Atlas Lost

by Alaska Angelini

  A comfortable vibration wrapped around me, and I shut my eyes, soaking it in as I locked on Cara’s energy. Her thoughts began rolling through, reminding me just how quiet they had been. Ri must have been projecting them though our tie so I didn’t have a choice but to hear her. Now, I could only access them at will.

  “A few more days. Then I’ll feel better. I just have to wait it out. And I need that phone. Dean is probably worried sick. Which means the police will be looking for me.”

  My eyes opened. Who the hell was Dean?

  I turned around, finding Cara using the hood of the car to help her walk.

  “Who’s Dean?”

  “What?”

  My feet stomped into the ground as I closed the distance between us.

  “Who is Dean?”

  “You’re listening to my thoughts? Stop doing that. Don’t you think you’ve already taken enough?”

  For the life of me, I tried to rein in the odd emotion, but it was just out of gasp. My pulse raced, and I couldn’t stop shifting my feet.

  “Is he your lover? Husband? It would be like Ri to take you from your mate.”

  “What? I don’t have a mate,” she snapped. “Not that it’s any of your business.”

  “Lover then? Humans have lovers.”

  “And your kind doesn’t?”

  “Absolutely not. We mate. We have one. We devote our lives to the one the universe chooses for us. Unlike your breed, which doesn’t seem to know how to…” I trailed off, stopping myself from saying something out of character—something I had no right to say. Paltenians didn’t judge, no matter how extravagant someone chose to live. “Can you tell me who this Dean is so we can move on?”

  “Why is it so important?”

  “Because I want to know.”

  “He poses no threat to you.”

  “Old lover then?”

  She hesitated, narrowing her eyes. “Are you jealous?”

  “What? No. Well…” Jealous? Was that what this was? I had never felt this with Leone. Our mating just was. Everyone knew she was mine from the earliest days. To even approach her with anything but friendship in mind was forbidden. No one even tried.

  Cara’s eyes closed. Her legs were trembling.

  “It’s Ri. I think his—”

  “Tie. Yes, yes, I know.”

  “I’m sorry. I had no right. Let’s get you settled in the car.”

  When I bent over to lift her, Cara’s hand settled over my cheek. It was enough to stop me in my tracks. Our eyes were level, locked, and I was gone—lost so deep in the blue, she could have kept me trapped there forever. They sucked me in, holding me in a place I’d seen before. In a place that didn’t hold time or thoughts. My heart swelled, hitting hard against my chest. The flame. Two flames—yet one.

  “Atlas?” A whisper. “I can walk. Just—”

  My fingers flattened over her lips, and I moved my forehead to rub along the side of her face. It took everything in me not to kiss her. I wanted to. I wanted to so much, my chest squeezed. This couldn’t be right. Why did I keep seeing flames? It couldn’t be what I suspected. Those were legends. They weren’t real.

  “We have to go.” I swept her into my arms, staring ahead. She didn’t fight as I put her in the passenger seat. And she didn’t say a word while I gathered the rest of the stuff to put in my trunk. The beginning of the drive was just as quiet. I looked ahead, mulling over my suspicions while Cara dozed off and on. Miles disappeared behind us, and the mountains became more prominent. I caught myself reaching out to trail my finger over hers while she slept. It was the smallest contact, but one that sated the ache for more. Ri. My actions were his doing. He was messing with my mind. He was making me feel this.

  “Where did you come from?”

  I glanced over as Cara rolled to her side to face me in the reclined seat.

  “Paltenia.”

  “Where’s that?”

  A smile lit my face, only to melt at the memories.

  “In your solar system. Not too far away. It was beautiful there. Until it wasn’t.”

  Her brow drew in. “How did you get here?”

  “The same way we all get here. We requested and were granted access.”

  “All? You mean…it’s known you’re here?”

  “Of course. We’re supplied documentation depending on where they put us. Some of us are given identities, lives, homes. We become you, if we choose. Well…for those who can pull it off. Not everyone is a close enough match to the human race.”

