Someone stepped on her foot, drawing her from her troubling musings back to the equally troubling present. What in Hades was going on? Everyone was inching toward the beach.
“Reveal yourself,” the dragon with the braids was saying to the invisible being, his arms splayed wide as he turned in a circle in front of her. “If you have the courage.”
Someone gasped. Someone pointed.
Wonderful. Another surprise. Delilah followed the direction of that finger, and her eyes widened. There, above the water, the air had begun to crystallize and thicken. A force of good? Or evil? She settled one foot behind her, ready to leap and attack at a moment’s notice. The other creatures did the same, she noticed, each of them preparing for battle.
Unfortunately, the only weapons to be had were their own bodies.
Even Layel had stopped to face the swirling being. His expression was intent, though untamed, feral and savage, and somehow banked with undeniable sensuality.
“Oh, I have the courage. But do you, dragon? Do any of you? Only time will tell.” Wind billowed and wet droplets sprayed. “Citizens of Atlantis, welcome to Paradise, created for the gods yet happily relinquished to you, our faithful servants.”
Paradise? Servants?
The voice came from the water, but the air never coagulated completely. Just remained thick and dappled in the shape of a human—large, probably male. Three mermaids—a blonde, a brunette and a redhead—swam around the misty form, cooing their admiration of his power and glory.
“Be not afraid,” the being continued. “You have been chosen to participate in a monumental event. All we ask in return is that you show us your valor, strength and cunning, qualities you have amply displayed on the battlefields of your home.” He paused, probably awaiting nods and murmurs of encouragement.
He got neither. The others were no doubt as perplexed as Delilah.
A rumble of irritation sounded from the water.
“Why did you bring us here?” she demanded before the being could speak again. So far, he had offered no answers, only more confusion.
“There’s going to be trouble,” one of the mermaids sang happily.
“You will not speak to me in that tone,” the booming voice announced, the jelly-air rippling violently.
“And you can’t just—” Delilah began.
“Silence!”
A stream of water slammed into her, hitting with so much force she dropped to her knees, gasping for breath. Her mouth filled, and she gurgled and choked. Even if you are dying, show no fear. The second commandment. She might have broken most of the commandments this day, but she wouldn’t break that one.
Her gaze automatically sought Layel, the man who made her feel both protected and hated. His beautiful azure eyes were narrowed on her, his soft lips thinned. In displeasure? She hadn’t seen him move, but he seemed closer to her than before. She forced her expression to remain neutral.
“Next time, Amazon, you will be buried in water,” the being warned.
She didn’t respond, even when the water spray ceased and she managed to suck air back into her lungs. As a warrioress, she had been trained in combat since the age of five. Every time she had failed at a lesson, she had been punished severely. A whipping most often, until her flesh was torn to ribbons. Sometimes a stoning. Sometimes a parade through camp, her faults shouted for all to hear.
She understood the need for such training, and didn’t regret it. Her ancestors had been slaves to males of all races—just like the slaves they now took into their own camp those two months out of every year. Only their captivity had been eternal. Or had been meant for eternity. One day they’d risen up, attacked and escaped, determined never to suffer such a fate again. Determined no Amazon would. And so the commandments had been born.
Delilah bore both her internal and external scars proudly, for she had learned never to fail twice at the same thing. This god would not receive a second opportunity to best her.
“Impertinence will not be tolerated. We are Supreme Beings, your leaders, your creators. You will treat us with the respect we deserve, or you will suffer our wrath.”
We. There was only one being here, yet he spoke of others. Were they all here, simply invisible? The thought didn’t scare her; no, it infuriated her. An unseen, unknown enemy would be harder to defeat.
“Listen, all. You are our creations, meant for our amusement and protection, yet we have never made use of you. For too long, you were forgotten, our attention turned to the humans. But no longer must you endure our neglect. You have been remembered and now you shall know our favor.”
The voice paused again, as if everyone should exclaim with joy that they’d been remembered. When no one did, there was another irritated grumble.
“Our greatest wish is to learn all about you. For weeks we have been watching you, studying, wondering who among you is the strongest. Those touched by Apollo’s flame? Those gifted with Aphrodite’s beauty? Those with Ares’s thirst for war? And that is how you came to be here on this island, for after careful consideration, we plucked the most courageous, the most feared from the masses.” Once more the wind blustered. “Faithful servants, it is time you put an end to our wondering, once and for all.”
Delilah almost groaned. She could guess what the god—for what else could the force be but a god?—would say next. They were going to force the creatures here to fight one another. While she didn’t mind fighting, she didn’t like being jerked from her home, from Lily to—
Lily.
Damn this! What had happened to the girl after Delilah had disappeared? Had she made it home safely? Had she been captured again? Hurt? Delilah’s hands curled into fists, itching to pound something. Someone. The tenth and most important commandment was to always protect the queen and her family. Had she left Lily at the mercy of the dragons?
“This will not be an easy undertaking, nor will it be swift. Not for you, and not for us. Time is required to sift through sand and find the gold. That is why you will remain on this island,” the being continued, “where you will be divided into two teams. Every few days you will be tested, challenged, our way of dusting the sand from the gold. It will be up to you to prove your mettle and show us we were right to return to Atlantis.”
“Every few days” would translate into weeks, if not months. Her nails dug crescents into her palm. What did I do to deserve this? Courage should be rewarded, not punished.
“Before you proclaim your joy at this great honor we have bestowed upon you, you should know that we conferred many days before bringing you here, one truth very clear to us all—the weak should feel the sting of our disappointment.” There was another pause, laden with tension. “That is why the losing team will counsel with us. And why one member will be chosen…for execution.”
Shocked gasps circled the beach. Delilah’s jaw almost hit the ground. Executed? For losing a silly challenge? She could understand a beating—what Amazon wouldn’t—but death? Does it matter? You will win by whatever means necessary.
“We have no doubt that all of you will try your best. But in the end, there can be only one winner.”
“My lord,” Brand said, stepping forward. “We—”
“For now,” the god interjected, cutting the dragon off, “take this day for yourselves.