint of chlorine, and his arms around her made her feel safe in a precarious world. “There’s something else. Something I haven’t told you.”

  He eased her back so he could see her face. “Tell me now.”

  She hesitated. “You asked me once about Michael’s death.”

  “I figured you’d tell me when you’re ready.”

  “Guess I’m ready. Michael was trying to steal my power from me.” She sighed, staring at the front of his shirt and seeing that day on the hilltop in her head as if it were yesterday. “We were on a mission to capture a family of Seers. But I found out too late that he never intended to capture them. He wanted to kill them. He wanted me to kill them. When I balked, he tried to seize control of my power. I fought for it, and it chose me. The backlash killed him.” Her composure slipped. “I felt that in the vision. Backlash of energy. That’s how Ja-Red died, and that’s how Michael died. How I killed him.” Her lower lip trembled as she fought to keep steady. “It’s a horrible, painful way to die.”

  “I thought your powers didn’t work on other Atlanteans?”

  “They don’t. I was supposed to cause a rock slide to stop the van. Then we’d capture them.”

  “I see.” He smoothed his hands along her back. “And you had no idea killing them was the real plan?”

  “Of course not!” She stiffened. “As soon as I realized what he was up to, I tried to leave. But he stopped me. He tried to … to…”

  “Okay, okay.” His gentle hands seemed to create a soothing calm within her. “You got away. You won.”

  “But I killed him.” She gripped his shirt.

  “Sounds like a clear case of self-defense. If he had succeeded and taken over your powers, those Seers would have died, right?”

  She nodded. “There were little kids. And a dog.”

  “Well, yeah, the dog seals it.” He brushed a kiss over her forehead before tilting her chin up so he could see her face. “You did what you felt was right, and you saved lives. It was a terrible accident.”

  “I never meant to kill him,” she whispered, taking solace in the calm understanding in his eyes.

  “I know you didn’t.” His lips quirked. “And you saved the dog, so extra points.”

  That startled a laugh from her. “Thanks.”

  “Hey, this is what I do. Peacemaker.” He rubbed her upper arms. “You steady?” She nodded, and he released her. “I’m going to put the troublemaker away.” He stepped away and picked up the stone. The pyramid lightened from crimson to clear in his hand. He walked over to the wooden box sitting on the table and replaced the stone, then locked it back in the storage cabinet.

  She watched him, so assured even with a disability. How was he able to calm her just by his presence? “You’re an amazing man.”

  He laughed and came back to where she stood. “Not really.”

  “Yes, really.”

  He nodded at her circle of gems. “You going to clean up your toys? Or do I have to send you to bed without dinner?” He grinned that mischievous little-boy grin again, and her heart thumped. Falling in love? Ha.

  She was already gone.

  She propped a hand on her hip. “Maybe you should just take me to bed instead.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Darius searched for the right thing to say. With the stone put away and her ring across the room, his empathy was in full form. He could sense that she felt off balance and vulnerable from what the stone had shown her. Guilt about Michael’s death still weighed on her. And while she was attracted to him as much as he was to her, he didn’t want her to regret what might happen between them.

  Especially since he had deliberately kept secrets from her.

  “That’s not what I expected to hear,” he said, knowing she was still waiting for an answer.

  “What’s the problem?” she asked. “We talked about this chemistry between us the other day. We both acknowledged it.”

  “Yes, but you also said you weren’t ready. You’re feeling a little vulnerable after that trip into the past, and I don’t want you to have regrets the morning after.”

  She approached him, hips swaying and eyes soft. “All my life, people have been telling me what to do, and while I appreciate the gesture, I’ve made up my mind. There’s something powerful between us, Darius, and I want to find out more.” She linked her arms around his neck. “Now are you going to kiss me, or what?”

  He cupped her face in his palm, stroking a thumb across her cheek. “I want nothing more than to make love to you, Faith.”

  “That makes two of us.” She leaned in closer, her lips a breath away from his.

