The Atlantis Queens Read online

  Contents

  Front Matter

  Acknowledgments

  Backcover

  Chapter 1 - Allie

  Chapter 2 - Alysa

  Chapter 3 - Allie

  Chapter 4 - Alysa

  Chapter 5 - Allie

  Chapter 6 - Alysa

  Chapter 7 - Alysa

  Chapter 8 - Allie

  Chapter 9 - Alysa

  Chapter 10 - Alysa

  Chapter 11 - Allie

  Chapter 12 - Alysa

  Chapter 13 - Allie

  Chapter 14 - Delphin

  Chapter 15 - Alysa

  Chapter 16 - Alysa

  Chapter 17 - Delphin

  Chapter 18 - Allie

  Chapter 19 - Alysa

  Chapter 20 - Alysa

  Chapter 21 - Alysa

  Chapter 22 - Alysa

  Chapter 23 - Alysa

  Chapter 24 - Alysa

  Chapter 25 - Delphin

  Chapter 26 - Alysa

  Chapter 27 - Allie

  Chapter 28 - Alysa

  Chapter 29 - Allie

  Chapter 30 - Alysa

  Chapter 31 - Alysa

  Chapter 32 - Delphin

  Chapter 33- Alysa

  Chapter 34 - Allie

  Chapter 35 - Alysa

  Chapter 36 - Alysa

  Chapter 37 - Delphin

  Chapter 38 - Allie

  Chapter 39 - Alysa

  Chapter 40 - Delphin

  Chapter 41 - Alysa

  Chapter 42 - Allie

  Chapter 43 - Alysa

  Chapter 44 - Allie

  Chapter 45 - Delphin

  Chapter 46 - Alysa

  Chapter 47 - Alysa

  Chapter 48 - Allie

  Chapter 49 - Alysa

  Chapter 50 - Delphin

  Chapter 51 - Alysa

  Chapter 52 - Alysa

  Chapter 53 - Alysa

  Chapter 54 - Allie

  Chapter 55 - Alysa

  Chapter 56 - Allie

  Chapter 57 - Allie

  Chapter 58 - Alysa

  Chapter 59 - Alysa

  Chapter 60 - Allie

  Chapter 61 - Alysa

  Chapter 62 - Alysa

  Chapter 63 - Allie

  Chapter 64 - Alysa

  Chapter 65 - Allie

  Chapter 66 - Alysa

  Chapter 67 - Allie

  Chapter 68 - Alysa

  Chapter 69 - Alysa

  Chapter 70 - Alysa

  Chapter 71 - Allie

  Chapter 72 - Alysa

  Chapter 73 - Alysa

  Chapter 74 - Alysa

  Chapter 75 - Delphin

  Chapter 76 - Allie

  Chapter 77 - Alysa

  Chapter 78 - Delphin

  Chapter 79 - Alysa

  Chapter 80 - Alysa

  Chapter 81 - Allie

  Chapter 82 - Alysa

  Chapter 83 - Delphin

  Chapter 84 - Allie

  Chapter 85 - Alysa

  Chapter 86 - Alysa

  Chapter 87 - Alysa

  Chapter 88 - Alysa

  Chapter 89 - Alysa

  Chapter 90 - Alysa

  Chapter 91 - Alysa

  Chapter 92 - Alysa

  Chapter 93 - Allie

  Chapter 94 - Alysa

  Chapter 95 - Alysa

  Chapter 96 - Alysa

  Chapter 97 - Delphin: Epilogue

  Thank you for reading!

  Copyright © 2019 by M.S. Kaminsky

  All rights reserved. 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 an information storage and retrieval system—except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a blog, magazine, or newspaper—without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. All the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Published by Open Pollinated Productions LLC, New York, NY

  Special Thanks

  To my husband for his love, support and rejuvenating hugs.

  To my parents for being the sparks that ignited the creative flame.

  To my editor Tracy Seybold who never fails to amaze with her eagle eye.

