In a moment, the scene changed. A woman, Aurora, spoke to her father as he slept, warning him. Again the horrible scene in the kitchen played itself out, varying little from the first scene. The exception being that her father, undoubtedly unnerved by the ‘dream’ he’d had, whirled when he heard Eric behind him. This time Eric stabbed her father in the heart.
Again, the scene changed and Alexis saw Aurora knocking at her father’s door. They argued heatedly over something and her father showed Aurora out. He looked at Eric suspiciously when he opened his door to him later, turned him away. Later, as her father lay sleeping, Eric crept into the room, stabbing him repeatedly as he slept.
Alexis collapsed when Aurora released her, sobbing into her hands. Aurora patted her shoulder, rubbing her back in a soothing motion. Finally, Alexis regained control, lifted her tear stained face. “I don’t understand. Is this … what you showed me. It happened?”
Aurora studied her a moment. “I am sorry that I hurt you by showing you this, but you must understand. The past can rarely be changed to reflect what we want. I might have tried many more times, many more ways, but the results would have been the same. Your father would have died.”
“So you’re saying there’s no point in even trying to change the future? It is what it’s meant to be? That fate decides and we have no control over our destiny?”
Aurora shook her head sadly. “I honestly do not know. I do not think it is human nature merely to accept. I do not think we could live without hope, and hope is the belief that we can change things. All that I do know is that we learned long ago that it was useless to tamper with what has been, what has already happened. We could not change it. It always seemed to be one thing, one action, that became the catalyst for all that came afterwards, but we found that there were many threads that led up to the inevitable. Changing one made little difference and finding all the events that led up to it was impossible.”
Alexis was silent for several moments. “But you tried anyway?”
Aurora nodded. “One can always hope that this time it will be different, but it did no good to warn him. It did no good to lure him to another place. It did no good to delay Eric. I could not change it.”
Alexis stared at her a long moment, thinking. “Maybe you just didn’t try hard enough. Maybe what you needed to change was my meeting with Eric. Maybe then it would’ve turned out differently.”
“It did not.”
“How can you know!” Alexis exclaimed angrily.
“Because you are here.”
Wearily, Alexis dropped her head into her hands. She felt Aurora’s gnarled hand settle on the back of her head. Peace filled her.
Alexis looked up at Aurora in confusion, trying to remember what had happened, how she’d come to be sitting at Aurora’s feet, but she sensed it was something better forgotten.
“Come,” Aurora said briskly. “I must introduce you to our physicians and you will see you have nothing to be afraid of.”
* * * *
“I recovered this,” Eros said. “It was not easy to obtain. The one who wore it fought hard to destroy it.”
Thor picked it up, turning it over. It didn’t look like the ones commonly used, but neither did it look much different, at least, not in the artificial light that only dimly lit the chamber beneath the citadel where they met. Thor stood, holding it closer to the light for a better view, but still saw nothing of any significance. “A band?”
Eros nodded. “More powerful that the ones we developed. Even with the magnifiers we use, we cannot pick up their telepathic communications. Perhaps, since you have no need for a magnifier, these are no impediment to you, but we have heard nothing known to be rebel communication in weeks. I had wondered why they had become so strangely quiet.”
“I have detected nothing either. I had thought they might have moved their meeting place beyond Atlantis, or found a chamber such as this that we knew nothing of—or perhaps even modified a secret chamber somewhere that would prevent telepathic waves from penetrating, as do these walls.
In truth, the quiet has disturbed me, for it was not likely that they had ceased their machinations.
This explains why we have not managed to discover anything about the rebels. And why they have grown so bold.”
Eros’ brows lifted questioningly.
“Last eve a rebel seized an outworlder under my protection.”
“To what purpose, think you?”
Thor studied Eros a moment. Eros was his most trusted lieutenant, but more than that, a friend. If he could not trust Eros…. “There are several possibilities. I have claimed first right to her as my woman, should she decide to stay. It is no secret. The attack could have been directed at me.”
Eros looked stunned for a moment, then grinned, clapping Thor on the shoulder. “You jest! I had thought you hopeless! Congratulations!”
Thor flushed. “Premature. She has not said she will stay. She has not said she will accept me. My claim would be enough, however, to make them believe they could use her against me.”
Eros looked intrigued. Before he could voice any of the questions Thor knew he wanted to ask, however, Thor directed him back to their immediate problem--discovering the objective of the rebels. “That is one possibility. There are others.”
“To seize her, successfully, right under your nose would convince any who were wavering that they had the strength to win. In truth, though we have intercepted nothing, my instincts tell me they grow in numbers daily and many more would join them if they felt their chances of success more certain.”
Thor nodded. “Or it is possible that she was the target.”
Eros looked take aback. “Why? She is an outworlder. Of what use would she be to them?”
“She is gifted, beyond any outworlder that I have ever seen, beyond even many Atlanteans.”
Eros looked skeptical but grinned after a moment. “I shall have to see this paragon.”
Thor’s eyes narrowed. “I value your friendship, Eros. But make no mistake, the woman is mine.”
