by Maira Dawn
Last night, Sonora had tried again to tell them. But when she merely mentioned looking into classes, her mother had gotten that pinched look on her face. So she bit her lips and kept silent. At least she could talk about it to Sierra.
Sonora sighed and pulled her tired eyes from the computer screen. She rubbed them and took a sip of her coffee before turning her gaze to the large window. From here, she saw the ocean just past the street and a few buildings across from her. It was really kicking up today. She wondered… No, stop. She couldn’t wonder.
But even as she berated herself, he lingered in her mind. Had Ian moved on? She hoped so, hoped he had exaggerated the whole Jata Ara thing. It would make her feel better knowing he’d found someone and lived a happy life in his underwater kingdom with a bunch of little Atlantian children.
A picture of them came to mind as they ran around the living room of his home. Half of them grey-eyed, dark-haired boys, and the other half girls, that looked just like her.
Sonora brought her hands to her face. See, this is what happened whenever she thought about Ian, and she thought about him way more than she should. Somehow it always twisted around to him and her. It’s why she hadn’t stepped foot in this part of the ocean for the last two years.
Sonora wasn’t sure what she would do if she did.
It wasn’t like she could swim all the way to Ian’s home, and she didn’t know its location, anyhow. The best she’d be able to do is get in the water and flail around, hoping he was somewhere near watching for her. And there was one thing Sonora had been forced to admit to herself since she left Atlantis. If Ian came for her, she wasn’t certain she’d refuse him.
She might go back.
As she did more and more, Sonora let her mind wonder what life would have been like with him for just a few minutes before stopping herself. This was why dating never worked for her. She was stuck on a mythical man, and who would measure up to him?
Sonora watched the flow of the pedestrians outside the window. She imagined seeing his tall, broad form walking along with the others. Almost heard the little, old-fashioned bell on the door jiggle as he walked in and caught sight of her.
When the bell did ring, and she tensed, whipping her head toward the door. A nerdy-looking young man pushed up his glasses as he entered, a computer case slung over his shoulder.
Sonora sagged against the table. What would she have done? The same problems faced them. The feelings, the connection he claimed to have for her was too overwhelming. And she would have to leave her whole life up here. It might not seem like much to an outsider, but it was hers. Just walking away, never seeing her family again, was too much.
She needed to stop this back and forth. Because It didn’t matter now. It would never matter again. In a huff, Sonora grabbed her bag and shoved her computer into it before heading out the door.
Thirty-Eight
Argos
Chapter Thirty-eight
After leaving the pawnshop, Ian searched for a phone booth while he again tried to shake off the notion Sunny was near. When he finally spotted one, he slammed on his brakes, almost causing the person behind him to ram into him. The other driver sped around Ian, blaring their horn and cursing at him. Ignoring the irate driver, Ian swung open his car door and ran to the booth scooping up the phone book.
He found holding the phone book nearly impossible, given the restrictions of the attached security cable. So Ian yanked it from the wall. A tremor of excitement shuddered through Ian as he hunched over the book and ran his finger down the long list of names. Twelve people in the Tri-county area with the same last name as the one on Rick's paper.
Four of the twelve had the first name he looked for. He would go to each one until he found the right man. Done with the broken phone book, Ian sat it on the phone booth floor, leaning against the glass.
Ian jumped in his car and headed to the first address. He sat there, drumming his fingers against the leather steering wheel until an SUV pulled into the driveway. A mom, dad, and two young children piled out of the vehicle. Ian didn't recognize the man. When they opened the garage full of children's outdoor toys and the front door with a key he knew they were not visitors. This was their home.
Ian drove to the second person on his list.
Was this man the traitor, Argos himself? If he were, Ian would know him on sight. But it was just as likely, the traitor sold the Artifact to a human who then gave it to the museum. If that were the case, Ian would return and talk to each one of them.
At this house, a middle-aged man came out, got the mail, and stood in his yard opening it. Ian didn't recognize him. He blew out a loud sigh and drove away.