  With Big Gratitude for My Valued and Trusted Beta Readers

  Heather Bane

  Brian Busby

  Brooklyn Speculative Fiction Writers

  Nina Gregor*

  Cathy Griffin

  Peggy Culver Johnson

  Melissa Sullivan

  *Special shout-out for her detailed and incredibly helpful feedback (no buts about it).

  mskaminsky.com

  To end the curse, they must face the truth.

  When Allie wakes up alone in an emergency room in Hawaii, she faces difficult questions. A boat owner found her half-conscious, naked and alone at a deserted dock. Where is her ID? What is the strange disease that threatens to kill her? Does she have a family?

  Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in Arizona, her twin sister, Alysa, lives. Alysa struggles to rebuild her life after being in a coma for years. Both sense the other twin needs help but neither knows how to answer the call… or if they are deluding themselves.

  When they meet, it sets off a cataclysmic reaction. In this riveting series conclusion, Allie and Alysa must face the creature that has stalked them since birth. Succeed and they might live lives fit for mermaid queens—fail and all they know will drown in the deepest darkness.

  Visit http://www.mskaminsky.com to get your free book from the Mermaid Curse Series.

  CHAPTER 1 - ALLIE

  I DOVE DEEPER than the mountains, farther than the moon.

  “She’ll hurt herself,” a man said from somewhere far away.

  Down, down, I descended. My arms throbbed. My tail burned. Where was Nate? Charlie?

  “Restrain her. She’ll disconnect her IV,” the man said.

  My chest ached with effort, but still, I continued.

  “What are you doing, darling?” asked a woman with a hoarse voice.

  “She can’t hear you,” the man said. “Clonic seizure.”

  “Swimming.” It came out an incoherent croak.

  The sharp odor of antiseptic flooded my nose. My wrists and legs were bound with rubber straps. Fabric chaffed against my neck.

  Where the hell am I?

  A machine beeped. My eyes fluttered open. A woman dressed in white hovered. She patted my hand.

  “It’s okay. You’re all right.” Her tone was rich and throaty. Like a lounge singer in a smoky bar.

  “What’s your name? Can you tell us your name?” asked one of the men.

  “Alyx,” I said. “Everyone calls me Allie.”

  Harsh light glared above. My senses overloaded. The world went gray.

  CHAPTER 2 - ALYSA

  MY EYES ROVED over scrub-covered hills. Vegetation hugged the lake’s shore, thirsty for moisture. A breeze carried the pineapple scent of sunscreen. I sat against a tree, buried my bare toes beneath sandy soil, and thought about my sister, Alyx. Four years ago, she’d drowned. Maybe today it would be my turn?

  No. I won’t drown because I won’t swim.

  My eyes roved over the parched Arizona landscape around Red Rock Lake and landed on Jerryd. Tall and athletic, he stood shirtless near the pool house, hands on his slender hips. Beside him, his father, Bahir Farid sat in his wheelchair. Coach Farid, we called him. Or sometimes just Farid. Only his girlfriend called him by his first name.

  It looked like Jerryd and his dad exchanged angry words. The coach rolled off, scowling. Jerryd folded his arms and surveyed the lake’s surface as it reflected the surrounding hills of burnt, yellow grass.

  Behind him, teams of swimmers clustered on picnic benches as they chatted, slathered sunscreen, and stretched. Like Jerryd, a few had changed into their swimsuits. I’d cloistered myself beneath a fragrant Ponderosa pine. It smelled like vanilla creamsicle.

  Jerryd raised his chin as if catching the scent of something and looked toward me. It was one of his many quirks that intrigued me. I thought no one could spot me from here, but he waved. I smiled and waved back. A flush of warmth flooded my heart and caught me off-guard. Gosh, I crushed hard on this boy.

  “Hey, Alysa!” Jerryd jogged over and high-fived me. “Are you okay? I heard you’re not gonna swim.”

  Jerryd wore a light brown swimsuit. His eyes shone molten gold against skin darkened to the shade of strong tea by the desert sun.

  “Yeah, I’m fine.” I paused. His eyebrows quivered like a curious puppy. “Well, not really.” My voice caught in my throat, and blood rushed to my cheeks.

  He cocked his head. “That’s cool. Maybe your mom’s right. Maybe you are pushing yourself too hard?”

