by Maira Dawn
But why did she play nice with moody Ian? Why wasn't she railing against him at every opportunity? These questions she couldn't seem to answer. Maybe because she'd fought him all the way here and gotten nowhere. Perhaps because she somehow knew, he wasn't evil. He didn't wish her harm.
As Ian moved ahead of her back to the middle of the garden, she studied him. He was clearly a confident man, and yet, there was an apology in his eyes every time he looked at her. There was hesitation in every move Ian made near her. He’d said he didn’t mean to take her, and whatever that meant, she believed him. Ian needed her for some reason. She just needed to find out why.
A movement at the park's entrance caught Sonora's eye. Three women stood there, similar enough in looks to Ian she assumed they were relatives. Though each expressed their own style, all wore mid-length dresses flowing from the waist. The gowns were sleeveless on one side, showing off their own shimmering tattoos that ran in a pattern much like Ian's.
Sonora tapped Ian's shoulder and tipped her head their way. He turned and broke into a smile. "It is my mother and sisters. I am eager for you to meet them."
Going to the oldest woman first, Ian hugged her before welcoming his sisters. Then Ian turned back to Sonora, putting a hand to her shoulder to encourage her to step forward. "Sunny, this is my mother, Aleena. My sisters Cascadia and Talise."
After the awkward encounter with his father, Sonora's voice trembled a bit as she said, "I'm pleased to meet you."
Aleena nodded, a polite expression on her face. Ian's sisters offered a guarded smile.
"I hope you are enjoying your stay here," Aleena said.
Sonora blinked. Like she'd booked a weekend vacation? She took a big breath. "Actually—"
Aleena interrupted her. "Actually, I need to speak to my son, so excuse us if we switch languages."
Sonora glanced at Ian, who shrugged and indicated it would take only a moment. Are you kidding me? They both had to have known she was going to complain about being kidnapped. She looked at the sisters, who both avoided Sonora's narrowed gaze.
Ian's eyes lingered on Sonora, who was disconcerted by his mother's rudeness. His Jata Ara kept trying to tell on him, and no one would listen. He couldn't help but find the whole situation rather, well, humorous. When Sonora's gaze sought his, Ian sobered up. It wasn't funny to her, the little lady had no idea what was going on. He would have to tell her soon. The thought terrified him.
Aleena cleared her throat to get Ian's attention and waved at his scratched face. "She had to be aware she didn't stand a chance."
Ian rubbed his face. "She realized, but she is more than she looks. She's a fighter." Ian changed the subject and asked, "Where is Father?"
"Still at the council meeting. The one about that one's people." Not to be sidetracked, Aleena complained, "You should have brought her to your family, you practically had us tracking you down."
Ian scoffed. "I live down the corridor from you, Mother. Besides, I wanted some time with her myself."
Aleena tapped her foot as her gaze scraped over Sonora. Ian's mother, usually so nurturing, was not herself. He understood, his match was enough to shake anyone.
"You were right, Mother. Of course, you all were. But I doubted, given up hope. Yet, the moment I saw her, I felt it."
"But Son," Aleena hissed, "she is human!"
"I know." He looked down for a moment and squinted. "I was disappointed at first, too. I'm not sure why it's her, but it is."
"No, Son." Aleena entreated him as she threw horrified glances at her soon-to-be-daughter-in-law. "You are mistaken, it is not possible. Remember the last Atlantian who got messed up with the human world? We are still cleaning up his mess. You are still cleaning up his mess." Aleena put a hand on Ian's shoulder. "You are attracted to her because she is different. I see your appeal. She is beautiful and dainty, and I am sure she has some kind of charm about her, but she is not for you. You need to take her back."
Ian's stomach tightened. "Mother, I have explained almost everything to her."
"She wouldn’t be able to get back here and which of those air-gobbling land-worms would believe her, anyway. Take her back." Aleena crossed her arms.
