by Kristen Day
“You’ve never had to compete against me,” I taunted him. “I do believe you’ve finally met your match.” One more potential upside to being an immortal sea Goddess: destroying your boyfriend in competition. As far as the other sea Gods and Goddesses who’d been around for centuries and had probably participated in dozens of Atlantean Games, I didn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell.
“Tell yourself what you have to!” He laughed and threw his arm around my neck in a feeble attempt to put me in a head lock. “’Cause you don’t stand a chanc-“
I ducked under his arm and caught him off guard by flipping him over and onto the floor. I smiled down at him sweetly as his cheeks burned. “I’m sorry honey, you were saying…?”
“I leave for one minute and she’s already throwing you around!” Amphitrite laughed as she set a tray down on the side table. “I’m afraid this doesn’t fair too well for you during the games, Finnegan.”
“Not a chance.” Finn smiled widely and quickly picked himself up off the floor. “I meant to flip onto the floor. You know, psyche out the competition. It’s all in my master plan.”
“Does your master plan involve dust bunnies?” I joked, as I picked off several pieces of lint and dust from his shirt.
“Yes,” he said in all seriousness. “Yes, it does.”
“Cucumber water?” Amphitrite handed me a glass of water with several slices of cucumbers floating on top. I held it up for inspection before taking an exploratory sip. The refreshing taste filtered through my senses and quenched a thirst I didn’t know I had. Finn downed half of his glass before setting it down.
“So tell me what kinds of events are really played at the Games,” I urged Amphitrite as I took another sip of water.
“The Games consist of competitions dating back centuries. The descendants compete in categories of strength, dexterity, and intelligence. The last two days’ competitions between the Gods and Goddesses are decided upon by the descendants.”
Before I could ask any further questions, I felt Finn’s phone vibrate in his pocket next to me. I noticed his skull and crossbones trace giving way to suddenly tense muscles beneath. He stood and walked to the other side of the study to talk.
“What’s up, man?” I heard him say. I watched the rest of his body as it went rigid and his free fist balled up in anger. Without another word he pocketed his phone, turned on his heel and headed for the door. A clouded storm brewed in his blue eyes and the hard set of his jaw matched the frown on his lips. Amphitrite and I stood in alarm as he strode right out of the room and out the front door in silence.
“Finn!” I called out to him as he sprinted down the boardwalk towards the beach. “What happened?”
My frantic voice did nothing to slow him down, so I attempted my only other option; an alternate way of communicating.
“Finn, what happened?” I projected out through my thoughts in desperation.
“There’s a situation I have to take care of,” he sent back gravely. “I’ll fill you in later.”
“Men…” Unaware of our private exchange, Amphitrite grinned down at me in an attempt to lighten the mood. “You can’t live with ‘em, you can’t burn ‘em at the stake.”
Chapter 4
Finn
“I honestly don’t understand how this could have happened, Finn. There was no outside perimeter breach, nor have we seen anything that would have tipped us off to a rift amidst the ranks.”
As Sean continued to brief me, I made no effort to repress the indignation clouding my thoughts. I slammed my fist down with frustration and watched the four Paradigms gathered in my chamber flinch. A thin crack spread across the slab of dark slate that made up the upper portion of my antique desk. It had been handed down from generation to generation of Sons Leaders as a symbol of status and respect. The newly created crack did nothing to harm the clearly fatigued desk of my ancestors. Its numerous scars proved it could withstand the test of time. I stared down each of the Paradigms with barely restrained irritation for several seconds before speaking.
“I want to know how this happened and I want to know now.” My icy tone sliced through the tense air, and I saw the sweat that began to form on the forehead of the least tenured Paradigm, Kale. I had appointed these four Sons to be responsible for all security measures and protection across the Order, and the possibility that they had allowed a security breach of this magnitude was unthinkable.