  “Unbelievable. How many are there? I mean, people like you?”

  I laughed. “Aliens? Is that what you want to say?”

  “Yes.”

  “I thought so. More than you can imagine. More than you would probably believe. As for actual species, last I heard, it was in the hundreds…possibly thousands. Not all live here, but they visit. Do research. Work with your scientists and corporations. Some even overlook the politics.”

  “You’re kidding me. I guess when I imagined aliens, I assumed little gray men.”

  “Oh, they exist, but they’re not who you think they are.”

  “Who are they?”

  “What,” I corrected. “They’re programmed devices. They do the work of those in charge of them.”

  “Oh.” She grew quiet, staring toward me. “I can’t believe it. I can’t even really make sense of it. This doesn’t seem real.”

  “It is. I assure you.”

  “You were a king?”

  I stiffened. “Ri tell you that?”

  “Sort of. You mentioned giving up your throne. Is it true?”

  I looked ahead, gripping the steering wheel hard.

  “Yeah.”

  “Aren’t you still?”

  “Every king’s reign ends.”

  “When they’re dead. You’re right here.”

  “I gave the throne to my sister. She rules the Paltenians now.”

  “I don’t think it works like that. You’re still king whether you’re there or not.”

  “Not true. I refused war and retaliation. I betrayed them. Not to mention my abandonment. If all those weren’t a deal-breaker, I don’t know what is. What is on your mind?”

  “You’re not reading it?”

  My lips tightened. “Not at the moment. I choose when. Unless Ri gets in my head and doesn’t allow me.”

  “I was thinking about him. About this tie you have.”

  “What about it?”

  To say jealousy hadn’t come back was a lie. Just knowing he was on her mind was enough to trigger me.

  “Did you know the tie existed when you were king?”

  “It’s been there as long as I can remember. I thought it was broken when I left. It was the reason I left. You can say I was faced with a choice—to be finished with the tie and leave or make a stronger one by declaring war for killing my family. War was not an option. Some of my people would have died. The tie would have only been worse. I did the right thing.”

  “But you didn’t check for it after you left?”

  My teeth ground together. “No. When I left, I tried to push it all away. Leaving was the best thing. And it was. There was no war, and my people thrive under my sister.”

  “Are you sure about that?”

  The way Cara was looking at me, I felt my stomach drop. Caution. Fear. They made themselves known. “Of course. Why wouldn’t they?”

  She shrugged. “I’m not saying they’re not. I was asking if you knew for a fact they were okay.”

  The question was one I could barely stomach. The more it sunk in, the more it ate at me. I had assumed my kingdom was better without me, but I hadn’t heard from anyone to say it was. What if Ri had attacked them after I left? What if I was going back to a species that no longer existed? I had been banished from returning, but what if there was nothing to return to?

  Chapter 9

  Cara

  The town was small. Smaller than I’d hoped when I saw the sign a few miles back.
Escaping was the only thing on my mind. I knew it was pointless with how weak I was. I wouldn’t get far and it would only cause more problems. Besides, I was starving. My health was top priority. If I was going to stand any real chance at losing Atlas or Ri, I needed this vibrational flu to pass.

  “I’m not sure whether to let you stay or make you go. After the last time—”

  “Just go,” I groaned. “I’m not going anywhere. I hurt too bad to walk. I’ll stay here.”

  There was hesitation as Atlas sat with his door open.

  “I could carry you.”

  “Like a child? No thanks.”

  “Not like a child, Cara. Like a…” he trailed off. “Like a…”

  I searched his face, watching him battle the term he was trying to avoid. I still couldn’t push away that moment on the car. I had been so sure he was going to kiss me. I didn’t even know what I thought about that. As much as I longed to flee, there was a yearning toward him—an odd claiming associated with familiarity. It kept me thinking about what I should do. He was positive he could cure me. For good. I’d never have to worry about cancer again. I’d live, and quite possibly be able to have a normal life. And then, there was him—the warrior king I associated him with in my thoughts. He was full of so much pain. And love. I felt them both.