"Mother, I have respect for you as a person, as the woman who gave me life and as a Lady of our Clan. But as you are fully aware, it is my decision. I have told you I felt Valltrik, and I have decided."
Aleena broke. Tears flooded her eyes as she reached out for her son and pleaded with him. "My son, I love you, and I do not want to see you hurt. There is nothing to decide. She is human, and Valltrik is for our kind, not theirs. Don't let your attachment deepen. Release her."
Ian put a gentle hand on Aleena's. "Mother, it is already too late."
The devastation in his mother's eyes was too much for Ian. He held her for a moment, then turned to his sisters.
Talise had a particularly arrogant expression on her face as she asked Sonora, "Are all your people so scrawny and little? I'm surprised my clothes fit you at all." Cascadia's lovely giggle seemed out of place as they bullied his lady.
Ian's voice hardened. "You know exactly how large humans are. Enough of your trouble, sisters, slithering around like a couple of eels. She is mine now, and you will show her respect."
Talise and Cascadia's eyes widened, but one glance at their teary-eyed mother and they believed his news. Aleena nodded at the girls, and they apologized to Ian and Sonora for their rude behavior.
Ian gave his family a steely stare and taking Sonora's hand, strode out of the park. So distraught, he hardly noticed Sonora’s difficulty at keeping up with him, or the curiosity lighting the eyes of the few people who passed in the hallway. No one said a word to him though, his dark face and the little human girl telling them all the needed to know.
Once the door to his home was shut, Ian went to the large window. The ocean always soothed him. Ordinarily, he would have left his home for its silky embrace, but he didn't want to leave Sunny alone. His mother's words had allowed all his doubts to resurface. Not for the first time, he wondered how all this would work out between him and the one intended for him.
Still breathing heavy, Sonora stepped up beside him. "I'm sorry for whatever you fought about. Family fights suck."
"Yes, they do." Ian glanced down at her before looking back out at the ocean.
"Let me guess. They don't like me because I'm human?"
Ian glanced at her and away. "Something like that."
"Well, I guess they'll be happy when I go home then."
Ian tensed, tired of this debate. She wanted to go home. His family wanted her gone. This wasn’t the way it was supposed to be.
She was his Jata Ara. Couldn't she feel that? Something, anything? If she were an Atlantian, there would be no debate. One glance and she would have eagerly gotten to know him, and within hours, drifted into his arms, and only days later vows would be pledged.
Of course, some couples waited longer, had waves in their relationships, but nothing like this. And no one, absolutely no one ever gave up easily. Neither would he. He couldn't.
Ian gave Sonora a stern stare. "Who said you are going home? I am tired of hearing about it."
Sonora sputtered at him, at a loss for words.
Ian softened and took her hand. "Perhaps it will be better if you do not. Better for you and me. We will ask Father to talk to the council. They may have some advice for us.”
Nineteen
The Vow
Chapter Nineteen
The large council chamber sat in the center of Atlantis' tallest tower, which lay in the very center of the city itself. Although there had been no deliberate plan for this at the beginning, Jorah felt it held significance, if not for others than for himself.
The tower's watch overlooked the entire city, keeping the community safe. The council which met in the heart of that tower had its citizen's welfare as their central goal. Both positions held a reminder of the weighty responsibilities each had taken on.
An
oval table sat in the center of the room. Constructed of dark maple, Atlantian words rounded along the edge in a light caramel color. This piece of furniture had sat here in this room for over two thousand years. One of the first distinctive items of furniture made for their underwater home, and as such, it was maintained continuously to keep it in pristine condition.
Jorah sat at the table along with the eleven other council members, each representing their own clan, and wondered how much of the table was original. But it didn't really matter. It was the idea behind it that held value; the idea written on the table itself. Justice and Brotherhood, Love and Compassion
Jorah watched the men and women raise their voices and wave their hands. He questioned if they remembered what the table said or even cared at this point.
