by W. J. May
He held his hand up with his palm faced toward Karis and Brady. “I am Darvin, Keeper of the Gateway here in Perditus and a Syrenae. We are only in our true form in the water.” He had a deep but pleasurable lilt in his speaking that made Karis feel welcomed. He gave Karis a knowing smile. “We’ve searched for a long time for you. Tarine sent an encrypted message that took a few days to decipher, but it led us to you and Brady.”
Brady tensed up as his name was spoken. “How do you know who I am?”
Darvin tipped his head slightly. “Did Tarine not tell you about your heritage? I assumed you knew.”
“Listen, buddy, I don’t know anything about any of this.” He spread his arms out in emphasis.
Darvin nodded at Brady’s arm with the tattoo. “What about that? How’d you get that?”
Brady placed his other hand over his arm. “I saw it in a dream once, and it stuck with me. What about it?”
Darvin raised an eyebrow.
“There are thousands of tats out there. So what.” Even though Brady kept a calm voice, Karis could feel his anxiety growing. His muscles were tight and he was ready to spring into action.
Darvin smiled politely at them both. “It is a mark of a warrior. You have a strong bloodline from Aridam.”
That was where she knew his marking from. She saw one on a trip with her father a long time ago. Aridam was one of her favorite worlds to explore as a child. Its dry land with tall mountainous regions made for compelling yet diverse travels. She wondered why it she didn’t remember it sooner when Tarine told her about Brady’s heritage.
Darvin glanced at her. “You know. That’s good because he’s destined to help.”
“Whoa, look, dude, I don’t want to sound like a jerk, but I have no clue what you’re talking about. This is all new to me. And to be honest, a little creepy. I’m actually starting to wonder if I’m in a coma back on Earth, and the whole deserted island and then being sent to the lost city of Atlantis is just a dream.”
“Perditus, not Atlantis. They perished long ago.” Darvin frowned.
Karis nodded. “That’s true. Their demise was unfortunate. It was a beautiful city. It vanished long before I was born, but in Shamike there are a few photographs that have kept that world alive.”
Brady ran his hand over his face and head. “This is crazy.”
“Even so, our leader, Coron, is anxious to visit with you. We should depart for the castle.”
“Castle?” Brady asked. Karis could sense his hesitance about moving away from the portal entry.
“I grew up in a palace, they are often the same. Come on, I won’t leave you.” She tugged on his hand. Finally, he budged, and they followed Darvin into the city.
“This is so unreal. A couple weeks ago I was fighting for money in the Solomon Islands, and now I am under some ocean, in some God knows what realm of a different world.” Brady talked while they walked past homes and buildings. Small children ran out to greet them. Their bodies had glistening patches the same as Darvin’s, like a fish but in a stunning, attractive way. The colors were different, and she noticed a wide variety. Mothers came to stand with their children and waved at Karis as if they were long-lost friends.
Karis waved back to a few. Feelings of empathy radiated off the people of Perditus. She wasn’t sure if it was because of her unfair banishment from her home, or if it was for Brady, who was an innocent being with a sacred bloodline.
They finally reached an extremely large and spacious home that reminded Karis of her childhood palace. Upon closer inspection, she could see it was made out of a clay-like substance and stones. Intricately carved pieces adorned the entranceway with vibrant sea flowers that matched their colorful world. Darvin led them to the front door before turning around. “This is as far as I take you. I must go back to my post. I’m glad to meet you both.”
Karis sucked in a deep breath and knocked on the door. It wasn’t long before a woman in a shimmering silver dress opened the door with a smile. “Please come in.”
Brady took Karis’s hand. She wasn’t sure if it was for her comfort or his own, but enjoyed it just the same.
“Karis, I’m glad we’ve finally found you.” A man much like Darvin with the same lilt-like accent came out from a closed room and embraced Karis. He held on a little too long for her liking and she stiffened. It was almost too much interaction after so long without it.
It was hard to compose herself with such a greeting after years of no physical contact. Brady was the only one she yearned to be close to. Everyone else made her feel as if a pillow smothered her. That was one more thing she found confusing about him.
Karis looked over the man as he spoke. He had a patch of red hair on the back of his head that he pulled back in a tie. He also wore the strange black pants and boots, and his chest was entirely bare. “My name is Coron. Tarine contacted us days ago about your whereabouts and that Brady was safe with you. It was such a relief. I promised your father that if anything ever happened, I would watch over you. Shamike’s council banished you before I could intervene. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive an old man.”
Her father knew these people? Of course he did, she chastised herself. He knew everyone in all the outlying worlds. He was the glue that held them all together as allies. Why didn’t he tell her about this world? About Coron? There must be a reason he kept her from it.
“Of course. Where is Tarine? Is he safe?” She held her breath as she waited for an answer.
Coron dipped his head. “King Tharious executed Tarine for treason after his letter to you and to myself. He sacrificed his life to save you and your world.”
Karis didn’t even try to stop the tears this time. Her heart was heavy as she grieved for her friend. Whatever has happened in Shamike must be terribly devastating to all her people. She needed to help them, now more than ever. A shadow fell over her soul as she thought of Tarine. Why did so many people have to die because of her?