  “Carry me like what, Atlas?”

  I bit my bottom lip as he shifted.

  “Nothing. I’ll be back. Is there anything you want me to get you?”

  There were only a handful of stores. I smiled, being sarcastic.

  “A pillow. Some chocolate. Maybe some coffee.” Something between a moan and a whimper left me. “Coffee would be heaven. Coffee and chocolate. Yes. That’s what I want.”

  Atlas raised his eyebrows. “Is that all?”

  “A shower and a room with a bed. My home?”

  “Not gonna happen.” He cracked the windows and removed the key. Just when I thought he was going to leave, he had that look again, the one I couldn’t read. “I think I’ll carry you.”

  “So I can be bumped around? I want to stay. I don’t feel good.”

  A hard nod was all he gave as he stood and headed toward the row of buildings before us. The moment he went inside the door, I eased the glovebox open. A thin stack of papers sat on top of an owner’s manual. I opened one, reading the information. Atlas A. King. 2125 Oceanview Lane, Los Angeles, CA.

  I flipped through another, not getting any more information other than him having a meeting at three o’clock weeks ago.

  “Come on. There has to be something. Something more. Something…” I shut the compartment and turned to the middle console. It was empty. Ugh. “What do I do?”

  For minutes, the answer didn’t come. Atlas exited the store at a quick pace, causing me to sit as he made his way to the car and opened the door.

  “Pillow, chocolate, coffee, and a better blanket.” He handed them over, putting a large bag in the backseat with the waters. I blinked in disbelief as he got in. “I added some sugar. I figured maybe you’d like it better.”

  “Thank you. I can’t believe you really got it. I wasn’t completely serious.”

  He didn’t look at me as he reversed and continued toward a small, white gas station.

  “Atlas?”

  Brown eyes glanced over, but they didn’t stay. Dissociating myself and my feelings, I really looked at him. At the scruff on his square jaw, and the dark tattoo on the side of his neck. The symbol wasn’t something I was familiar with, but it meant something to him. Who was this man really? What drove him? How bad were the demons plaguing him if he was willing to give up everything—his title, his revenge—for a belief he clung to?

  “When you figure that out,” he whispered, “let me know.”

  And just like that, he’d read my mind and got out of the car.

  Taking a sip of the coffee, I tried not to let his heartbreak change my standing on getting free. The worst thing I could do was let my guard down. I wasn’t part of his or Ri’s past. I wasn’t here by choice. I was taken and being traded to a monster. That was not okay, and definitely not something I could nor should forget.

  I glanced out the window, watching as Atlas stared at the pump. As I went to take another drink, I froze. The phone was sitting in the cupholder. My hand immediately shot down, grabbing it. When I pressed the button, the home screen lit up. No password required. Tears clouded my vision as my hands began to shake. I dialed Dean’s number. It only rang once before an out of breath voice answered.

  “Hello?”

  “Dean. Dean, it’s me. Cara.”

  Silence.

  “Dean?”

  “I’m sorry, who is this?”

  “It’s me!” I whispered loudly. “Cara O’Neil.”

  “I’m sorry, I think you have the wrong number.”

  “Wrong…no, Dean, it’s me. Haven’t you been worried about me? You were supposed to pick me up to take me to the hospital. Remember?”

  The door opened, but I didn’t care anymore. Anxiety flooded me, and I was nearly screaming.

  “It’s me! Cara! Dean, please.”

  “Ma’am, you have the wrong guy. I don’t know a Cara.”

  The phone went dead, and I sobbed as Atlas’s rage faded into confusion.

  “I don’t u-understand. How d-does he not know me?”

  Harder, I cried, sinking into despair as my flu fed my fears. Atlas didn’t answer as he started the car and began driving again. For hours, we sat in silence. Me, drinking coffee, eating my chocolate, gone in more ways than one from those I loved. It was as if I had really died—no, it was worse, like I’d never existed in the first place.

