Chapter 7 - A City of Submerged Secrets
Using Neri's ancient knowledge of the underwater currents, Aiden and Pearl bypassed the drone patrols and navigated toward the coastal estate of Vanguard's billionaire CEO, located on a private, heavily guarded island ten miles off the coast.
Under the cover of a thick, unnatural sea fog summoned by Pearl's subconscious, Aiden swam to the private docks of the high-tech mansion.
The estate was a fortress of glass, steel, and security cameras.
"Stay in the water, Pearl," Aiden whispered, clinging to the wooden pilings of the dock. "I'm going to slip inside, find the relic, and come right back. If you see guards, dive deep. Do you understand?"
But Pearl had other plans. With an indignant huff, she hauled herself out of the water, using her strong silver tail to hop across the deck like an incredibly determined, very angry seal.
"Pearl, no! It's too dangerous!" Aiden whispered-yelled, scrambling after her.
She ignored him entirely, her brow furrowed as she pointed a tiny, webbed finger toward a massive glass dome in the center of the estate. Inside, glowing with a soft, ethereal golden light, was a massive, tear-shaped sapphire suspended in a vacuum chamber.
"The Tear," Aiden breathed.
May you like
Before they could take another step, the floodlights snapped on, bathing the deck in a blinding, sterile white glare. Alarms began to blare, a high-pitched siren that shattered the quiet of the night.
"I knew you couldn't resist, Aiden," Dr. Vance’s voice sneered over the intercom. "Welcome to your end."