At the third house, Ian kept his eyes glued on the dwelling after parking on the narrow lane it sat on. He laid back in the seat of his car as he gripped the console. There was something about this one. Would he sense Argos after all this time?
The property was beautiful, well-maintained, nice size but not too large. Comfortable but didn't draw attention to itself. It's what Ian would choose if he were in hiding.
Years ago, when Ian started this search, he'd enlisted the help of a private detective. Not to look for Argos, but to teach Ian. It had been a relatively new world to Ian at that time. Although he visited above the sea before, this mission required a lot more knowledge of humans and their world than he'd known. One of the things the detective taught him was how a wanted man could hide in plain sight.
Before resorting to hiring the detective, Ian had recruited the help of two Atlantian friends who were fascinated with humans. Their knowledge had been helpful for the most part, though it veered entirely off course on a few occasions, causing quite a bit of embarrassment for Ian. Even now, he had trouble holding back his laughter over the situation. Eventually, Ian took an apartment and made friends with some of his neighbors, dipping his toe into human society until he blended in without stares. While many Atlantians visited land, there were few who had the comfort Ian now felt.
Ian scanned the pale-blue house again. Still no movement. At the neighboring pale-green home, a lanky man worked on his car in the driveway. The sound of metal on metal and cursing came from the man from time to time.
A door banged shut, and Ian's gaze shot back to the house he watched. Ian's heart thumped, and he ducked further down in his seat. An older man walked from the back of the blue house across the yard to his neighbor. He greeted the man working on the car, leaning on the vehicle as he talked.
Ian's world seemed to shift. His heart raced as he bolted upright.
It was him. The traitor, Argos. There was no doubt.
He had found him. The most hated Atlantian alive, both among his people and surely any human who knew about him.
Almost numb, Ian's gaze tracked Argos as he reached under the open hood and tinkered with the engine. He laughed with the neighbor and thumped him on the back before walking back to his home.
Argos stopped for a moment and looked out to the water. Then scanned the area as if he sensed someone watching him. Ian ducked again but eyed Argos as he turned for his door.
Ian contemplated the plan. He would take Argos by force, if necessary, and interrogate him. He wanted answers, and he wanted the Artifact.
Ian had already staked out a secluded area, he would take Argos. Once he got what he wanted, they would go to Atlantis for Argos to stand trial.
He waited for the right moment to leave the car. He wouldn't have this going wrong now.
Ian ran a hand over his face. Argos' appearance had surprised him. He looked old, even for a human. It was rumored that could happen to Atlantians who moved to land, that they would age more like humans did, but Ian hadn't prepared himself for such a difference. If he hadn't been staring right at the man, he would not have recognized him.
A woman came out of the green house, walked down the front stairs, and shook a rug before going back in. She resembled the traitor. Was she his daughter? He'd made a life here, a good one.
Ian wond
ered if he was truly happy or merely indifferent about life. What if Sunny didn’t have to leave her home? If he stayed here, would she accept him then? She’d alluded to as much. Ian squinted up at the sun. Could he give up centuries of life for a few mere decades, even if it was with his Jata Ara.
Shaken by the thought, Ian shoved it away and focused on his mission. He scanned the houses again. Still, only the neighbor man was out.
Ian got out of his car and walked up the driveway. When the lanky man raised his head from under the car hood, Ian gave him a smile and a wave. After a moment's hesitation, the man smiled and waved back.
In Argos' house, a light in the back room came on. Ian headed there as if it was something he did every day.
Ian tensed as he rounded the corner and stopped by the rear entrance door. Through it, he could see Argos. He stood at a countertop, chopping vegetables, a large knife in his hand.
Argos looked even older now Ian was closer and smaller somehow. In his prime, he'd been every bit as big as Ian. But he had lost muscle, and though it seemed unlikely to Ian, Argos seemed shorter too. A sliver of sympathy ran through Ian before he shook it off.
