The Dark-Hunters (402 page)

Arik cocked his head at the heated rancor that bled from every part of Solin. “Yet you’re helping me. Why?”

His features blank, Solin shrugged nonchalantly. “Nothing better to do. Eternity is boring. Really boring. I’m hoping that when you pop the seal on Atlantis, there will be a giant explosion to add some humor and interest to my life. If we’re really lucky, Apollymi will come out and thoroughly entertain us with a massive fireworks display. Hell, if she does half of what she did last time, there will be belly rolls aplenty for those of us who hate the Olympians and humanity.”

Arik didn’t understand how anyone could get bored with the sensations of the human existence. Never mind hate it to such an extent. But then, Solin had been here for centuries. Perhaps, given time, he’d become jaded, too.

As the song ended, the crew picked up with the Beatles’ “Revolution 1.”

“Hey, Arik?”

He turned as Tory came running up to him with a small foil package that she handed to him. “Frosted Pop-Tarts. Fudge. Trust me.” Then she went bounding off again.

Laughing, he realized it must be more food. She seemed bent on corrupting him.

Solin wandered off while Arik broke into the package and realized that Tory had excellent taste. These things were delicious. While the Beatles melted into the Bee Gees, the boat picked up speed as it raced them to the spot where eleven thousand years ago a very pissed-off goddess had destroyed her family and sent an entire continent to the bottom of the sea.

Popular legend told that it’d been Apollo who had destroyed Atlantis because their queen had ordered the death of his child and mistress. It was good propaganda for the Greek pantheon, who wanted to be thought of as the most menacing. But the truth was very different.

They were neophytes compared to the Atlanteans. Their power nothing.

Apollymi the Destroyer would have swept over the entire earth until nothing was left standing had she not been imprisoned in the middle of her bloodthirsty tirade by a trick of fate. Now she sat trapped in her netherworld, Kalosis, watching this one, waiting for someone to free her.

Even though Arik lacked his god powers, he could hear the Atlantean goddess calling out for release. She was like a beacon, summoning people to her. It was probably why so many quested for Atlantis.

The other gods were why those quests ultimately failed. No one other than Apollymi wanted her released.

He looked up to catch Kat’s gaze from where she stood on the prow. They were at odds over this, but so long as Megeara didn’t disturb the seal, what was the harm in her poking around the ruins? So she’d find a few shards of pottery and maybe some jewelry. None of that would interfere with Apollymi’s prison.

They were safe.

At least that was the lie he wanted to believe.

*   *   *

Solin froze as he moved along the deck and saw the exceptionally tall woman standing by the railing. Lithe and graceful, she was completely striking. But greater than her beauty was the power emanating from her. It was an aura he knew well. She was an Olympian.

And there was nothing he hated more than Olympians.

He approached her cautiously, sizing her up and wondering how much power she carried. “You have the presence of a god, but I don’t know you.”

Her green eyes narrowed suspiciously on him, and he knew she was feeling his powers to measure him just as he was her. “I’m a servant to Artemis.”

He laughed at those words. “
You
a servant? You have much more power than that and we both know it.”

“And you have a lot of juice for a demigod. Makes me wonder if you haven’t made a deal with someone yourself.”

Solin gave her a cocky smirk as he glanced about to make sure the humans couldn’t overhear them. “I like to keep people guessing about me.”

“I’ll bet. So what brings
you
here? Isn’t it unusual for two Dream-Hunters to work together?”

“Not really. There are a lot of tag-team Skoti out there who make it their habit to work together.” He looked her up and down, taking in her delectable body. She was prime material for his kind to play with in dreams. “I’m surprised you haven’t been visited.”

“Oh, I’m not. Artemis fed the last person who made a pass at me to a wild boar. When it comes to my dreams, she’s even worse. Only the most suicidal would tread there.”

“Oooh.” He sucked his breath in sharply at her warning that actually made him smile with anticipation. It also made him instantly hard. “You make it all the more tempting.”

She returned his smile, only hers was beguiling, with a hint of malice and challenge. “And you still haven’t answered the question of the day. Why are you here, Skotos?”