Surprised, Eros studied him a moment, certain he must be jesting, but then threw up his hands in a gesture of surrender. “I meant no harm. In any case, I know you well. You will have staked your claim very thoroughly by now and none other would have a chance at the lady’s heart.”
Thor frowned, but he had no intention of voicing his doubts, prior claim or not. Alexis was a law unto herself and Eros far too tempting to women to allow him to think he had a chance with her. He ignored the remark and returned his attention to the band. “We must have this analyzed, so that we know what we are up against, but if they have the capability of producing these the rebel movement is undoubtedly far larger than we had suspected. Did you question the man?”
Eros grimaced. “When a man is determined to fight to the death it is nigh impossible to capture him alive. What did you discover of the man who seized your woman?”
“Nothing. I killed him.”
“But.… You could not use the hold?”
“He … endangered Alexis. I did not try.”
* * * *
Alexis found that Aurora had not lied to her. The tests were strange, very tiring but with the exception of an ordinary blood test, there was no pain involved, no strange rituals or inventive tortures.
She was tested over a period of three days. On the fourth day, weary beyond belief, she was told to rest. She did so gladly, unable to recall a time when she had been so exhausted.
On the fifth day, she was called before the council. To her surprise, Helen informed her that the meeting was to be held in the Council chambers, not before the Body as her first hearing had been. When Alexis had looked at her blankly, Helen had grudgingly explained that meetings in the coliseum with the Body were only for the purpose of voting upon crimes involving the first five laws. Minor infractions were decided by the Council alone and, since Alexis’ case was not actually a crime, it too fell under their jurisdiction. Since it would be the council alone
who decided upon Alexis’ fate, the meeting would be held in the private Council Chambers.
When Helen opened the door and ushered Alexis inside, she saw that Thor was in consultation with the High Council. Her heart leapt at the sight of him. A riot of thoughts rushed through her mind before she could prevent it, but no one looked her way so she felt some hope that her lapse hadn’t been noticed. At any rate, the thoughts had been so random, so chaotic, that she’d scarcely grasped them herself. Surely no one else could have interpreted them.
She focused her gaze, and thoughts, upon the assembly after that, knowing that was her only hope of keeping her innermost secrets to herself.
Noticing her arrival, Aurora gestured for her to come forward. When Helen would have withdrawn, Aurora stopped her, commanding her to come forward, as well.
Helen looked surprised, and uneasy, but she approached the council as she’d been told.
Alexis, naturally, had no idea of what business Thor had had with the council, but from his expression, and theirs, it had not been a pleasant meeting.
She discovered that it was to get worse.
Aurora studied Alexis and Helen in turn. She spoke to Helen.
“We have reviewed your claim and your petition regarding your choice of Thor as husband. It is well known that you had a standing agreement with Thor at one time, however, prior claim cannot be considered when the original petition was rejected. You may review the circumstances of the original rejection if you are so inclined, but the decision was solid and irrefutable. You have added nothing to the new petition that might be considered in extenuation, or that would reverse the original decision. We must deny your prior claim and dismiss your petition.”
Dismissing Helen, whom she had evidently reduced to speechlessness, Aurora fixed Alexis with a stern eye. “We call you here today, Alexis Stanhope, to rule upon your situation with us, and to thank you for your willing participation in the tests we found necessary to make our determination.
Alexis’ brows lifted. She hadn’t been aware that she’d had a choice.
Aurora frowned at her.
Alexis focused on her toes.
“Child.”
Alexis looked up at her.
“We would like to welcome you to live among us. We find that you are genetically superior, that you are free of defective genes of any kind. We also find that you are, genetically similar to Atlanteans in that you possess certain abilities not generally found among outworlders.”
Alexis looked at her in surprise. “Abilities?”
Aurora nodded. “We suspected, of course, but it was necessary to confirm our suspicions that you have the natural ability to guard your mind from telepathy without use of a device, that you can break a mind hold. Those are powerful gifts, would be even among Atlanteans. We would like to welcome you as a bride of Atlantis, bride of Thor, who has claimed first right and petitioned the council to take you as wife.”
Chapter Nine
Alexis’ jaw dropped. She glanced quickly at Thor, wondering if he’d had anything to do with this ‘decision’.
“The decision was based upon your tests,” Aurora said gently. “Naturally, we would like to allow mating to be a matter of compatibility, affection, physical attraction—love if you will, as in the old times. But we have not the luxury. In any case, it seems fortune smiles upon your union, for you appear to have formed an emotional attachment to match your biological profiles,” Aurora finished, smiling faintly.
“Wait a minute. Look. I couldn’t even if I wanted to. I’m married already,” Alexis said a little desperately.
Aurora’s brows lifted. “You are divorced.”
“Divorced?” Alexis repeated, stunned.
Aurora nodded. “It was witnessed, by Adonis. You divorced your—ah—previous spouse when he threw you overboard.”
Alexis looked at her blankly. Suddenly, she recalled the words she’d screamed at Eric as she was falling. She shook her head. “That was … anger, graveyard humor. It meant nothing—changed nothing.”
“You did not intend to divorce him?”
