23 Clues

Goosebumps broke out all over Iris' body at the mystery voice's declaration. She didn't want to believe it, but an indescribable instinct was screaming at her that it was true. 'Oh shit.. Did I piss him off?!'

As she continued to look around, the voice chuckled again before saying; "Try as you might, you will not see me. I am not there, but I am everywhere.."

"Ok.. Ahh, Hello.. Nice to meet you, I hope.." Iris had said the last part low, but Poseidon had heard it.

"Do not fear me, for I am not here to harm you. If anything, I am here to help you. There is more to the history of why I created this world, and you must discover the real reason for yourself. Not even Leviathan knows what this place truly is..."

Iris fought back her fear and asked; "Why can't you just tell me? I get the feeling that it would be A Lot easier if you just told me.."

"And what makes you think it would make things simpler?"

Iris shrugged; "I don't know.. Every movie or book ever made.."

Poseidon laughed boisterously, literally making Iris vibrate with it's intensity. Realizing that Selena and Levi were still in her room, Iris inquired; "Can they hear you, too?"

As Poseidon calmed himself, he answered; "No, they cannot. I'm linked directly to you, so only you can hear me.. There are others lurking that don't need to hear what we are discussing.."

Iris looked around again, but this time, a bit more inconspicuously. She didn't see anyone, but it wasn't like she could sense people or anything. As worry covered her features, Poseidon reassured her; "I have blocked anyone not you from hearing our conversation, so speak freely after I explain.."

"I cannot tell you because there are other things you will learn as you Labor. Things that you will need to see to understand.. Once you have discovered your Erotas, and he reveals himself, the Prophecy will come to pass. Complete your trials and save the Aquarians from disaster, and themselves.."

Iris felt panic bubbling up within her; "But why me? Why did you choose ME?! And why did Matt have to die for me to come here?!"

Poseidon was quiet for so long that Iris thought that he'd left her when he'd finally answered; "The one named Matthew is not dead, and he is not alive. He is in the same state in your world as you are.. Everyone from your world is suspended within time until you either succeed or fail.."

"It is not just the Aquarian's lives that hang in the balance, but your people's as well.. If you fail, Serenity Espoir: the Cosmos fall with you.."

With that; Iris could no longer feel the overwhelming connection. As she processed everything that had happened, Levi came barreling out of her quarters with Selena trailing behind. Both looked ready to fight.

Sniffing at the air while looking around, Levi asked; "Who was just here?! I felt.. Something. It was strong.."

Iris chuckled nervously; "Ahh, haha. Where do I begin?! Wait, we can't talk out here. Let's head inside, and I'll tell you what happened."

Levi wanted to protest, but could smell the Merman from within her courtyard. It wasn't the same one, but it wasn't night time yet, either. As far as Levi could tell, Iris' Merman friend only ever showed up for the night shift.

Once inside, Iris told the two everything that Poseidon had told her. She was waiting for them to question her sanity, but they never did. Everything Iris had told them, they accepted as fact. Which was both heartwarming, and unsettling to her.

They didn't question her because they both trusted Iris, and Levi Knew that Poseidon had made a connection with her. 'There's no mistaking Father's presence..'

After she had finished filling them in, Iris questioned whether she should've told them or not.. 'He didn't say Not to tell them, so I don't Think I'll get in trouble for this.. If you can hear me, Please don't smite me..'

As Selena watched Iris scrunch her face at an unpleasant thought, she asked; "Poseidon said that you would meet your Erotas.. Do you know what that means?"

Iris shook her head in the negative, prompting Levi to answer; "In the Prophecy, your Erotas is like your companion or partner.. Or lover."

Iris' cheeks flushed as realization dawned on her; "D-Do you mean like a boyfriend? You mean like a boyfriend, right?!"

Selena smiled like it wasn't a big deal; "No, silly: that's your husband."

Iris blinked several times in shock before her temper flared; "WHAT?! I have to get Married?!"

