Proven (Daughters of the Sea #1) (21 page)

"This way."

I turned on my heel at the exact same time it dawned on me I had no idea where I intended to go. Thankfully, I spotted a perfectly ordinary door leading outside to a lavish courtyard just beyond a row of windows. We filed through curtains of sunshine beneath several olive trees. I commandeered a stone bench and shivered at the chill of its surface.

"...I suck at the breast stroke, mate," Oliver defended himself to a clearly amused Vette. His citrus-kissed hair quickly dried beneath the sun's rays and the remaining droplets of water sizzled down his bronze shoulders. "I could have won if we didn't have to do that one."

"Tell yourself whatever you need to," Blythe countered with a crooked grin as they created a semi-circle around me in the courtyard. "We all know who won."

"Amazing race, Blythe," I commended. "That was impressive."

"I always win," she proclaimed happily. The crisp indigo of her eyes flashed with a precise knowing I didn't understand. Somehow it came across as a fact, not an arrogant effort to brag.

"At least you're humble," I teased her; eliciting a laugh from the other Captains and a look that seemed to promise fire and brimstone from Blythe. I cleared my throat and glanced around to let them know things were about to get serious.

"You are the strongest of the Tydes. You've proven that on numerous occasions. But that also places you on a higher level than your peers. With that, comes opportunities most Tydes will never be given."

Their collective attention focused on my mouth as they anticipated what I might ask of them. Blythe's hardened exterior returned and a calculating grin sequestered her lips as she waited for me to continue.

"I'm about to share some information with you that must be kept secret at all costs." I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. "Can I depend on you to keep it amongst yourselves?" They nodded their heads eagerly. "Your ancestors, the Nereids, are under attack. There is a specific place that has been compromised, called 'the heart of the ocean'. It provides the Nereids their essence, their immortality...their very existence. It falters under an evil force that would like nothing more than to see the Nereids and all Tydes wiped off the face of the Earth."

Silence blanketed the courtyard as even the breeze and fluttering insects stilled. The Captains held their breath while this knowledge sank in and the weight of it settled upon their innocent shoulders. Ruby's strawberry features softened with sadness and her bottom lip began to tremble ever so slightly. Trevon's expression contorted with indignation, while Blythe remained completely still.

"We need your help," I explained gravely. "The Nereids have begun to weaken. They won't be able to assist us. Stasia and I have begun to weaken as well, just at a slower rate."

"What about us?" Tanis inquired. Her creamy Native American skin smoldered under the glistening sunbeams, but the flaming outrage spelled out in her alloy eyes was evident. "Will it make us weaker too?"

"Thankfully, no," I soothed her concerns and leaned forward once more with renewed enthusiasm. "And we hope to provide you with a way to become even stronger for a short time. Maybe even immortal." Those three simple words created a ripple amongst the Captains they were powerless to contain.

"Immortal!?"

"No way!"

"Oh my God!"

"Which leads me to my next point," I shushed them. "Only full Nereids have access to this special place, which means we need to make sure you have as much essence in you as possible since we'll need you to obtain access as well. Stasia and I can only do so much on our own. That's where you guys come in."

"Wow," Ruby gushed.

"I'm definitely in!" Vette declared.

"Hell, yeah." Blythe bit her lip with macabre anticipation.

"Don't pack your bags just yet," I quieted them again. "It is absolutely imperative that you understand what you're getting yourself into, because I want you to make an educated decision. We'll be travelling by boat to the crux. It's extremely dangerous, and the crux itself could kill you. It's a whirlpool, but you can think of it as a black hole; crushing anything that it swallows and engulfing your essence, thereby dispersing it back into the ocean. We'll be up against Selene," I paused for that information to register before dropping the next nuclear bomb, "as well as an army of dead witches."

"I'm sorry." Tanis shook her head with a nervous giggle, sending a cascade of dark hair into her face. She tucked a strand behind her ear with trembling fingers. "Did you just say dead witches?"

"That's right. Dead. Deceased. Not living." I nodded before eyeing them sharply. "So, what I need to know is this: Are you willing to risk your lives for the Nereids? Are you willing to give up everything to save our way of life?"

The resounding yes was all the answer I needed. I grinned to myself as they jumped up and down in celebration.

"Good," I interrupted for a third time. "Gather your things. We leave now."

O
LIVIA

The castle garden lay utterly quiet as the six Tyde Captains and Stasia's Council members stood awkwardly just on the other side of the wall of bushes; scanning the marble fountain, abundant flowers, and the humble stone building I saw during my last visit. I was hoping none of the possessed roots lying dormant in the soil decided to sumo wrestle me against a tree trunk this time around. Those bruises took at least an hour to heal.

"Stay here," Maera advised us pointedly. Her thin frame slipped through the row of bushes, provoking a violent wind to blast through the garden; blowing hair into my face and whipping up our clothes. To my utter surprise, each of the three grand oak trees came to life at her presence. Their canopies rustled in the newly formed breeze and golden vines writhed around their majestic trunks. The thick maze of metallic vines stretched downward, past the roots, and far beneath the grass. The Captains gasped with child-like wonder while next to me Carmen, Avery, and Phoebe stood at the ready, always on the defensive. Little did we know that was only the beginning of the show.

The impenetrable bark cloaking the exterior of the trees appeared to liquefy as it began to bulge and oscillate, taking the shapes of arms, legs, and shoulders. As our eyes proceeded to bulge out of our heads in accordance with the maidens' appearance, their bodies became fully detached; feet stepping down onto the grass below. Their syrupy consistency soon hardened and morphed into the pale, naked, fire-haired women I'd met previously.

"There's something you don't see every day," Carmen muttered incredulously.