“I fully intend to divorce him as soon as I can go home, but that doesn’t change the fact that, by law, I’m still married to him.”
“Your laws?”
“Our laws.”
“You live in Atlantis now,” Aurora reminded her gently. “If you stay, only our laws apply to you. The laws of outworlders are no concern of ours. And, by our laws, you rejected your marriage before a witness. You are divorced—free to wed.”
Alexis stared at her, glanced at Thor, who stood, stone-faced, glanced at Helen’s pale countenance. “But—there was an understanding between Thor and Helen. She told me it had been settled.”
Aurora stared at her for so long that Alexis blushed, realizing Aurora was probably well aware of her lack of consideration for Helen’s prior claim. “We have ruled against Helen’s prior claim. We considered the long attachment she and Thor had, but there remains a biological impediment. Time cannot change this. She was told this long ago. Thor accepted the ruling. Helen must also.”
“NO!” Helen cried suddenly. “Aunt--councilor, you know we have loved each other from the time we were children! It is not right!”
“Helen, you know the laws. You know, have known for many years, that this could not be.”
Helen rushed to Thor, grasped his arm, shaking it. “Tell them it doesn’t matter! We do not care if we are not allowed to have a family.”
Thor looked at Helen uncomfortably. “Helen, I loved you as a playmate when we were children together. I have loved you as a dear friend from the time we grew up, but you are no more in love with me, as a woman loves a man, than I am, or have ever been, in love with you. We did no more than agree that we should settle for each other for companionship’s sake. I was willing, if it was allowed, but it was not. I accepted that we could only be friends. I thought you had also.”
“Nay! You did not! You said that we would wait a while and petition again, that I would be your wife or none other!”
Thor paled, glanced at the council.
Aurora flushed, half rose from her seat. “Helen! You perjure yourself! You cannot lie to us! Even if you are willful enough to try to lie to yourself, we know the truth!”
Helen looked frightened, but only for a moment. She whirled upon Alexis, fixing her with a look that should have killed her on the spot, before she turned to Thor once more. “It is her, is it not? It is that she-creature Adonis brought among us! She does not belong here. She will never belong.”
“This has nothing to do with Alexis. This was settled long before she came. You led me to believe that it was settled, and that you had accepted as I had,” Thor said with determined patience.
Helen released his arm, stepped back. She turned to look at the councilors, at Aurora. Her eyes narrowed as her gaze settled upon Alexis. She said nothing, however.
After a moment, Aurora addressed Alexis once more.
“You have heard the council’s ruling. You must decide.”
Shock ran through Alexis. No one had warned her that she would have to decide, now, today. She had thought she would have more time. She thought quickly. “What if I left and came back? I can’t just stay. I have to settle my affairs. My father deserves justice. I am the only one who can see that he has it. If you would only allow me to take care of that, I would willingly return, or you could erase my memories then. It wouldn’t matter afterwards.”
Aurora seemed to consult with the other councilors for several moments. When she finally returned her attention to Alexis, she knew the answer even before Aurora spoke. “It seems a reasonable request….”
“Thank you! Yes … I’ll agree to anything you want to do … afterwards.”
Aurora frowned. “Patience, child. As I was saying, it seems like a reasonable request. However, there are … circumstances which have arisen which make it impossible to allow your petition.”
“What circumstances?” Alexis demanded.
/>
“There is danger to you….”
“I KNOW that,” Alexis interrupted her again.
“Do not interrupt me!”
Alexis blushed.
“You do not know the danger. I do not speak of your former spouse … and that is not the only consideration. You carry Thor’s child.”
Alexis stared at her in absolute horror. Visions flashed through her mind: Thor shifting, sprouting wings; Thor shifting into a merman; the horrible beastman that had attacked her; Adonis as dolphin, then merman. Other images crowded behind those that might have been comical if they had not been so horrendous; of her, straining to deliver her child and a doctor holding up a dolphin, or merchild; of her searching frantically for her baby, picking up puppies and kittens and looking them over to see if it was her child, shifted into some beast. She couldn’t do that! She had to get rid of it, she thought a little wildly.
Aurora erupted from her seat, effectively distracting Alexis from the images flickering through her mind. Stalking toward Alexis, she grasped her hand and hauled her from the room like a naughty child. Alexis was too stunned to protest. She glanced back as Aurora dragged her from the room. Thor was staring at her, pale, looking desperately ill.
Helen was laughing.
Aurora didn’t stop until they’d reached her private chambers. Dragging Alexis inside, she slammed the door behind them, shoved Alexis toward a chaise. Alexis staggered back a few steps but remained standing, watching in bemusement as, still in the grips of a fury Alexis had never witnessed, Aurora stalked to a chest, pulled a band from it and returned, shoving it firmly into place on Alexis’ head.
Immediately, the annoying buzzing noise that Alexis had long since learned to ignore, ceased.
Weak kneed, she sat on the chaise behind her, watching Aurora pace the floor.
“What have I done?”
“Indeed! You should well ask!”
Atlantium Trilogy I: Bride of Atlantis Page 10