Iris looked up at the ceiling as she screamed; "Oh, hell no! Get your ass Back here, Poseidon! I agreed to the damn monsters, but you didn't say anything about MARRIAGE!"

All color drained from Selena's face as she tried to cover Iris' mouth. Levi laughed like a lunatic off of his meds.. 'Well, she certainly is spirited, Father.. I think you made the right choice..'

As Iris continued to curse and scream Poseidon's name, Levi verbally added; "I think.."

After a bit of time, Iris calmed down enough that Selena didn't feel guilty about leaving her to go to sleep. Right as she opened the door, a guard stepped back nervously. His hand had been up in the water like he was about to knock on the door, so Selena asked if he needed something.

He was young, and nervous to be interacting with the High Acolyte. When he handed her the envelope he'd been entrusted to deliver, his voice cracked when he'd spoken; "Her Majesty, Queen Iris, has been summoned by the Council to appear before them.. Ah, tomorrow, a-after the lunch hour."

Selena kept her perfect courtier's smile on her face, but inside: her stomach rolled. She'd been waiting for Senator Arlong to rear his ugly head up and out of the sand, and this was it.

Turning back into the room, Selena immediately handed Iris the summons. As she read it, her face twisted in anger. Once she'd finished, Iris began to snap out loud.

"That bastard is challenging my competence! Like he's one to talk! How stupid do you have to be to piss of your own Queen?!"

Selena sighed as she read through the paper herself; "This says that the hearing is to determine if you are capable of handling both your position, and your power.."

Levi rubbed at his chin with his tiny paw; "He's obviously trying to strip the Queen of her power.. Both politically, and as the High Priestess, but to what end? No one but the Undine Queen can wield the Pact of the Greae."

Selena gasped upon realizing; "I know what that sea urchin plans to do.. He'll strip Iris of her throne, then force her to find a mate."

Levi's temper flared; "That mollusk has already been warned not to tread in Fate's waters. If he thinks he can force the issue, then he's sadly mistaken.. No One will interfere with Father's Will!"

The Great God Leviathan was so angry that he accidentally grew in size too quickly. The chair that he'd been standing on broke beneath his sudden, hefty weight.. Taking all the bite out of his bark.

Iris was so overwhelmed both emotionally and physically, that she had burst out laughing when she saw the utter surprise on Levi's face. He'd been so shocked at the sudden drop that he had almost instantly reverted back to his smaller size. With his face still frozen in indignation.

Selena was trying not to laugh too, but Iris' mirth was contagious. Before long, even Levi was chuckling at himself. The situation had brought a bit of relief to an otherwise tense day.

Once Selena had finally left for the night, Iris slipped out into her courtyard 'to think'. Levi wasn't an idiot; he knew she was going out to meet her Merman friend. After she went out, Levi shrunk down small enough to be able to slip through the doorway, then followed her.

'Considering everything that's going on, I need to know this Merman's intentions. After Iris leaves, I think I'll have a little chat with him myself...'

************

As soon as Iris cleared the wall, she saw Trident wave her down by the rock he always hid behind. He'd come to see her every night since Levi disappeared. She assumed that it was just him being curious, or reporting back to their king, but the truth was that he was concerned about Iris..

As soon as Iris was close enough for her to hear him, Trident asked; "Are you ok? Did you find your little god friend yet?"

Iris beamed at him; "Yeah, he came back a few hours ago.. I guess he got eaten or something, but he's back."

Trident quirked an eyebrow at her; "What? That makes no sense.."

Iris smirked; "Well he is a god. One little angler fish isn't gonna take him down.. At least not for long, anyways."

Trident shook his head. He had already learned to ask specific questions with Iris. If he didn't, she went off on tangents, and it took forever to circle back to the original topic. He didn't mind it, but his time was limited tonight. 'What the hell.. Why does that make me sad?!'

Atlas suddenly realized that the more time he spent with her, the more of her time he wanted..