Atlantium Trilogy I: Bride of Atlantis

by Montague, Madelaine

  As much as Alexis loved Thor, she had also loved her father. She could not allow his killer to run free. Eric had stolen her father’s golden years, deprived her of many years she could have shared with him, deprived her child of the chance to know a grandfather. Her love for Thor didn’t—couldn’t change anything. She still had to find a way to go back. She didn’t know what would happen after that. Maybe she would be allowed to return—she desperately hoped she would. But, regardless of possible consequences to herself, it had to be done.

  “We haven’t decided yet, and, with Thor chasing rebels it could be quite a while, but I’d like for you to plan the wedding, whenever it takes place. I don’t have a clue about the Atlantean traditions.”

  For a moment, Alexis thought Aurora might jump up and shout her delight like a young girl, but she merely threw her arms around Alexis, hugging her tightly. “You are the daughter of my heart, Alexis. Know that I am beyond joyful that you will be my daughter by marriage.”

  From out of nowhere, tears sprang up to sting Alexis’ eyes. She blinked them back with an effort. “I love you too, Aurora.”

  Aurora released her, patting her knee. “I must begin making plans. Thor is the Guardian. We must have an elaborate celebration. It will be tedious for the two of you, I know, but everyone will expect it to be an especial event.”

  Alexis was relieved when Aurora left.

  It was hard to maintain a facade of happiness under the circumstances. Thor had not actually asked her to marry him. She hadn’t wanted to tell Aurora that because she didn’t want him prodded to ask. If he hadn’t asked, then he still had some doubts about it.

  She wasn’t angry about it. The truth was, she wasn’t entirely convinced that she was cut out to be an Atlantean. Thor wasn’t meant for anything else. She was twenty six, not sixteen, no starry eyed teenager who believed love conquered all. As much as she loved Thor, as much as he seemed to love her, they were from two very, very different worlds and she had to wonder if marriage would only lead to heartbreak and disaster for both of them.

  She would be willing to take the chance, if Thor decided it was what he wanted, but she couldn’t shake her doubts.

  In any case, her focus at the moment was on returning to her world to settle matters. She had run out of options. In point of fact, she had never really had any. There simply was no way out of Atlantis unless she could convince an Atlantean to take her.

  She had decided Thor was her best—her only hope.

  She fully intended, when he returned, to begin her campaign to convince him.

  She was in the garden rehearsing her campaign when the sounds of civil war erupted.

  Alexis had become so accustomed to the silence of tranquility that the explosion of sound almost made her heart stop. She fell to her knees, covered her ears as the sound of a thousand, ten thousand screaming people erupted around her.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Thor had made very little headway in discovering the rebel compound. He had assured himself, however, that the threat, should it come, would not be from Atalantium, but one of her sister cities.

  Since he could no longer trust that he would be alerted telepathically in the event of an attack, he had stationed sentries around the city to help him watch for trouble.

  He was speaking with the members of the council when the alarm went up, from first one, then another, and then yet another of his sentries.

  Thor left them abruptly, rushing up the tower of the council building to the observation deck. Few buildings in Atalantium were as tall as the council building, none taller. The tower offered the point of greatest visibility.

  He was staring, grimly, in the direction of Oceanus when Aurora, breathless from the climb, joined him.

  He pointed to what appeared, at first, to be a dark cloud moving toward the city.

  Aurora stood beside him, watching as the cloud slowly resolved itself into a horde of flying beasts. “So many! I had not thought….”

  “They would not have attacked until they felt sure they had the numbers to insure a good chance of success. In truth, I had not expected they would launch an all out attack. I had expected clandestine tactics. There is no time, now, to summon my men.”

  “What could they possibly hope to gain? Do they think they have only to take over the council to rule Atlantis?”

  Thor looked down at her, his face grim. “I do not think they want only to rule Atlantis. I think they believe their gifts will give them the power to rule the world of the outworlders. I fear they’ve come to raise Atlantis.”

  Aurora stared at him in shocked disbelief. “But … they cannot! The mechanism would never hold! It is ancient. Even if it were not, we are thrice the number ever anticipated. The weight alone would destroy us. Atlantis would break apart.”

  “I do not believe they will listen to reason, mother.”

  “You must stop them! You cannot allow them to capture it!”

  “I cannot stun them all. There are far too many. I await your orders, High Councilor.”

  Aurora grasped his arm. “Destroy them then.”

  Thor turned his attention to the advancing horde. “The dome could crack. Even if I could prevent that, half of Atalantium lies before me, in the path of destruction. I would be taking the lives of our own people.”

  Aurora looked out over her beloved city, reluctant to give the order she knew Thor must have to proceed. “You are our only hope! Destroy them. They will surely destroy all of Atlantis if they succeed and all will be lost. Better to save those we can than that we allow all to die. We must call the people. They will have a chance, at least, if we warn them to seek safety.”

  Thor nodded, turned to gaze out over the city. Aurora joined him, combining her ‘voice’ with his.

  Beneath them, everyone stopped, looking up, too stunned with disbelief for several moments even to move.