Brady wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. She buried her face in his chest and fisted her hands tightly in his shirt, wanting to block out the world.
“He left this letter along with the one he sent me about you. It’s addressed to you.” Coron handed her the cream-colored paper. A bright red seal of her father's was stamped to keep it shut.
She took it and broke the seal. Her vision still blurred behind fresh tears as she read it out loud for Brady and Coron.
Karis,
If you are reading this, it means you have escaped the awful punishment the council so horribly bestowed upon you, but it also means that I have met my end. Do not cry. It was for a good reason that I am gone, and if you are reading this then I know I did not die in vain.
Shamike is in peril, and the people need their Princess to return home. You will need help. I hope this letter will be read with a certain man by your side. He was chosen long before he was born. Thus, your father had the necklace made, and a deal was made with one of his most trusted allies from Aridam. He took his family to live on Earth in secret, raising them as human.
He is the one blessed by your father to help you. Your father had an enchantment placed over the family, knowing you would need someone on Earth to find you, because all portals except one in Aridam and one in Perditus were closed. It’s in his blood.
So many of us believe in you, Karis. Your people believe in you. The King has destroyed everything that was good in your father’s kingdom. Sending this letter is sealing my fate, but you deserved some answers.
Stay strong, Karis, do not give up. Fight and take back what is yours.
Tarine
She folded the letter but held it tightly in her hands and fell back into Brady’s embrace. He kissed the top of her head. “I’m so sorry, Karis.”
Her eyes pooled and tears fell in streams each time she blinked. How could Tarine ask her to fight when so many people could die? Now he was dead too. Minutes passed as she stayed in Brady’s arms.
“Well that expla
ins the weird attraction,” Brady jested. She knew he was trying to take her mind off the upsetting news, but it didn’t help. She could never fully get over a death of someone she loved.
“No, it doesn’t. It explains why you crashed on the island, but not a lot more than that,” she replied tersely as she backed out of his embrace. She wiped the tears off her cheeks and sucked in a deep breath.
“Why don’t you both come with me and we’ll get you settled in your rooms.” Coron headed out the door of the room they were in.
Brady and Karis followed him down the hallway and up two sets of stairs. He stopped at one door. “Karis, this will be yours as long as you wish to stay.” He gestured to the door across the hall. “Brady, that is yours, the same goes for you. You are welcome as long as you need.”
“Thank you so much, for everything,” Karis spoke up for them both. She was saddened by the thought of sleeping alone again. It had only been a couple weeks since Brady came to her, but she would feel so lonely without him. He must have had the same thought because he hesitated before entering his room.
Coron stopped at the edge of the stairs. “If you need anything, I’m not too far away.”
She smiled. “Thank you, again.”
Her room was nice, and it brought back fond memories of her childhood in the palace. Silk sheets and a white lace coverlet adorned the wide bed, a vanity that held everything she needed to make herself presentable, and an armoire to hold her clothes. She pulled out her picture of her father and grazed a fingertip over his face before placing it in one of the drawers. She looked down at her dress in disgust. How awful she must have looked to Coron and Darvin. Brady never cared how she looked, but now that she could clean up, she wanted to look her best.
She flung open the door to the armoire and giggled at all the delicate flowing dresses that hung neatly inside. She fingered each dress and found one that looked similar to the attire she used to wear. It was silver and white, and shimmered as she moved under the light. It was perfect.
Coron never told her if these were for her use, but she’d take the chance. She slipped out of the room with the dress draped over her arm, in search of the bathing room.
She found it and quickly entered the room, leaning back against the door smiling. Warm running water. Oh, how she missed that. The large, oval tub sat in the corner with a skylight window, giving her an overhead view of the water and the schools of fish that swam by.
She let herself sink into the deep hot water, complete with scented oils she found in the cabinetry near the tub. The relaxing oils and rejuvenating bath felt so heavenly that Karis wasn’t certain she’d ever leave.
It wasn’t too long before the water turned cool and forced her out. Her fingers wilted from over exposure to the water, which made her smile even more. The ocean was too cold to sit for any lengthy amount of time.
Karis slipped the silky dress over her head and stopped to admire it in the tall mirror. She hadn’t seen herself like this in so long that she hardly recognized the image before her. Her shiny black hair hung down to her waist and her skin was a beautiful honey tan. She wondered how she wasn’t darker since she’d been in the sun for years, but decided not to tempt fate and be grateful for small blessings. The dress fit her perfectly slender body, like it was made just for her.
Wait till Brady sees, she mused. She danced in a small circle admiring every angle of herself. As she made one last twirl, her pendant began to warm. Karis touched it with her fingertips. How could it be warm if Tarine was dead?
She needed to find Brady. If a message was trying to come through, she’d need him. She slipped out into the hall and closed the door behind her.
Karis straightened her posture before knocking on his door. He opened it wide, revealing his bare chest and a white towel thrown over his shoulder. She stared at him and momentarily forgot what she came to find him for.
“Karis? Everything okay?”
