Dome of Atlantis

Chapter 26

The wet cloth on my head started to slip before Clare caught it and drenched it in another bucket of water.

"Her fever's calming down," Clare told Edric. She sat up from her chair and motioned Edric to her chair.

Edric stopped pacing in the background and walked up close to me.

I reached my arm up and winced after I felt a sharp pain shoot through my side.

"Easy there Vivian. No need to push yourself," Edric said and sat down where Clare was.

"Is it bad?" I asked Edric and Clare.

"The worst is over," Clare said and came back into view.

"You're a fighter Vivian," Edric told me and then looked over to Clare. "You're sure the worst is over?"

"Positive," Clare said with a smile.

"I'll leave you in her care then," Edric told Clare and looked back over to me. "Get better Vivian so I can take you on better dates." Edric got up from his chair and headed for the door.

"Where are you going?" I asked Edric.

Edric stopped at the door and turned. "Don't worry about me. You need to get better," Edric said.

He's going after Heathe and Ben with Felix, I thought. I leaned back in the bed. "I'll hold you to those dates Edric," I told him and felt my heart flutter.

"You can count on it," Edric said with a smile and left the room.

I looked back over to Clare. "How long with it take for me to be able to stand back up?" I asked.

"I sent one of our medics to go get some medicine. If all goes well you should be able to move about a few hours after you take the medical herbs he brings back."

"Thank you Clare," I said and closed my eyes.

The pain started to dull while I waited for the elf medic to return.

I must have dozed off because when I woke next there were leaves strapped to my side and my injury was numb. I closed my eyes once again to sleep, but heard the door click.

I opened my eyes to see the pilot Max walk in.

"Hey stranger," he told me. "Doesn't feel great being bedridden. They'll take good care of you like they did for me. Your injury's not as bad as the ones I had so you should be good in no time." Max walked over to my bed and sat in the chair Edric was in earlier.

"How have you been Max?" I asked.

"I'm alright. How are you Vivian? From the gossip around me I heard a creature attacked you and Edric. I hope he looks worse than you."

I chuckled. "I wish. Felix and Edric went after him, but I don't think they'll be able to fight him since he'll be in the water."

The door clicked open.

Max and I both looked at the door and were greeted by Ben.

Max stood up "Ben, what are you doing here? Vivian just got attacked by some creature."

I gripped the sheets on the bed. "Max Ben's on that creatures side. He tricked all of us to trust the mermen."

Ben put both of his hands up. "What are you talking about Vivian? I think you're getting mixed up."

Just then Ben swung at Max. Max ducked while Ben's fist went through the air. Max punched Ben in the abdomen and they both locked arms with each other.

I sat up and stepped out of the bed. I winced when I felt a sharp pain deep in my abdomen. The outside was numb, but the medicine didn't numb all of the injury. I rounded the bed to help Max by grabbing the back of Ben's hair.

"Help!" I screamed. I turned my head to scream towards the door when I felt a kick in my stomach.

Ben kicked backwards into my stomach and the force pushed me away. My fingers pulled his hair a bit before I fell against the wall onto the floor.

I looked up and saw Ben's leg that kicked me swing forward and kick Max's leg.

Max started to fall before Ben freed an arm and punched Max in the face. Max fell onto the floor with a thud. He was knocked out cold.

I attempted to get up and felt another sharp pain in my side.

Ben leaned over me and pulled a cloth out of his back pocket. He swatted away my arms from clawing him and shoved the cloth over my face.

I tried to pick up my legs to kick him, but the room started to shake. Chloroform, I thought before I passed out.

My arms felt numb when I came to. I looked down and my heart sunk. The mainmast of the ship was broken close to a ninety degree angle. My arms were tied to the top of the broken mast.

"Lovely sight isn't it Vivian?" Ben spoke.

I looked over to see Ben propped in a safe position on the top of the sail next to the mast I was hanging on. "Let me go Ben," I said and heard my voice shake.

"Better be careful with your word choice. My orders are to hold you here until your precious prince comes."

"Why are you doing this Ben?"

"Quite simple. Maxwell and I have an understanding."

"What do you get out of this?"

"You talk too much. I guess I can pass the time a little bit until Edric shows up. I left him a ransom note."

Ben cleared his throat before he started to speak. "This plan has been going on for months. Your father didn't send me to get you. I found his address book and a picture of you in it along with your name written on the back of your photo. I plagiarized his handwriting and signature to send you that note for you to take this trip. I met Maxwell before your father."

"How?" I asked.

"Tut tut sweetheart, let me finish. My ship sank and I was saved by Maxwell. He told me that he'd give me this island and a hefty lump of gold if I'd bring you here. A ship was passing nearby and Maxwell helped me board it to look for any women. Long story short, I didn't find any woman on the ship or on the island we ended up stopping at. That island I stopped at was the island your father was excavating."

"How'd you get Felix and Max to come along?" I asked and instantly felt sick as I teetered a little. I looked up to see my hands turning red from the rope holding my weight at my wrists.

"Maxwell stocked me pretty good with jewels before I headed back to the states to get you. You can hire people pretty easily with the right jewels and money."

The thought of Maxwell's and Proteus' mother's jewels popped in my head.

Ben stood up straighter in his position and looked down. "Looks like he got my note," Ben said and wrung a bell.

I looked down and saw Edric approaching with a sword in hand.