Xerxes heard the report, relieved Jessica was not in the room. “Honey,” he called after her, “in the morning we are going to explore Atlantis a little more thoroughly. There is also an underwater archaeological site I think you will want to explore, but day after tomorrow we are going to Pacifica to visit with Ainu, we have a surprise for you.â€�
“So that explains that inscrutable smile you two were passing. He’s in on your surprise too.â€� Jessica accused, returning wearing her terrycloth bathrobe.
Xerxes didn’t know, but Jessica hated surprises. “I would like to go to Pacifica tonight, but security reasons prohibit us going until the wedding guests have all left. Because of this traitor, I must stay close to Atlantis while it is unsecured - I hope to have him cornered by tomorrow.â€�
“I understand.� Jessica said rather remotely, her parents persistently on her mind.
Xerxes pulled her close, “Jessica,� stopping her to gaze deeply into her eyes, “you will like this surprise, and it will make you happy. No more tears, my love.�
“Okay.� She smiled as a child caught in a lie, rather amazed he had noticed her tears.
Xerxes knew the smile was for his benefit, he could see behind it. Remembering Ainu’s warning, he almost told her. He laced his hands through her long hair and drew her mouth to his, tasting sweet response, her arms pulling him yet closer. Ending their kiss, Xerxes held Jessica, enjoying the smell of her and essence of her held tightly in his arms. This feeling went past sexual desire, which was there and highly arousing, but the closeness of her held to his body produced a feeling of oneness Xerxes had never known. He hoped she felt the same.
“Come wife,â€� Xerxes said, “tonight I’ll scrub your back,â€� he smiled “if you’ll scrub mine?â€�
Jessica smiled, “Of course husband.� Xerxes lifted her off her feet and carried her to the swirling waters of their huge shell tub.
Morning came in Atlantis and Jessica still had not gotten accustomed to the lack of the sun. It was as bright as the upper-world’s day but there was no actual sun. She questioned Xerxes about this phenomenon of where their light source came from the second day she had been in Atlantis and he explained it came from the sun.
“When the sun rises,â€� Xerxes told her, “the Vortex Stones magnify the energy they receive from that powerful source and illuminates the City, recharging massive solar batteries that power the City at night. This is not a byproduct of the powerful protection grid, only one of the features of it. The laser passes through the sapphires and continues to do so day and night. When clouds and storms shroud the sun, the City’s hydroelectric power plant generated from the Desalination Water Plant that provides Atlantis’ fresh portable water then provides illumination also. That power comes from the steady power of the currents of the ocean itself. Wastewater is highly processed and used to irrigate the plants under the Domes. Jessica everything in Atlantis works on a cycle and has backups. We shall tour these things when we return from Pacifica,” he promised.
“How do you understand the way things work in such detail? I would expect you to know general things…” Jessica asked.
“Unlike many upper-world leaders,” Xerxes explained, “our father required us, my brother, sister and I, to spend several hours during summer school breaks on each of the many different systems that keep Atlantis functioning. In that manner we would understand the way our World worked.â€� Xerxes smiled, “We were not always the most cooperative about it,” he grinned remembering how he hated working when his friends were having fun, “but now I see his wisdom.”
“Your father must have been a good leader and a good father.â€� Jessica said and her voice betrayed her concern over her absent parents.
Xerxes continued to explain knowing she must know these things hoping too that it would occupy her mind until he could get her to Pacifica. Jessica did not fully understand she would rule Atlantis with him and teach their children to rule also.
Jessica’s, amazement by the advanced systems that kept the fifty square mile City running smoothly confirmed what he had suspected. “What do you think of our technology, wife?â€� Xerxes asked proudly when they settled themselves back in the yacht-sub.
“It is fabulous. Are all the citizens of Atlantis employed just keeping the City functioning?� Jessica asked.
