“I have yet to see any form of technology here, aside from Raif’s kitchen, but even the things in there seemed strange. They were modern appliances, but I don’t remember hearing the hum of electricity or watching him actually turn anything on. There are no phones, cars, or televisions that I’ve seen; what is it that makes you more advanced?” I really wanted to know, I grew up with the myths and rumors of a highly evolved culture and it was killing me that these people appeared to be so archaic.
“We may not have the technology that you do, but we have this.” He winked and then was gone—popped out of existence. I sat there with my mouth hanging open in surprise.
“Turn around, Natasha.” I turned and he was leaning against a tree, pale with a sheen of sweat covering his face, laughing at me.
“How’d you do that?” I scrambled up and looked from where he had been to where he stood now.
“The Atlantean’s use a higher percentage of their brains and can manipulate things. Each clan has different traits, but as I was delivered to the palace, I was meant to be mentored by an Atlantean from the royal family. I am, therefore, developing traits of those in the palace, even though Raifuku’s been my teacher. I secretly wish I’d have landed in his clan, as his gifts are much more fun than teleportation. He keeps telling me that with time, patience, and practice I could do what the other clans do, albeit to a much lesser extent. He’s able to teleport small distances and so is the priest, but I’ve just learned it and am trying to have fun with what I can do. You should see the look on your face. It’s not as easy as it looks, but I do thank you for allowing me to show off.” He smiled as he slid to the ground, his legs unable to hold him any longer.
“What can Raif do?” I resumed my position across from him, trying to hide how eager I was to know.
“You’ll have to ask him. I’m not a person who tells tales that are not mine to tell.” He was hesitant. “While I’d love to keep talking to you, you really should try to rest, you have a very long way to go tonight. When Raifuku sent me to watch over you, he told me of his plan. This may be a small island, but you’ll be traveling to the other side, into the highest peaks. You’ll be going slower than normal, since you’ll be travelling in the dark. Raifuku cannot teleport you both there; and I fear that you don’t have time to waste.”
I looked at him questioningly. I knew I wasn’t everyone’s favorite person here, but I was staying on Raif’s land—just as I’d been ordered to. It irked me to be ordered about, but it was so beautiful here, I’d tried not to think about it.
“King Nereus will have you killed even if everyone here wants you to live. He’s never known a world outside the ocean walls. Alma xemelga’s have been nothing to him but a fairy tale that’s been told to him since birth. He knows of the history, but doesn’t understand it, as he was only days old when Atlantis descended. He doesn’t understand the need that all other Atlanteans have to find their mates, similar, in a way, to you and me. He watches the surface in the pools and sees the devastation Surface Dwellers have caused to each other. He’s in no hurry to join lands that are perpetually in war.”
“Why are you helping me then, if you know he wants me dead and you like it here so much?” My voice was soft; hiding the sliver of fear I held that he was manipulating me.
“I agree with Raifuku. His people were not meant to live in seclusion from the rest of the world. This land was meant to grow and evolve with the others, not maintain its stasis. The surface has suffered without Atlantis’ input, just as Atlantis has suffered without the surface’s influence. Atlantis needs to rise and remind the Surface Dwellers of the magic they lost and what the deep-seeded need is we all have but don’t understand.
“Your people may have fun and have brief moments of joy, but they’re not satisfied. I’m unsure they realize why that is, exactly. I had no idea that I was an incomplete person until I came here and discovered what was missing. My alma xemelga isn’t here and I want to find her. I can’t do that unless I’m able to see people outside of these lands. You’ll find that there are others who are willing to help you as well. Take Atreyu, for example. He knows you and Raifuku are alma xemelga. He knows things that no other being could or should ever know. I have yet to figure out what his power base is, but I want to. He could’ve exposed the two of you, but he understands the necessity of returning to the surface, as well as the wisdom of not continuing to anger Poseidon. He’ll delay your execution as long as he possibly can.”
“What happens when Atlantis rises, and the rest of the world isn’t ready for you?” I asked the question