He shrugged nonchalantly. “Originally, I was just going to screw with Arik. But I’m rethinking that now. I mean honestly, this whole situation shouldn’t be the least bit interesting, but with you here that means that Artemis is extremely interested. And anything she’s interested in I’m interested in, which means things around here are about to get really interesting. Wouldn’t you say?”

“Not really. Why not save yourself the headache and sod off?”

“Oh see now, that’s no way to get me to leave. You’re pushing me away. Why?”

“I find you irritating.”

He laughed at that. “I haven’t even begun to irritate you yet. Imagine what I could do if I applied myself?”

Her eyes narrowed dangerously. “I can imagine. I can also imagine ripping your throat out and tying my shoes with your larynx.”

“Really,
kori,
you have to stop. You’re seriously turning me on.”

She screwed her face up at him. “You’re a sick bastard, aren’t you?”

“Is that not the very definition of a Skotos?”

She stepped back from him before she looked around the boat to make sure no one was within earshot. Her gaze paused on Arik. “As you can see, we already have one of you on board. We don’t need another.”

“That’s what everyone thinks, but they were running a special. Two Skoti for one, so here I am in all my glory just to get under your skin or skirt. I’m really not particular.”

“Yes, but there is a law that says you can send back defective merchandise. I can’t think of anything more defective than you.”

“I can. An immortal possessing god powers who passes herself off as a servant and expects the rest of us not to notice. Definitely defective, don’t you think?”

“I think it’s none of your business.”

“Hmm.…” He really was becoming intrigued by her, and that was highly unusual for him.

She cocked her head and looked at him. “Why do you hate Arik so anyway?”

The question was a non sequitur and surprised him. “Excuse me?”

“I have the powers of a god, remember? I can feel your emotions and they are ripe with malice. Why do you hate him?”

He gave her a patronizing smirk. “If you know that much, then you should know the answer.”

“I can only feel emotions, I can’t trace their roots. And you are eaten alive by what I feel, which also begs the question of how a Skotos has emotions that strong.”

Solin shrugged. “I’m only a halfling, remember? We’re immune to the curse.”

“Ah,” she said as if she finally understood.

He was intrigued by her tone. “What?”

“I was wrong. It’s not hatred, it’s envy.”

He laughed at the very idea.
Him
jealous of a Skotos? Pah-lease. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He could tell by her tone that she was amused by his denial. “Yes, I do. The smell of it is all over you. You’re ripe with it. Envy is just gnawing away at you like a worm inside a juicy apple.” She tsked at him. “Yep, there’s not enough deodorant in the world to mask that odor.”

She was being ridiculous and he was growing tired of dealing with her.

“This discussion is over.” He started away from her.

“Wait.”

He paused to look back. “Yes?”

“I’ve already told Arik and now I’m telling you I will not allow him, Geary, or anyone else to uncover Atlantis. Ever.”

He sneered at her concern. “As if I give a shit about Atlantis. I have much more self-serving interests at heart.”

“And what would those be?”

“As you so eloquently put it, it’s none of your business. Good day, goddess. And good luck.”

*   *   *

Arik paused as they neared their destination. Apollymi’s voice grew louder as the boat slowed. They were only a few feet away from where the main harbor of Atlantis had once stood. If Arik closed his eyes, he could still see it in his mind.

It’d been a bustling port, filled with merchants, pirates, and fishermen. Prostitutes, sailors, and officials had blended in seamlessly on the docks that had always been crowded to overflowing. The smell of fish, spices, and perfumes had hung heavy here as the capital city had glistened on a mountain from behind stone walls.

Highly advanced, the Atlanteans had been a peaceful race who’d only wanted to help others. But Zeus and Apollo had refused to let them exist that way. The Greek gods had waged war on the Atlantean pantheon by manipulating their people.

In the end, it’d been those people who’d suffered most.

Pushing that thought aside, Arik glanced about the boat that was filled with people wanting to learn the truths he already knew. Humanity was better off with Atlantis at the bottom of the sea.

The crew rushed about as they set up for their doomed excavation. Arik crossed the deck to where Solin stood by the pump. “I need a favor.”

“Haven’t I done enough for you?”

Arik scoffed. “Considering what you did to me, no. Or more to the point, hell no.”

“I would disagree, but curiosity has me by the throat. What is it that you want now?”

