Lost (The Secret World Of Atlantis)

Chapter 3 - Heat In Dairelis

I stare at Eros in utter confusion. "What did you just call me?" It surprised me way more than the fact that I'm in the lost city of Atlantis. He smiles at me, then looks at Elena.

"You are the lost Princess, Arya," she explains with a smile and I shake my head. There must be a mistake. I am not even ladylike, how could I be a Princess? I open my mouth, then close it and do it again and again, but nothing comes out. They chuckle at my reaction.

"Are you ready to meet your family?" Eros asks softly. My eyes fill up with tears, but I wipe them away quickly. They don't need to see me cry, that would be too embarrassing.

"I have a family?" I whisper faintly and he nods happily. I can't believe it! The biggest dream I ever dared to dream is coming true. I will meet my parents, I'm not an orphan anymore! The next thing I do is throw my head backwards and laugh from my heart. "Why didn't you say so before? I wouldn't be giving you such a hard time if you told me you're taking me to my parents," I say, turning to them. The siblings share a look.

"We didn't know if we were going to make it, so we didn't get your hopes up," Elena interprets. I don't know what she means by that, maybe those four cars that were following us. I actually don't even care about them anymore. My parents are the main focus of my mind right now.

"Alright, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" I take the initiative. They smile, shaking their heads.

"We need to change our clothes first. Unfortunately we didn't think of bringing something for you too, when we were leaving for Earth, so you're stuck in that," Elena tells me and I look down at my clothes. I'm wearing a T-shirt and jeans, along with my work apron that I didn't have the time to take off. I glance at them, they are both dressed in jeans, just like me. Alright then. I take off my apron and turn around for them.

"Better?" I ask. They look at each other and burst out laughing. I stare at them blankly. Why are they acting so odd?

"I'll show you what we meant," Eros says, still smiling. He takes a minute and climbs effortlessly on the top of a nearby pine tree. In a moment he returns with a simple brown sack. Opening it, he takes out something beige and something emerald. Then he tosses the bag to Elena, who grabs it while looking at me. Talk about some skills.

 They start undressing without any shame, in fact, I think I might be more uncomfortable then they are. I make the mistake of turning my head to Eros as he starts unzipping his jeans. Oh my. I won't ever sleep after this sight. He is all muscle, literally a Greek god. His biceps are about to burst and I can't even bring myself to look at his stomach, because I think I'm going to faint. He is so magnificent, that I can't turn away.

I blush a deep burgundy, my heart racing like mad, as he catches me staring. "Drooling yet?" he smirks cockily. I scoff unconvincingly, nervously tucking a stray hair behind my ear and turning away while doing so. I can hear him laughing contentedly, but I don't give him the pleasure of glancing his way. I pretend to check my nails, because I literally have nowhere else to look. And I can't bring myself to turn to the city because I will look at him and stare again.

"Don't embarrass the poor girl, Eros. Just dress up already, I don't know what is taking you so long," Elena scolds him and I look at her. She is as gorgeous as her brother. Her dress is light pink, tied at her waist and falling to the floor, hugging her hips. The top consists of a loose bodice and a single strap, going around her neck.

"Now I see why my clothes are unfit. You look stunning, Elena," I tell her and she gifts me with a friendly smile.

"Thank you, but I'm not really one for dresses. I'm going to miss those jeans," she sighs, then turns to her brother. "Seriously Eros, put your shirt on right now." I can barely hold my laughter at seeing Elena's cheerful expression turn into an angry one. Then I take a deep breath and look at Eros.

He is just slowly sliding an emerald coloured shirt over his head and I get a full view at his gorgeous six-pack. It is so perfect, not even Michelangelo could carve it out. His David has nothing on Eros.

In the blink of an eye, he's already tucking the shirt into his wide beige trousers, tying them a little below his waist. I can feel myself letting out a breath I didn't even realize I was holding. How can someone be so good looking, that they make you want to stare at them all day?

As he finishes, his eyes bore straight into mine. I resist the urge to look away and his lips slowly spread into a seductive smile. I smile back slightly, but then he turns to Elena.

