Avenging (The Rising Series Book 3) (7 page)

But nothing could compare to the mosaic on the floor. It was breathtaking. Colored rocks and seashells were embedded and sparkled all around. “Wait, just a minute,” she said as she let go of Ty and swam toward the high ceiling. Looking down, she could see a map of the world. The continents were black onyx, and the sea was made of colorful blues, greens, aquas, and white. “It’s beautiful!”

Triton swam up to join her. “Thank you.” He smiled.

“But why are the continents just plain black?”

“We don’t care much about the continents around here.”

“But they’re connected. You can’t forget we humans exist.”

He swam up to her and pressed a kiss to her lips. “I could never forget you, love. But the other humans—”

“Without balance between the four realms, all would perish,” Nicole said, but the words didn’t come from her.

Stop talking through my lips!
Nicole shouted to the voice inside her head. It didn’t often take over her speech, but when it did, it always made her furious.

“What four realms? I only know of three.” Ty’s brows crunched in confusion.

“I don’t know what I was talking about.”

There are things I need to say to him.

No, you are not to talk to him. You just need to shut up and go away! What’s the deal with you lately?

Ty couldn’t hear her internal dialog, but she could tell he knew something wasn’t right. He confirmed her thoughts when he said, “Nicole, is there something you need to tell me?”

“No!” she said a little too harshly. “I’m sorry. No, I’m alright.”

Great, now he thinks I’m crazy.

You’re not crazy.

Says the voice in my head.

“Okay…” Ty drew the word out. He took her hand. “Come on, I want you to meet someone.”

They swam into another room and right in front of her—like an image in a National Geographic video—was a giant squid, complete with a bulbous, cone head and ten tentacles.

“Philotheos, this is Nicole—my mate.”

Mate? Seriously, did he just call me his mate?
“Um, hello, Felo…”

“Philotheos,” Ty corrected.

“Um, yes, hello Filothesis?” She looked to Ty for confirmation that she got the name right.

“Close enough,” Ty said, smiling.

She put out her hand to shake, and the squid jerked back. A small cloud of black swirled in the water.

Ty leaned over and whispered, “He doesn’t like to be touched.”

“Oh.”
Good grief
.

A silver-striped fish swam through a door into the room. “Is this another friend of—?”

The squid whipped a tentacle out, pulled the fish in, and wrapped all of its appendages around it, forming a ball. She could hear chomping noises as it jerked. Blood leaked into the water.

“I… guess… not,” she said, frowning and wondering what other surprises Ty had in store for her.

“Come on,” Ty said. “I bet you’re hungry too.”

Nicole continued to frown as they swam into an enormous circular room. Fish swam around the room as if they were swimming laps in a giant track. There were hundreds of them: colorful ones with long tails, lumpy, grey ones, long, sleek fish with sharp, pointy teeth, and many more she couldn’t even begin to identify.

“Um, are we going to be swimming laps before dinner?”

Ty smiled and shook his head slowly.

“You don’t mean… This room full of fish can’t be dinner?”

“You’re not going to be eating all of them, just one or two.”

“No, I’m going to be eating zero of them.”

“Nikki, if you’re going to live down here, you have to learn to eat down here.”

“But… I’m a vegetarian.”

“Since when?”

“Since… now.”

“Nicole Taylor, just give it a try. That’s all I ask.”

She frowned and then got an idea. “You’re a god; can you cook one for me?”

“No, I’m not going to cook one for you. But I’ll catch some. I’ll be right back.” He manifested a trident in his hand and shot through the center of the circling fish. Seconds later, he swam back, with three fish speared, one on each of the three points of his trident.

“Fish kabobs are served.”

Nicole winced. “They’re still wiggling.”

“Fine,” he said, pointing his finger at the squirming fish. They immediately went limp. “There, now they’re dead.”

“You killed them just by pointing your finger at them?” she squeaked in surprise. “If you wanted to, could you kill me that easily?”

“Great gods of Olympus, why in Hades would I want to do that?”

“I don’t know. If I ever annoyed you—”

“You’d already be dead,” he interrupted. “Many times over.”

She held back a smile. “Very funny.”

“
I
thought so. Okay, now here.” He pulled a fish off the spike and handed it to her. “Give it a try.”

She learned two valuable lessons minutes later. First, when you threw up in the sea, it went
everywhere
. Second, whatever dinner you were not eating made a wonderful clean-up crew. She could have gone without learning either of those lessons.

