Triton's Prophecy Read online

  Triton’s Prophecy

  Daughter of Triton Series

  Book 2

  Aleera Anaya Ceres

  This book is a work of fiction. Any reference to historical events, people or places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2020 by Aleera Anaya Ceres

  All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author.

  Cover design and typography image by: Killerbookcovers

  Edited by: Lisa Nieves

  Map design by: Lisa Nieves

  Formatting by: Kassie Morse

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Glossary & Pronunciation Guide:

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  About the Author

  Also By Aleera Anaya Ceres

  Glossary & Pronunciation Guide:

  Atlantis: At-lan-tis. An empire near Greek waters that was sunk by the old gods and then salvaged by Poseidon, Amphitrite, and Triton. It is an island divided into sectors and smaller islands hidden from the rest of the world with magic. Place where the merfolk were born.

  Atlanteans: At-lan-tea-uhns. The people/merfolk of Atlantis. On land they walk on two legs, in the water they evolve and transform to have gills, fins, and scales.

  Poseidon: Po-sigh-dun. One of the three main Gods of Atlantis, husband to Amphitrite. His magic helped salvage what was left of Atlantis during its fall.

  Amphitrite: Am-fuh-trite-ee. One of the three main Gods of Atlantis, wife to Poseidon. She is the mother of Triton and depicted as gentle with healing powers that helped salvage Atlantis during its fall.

  Triton: Try-tun. One of the three main Gods of Atlantis, son to Poseidon and Amphitrite. He is the warrior God of Atlantis, depicted as a strong, bearded man with an armband and golden trident. His strength helped salvage Atlantis during its fall.

  Atryans: A-tree-uhns. Priests who studied at Poseidon’s Academy. They are the law makers of Atlantis and reside in the Temple of the Gods. Politicians and religious priests.

  Elyria: Uh-leer-rhia. Priestesses who studied at Amphitrite’s Academy. They evaluate the laws of Atlantis and are healers and nurturers.

  Sons: Warriors who studied at Triton’s Academy. They are the law enforcers and military for Atlantis. They keep the peace, execute those who break the laws, and protect their empire from outside threats by keeping up barriers of magic.

  The old gods: Gods with no faces and no names who originally sunk and attempted to eradicate Atlantis. It is illegal to worship them.

  Atlantean cities

  -Syros: Sigh-rose. One of the richer cities of Atlantis. Calliope is from here.

  -Tinos: Tie-nos. An area known for its forestation and poverty. Rafe and Vitas are from here.

  -Amphitrys: Am-fuh-triss. Named after the sea Goddess, Amphitryte, her academy is located here.

  -Tethys: Teh-thiss.

  -Elysium: El-lee-she-uhm. Capitol of Atlantis. Poseidon’s Academy is located here.

  -Critias: Crish-she-us.

  -Sikinos: Sick-ee-nos.

  -Atlas Island: One of the poorer islands of Atlantis. Professor Elara is from here.

  -The Timaeus: Tim-ay-us. Twin islands off the coast of Sikinos.

  -Paras: Pear-uhs. A rich city of Atlantis. Ambrose and Maksim are from here.

  -Isle of Elys: El-lis. A small island off the coast of Syros. Triton’s Academy is located here.

  Syrosian: Sigh-rose-she-un. Atlantean who comes from the city of Syros.

  Gods’ Day: The equivalent to Sunday. A day to attend the Temple of the Gods and worship.

  Temple of the Gods: Set on the heart of the island, the middle sector, the Temple is the church of the Atlanteans. A place of worship for Poseidon, Amphitrite, and Triton.

  Ancient Elysia: Uh-leesh-ee-uh. The old name and language of Atlantis before it was sunk by the old gods.

  Chlamys: Clay-miss. A warrior’s outfit and cloak. A material that wraps around the body like a type of toga, leaving one shoulder bare, held together by a brooch, with a hem that reaches to the thighs.

  Peplos: Pep-lows. Long tube dress for women where the top of the tube drapes halfway across the waist and straps along the shoulders.

  Paras: Pear-ruhs (Paris). A long and wide cloak that can be worn like a shawl or headscarf around the body.

  Palla: Pa-lluh. Toga-like garment/dress for women.

  Pyrrhichios: Pih-rick-ee-o-ss. An ancient battle dance done in Ancient Elysia. It was traditional to meet your enemy out on the battle field and dance pre-battle in a way that mimicked fighting.

  Wolf and Woman

  Some days

  I am more wolf than woman

  and I am still learning

  how to stop apologising

  for my wild.

  -Nikita Gill

  For the women who are unapologetically themselves.

