What did I say? Secrets… dark secrets… Although, at least that answered the question of how old Kaya could possibly be. If these folks lived to be five hundred, then she’d definitely had time to add up some considerable years. I mean, five hundred years! Oh, the things I’d do with that much time.
Luke nearly spat out his gristly strip. “Do you all live that long?!”
“We do, as long as we are not cursed with poor health or a tragic accident,” the guard replied, unfazed.
Or murder. I noticed he didn’t mention that. Perhaps the Atlanteans were the only race known to mankind who never killed each other. Or perhaps the Atlanteans were full of BS and were just trying to keep up their utopian appearance.
“What, their life just happens to end after five hundred years?” I chimed in.
The guard shook his head. “No, we take a serum upon our five-hundredth day that allows us to drift away peacefully, having lived long and fulfilled lives.”
So… murder? I held my tongue, not wanting to irritate our keepers.
“Is that why Kaya needs to choose a suitor this time?” Melody came in with another stellar question. “Presumably, she will take the crown after her parents die. And she mentioned she has to marry before she can become the monarch.”
“That is true, and yes, that is why she must select a suitor now, when she has not had to previously.” The guard smiled at Melody. “You seem to have a very sharp mind, miss.”
Luke scowled. “You don’t think us ‘surface dwellers’ are capable of cleverness?”
“I meant no offense.” The guard looked confused. “In Atlantis, it is customary to compliment a person’s talents. This young lady seems to have a talent for making connections, and I only wished to convey that.”
“He gets a little testy over Melody. I wouldn’t worry about it,” I said, to diffuse any tension. We didn’t want to get on the wrong side of these people.
Erebus cleared his throat, providing a timely distraction. Frankly, I was stunned it’d taken him this long to speak. Kaya must’ve really done a number on him. “That is why I hurried so much to come here. This is the last chance I have to be with Kaya. She must choose a husband, whether she cares for him or not. It would be a tragedy if the king and queen were to die and leave behind an unwed princess. Archaic, perhaps, but such is the nature of Atlantis. And I plan to ensure that she marries a husband whom she cares for very much.”
So he’d known about the deadline, no pun intended. He’d been so pushy because he’d been up against the clock, trying to get here before Kaya picked someone else. What a romantic.
“How does the selection process work?” I wondered aloud. “Is it just a line-up, and she picks the best-looking? Or are there, like… tasks and stuff? Medieval jousting? Juggling?”
Erebus grinned. “If you are fortunate, you will see first-hand, as I, Erebus, outdo all the other suitors in the many events that will test our capabilities, and become Kaya’s husband and the Prince Consort of Atlantis.”
“Won’t that be a bit tricky, being behind bars and all?” I asked coolly.
“If she does not release me of her own accord, then I will be forced to break loose and partake in the selection regardless.” Erebus gave me a hard look.
Now I knew my head was really screwed up, because I couldn’t tell if he was bluffing anymore. Did he really have the juju left in the tank to break out of this high-security death trap? He certainly looked confident. And Davin had looked unsure when Erebus had mentioned a jailbreak earlier.
“Are you finished?” the guard asked.
“I was just wondering the same thing.” I flashed Erebus a saccharine smile.
Again, the guard frowned in confusion. “With the food, I mean?”
“I think we’re done.” Nash nodded, and the guards collected the remains of our weird and wonderful meal before leaving the cell. They left the pitchers of water, after seeing Melody hold on to one so she could pour a glass for herself. The leader clearly had a soft spot for Miss Winchester. And who wouldn’t? She was a fluffball wrapped in goodness, with a gooey center of loveliness. But they didn’t know about the tough streak that showed when necessity called. A fire that nobody ever saw coming.
“Well, that was insightful.” I leaned back on my arms. “I told you these folks weren’t all they were cracked up to be. Forced suicide? No thanks.”
Nash chuckled, surprising me. “I didn’t think you’d be satisfied with second place, Erebus.”
“Pardon?” Erebus’s dark eyes glinted.
“When the king and queen die, the throne stays with Kaya, the next queen. Meanwhile, you take second place as prince consort.” Nash grinned. “Come on, you’ve got to admit that’s funny. You’re a Child of Chaos, happy to bend the knee to a mere mortal. One who will live for five hundred years, sure, but still a mortal. I guess love really does change everything.”
Erebus dusted an invisible mote from his suit sleeve. “That does not trouble me in the slightest. You think that is why I am eager to wed Kaya, so I may be Prince Consort of Atlantis? Come now.”
“Then why?” Luke asked. “What else do you want from her?”
Erebus shrugged. “You would not understand.” He shot a look at Melody. “And do not think you can read my emotions, girl. I am still a Child of Chaos, even in human form. Do not make me remind you all what I can still do if you irritate me.”
Then what do you want? What did the Child of Chaos who had everything—power, immortality, cosmic influence—want that he didn’t have? Why had he given up his otherworld, his true form, and the wife he already had?
Regardless, if Kaya didn’t let him out, and he couldn’t get himself out, then he’d miss this opportunity forever.
Maybe then you’ll feel what it’s like to lose, Erebus. The prospect would’ve given me huge satisfaction if it hadn’t been tied to my certain death. If he failed, I failed. If this didn’t work out, I could almost guarantee he’d use it as his reason to end me. He’d let Davin drown, after all. Maybe he’d let me drown, too.
Six
Melody
Night had fallen across Atlantis, and a weak silvery glow shone through the small windows gracing the far wall of our communal cell. I supposed you couldn’t technically call it night, given that this underwater world drew its construct of time from synthetic orbs that hung throughout the interdimensional bubble.
“They even have stars,” I murmured to Luke, who blinked sleepily beside me. “But the constellations make no sense. They’re entirely made up, from the looks of it. I don’t see Orion or the Big Dipper. They just made random pretty clusters and stuck them on the dome of this bubble.”
“Hmm?” Luke mumbled back. He’d been fighting sleep for a while, trying to stay awake for my sake, so I wasn’t offended that my chatter about constellations didn’t exactly have him riveted. He never liked to fall asleep before me, preferring to watch over me until the very last moment before he gave in to exhaustion. Meanwhile, I just wanted him to get some rest so he could escape from worrying about me for a few hours.