  Within a split second, the screams of thousands reached them as pandemonium broke out, people running in every direction in an effort to save themselves.

  Thor transferred his attention to the approaching army. They were too close already. He dared not give his people much time or the destruction would be absolute.

  Instinctively, he pulled his sword as the first wave reached the coast, but he realized he could not allow himself to be drawn away from what he believed was his enemy’s ultimate goal. If he went out to meet them, the citadel would be unguarded.

  The mechanism lay beneath the citadel.

  He sheathed his sword.

  “Go, mother. Take the council below, to the chamber. If I fail, you must protect the mechanism. If you feel you cannot, destroy it so that they cannot use it.”

  When she had gone, Thor turned to meet the army, lifting his arms, palms upward as he summoned the power, funneling it. The waves formed, rippled, inverting like a miniature cyclone as he sent it forth. The citadel, where he stood, shook from the force. Great pieces of the ramparts cracked, fell into the maddened crowd below, creating even more havoc. Before him, a swath of Atalantium fifty feet wide vanished as if it had never been, crumbling to dust. The handful of enthusiastic warriors who had led the first wave, caught flame, screamed, plummeted toward the sea.

  The rebels fell back, regrouped. Minutes passed while they conferred, then they splintered into dozens of smaller groups and approached again.

  Consternation filled Thor. It would take a massive wave to encompass them now that they had spread out. He dared not risk it, knowing the losses in terms of his own people would be massive. Instead he tried pounding at them with a barrage of smaller sonic blasts. But, with each bombardment, more of Atalantium lay in ruins, more crushed and maimed lay dead and dying.

  When the rebels fell back once more, Thor knew what he had to do. He had to risk a wave that would destroy them all, that could destroy all of Atlantis. If he allowed them to spread their attack again, he would be forced to destroy Atalantium anyway, for he could only level the city, sending the waves in every direction at on
ce and everyone around him would die, all those he had warned to flee to safety … Alexis.

  He sought his inner strength, waited until they had reformed at a distance they thought safe. The air around him stilled. Slowly ripples formed and the air wavered. The ripples grew in size until the building he stood on began to disintegrate and he was standing on a precipice. He launched the wave at the rebels even as they began to scatter.

  * * * *

  Alexis climbed to her feet, realizing Atalantium must be under attack. Unfortunately, she had no idea of the direction of attack, no idea where to run. Would she be safe in Thor’s home?

  The ground beneath her feet shuddered as if in answer, shifting. Alexis looked down, terrified a fissure would open up and swallow her, certain it must be an earthquake.

  Helen burst through the gate that led to the street, breathing hard, her eyes wide with fear.

  Alexis stared at her, unable to believe for several moments that it could be Helen, that Helen had been released … or escaped. She watched uneasily as Helen made her way across the garden, stumbling each time the earth shook, but moving determined toward her.

  “I have come to take you from Atlantis. To take you home.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  “Do you have a choice? Atlantis is doomed. If you do not come with me now, you will die with everyone else.”

  Alexis’ eyes narrowed. “I’ll take my chances with Thor and the others.”

  Helen’s expression changed, hardened with malice. “He will not come for you. He is too busy trying to save his precious Atlantis.”

  “He’s the protector of the people. I know he’ll do all he can to save Atlantis. He’ll come for me as soon as he can.”

  Helen’s eyes narrowed. “Are you so anxious to die then? What happened to your vow to avenge your father? Or have you forgotten him? Does it take no more than a man between your thighs to deprive you of a will of your own?”

  Alexis’ lips tightened. “I have not forgotten my father or my vow. But I wouldn’t trust you any further than I could throw you. If you thought I was stupid enough to fall for your offer, you’re not terribly bright.”

  Helen shrugged. “It would have been easier if you had just cooperated, but you will go.”

  Too late Alexis realized that Helen wasn’t looking at her at all. She was looking behind her. Alexis whirled as a creature, much like the one that had captured her before, swooped from the sky, his taloned feet extended to catch her.

  She leapt aside, dashed for the door to the house. Helen caught her by her flying hair, almost pulling it from her scalp. Alexis whipped around, her arm locked and extended, her hand balled in a fist. She caught Helen square across the jaw, whipping her head sideways with the force of the blow. Her knees wobbled, gave way and she crashed to the ground.

  Helen retained her grip on Alexis’ hair, however, pulling Alexis down with her. Before Alexis could disentangle herself, the beast was upon her. It grasped Alexis’ leg, pulling her off of Helen. Alexis kicked out at it, breaking it’s hold. As she scrambled to her feet, Helen caught her from behind in a mind hold.

  Alexis’ legs went rubbery. The beast caught her as she fell. Gripping her tightly, it leapt into the air.

  * * * *

  A great shout of triumph rose from the crowd as they saw the remnants of the band of rebels fleeing as fast as their wings could carry them, back toward the city of Oceanus. Weary from the energy he’d expended in warding off the attack, Thor sank to his knees, catching his breath as he watched them flee.

  He needed to go after them, follow them to their lair.

  He wanted to check on Alexis to be certain she was not harmed.

  After a moment, he rose, shifted into a winged beast and followed the rebels.

