Thor surfaced beside her.
She stared at him, gasping for air.
He seemed barely winded.
He reached for her, grasping both of her arms and pulling her flush against him. They were almost nose to nose.
Alexis didn’t think, couldn’t. She looked down at his hard, unyielding mouth, remembering that she’d wondered how it would feel on hers, lifted her eyes to his in unconscious supplication.
As if he could not help himself, he lowered his mouth to hers.
Heat rushed through her with the first, tentative brush of his lips against hers. Alexis caught her breath, confused by the flood of desire that rushed through her as his mouth closed over hers. A strange weakness followed in the flood path, her body going into meltdown in response to his nearness.
Abruptly, Alexis kneed him. Unfortunately, he was much taller than her and she missed his groin. Then, too, the water slowed her movements so that the blow would not have been very effective even if she’d connected with her goal.
Nevertheless, Thor was so surprised at the attack, he released her.
Alexis knew she was too weak to have a chance. She tried anyway, slinging a handful of water in his face as she whirled to flee.
He caught her before she’d managed two strokes, jerking her around to face him. When she saw his hand coming toward her face, her first thought was that he was going to shove her under and hold her there until she stopped struggling.
Instead, as his hand covered her face, darkness fell and consciousness vanished.
* * * *
Alexis stared at the beams crisscrossing the darkened ceiling for several moments before her memory came flooding back. When it did, she jerked bolt upright, looking around quickly for a possible escape.
The chamber she awoke in this time was far smaller than the coliseum, but still large for a room. Like Adonis’ home, it was filled with unimaginable treasures. Unlike Adonis’ home, which had been fairly spartan, this room had the cluttered, homey feel of someone who has lived long and accumulated many cherished belongings.
Aurora sat in a chair, studying her. She was the only other occupant of the room.
“You cannot escape.”
It seemed like a dare.
Aurora’s expression became a mixture of amusement and sympathy. “I suppose it must sound like a challenge, and I do not doubt that you are a most resourceful young woman, but it is not … humanly possible.”
Alexis merely stared at her for several moments, wondering which part of the statement to dispute first. Finally, she said, “Humanly?”
Aurora smiled faintly. “I am not sure I could explain it to your … satisfaction.”
“I have a reasonably good understanding.”
Aurora nodded. “I do not doubt your intelligence. It is merely that you have not yet accepted that this is real, and not a figment of your imagination.”
“It isn’t something easy to accept, you have to admit.”
“Readily. If we were not the stuff of myth and fables, it might be easier, but I doubt even then….” She shrugged.
Alexis shivered, chaffing her arms unconsciously.
Aurora nodded toward the end of the chaise where Alexis sat. “There is a robe there if you would feel more comfortable.”
Alexis grabbed it up gratefully. She discovered it was something like a toga, opening at the neck rather than in front, and pulled it over her head. “You still didn’t answer my question.”
“We are human, but not as you are human.”
“I hadn’t noticed,” Alexis murmured dryly.
Irritation crossed Aurora’s features, but after a moment, she seemed to shrug it off. “Long ago we realized that we possessed many ‘gifts’ that other races, or tribes, if you will, did not. Or, more accurately, I suppose, we had stronger gifts than others. We--cultivated them.”
“The telepathy?”
“Among other things.”
“You want me to believe that you’re actually from Atlantis? THE Atlantis? The one there’s been so many stories about?”
Aurora chuckled. “It matters not to me whether you believe or not. This is Atalantium, the only Atlantis, if you prefer, that ever existed.”
“But … but,” Alexis struggled for words. “That was thousands of years ago, before Christ, even … before Plato. I may not know much about history, but I do know that much.”
“Time means little to us.”
Alexis studied her a long moment. “So everybody here is thousands of years old? You’re … immortals or something?”
Again Aurora chuckled. “Not immortal. Some older than others. We are a very long lived people—live many times your lifetimes--but I do not think you understood what I said when I told you time means little to us. It is not a barrier to us.”
“Not a barrier?” Alexis said thoughtfully. “Time travel? You’re saying you time travel?”
“Time walk. Atlantis is hundreds, not thousands of years old. We are hundreds, not thousands--though I am the oldest surviving Atlantean.”
It actually made sense--in an insane sort of way. No wonder the Atlanteans had seemed so advanced compared to everyone else in the ancient world. They had simply time walked, learned what they needed, or taken what they wanted, collected the best from whatever age they pleased.
Aurora nodded. “We are very learned--value knowledge—but all of our technology is not borrowed, nor all our very own.”
“But you’re human? Not aliens?”
“We are human. We are genetically enhanced human beings. Which is why I said you could not escape. WE can come and go. No human lacking our gift to shift would be able to leave Atlantis. We have few boats because we really have no need of them. And even if you could manage to take one, or fashion a boat, you would not be able to survive the corridor which connects us to the sea, or the pressure so far beneath the sea.”
Alexis’ eyes narrowed. “You had me going for a little bit there. I suppose you thought I wasn’t clear headed enough to notice, but I can see the sky. I know this must be an island.”
