Author: J.A.K - An idea that
has been resting in my mind for a while.
Disclaimers- The characters and
setting used in this story are not my property. They are the property of Ms.
Frank (brilliant woman that she is) and her publisher. They are only used for
my pleasure and the readers' entertainment- a.k.a. ...no profit. The Night
World, soulmate principal, etc. are the property of Ms. Smith (brilliant woman
that *she* is) and her publisher.
Summary: In a time where the city of
Atlantis is not yet lost, a single girl
struggles desperately to realize her destiny amidst the corruption of an
empire.
Rating: Pg-15
Things needed to know
before reading this story, as written by Ms. Frank:
Aztlan: Is really the lost city of Atlantis. Aztlan
is comprised of several different islands which are headed by a specific clan
or cult.
******************
This is where things can get a bit complicated, but if you follow through with me, I promise that this will be a great story!
^There are 10 clan's
and cults^
Clan of the Horn: location- Hydroussa and Tinos; Cheiftain- Sibylla
Clan of the Vine: location- Naxos; Chieftain-
Dion of the
Bacchi
Clan of the Wave: location- Siros and Myknossos; Chieftain-
Posidious
Clan of the Stones: location- Paros; Chieftain- Nekros
Clan of the Flame: location- Milos; Chieftain- Talos
Clan of the Spiral: location- Aztlan; Chieftain- Imhotep, inheritor- Niko
Cult of the Snake: location- Nios; Chieftain- Kela-Ata Embla, inheritor- Selena
Cult of the Bull: location- Folegandros; Chieftain- Minos
Clan of the Muse: location- Delos; Chieftain-
Atenis
Clan of the Olimpi: location- Aztlan;
Chieftain- Zelos, inheritor- Phoebus
****************
^Greek and Egyptian
vocabulary^:
Apis- bull
god
Eee- greek exclamation; i.e.- yes?, right?
Golden- term for the ruling class in Aztlan
Hreesos-
the Golden One; title for the ruler of Aztlan
Kela- Tenata- goddess of
beauty
Pateeras-
father
Skeela-
Greek for bitch
*******************
Fact 1: Women having
uncovered breasts are an accepted
part of Aztlantu culture. It is not seen as indecent
exposure. Ironically, an exposed back and shoulder is though. Weird I know, but
try to conceive of this notion and every thing will be okay.
Fact 2: Egypt is the sister nation of
Aztlan, because of its geographical nearness and
close relations.
Fact 3: Egypt, as we all know, may
have had a few persons of "white" complexion, but the people of the
land were not Anglo- Saxon in features.
The Aztlantu people however, are Anglo-Saxon in features (because they are the fore-fathers of
the Greeks. according to Ms. Frank).
Some families on the other hand, have mixed with the Egyptians [like one of the
main characters in the story, namely Sibylla, whose
Father is Aztlantu but mother is Egyptian (a scenario
which I personally created)].
The results are people of varying complexion's, but features still--mostly-- of
the Anglo- Saxon persuasion.
An part 2: If you've read the information I am sure pleasure will follow if you give this story a chance!
^Prologue^
Sibylla's jade colored eyes wavered as they stared past
the restless cacophony waves of Hydroussa and onto
the distant shores edge of Naxos, her lost clan
brother's home. Rolls of thunder hummed evenly beneath the faint layer of
clouds that protected Apis' residence and blanketed the warm night
sky. Frowning subtly, she remembered that it was a night very much like this
that Dion had been taken forcibly and cruelly away
from her.
Disturbing images of his small, lithe frame flashed before her
mind in a torrent of silent torture. If only she could see his face, or hear
his boyish laughter once more. Sibylla sighed and
shook her head lightly. Now was not the time for lamentations. Now was the time
for action.
