Black Hearted

Part 76

The jewel in the vault door made the carved waves along the doors glow with a beautiful prism light. Hidden within the waves of the door, a shell lit up and then formed into a shell shaped portal opening. Mark reached out to touch the shimmering opening, but Sean yanked him back by his arm. Staring into his eyes, Sean rushed out in a panic. "Mark, no! You don't know what this is! It could be a trap!" Mark shrugged carelessly, gesturing to the shimmering door as he retorted. "This is the vault. We don't have time to debate this. Just wait here." Mark tried to swim around him, but Sean moved in to block him. Without looking at him now, Sean placed his hands on Mark's chest, pleading with him hopefully. "Mark, please. I'll tolerate you going for the Sea Crown... but this? What are you hoping to accomplish?!" Mark cupped Sean's face, telling him gently. "I know you're scared, but just listen to me. Granny told me that the crown was said to be in a fountain within the vault. This challenge claims I have to swim through divine waters... What if Kai put it in here because no one could open the vault without accepting the challenge?"

Sean shrugged now, dismissively mumbling out. "I don't believe that. You didn't try any other option. You just jumped into it. Mark, I don't know anything about this place... We need to be careful." Mark nodded, then pulled him close and swam into the portal with him. Sean yelped as the cold liquid washed over him and they both fell to the rocky ground on the other side. Slowly, Sean raised up to admire the place with awe. This place wasn't under water. The vault had massive razor-sharp mountains in the back of this massive square room. Between the two mountain tops was a weird red archway with a crystal-clear waterfall running down to the massive pool before them. Sean scooted closer to the pool feeling the warmth of the water without touching it. The place was filled with a light fog and the walls were decorated in rich colored murals. Time had not aged this place and even if Atlantis was in ruins... this vault appeared unaffected. Beside him, Mark flicked his long tail to adjust onto his side, grumbling out. "What the hell is this place?"

Sean sat back on his tail more, answering as he looked at the picture murals. "It's a sea temple... Mark... The first Atlantians were Oceanids. The war... Poseidon took this place from Oceanus and his kids. He built paradise by... killing them." Mark put a comforting hand on Sean's back, telling him softly. "It's ok. It wouldn't be the first culture in history to build life on the bones of another. These things happen. Times change. People change." Sean looked at him with fragile eyes, mumbling out. "Everything I believed... Mark, I don't know how I feel about this..." Mark leaned into him, kissing his neck affectionately before whispering. "Nate once told me that knowing your past and accepting that you can't change it can be a burden. Poseidon may have killed the Oceanids... but he learned from his mistake. He may be divine, but I can't imagine they are flawless. Everyone learns from the mistakes they make." Sean sniffled a little, until Mark snuggled closer to add sweetly. "How about instead of thinking about the damage... You think about all the good that Poseidon did after learning from his mistake?"

Sean nodded weakly, his eyes catching the glint of something in the water. Pulling from Mark, he leaned over the water better. After a minute, his eyes widened, and he mumbled out in shock. "Um... Mark, have a look at this?" Mark leaned over the edge, chuckling out. "Why? Did you see a cute little-" Mark shut up the second his eyes saw the jewels beneath the clear surface. The entire base of the pool was covered in jewels of all shapes and sizes. Reaching in, Mark scooped up a handful and they ran through his fingers like fine sand. A devilish grin spread over Mark's face as he told him excitedly. "Well, I'll be damned. It is a treasure trove. Oceanids and Merfolk must have added to this pool for years. I wonder how deep it goes?" Mark leaned more into the water and Sean frantically snatched his arm, screaming out. "Mark, wait!" In the process of trying to snatch Mark's arm out, Sean slipped off the edge and fell into the pool. At first the water felt heavenly. It was warm and soothed his every scale. Then it seemed to come alive!