Dome of Atlantis

Chapter 12

Stop crying you crybaby, I thought to myself while I slowed my jog to a walk once I neared my room.

"Vivian!" a female voice behind me yelled.

I turned around to see Clare wide eyed looking at me. "Thank goodness you're alright. Where have you been? Felix and I have been searching the palace for you and we can't find our ruler either."

"Everything's fine, what's wrong?"

"The merman, he's not in his cage anymore and the guard on watch is gone too. Have you seen our ruler?" she asked worriedly.

As if on cue Edric walked into the palace. He straightened his back when he saw Clare talking to me.

Clare turned around to see him looking worriedly at me. She curtsied and wrung her hands together.

"What is it Clare?" Edric asked sensing her worry.

"The merman is gone and so is the guard."

He lifted his head in worry over to me.

"I didn't do anything," I said and raised both my hands.

"I know, you were with me," Edric said and looked back over to Clare. "Take Vivian to her room and watch over her tonight. We'll go searching for the merman and the missing guard."

Clare nodded and looked over to me. "Let's get you to safety."

I followed her to the room while Edric left to go gather more elves.

Clare grabbed a chair from her room and a clean pair of trouser and shirt pajamas for me after I complained about tripping on my dress on the way to my room.

My room was silent. Clare set up her chair in the corner of the room while I changed quickly into the black high waist trousers. The black shirt reminded me of a renaissance blouse of sorts with fluffy cuffs and buttons that went up to my neck. I curled under my covers and stared at the ceiling.

Clare pulled a book off of the shelf and sat down on her chair. She kept skimming through the pages. It seemed she couldn't focus on reading.

Doors out in the hallway kept slamming open and shut. The elves must be looking all over the palace.

There was no way I could sleep. I pulled myself up on the bed and propped myself against the headboard with a huff. I thought elves were supposed to be light on their feet, I thought.

Clare put her book down when she realized I couldn't sleep and she wouldn't be able to focus on reading. "You were with Edric tonight?" she asked.

Her question caught me off guard. Is she trying to make conversation or put me together with Edric? I thought. "I couldn't sleep and saw him walking out of the castle. We just watched the dome together," I said.

She folded her arms and nodded at my answer. "I wonder how the merman got out. He can't get out by himself. He'd have to have someone from outside pull him out of the cage. I hope our guard isn't a traitor."

A knock at my door caught both of us off guard.

Clare put her hand up as if to silence me from saying anything.

A familiar voice sounded on the other side of the door. "Open up Vivian, it's me Felix."

We both sighed in relief and Clare opened the door for him to come inside. The door shut behind him.

He smiled at both of us and saw Clare was with me. He smiled even bigger at her. "I just heard what happened with the merman escaping."

Clare looked over to him. "Yes, Edric told me it'd be best to watch over Vivian tonight."