The old man was no threat to him.
Ian used one knuckle to rap on the door. The traitor looked up. His eyes widened, and he paled. He quickly glanced around, then at the knife he held.
For a moment, Argos stared at the weapon. But after that brief hesitation, he slowly laid it on the countertop. Ian knew then there would be no fight. His tight muscles eased. He did not want to fight an old man, especially one he used to call friend, and sometimes brother. He could only hope the interrogation went as smoothly.
When Argos opened the door, the two men stared at each other for a moment.
Ian was the first to speak. "Argos."
Argos nodded. "I go by Blake now. Blake Karras.”
Thirty-Nine
Busted
Chapter Thirty-nine
Sonora stood at the sink, filling a glass of water and frowning at the unfamiliar car her grandfather just climbed in. She couldn’t make out the driver, except for the fact he was tall and brawny. She squinted. There was something familiar about the set of his shoulders. Oh, for heaven’s sake, she had Ian on the brain today. Just because she didn’t recognize this guy as a friend of her grandfather’s meant nothing. But, it was odd, Grandpa hadn’t mentioned going anywhere today.
“Mom!”
“Here!” Her mother’s voice floated to her from the living room.
Sonora walked to the archway between the two rooms. “Did grandpa mention he was going anywhere today? I saw him get in a strange car.”
Azurine looked up from the skirt she was hemming. “No. Where would he be going, today of all days, on your sister’s wedding day?”
“I know. That’s why I thought it was weird. But I guess Grandpa has time before it starts tonight.”
“Did you see who he was with? I hope it wasn’t Ralph. They always gab so much they forget the time.”
“I didn’t recognize the car and the driver definitely wasn’t Ralph. He was too young.”
“Go ask your dad. Maybe Dad said something to him.”
Sonora found her father bent over the engine of the car he was restoring, as usual. “Dad?”
“Um?” came his muffled reply.
“Do you know where grandpa went?”
Mike rose and grabbed a rag to wipe his hands. “No. He waved at me as he walked off with that young fella.”
Sonora leaned a hip on the side of the car. “Okay. Well, he probably plans on being home soon then.”
The sound of the waves crashing on the beach caught Sonora’s attention, and she turned to look out over the water. Pain flickered over her face before she forced a smile to her lips.
Mike studied his daughter’s face for a moment. “Sonora, why don’t we go and get some ice cream?”
Ice cream sounded good on this already too-warm morning. However, things needed doing. “I don’t know, Dad. Mom might freak if we take off too.”
“You let me take care of that.” Mike stepped into the house to get the okay from his wife.
Soon after Sonora and Mike sat on a bench at their favorite ice cream stand, laughing as they tried to keep up with their dripping cones. The heat and humidity worked against them.
After getting his cone under control, Mike gently said, “Sunny girl, it’s been two years since your accident. We keep waiting for you to go back to being the same person you were, and it just doesn’t happen. I’m worried. We’re all worried. What can we do?”
Her father’s blunt question didn’t surprise Sonora. He liked to get right to the point. And from the time they were little, this ice cream shop had been the place of a lot of daddy-daughter talks.
She scrunched her face before smiling at him. “I’m fine, dad. Just busy.”
Mike wrapped an arm around his daughter and pulled her close. “You certainly are. We hardly see you anymore. You’re working a lot.”
“Oh, um, yes. I do work a lot,” Sonora stammered. She needed to come clean at some point. Now was as good a time as any, and Dad was the one to tell. He was the most laid back of the bunch. Still, Sonora tensed as she worked up her courage.
“Dad…” Sonora leaned away from Mike to see his face better. “Dad, the truth is, I’ve been taking some classes too.”
Sonora hadn’t expected anger, her dad had never been angry at anyone as far as she remembered. But she also hadn’t expected the face he now wore.
Mike smiled. “I know.”
“You know?” How could he?