"Can I get my sandals, please?" he asks with a cheeky smile and she rolls her eyes at him. But still, she reaches into the bag and aims the shoes at him. He catches them with one hand and quickly puts them on. "Alright then, are we ready to go?" He looks at us and I nod excitedly. Time to meet my family.

We follow him to the beach, Elena taking my apron and stuffing it into that brown bag. They also put their jeans, T-shirts and sneakers there, because they didn't want to leave them lying in the forest. I liked that gesture. I am very much against polluting nature.

We reach a small wooden boat, resting on the shore. Eros extends his hand out to me and I grab it without a second thought. He helps me get into the boat and tries to do the same for his sister, but she jumps in, giggling mischievously at his long face.

"When you're a gentleman and try to help a lady ... But then you realise she might not even be one," he jokes and Elena smacks him in the arm. We all laugh loudly. These two sure know how to have a good time.

Eros pushes the boat into the sea and steps into the water himself. He pulls himself onto the boat, his pants soaked to his knees. Elena raises her hand at his trousers and it starts to glow, radiating a heat even I can feel. But as she leans back, I notice he's completely dry.

As he starts rowing, I ask: "Am I going to be able to do that, too?" They both chuckle at my question and Elena turns to me.

"Of course. You're enrolling into your third year at The Academy  next month," she says and my face falls.

"What Academy?" I ask in confusion. Is this another school I'm going to have to attend? I thought princesses didn't have to go to school.

"I'm sorry, I keep forgetting you didn't grow up in our world. The Academy Of Flyers And Magicians is a school, where we learn magic and everything that goes with it. You'll have to pass exams for your first and second years before the school year starts, but I'm sure you'll do just fine." I gulp deeply.

"How am I supposed to pass exams if I can't do magic?" I squeal worriedly. Eros scoffs.

"You'll pick it up like nothing, Arya. We Royals are invincible when it comes to magic," he reassures me. I tilt my head curiously.

"Why do you say we Royals? I thought I was the Princess. Are we related?!" I panic in horror. Please don't say I was drooling over my cousin or something, because that is wrong in every way.

"No," he chuckles. "We are from different families. I'm a Prince, but my title is lower than yours. The same goes for Elena. You belong to the leading family." I nod, breathing out a sigh of relief. "What's the matter? Do you fancy me?" Now he's really crossed a line there.

"And what would you do if I said yes?" I challenge him. Elena howls excitedly as she sees the serious look on his face.

"I might court you. For a long time apparently, because you're stubborn," he chuckles and I stare at him silently. "And then-"

"You would be left with a broken heart. Because I don't fancy you," I interrupt him, before things get intense. Elena laughs so hard, that I think she might fall off the boat, while Eros just stares at me as he keeps rowing. What a liar I am.

"Do you know what his problem is? You're the first one that rejected him," she tells me amidst laughing and I can't help but giggle. He just shakes his head, but still curves his lips in a smile.

The rest of the ride passes in silence and the closer we get to the first island, the more I think about my family. Will they recognize me? How will they accept me? Will they love me?

The boat hitting the shore wakes me up from my thoughts. Elena takes off her shoes, grabs the skirt of her dress and steps into the water. Eros does so without taking anything off, just like before, and me? Well, I sit on the boat, looking at the sand in the sea. I really don't want to get it in my shoes. And as much as I liked how Elena dried those trousers, I wouldn't want her doing that on me.

"Are you coming?" Eros asks, offering me his hand. I bite my lip nervously. I am going to regret this so much.

"I really don't want to get wet," I say quietly and he sighs, tilting his head. He watches me for a moment, licking his lips, then gestures for me to stand up and come closer. I do so, reaching out for his neck and he lifts me up swiftly. I gasp at his strength, then look up at him. I knew I was going to regret being so close to him. My heart is racing again. "You really like to sweep me off my feet, don't you?" I blurt out and he smirks at me, his face dangerously close to mine.