“Of course not,â€� Xerxes answered slightly piqued. “I’ve taken you to the shopping plazas. We’ve eaten out in the restaurants. Some of our people are teachers. Our University may be small compared to the University you attended but our students have the advantage of teachers from other worlds and the opportunity to attend their Universities,â€� Xerxes smiled. “I have a degree in Engineering from Alpha-Centauri.â€� Then he laughed at the shocked look on his wife’s face. “Did you think I spent all of my time rescuing beautiful scuba divers?â€�
“No!� Jessica said, punching him in the arm.
“Now there is one more thing you need to see today,� Xerxes told her, “and that is the archaeological site that was the exit to the long entrance of the Pyramid you found in Lake Okeechobee.�
“What do you mean?� Jessica asked quickly, curiosity keen in her eyes.
“Had you and Bruce gotten to the bottom of the last chamber, the last one you found the day we collapsed your dig, you would have found a sarcophagus style submarine that would have taken the voyager through a many miles long tunnel to this site. When the Pyramid was built, my ancestors had constructed this end all but the last several hundred feet, and then they went to the Pyramid and completed the link. Those Egyptians thought my ancestors were gods. Had they not disobeyed the Lords of Atlantis and used slaves to construct the Pyramid they would have come back to use the entrance and thought of it as a voyage to the underworld of the gods. Your world history would have been much different from the way it is, had they not used slaves to build the entrance. But we humans are all the same,� Xerxes shrugged.
“That does explain why the entrance was never used, we could not understand that,� Jessica told him. “When we found the slaves’ graves, it saddened us.�
“As it did my ancestors,” Xerxes told her, “We abhor slavery as we do killing. What few slaves remained after the construction of the entrance became residents of Atlantis. I will show you the scrolls concerning that after the Antiquities Department has been set in order. Marcus has made a shambles of his department,â€� Xerxes explained.
“Today’s people,â€� he smiled at his highly intelligent wife, “you - would have known it for what it was. That is why we could not let you uncover it.â€� Xerxes explained finally answering some of the questions he knew Jessica had not found answers too.
He hoped Jessica would enjoy the sunken exit of the entrance she had discovered. Xerxes thought this would interest her enough to keep her mind occupied until he could take her to Pacifica to be with her parents.
It remained in flawless condition over the centuries awaiting use; any Archaeologist would consider such a site a fabulous find. At a depth of two hundred feet, the exit, built to resemble the doorway to a temple of ancient Egypt, presented two statues of Anubis, one on either side. Each statue had glowing green emeralds for eyes. Cartouches of intricate artistry explained what the function of the underwater structure was.
As Xerxes had hoped, Jessica became spellbound. “This does explain why there was a Pyramid in the lake,� Jessica said quietly. “I wish I could explain it to Bruce.�
“As I mentioned to you earlier, my love, we are going to need a new Antiquities Director perhaps he will fit the position.� Xerxes told her.
Using the opportunity to take his new wife in his arms, he tasted her sweet lips and caressed her breasts unbound beneath the sheer silk blouse she wore. He teased her nipples wi
th the palms of his hands until they hardened under his touch. His tongue played with hers and hers fenced back, with a promise of more than play. Deftly his fingers undid her buttons to reach inside and more conveniently fondle the flesh of her breasts, warm and soft except those hard, taunt nipples. Jessica’s cool hands held his head to her breasts, her head back in rapture of the pleasure he gladly brought her, a sigh of her pleasure, his reward. Her hands caressed him in the ways of remembered dreams he had yearned for, and for long times never dared to hope for. Eagerly, it seemed, she pulled his shirt from the restraints of his shorts, her sweet hands smoothed over his bare ribs and he looked into her flaming brown eyes as she unfastened his shorts.
