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Six sharks swim around a craggy underwater mountain. The mountain is covered with various underwater plants and sea life. The sharks circle the mountain as they look for an opening.
The lead shark spots a large, sunken Spanish rowboat, smothered through time with barnacles and plants. Behind it sways a wall of seaweed. The lead shark swims through the seaweed as the others follow.
They enter a darkened tunnel with just enough light to see. As they swim, after about fifty yards, a giant green eel, big enough to swallow a whole shark, lunges out from a cave and stops in front of the sharks.
The sharks stop, float a bit backwards as he grits his razor-sharp teeth. The eel moves to the lead shark, sniffs him, snarls, then retreats back into a cave.
The sharks continue to the end of the tunnel where rays of light glow from an open body of water above them. As the sharks reach the surface and stick their heads above the water, they transform back into human form.
Their bodies are covered with fifteenth century garments, plain tunics of wool tied at the waist. Leggings and sandals complete their dress.
Thanos swims the short distance to shore, the others follow. The cavern rises to a height of one hundred fifty feet. The inside of the mountain is craggy and barren with no vegetation.
A huge man, Glaukos, sits in a huge throne. He wears a colorful robe, a golden belt and holds a huge trident. He is ten feet tall with a long face and scraggly beard that has never been cut. He has bristly eye brow's and his copper green hair and beard drip with light droplets of water. Under his robe, a breastplate covers his chest, pieces of seaweed hang from the top. From his waist down, he is a fish, covered with scales down to his tail, which is split enough so that he can walk like a man.
The throne is on a rock with steps cut into it. To the right of the throne is a long wooden dinner table and benches.
Beyond the table sit a kettle above a campfire, surrounded by round stones where flames flicker the bottom of the kettle. Behind the throne, several tunnel openings shoot off in different directions.
The table is set for seven, adorned by ancient pieces from many wrecked pirate ships. A woman, Lisette, stirs the kettle with a huge copper spoon.
Thanos marches to the bottom of the throne and bows. "Greeting Glaukos, I trust the water flows in your direction."
Glaukos nods. "The water changes direction often Thanos. Speak to me of Kreios, the savior of our race."
"The child grows strong my lord. I will be taking him soon."
"Your news brings joy to my heart. All of you, sit, and we shall feast. Lisette, prepare the food."
Glaukos sits at the head of the table. Thanos and his men sit three on each side. They drink wine, eat cooked, large fish with the heads still on.
Thanos, curious, asks, "But you were once just a human fisherman, were you not?"
Glaukos nods. "Yes, this is true."
"I have heard two different tales about your transformation and am curious to know which is true. The story of the herb, which brought the fish back to life, or the hare and the spring?"
"Since eating the magic herb I have been confined to the sea. I can never walk the earth or breath the air. I was a merman at first but have evolved into what you see now." he sighs, "But, I long to feel the rays of the sun warm my skin, I yearn to taste the salty air as it fills my lungs...I want to walk the earth as a man...one time before I die."
"And Kreios is the only way?"
Glaukos pauses, peers down, then, slowly, looks back up. "There was a woman, a very beautiful woman who was also a mermaid. When I was a human and fished the seas, we became close. We were to be married...I, I would never have become what you see now." he again pauses, "but she disappeared. I searched the land and the seas...but she was gone. She is the only one who could allow me to again walk the earth as a human, but now I fear that shall never happen."
"But Kreios will once again give you the power to walk the earth...to breathe the fresh sea air you so desire."
Glaukos, a bit irate, says, "And are you not aware of your fate should you not be successful in converting Kreios?"
"I will not fail my lord."
Glaukos, now irritated, shouts, "Answer my question!"
"Yes, I am aware. I will lose my powers, become mortal, then die."
"You have much to do Thanos, much to accomplish. Eat, rest, then take your men and get the child. Where will you take him?"
"Atargatis Island. There I shall have the freedom to teach him the ways of the sea and the ways of the land. We will remain unseen by those of the world, those who will soon become our servants."
Glaukos wonders. "Atargatis Island...hmmm. Is that not the resting place of Arianna of Tyrreus?"
"Yes, there is a small group who have inhabited the island for many hundreds of moons."
Glaukos warns, "I would be cautious with her kind. Their powers were once mighty, said to be more powerful than yours."