“There’s something else,” Sean began carefully. I noticed his right eye twitching. Kale’s eyes hit the floor, while the other two shared a fleeting look of apprehension. I took a deep breath to still the rising panic building inside me. It was absolutely imperative that I kept my cool, no matter how much I wanted to punch something.
“Yes…?” I prompted through gritted teeth.
“Charon has sent word that The Book of Souls has also been compromised,” he finished soberly. Compromised. Also known as taken right from under our noses. This also meant my father already knew. I pushed back from the desk and turned on my heel to look out the glass wall at my back. A lone bull shark glided back and forth silently as he circled one of the Light Station supports, and a school of tarpon escaped a possible deadly fate as they darted away and faded into the darkness of the deep ocean. My underwater chamber awarded me the necessary environment to clear my thoughts. The chamber had been suspended directly beneath the light station by the same four impressive concrete supports that held up the station far above.
Most of the brethren and past leaders had lived in one of the secure suites high above the surface, but I had requested a new suite to be constructed; far below the very exposed, very bright surface. A single tube had been erected to house an elevator that would lead down to the main chamber room. The four exterior walls were solid slabs of ten inch bullet proof glass, allowing a 180 degree view of the ocean beyond. The interior was comprised of an office, bedroom, personal gym, spacious kitchen, and comfortable den with a flat screen TV. It was no mansion, but it was exactly what I’d wanted. Moving out of the tiny suite I shared with my three best friends was bittersweet, but it was paramount to have a secure and functional place to live while being the Leader of the Sons. If I couldn’t count on my Paradigms to protect the critical items to the Sons, I would have to bring them down to my chamber as well. Some of those items were infinitely more important than me. Technically I was replaceable, but a number of those relics were not.
“The Book of Souls has been closely guarded in the Underworld for ages,” I attempted to rationalize. “Only a select few even know of its existence.”
“We have already begun our investigation-”
“Investigation?” I twisted around in exasperation. “We don’t have time for an investigation! I expect them both to be found and secured in the next twenty-four hours! Do you know what this could mean for the Order!? For the Underworld!? For all descendants!?”
“We will begin-“
“I don’t want to hear about what you’re about to do! I want you to DO it! Get a team together! Amass an entire army if you have to!” I threw my hands up in frustration. “Find. Them. NOW.”
I punched my fist onto the desktop once more for good measure. I couldn’t believe this was happening! It would only be a matter of time before my father and uncle would be paying me a visit! I hung my head in defeat and took a slow, deep breath.
“Sean,” I established without eye contact. My eyes were trained instead on the crack in the desktop that now resembled a jagged lightning bolt. “I need to speak with you. The rest of you are excused.” Without another word, the Paradigms turned and strode swiftly toward the elevator. Sean took a seat and put his head in his hands.
“I don’t understand it, Finn,” he sighed loudly. “One moment they were there. The next? Gone.”
“Nothing just disappears into thin air.” I collapsed back into my chair. “We need to find out who’s behind this and what they intend to do. I want to see every surveillance video recorded in the last twe
lve hours. Did you bring the case?”
“Yes,” he responded soberly, and presented a suitcase-sized case made from some of the rarest leather known to mankind. I ran my hands over the smooth surface with a heavy heart. At my touch, it unlocked with an audible click and swung open to reveal a bare interior, void of the most deadly item connected to the Underworld: the Key to Tribeca. Unknown to most descendants, Tribeca housed the most demonic of deities; many of whom took centuries to defeat. Although most corrupt souls were sent to Tartarus, the surrounding River Styx could not be trusted to house the most vile and evil of all souls. Once captured, they had been able to escape time and time again.
An alternate Tartarus was created deep within the depths of the Underworld where there could be no possibility of liberation. A key had been fashioned from the surrounding magma chamber that encircled the triangle-shaped prison. Made of lava stone and enchanted by Persephone, it was the only way to access Tribeca. Entrusted to the Sons long ago, it had successfully been kept secret for millennia. For someone to know of its existence was just as rare as the ability to actually obtain the key. The Sons’ security measures were top of the line. Once in their possession, someone could unleash the most demonic deities the world had ever known.
