The Blue Divide

Chapter 18

The mindmusic of Poseidon's Heart punctured his dreams like a spear. He was in the vault and there was a man standing where the altar should be. He was tall and handsome, with powerful features and dark robes. Blue light pulsed beneath the skin of his chest.

"Who are you?" asked Eko.

"Don't be a fool, Ekrios," said the man. "You already know the answer to that question." His voice was deep and regal. Like a god.

Eko shook his head. Impossible. The man was standing on two legs and dressed like a human. He couldn't be Poseidon.

"Are you sure about that?" His eyes bore into Eko's mind.

He wasn't sure. All he knew was that Poseidon had visited Atlys in the days of Krios. It was his holy city.

Eko considered the legend of Krios, the nyxus he was named after. Worshiped as a great hero, Krios had proven that a mortal could outsmart a god. He cut out Poseidon's heart and took its power for his own, a power that was passed down from one ruler to the next. He formed the caste system and in his kindness dealt every merrow one of Poseidon's powers. It brought an end to hunger, and an end to war amongst the merrow. Their city was perfect.

"Why are you speaking to me?" Eko asked.

"Because you're going to help me."

"How can I do anything for you? I'm in the Upperworld now."

"It doesn't matter how. You've already chosen your fate."
"What do you mean?"

Poseidon grinned. "Three years ago you came to me wanting a purpose for your meaningless life. I gave one to you. Would you snub my kindness by not fulfilling it?"

"But the Heart almost killed me when I touched it."

"I had to show you my power. You had to know I wasn't to be taken lightly."

Eko remembered the feel of the Heart's power rushing into him. A feeling that had made his already miserable life intolerable. After getting a taste of such greatness, everything seemed gray and wretched in comparison.

"I knew that after you felt my power you wouldn't be able to resist returning. You would never be satisfied until you came back. So I provided a way."

Eko went cold. "The binding ceremony." Was it possible that Nerine's affection wasn't natural? Had it been the Heart's influence that prompted her to choose him?

The god's eyes glowed.

"What do you want?" Eko grasped his arms to keep them from trembling.

"Take me from my prison. Give me to my blood."

"Can you change me back?"

"I can do anything."

"How? Tell me how!" He reached toward the god, but the scene started to blur.

"I can do anything." Poseidon's song was a murmur now.

"You already said that!"

The music of Poseidon drifted away like a fast current. It summoned nightmares in its wake, the way Eko used to summon fish. He dreamed of Nerine. She was tied to a hospital bed, each scale on her tail being plucked away by sharp human instruments while she screamed in pain. He dreamed of Atlys rising from the water and burning with human fire. He dreamed of Poseidon's heart, spouting scarlet blood.

When he opened his eyes, Alec was bending over him. Eko could hear his familiar Cole Porter record playing in the distance.

It's delightful, it's delicious, it's delovely....