Ares heavy feet pounded against stone as he climbed the steps circling a high tower, miles above Siberia. Finally, he broke through the clouds. The clear, blue sky spread out all around him. The clouds were like a billowy carpet below.

The humans didn’t know about this place. Hades, the gods didn’t even know about it. Zeus and Ares alone came here. The tower was hidden from sight from all who might seek it out. And it was blocked from all who might attempt to transport here—which was why Ares must suffer the climb. Being an extremely fit god, he really didn’t tire from the exertion, but he grew quite bored with the journey. It took him the better part of an hour to climb to the top.

The infant in his arms squirmed and squeaked, apparently bothered by the frigid breeze blowing across its skin. The babe had probably never experienced cold until now. The bowels of Hades’ realm were always blazing hot. That was the way those Underworlders preferred it.

Despite the cold, the scratches on Ares arms burned from where the mother clawed him. He could have healed the injuries immediately. Instead, he chose to hold onto them, as he also held onto the anger. The mother had forgotten the events of that night. She’d fought with all the power she could muster. He deflected the blasts of her puny god powers easily, but then she’d clawed him like an animal as he picked up her baby. Now she didn’t remember she’d ever borne a child—he suppressed the memories himself. He suppressed the memories of this child from
all
the gods in the Underworld. But the mother would feel his anger and loathing every time he was forced to suffer her presence on Olympus. She should have respected his position—as second in command to his father, Zeus—she should have denied him nothing! Not even her child.

Finally reaching the top, Ares stepped up to a large, wooden door. It swung open at his silent command. He stepped into a round, stone room with wide windows. Zeus stood before a curtained wall. Ares admired the raw power that radiated from his father. He subdued it when others were around, but there was no reason now. Up here, above the clouds, he let his radiance shine brightly. If Ares were a human, his eyes would have burned away in their sockets.

“Son! I see you do not disappoint,” Zeus said as he stepped forward and lifted the blanket. Zeus closed his eyes and breathed in deeply the scent of burning oak. “I can feel the power of this one. Incredible! Fire burns hot within you, son of Kharon.”

“Father…” Ares was hesitant to speak his mind, but his father needed to hear. “In the last week, three more goddesses discovered they are with child. That makes five pregnant goddesses. One or even two, we can handle. But five? We may have to let them keep some of these infants.”

“They are not keeping them.”

“But Father, we’d have to alter the memories of all the gods and goddesses in the Greek Pantheon. That would take more power than—”

“Bring me the five mothers,” Zeus interrupted.

“What?” Ares thought he must have heard his father wrong.

“I said, bring me the mothers. Give them any reason you want, but bring them to me.”

Ares couldn’t think of why he would want these women. Only one of the goddesses was from Olympus. Of the others, two were from the Underworld and two from the sea. One of the goddesses was Amphitrite, wife of Poseidon. Toying with her while she was carrying the sea king’s child was dangerous. Ares hoped his father knew what he was doing.

“What if their husbands insist on accompanying them?”

A smile crept across Zeus’ face. “Let them.”

“I must warn you that one of them is Amphitrite,” Ares said.

“Excellent,” Zeus said.

Ares couldn’t help the astonishment in his voice. “Is it time?”

“It’s time,” Zeus answered with a wicked smile.

Triton’s stone necklace burned against his skin. Someone summoned him. It was early in the morning. Perhaps Nicole was still sleeping. Triton floated comfortably in his sleeping chamber, wishing he could sleep a bit longer. Why didn’t sea creatures need his help in the middle of the day? It was always in the dead of night or early in the morning.

He closed his eyes and focused on the origin of the summons—the Indian ocean, deep in the Somali basin. A vision opened before him. Darkness, pain, the smell of rubble, and the whimpered cry of a Dagonian child. Triton’s brows pressed in confusion. This was the first summons he’d had from a Dagonian in the last two thousand years. After the cursed race killed all of his children, they feared Triton’s wrath—as they should. He would have struck down an adult for summoning him. But a child—never. Still, why would this child choose him to reach out to? Why not Calypso? Still, he couldn’t ignore the call of an injured child. Triton’s eyes shot open. He raced out of his room and nearly plowed Nicole over.

“Oh, wow. You’re in a hurry,” she said.