Xerxes knew paradise when her lips covered his, and she pushed him back onto the couch of their sub to lay full on top of him. He encircled her in his arms to hold her body to his as her hands explored him, and he found no will to stay her pleasure with his body. At last, when he could stand no more of the sensations she sent through him, he rolled her over beneath him, as she caught the treasure of his hardened staff in her cool hands he pushed her skirt above her waist. Her thong underwear put up a small barrier until Xerxes took the thin strap crotch and broke it between his strong hands with a lusty grin to kneel between her thighs. His fingers gently caressed her mound, his fingers bringing her immense pleasure, causing a flush to come over her face, Jessica groaned in pleasure. He stopped only to position himself between her thighs and suddenly join with her adored body. She gasped at the suddenness of his actions and reveled at the intensity of passion on his face.
“The nights I wanted you,� he said softly leaning forward with their bodies united, “especially after the night at your tent and then the night of the hurricane.� He delighted when her arms surrounded him, though he saw just a little fear of him in her eyes so fierce was his ardor. His mouth covered hers heatedly, his tongue thrust deep inside her mouth as he kept rhythm with her body. He heard her moan. “The thoughts of you after I bought those things for you at the mall about drove me crazy,� he whispered and his plunges increased almost to a punishing level.
“Xerxes,� Jessica gasped. “Please!�
“Please?â€� Xerxes asked hoarsely and his rhythm increased. Jessica’s body responded by meeting his intensity as fiercely. “You are mine now!â€� his arms clasped her to him in powerful possession. In the wordless minutes that followed, only their labored breathing, coupled with moans of passion broke the silence of the sub, muted by the surrounding fathoms of ocean water, until both found the depth of their lovemaking followed by the crest of the wave that brought their mutual climax.
Clasped in the other’s arms, joined as lovers for long minutes afterwards, Xerxes studied Jessica’s beautiful face in the low light of the submersible until finally they drew apart. With a laugh, Jessica picked up the remainders of her thong and turned an accusing eye on Xerxes. He smiled without apology of his passion for her.
“Underwear is cheap,� he said with a laugh and taking the controls of the sub turned back toward Atlantis and their home.
Jessica watched her husband skillfully handle their yacht-sub. He was full of surprises, just like Atlantis. Xerxes showing her the exit-entrance to the Pyramid was like a sign. Her discovery had come full circle, completed. Jessica’s thoughts turned to her parents. As intrigued with Atlantis as she was, not being able to communicate with, or see her parents, was taking a toll on her and quickly becoming more than she could tolerate. Jessica came close, more than once to telling Xerxes, she knew they were missing. She wondered if he knew, and feared telling her. She had to admit, if only to herself she did not trust him fully. Would he prevent her from leaving to find them? She wondered. She longed to ask his help to find them, but Jessica knew she would take the situation into her own hands, no matter the cost to herself. When it came down to it, she now felt responsible to Atlantis too, and Atlantis needed Xerxes here with her.
Jessica studied her husband, knowing with certainty she loved him. However, a storm raged within her she could not ignore. Somewhere on another ocean, her parents were missing, possibly marooned. Until she knew their fate, Jessica would know no peace. Her very soul hurt.
Fearing this might have been the last time she would feel her husband’s touch, she found it hard to stay her tears, so she remained on the small couch behind the sub’s pilot chair. Desperately trying to think of another way to remedy her situation, other than leaving to go in search of her family herself, a growing ache filled Jessica’s heart. Her breathing constricted at the thought of leaving Xerxes and a hard sob threatened to burst from her. Tears rolled down her face, Jessica quickly wiped them away, fearing he would see them and she would have to explain. Resolutely, she settled to the reality that there was no other way. Should she tell him, and he prevented her from leaving, she might grow to hate him. Her heart could not take that risk either. Better to go and be in love with him forever than to stay and come to hate him. Jessica knew too, that he would never forgive her if she left. She knew how he felt about traitors. Would he consider her such? A tear or two slipped past her notice at the thought that Xerxes might come to hate her.
“Why are you crying, my love?� Xerxes asked concern filled his voice when he turned around unexpectedly to see her tears. He bid her to come forward to sit with him.
“It is only the sweetness of our lovemaking.� Jessica told him with a loving smile, but she doubted her reply convinced him.
