Page 63 of Violet Legacy

“The mosaic,” Aadya interrupted. She moved two steps closer to them. Her almost translucent green eyes gave nothing away. “What was it?”

“It was like the statue in the vault. Vandana, in her golden armor surrounded by violet flames,” Rieka answered quietly but firmly. “It was the same as the image Talal had drawn.”

“What color eyes did she have?” Aadya asked.

Rieka glared back at Aadya. The slightest hint of hesitation crossed her features before a mask of stoicism appeared.

Dante didn’t like the mask.

“You already know the answer.”

“Yes,” Aadya whispered. “Eyes the color of flames. Just like yours.”

Frankie gasped, her eyes widening as Anhur moved to stand next to her. Both were transfixed by the woman in front of them as comprehension dawned on them. Dante didn’t move. He wanted to pull Rieka toward him, but he didn’t. Rieka was more than capable of handling Aadya.

“Descendant of Vandana. You may have damned us all.” Aadya snatched Rieka’s arm, her pale green eyes transfixed on the bracelet. “Only the bloodline of Vandana could activate the bracelet for its true purpose.” The words were blunt but held no malice. She looked at Dante before glancing at Rieka. “It cannot be removed. Not without killing Rieka.”

“Excuse me?” Rieka half-squeaked, her eyes widening as they burned red. “Purpose? What is the bracelet?”

Aadya dropped Rieka’s arm and glided back to the tree. She moved with the intention and grace of an Atlantean a quarter of her age. She spoke to Rieka, but her gaze didn’t leave Dante. “Claiming House Atlas may not be feasible, and I would not recommend it.” She turned to Rieka. “You may carry the bloodline of Vandana, but the Houses will not return to the past,” Aadya continued, ignoring Rieka’s reaction. The elderly Atlantean may no longer lead House Azaes, but there was no mistaking the power she still welded. Or her ability to command an audience. “What do you see, child? The bracelet linked the wearer to the O’hurani himself.”

Rieka took another step toward him, her back brushing against Dante. She absently touched her pendant. But she didn’t deny the accusation that she was a descendant, or that the bracelet had triggered a vision. “I don’t know.”

He clasped her shoulders, steadying Rieka as she trembled under his touch. The tension left her body as she relaxed into him. The level of trust she placed in him almost brought him to his knees.

Aadya turned her attention back to Dante. The elder’s gaze was hard as she looked over at Rieka. “You are not the only ones looking for the tomb.”

Rieka didn’t move. “Who are the O’hurani?”

“Is. The O’hurani translates loosely to glorious king, father of all. It was what we called the ancient god before the fall of Atlantis. King of the Anki. They were primordial beings. The first,” Aadya slowly answered. She held out her hands, and an image appeared. At first it looked like small fireworks but swiftly the silver-gold specks flickered until they formed a background. A humanoid shape slowly took form out of the specks. “Vandana waged a war against them. It lasted for centuries, but in the end, even she could not destroy the king—only send him into an endless sleep. That you have awakened him from.”

Rieka flinched before she moved closer to Dante. “What stopped Vandana from killing the Anki?”

Aadya sighed as she moved next the ancient tree. “Anyone who carried the blood of the Anki would perish with them. No matter how diluted their bloodline was.”

Vandana would not have risked the death of her child, but by protecting one life, she had almost destroyed their entire civilization. Dante had never understood that type of sacrifice until now.

“From what we have translated, they ruled for millions of years,” Frankie interjected as she flicked through the pages. “They have slept since the fall of House Atlas. Vandana triggered a group hibernation.”

“Hibernation means that they will eventually wake up,” Rieka said. She tugged a wayward curl behind her ear as she stared back at Aadya. “How did Vandana do it?”

“The queen took the secret to her grave. Talal had been right all those years ago.” Aadya closed her eyes as she placed her hands on her golden skirt. Weariness edged her voice. “The wayfarers of the O’hurani may prove to be more of an issue.”

Frankie looked up at Anhur before she turned to face them, her hand held protectively against her belly. “We had an encounter with them. They have a blood connection to the Anki. They are stronger than most Atlanteans.”

Anhur grasped Frankie’s shoulder. “They seem to share a mind bond with each other, almost parasitic from what we could see.” Anhur shrugged. “There isn’t much we know. We captured one, but he bit his tongue and drowned in his own blood before we could interrogate him.”

Rieka moved forward. “Why do they want to find the tomb?”

“They believe it has the location of where Vandana buried the king,” Anhur added.

Rieka turned to look at Aadya expectantly. As if Dante’s grandmother had all the answers, and perhaps she did, but was she willing to share them?

“Vandana’s flame still burns to this day.” Aadya’s proud shoulders were slightly hunched. “The Anki require a blood heir for the resurrection. A descendant of Vandana and the O’hurani himself. I made a promise a long time ago that I would protect the tomb and ensure the Anki were never given the opportunity to rise again. Atlanteans would never again be slaves to their ancient gods.”

“Who else knows about their existence?” Rieka asked.

A faint smile spread across Aadya’s face, her gaze glacial. “I am the only survivor of the original council, and I was a child when I was inducted. A handful of Atlanteans, trusted scholars, including Idris, are aware of certain elements but not the entire history. There is enough information to know that there has been a renewal of interest in our ancient and forgotten history.”

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