by Anna LaVerne
I hold my head high, trying to ignore the stares and murmurs. Aden naturally moves to stand between me and the largest crowd of people. Morgan takes up the other angle while we make our way through the line towards the food.
I don’t even notice what the cooks put on my plate. I’m too busy trying to keep my emotions in check and my face blank. There is a single table that is emptier than the rest, and I head straight for it with blinders on. I slam my plate down on the table and slide onto the bench at the far end from where the other two men are already sitting.
I breathe a sigh of relief when Morgan and Aden join me. Morgan in front of me and Aden next to me. It is then that I feel enough comfort to look at my plate of fish. My stomach churns with disgust. Maybe it is the nerves playing with my head, because I typically love fish.
“Hey, Morgan, how did training go today?” asks the bronze stocky-built man at the end of the table.
“Eye opening,” Morgan replieds without offering him any more details.
“Well, can you at least introduce us to your friend?” he pushes, causing me to look up at him. His eyes are dark and laughing even though the moment is more serious. I instantly like him, trusting my gut that he is a good guy.
“My name is Meri, and you are?”
“Laki, and this is Breck.” He gestures across the table to his friend. Breck looks like a typical strong merman. Long torso, defined muscles, strong swimmer’s shoulders, short blond hair, and sea-green eyes. Breck is very attractive. I like him the same instant way I found Aden attractive.
“Nice to meet you both. Why are you sitting over here by yourselves?”
“They’re scared of us,” a broad smile stretches across Laki’s face as he tilts his head towards the the rest of the mess hall.
“Aye, they are not as scared of us as he likes to think. We have been a team for some time.” Breck is Australian. I can tell from his voice. I have met a couple Aussie landborness over my lifetime.
“A team? How so?”
“We do recon around the Great Barrier Reef. We have a boat and mostly come across as marine biologists, but really, we are trying to keep the reef alive, restoring fish where necessary. We also hunt poachers and fishermen who are over fishing.”
“You kill them?”
All four men burst out laughing, “Of course, not.” Laki takes a bite of his food before continuing, “We cut their nets, or cause engine failure on their boats. There is the rare occasion we come across mermaid hunters, or whale hunters, and those are the only ones we approach and appropriately dispatch.”
“Ah, I see you are a member of the Ocean Force?”
“We all are,” Morgan answers.
“So, you know all of the potential gatekeepers?” I have a lot of questions.
“No, I only know a handful that are here,” Breck answers before Morgan has a chance.
I notice Aden sitting silently through the exchange. I like that about him. He is observing the conversation, and that means he is smart.
Glancing down at my plate again, I realize I can’t take a bite. Nothing on it looks even remotely appetizing even after my mind being set at ease with the men around me.
Aden takes note, “Are you feeling okay?”
“Yeah, fish just doesn’t sound appetizing right now,” I push my plate away.
An understanding passes between Morgan and Aden as they both stand at the same time.
“We will walk you back to where you are staying if you want,” Aden suggests. I appreciate how he doesn’t mention that I am staying at the palace. I am aware the news will break soon of my suspected parentage, but until then, I want to blend in.
“I’d like that very much, thank you! Laki, Breck, it was nice meeting you both. Maybe I will see you around tomorrow. I have more training to do before the finals.”
“I hope we do meet again soon.” Laki winks, and Breck nods his head. My face gets hot, and I realize that the landborn managed to make me blush.
Taking his words as goodbye, I turn to head back to the palace with my two new friends, Morgan and Aden, keeping people away. They do so effectively. Both are tall, strong, and a bit brooding. Neither one offers even the slightest welcoming glance to anyone who looks our way. It doesn’t take long for us to navigate our way out of the mess hall and down the path to the castle.
Once no one else is around, I loosen up. The tension flows from my shoulders. “I am glad to be out of there. I felt like I was the prey, and all of the landborn men were the hunters.”
Morgan chuckles, “Well, you kind of are.”
