Atlantian War

Chapter 12: The Quest

"Hekate, how can I find her?" Adonis pleaded, his eyes watering. His heart ached for her to be by his side again. He missed her glowing smile and lovely eyes. He missed Rani. Hekate closed her eyes, concentrating on the Titans.

"They are telling me she is in trouble. The Aegean Sea is out of balance, son of Elias. You must find Ranessa and restore balance to Greece, she is the key to the survival of our land." Hekate told him, her eyes flickering.

"What's wrong with her?" Adonis cried, tears streaming down his face.

"I do not know. But I will help you find her." Hekate said solemnly. "The Titans are telling me you must be one with the sea to find her. I will send Arete with you to find the princess."

"Be one with the sea?" Adonis questioned. Hekate sorted through a few glass bottles, ignoring Adonis's question, before handing him a vile with a bright aqua blue liquid sloshing inside of it.

"Go down to the sea and drink this and jump in." Hekate told him frankly. "Arete, you know what to do. She will be found at the palace." She looked back at Adonis and said, "Good luck son of Elias, restore the balance." Hekate nodded once and Arete rushed from the temple, leading Adonis down the path to the sea.

"Arete, what will this do?" He breathed as he watched the waves harmoniously lap at the island's edge. Ignoring his question, she removed the cork of the vile with her teeth, spitting out the spongy material next to her. She took a swig of the blue liquid and shivered, she pressed it to Adonis's chest. "What are yo-?" Adonis started to ask, but Arete just walked straight into the sea, diving in when she was waist deep. After a minute, Adonis started to wade in the swell when Arete didn't return for air, but she broke surface just past the surf shouting,

"Aren't you coming? Drink it and let's go!"

Adonis did as she told him and put the vile to his lips, he caught the stench of the liquid and scrunched his nose. He thought of Rani and how much she needed him and downed the liquid without thinking of the consequence.

He felt the coolness of the liquid drop down his throat and a chill rushed through his veins, sending his body into a ravenous shiver. He could feel his lungs being compressed, his clutched his chest, panic in his eyes. "Adonis! Go in the water!" he heard Arete scream at him. He felt her near him and her hand pull his arm into the surf. The continuous waves just moved effortlessly around Adonis's body as he waded deeper and deeper into the swell. He felt a burning sensation all over his body, he scratched at his chest and abdomen, trying to rid his body of this alienated feeling. "Stop!" Arete hissed, her touch felt cool and calm, soothing his sizzling skin. "Now, go under and take in a deep breath." Arete directed as she gently pushed his head under the water. He was in so much agony that he subdued to the sea, breathing in the water, wishing it would drown him faster.

When all he got was oxygen, he opened his eyes, seeing a crystal clear sandy sea bed and a aquamarine blue as far as his eye could comprehend. He looked up to see the abstract figure of Arete, her hand in the water, outstretched to him. He took it and she pulled him up, his eyes adjusting to the overcast skies.

"I can breathe underwater." Adonis smiled as he watched Arete's reaction.

"Yeah, we're mermaids now." She snorted, obviously more knowledgeable than Adonis had previously thought. Adonis glanced down at his bottom half, which was now part fish. His smile grew wider, watching as the light of day caught his blue scales. "Now that you're done admiring yourself, can we go to the Atlantian Palace before they declare war on another poor Grecian state?" Arete scoffed as she took a swan dive into the waves, her dark violet tail flicking water at Adonis. He grinned and followed her farther and farther from shore.

Adonis was as determined as ever, he knew he could find Rani. It was just a matter of time.

Rani sat on her guarded balcony overlooking the kingdom, watching the busy townspeople be about their business. It has been six days since her father had taken her back to the palace. Her heart grew weaker and weaker each passing day as it ached for Adonis's.

"Ranessa," she heard a deep voice behind her, she jolted from her daydream and turned to see the face of the mermaid who had spoken to her. It was Bryice. She scoffed at him, trying to turn back to her kingdom. He clutched her elbow and forced her to look at him. "Don't be shy," he coaxed. She hissed at him. "Your father has granted me permission to take you back to the Arctic Region for a few weeks for your safety. I just wanted to tell you now because we are leaving tomorrow." He told her as he stroked her face. She whipped her face from his touch and wiggled free from his grip.

After he left, Rani looked past the kingdom to the open sea.

"Where are you, Adonis?" Rani pleaded as she burst into tears.

To Be Continued...

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Book 1 is complete!! I just started working on book 2, Mermaid Promises so be sure to be on the lookout for its release! tell me what you think and if there are any changes or feedback you would like to add(:

thank you for reading! vote, comment and follow(:

be sure to check out some other titles by me:

The King 's Assassin

Falling For Neverland

and soon Song of the Sirens