The meeting had started calmly enough, though he’d seen the agitated faces. They'd opened the gathering, announcing of names and clans so they could be marked present in the book. He'd been last in declaring himself, Jorah of Clan Orca. At that point, all had worked at controlling themselves. Jorah put a hand to his forehead. He wished that was still the case.
After discussing a few trivial matters, Jorah introduced the more serious item. Once it was, disagreement rolled like a rogue underwater wave causing the chaos around him.
Jorah understood their anger and frustration. He felt every bit of it too. But no one seemed to agree on the solution, and that was a problem. The wild voices of the men and women on the council swirled around him.
Tiburon, larger than most and of the Great White Clan, waved an arm and said, in his gruff voice, “The humans are killing us!"
"I say that we just let the future take the humans as it will."
Mako of Cirrina Clan’s clear voice rang out, her straight blue-black hair swinging as she quickly stood. ”We were commissioned to help the humans survive! It has been my entire life’s work.“
"Yes, but how can we do that without the artifact?" someone questioned.
Akami from Mysticeti Clan, usually quiet, took Jorah’s side. “Ian is searching for the artifact and the one who stole it."
"It has been decades, and there has been no progress,” said Tiburon.
"Ian is not the only one hunting. There has been progress. They are close to finding him,” said Akami.
"And if they do not find him, then that solves the human problem. We don't even have to think about it. It will be impossible to help them. Then we can wash our hands of this thing.” More dissension from the other side of the table.
"We must do all we can! We have vowed to do so,” someone said.
"A foolish vow, made when we were innocent of human’s deceit and treachery."
"What some of them were like! Not all of them are evil, many are good,” said Anahita of the Aequorea Clan, her skin turning a deep blue-green the more emotional she became.
“We all know you have a fascination with them. Don't let your sentiment ruin our people!"
Jorah shook his head as someone fired back at Anahita. Her color flushed stronger as she clamped her lips. The Aequorea’s bioluminescence was greater than other clans.
"Don't let your rush to judgment be your undoing!"
Unable to listen to angry voices any longer, Jorah stood. “Council members! Stop!" He slammed a flat hand on the table until they quieted. "We need to come to order."
Once everyone was quiet, he began, "All will hear and be heard, as is our custom. All of you have expressed an opinion, but I have not. I will now do so."
"Look around you and see what we have here. Look at the beauty of this room, the riches we carry on our persons and the brotherhood among ourselves. We are favored. But of all these things, the brotherhood is the most valuable because with this unity we can replenish everything else.” Jorah swept his arm outward.
"It is with this brotherhood in mind we took on our commission of helping the humans. Not because they already were our brothers, but because they were helpless, and our people have always aided those in need. And that one day, they might become our brothers."
A low murmuring began, but Jorah ignored it.
"You may feel they still deserve our mercy or you may not, but that is not of any concern in this matter. The charge was for us to save them, it was not if they deserved our act of saving.
"Are they less than us? Yes, but that does not make them evil. Have our people died at their hands? Yes, but none of you can sit here and tell me that no human has ever died at the hands of an Atlantian."
Someone protested. "That was one Atlantian."
Jorah leaned toward him. "Who killed hundreds of humans. How are we to know that this is not one human, yet you will condemn entire races of people to death? Where is your brotherhood? Where is your vow?
Turning, Jorah let his gaze sweep the council members. "You may feel our forefathers made our vow in haste to a man we barely knew. I have, at times, thought the same myself. But then, I sit at this table…” Jorah punched his finger toward the wood surface, “this table which marks the beginning our people, and I read what is carefully carved into every inch of its hard surface.
"Justice and Brotherhood, Love and Compassion.
"What justice is there to blame an entire race for the evils of a few? What brotherhood if we are ready to—no—eagerly await their destruction? How long will love and compassion last amongst ourselves if we refuse to offer it to others?”