“Hum. What? Oh, yeah, my necklace... I think someone is trying to contact me,” she stuttered.
Brady raised a brow. “I thought Tarine was dead.”
Karis swallowed hard. She’d seen him without a shirt many times before, but this was different. She felt different. “Um, yes.” She gently shook her head. “He is. I’m not sure who it is. But Tarine did say he gave someone else the ability to message me. I guess I have to trust that whoever it is, they are on our side.”
He pulled the towel off his shoulder and slapped it against his thigh. “He’s dead, there's no trusting him anymore.”
“I understand that, but this is about my home, my life. I have to know what’s going on.”
He gave her a hard stare. “Yeah, and this is not my home. Hell, I have no clue what’s real anymore, what I’m doing here or even what I am!” He looked away and released a deep breath. “Look. I’m sorry, but I don’t belong here, with these people, or with you.”
He pushed past her toward the shower room. Karis stood there, unable to stop him. He was right. This wasn’t his world. She glanced down to where he closed the door. “I’m sorry too,” she whispered.
Chapter Seven
Karis looked around the dinner hall. So many people came to welcome the new visitors to Perditus. Laughter filled the room as they talked about long-past stories, but she was far from joining them. Her encounter with Brady earlier left her despondent. She had a hard time dealing with his sudden mood changes. She knew he was trying to comprehend everything since the plane crash, but his rage toward her hurt.
Coron leaned over to speak discretely with Karis. “You look as if you are far away, Princess.”
She couldn’t help but notice that Brady skipped dinner and presumably was still upstairs in his room. She touched the folded cream-colored fabric that served as a napkin. “I have a lot on my mind.”
He patted her hand with his own. His colder skin made her yearn for the warmth of Brady’s body even more. They had only shared one kiss, but her heart was torn about what she felt for him.
“I’m sure you do.”
A hush fell on the crowd. Karis looked up. Whispers floated around her. She could hear some of them, although they didn’t know that. They were mainly from the women around the table. They were in awe over how handsome their guest was.
Karis turned in her seat and saw Brady standing in the entry. He wore his white wife-beater—as he called it on the island—and jeans, looking every bit the fighter he was and, she admitted to herself, extremely sexy. His eyes caught hers and he gave her a smile. Her breath caught in her throat as she returned the smile.
He strode over to where she sat and pulled out the chair next to her. She leaned in close to him and tried not to linger over the fresh scent of his skin. “I thought you weren’t coming.”
“Trying to get rid of me?”
Her eyes widened. “No. I just meant, well, after earlier... you seemed so upset with me.”
He picked up her hand and placed it in his on his lap under the table. “I’m not mad at you. I just have to deal with things. I’m sorry I took it out on you.”
Karis’s heart sped up and she hoped he wouldn’t notice the heat rise to her cheeks.
He nodded at Coron. “This is a great place, thank you for opening your home to us.”
“It is my pleasure, young Aridam. Now, eat.” Coron opened his arms out to the spread of food that lay out before them.
Brady rubbed his hands together. “Great. I’m starving.”
Karis grabbed a roll and examined it. It had been a long time since she saw anything that even remotely resembled bread. She inhaled the sweet scent mixed with familiar seaweed and crinkled her nose.
“Everything okay, Princess?” Coron shoved his mouth full of the bread.
“Oh yes, thank you. I was just taking it all in.”
Brady leaned in, a jelly-like meat protruding from the end of his fork. “What in the hell is this?” he whispered so only she could hear him.
She tried to swallow. Living on an islan
d for so many years, she forgot how many creatures were edible in other worlds. “That is the egg of a Ramison. They are creatures from here that resemble the Earth’s Hagfish that swim in the ocean. Long, slimy, worm-like—“
“Stop.” He cut her off. “I don’t think I’m hungry anymore.” He dropped his fork on the plate. “Is it safe to drink the water?”
“Yes. It’s just water.”
“Well, you never know.” He picked up his glass, taking a large swig but spit it out, sputtering over the food. Everyone looked at him.
Karis pat his back. “He just swallowed wrong, we are so sorry.” She leaned in close to his ear. “Are you okay? What are you thinking?”
Coron belted out in laughter. “I’ve been there before.”
Brady coughed. “Thanks.” He thumped his chest with a fist. “Wow that burns going down. Well, what went down anyway. What was that? Cause that’s definitely not water. ”
Coron laughed harder.
Karis took a whiff of her own glass and pulled it back quickly. “Spirits.”
“Oh no, I’ve drank with the best of them. That’s not alcohol.”
“It’s way more potent here than on Earth. This, I believe, is Mirum. An awfully strong wine made from sea berries.”
“Is nothing normal? Can I just get a burger and a Coke?” He slumped back in his chair.
Coron stopped laughing. “Is nothing appealing to you?”
“No, it’s just that I’m unaccustomed to eating so...extravagantly.”
Coron gave a wide grin and shoveled another bite in his mouth.
“Good cover,” Karis whispered to Brady. “Come on, let’s go.” She scooted her seat back and rose. “It has been a lovely dinner. We are forever grateful for your kindness, but we’re still tired from the day’s events. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow.”