She snapped her fingers swiftly, instantly garnering the attention of her five
bearers. As she instructed them of her plans to continue her search into the
depths of the great beyond, she could see quiet lines of resentment strung
softly across the plains of their faces; resentment that had been brought about
by the discomfiture of their forced subservience to a young slip of a girl,
whose head barely reached the tops of their elbows. Sibylla
merely waved a hand of dismissal and again shrugged slightly to herself. The
choice of ruling so young and so suddenly had been no choice at all. The
goddess, Kela,
had destined her to be the chieftain of the Clan of the Horn. It was all, as
they said- meant to be.
That particular belief reinforced her certainty time and again, that there were
no accidents, just unforeseen paths assembled graciously or vengefully by Apis and the Kela- Tenata.
It was no accident that
her pateeras
was Posidious, brother of Hreesos Zelos,
and that her timing in birth had happened in just such a way, that made her
become one of the mighty Golden. From nativity it was
clear that she was meant to have visions, just as surely as she was meant to
find him. So even as she smelled his scent in the motionless wet air- even as
the stars whispered to her that tonight was the night, she knew it to be so,
even before them… because she was and forever would be the Oracle.
************************************************************
Sibylla felt her sandals slip into the uneven patches
of moist sand. Apis
yawned and the wind stirred anxiously, wrapping itself through her coarse, curly
black hair. She allowed herself a grim smile. Tonight would be the night. She
would once again be with her best friend since birth. She would have her
brother back.
Sibylla walked unsteadily over the small islands
protrusive rocky mounds. Her small hands were her only guidance in the blacker
than black night as she hesitantly felt her way through the dark.
"Mistress, we hear movement coming from the far north."
N'Cara spoke. She was one of the bearers who were
extremely useful as a servant, but even more so as a friend.
"I want a bird sent to Selena telling her that I have found
her blood brother." The smooth texture of Sibylla's
voice belied the tightness of her muscles in her stomach and chest.
"But Mistress" N'Cara said, "We have
not yet seen the young Lord. And even if we did, we do not know whether he
is." she looked down at her golden tipped breasts, a gesture that meant
she was nervous. "We do not know whether he is in his right mind."
Her words trailed off, leaving an awkward span of tension in the wake of
silence.
Sibylla raised her chin confidently until it was
parallel to the ground on which she stood. "But you forget N'Cara, I and I alone know whether or not he is sane. And I
tell you now with absolute certainty that he is." Her voice sounded and
her face appeared much older than her twelve inundations.
N'Cara's eyebrows shot up until they met her
hairline. "I meant no offense Mistress-"
Sibylla raised her hand in impatience and distress.
"Please stop N'Cara.
I know you didn't mean to offend me. And again, for the last time, please
reframe from calling me Mistress. You know it makes me nervous."
The older woman sighed. "I just don't want you to get your
hopes up, Sibylla,
and then be disappointed when your vision doesn't come to fruition."
Sibylla ignored her, her mind already on new things.
"Do you hear that?" Even the dimness of the night could
not hide the bubbles of excitement that poured over her face.
Every servant that could discern her words, stopped to listen carefully.
Before she could give them a chance to reply, she took off with a speed that
only youth could produce.
N'Cara gasped. "Sibylla no!" She ran after the
twelve-year-old, all the while yelling scolding remarks at her.
Sibylla halted in her sprint as she realized the
sounds being made were those of dogs. They were in a small group, some sprawled
on their bellies, others baying into the reserve. Their symphony of whines and
moans were cut short as they noticed the tiny intruder.
She felt the immediate fear any girl would feel when surrounded by seemingly
vicious creatures. Then Sibylla remembered that she
wasn't just any girl, she was an Oracle. She reached out with her psyche- with
all the training she could muster- and wrapped reassuring waves of comfort
around their frightened minds.
By the time she felt she had their trust, N'Cara had
finally caught up to her.
"Now this is just another thing that proves you are truly Golden, because
there is no other girl in all of Aztlantu who can run
like you, save Kela- Ileana, and she's twenty-three."
The bearer looked down at the child's face. It was then she realized that it
was utterly crushed.
"N'Cara, he's not here." The girl flung
herself into her surrogate mother's waiting arms.
Lines of worry creased the older woman's brow as Sibylla clung to her neck and sobbed.
"You must not lose heart Sibylla.
