Shadows of Atlantis Part One: Awakening

Chapter 4

4

Priestess makes thy hand to stay

the promise of the warrior’s way.

He who seeks to take her heart

is forced with love to sorely part.

His is just the way of thieves practicing their craft.

Their way is merely wandering,

without their souls intact.

 ~*~

Fractured sun rays spilled through prismatic windows, casting gold into a mirror of marble floors. Breaking the morning’s lazy stillness, faint pattering echoed among foliage lining the temple’s open-air corridor. Robed figures marched in silent formation, passing through elegant archways and fragrant, hanging bouquets. They approached a group of temple clergy watching at a set of double doors.

The sentinels straightened as the procession appeared, preparing to challenge their entry, but relaxed as they recognized the leader. He was a priest with long, sandy-colored hair, tied back in a ponytail. His face had the wizened lines of an old one, and yet his blue eyes were young and fierce. A Nexes medallion fashioned in amethyst fell to the indentation of his throat.

They dared not object as he reached to push open the frosted glass door, its smooth contours etched with the same star symbol. His entourage waited outside.

Inside stood a statuesque woman, her alabaster skin like a beam of moonlight that would vanish in the harsh light of day. She wore a white robe embellished with gold and embroidered with the symbol of the highest priesthood, known as the Alta. Her eyes focused out the window on a view of Poseidia from its highest point, but her thoughts were turned inward. She fidgeted with a staff of cylindrical quartz, its clear, fragile body wrapped in sinuous silver snakes. At its top rested a perfect ball of lustrous rose quartz.

“High Priestess,” the man spoke gently.

She turned to face him. Her eyes were clouded. “Ah, Ilorian Thoth,” she said, addressing the High Keeper of the Archives Nexes. “Is there still no news from the king’s betrothed?” Her voice sounded distant.

“The dreamseers sensed her arrival. However, the temple escorts sent to greet her were attacked last night. They were cut down by something savage, some kind of beast. But it is said the Queen Impending was not with them when it happened.”

The priestess fixed her eyes out the window again. “I believe she is alive.”

“Of this we have no doubt. A convergence has been sensed, and her arrival is part of it.”

“I have felt this, as well. What sort of convergence would you say it is?”

“A merging of energies powerful enough to magnify one another into a crux. The Alta believe it is being wielded by a Watcher to open a doorway from the Dreamvale. The touch of Belial has been felt across the Grid. Perhaps it is his return.”

A slight smile appeared on her face, which seemed as if it would break at the disturbance of her porcelain features. “Then the dreamseers have been correct all along,” she mused. “Belial’s hand shall touch our fair Atlantis once more. Is it possible this attack is of this crux?”

He sighed. “Blood sacrifice could have formed an event powerful enough. Black magic. It’s possible more than one entity is using this great magnification for different purposes, both light and dark. Though I hate to say it, I have read it as the work of Belial’s brother. There are those in my order who oppose me on this theory, however.”