  “You’re thinking it. Just do it. Pick up the phone and call. I’m curious as well.”

  I grabbed the phone again, angry at Atlas’s intrusion. Ringing filled my ear, and the all-too-familiar greeting met me. I hit my boss’s extension, praying for a miracle.

  “Gene speaking.”

  “Yes, I’m calling to make a complaint about an employee working for you.”

  “A complaint? All right. Can I get the name of the person you’d like to file a complaint against?”

  “A biologist. Her name is Cara O’Neil.”

  There was a pause. “I’m sorry, no one by that name works in this office. Is it possible you’re referring to another branch or location?”

  “Are you telling me you don’t know anyone by the name Cara O’Neil?”

  “I don’t, I’m sorry.”

  I hung up, nearly shattering to pieces.

  “How? How is this possible?”

  Atlas took the phone, placing it back in the cupholder. When he grabbed my hand and held on, I wanted to pull free—to attack him and end this misery for us both. This was all Ri’s fault. Somehow, he’d done this. I didn’t understand how, but it was the only explanation. I knew nothing of these different beings, but they were obviously capable of far more than I could comprehend. That was terrifying. It could have been the reason they remained a secret. What little knowledge I had was not making coping easy. And it wouldn’t for anyone else either.

  “Perhaps he’s shifting timelines.” Atlas shook his head as if he couldn’t fathom it. “You’re upset. I can feel how upset you are, but you need to calm. Your frequency at this level will only make you sicker. Your energy is too high. It’s like when you feel fear or anxiety. You shake. You can’t breathe. Don’t make it worse on yourself.”

  “Who cares,” I exploded. “I was just wiped off the face of the earth. I no longer exist! If I go home, will my stuff even be there? I don’t have my job. I don’t have friends. There’s nothing left for me. Don’t you see!”

  “I do.”

  “And still, you’re still driving.”

  I ripped my hand away, burying my fingers through my hair as the tears continued to pour free. The last few days had been too much. Discovering the cancer, being extremely ill, learning we weren’t the only ones inhabiting our planet, my disappearing identity,
not to mention an evil monster staking claim to my future. How was this even happening?

  The car came to a stop. Atlas touched my bicep, and I went wild. I tried to swing, but I was sobbing so hard, I couldn’t see where or what I was hitting. It didn’t last long before I was pulled against his hard chest and his lips were crushed into mine. I kept trying to struggle, but it only made him kiss me harder, with more heat. The sort of passion I hadn’t thought existed. The kind that had the fire inside me blazing. I thrust my tongue into his mouth, digging my nails into his shoulder.

  “Let it go,” he growled, brushing his tongue against mine. “This is what he wants. He wants you to trigger another jump in frequency, and he has no regard for your safety. Only your power.” Atlas sucked on my bottom lip, connecting with my eyes as he moved in again. “I know what he wants, Cara, and I…I don’t want it to hurt you. Let go of who you are. Who you were. Let go of the pain. Until it’s time not to.”

  Chapter 10

  Atlas

  There had to be a quicker way to break this tie. I couldn’t continue to act out like this. Kissing her? Kissing her! Fuck. But for some reason, I had barely any guilt. It wasn’t right. Not to Cara, and not to Leone. I was tumbling down an unfamiliar path, and the damn thing left me unhinged. Only two emotions were ruling me: rage and lust. Shadow emotions. Which only meant my and Ri’s tie was getting stronger. How, I wasn’t sure. My best guess was because of Cara.

  “It’s not much, but it’ll do.”

  She looked back at me as she headed inside the small hotel room. I tried to stay away from the more populated area.

  “It has a shower, Atlas. That’s all I care about right now.”

  I went to place the bags on the bed. Before I could take Cara’s from my shoulder, she was already trying to ease it down. She wasn’t much stronger, but she was steadier on her feet. It was an improvement, meaning I had been right about her transition peaking.