“Gives you the willies, doesn’t it?” Aden asks.
“Yeah, it really does.”
“So, you need more substance than fish?” Morgan takes the light-hearted moment and tosses it to the ground with a topic I am not yet comfortable with.
“Maybe, I don’t know. I didn’t even use half of my energy sparring. It might be stress related. I was hit with a lot of new info today, and I haven’t taken the time to process it. Part of me doesn’t really want to.”
Being in the middle of an open pathway with no trees around, I feel more comfortable talking without random ears picking up on my words.
“Want to tell us about it?” Aden prods gently.
“No, well maybe, I don’t know. Ari says I can’t trust anyone here, not even her.”
“I don’t know Ari, but I think I like her. She sounds honest,” Morgan observes.
“She seems to be. I will tell you this much; apparently, my mother isn’t who she said she was, and I am a little more pure than one can imagine. Kind of. I am only from one sea goddess. My father is someone else entirely.” In my rambling, I spill more info than I intended. Both Morgan and Aden stop wide-eyed and stare at me.
“Now you have to tell us who your father is,” Morgan insists.
“She doesn’t have to tell us anything she doesn’t want to,” Aden comes to my defense.
“I am not sure I even believe everything told to me, so let’s just forget about it for now. Okay? I am a bit overwhelmed.”
The world gets a little wobbly causing me to reach out for Aden to steady myself, “I’m sorry, I don’t know what has gotten into me. I think I feel . . . sick. I’ve never been sick in my life.”
“Let’s get you to the palace. We can talk again tomorrow and hopefully, train some. I’d love to see you use throwing knives,” Morgan runs his hand through his dark hair, sending me an uncomfortable but reassuring smile. I think he likes me.
Even being weak and tired, my insides light up. I smile back, not even having to pretend to be coy. It isn’t until we make it to the kitchen door in the back of the palace that I realize I am still smiling a foolish smile. I am certain both Aden and Morgan notice it, too, they are perceptive.
“You enter and exit through the kitchen? Where is your room?”
I shrug, “I couldn’t remember how to get back through the main door I came in yesterday. This morning, my stomach led the way, and I followed the smell of food to the kitchen, and they sent me to the mess hall. She told me all potentials eat there.”
“They must not have realized who you are,” Aden observes.
“I’m a potential, that is all I am,” I argue. I don’t want to be anything more than that.
“We will meet you here tomorrow morning,” Morgan states matter-of-factly.
“Yes, you need to stay active before the final round in the Ring. We want you to win,” Aden’s eyebrows waggled behind the rims of his glasses causing me to laugh.
“Ha, because you both want to be gatekeepers!” I retort.
“I think we can both agree we want more than that now,” Morgan’s reply causes silence to fall between us.
“Is that a requirement of a Key and her gatekeepers?” I ask.
Morgan and Aden’s faces fall as if I stabbed them in the heart. “No, but would it be a bad thing if it did?” Morgan asks with a tinge of hurt.
“No, I guess not. I honestly never thought abou
t it, with anyone. Not even if I have gatekeepers.”
I note Morgan’s and Aden’s eyes widen to my answer before quickly regaining composure. I guess they are surprised I am more innocent than I should be at my age.
The heat I feel in my cheeks betrays the blush that has formed and with that I open the door to the kitchen, “I will see you both tomorrow.”
9
The kitchen is busy cleaning up the afternoon food and already prepping dinner. I skillfully maneuver around the staff, bringing no attention to myself. I backtrack my way to my room.
When I spot my door open, I instinctively slow my pace and listen to hear what is going on inside. When I hear no voices, I know it is a single person, so I enter the doorway. My jaw drops in surprise. Ari is in there trying to set up a stand to hold my armor. Armor. I have never owned armor.
“What is this?” I question the redhead.
“Apparently, you are more important then rumor suggests. Amphitrite ordered you to have clothing, armor, and weapons suitable to your station. Who are you?”
