The Blue Divide

Chapter 5

Still grasping Nerine's hand, Eko followed the Nyxus into the temple toward Poseidon's Heart. It was there the binding ceremony would take place, preparing them for the wedding that would occur the next day.

Eko's insides shriveled to a knot. The last time he'd gone to the Heart he had nearly died. This time, he had the Nyxus to stop him from doing anything foolish. The Heart would be in the vault, which meant going passed Mellusine, the sea dragon that guarded it. He battled the urge to pull away.

"Are you all right?" asked Nerine, the light in her eyes softening with concern.

He realized that he was crushing her hand in his grip and let go. "I'm sorry. I'm fine." He breathed slowly and turned up the corners of his lips. He would not disgrace himself now.

"I know this is a lot for you to take in. I tried to warn you."

Fragments from his nightmare flickered in his mind. The pulsing heart. The gaping jaws. The dragon's shining fangs. He shook them away and turned his gaze on Nerine. Her mouth was set in a firm line and her eyes glowed with eagerness.

The Nyxus led them to the lower levels of the temple where the only thing that lit the darkness was their shining irises.

Eko stopped breathing. Mellusine was stretched out before the door of the vault; her golden eyes only halfway open. Except for her pearly white scales, she looked exactly like the monster in his dream. Her mindmusic sang of hunger and anger over her captivity.

The Nyxus motioned for Eko and Nerine to wait. He swam ahead and stretched out his palm to the space between the dragon's eyes.

Mellusine growled, a deep rumble that sent small waves through the water. Her long slender body coiled in on itself, clearing a way to the portal.

The Nyxus pushed the door open and nodded for Eko and Nerine to approach.

The only thing that had changed about the Heart was its location. The walls of the vault appeared to be made out of silver. They reflected the blue light so it looked like it encompassed the entire chamber. The merrowmagic of every caste was bestowed from this source. It was magic Eko would inherit when he was wed to Nerine. Now that he was in the vault, its music overwhelmed him. He had been able to hear it as a constant wordless murmur in the back of his head ever since his hand had made contact with it. In its presence, its thoughts became visible.

He saw whales giving birth, fish hatching from eggs, sea flowers sprouting out of seeds and rising from the ocean floor. What did it mean?

As he continued to watch the pulsing light, a familiar image touched his mind. He saw himself wearing the silver crown, and the Nyxus bowing before him. In Eko's hands was the Heart. The same vision he had seen over and over again while comatose after his first encounter.

"You're a liar," Eko told it. "If I touch you, you'll kill me."

Before he could say more, the Nyxus stood next to the pedestal and spoke.

"In the presence of Poseidon's Heart, god of our ancestors, the source of all merrowmagic, you must swear fealty to each other in his name." He nodded for Nerine to begin.

"In the name of Poseidon," she said, taking both of Eko's hands, "I pledge my fealty to Ekrios Fiskerd. I promise to honor him forever." She kissed his hands.

"In the name of Poseidon," Eko repeated, hoping it was the right thing to do. "I pledge my fealty to Nerine, future Nyxi of Atlys. I promise to honor her forever." He kissed her hands and she smiled at him, looking in that moment very young and vulnerable. What in Poseidon's name possessed her to care for him this way?