  “No. This is what I need. It’s just, the lake…” I trailed off, not sure how to express the flood of emotions that spiraled in my belly.

  Jerryd and I had met at Oaktree when I was still an inpatient. He’d spent a good chunk of time there, too, and did volunteer outreach to help connect people after discharge. He knew all about my past. I’d even told him a little bit about The Purple—how I thought my spirit had gotten trapped in a strange pudding-like substance until my sister, Alyx, rescued me. He’d barely batted an eye.

  “This lake is so different from the pool. It’s ov
erwhelming.”

  “Listen, I’m proud of you having the guts to join the team in the first place. This is a lot, I know.”

  “It’s not a lot. I love swimming. It’s just… the open water.”

  Jerryd reached out and touched my arm. His fingers tingled against my bare skin. “Do what’s right for you. Either way, you made it here! This place is gorgeous, right?” He grinned and flung his arms open.

  The dark water terrified me but I couldn’t deny that it was stunning. “Why hasn’t this lake dried up? There’s nothing but desert around it.”

  “Underground aquifers through the whole area. We can’t let those developers destroy it. Wait until I show you my secret spot.”

  Jerryd’s mother and her new husband pulled up in a gray sedan.

  “A bit early, aren’t they?”

  Jerryd sighed. “Yeah, she kinda has this complex about never being late.”

  His mom wore a traditional djellaba, face covered. Her husband, Jerryd’s stepfather, seemed out-of-place in his dark business suit. His younger brother wore bright green shorts and a Barney the dinosaur t-shirt. When he saw Jerryd, he jerked his hands together in an awkward, repetitive clap and rocked back and forth, a big smile on his face.

  “Yo, Sayd!” Jerryd ran over and wrapped his little brother in a giant bear-hug.

  I sunk deeper into the tree’s shadow. Although I’d never met the woman, I felt certain his mom wouldn’t like me.

  Near the lake, Tanner sat hunched on a picnic table slurping iced coffee. He was the fastest swimmer next to Jerryd. “Yo, Alysa. C’mere!” he called out.

  I considered pretending not to hear, but I didn’t want to offend him. I walked over.

  “Why didn’t you go home?” He flashed a wicked grin.

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  Jerryd swiped his hand across his Adam’s apple as he jogged back to join us. “Tanner, cut it.”

  “Oh, man! You haven’t told her?” Tanner slapped his knees and laughed. With his sparse, blondish eyebrows and fair complexion, he appeared young for his years—maybe fifteen—but he was actually eighteen. That made his mismatched voice more jolting: a bass as deep as Jerryd’s. “Is that how you treat your girlfriend?” His eyes grew squinty and shrewd.

  Jerryd stroked his trimmed beard. The beard was new. I liked it. It enhanced the color of his lips. “Friends, Tanner. We’re friends. You know what those are?”

  “Told me what?” I asked.

  “The coach is axing you.” Tanner bit his lip, but his devious smile popped back onto his face like a jack-in-the-box.

  “But I just joined a few weeks ago,” I said.

  “Nice, Tanner.” Jerryd led me away. We stopped at a picnic bench behind a shuttered food kiosk.

  Farid blew his whistle, three sharp bursts. Time for the team to gather.

  “Coach Farid wants me off the team already?” My throat tightened. If I didn’t swim today, he’d cut me for sure.

  Jerryd shifted back on his heels. “Yeah, well, he’s a dick. What can I say? He feels you aren’t ready to be on a team.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you backed out of swimming today, and he says you don’t try in the pool. It's BS, but he sure as hell won’t listen to me.”

  “Wow.” After everything I’d gone through, joining a swim team was gutsy, maybe even foolish. Way out of my comfort zone. But I thought I was handling it.

  When I swam, I felt connected to Alyx. Sometimes, I pretended that my sister swam by my side. That my twin lived and I was whole again. It wasn’t therapy—it was better. Not to mention there was Jerryd.

  Sun sparkled off the water and reflected in his eyes as he gave a slow, sad shake of his head. My hands wrapped around my stomach. Behind him, his mom glanced over.

  “I am ready!” I took a deep breath and tried to stay present to my feelings like they’d taught us in therapy. “Your dad just… scares me with all his shouting. And this big lake terrifies me.”

