The Lost Cities Novels & Stories

"In ancient tales, a city so grand, sunk beneath the ocean, lost to land. A fabled place, to bipedal folk, shrouded in mystery, but what am I, to merfolk, a legend of history?" Tritan's head jerks up with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension. His theory is now confirmed, and he takes it upon himself to sign on behalf of the group. "The Sacred Ruins of The Lost City of Atlantis," he declares with confidence. Waves of understanding, excitement, apprehension, and awe ripple through the group as they grasp the significance of this revelation. For Joe and Bryan, it's pure wonder and excitement at the prospect of exploring the once thought mythical and lost city of Atlantis.

"I've always had these fragmented dreams – images, voices, places I've never been. Could those be memories from my past life?" I reached out, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Maybe they're not just dreams. Maybe they're pieces of a larger puzzle." He sighed, raking his fingers through his hair. "A vast city cloaked in shadows, a crystal-clear lake mirroring the night sky, a melody echoing in the wind... they’ve always felt too real to be just dreams." Elena's eyes lit up with recognition. "I’ve read about such a city in ancient scripts. Legend speaks of a lost city named Lys'tral, hidden from the world, where the veil between realms is at its thinnest."

*** FOUR YEARS LATER /Zhask’s POV/ I followed a man in the streets whom I suspected as one of the rogues who were behind the kidnapping of my mate. It had been four long years but we I still couldn’t find the people who were behind the attack at the Hunting Ceremony. But I was able to trace one of them yesterday because someone who were there at the ceremony was able to recognize his face. And this was the man we were following. One of my trusted guard, Lylion, was behind me, keeping me safe all the time since I just sneaked out of the palace in disguise. The scent of the man who was no longer in our sight led me to a narrow corner and into a narrow empty alley.

Caspian said. “Is it hard for you?” I asked, the sound still piercing my ears. He shook his head. “I am one of the few who was sensitive to it at first.” “So, where do we go from here?” I asked. “We’re going there.” He pointed down to what you would think was the literal castle from Atlantis, the Lost City. It was carved entirely out of rock and coral but still stood tall and grandiose. It almost put the Fira Castle to shame, almost.

I didn’t know what I found more offensive: the fact Ronan smoked next to a shelf of first editions, or that I would have to share this space with himfor however long he kept me here. The first book I pulled off the shelf was Paradise Lost by John Milton. How ironic. The novel was a set of poems depicting Satan as arrogant and instrumental to his own downfall, and, eventually, he lost the fight against God. I dropped the book on Ronan’s desk on the way out. The one glaring thing the house lacked was electronics. I didn’t find a single telephone, radio, or computer. Either the frequencies disrupted Ronan’s communications with the underworld, or he got rid of any way I could reach out for help.

I had returned from a five-year assignment. Walking out of the airport, my heart was filled with hope that Cyra Stern would accept my proposal. However, she just stood there expressionlessly. “Neil Spencer, I’m sorry.” Before I could even register my surprise, she spoke again. “That transfer order… was my doing. “I purposely had you transferred to that remote project in the Northwest just to create space for Devin Lawrence and me. “Back then, I was pregnant with his child. I had no other choice.” A long silence followed as I bit my lip until it bled. That was five years of living hell in the Fopi Desert. They were filled with swirling sandstorms, unbearable heat, and sixteen-hour work

The weight of keeping it from her sat heavier every day. But the truth came with consequences I wasn’t ready to hand her yet. “Where do *you* come from?” she asked, breaking the silence. I blinked. “Torenth.” “Where is Torenth?” “Small kingdom. Very small.” “I’ve never heard of it.” “Most people haven’t.” I shifted, choosing each word carefully. “It’s sometimes called the lost city. Not in plain sight it was founded by ancient people who wanted to remain hidden, and it can only be found by those who already know where to look.”

The fate of their world awaited them within those ancient walls. The air hung heavy with the scent of dust and decay as they stepped through the crumbling archway, the city’s entrance yawning before them like a forgotten maw. Giant, moss-covered stones, intricately carved with symbols Lyra recognized from the cavern murals, formed the walls, their surfaces slick with age and the relentless creep of vegetation. The city wasn’t merely ruined; it was actively reclaiming itself, nature’s relentless tide eroding the remnants of a once-proud civilization.

Silver bridges connected impossible structures. Crystal roads stretched between buildings that seemed untouched by time. Yet the city was empty. Silent. Motionless. A monument to something long gone. The First Memory stared at it. Pain crossed her face. "I never thought I'd see it again." Lira looked toward her. "What is this place?" The answer came softly. "The City of Lost Possibilities." Silence followed. The name itself felt ancient. Dangerous. Sacred. The former King narrowed his eyes. "This place existed before the kingdoms."

The second light stayed on. Which was both encouraging and deeply suspicious. Mostly suspicious. The crew stood beneath the ruined archway watching the distant glow. It shone steadily through the darkness. Not bright. Not threatening. Just... present. Like a candle left burning in an empty room. Or a lantern waiting in a window. The forgotten road stretched toward it. Broken. Worn. Ancient. Yet unmistakably leading somewhere. Leading to Lumora. The lost city. The city that had vanished when the roads broke.