Aurora uttered a deep sigh. “It is an illusion. We shut ourselves off from the rest of humanity long ago, because our gifts, our technology, were looked upon as witchcraft, sorcery. As much as we were admired and, even occasionally worshipped, we were also feared and hated. We had thought when we chose to build our civilization before the time of ‘modern’ man, that we would be safe, and able to live peacefully. For a time we were, because only we possessed the ability to travel great distances quickly. But ancient man caught up with us when they began to roam the world. Many came--to destroy, to take, to wipe us from the face of history. We finally realized that we would either have to give up those things we took such joy of, or live apart from those who were different from us, because we would have no peace otherwise.
And so we built a great dome to protect our cities and sank our civilization beneath the sea, out of reach of those who would have destroyed it and destroyed our way of life.
But we had not counted on the effects of isolation--or the effect of living in what to all intents and purposes was no more than a cave. We had to create the illusion of living in the world we had left. Otherwise it was simply unbearable.”
Alexis was certainly no expert in the field of history, especially not ancient history, but she could understand the reasons for taking such a drastic step. Hadn’t China done much the same—cut itself off from the less civilized world? But China had rejoined the world, eventually—and found they’d been left behind by the barbarians they’d held in contempt.
“That was really a long, long time ago. I can see why it might have been a good idea way back when, but why did you never rejoin the rest of the human race? We’ve changed a good bit, become more civilized.”
Aurora looked amused. “And we would now ‘fit in’?”
Alexis was obliged to admit that, at least as they were, they couldn’t. “If you adapted to this, you could adapt to anything.”
“So you can’t, ever, allow an outsider … or outworlder, to come here and then leave again?”
“Not with knowledge of us.”
“It’s not like anyone would believe me, even if I was crazy enough to babble about it.”
“Some might. Many still seek Atlantis.”
Alexis stared at her a long moment. “I’m not about to let anyone tamper with my memories. Eric confessed to me that he’d killed my father. He thinks he’s killed me. I have to go back. I have to see that my father’s murderer is brought to justice. If you erase my memories, I not only wouldn’t be able to, I would be defenseless. I could walk right into an ambush and he’d just finish what he’s already tried to do once.”
“You would have all memories, save the memories of being rescued by Adonis, and the memories of us.”
Alexis said nothing. She didn’t believe for one moment, no matter how marvelous their technology, that they could so selectively erase certain memories and leave others. “So … I can stay, or I can go and remember nothing.”
Chapter Four
Alexis thought it highly unlikely that she would be believed if she simply said she’d decided to stay after all. Had their roles been reversed, she would be doubtful, and she was rather inclined to be gullible—to wit: her succumbing to the wiles of a con man—and Aurora seemed a little too savvy about the world to be the gullible sort.
She simply said, therefore, that she would like time to decide.
To her relief, Aurora accepted that. She pointed out, however, that it was a little more complicated than a decision to stay or to go. Even if Alexis decided to stay, she would not automatically be accepted as a member of the community. In order to be accepted, she must pass certain tests.
Alexis didn’t like the sound of that. She immediately envisioned those sorts of archaic tests that involved torture of some kind. Aurora had laughed then and explained that they were more of a medical nature and relatively painless.
Alexis didn’t believe her.
“Trust is difficult for one from your world, I know. But, in time, you will come to understand that we do not lie.”
“I don’t want to be rude, but you did say you were part of the human race?”
Aurora chuckled. “We are telepaths,” she said gently.
She had a point. On the other hand, it was still human nature to lie, for the sake of self-preservation if nothing else, and there was always a way if one wanted to do something.
She was released to the care of another Atlantean, a woman named Helen. Helen’s expression when Aurora introduced them was impassive, but, since Alexis recognized the woman almost immediately as the one she’d clobbered in her escape attempt, she seriously doubted Helen would become a friend.
For her part, she was carefully polite as they left Aurora’s chamber, not because she was fearful of these people, but she saw no point in giving her intentions away by being openly antagonistic.
Closing Aurora’s door gently behind them, Helen turned to Alexis and smiled contemptuously. “You outworlders are a rather primitive and uncouth species. I have no idea why Aurora and Adonis consider you special. You have only to think a thought and it is there for anyone to perceive.”
Alexis’ lips tightened. A string of profanity came to mind. She made no attempt to stop it, or the threat of physical violence that accompanied it.
“As I said, rather savage.”
“Oh yeah? Well, I kicked your ass.” Even Alexis was aware that the comment lacked logic as an argument in her defense, but she decided she didn’t care. The woman made her itch for an outlet for her frustration.
“You caught me off guard, savage.”
Alexis plunked her hands on her hips. She had not liked the woman to start with and she was already very tired of being bossed around and treated to superior Atlantean attitudes. It might never have occurred to her under ordinary circumstances even to consider offering physical violence, but at the moment she felt a strong inclination toward giving in to that particular form of release. “So--on guard then. I’ll do it again.”