“Yeah, one of my buddies has a kid in one of your classes. He mentioned seeing you there.”
“Oh, so I’m busted.” Sonora laughed. “The best-laid plans are always tripped up by the smallest things.”
“That’s true.” Mike patted her knee. “You’re not busted. But I’m glad you told me. Telling me is the easy part, though. It’s the rest of them you gotta worry about.”
Sonora grimaced. “Do we have to?”
“Yeah, we do.” Mike nodded his head as he stared at her. “And you know why.”
Sonora’s eyes widened. “I do?”
“We did everything we thought of to talk you out of taking any classes having to do with the ocean. You never wondered why?”
“Money. You said money.”
“That is what we had to tell you because you wouldn’t change your mind from some kind of oceanography. But we paid for Sierra’s schooling just fine.”
Sonora hung her head. “I know. I just assumed—you don’t want to know what I assumed.”
“Honey, we weren’t playing favorites. We were trying to keep you safe.”
Sonora sat up. “Safe from what?”
Mike lowered his voice and bent toward her. “Safe from the family’s connection to the ocean.”
Sonora froze. “Dad, uh, you lost me a long time ago.”
“No, I didn’t, Sunny girl. Where were you those three days?”
Sonora felt numb. “Dad, I told you where I was.”
“Your mouth says one thing, the rest of you tells us something else.”
Sonora gave a slight shake of her head. He couldn’t know, could he? “Dad. What are you saying?”
“We know.”
“You know? About what?” Sonora whispered as she flung a glance at the neighboring table when they broke into laughter.
“We are aware of what’s out there.” Mike pointed to the ocean.
Sonora put a hand to her face. Her heart thundered. In a murmur so low it surprised her that Mike heard her, she said, “About…. about Atlantis?”
Mike grabbed his daughter and pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her. “Did they hurt you, Sunny?”
Sonora’s mind swirled as she laid her head on Mike’s shoulder. “No, dad. They didn’t hurt me at all, quite the opposite. They treated me very well.”
“No threats? Nothing?”
“No, nothing. I promise.”
Mike pulled away and searched her eyes. Seeing Sonora was telling the truth, he relaxed. “Tell me everything.”
Sonora’s words came slowly as she started, but soon picked up. It seemed surreal, telling this story on dry land. She’d held it in for so long, it seemed odd to speak of it. Sonora told him about Atlantis, the food and how the people dressed. She told Mike that Ian had saved her and taken her to his home. But she didn’t say a word about Ian’s feelings for her.
“There’s more.”
Sonora looked down and nodded. “There is, but do we have to talk about that?”
“No. No, we don’t. I’m so relieved they treated you kindly. With your grandfather’s history, I worried they had harsh feelings for the family.”
“Grandpa? What does he have to do with this?”
Mike reared back, surprise covering his face.
Sonora pressed him. “Did grandpa find out about them? Is that how you are aware of Atlantians too?”
“Oh, uh, no. No.” Mike stammered. “Um, your Aunt Claire. Because of her studies and all.”
Sonora nodded. Of course, why hadn’t she thought of that? Scientists who studied the ocean would have to know about them, wouldn’t they? She watched her dad wipe the sweat off his forehead. Still, it seemed he wasn’t telling her something. But it had been enough for today. A lot more than she would ever have dreamed of in a thousand years, and such a relief.
Sonora took Mike’s hand. “So, what now, Dad?”
“Well, I think today is a full enough day with your sister’s wedding. How about we save this revelation to tell the rest of the family another day?”
That was just fine with her.
Forty
Let Me
Chapter Forty
When Argos had opened the door to him, pity had welled up in Ian. Here was a man who was once his fast friend, and every bit as young and vital as he was. Now, look at him. Yes, Argos had lost so much. Ian understood that now in a way he never did before. But Argo's reaction to the loss of his wife had caused him to lose everything. His home, his friends, his remaining family. Ian was relieved he'd gotten himself under control before he had made the same mistake.