“I have to go. A Dagonian child needs my help.”

“I thought you didn’t like Dagonians.”

He frowned at her. “It’s a child. I’m not completely heartless.”

“I’m sorry. I know you’re not. Let’s go.”

“What? No. I’m going—you’re staying.”

“Why? Is this child being attacked by an army?”

He shook his head.

“A sea monster?”

“No, he’s trapped in a cave.”

“Well, then there’s no danger to me. I’m coming with you. Maybe I can help.”

He pressed his lips together in a line. “Fine.” Wrapping his arms around her, he flashed them across the world. In a moment, he found himself in the center of a hundred Dagonians. He heard Nicole gasp as she tightened her grip on him. The crowd fell silent—shock written on their faces. But one female didn’t seem to notice his dramatic entrance. Either that, or she didn’t care. She was pulling rocks from a pile of stones at the entrance of a cave, sobbing as she went.

Triton turned to Nicole.

“Go,” she said before he could speak.

He let go of her. Swimming up to the woman, he could feel desperation emanating from her in waves. Triton knew at once that her son was trapped in the rubble. She was beyond terrified. Her desperation so great that she was on the verge of panic.

“Iris,” Triton said, softly. She didn’t respond, just kept up her digging. The water tinted red around her. Her fingers bled as she clawed at the jagged rocks.

He placed his hand on her shoulder. “Iris, I’ll save your child.”

She slapped his hand off. “My baby’s buried! I have to get him out!”

He didn’t have much time. The child continued calling out for help—but his voice was fading. He needed help now, but Triton couldn’t do what he needed to do with the mother in the way.

Triton pulled the woman away from the rubble as she struggled. “No!” she shrieked. “He’s still alive. I have to get him out!” He held her against his chest as she fought him, desperate to get to her son.

Triton turned back to the crowd. “Who is her husband?”

An older Dagonian frowned in disgust and said, “She has no husband. If she did, I’m sure he’d have prevented this whole mess. I tried—” His voice cut off as his hands slapped against his throat.

The Dagonian had said enough.

The woman in Triton’s arms stopped fighting him and sobbed. Triton didn’t want to leave her with any of these men who obviously disliked her, but he must get to the child.

He felt a hand pressed against his arm and turned to see Nicole’s stricken face. “I’ll take her,” she said.

Triton shook his head. “If she fights you—”

“I can handle it, Ty.”

Frowning, not wanting to put her in danger, but feeling more and more desperate to free the child, he nodded. He passed the distraught woman to Nicole, who took her in her arms.

“It’s okay, sweetheart. He’ll save him.”

Triton warmed at her words. The woman couldn’t understand a word of what Nicole was saying, but her tone was comforting and filled with understanding. He drew some of his power from the seawater and touched Nicole’s mind, giving her the ability to speak Atlantian.

He turned his attention back to the situation at hand. Closing his eyes, he carefully directed the water currents through the rocks, pushing them apart, cradling them in the seawater as he gently moved them away. He sought out the child and found that the boy wasn’t far. He could feel what the child felt. A heavy stone pressed against his chest, making it difficult for the boy to breathe. And then there was another heavier stone, crushing his broken fin flat against the seafloor. Triton swam inside the cave. As he lifted several more stones away, he finally found the boy, who looked to be about eight years old. “It’s okay, Marcos. I’m going to get you out of here.”

When Triton removed the stone from the boy’s chest, he took in a whooping breath and blinked at Triton. “I knew you’d come.”

“How did you know?”

The boy looked surprised at his question. “Don’t you know? You’re my great-grandfather.”

Triton was shocked. He knew that he probably had some descendants—his merchildren sometimes fraternized with Dagonians. But for any Dagonian to actually admit they were tied to the Mer was unusual. They usually wanted nothing to do with him.

“Of course I knew,” Triton lied.

The boy’s pained face gained a glimmer of light, and then the light dimmed as the child groaned in pain. “My tail really hurts. Am I going to die?”

He focused and found that indeed, this boy did have his blood flowing in his veins. “No, you’re not going to die, but I need you to hold still.” Triton was not a healer, but with those of his own, he possessed the power to mend injuries, which was exactly what he did. He knit the boy’s broken bones and crushed organs back together, along with his mangled fin. His body straightened as the bones reset and flesh healed. Triton smiled as he finished and looked at his great-grandchild. “There. Do you feel better?”