“I told you, I didn’t know,” I respond, dumbfounded and unable to take my eyes off of the black armor before me. It is made to shift with me. The bust is black with a metallic pink shine on the edges of each piece of metal which is shaped to look like scales. It is made to only cover my breast leaving my abdomen bare.
There are black protective cuffs for the top of my arms leaving the forearms bare for my razor-sharp fins. The bottom is a short skirt style to allow for the shift. I am bigger at my hips in my mermaid form. I assume it has power of some kind worked into the metal to allow for the change. There are even parts to for me to wear while in human form; black leather pants and basic, but high quality, black boots with no straps or ties, so getting them on and off should be easy.
“This is incredible . . .”
“It is only another piece of a very large wardrobe you have been gifted,” Ari responds as she crosses my room and opens a closet door.
Inside, it is full of grecian-style dresses, all in dark rich colors of black, midnight blue, deep blood red, and even a forest green. On the floor beneath the dresses, are a selection of sandals to wear with them.
Dresses don’t concern me, so I turn my attention back to the bed where there is a case of throwing knives calling my name. In the case, is a belt for them to be inserted in and then strapped around my waist.
Next to the case, are two short swords and their black scabbards, meant to be strapped to my back. There is also a long seven-inch dagger with a sheath made to strap to my thigh. I am in weapon heaven. All of them are high quality and simple in design. I pick each one up inspecting them closely, even cutting the tip of my finger on one of the blades.
“Who are you?” Ari asks me again.
“Amphitrite didn’t tell you?” I ask, giving her a razor-sharp look in an attempt to quell the conversation.
“No, and I know better than to ask her.”
“Then you should know better than to ask me as well.” Maybe I can use my unknown identity to my advantage.
“You still don’t know, do you?” Ari continues to pressure me by trying to call my bluff.
I have been itching to throw one of my knives, and so I use this opportunity to do so. Before Ari can even blink I pick up a knife, throwing it. It hits its mark square on.
Ari trembles in fear as she pulls her hair free from where I pinned it to the closet door. Guilt sweeps over me, because I am not one who uses fear to get a response out of people.
“I’m sorry, I was never going to hurt you. I am just tired of questions, and you told me to trust no one.”
“It’s okay, I am used to it from pures,” her voice drips in disdain.
“I’m not a pure. That is the honest truth.”
This grabs Ari’s attention, “You’re not Poseidon's and Amphitrite’s granddaughter?”
My head goes back and forth silently, gesturing no.
“Is only one of them your grandparent?” Ari fearlessly pressures.
To that, I nod. I haven’t even had time to process it all, myself. I am sure Amphitrite knows my lineage will come out as soon as I am seen in my warrior garb.
“Hmmm both have had plenty of consorts. Do you at least know who your grandfather is?” She continues to question me.
“I only have one, and no, it isn’t Poseidon, so that is why I am not a pure. I honestly, haven’t had time to process all the information myself. I’m not really up to sharing yet. I am sure you will be hearing rumors soon enough. I went to train today, and the mess hall was full of men who did nothing but stare. I did meet a couple who I trained with and trust. I think I am safer telling them than you. You did admit I can’t trust you.”
Ari smiles, “You’re right to an extent. I have been here a long time. I still look young, but I am close to double your age. I know who your mother is at the very least. My guess is Aphrodite. You only have one grandfather, and Aphrodite is the favorite daughter of Amphitrite born fatherless from her sea foam. She is also able to change her appearance. You have the look of Amphitrite, so I have no doubt of that connection. You don’t have to tell me who your father is, because I can guess that, too. Aphrodite has taken many lovers over the years, but only one of them would warrant talent such as yours. Your father is Ares.”
My face remains blank. Something I am skilled at when necessary. Ari takes my silence as her chance to continue with the game she is playing.
