Atlantis Rising: The Myth Hunter, #6

By Percival Constantine

When Atlantis rises...humanity shall fall!

Elisa Hill is the latest in a long line of myth hunters, adventurers who travel the world seeking the truth behind the legends. When what appears to be the fossilized remains of an angel is discovered, it has the potential to confirm the faith of millions. But Elisa suspects there's something more going on.

Old enemies and allies alike turn up as Elisa seeks to learn the secret history of Atlantis and the unknown origins of humanity! But what price will Elisa be forced to pay in order to uncover the truth?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pulp Corner Press
• Release date: Oct 25, 2016
• ISBN: 9781393219354

Percival Constantine

Born and raised in the Chicagoland area, Percival Constantine grew up on a fairly consistent diet of superhero comics, action movies, video games, and TV shows. At the age of ten, he first began writing and has never really stopped. Percival has been working in publishing since 2005 in various capacities—author, editor, formatter, letterer—and has written books, short stories, comics, and more. He has a Bachelor of Arts in English and Mass Media from Northeastern Illinois University and a Master of Arts in English and Screenwriting from Southern New Hampshire University. Currently, Percival lives in Japan’s Kagoshima prefecture, where he works as a literature and writing instructor at the Minami Academy. 

Book preview

1

Maxwell Finch looked out the window as the waters of the Atlantic Ocean whipped past them below. He sat back in his chair and took off his glasses, cleaning the lenses with a small cloth obtained from the inside pocket of his blazer.

We should be arriving shortly, Professor, said the pilot.

Max gave him a nod and a polite smile. When he put his glasses back on, he could see the ship off in the distance, the Ignatius. The home of this deep-sea Atlantic excavation grew larger as the helicopter approached.

The pilot maneuvered the helicopter over the ship’s helipad and slowly descended. The landing skids touched down on the surface and as the spinning blades slowed, crew members rushed up to the helipad to secure it to the boat.

Max’s door was opened for him and he climbed out of the helicopter. The crewman who did offered his hand and a smile.

Professor Finch, it’s an honor to meet you. I’m Peter Webber, the ship’s captain.

Pleased to meet you, Captain. Max was grateful as helicopter engine stopped so that now he didn’t have to raise his voice.

Dr. McCartney is waiting for you below deck. Captain Webber turned, leading Max from the helipad.

Do you know what this is at all about, Captain? asked Max as he followed, holding the strap slung diagonally across his body, attached to a leather bag.

Oh yeah, but I’m under strict orders not to reveal anything. Dr. McCartney said he wants you to see it for yourself.

Can you tell me anything about it? I’ve come all this way…

Yeah, there’s one thing I can tell you. Webber paused and turned, smiling at the professor. It’s gonna blow your mind.

Max raised his eyebrows in interest, then followed the captain in silence. They entered a stairwell and climbed down a few decks before exiting into a narrow corridor. Captain Webber continued to lead Max to a closed door and he banged on the heavy metal a few times.

The door opened and a young man with a thick beard and dark eyes stood on the other side. Once he laid eyes on Max, he offered a broad smile and stepped out. Max returned the smile and the two men hugged.

Good to see you again, Russ, said Max.

You too, replied Russell McCartney. Come in, come in.

Russ stepped deeper into the room and made a path for Max to follow. Webber stuck his head into the doorway but didn’t cross the threshold. I’ll leave you two. Gotta keep an eye on this rotten crew of mine.

Thanks, Pete. Russ gave him a departing wave. Webber closed the door behind him and his footsteps receded down the corridor.

So, while it’s great to see a former student, please tell me you have a good reason for making me fly all the way out here.

Russ gave a chuckle. So you were in London?

Lecture tour, also looking into some things for another former student.

Well, I think you’ll find this worth the trip. Russ led Max to another door and opened it. We’ve been combing the ocean floor, sending out divers to see what they could find. And we picked up the motherload.

He held the door open and gestured inside. Max took a few steps, but they slowed considerably when he saw what was on the other side. His jaw fell open and he removed his glasses. Max inched closer and closer. He looked over his shoulder.

Is this…what am I looking at?

You tell me.

Max stepped closer. The find was kept behind glass and he slowly placed a hand on the surface. It was fused into the rock but it was clear what they were looking at was a skeleton—definitely a human. Except it had a very unique characteristic. The bones of what looked like wings protruding from its back.

Are you telling me this is an angel? asked Max.

I have no idea what it is, that’s why I called you here, said Russ.