The boy nodded, beaming at him. “Thank you. I knew you’d help me. My mom told me not to believe all the terrible things everyone said about you.”

“I’m glad you didn’t.” Triton’s heart swelled. It looked like Sara and Xanthus weren’t his only family. He looked up as Nicole let the mother go. She swam to them. The boy wriggled from Triton’s arms and embraced his mother. “It’s okay, Mom. King Triton fixed me. I don’t even hurt anymore.” His mother cried for a long while as the crowd dispersed.

When they were alone, Triton spoke. “So, granddaughter…”

She gasped and paled at his words. “He told you?”

The boy turned to her and said, “Mom, he already knew.”

With the boy’s attention on his mother, Triton locked eyes with Iris and shook his head. He reached out, ruffled the child’s hair, and said, “Of course I knew.”

He looked back to the mother and asked, “Well, Iris and Marcos, how are the Dagonians treating my family?” He tried to keep the tension out of his voice, but he needed to know.

At that question, a scowl settled over the boy’s face. “They’re okay when they leave us alone.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Triton asked.

“Well, I mean, they let me swim wherever I want, as long as it’s outside the city, and they let us fish in the kelp fields at night, and once a month, I get a whole day to do what I want. Last month, I got to see the dolphins!”

“What work do they require of a lone woman and her young child?” Triton asked, not quite masking his anger. His eyes pierced the woman.

“I… you want me to speak?” she asked, her voice so low he could barely hear her.

He sighed. “Yes.”

“Well… I…” She looked down. “Sew. I make window coverings, bedding, and clothing. Abalone shells make for the most beautiful tail coverings. There’s a coral field not far from here. The shells have the most vivid colors.” Her voice grew in volume, and Triton could tell she took pride in her work.

“Ew, I hate abalone!” the boy said.

“You used to like it,” she said.

“I don’t want to eat it every day!”

“We don’t have much time to hunt. I need the shells for the coverings.”

She looked up, meeting Triton’s eyes for a split second before looking back down at the sandy floor. Her face flushed red, and her voice lowered to a whispered. “That’s what I do.”

“And what does your son do?”

“He and the other boys are on clean-up duty.”

“So all Dagonian children have to work?” Triton asked.

Her eyes widened as she shook her head. “No, of course not. Just the ones that have no one to provide for them.”

“But
you
work,” Nicole said, swimming forward.

“Well, I… I’m just a woman. My work isn’t important.”

“That’s not true,” Nicole said. “It sounds like you create some beautiful things. Your work should be valued just as much as any man’s.”

Iris’s jaw dropped. She looked from Triton to Nicole, obviously wondering if he could possibly agree with something so ludicrous. Well, he did.

“I agree,” he said.

“My work provides us protection and rights to use the hunting grounds, but nothing else.”

“You get no money for all of your hard work?” Nicole asked.

“Money? You mean gold? Oh no! I’m a woman. I’m not allowed to have any gold.”

Triton could feel Nicole’s anger rise, and he knew she was on the verge of a rant. He spoke before she could. “What kind of protection do they give you?”

“They protect us from sharks, sea monsters, and other predators.”

“You do realize that sharks are no threat to you?”

“They aren’t?”

“No. You have my blood running in your veins. Sharks would smell it on you. They are my most loyal soldiers. They would always protect you.”

“Majesty, may I speak to you alone?” she asked.

“Of course, my child.”

Nicole led the boy away. “Can you show me around? Do you know I’ve never met a Dagonian before…?”

As soon as they were far enough away not to hear, Iris spoke. “I have to tell you something, but first, can you promise if you’re angry that you please not take it out on my son? I will take full blame.”

“Iris, I’ve never in my long life harmed a child.”

She nodded, obviously relieved.

“And I would never lay a hand on any descendant of mine.”

“Well, that’s the thing. I don’t know that I’m really your granddaughter.”

Triton cracked a smile. “You are my granddaughter.”

“How do you know?”

“I can feel it. You and your son both have my blood in your veins. One thing I don’t know is who your parents are?”

“My mother is Alexandria; she died in childbirth. My father died just after I was conceived. I didn’t even know who my father was until recently. I’m told that his name was Nikias and that he was a merman.”

“My fifth-born son, I should have known,” he said, his smiling expression holding a shadow of sadness. “You have your father’s eyes.”