Shadows of Atlantis Part One: Awakening

Chapter 3

3

Singer's song to silence meet,

amid the shadow's site to greet.

Rest his head to quell the fear;

the meeting of the muse is near.

Magi whispers words of fate,

flying to its primal mate.

Underneath the dying lights,

standing in the darkest night.

Calling in the violet flames,

they can find the shadows' names.

~*~

Courtiers mingled in the gardens, and occasionally wandered onto the bungalows to admire the shifting surface of the water below. D'Vinid ignored the noise of their incessant chatter. After many cycles as a court musician, he no longer felt interested in carousing with them. Instead, he silently observed their strange social games, taking note of the many twisted stories that evolved daily.

Pan's revelries always boasted the highest fashion. It was a time of intricate feather collars and head dresses. Geometrical designs painted on skin, and decadent, unique jewelry were a hallmark of the era. The musicians had not yet begun the night's entertainment. D'Vinid waited by himself, leaning on the railing of a walkway, prepared to play out the night. But Kyliron would surely find out if he did. The notion of simply disappearing looked more and more attractive. These thoughts only further perpetuated the rise of consuming guilt he could not manage to shake.

He tried to distract himself with memories of the kiss he shared with the strange dreamclan woman at dusk, but the memory only brought him discomfort. His lips buzzed. Questions abounded. Was she really a Watcher like her brother claimed? What had possessed him to reach out to her like that? It was as if he could not control his actions or his words. She had awakened some kind of ancient yearning. If she was indeed a Watcher, it would make sense. She had bewitched him with her powers. But try as he might to resist, he ached for her to bewitch him again.

He shuddered as a draft passed over. The air grew colder with the closing darkness. Hugging his body for warmth, he strode down the causeway, fighting off a feeling of being watched. He carefully examined the dark corners as he passed, his eyes focusing intently on the shadows. As each examination found nothing, he began to relax his guard.

A soft hand touched his arm.

Startled, he let out a stifled yell, flinging around to face his assailant. A wave of shock knocked him off balance. "Loressai!" He clutched his chest, trying not to fall over.

Loressai Torbin was at the very root of his adversity with Kyliron. He had not seen her since he walked away from both of them. She had in fact caused him quite a bit of resentment, which he had pleasantly forgotten, until now. Again he acknowledged the Watchers for their thorough and obvious web of clues pointing straight at all the unresolved aspects of his identity.

He cleared his throat. "What are you doing here? Did Kyliron send you?" He marveled at how easily he was being played.

Dark circles framed her once beautiful eyes that now devoured him, flashing between anger and pity. "I am here with my father's contingent who is here to consult with Pan Aello. I heard you were playing music, so I came to find you." She frowned. "Kyliron and I have not spoken. What would I say to him? Sorry I drove a wedge between you and your childhood hero?" She had changed, but he couldn't figure out how. Her olive skin seemed unusually gray. The fullness of her lips was slightly deflated. She almost had the look of the madness to her. He leaned in closer, reaching out to brush a lock of raven hair from her face. She pulled away.