  He had almost reached the corridor that connected the cities when it occurred to him that something was not quite right. The rebels were fleeing, but they were making no attempt to shake him from their trail, no attempt to outdistance him. He slowed, stopped, looked back in the direction from which he’d come. When he turned toward Oceanus once more, he saw that the rebels had come to a halt, as well.

  It dawned on him then.

  The mechanism had not been the objective … not this time anyway. Alexis had been the target.

  He had been puzzled by their strategy, but he had not put it together.

  With a roar of fury, he sent a sonic wave toward the rebels, obliterating them.

  He did not wait to see if any survived. Whirling mid-air, he soared toward Atalantium and his home. He saw them as he reached the outskirts of the city.

  There were two of them. One held Alexis, barely conscious, the other—he knew it was Helen. She had shifted. She was wearing one of the bands the rebels had devised, but he knew.

  He followed, hoping to catch them before they entered the exit tube, but he had expended far more energy than he was accustomed to. Despite his best efforts, he had gained on them only a little when he saw them shift from flying beasts to dolphins and dive beneath the water.

  His heart lurched in his chest as Alexis disappeared beneath the water. An awful fear assailed him that they had not protected her, that she would die. He shook the thought off. The rebels had wanted her. They would want her alive. If it had been only Helen, Alexis would probably be dead already.

  He flew low over the water, shifted into a merman and dove beneath the waves, following them.

  He had no idea where they might be taking her, but they were taking her to the outside world. If he did not catch them soon, he could lose Alexis forever.

  Grimly, he swam faster, gaining on them slowly. He didn’t dare use the sound waves against them for fear of harming Alexis. They would know that.

  He was tempted to pull his sword, fire a bolt of lightning into the tunnel wall, but he could not be certain that it would only trap them. The walls could collapse upon them.

  He was still a half a mile behind them when he saw them emerge from the tunnel.

  By the time he, too, reached the opening, they’d disappeared.

  He stopped, looking around him, probing the darkness.

  He could not discern their thought waves, any of them.

  That meant they’d placed a band on Alexis, as well.

  Alarmed, for several moments he simply froze, unable to decide which way to go—knowing if he chose the wrong direction he would be giving them even more headway.

  He summoned the dolphins.

  In moments, three had encircled him, bobbing their heads, chattering. He sent them each to search in a different direction. That left two for him. After a moment, he decided to swim toward the surface. Atlanteans were land creatures. Regardless of their ability to shift, they would have provided a place for themselves above water.

  He flicked his tail, shooting toward the surface.

  As he neared the surface, he heard the distant sound of a motor. He stopped, turning slowly until he could discern the direction.

  He smiled grimly. A boat. He struck off in the direction the sound had come from. Two of the dolphins joined him, told him what he’d already guessed, that the rebels had taken Alexis aboard a small boat.

  They cavorted around him playfully for some minutes, but finally dropped away, returning to their own business.

  The roaring of the engine became steadily louder, assuring Thor that he was closing the distance and still headed in the right direction.

  Quite suddenly, however, the engine stopped.

  Thor surfaced.

  The boat had pulled alongside a ship at anchor.

  Thor studied it for several moments, probing for thought waves.

  He uttered a curse. It was a passenger vessel, filled with outworlders.

  He should have known it wouldn’t be so easy, that they would have anticipated the possibility that he might follow.

  He could not allow the outworlders to see him. They would know that. They would feel safe now, less guarded.

  Thinking quickly,
he dove once more, shifted into a great shark and rammed the small boat. The boat shuddered, rocked, but remained upright. Above, he could hear screams as the people on the vessel spotted him.

  A man raced from the railing. He was back in moments with a gun, firing wildly into the water all around the boat.

  Thor circled, propelled himself toward the small craft like a torpedo, cracking the hull, tipping the boat. Helen, Alexis and the unidentified rebel, who’d been trying to board the vessel, pitched over the side the boat and into the water.

  It was what Thor had been waiting for, but he knew he had to move quickly or Alexis would drown.

  He caught Alexis carefully in his jaws and dove, shifting as he gained distance, forming a capsule of air around her to protect her.

  He surfaced when he’d put a few miles between them and the ship, shifting once more into a merman, releasing Alexis from the capsule of air. She sank like a stone. Catching her, he touched her forehead to release her from the mind hold.

  She didn’t respond.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Alexis!”

  Alexis heard someone calling her, but it sounded like they were far away, or speaking through a tunnel. There was urgency in the voice, and she felt a spark of recognition, but somehow she couldn’t rouse enough interest to try to respond. She was so cold! So tired! All she wanted to do was find warmth and sleep.

  She was drifting away when she heard her name called again.

  It took a supreme effort to lift her eyelid.

  She saw it was Thor. That was good. It was a relief. She’d had an awful nightmare, but it was all right now. She drifted again. This time she was shaken until she felt her head flopping around on her neck.

  She pried both eyelids open. “Wha ..?”

  Thor’s face swam before her eyes. It took her several moments to bring him into focus. As she struggled to do so, however, she became aware of the fact that she was freezing cold, and wet.