“The case only responds to my father and me,” I surmised. “Anyone else’s touch wouldn’t suffice. To penetrate the case using any other measure is impossible.”
“But the souls of your brothers remain in the Underworld,” Sean proposed. “Would the case respond to their touch, too?”
“Possibly.” I leaned back in my chair and stretched my arms. “But even the chance of my brothers committing that level of betrayal is ludicrous.”
“But possible all the same,” he implied, not hiding his skepticism. I leaned forward and met his steely gaze with authority. To question the loyalty of my brothers, the past leaders of the Sons, sparked a raging fire of protectiveness within me. My family would never turn against their Order.
“Tread lightly, Sean,” I warned him.
“I just want to examine every angle,” he nodded respectfully. “We can’t afford to overlook anyone. Not even our own.”
An unyielding, substantial darkness tightened around my body and diverted my attention to the light station above. His presence rivaled that of a massive hurricane; churning and brooding with undeniable strength and pressure. He was terrifyingly powerful and aggressive in his punishments, thoroughly scaring the daylights out of all the other Sons. But to me he was just my father. Of whom I would rather die than disappoint. And he had arrived to pay me a visit.
“What is it?” The hunter green color of Sean’s eyes hardened slightly as his body went on high alert at my abrupt shift in temperament. The Paradigms were specifically chosen based on their extreme sensitivity to emotions and the ability to sense the level and type of energy in their surroundings.
“Just my father.”
I motioned for him to sit back down. He lowered himself back into the chair with a rigid anxiety that left his widened eyes glued apprehensively to the elevator door. Unfortunately for Sean, my father rarely utilized those crazy things we called doors and hallways. A grand entrance out of thin air was more his style…being dead and all. I felt the corner of my mouth tug up into a smirk at Sean’s expected reaction.
“Charon?” he clarified and shifted uncomfortably in his chair.
“Well it’s not the Easter bunny,” I chuckled.
“Good afternoon, my Sons,” came a booming voice from across the room. His blazing blue eyes were currently lighting a fire under Sean, who had gotten up so fast his chair was now lying sideways on the floor. He then promptly scurried to the elevator without a second thought. Traitor.
“Hey Sean!” I called out to him as he skidded into the elevator. “You need to borrow some clean underwear?” He derisively shot something back, but the elevator doors closed and I couldn’t quite make it out. I snickered and swiveled in my chair to face my new visitor.
“Father.” I stood and addressed him with respect, ready to face the wrath I knew was coming. He glanced around my chamber, a grin playing at his lips. The lines flanking his eyes deepened as a full blown smile spread across his features. His flippant attitude refueled the flicker of anger that still burned from earlier. How could he be so nonchalant at a time like this?
“You’ve always been a breed all your own, Finnegan.” His gaze settled onto me with unabashed pride, and some of my anger subsided in the wake of his approval. “This is why you will most certainly be one of the most successful leaders of the Sons to ever live.”
“I can’t in good conscience agree with you.” I hung my head in shame. “The Key to Tribeca is missing, along with the Book of Souls, and you can think of nothing else to say than what a great leader I’ll be?”
“It would do no good for me to dwell on the responsibilities of being a good Leader,” he countered lightly. “You know the severity of the situation you face, as do I, but the blame for this lies solely upon those who stole the items. They are to be punished for their sins in due time. You cannot hope to be everywhere at once. And the descendants you depend upon are not above fault. This does not reflect the type of leader you are, or the type of leader you are yet to be.”
“I’m beginning to think old age is getting to you,” I joked with him. As Scion and future leader, my every decision was inspected and critiqued, while most of my time was spent listening to my father lecture me about the importance of loyalty, responsibility, and what it meant to be a leader of the Sons. I wasn’t sure what to make of this new laid back father standing before me.
