Alyssa starts to move to follow Loki. We discussed this, there is a reason he is going alone. If he is captured, we can still enact the plan without him. I put as much thrall into my words as I can, "Let's go see my father."

She turns to face me, her eyes glazed and she repeats my words after me. I start swimming towards the palace, certain she will follow. I have yet to meet anyone who can resist my thrall besides Loki, but he has his own tricks to counter it. I am worried. Cory is unlikely to deal in good faith. He is more duplicitous than Loki, and he knows it.

This could easily be a trap—especially since Elder Vulcan called ahead.

I navigate us through the city, stopping and talking to old friends along the way. Alyssa follows mindlessly behind me. Atlantis is one of our safest cities. We use the magic in our thrall to keep it hidden. A diver could swim right through the center of it and not perceive it. We lace a subliminal message in every song and broadcast. Anything you hear on the radio or TV is telling you that our cities are invisible and unfindable in every language.

I used to record such tracks, but not anymore.

It takes us an hour to make it to the castle in the center of the city. We estimated it would take Loki two to make it back to us. Every minute beyond that increases the likelihood he will not return. If I don't see him in an hour and fifteen minutes, I'm going to proceed with the backup plan.

The guards let us through the front gate. I check the clock in the courtyard, it is time for my father to tend to the grievances of the people. Instead of pulling someone aside and asking to see him, we join the line of petitioners. There are only five in front of us, and the gates closed to the public after these five. He only sees thirty people a day so he can attend other matters, and we are number 31.

Most of the disputes my father sees are trivial. My neighbor stole seagrass from my garden, and he stole a baby stingray from my ferver. Sirens rarely hurt one another on a physical level, but the way the water can move things makes ownership somewhat murky. Rarely, someone will come to petition for a change to the city. Usually young couples looking to build their own homes and start their families. None of the people in front of us seem to fit that profile, so these cases should move quickly.

It takes 45 minutes for all the disputes in front of us to clear. We are just in front of the throne room when I hear my father say "That was thirty, what is next today?" There is a pause while my father's servant relays the change in plans and then, "31 today! You know I don't take extras unless they are extremely important!" The servant mumbles something, probably that it is important, and my father says "Fine, open the door and let them in."

We go through the door, and turn the corner so he can see us. I throw out my arms, smile wide, and say "Daddy!"

"Aha! You did not say the important matter was my daughter!" He swims over and wraps me in a bone crushing hug, then looks over my shoulder, "And with a vampire youngling as well. On your way to return them to New Eden?" He glances at his servant, "How much time do I have to deal with this 'important matter'?"

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"I have cleared your schedule for the day."

He turns to look at the rest of the servants, "Then please take the rest of the day off!" He turns back to me and places a casual arm around my shoulders, leading me deeper into the castle while the servants thank him and bow out. "Come, you must be hungry, that human food is just gastly."

We go to his personal dining room, the one he keeps stocked just for visiting family. Once we are all inside, he closes and locks the doors and windows. So much for him not knowing why I've come.

"I expected Loki with you," he accuses.

"Did you? I have not seen him in an age."

"And yet, you have his disciple following you." Seeing my surprise, he continues, "Several of the other elders are here, including Elder Isis."

I drop into my customary chair at the table, Alyssa follows my lead and takes the chair next to me. "I can explain!"

"No need, Loki did quite a bit of explaining at the Entreat. I assume you are a part of the plan he left out?"

"He needs someone with a strong enough thrall that works through broadcast signals to make sure the humans prioritize the message."

My father sighs, before swimming to the seat across from me. He places a dish of some of my favorite delicacies between us before picking up a small soft shelled crab trying to scurry away and popping it in his mouth. I grab one just about to escape the edge of the plate and do the same. "To do that, you will need to get to Vulcan's lab."

I grab another crab, wrap it in seaweed, and eat it while he is talking. "Do you know where it is?"

He laughs. "Do I know where it is? You know where it is." He shakes his head at my confusion and chuckles again. "What equipment do you think we use to ensure our subliminal messages make it in all the human's media? We just don't use the space antennas and arrays."

"What!? So it is here? Where is the antenna to turn on the space side? Can we fake a signal from space with it?"

"There is a trap door under the sound studio, that is where you go to turn on all the space equipment."

"What is it all doing down here? Shouldn't it be up in Athens somewhere?"

"Athens was growing too big, and we were the equipment's primary users. Vulcan agreed when I asked if we could move the equipment down here. Dragons and oceans don't mix, but he helped me move it anyways."

"So… Elder Vulcan knew it was down here. Why did he send Loki to go see Cory?"

Now, my father looks confused. "Cory hasn't seen the equipment since he was a toddler. He wouldn't know where it is or how to operate it."

I look at Alyssa, placid and complacent under my thrall. He told me we would need her. He told me not to send her home. Cory is the same age as him, Loki knew Cory likely wouldn't have this information, and he went anyway.

Elder Vulcan betrayed us.

This was always a trap.

I'm not here only for my thrall, I'm here because I can work the equipment.

I won't wait the time we agreed to. The elders are here, and Loki is potentially dead. If we can get the signal out before the elders stop us, then the plan will start to run itself.

"Father, will you cover for us? I only need an hour."

He leans back in his chair. "I could never spend less than an hour or two catching up with my darling daughter alone before consenting to share her with the delegation." He smiles, "Don't worry, you have your head start."

I grab my bag and order Alyssa to hold on tight. We have to get through the castle without being seen, and with the elders walking around, there is no way Alyssa is fast enough to do so.

I hope Loki is okay.