"They have become weak because they no longer use their power. They will easily fall under my control."
"And how is it you know this?"
"Captain Pardel...before he was killed by the human."
"It was said he and his men roamed the island as spirits." Glaukos muses.
"Yes, but that was before he was killed by the child's father. He and his men were driven off the island."
Glaukos raises his eyebrows. "The child's father? He is a man of great powers?"
"No, he is a human with only human powers. He will soon rest on the ocean floor."
"Watch yourself with him Thanos. He may be only human but when he killed Captain Pardel, he gained new powers, strong powers."
"This I know, but this he does not. There was talk he was once a Greek God who was banished by Zeus...but, I think this is all child's talk."
"Let us hope this is only child's talk. Go now, and
begin your quest. I want to see the child once a year, he shall know me and I him. Then, when he is ready, we shall strike, and make our mark upon this world."
Brandon, Treena and Finley sit at the patio table, Finley in a stroller.
"You ready?" Brandon asks.
Treena, apprehensive, responds, "I don't know Brandon, he could be out there. He's made it clear that he's hunting you."
"Would you have us be prisoners in our own home? Never leave? I'm not going to live in a climate of fear Treena, whatever happens we'll deal with it."
"I guess you're right...it's not like we live a normal life anyway. It reminds me of something mother said. When I was little and afraid of everything, even shadows, she said 'bury your fear behind a face of courage, even if that face be false.' Once I understood that, I was no longer afraid of fear."
"Sound advice from a very wise woman."
Treena jumps up, grabs the stroller. "Let's go."
They stroll down the sidewalk, talking, enjoying being outdoors on a sunny, warm day.
Brandon speculates, "How are we ever going to find shoes to fit on his feet...err...fins. Is that what they are Treena, fins? Maybe we'll call them fineets."
"Don't be silly, they're his feet, call them what you want. We'll find something to fit him."
"No matter what, he is a king. My royal blood flows through him, he will master and conquer whatever obstacles face him. And why is that you may ask? The answer is because I am a former Greek God with royal blood flowing through my veins. Now, that royal blood..."
Treena stops him. "And all because of you, right? I have nothing to do with it?"
"Well, you did give him his fin-feet."
"I know, all the credit..."
Abruptly, the stroller jerks forward and out of Treena's hands.
"Is yours...what's happening Brandon? Grab his stroller...hurry!"
The stroller speeds up, Brandon and Treena start to run after it as Finley laughs. The stroller rounds a corner and shoots down the sidewalk, too fast for them to catch it.
Treena screams. "Finnnnleyyyy!"
The stroller rounds the next corner as they chase it. Once they reach the corner, they frantically scan the area.
"He's gone Treena...gone."
Treena sobs. "Nooo...nooo, he's taken our baby. Go after him Brandon, now! Run till you find him!"
Brandon sprints down the street, turns the corner and sees the stroller, the back of it facing him. He smiles as he calls out, "Finley!" He runs to the stroller, pauses, turns it to him. The stroller is empty.
Annabelle sits behind the desk at her house, Treena and Jessa in front, facing her.
Treena is frantic. "I don't know what to do, you've got to help us...we have no idea where he's taken my baby...all I know is this is killing me, he was with us, then, he was gone. I'm telling you...I..."
Jessa rubs her shoulder. "Calm down honey, let Annabelle talk."
Annabelle leans forward, folds her hands. "Do you not remember the last time we sat together? Do you not remember what I told you then?"
Jessa responds. "Yes. You said he may...may, take him back to our island."
Annabelle sighs. "He's taken him back to Atargatis Island."
Jessa calmly asks, "How do you know this...for sure?"
"I dreamt it," responds Annabelle.
Treena calms down a bit. "You saw this in a dream?"
"Yes. He took him to the island, to teach him how to be a leader, how to rule over everything on this earth."
Jessa purses her lips. "Yes, that makes sense. He goes to an island that no one knows is there, an island no one can see, even with their modern machines." she pauses, "But my family, and many others, live there."
"Yes, and my mother and sister. What are we to do?"
Annabelle's response is pragmatic. "You must go there. Everyone on that island is in great danger. They will need your help." she pauses. "Finley will need your help."