"You have no idea," he tells me with that deep voice. I prevent myself from shivering with excitement. I get goosebumps just from hearing him talk. He puts me down and smiles widely, gesturing at the city in front of us. "With pleasure, I present to you Dairelis, the capital of Atlantis. And your home." I clap happily, taking in the sight.

The first island is more or less empty. There's only one building on it and when we reach it, I realize it's sort of a reception. They check themselves in, the employee wanting to know my identification. When they tell him who I am, he gasps, steps in front of his desk and bows deeply. I don't know how to react to this, so I just smile at him as he raises up again. "It's an honour, my Princess," he says seriously and I thank him shyly.

Moving forward, we pass a bridge to another island, where I can spot some small houses. And with every bridge and every island we pass, the architecture starts to get more luxurious. But with more buildings on every island, there are also more people. Every single one of them is looking at me oddly. I stick out like a sore thumb in my jeans and T-shirt. I wish I had at least worn a skirt to work that day.

People recognize Eros and Elena immediately as they pass by, are they really that famous here? The thought scares me a bit, because I don't know what to expect when people get to know their lost Princess.

Soon I can see the towers of a Royal Palace, standing on the highest island in the middle. We have to pass a few more islands, filled with guards, until we reach a long, uphill built bridge. Another two guards are standing in front of it, demanding to know our business in the Palace.

"We brought the lost Princess," Elena says formally and the guards widen their eyes as they look at me. Then they bow and step aside immediately.

From up close, the Palace looks even more marvelous. The façade is decorated with columns, balconies,  and mythological statues. We walk the marble stairs, secured by a massive balustrade and reach an enormous front door, made out of gold.

The inside is even more breath-taking. The walls are ornamented with mouldings, coloured marble, greek meanders and even gilded statuettes. In the middle of the foyer, there's a round fountain, its centre a monumental pegasus, rising up in the air. His extended wings are almost as big as his whole body and his mane is decorated with gilded irises, peonies and laurel leaves. I stare at him, mesmerized.

"Pegasus is the symbol of your family’s coat of arms. You praise it for its wings, as he gifted them to you and all the other Royal families," Eros speaks quietly. His tone shows so much respect for the winged creature, that it impresses me. Then something inside my mind clicks.

"Hold on. Did you say he gifted us with ... wings?" I ask in disbelief. He looks at me without any hint of a smile and nods.

"We are flyers. There is no Royal that isn't one." I wrinkle my forehead. I have no idea what that means. "I can see that you are confused. Flyers are magical beings, the first race that Atlas created on this continent. He chose us to rule over the other races, magicians and fairies. But fairies are no longer part of our kingdom. In fact, no one has seen them in decades. It is rumoured that they created their own kingdoms in the forests of our world. Do you follow?"

"Yes, but why don't you have your wings? And where are mine?" I ask in confusion.

"We are able to hide our wings under our skin. We rarely spread them in public, because they are interpreted as a symbol of our intimacy. No one is allowed to touch them, except ourselves and our spouses." I blush. I didn't know wings were such a taboo.

"Why is that?" I still ask him out of pure curiosity. He smiles slightly.

"Because we go mad with lust." Oh. I didn't expect that. I feel the heat rising in my cheeks even more and I squeeze my lips together, then bite them nervously. He's staring at me and I don't know what to make of it.

"Are they feathery like a bird's? And what colour are they?" I ask again, trying to avoid heated topics. He doesn't answer me. In fact, he starts moving away from me and again, I have no idea what he's doing.

Suddenly, he rolls his shoulders and just like in slow motion, a pair of golden feathery wings grow out of his back. I gasp in awe. They are twice as long as he is tall and they look so soft, they make me want to run over to him and touch them. As if reading my mind, Elena gently grabs my forearm, preventing me from making a fatal mistake. But it doesn't seem like a mistake. They are pulling me towards him so much, it makes me go mad.

"That's enough, Eros," she says in a warning tone, while she looks around worriedly. I think she might be afraid of anyone seeing him, but I'm not. In fact, I would love to stare at him like this forever. But he rolls his shoulders and his wings start to get smaller and smaller, until they disappear into his back again.