“Knowledge,” Arik said simply.

“Of what?”

“How to dive.”

Solin’s eyes narrowed speculatively. “Why?”

Arik gave him a droll stare. “Why do you think? I want to make sure they don’t venture into the wrong area and disturb a certain goddess. I can’t do that two hundred feet above her, can I?”

Solin still looked less than convinced. “Megeara won’t let you go.”

“If I know what I’m doing, how can she stop me?”

Solin laughed. “You’ve got a lot to learn about women.” He narrowed his eyes before he placed his hands on Arik’s head.

Arik felt a sharp stinging pain an instant before he had all the knowledge he needed to dive like a pro. Unfortunately, he also had a nosebleed. “What the hell?”

Solin looked on him derisively. “You’re human and I just rewired your brain. It doesn’t like that. As gods, we can accept these things. As a human…” He pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to Arik.

Great. Just great. Arik wiped the blood away before he went over to Megeara, who was checking the air hoses. “Where’s my suit?”

Geary actually gaped at the unexpected question. “Excuse me?”

He indicated the dry suits that were beside her. “I plan on going with you.”

Her mouth worked for several seconds before sound would actually come out. “Uh … no. This isn’t a game, Arik.”

“And I’m not playing. I intend to go with you and help. Trust me. I know what I’m doing.”

Geary was skeptical. The last thing she needed was an amateur on board.

“He’s not lying,” Solin said as he joined them. “I can assure you, he’s part fish. Jacques Cousteau has nothing on him. Aquaman, either.”

Still, she wasn’t sure as she frowned at Solin. “You do know how dangerous this is?”

“I wouldn’t send him down there if I didn’t fully believe he’d be back to piss me off.” Solin had a delivery so dry, she could rent him out as a dehumidifier.

Geary hesitated. She didn’t want any of her team hurt. Or Arik, either. “If you can swim like a fish, how is it you were drowning when we met?”

Arik tensed. He’d forgotten about their meeting. Luckily he was quick with a response. “I’d been swimming for a while when you found me and was tired. Normally, I don’t have any problems. I was just lucky that day … in more ways than one.”

There was no missing her skepticism.

Kat came up to her. “What’s going on?”

“Arik wants to dive with us. I don’t know.”

Kat and Arik exchanged a look that was both hostile and respectful. “Do you know what you’re doing?” Kat asked.

“Yes.”

“Then let him go with us. What’s the worst thing that could happen?”

Geary scoffed at Kat’s nonchalance. “Death.”

Kat shrugged. “You can die crossing the street, and there aren’t many cars two hundred feet down.”

She strangely had a point.

Kat wrinkled her nose at Geary. “Let him go. I’ll keep an eye on him. Believe me.”

Kat was the only person Geary knew who was an even stronger swimmer than she was. If Kat said it was okay, then it should be. Geary looked back at Arik. “All right. You can suit up.”

Geary watched Arik closely to make sure that he wasn’t lying about his expertise as he prepared for the dive. She had to give him credit. He wore the gear as if he’d been born to it and he did know how to dress in it. There was no hesitation in his movements at all.

But that confused her. “Tell me how someone who was raised in the mountains would have been diving.”

Arik froze at the question as he tried to think up a plausible tale. “I told you, I’ve been searching for Atlantis. It’s hard to do that on the surface. I’ve spent a lot of time on research boats here in the Aegean.”

“Hmm … you know, there’s something about you that doesn’t make sense. But I can’t figure it out.”

He offered her a soothing smile. “All you need to know is that I’m here to help you.”

Instead of those words drawing her closer to him, she took a step back and her eyes flashed with suspicion. “Yeah.”

Arik wanted to curse in frustration, but he didn’t have time. They were getting ready to go down. There were four of them for the dive. Geary, Kat, him, and Scott.

Geary led them to the platform that would lower them, along with a dredge, to the water. None of them spoke until after they’d submerged. Arik could hear his own breathing as he followed them deeper, away from the surface light.

It was murky and dark. But it was the pressure of the water against his body that was the strangest part of it all. And the deeper he went, the worse it became. It was almost oppressive, and part of him wanted to panic. But that was ridiculous. It was only water, and he was with people who knew what they were doing.