  Chapter One

  Calliope

  Silence thundered through my ears. The same kind of silence to be heard beneath the lonely depths of the darker side of the ocean. Just rolling noise clamoring through my ear drums that drowned out everything else, even my own tumultuous thoughts.

  The moment the oracle of the Gods announced my name to the Atlanteans gathered in the coliseum, a hush descended, enveloped everything like a curtain of darkness after the sun went down.

  It was only in those few shocking moments after the oracle melted away into a solid, golden ball, and I walked up confidently to take my place among the other Elites, that a roar fragmented across the stadium.

  It startled me and carried with it the same force of a particularly violent wave pulling a boat to the water. Shouts of outrage and shock pulsed around us, and I knew what it was they were so angry about.

  Me.

  Being the only female at Triton’s Academy was my privilege and honor while at the same time it was their disappointment and outrage. To publicly choose me as one of the most gifted students at the Academy to participate in Triton’s Olympic Games?

  In our misogynistic society, they hated the idea of a mermaid in a position of power. We were confined to our homes, to be healers and child bearers for the rest of our days. This was new, and they acted like it shook the very foundations of Atlantean society.

  But I had been chosen. And no matter their outrage or discomfort, their arguments could never surpass the words of a gift from the Gods.

  T
he eleven head generals of Atlantis snapped at attention, ushering all of us chosen, now known as Elites, out of the arena by a door that led us into a private sector below the bleachers. Raucous shouts drowned out as the doors closed and we were led into a different room.

  It seemed to have been prepared ahead of time. A table and chairs aligned all throughout the space that were meant for us. I wove my way around the maze of chairs and sat in the back of the room. Rafe, Maksim, and Ambrose followed, flanking my sides.

  Once everyone was seated, the generals filed in before us. Following them was the Headmaster and professors of the Academy, including Professor Elara.

  I tried not to look too hard at my Self Defense professor. He was as handsome as ever in his spotless chlamys, belted at the waist with strings of braided gold and aquamarine. His dark hair was cropped short at the sides, longer from front to back and styled in pretty upturned waves.

  I tore my eyes away from him when my heart started to pound harder in my chest. I tried to shove the memory of him between my legs far, far away, but I still remembered the way his lips and tongue felt against my skin as he kissed away my tears.

  I was with Rafe now, and Professor Elara had made it abundantly clear just how inappropriate anything between us would be.

  Too bad the trembling between my thighs said something entirely different.

  I had to force myself to turn away from him and focus on someone I absolutely knew would not distract me with perverted fantasies.

  My father.

  He was staring at me intently, his eyes slightly narrowed. I recognized the look. He often wore it when he was gauging my every thought. Like his magic could slip into my subconscious and rip every bit of my soul out.

  It was what had always made hiding things from him difficult. Not that I’d ever done that. We didn’t keep secrets from one another.

  The looming realization that I now had secrets, things he didn’t yet know, was harrowing. He seemed to look inside me, and in that moment I wondered exactly how much my father knew.

  Detention, my near death tied to an anchor...it all seemed like such small things compared to what had transpired between Rafe and I.

  I leaned away from Rafe discreetly, though he noticed out of the corner of his eyes and tensed. I regretted doing it immediately because of what he’d shared with me the night before, such an aching vulnerability as he whispered intimacies meant for my ears alone. I wanted to reach for his hand and explain, to reassure. I wasn’t pulling away because I was embarrassed about what he’d confessed or that my father would see us together.

  I was embarrassed that he would look at me and know.

  I was a grown woman of twenty-two. It shouldn’t have been awkward, but what sane person wanted their father to know that they’d had sex?

  He’d try and pull me from the Academy if he found out, I was sure of it. Or maybe even threaten Rafe.

  Before I could lean over and whisper those reassuring words to Rafe, a general was stepping forward and our attention snagged on him.

  “The oracle has chosen you because among the hundreds of students at Triton’s Academy, you are the worthiest. I hope you will do your Academy and the Sons proud in the games to come.”

  He swept his gaze around us all, and to his credit, he didn’t pause once on me. Perhaps the Sons of war themselves were more relaxed than actual professors and students when it came to females.

  “These Olympic Games have been planned for quite some time now since the year of Amphitrite began. Its purpose is to not only showcase your abilities as Sons and protectors of the Atlanteans, but also to compete for the chance to become more than Sons upon your graduation. It promises a special place on the Sons’ council and the first few selected for Triton’s Elite Program.

  “Triton’s Elite Program is a new branch within the Sons regime. If you are chosen for the council of this program, you will be warriors working directly under our God, Triton.”

  My mind flashed back to months ago when my father had come home to quiz me. There was one question I hadn’t been able to answer.

