Shadows of Atlantis Part One: Awakening

Chapter 6

6

Hidden in the dream of blue,

changing what is false to true.

Whispers of the secret kind,

summon forth the steadfast mind.

Riding on forbidden time,

what lies beneath may undermine.

~*~

An orange sun climbed to its height on the third day of Ka-Ma-Sharri. The city wallowed in a languid sloth from the previous night’s celebrations as two silver streaks approached Poseidia at blinding speed. They skimmed the surface of the ocean, skipping like flat stones hurled by a Watcher or aa giant from the wildlands beyond the sea. A closer look revealed two ancient flowcraft from the Golden Age of Atlantis. Not many possessed the influence to acquire these powerful vehicles, which gave Atlanteans the ability to navigate every element.

The flowcraft neared the entry waterway, and sped up to spring themselves into the air off one of the ocean swells. On each craft, a lone rider leaned forward with palms resting on crystal spheres held aloft by metal pedestals. A red cape billowed from behind one of the riders as the craft took flight and shot like an arrow straight for the heart of Poseidia. In the air, they diverged, and one banked to the right, circling around the palace to calculate its point of entry. The other banked left. Despite their tremendous speed, their turns began to gracefully slow their descent until both encountered one another in a tight spiral and came to a hovering stop in front of the palace’s main entry.

The drivers exchanged salutes. The red-caped rider pulled the gloves from his hands finger by finger and nodded at his companion, a woman of dark skin. Her hair was woven into numerous tiny braids. Both wore goggles.

He peered up at the gigantic entrance looming ahead. Two silver colonnades with bases of alternating orichalcum and gold, marked the entrance to a silver brick path, framed by ornamental trees and bushes. Vines climbed tree trunks, displaying throngs of flowers in every imaginable color. The pathway branched off into garden walkways, and trees grew in a tunnel of green foliage.

The man directed his flowcraft down the silver path, ignoring the calls of servants who begged him not to. His dark companion followed. The path opened into a floral courtyard. A series of silver stairs led into an arching set of double doors framed by two towering colonnades. They were approached by palace guardians as the flowcraft sank slowly to the ground.

“Don’t bother trying to move it,” the red-caped rider proclaimed arrogantly. “I am the only one who can activate it.” He lifted the goggles and placed them on top of his disheveled head, pushing his hair back into an unkempt array. Sure of step, he bound forward on an urgent mission, bursting past the guardians into the palace. His dark-skinned companion remained ever at his side, casting a menacing presence.

The room beyond boasted a magnificent domed ceiling of rainbow-colored glass. Sunlight poured through windows, creating fragments of dark colors lighting the room in a prismatic mosaic.

The floor, inlaid with abundant Atlantean metals arranged in geometric precision, formed pictures and patterns inside triangles and octagons. A platform rose well above the tallest head in the place. It was made of solid orichalcum, looking like an ocean tumbled by imaginary winds. Oceanids, horses and sea creatures made up the crests of the waves, as if they were one. Sea nymphs and nereids could be seen playing flute-like instruments. Some were laughing, and two were splashing at one another in joyful frolic.

Steps curled up either side of the platform in the form of sea folk holding up their hands in solemn offering. On the very top rested an empty chair of gold, held aloft by two beautiful women emerging from golden waves, their hair flowing into the tumult. Two dolphins formed the arms of the chair on either side. The room stood silent, but for the echoing footfalls of the invaders. They stood beneath the fractal rainbow shards of filtered sun, and regrouped as two guardians approached them.