Chapter 10

At first Eli could only see murky and Ayer around him, as they kept sinking, Eli was amazed at how deep the lake was. After a few minutes Eli saw the warm glow of light below them, and what Eli saw as they drew closer astounded him.

     An entire small village had been constructed on the lake bed. The buildings made of stone and coral.

     A smaller version of Atlas academy was surrounded by restaurants, shops, and cottages. Merfolk of all kinds swam through the streets along with the fish. The light appeared to be coming from glowing gemstones scattered throughout the city.

      "This is beautiful." Eli gaped in amazement

      "Welcome to Atargatis city!" Carmine announce proudly as he lead Eli through the city and into a restaurant.

     "Hey guys, sorry I'm late. Look who I found up on land!" Carmine said, sitting down at a stone table alongside three other merfolk Eli recognized from when he first met Carmine.

      "Wow, a full bubble! The new kids got some decent magical talent." A green tailed mermaid with a starfish in her black hair complimented.

     "Come dit down Eli." Carmine scooted into the booth and Eli sat down next to him.

      "Here's a menu, I'm Jade by the way." The green tailed mermaid said as she handed Eli a water sealed menu.

       The menu was filled with seafood dishes, and after ordering a variety of sushi and shellfish, the group began to talk like ordinary high school students. Discussing classes, grades, and crushes.  For the first time since Eli had arrived at the academy, he began to feel a sense of normalcy, the whirlwind of thoughts in his head subsiding while he listened to Jade talk about a werewolf boy she had a crush on.

      "Hey guys." A voice interrupted

"Hey Misty." Carmine replied as Eli turned in his seat to see the newcomer.

      Misty swam up to them, a sapphire blue tail cutting through the water as she approached their table. Her upper body covered in a white tank top with the words 'Atlas Alumni' printed  in blue block letters.

     "Oh, hey Eli. I didn't expect you to be down here." Misty said as she casually scooted into the booth.

     "How'd work go for you today?" Jade asked as she began eating a giant lobster tail.

     "I got an assignment in New York!" Misty squealed excitedly. "The target seems to be a low ranked pixie, but she seems like a good kid."

     As Misty continued talking about her latest assignment, Eli couldn't help but feel anger bubble to the surface.

     "So now you're onto your next fake friend." Eli asked coldly. "You gonna threaten her family and force her into this messed up school as well?"

     The chattering stopped as the group of merfolk awkwardly looked between Eli and Misty.

     "I already told you, it's my job. If I don't do it they'll just send another. Your transition here would have gone a lot smoother if you hadn't ran off. You're lucky your so powerful, otherwise the MDA could have simply killed you." Misty tried to reason.

     At Misty's words Eli was only reminded of Bob's wife and daughter, and the circumstances under which he had been 'enrolled' in Atlas.

     "Well what if some of us just want a normal life! To be with our families without being threatened or blackmailed into leaving them!" Eli steamed.

     "Eli I was just trying to help! I really am your friend!" Misty looked hurt, but Eli had been through too much in the past few days to care.

     "If you really wanted to help you would have explained things to me! Told me the truth! I know you knew about why people are after my powers, and what they could do to me! I had to find out the details from my new roommate rather than my friend!" Eli ranted

      "Wait... Ash told you about the genie binding? You can't trust him Eli! You shouldn't have talked with him at all. He's dangerous, more than you know." Misty said in a dangerous tone.

     "We'll just add it to the list of 'things Eli doesn't know' I know he's after my powers, but at least he was honest about it. More than I can say for you." At this point Eli knew he was just venting his built up frustration, but he was hurt that Misty had not only lied to him, but then left him alone in this new environment while she went off to steal another unwitting soul away from their normal life.

     "Excuse me, thank you for inviting me to dinner." Eli said trying to offer cash from his pocket to Carmine.

     "Keep it. It's my treat." Carmine said "They only accept sand dollars here anyway."

     Eli guided his floating bubble out of the restaurant and up towards the surface. Eli could hear Carmine stop Misty as he left.

     "Give him some time to cool down." Carmine said, placing his hand on Misty's shoulder to stop her from following.

      Upon reaching the surface Eli's bubble popped as he stepped into dry land.

     He marched up to his room to find it empty, apparently Ash was still out for the night.

     Eli got ready for bed and closed his eyes, but he couldn't sleep. He had so many questions and worries, and no one to truly trust. Misty had warned him about Ash, but the more he thought about it, the more he decided Ash was the only student here in who had earned any of his trust.

     He may have anterior motives, but he's been straight forward, and doesn't seem to be an immediate threat. He helps keep Alexander off his back and gives him knowledge he wouldn't know otherwise. Misty may be right, but Eli was desperate, so he decided starting tomorrow he would build a friendship with the phoenix, and learn more about his powers in the process.

     With that one bit of confidence Eli let himself drift off to a dreamless sleep.