"It is our duty to do everything we can to find the Artifact and use it. It is our burden to find the killer of our people and punish him. And it is our legacy to carry on our motto within our own world and the humans."
Jorah sat back down in his chair. Silence rang in his ears. Then slowly, one council member after another rose and left the room. Some nodded to him, in what Jorah hoped was agreement. Others scowled as they made their way out. All were quiet.
Jorah wasn't sure if there were more who agreed or disagreed, and he didn't know if it mattered. If they didn't find the Artifact, there would be nothing they could do. All humans would die.
And though he fought for the Atlantian code, Jorah wondered if that just might be the best thing that could happen.
Twenty
Your Sister?
Chapter Twenty
Sonora's mother, Azurine, hummed to herself as she chopped vegetables for dinner. She glanced at the clock; it was almost time to eat, and Sunny hadn't shown up yet. She shook her head.
"Sierra!" Azurine called out to her oldest daughter.
Sierra laid down the bridal magazine she'd been browsing, gave her fiancé a pat on the leg, and walked to the door of the kitchen. "Yeah, mom?"
"Have you heard from your sister? She promised to be at dinner tonight. Your dad's almost finished with the car, and I'm about ready here. I tried her cell, but the call didn't go through." Azurine murmured, "I really need to get on her case to get a new cell phone."
Sierra huffed. "Mom, you know she doesn't have the budget for a new cell phone. And you only have yourselves to blame for that. If you'd ease up on her and give her a little money…"
Azurine looked everywhere but at her daughter. "Sierra, you just don't understand."
"I understand that you gave me every penny I needed for college, and now a big wedding. But nothing's left for Sunny? I told you I‘ll cut back on the wedding. It’s not right—"
"Sierra, that's enough. I said you don't understand!"
Sierra folded her arms. "Well, I don't buy it for a minute."
"It will all be fine in the end." Azurine set plates on the table. "Now, do you know where your sister is?"
"At Kelly's? She said something about going there.” Sierra reached into the cutlery drawer for silverware.
"Oh, that's right, she was going there one day this week. Go ask your dad, he may know." As Sierra walked out of the room, her mother called after her, "And tell your dad dinner will be ready in ten minutes."
In the garage, Mike tinkered with the family car. "Dad, did you know what Sunny was up to today?"<
br />
He grunted as he tightened a bolt before saying, "Ain't she goin' to the beach?"
"Well, I dunno. I thought Sunny was going to Kelly's."
Mike straightened and scratched his already grease-marked face adding another dark line. "Go ask your grandpa, she was talking to him this morning at breakfast."
Sierra heaved a sigh. "Well, this is ridiculous. We need to keep tabs better than this."
She stepped out of the house onto the front porch and breathed in the salty air. A lingering look at the rolling ocean calmed her nerves. Living here since her birth, it was second nature to Sierra. More than that, the sea was in her blood.
Her grandfather had been a fisherman and come from a long line of fishermen, though he retired by the time Sierra was born. He was the one who bought this large tract of land the day before he married. On it, he built a house for his wife, and once his two daughters settled, a home for both of them.
Sierra's family home sat between her grandpa's and her Aunt Claire's. All three houses lined up in a row snug against the ocean with only a country lane and a small beach between them and the water.
The housing arrangement led to an incredibly tight-knit family, which Sierra sometimes felt worked against her. But the advantage was that if one of them didn't know where someone was, you asked someone else. Eventually, you would find the answer.
Sierra found her grandfather on his front porch, rocking back and forth and staring out to the sea as he talked to Aunt Claire and her husband, Devon Shade. She nodded hello to them all. "Grandpa, we're looking for Sunny. Her calls aren't going through. One of us thinks she went to the beach, the other to Kelly's. How do you weigh in on this?"
"Well now, young one, she did say she was going to the beach. And, if memory serves me right, she also said something about Kelly this morning. But I don't remember if visiting was today or tomorrow. Maybe someone should give Kelly a call."