“You’re the reason why the last Key lost her life. Ares has been trying to get back into Atlantis for years. Now I know why . . . you. Aphrodite stayed within Atlantis and hid you here. Raised you, neglected her other children, but why? I guess her other children are grown. You are new, and fresh. Her first in centuries, but why hide you from Aries?”
“I honestly don’t know what game you are playing at, Ari, but I am done.”
“Fine, Amphitrite requests you wear the red dress at dinner. I can see your exhaustion, you need to drink.”
Ignoring Ari, I move my weapons to my closet except for the dagger I place into the nightstand next to my bed.
“Where do I go for dinner?” I ask as Ari is walking out the door.
“I will be back with something to drink, and will take you to dinner.” With that, Ari leaves.
Part of me is concerned about how she knows who and what I am, but I didn’t confirm anything, so right now, it is all speculation and rumors. I am a little sick to my stomach. Did the former Key to Atlantis die because my estranged father was trying to get to me? Ares is like all of the other gods, I have no clue as to why he has any extra interest in me.
I take off my sweaty clothes and then lay down on my bed naked, looking up through the sheer canopy to the water above. It is getting darker. Days are short in Atlantis, we are accustomed to the blue hue and the darker evenings. Having never been on land, I only go off of what I have been told. Atlantis is home, and if I am meant to be the Key, then I will do anything within my power to protect it.
It is going to be a late night because the pures don’t eat until well into the night. I drift off to sleep, tired from training and the emotional stress of the day. I also may be in need of blood . . . .
I roll over, noting my nudity after a very brief nap. It was much needed. Next to my bed is a note from Ari.
Drink the drink. I will be back shortly to take you to dinner.
Next to the note, is a glass with fresh blood in it. I stare at it, debating if I can beat this need for blood or if I need to give in for now. I wish I had a better idea of where the blood came from. Ari told me donations, but I have a hard time believing everything I am told anymore.
Relenting, I reach out and bring the cup to my lips. There is a brief moment of pain as my fangs pierce my gums. I drink the cup fast and want more, but there is no more to be had. Surely, other pures don’t drink near as much. After wiping the excess blood from my face, I head to the shower.
I go through the motions in a daze. My body is
weak, and I don’t know what it is missing. There will come a time when I will have to ask Amphitrite what is going on. I’ve been told that there is no one I can trust, but what other options do I have? I am certain that Aden and Morgan will not know any more than I do. Or will they? I guess this may have to be discussed with them as well.
I turn off the water and head back into my bedroom. Before I put on a stitch of clothing, I strap my dagger to my thigh and my throwing knives to my waist. I may have to dress up and play the game, but I will not do it without being armed for my own protection.
I also need to find my own blood source, but how does that conversation work? I’m not a pure or even a real goddess of any worth. Why would anyone donate their blood to me? I pull out the dark blood-red gown from the closet, laughing to myself about the irony of the color. Once it is on, I reach for a pair of gold sandals that match the colors in my necklace.
Running my fingers through my wavy blonde hair, I decide to leave it down. For once, it feels full and luxurious. It must be a side effect of the shift or of the blood. I am not sure which. There is a knock at the door just before it opens, and Ari enters.
“I don’t know why you bother to knock if you are going to come in, anyways,” I comment on her entrance.
“You could always lock the door.” Ari makes a beeline for my closet and pulls out a red scarf.
My eyes narrow on what she is holding. “I don’t want to cover my face.”
“Would you rather all of the potential Keys and gatekeepers notice who you are and that you are dining with Amphitrite and Poseidon?”
The blood drains from my face at the realization of what Ari just told me. I am going to be sitting at the table with gods? “I’m not a goddess,” I argue.
“Oh, but you are. Sure you are not Aries or Aphrodite, but you are their daughter, and you are immortal, and you are a goddess. A goddess of what? That remains to be seen, I guess.” Ari’s eyebrows arch, and she shrugs her shoulders.
“All of the potentials are going to be there?” I question Ari, even though I heard her correctly.