Xerxes kissed her tears away, returning her smile. Now that she was his wife, Atlantis’ problems were hers. Jessica knew she had to find her parents and her problems could not interfere with the security of this magnificent underwater world. She must go alone to find them and hope Xerxes would understand. She loved Xerxes, but she could not involve him. She had to find them, and know they were safe, or she could never be content with him or anyone.
Upon their return, Xerxes saw her safely to their home and bid her rest until he returned for dinner in about an hour, after he checked on the daily affairs of Atlantis. He attributed her quiet mood to exhaustion, unaware of her breaking heart. Jessica left their chambers not long after he did.
*
Marcus had made his plans. Now it was time to act. He joined in with the last group of wedding guests to leave Atlantis. Made up of guests from other underworld Cities and one or two guests from Off-World, Marcus fit in unnoticed. His two nephews waited in the Royal yacht-sub he borrowed. Marcus casually moved away from the group and entered the first Vortex Stone Pedestal where he expected to find the guard he knew. To Marcus’ surprise, it wasn’t the guard he expected. Briefly caught off-guard, he recovered quickly and puffing himself up with false pride, addressed the guard who eyed him suspiciously. “I am Councilor Marcus Trident.” he introduced himself with the demeanor of a king.
“I know who you are Councilor, what is it you require?” the young guard inquired warily.
“I need to examine the sapphire in the Pedestal,” Marcus said with authority.
“Sorry Councilor, I cannot allow that. That would require direct orders from Lord Xerxes and I have received no such orders.” The guard knew his duties and he didn’t trust this Councilor.
Marcus smiled. It didn’t matter. Marcus drew the laser pistol from his pocket and fired before the guard could react. He lay apparently dead on the floor, a burn mark on his otherwise spotless uniform. Marcus stepped over the body, took the one-man lift up to the top of the Pedestal. Marcus greatly admired the ten-thousand carat sapphire; the beauty of the perfect gemstone was mesmerizing. Knowing time was precious, he slipped the felt bag over the stone, gently lifted it from the golden Dolphin supports, and secured it in a padded suitcase. Taking the lift back down to the guard booth he stepped over the body again without a second thought, and went to the next Pedestal where he re-enacted almost the same scene. Within fifteen minutes, Marcus had stolen two of the Vortex Stones. When the grid
came back online, the laser that made up the protection grid would be incomplete and would leave Atlantis exposed to detection. It would go undetected until shift change for the Pedestal security five to six hours later.
Marcus blended back in with the guests and cleared through the security points without incident. He made his way to join his nephews waiting on board the Royal yacht-sub who waited with the anxiousness of youth for the adventure he promised them.
“Anke cast off the lines and take us to West Palm Beach.” Marcus told the younger of the two boys and went to the luxurious salon to pour himself a drink.
This little stunt should prove Xerxes was too busy with that new upper-world wife of his and not attending to Atlantian Security. Marcus thought to himself. I will then come back, having negotiated with the Untied States Government procuring the Atlantis’ secrecy and take over leadership in that manner. Since Xerxes had failed to keep their security, it should work. In any event, he would be gone and out of immediate danger if it didn’t. Smugly he had greeted Xerxes and his wife during the reception, she was a beauty, but given the chance, Marcus would enjoy destroying her along with Xerxes. Now to relax back and enjoy the trip to the upper-world, Marcus thought, and took a long pull off his drink.
Marcus had not wasted any time to move up his plans. This was even better than he could have planned. Xerxes was out of the City with his wife showing off the underworld beauty of their realm. With the last guests, he put his plan into action, not realizing Xerxes had just returned, or the fact he had acted before Xerxes’ trap activated.
Marcus planned on resting in the luxury of the upper-world hotels for a few days and gradually getting a tan so he looked a little more normal for the area. During this time, he would begin to put the next phase of his plan into action. He would have Anthony begin to make small announcements to the press about the discovery of Atlantis. Later he would have Anthony make an official announcement, making the proof public. That was if the U.S. Government didn’t want the information.
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