  “Wait a second. There’s something I have to tell you.”

  “Talk fast.” She eyed his mouth. “Time’s a-wasting.”

  “This pull between us … it’s not just attraction.” He cupped her head between his hands. “It’s the mating bond.”

  “What? No.” She stepped back, and he let her.

  “Yes. We’re destined mates, Faith.”

  “Look, if you don’t want me, just say so. You don’t need the elaborate story.”

  He’d hurt her. “I didn’t tell you to put pressure on you.”

  “You mean it’s true?” At his nod, she spun away from him. “Then why did you tell me? You know I can’t stay. You know that when all this is done, I mean to get as far away from the Atlantean world as I can.”

  “Which is why I told you. The mating bond pushes us toward each other, and the sex would be incredible. But there is no law that says we have to walk down the aisle.”

  She gave a short laugh. “I should say not.”

  “If we’re going to end up in bed, I want you to be sure. Remember, I’m not exactly strong in the long-term relationship department myself.” He caught her hand. “I want you all the time, Faith. Every time I look at you.”

  “You’re good at hiding it.”

  “Am I?” He sent a pulse of the desire he’d been trying to keep in check along the mating bond. She gasped, her cheeks turning pink. “That’s the mating bond, the link between us. It’s been getting stronger every day. It’s how I found you when the stone had you trapped. The Stones of Ekhia may shut down normal Atlantean powers, but they have no effect on a link like this.” He took a step closer. “Believe me when I tell you that I want you badly, Faith, but what I don’t want is to be the next man to hurt you. You need to be sure.”

  * * *

  He’d left the decision in her hands. Part of her wanted him to decide for both of them, to sweep her off her feet and seduce her so that later, if things went sour, she could blame him. But that wasn’t the way to handle an affair. She knew the notion was just a knee-jerk reaction to having been manipulated all her life.

  He was asking her, adult to adult, what she wanted. No one had ever really asked before.

  She studied his face, so familiar to her now since they’d spent most of the past several days in each other’s company. She knew she trusted him in a way that made no practical sense, given her past experiences, but maybe that was the mating bond he talked about. The little pulse he’d sent to her had illuminated the bond
, and she recognized it from when she’d been trapped in the stone’s coils. The silver path that had led her home.

  To Darius.

  Why was she hesitating? She’d already recognized her growing feelings for him.

  “It bugs me that me wanting you might be the result of this mating bond thing,” she said. “I refuse to be manipulated anymore, even by a mystical link.”

  “Like I said, you’re under no obligation to do anything. We can continue as we were, ignoring it except in emergencies, like if the stone decides to act up again.”

  “Stones Behaving Badly.” She chuckled. “Think we could get a reality show going?”

  “I suspect the audience would be limited.” He smiled, but it was a bit forced. She could see the tension in his shoulders, and her reservations weakened. Her answer mattered to him, more than whether or not he would get laid.

  She mattered to him.

  She already knew that Darius was a man who cared passionately about things. And she wanted to be one of those things. She wanted to make love with him, to be cherished for who she was, not what she could do. Darius had proven himself her safe harbor time and again in their short acquaintance. He would not hurt her. She could trust him.

  “Yes.” She walked to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Yes, I want to make love with you. Right now.”

  He slid his arms around her, his cane pressing along her buttock and thigh. “If you’re hoping I’ll sweep you off your feet and carry you to bed, you’re going to be disappointed.”

  His tone was playful, but she caught the concern that lingered in his eyes. Darius, worried about rejection? For some reason, his wariness reassured her even more. She had equal power here.

  “How about we forget about all those romantic clichés and just do what works for us?” She brushed a kiss to his lips. “Is your room close?”

  He grinned, the shadows fleeing from his gaze. “Yeah.”

  “Let me just put these stones back, and we can go.” She stepped away and began to gather her safety circle, scooping up the stones and dropping them back into the box without bothering with the plastic bags. The entire operation took minutes, but it seemed like an eternity when she’d finished and turned to face him.