  Who are the Elite Sons?

  I hadn’t known because what they were at their core hadn’t even been announced yet.

  My eyes narrowed on my father and he responded with a twitch of his lips that I knew was a satisfied smile.

  “As Sons, we are all warriors to Triton, but as you know, we and most of the acolytes to our Gods work beneath the oracle. This year, the oracle has prophesized a great change among our Atlantean people that will bring on a prosperous future for the Empire. That change starts here with you and Triton’s Elite Program.

  “You will work directly for our God and lead new Sons and recruits to a better future… if you can survive the Olympics.”

  The words were thrown out like an ominous story, seeming to have no beginning and no end.

  Another general stepped forward to take his place and explain. “The Olympics will consist of four phases to test your abilities as Sons. You will all be tested on an equal playing field in body, mind, and spirit. And before you ask, you will not know what the round will be until the day of.” He winked. “It makes everything more exciting that way. Since this is a public event, all of Atlantis will be watching. Out of all of you, only ten will be left standing. Now, let’s go over the rules…”

  He droned on about the rules. They were all very standard and straightforward. We couldn’t sabotage our opponents, use any hidden weapons other than the ones given to us on the day of… There were so many that they blurred together.

  Don’t cheat. Don’t sabotage. Don’t harm beyond repair.

  Make Triton proud.

  “I hope you all understand that this will be a competition of strength and skill.” I felt the general’s eyes on me, and I met them with a hard stare of my own. “There will be no leniency, no breaks…” His lip pulled back in a sneer.

  I fought back the urge to snort.

  It was my father who did.

  If anyone believed in me, it was him.

  The meeting finished with a few more instructions. “To prepare you for the Olympics, you will attend extra courses after your normal class schedule that will go beyond the expectations of your regular classes. They will be given to you by Professor Zathrian Elara.” The general gestured to our professor, as if we didn’t already know who he was.

  Professor Elara took a step forward and gave a formal bow. “It will be my honor to train each and every one of you,” he said stiffly before stepping back again. Never before had falser words been spoken.

  I wouldn’t want to train most of these mermen either. Half of them, from what I’d seen in classes or from afar, had potential.

  “The professor will now escort you back to the Academy where you will await further instruction.”

  As the little meeting adjourned, some of the Sons and students started for the door to file out when it suddenly burst forward, rattling on its wooden hinges.

  Framed in the exit was my aunt.

  The fury of the Gods could never compare to the expression she wore on her features. Every single line and delicate wrinkle were pulled together in a frown of deep disapproval and anger.

  How a lady as small as she could look threatening was beyond me, but she managed it somehow as she stormed forward with a gleaming purpose in her eyes.

  “What preposterous nonsense is this?!” she demanded, shaking her fist in the Sons’ direction.

  I’d never known the Sons to know fear, but they all took a wary step back as she wove her way towards my father. “How dare you let this happen?”

  I held my breath the moment my father’s eyes narrowed. He tolerated my aunt’s outbursts in the privacy of our own home because she was my mother’s sister, but his authority wasn’t to be challenged publicly. In front of the Sons, no less.

  I felt a stirring in the air around us; the same sensation of a storm brewing.

  “Clarity, you are making a fool of yourself. Leave now.”

/>   “I will not!” She whirled until she was glaring at me. “Come, Calliope. I am taking you home and away from all this nonsense this instant.”

  My face flamed at her proclamation. When she reached for me to grip my arm in a move I knew by heart, I took a step away from her, bumping straight into Rafe’s chest.

  My aunt’s eyes flared. Her rage was like a palpable thing that I felt flare around us.

  “Calliope.” She barely controlled the word as she grinded it through her teeth. “Step away from that man and his dirty, treacherous self and come home with me now.”

  I could feel Rafe tense behind me and before I could even find the words in my mind in his defense, he took a step away from me himself.

  “Aunty, please.” The words came out strained.

  She looked at me with the perfect chastising expression. “Now, Calliope. I tolerated your acceptance into that school, but this is beyond ridiculous. At least there you were away from the eyes of the public. I’ll not have you parading around the arena like a she-man before thousands of Atlanteans.”

  She-man? What?

  “Clarity,” my father cut in angrily. “That is enough. It has been decreed by the Gods that Calliope participate and so she will.”

  My aunt sniffed haughtily in his direction. “Yes, well, they also decreed the son of a traitor fit enough as well. The standards here have obviously become so atrociously pathetic if they’re willing to let his kind in.” She sneered at Rafe as she said this, and I couldn’t see his expression, but I could imagine the hurt cleaving through him, the hard expression on his face as he pretended it didn’t bother him just like he always did.