Shadows of Atlantis Part One: Awakening

Chapter 1

By Mara Powers

1

Once a golden city glowed upon a chosen site,

built within a sacred spring amid the ocean’s might.

Rings of land and rings of sea, crafted circles, three plus three.

Reflecting off the world it ruled, it lives eternally.

And to the esplanades a'fair, a painted lady came one day.

Bade to love the people, for eternity to stay.

She would hold their hopes and give their dreams a place to live.

She would take their story for a future world to give.

 ~*~

Shrill screams and curses punctured the afternoon’s sunny stillness. Emerging from a flower-framed archway, a man ducked to escape missiles of pottery aimed at his head of messy curls. His childlike expression beamed with amusement as a woman’s voice pursued him into the narrow street.

“You have no business showing your face here, D’Vinid!”

D’Vinid rarely expended energy unnecessarily. Even in flight his movements had a feline elegance, which carried him lightly to the end of the lane where a set of twins waited purposefully, perched on a low wall. Their faces were painted with smug amusement as he emerged from the fragrant corridor, his long legs expediting his escape. They rose to their feet applauding lightly with thespian admiration.

Adorned with bright noble attire, the twins stood out among the commoners, turning the heads of all who passed. Both had long sharp features and devilish eyes. Their thin beards seemed to exist for the sole purpose of framing their wrinkled smiles.

D’Vinid stopped to straighten his clothes, adjusting the feathered hat that flattened his wild curls. He examined the twins suspiciously, and reached back with momentary panic to make sure his musical instrument was still safely strapped to his back.

“What are you two doing here?” he asked, his eyes narrowed.

Kayden Aello had slightly wider features than his twin. It was the only means by which to tell them apart, though sometimes if they were not together, even that difference could fail to distinguish one from the other. “Good job, D’Vinid!” he cried. “As always, you never fail when it comes to getting the show started!”

Jensyn, the other twin, always prefaced his words with a dramatic gesture of some sort, contrasting his more rational nature. “We’ve come to make sure you keep your appointment to perform at our father’s revelry tonight.” Jensyn draped an arm over D’Vinid’s shoulder with a genial smile.

“I was on my way there!” D’Vinid protested. “Your father does not have to monitor me.” He trailed off, looking back at the seldom used corridor. “How did you find me? A locator-crystal? I don’t seem to recall imprinting one for you.”

Their looks were too innocent for anything but guilt.

“You say you were on your way to father's revelry?” Kayden interjected. “What a coincidence! That’s where we’re heading. We can go together.”

D’Vinid smirked and took one regretful look back at the florid home of his attacker. With a sigh, he waved his hands in surrender and stepped into the bustling market.

The old dabrina strapped to his back made it more difficult to dodge through the crowded marketplace. Though it was as homely as dabrinas came, he believed its depth of tone to be the reason for his popularity. No other resonance could compare to that which came from the heirloom passed to him by his mother. Though he could not remember her face, sometimes when he played, he thought he could hear her laughter in its song. In her absence, the instrument had become his most steadfast and loyal friend.