"They're...naked," Oliver whispered, dumbfounded by what he was witnessing. His Aussie accent placed more emphasis on the 'naked' part. The six Captains were huddled to my left, eyes so wide I thought they may dislodge from their skulls entirely.

"Way out of your league, dude," Vette whispered back to him without even trying to tear his eyes away from their milky white bodies.

"Welcome, Mother!" one of the maidens crooned, embracing Maera with eagerness. Mother? So they were her daughters! Did that mean Atlas was their father? Were they triplets? Questions flooded my mind, but there were no subsequent answers rolling around in there. Not yet.

"Mother?" Carmen voiced my same bewilderment.

"Maybe it's just a term of endearment?" Avery offered quietly.

"They look too much alike." I shook my head. "It can't be a coincidence."

"But they're...trees," Avery observed with wonderment.

"Never say never on Atlantis," I said with a snicker. We quieted down as Maera peeked over her shoulder at us. She and the maidens were discussing something in hushed voices that we could now only assume involved us. One of the maidens broke away from the conversation and approached the line of bushes, successfully shielding us from a potential attack from her roots. Her otherworldly jade eyes washed over each of us like a skilled artist with a paint brush, pausing only to memorize a particular flaw to be rectified or noted for further inspection.

Her voluptuous hips moved with a fluid grace that harkened back to the golden vines we'd seen just moments before. Boundless, crimson hair rode on the wind behind her and a smile kissed her rosy lips as she bowed her head in respect. Her inspection finally brought her to me while I waited for her to speak. Or kill me. I suddenly wished Sebastian was there. Just in case it was the latter.

"Paladin of Anastasia," she addressed me with esteem. "Please enter." Not wasting any time, I pushed through the bushes and stood before her, feeling somewhat over-dressed.

"It's an honor." I bowed my head to her in response. "Thank you."

"We've been expecting you," she informed me, her tone resolute. Interesting. I, on the other hand, hadn't gotten the same memo. Luckily, she continued. "Achilles left word that we were to provide you with a generous amount of elixir."

I was so relieved at her words, I could have hugged her. I didn't miss the surprised gasps of the Captains positioned directly behind me, eating up every word that was spoken. My heart swelled with the knowledge that Sebastian had thought of me and made sure I would have everything I needed when we followed them to the crux. He knew we'd never stay on Atlantis while they put themselves in danger. Instead of hugging the very naked woman in front of me, I kept my composure and just responded with a simple, "Thank you."

"Come," she insisted, spinning on her heel without hesitation. Glancing back at the group, Carmen's ever-growing contempt for me manifested in her dark, ebony eyes as they narrowed at me. I threw her a dazzling smile and a smug wink before trailing the maiden to the quaint structure at the back of the garden. Without a word or even a second glance to make sure I'd followed, she slipped inside the shadowy interior. She produced two brilliant tubes of golden liquid and placed them over my head to hang precariously around my neck. I tucked them beneath my shirt and squelched the insatiable urge to taste it right then and there.

An odd gurgling sound diverted my attention back to the fountain and a surprised yelp slipped from my throat, although it sounded more like a scared animal than an immortal Paladin. I instinctively raced forward but was stopped short by the maiden's curiously strong arm and a patronizing, slow shaking of her head. Carmen's body hung lifelessly in midair, held by a lily white hand thrust into her chest. Her chestnut hair swung free in the breeze as her head lay back with eyes closed. The limp quality of her legs and arms sent my pulse racing.

"What are you doing?!" I demanded and pushed past the maiden's outstretched arm, only to be stopped once more by Maera's. My gaze momentarily shifted to Oliver, who was standing behind the bushes...puking. 

"She's testing her." Maera secured both of her hands on my shoulders with a vice grip, detaining me from attacking the maiden.

"By killing her?!" I bellowed uncontrollably, my entire body surging with adrenaline. My fight-or-flight response only operated in one mode: Slaughter.

"If she is of worthy strength, her heart and essence will be able to support the weight of her physical body," Maera countered easily. I watched her with disbelief. How could she be so relaxed when the maiden's arm was currently inside Carmen's body?

"And if she's not?"

"She'll slip into unconsciousness from the pressure and require several days of rest and healing."

"We don't have several days," I cautioned her dryly.

"Then let's hope she passes," she attempted to joke, although it was immediately rejected by my steely gaze. Her expression softened with understanding and she tried a different tactic. "It is imperative the maidens test each one of them. If their essence is not tenacious enough to handle the powerful forces within the elixir, it will most certainly kill them. It is better to know upfront then have to deal with the consequences later."

"Why didn't I have to be tested?" I inquired carefully, afraid there was an even more heinous test awaiting me involving other delicate organs.

"As a full Paladin, you are already immortal; meaning you are deemed strong enough by default."

That one small piece of good news did little to mask the disturbing scene unfolding before me. My breath caught in my throat as the maiden tilted her head in thought and painstakingly lowered Carmen back to the ground. She extracted her hand from Carmen's chest in one quick motion, leaving no visible wound, but Carmen still slumped over in pain. I scrambled to catch her as she tumbled forward.

"Are you okay?" I insisted in a hushed voice. I pulled her to me, uncorked one vial of elixir, and poured it into her mouth. Then I wrapped an arm around her waist and helped her onto one of the benches nearby. "'Cause if you're not, I won't hesitate to kick that naked chick's ass."

She peered up at me with skepticism, but her eyes were still pinched with agony. "I'm fine, Olivia. I knew I'd be strong enough."

"You don't look fine." I gestured to the way she was crouched over, clutching her chest. She furthered my argument as she winced with each movement.

"Daughter of Oreithya," the same maiden that caused her pain was now standing before us. She presented Carmen with a miniature glass of the same elixir that had begun to cascade from the fountain. "Drink."