We have to keep this quiet. If the public gets wind of this, do you imagine what sort of chaos it will cause?

"Religious groups will go nuts, I agree. But what do you think it really is?"

Max shook his head, eyes still wide as he examined the fossil. Russ, I’ve seen a lot of strange things in my life. I know there’s a lot more to the world than most people are aware of. But I’ve never in all my years seen anything to suggest that angels are real.

Then either you’ve just been proven wrong, or this is something else.

Max’s eyes continued to travel up and down the specimen. And you said you found this on the ocean floor?

Yeah. But judging from the condition, it seems like it must’ve been buried deeper. We were checking out some ruins and we found this.

Max turned away from the fossil and put his glasses back on. What ruins would those be?

Rumored resting places of Atlantis.

Max looked at the skeleton again. He bit his bottom lip as he thought about how coincidental this seemed. Elisa asked him to investigate any potential leads on the Thule Society, whose goal was to resurrect Atlantis. The Society’s leadership was gone, but there were still factions out there. And it was Elisa’s hope that they could use any information on the Society to help them discover what their old enemies, the Order, were up to.

Black, unmarked helicopters armed with mini-guns approached the Ignatius. The man who sat in the co-pilot’s seat looked behind him at the commandos who were ready to go. They all wore masks and were armed with automatic rifles, their uniforms as black and unmarked as the attack choppers.

This man, however, was dressed in a white suit with a black shirt and a mandarin collar. He had long, silver hair and a sheathed katana sword was lain across his lap.

Target in range, said the pilot.

The silver-haired man smiled and said one word: Fire.

Not only the chopper he rode in but the others that accompanied them unleashed salvos of rounds on the Ignatius’ deck. The first thing they targeted was the helicopter Max had arrived in, rendering it useless.

The crew scattered across the deck, struggling to find some way to defend themselves or simply abandoning the ship. The choppers continued their approach, opening fire whenever they had an opportunity.

Get ready, the silver-haired man said to the commandos. Remember, everyone but the target is expendable.

The helicopters positioned themselves over the deck and one by one, the commandos dropped down from ropes. They brought their guns to the ready and started moving about, shooting anyone who got in their way.

The sounds of gunfire reached down to the lower decks where Max and Russ were standing. Max gave Russ a questioning look, but Russ’ expression showed his confusion. The older professor moved into the main room, but remained by the door.

Do you have any weapons?

What? asked Russ. "The Ignatius’ a research vessel, Max."

I guess that’s a no. Max sighed. He’d been retired from the myth hunter profession for some time now, but he cursed himself for not coming prepared. He needed a weapon if they were going to have any hope of getting out of here.

Something else occurred to him. Max walked back to the artifact, taking his cell phone out of his blazer pocket.

What are you doing? asked Russ.

First thing’s first. Max held up the phone, activating the camera feature. He snapped a picture of the find and sent it in an email, along with the Ignatius’ coordinates. In case we don’t make it out of this.

Make it—what?

Quiet. Max returned to the door and waited. He heard footsteps moving rapidly. Then a burst of gunfire and a thump. An unlucky crew member trying to escape, it seemed.

Russ looked like he wanted to make a break for it. But Max held out his hand to steady him. They heard the door handle turning. Max prepared himself. When the door opened inward, a commando stepped inside.

Max delivered a punch to the commando’s face with his right hand, while grabbing the gun with his left. He wrestled it away from the commando and turned it on him, opening fire. The commando slumped to the ground and Max stepped out into the corridor.

Stay here, he told Russ.

With slow, deliberate steps, he moved down the hall. He kept his footfalls as quiet as possible, getting to the stairwell. Max climbed up the decks until he reached the top. Upon opening the door, he saw the body of Captain Webber and muttered a curse under his breath.

Something struck him from behind and Max went tumbling across the deck. He regained his footing and spun around. But when he saw the man standing in front of him—all dressed in white, silver hair caught in the wind, emerald eyes fixed upon him—Max lowered the gun in surprise.

It can’t be, he said. You died. In Lemuria.

Yes, I did, said Seth. He moved like a silver blur, crossing the distance between them before Max could recover from his shock enough to raise the weapon. Seth’s blade was drawn and struck the gun, the force knocking it from Max’s hands.

A kick to his legs brought Max falling hard on his back. Seth pointed the tip of his blade at the professor’s throat.

You should have stayed retired, old man. But fortunately for you, my employer has need of your services.

2

The back of the hand struck Elisa Hill’s face and her head rocked to the side. She looked up at the man who had struck her. She