Chapter Six

Once they slipped beneath the surface of the Northern barge, the three followed one of the anchor cables down. The ocean seemed dark and dismal to them. No longer welcoming or safe, it would never be their home again.

Thera gasped at the unexpected sight of an Atlantean reaching out to touch the titian hair flowing around her human body. "No, don't touch me!" she screamed telepathically. "I can't believe I was ever so horrid looking." She shuddered and drew back from the large, slimy, squid-like creature waving its tentacles toward her.

"But Thera, do you not recognize me? I am your sister, Otria. Please, Thera..." The creature stretched out a thin, sticky looking appendage.

"Otria, I cannot bear to look upon you as you are now. Why have you not merged with a human? You must join us," Thera insisted.

"I will not. I have had a dream, Thera. I knew you would be here today in the waters and I waited for you to arrive. You must listen. Aluride and Protan will fail. The crystals are too powerful to control. They are recreating the very events that led to the destruction of Atlantis. The 'Fire Crystals' caused the seas to churn, the volcanoes to erupt, and the earth to tremble. Father thought he could control them, but he could not. They are far too strong. In my dream, Aluride loses control also—"

"No! Stop! I won't listen to this. I have fashioned the crystals myself. We will raise Atlantis, and you and all the rest will see. Now, get away from me you ugly, pathetic creature." With that, Thera ignored the mental pleadings of her sister and hastily returned to the barge. She refused to dive again.

* * * * *

Everything was prepared. The towers sat waiting atop the barges, adjustable clamps ready to be tightened on the crystals. They would be put in place during the last hours. Thera oversaw the final polishing and then helped operate the robotic arms that slid the titanium caps over the facets of the three huge marquis-shaped crystals. She firmly shut out the warning from Otria to concentrate on her work.

Aluride and Protan covered all the calculations once again, refiguring and triple checking the most minute of factors. The tiniest fraction of a millimeter off would spell disaster. They completed another satellite scan of the area over their lost continent for changing weather patterns and anomalies. A sudden storm or unexpected shift in the currents could stall the entire operation. They researched yet again to determine the exact time of day for the strongest rays from the sun.

At last there was nothing else to be done, nothing to do but wait.

The evening before the crystals were to be moved, Thera made a decision and, what was for her, a bold choice. She waited until she heard Aluride enter his cabin aboard the ship and followed him. The sound of running water told her he was rinsing the day's sweat and salt from his body. A custom they had trouble adjusting to, but the disgusting smells of unwashed human flesh drove them to it from necessity. Thera stripped the simple shift she wore from her form and opened the frosted shower door.

"Thera, what's wrong?" Aluride hurriedly reached for the taps to shut off the water.

She stayed his hand with hers. "No, leave it on, please. There is no problem... Well, except... I cannot bear these yearnings any longer." Thera ran her hand up his arm and along his shoulder, finally bringing it to rest in the curly hairs sprinkled across his chest. "Please, Aluride, don't turn me away. Once we move the crystals, we will be too busy for anything else. And if we should fail..." Thera held back a sob, thinking again of Otria's warning, then she rushed on, "Should we fail, I want to experience the human joining at least once, with you."

Aluride growled, "We will not fail, but I can't send you away. I have wanted this joining for too long. And once will not be enough, I fear." He grasped behind her neck, one large hand tangling in her wet titian hair and around her waist with the other, using them to pull her awkwardly closer to him. His desire was an unmistakable force between their bodies as the warm water ran over them.

Together they learned the bittersweet joys of kissing and caressing. Passion seemed familiar to their host bodies and only the shock of the water running cold separated them. Aluride hurriedly turned off the taps and wrapped both of them in large towels.

Thera thrilled to the sensations created as he dried her with the soft terry cloth. A squeal and then a giggle escaped her as he swept her up and carried her to the bed.

Aluride thought he would go mad if he did not get this warm, human female beneath him soon. How did human males deal with this uncontrollable burning intensity? The throbbing urgency in his loins drove every rational thought from his brain. He kissed her and then dropped her to the soft surface. Jerking her towel away, he took only a second to look at her shapely form before falling upon her like a lustful beast.

Thera welcomed him with wanton arms, and her needs and desires proved a suitable match for his long into the night.

Even in her sleep, as she finally lay sated and content in Aluride's arms, Thera heard Otria's thoughts repeatedly. She determinedly refused to tell Aluride. He had worked too hard and too long for this and she knew he wouldn't listen anyway. Her fate was sealed—tied irrevocably to this dream of Aluride's. She had left behind immortality for this human body with the wild red tresses and these unruly emotions, and she would not, could not bring herself to regret it.

Success or failure? They would know within two Earth days.