Warriors of Poseidon 03 - Atlantis Unleashed

Atlantis, could not resist Anubisa‟s mind control, how could a simple Nereid maiden hope to do so?”
    She threw her head back, clamping her teeth shut, but then giving in to the howl as another contraction hit. When she could breathe again, she continued. “You know that Nereids see the destined face of our true love as part of our vision quest. Believe me when I tell you that I never once saw yours. I, too, was sacrificed to Anubisa‟s jealous obsession, although I will not love our child less because of it.”
    The king‟s confusion almost overruled the fury that hardened his features. Just for a moment, but it was enough to give Keely a little hope that he would help the woman.
    “If what you say is true . . .” he began, but then shook his head. “But, no. It matters not. I will not raise the bastard child borne of the vampire goddess‟s mind rape as my own.”
    As another wave of pain from the contractions smashed into Éibhleann, something happened that had never before occurred in one of Keely‟s visions. She spoke out in her own voice, from her own knowledge, in a way that ran counter to her host body‟s every instinct.
    “You are a pathetic excuse for a king,” she shouted up at him, her voice hoarse. “Conlan and Ven would be ashamed of you if they knew about this. You need to help this woman before she has her baby right here on your floor.”
    The king snarled and lifted his bloody sword, taking a step toward Keely, but a new player entered the room. A shaky but determined feminine voice spoke up from behind Keely. “Yes, my husband. We must help her. Call for the First Maiden of the Temple of the Nereids immediately to assist with the childbirth.”
    Keely was almost afraid to try to discover who was speaking, although she had a pretty good idea that it was Conlan and Ven‟s mother.
    “Thank you,” she whispered, through her raw and injured throat.
    The queen slowly moved into view, her face starkly white with either shock or pain. She barely glanced at Keely at first, but then jerked her head around, staring at Keely‟s host‟s wounded throat.
    “You are welcome,” the queen said, barely above a whisper. “Now we will find the healer for you and the First Maiden of the Nereids for this woman and her child.”
    Either relief, exhaustion, or both combined rippled through Keely, still locked inside her host‟s mind, and her tenuous grip on consciousness faded. As the edges of the room grew dark, she fell, twirling and spinning in the vortex of the vision that clearly was not yet done with her.
     
    The door opened behind Keely, who stood in the darkened room staring down at a swaddled infant in a wooden cradle. A familiar voice murmured a hello. The queen.
    A strand of silvery hair fell forward into Keely‟s face, and that and the absence of pain in her throat made her realize that she was not inhabiting the same woman as before. With the relief from the servant girl‟s injuries and terror, Keely was able to think more clearly.
    Justice‟s mother. Éibhleann must have been Justice‟s mother, then. But where was she? And who was hosting Keely now? Tears welled in her eyes and clogged her throat as the knowledge filtered through her host‟s mind.
    Éibhleann was dying. The birth had been too much for her. There was nothing further to be done but pray.
    A wave of sorrow and pity washed through Keely as she stared down at the delicate curve of the infant‟s tiny hand, his fingers curled like a fragile sea anemone. This must be Justice, then.
    No wonder he was so damaged, with a start like that.
    “First Maiden,” the queen said, entering the room. She carried a candle, and the light from the flame illuminated the wildly spiking blue-tinged hair of the sleeping baby. “How fares the child?”
    Keely realized the First Maiden was her/them, when her host responded to the query. “He does very well, Highness. But the mother . . . I fear that she is beyond my power to heal.”
    The queen turned to face Keely. Head held high, quiet determination in every line of her face, she spoke softly, but with definite purpose. “Although this Nereid female has known my husband, due to Anubisa‟s vile manipulations, I would not have any harm come to her. Do everything you can to heal her, please. For me and for this child, who is blameless.”
    “And if she does not live? She is very ill, and we have had no gem singer in the Temple for thousands of years. The legends say that a gem singer