Helen sniffed contemptuously. “I have no desire to lower myself to your level.” She turned, began walking along the corridor they had found themselves in upon leaving Aurora’s apartment.
Alexis supposed, with little interest, that this must be something like an apartment building, for doors lined either side of the long hallway.
She was much more interested in the fight Helen had started anyway, just by being her nasty self, and being snubbed in no way lightened Alexis’ mood or readjusted her attitude. She fell into step beside Helen. “No desire to get your ass kicked again, you mean,” she muttered provokingly.
Helen stopped abruptly, faced her. “Violence is not allowed here. Thor would come instantly if I even attempted to take you up on your challenge.”
Alexis shrugged. “That’s as good an excuse as any.”
Helen turned away once more, walking quickly. She was a good bit taller than Alexis and it took an effort to keep up with her.
“Thor thinks you are a savage also. He bade me to keep a careful guard upon you.”
It was Alexis’ turn to sneer. “Stop! You’re hurting my feelings.”
Helen’s eyes narrowed. “You are a very provoking creature.”
“I don’t feel like being nice. It’s not like I actually wanted to come here.”
“Adonis was a fool to bring you.”
“He was trying to be helpful.”
“He lusted for you, savage. That is all. If he had not, then you would be drifting with the fishes now.”
Despite her best efforts, Alexis could not prevent a surge of fear at the memory.
Helen chuckled maliciously.
“Dad always used to say ‘pretty is as pretty does’. I’m sure some people think you’re pretty, but you’re such a bitch, somehow I just don’t see it.”
Helen preened. “Thor thinks I am beautiful. I am his first wife.”
Alexis was startled. “First? How many does he have?”
“You do not understand our ways. I am his first wife. It does not matter how many he takes. I will always be first wife.”
“Lucky you,” Alexis said dryly. “I’m not ‘in’ to sharing, myself.”
Helen laughed. “I will never share him. It is I whom he loves. He may take other wives, or concubines, but I am the only woman he has ever loved.”
“Good for you,” Alexis snapped, refusing to analyze why Helen’s comments bothered her.
“He is the most powerful among us, our greatest warrior. That is why he is Guardian.”
Alexis might have been impressed if she hadn’t been so irritated. “What is this guardian thing everybody keeps spouting? I don’t get it.”
“Thor is the peace keeper, defender of the laws, protector of the people.”
“Don’t get me wrong—I’m sure that’s really impressive—but all things considered I can’t image that ‘the people’ really need a lot of protecting. It isn’t like anybody knows you’re here.”
Helen shrugged. “It is true that he has not been called upon for many years to protect Atalantium, but it is a comfort to know we have him to defend us should the need arise.”
“I’d think you’d need an army of Thors if Atlantis ever came under serious attack.”
“That’s because you do not know what he is capable of. Even your most powerful weapons would be useless against him.”
This really was stretching things. Alexis decided to ignore it. Obviously the woman was demented … certainly obsessed with the man.
She supposed she could see it, to a certain extent anyway. He was gorgeous. Too bad he was such an ass.
“He does not think very highly of you either. He s
aid he could not understand why Adonis was so smitten with you, for you are nothing above the ordinary … quite plain, actually.”
“Guess I’ll be crying into my pillow over that.” Despite her flippant response, that stung, but Alexis wasn’t about to show it.
Helen smiled, allowing Alexis to know that she’d wasted her time trying to guard her feelings.
Alexis resisted, just barely, the urge to slap the smile off the woman’s face.
They had come at last to the end of the corridor. Ignoring Alexis’ indignant glare, Helen opened the door, gesturing for Alexis to precede her.
The bright sunlight after the dimness of the building was almost blinding, but it was warm and inviting. A pleasant breeze brushed Alexis’ cheeks, making her think of springtime.
It took Alexis several moments to realize that none of the sensations she’d just interpreted as a bright spring day were real.
Feeling almost disoriented at the realization, Alexis stepped cautiously outside and found herself in a garden. Stone walkways extended in every direction in a geometric design. Between the walkways exotic flowers created a riot of color, perfuming the air with their combined scents.
It reminded Alexis of the garden at her father’s home, the one designed long years ago by the mother she could barely remember.
It made her homesick as nothing else could have.
“You are to stay at the home of Adonis for now, until the council has decided your fate.”
Alexis definitely didn’t like the sound of that last comment, but she wasn’t about to allow Helen to see her concern. Instead, she focused upon Adonis. “And Adonis? Where will he be staying?”
“Adonis has been banished. It is his punishment for bringing you here. He will not be allowed to return for a full cycle of the Earth.”
“A full cycle?”
“One year.”
“A year!” Alexis exclaimed, dismayed that he was being punished so severely only because he’d been kind enough to help her. “That hardly seems fair.”
“He broke the first law. He is fortunate it is only a year.”
* * * *
Alexis was a little surprised when Helen dismissed her and turned to go back inside. “You’re not taking me there?”
Atlantium Trilogy I: Bride of Atlantis Page 4