We will find him soon."
"No." She shook her head making the accumulated tears fly off of her
cheek. "We're never going to find him." Her brown face was cast into
an unnatural light by the sharp beams of the moon. "Apis himself spoke to me tonight,
as well as the goddess, and they both of them told me that here was the place-
that tonight was the night- and they have both lied."
N'Cara clapped her hands over Sibylla's
mouth. "Do not speak like that girl. Do you want further bad fortune to
fall on you because of words that were said out of hurt and anger."
Sibylla opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by
a loud cry of "Mistress."
The others had found them.
"What." She yelled, too taken by grief to notice her lack of
etiquette that was beholden to her position.
"Mistress, we've found something... or rather someone." Their voices
were mingled together in a way that anyone listening would call exhilaration.
A large smile enveloped N'Cara's mouth. "Do you
hear that Sibylla? They've found someone." But
the young girl did not return her attempt at optimism.
Instead she crossed her arms in a gesture reminiscent to that of her late
mother. "They probably haven't found anyone." She turned her face,
eyes gazing upon the eclipse of tall oil grass and fine leafed limber trees.
"Let us check on it anyway."
They quickly crossed the clearing that separated themselves with the other
party.
"Look Mistress." Sibylla peered over the
path they had created for her. "Is this not the young Lord?" She
faintly recognized the person who spoke to be Netor,
one of those who had looked upon her scornfully earlier.
She edged closer to the young creature who performed
with the motions of a wild animal, but had the appearance of a boy. Unable to
let her hopes get the better of her again, she stepped hesitantly forward,
hands and palms sweaty and trembling.
"Dion?"
She whispered.
The boy looked up with a jerk of reaction that appeared to be involuntary. He
was unfamiliar with those that trapped him within the circle of bodies, but he
realized from somewhere in the fissure of his mind that the one who spoke was
okay.
Sibylla stepped even closer.
"Be careful Mistress. He has been among dogs for almost six years. He may
not remember who you are. He may not remember who he is."
She stretched out her hand. "You remember me, don't you Dion?"
His pale face became even paler as what could be deemed as recognition, masked
his eyes.
"We played together as children. You, me, Phoebus,
Nestor, sometimes Niko, and Selena."
N'Cara thought it would be inappropriate to mention
the fact that they were still children.
Sibylla, unaware of her bearer's thoughts, pressed
onward, stepping closer still to the boys' filthy body.
"We were the best of friends, and no one loved you more than
I did." A considering look crossed her face. "Maybe
Selena." She inhaled deeply. "Then one day Zelos,
your pateeras,
took you away, never telling anyone of your location. I always believed it was
to save you from that skeela
Ileana, but that is yet another story." Her eyes filled with tears again
and a few drops unremittingly wrestled their way down the sides of her cheeks.
"That was the last we ever saw of you Dion. That
was six years ago. You were eight, I was six. That means that you're fourteen
now."
No one dared breathe too loudly, afraid of breaking the trance that the young
boy seemed to be caught in.
Sibylla was now an inch within touching distance of
him.
"I have never stopped searching for you. I-I- I've missed you."
Dion appeared ready to respond, but realized he
hadn't spoken in several inundations... and didn't remember how. He also hadn't
stood on his legs in two, maybe three years.
The girl Sibylla, suddenly crouched down to his level and stared at him. As
he gazed carefully into her watery eyes, he knew immediately that he would have
to say goodbye to his four- legged family. He would have to regain those lost
abilities he once had, seemingly a lifetime ago. He would have to go home.
Then the Sibylla, touched his face, and Dion's instinctive reaction was to snarl first and then
bite. But the girl was too quick. She pulled back before his teeth could
connect with her fingers, but a startled gasp still escaped her throat. One
that made him realize that before any of those aforementioned things could be
done... he would have to be tamed.
Next chapter: They are in their own present time and are also young adults. Find out the structure of their kingdom and how the Night World is intertwined with Atlantis. Also… is their a chance for romance?
An part 3: Reviews are muchly appreciated and greatly adored!
