Atlantean's Quest 3: Redemption

Ariel blew out a ragged breath. Relief curled in her belly. Her people were now safely on Zaron—well almost all of her people. She’d find Coridan and get back to the transport as soon as possible, then her duties to her people would be complete. Ariel paused, imagining what her new life would be like on the planet she’d never seen. Would Zaron be as beautiful as Earth? Would it possess the wonder this lush blue planet held for her? There was only one way to find out.

She closed her eyes for a moment as emotion overwhelmed her. The vision she’d had the night before of a warrior streamed through her consciousness like the currents of the wind, rustling the branches of a tree. His face was clear in her mind. A face she was quite familiar with. Her stomach clenched. Surely, she was mistaken. Ariel had always believed that her fate lay with her people, but now she was not so certain.

Ariel knew better than most, her visions could not be ignored. Psychic from birth, she trusted them with her life.

A white-throated toucan squawked and fluttered its wings in distress. Ariel looked in the direction of the cry, but saw nothing out of the norm. She brushed away the feeling of uneasiness and finished her task.

Ariel shifted one of the marked stones. The device shut down. She stared at the transport longingly for a few more moments, before reluctantly turning back to the village. With the goddess’s blessing, Coridan would be waiting by the time she returned. Ariel picked her way down the narrow trail, brushing past aromatic ginger flowers and purple orchids, soaking in their comforting fragrance, all the while cataloging the odor in her memory as things she would miss about this planet.

After a few moments, she reached the abandoned clearing. A light breeze caught at her blonde tresses, brushing the locks gently from her face and across her bare breasts.
It was quiet—too quiet.

The birds’ songs no longer filled her ears with music. Her temples began to throb. Not being able to hear the chatter of her people caused excruciating mental pain. In that moment Ariel realized the severity of Coridan’s punishment. Being left alone on this planet, no longer able to use her telepathic abilities to communicate, would drive her and any other Atlantean insane. Abandonment was tantamount to death.

Had Eros known?

No, she shook her head. He was a just King. He would not have knowingly sentenced Coridan to death. Knowingly or unknowingly no longer mattered for the end result was the same. The thought had Ariel’s lungs seizing, crushing inward with a pain rivaling only the icy fear of the unknown that she felt.

Her skin prickled as a rustling noise came from inside her dwelling. At first it had sounded like a breeze, moving the flap, yet the air was not powerful enough to move the heavy hide. Tension filled her lungs, making it difficult to breathe. A cry from a primate shattered the silence. Ah, so that’s what it was. Ariel relaxed.

Monkeys may have already taken up residence in her hut. Goodness knows she’d had a difficult time keeping the curious creatures out when she had lived there. The noise grew louder and something crashed to the ground. What had they gotten into? Ariel inched nearer. Perhaps Coridan had sensed the shift in energy that had taken place with the Atlantean exodus, and had returned.

She decided not to call out to him. It was best he be told about their success face-to-face, mind-to-mind. Her heart swelled with anticipation—and uncertainty. It was time to meet her destiny. Ariel stepped forward and threw back the hide flap, a tentative smile on her face.

“How nice of you to join us, my dear,” the red-haired man’s voice purred menacingly.

Ariel felt the blood drain from her cheeks, the normal warmth replaced with a cold chill of fear. She raised her hands to defend herself. Before she could fire off a single energy burst, two men stepped from the shadows, their strong grips shackling her as effectively as vines. Ariel struggled to no avail. The men easily kept her subdued.

Her full breasts bobbed as she put all her strength into escape. The brown hands holding her arms tightened, threatening without words to snap bones if necessary. Sweat beaded her brow, and dripped lazily down her chest. Her gaze narrowed on the devil sitting behind her small table.

As if in a trance, his gaze followed the movement of the perspiration droplets as they caressed her and rolled down her abdomen. Ariel ceased her struggles. She didn’t want his eyes roaming any lower.

The professor’s ruddy face split into a cold snake-like smile. She could see no teeth, but knew without a doubt he could and would bite if provoked. “You’re not exactly who I was hoping for, but you’ll do,” he said, his voice coiling around her.