  If not for Jerryd, I’d never have even learned about the swim club. True, I didn’t care for the swimming drills or the militant coach, who also happened to be Jerryd’s dad—though they couldn’t be more unlike each other. I loved being in the pool but dreaded swim practice. The coach reminded me of my stepmother, Ama. But I refused to quit. I would have a life again.

  Coach Farid blew his whistle. Three angry bursts.

  “I changed my mind. I’ll swim.”

  “Alysa, you don’t need to prove anything to anyone.”

  “No, not to anyone. But maybe to me.” My heart raced so hard I thought it might quit.

  I followed Jerryd, mouth as dry as the desert. Tanner had gathered with the rest of our team. Twelve stood waiting.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” I whispered to Jerryd as we walked.

  “Hey, I didn’t want to pressure you. My dad’s a maniac. I warned you. There’re other places you could swim. It doesn’t have to be on this crazy team.”

  Sure, but not with you.

  The more time I spent with Jerryd, the more I liked him. Now I wondered if I was his damaged little bird. That he waited for my wings to heal so I'd fly off and leave him alone. Maybe he’d said something to his dad?

  Coach Farid’s deep-set eyes shifted when he saw me. He smiled and clapped. Hungry. That was my first thought. His long, crooked nose threw a strange shadow on his cheek; like a broken sundial. Skye, his girlfriend, crossed my name off her clipboard. Nails gleamed on hands as flawless as a china doll. Skye turned Farid’s wheelchair to avoid facing the sun.

  “Remember,” Farid lowered his voice so the other teams couldn’t hear. “Swim from the hips. You’ll conserve energy and go faster. Keep the splash down. Now get out there and destroy those mothers. Go, Desert Sharks!”

  “Desert Sharks, Desert Sharks!” my team members shouted.

  Heart in my throat, I shouted with them.

  We jogged into the lake. Arizona sun beat against my shoulders. The lake felt massive. A girl could get lost here—forever. I hugged my knees into my chest, adjusted my goggles and bathing cap.

  From the water, the surface of the lake literally looked like an ocean. Catching a glimpse of my face reflected in the glassy surface, I cringed. My dad had European roots, Mom—Japanese—although she had eyes like mine. Right now, I looked like the worst of both. My terrified green eyes looked less like emeralds—Dad’s words—and more like swamp water. High cheekbones made me look hollowed-out and gaunt. Someone jostled me, and the surface wavered. My face dissolved into a vomit of colors.

  “Nice tat.” A girl wearing a silver swim cap pointed to my right shoulder. I covered it self-consciously. The mark looked like a tiny octopus tattoo but actually was a birthmark. My twin, Alyx, had the same birthmark on her left shoulder—a mirror image to mine. I stammered a quick thanks and turned back to the lake.

  Eyes set forward, body wound tight as a spring, my jaw clenched as I waited.

  Bang!

  Ears ringing, I lurched off the rope and sliced into the water.

  Water churned beneath me as my legs and arms flailed. Even when my head left the water, I could not see. A quick flash of orange was the only indicator that I swam straight. That gunshot unleashed something primal. That and the fact that I’d never swam in water so murky. Not since Alyx drowned.

  As I rounded the orange pacing marker, I risked a glance back. Jerryd swam a few body lengths behind. Tanner’s head bobbed up several lengths farther still.

  I’m beating Jerryd?!

  My mind reeled with confusion. How was this even possible? I paused. He was the team captain. How would his dad react if he lost to the girl on the verge of being cut? I let him pass, then plunged my face back into the water and continued. I zoomed through my second loop and shot past the yellow finish.

  Happy to be out of the water, I panted on a bench. Coach Farid sat, body tipped forward in his wheelchair, mouth hung open wide. The timer huddled over her equipment checking and rechecking before she made her announcement.

  Not only had I finished a few seconds after Jerryd, but I’d also beaten Tanner and made a new female youth swim record. Up until now, I’d managed to keep swimming secret from my mom. She thought I was at an all-day art therapy workshop. Now, I wished I could tell her.

  CHAPTER 3 - ALLIE