“Once you are a father, you will understand.” He continued to pace around the perimeter of the chamber; watching the fish on the opposite side of the glass leisurely swim about. “This is what you were born to do, and I have prepared you well. Now it is up to you.”
“I may need your help,” I advised him with panic choking my lungs. “This is unprecedented! The implications could wreak havoc on our world. Considering we’re unaware of whose hands the Key and Book of Souls now resides, we have to prepare for the worst.”
“And prepare we will,” he echoed my words as he perused one of my bookshelves lining the wall. His curious eyes stalled on the skull and crossbones I’d transferred from my cabin on the yacht to my chamber’s study. His dark gray eyebrows rose in astonishment and a slow smile formed on his lips.
“This is…slightly disturbing.” He ran a crooked finger over his own skeletal remains with skepticism. “Somewhat morbid, yes?”
“I thought it would add a nice hint of death and decay to an otherwise cheery decor.”
“There is no doubt that you are my son,” he grinned wickedly, and then turned serious. “Now where is that beautiful Goddess you’ve convinced to marry you?”
Chapter 5
Stasia
“No jewelry, no shoes, no makeup?” Phoebe griped with hands on hips and a pout only a five year old could rival. “Are you sure you aren’t being shipped off to a hippie commune for the weekend?”
“I think that would be no razor, no deodorant, no steak, Phoebs,” Carmen inserted with a snort.
“Hey, I’m just the messenger!” I thwarted, and struggled to secure the aqua colored swath. “You’ll have to take it up with Amphitrite. I’m just going by what she told me.”
“And what are these for?” Phoebe picked up one of the strips of lace and handled it gingerly. The delicate threads were adorned with hundreds of sparkling aquamarines and pearls that Amphitrite had just given me an hour earlier. It was obvious they were centuries old and of high importance. Unfortunately, the exact meaning behind them wasn’t divulged to me.
“Apparently they’ll help me during the declaration part of the ceremony,” I expounded. She carefully presented me the pieces of lace as I slowly twisted them around my left wrist and hand as I had been instructed. “I have no freakin’ idea what that means, though.”
“Could she be any more vague?�
�� Carmen sniffed; momentarily glancing up from her phone with annoyance.
“This is the first declaration of Council meeting in centuries,” I defended Amphitrite. “Maybe she doesn’t know either.”
“The blind leading the blind,” Carmen cackled. “This should be entertaining to watch.”
“Your confidence in me is staggering.” I shot her a look.
“Just doing my part.” She shrugged and went back to texting her boyfriend, Ricker. By the furrow of her brow and the smoke coming off of her fingers, I’d say they were fighting again.
“Okay, here’s the last layer,” Willow announced as she drifted back into the living room with the remaining fabric of my dress. “Stand still so I don’t poke you.”
“Are you sure you can’t tell us who you’re choosing for Council?” Phoebe pressed. She helped Willow wrap the fabric around my waist with leisure, but I could tell she was dying to know.
“You’ll be the Sage, Carmen will be the Queen, and Willow will be the Apothecary,” I declared formally.
“Yeah right,” she giggled. After a second thought, all the color drained from her face and her green eyes widened. “Wait - can you choose us?”
“Of course,” I divulged. “I can choose anyone I want, and it doesn’t only have to be Nereids.”
“That’s true,” Willow reinforced through the straight pin in her teeth. “Olivia’s mom and Natasha were both on Thetis’s Council.”
“The role of stylist would obviously go to me, and Phoebe would be the perfect court jester,” Carmen piped up. “She’s got mad juggling skills.”
“If anybody’s going to be the stylist, it’ll be me.” Phoebe crossed her arms at Carmen and raised a challenging eyebrow.
“I’ll be your cook!” Willow joined in with an angelic smile that lit up the room.
“I don’t think any of those are actually on the list,” I laughed at them. “I mean, I’m the Leader of the Tydes, not Miley Cyrus.”