1

Atlantis, my beautiful home. It is like a dream that the world above would kill to see. But as you grow older, you to start to realize that there is a greater purpose for yourself.

My name is Taryana Odonta, Tarya for short. My father, Tyrus was a very well respected General. Second command actually to King Orvax himself. He led the king's armies to many victories and claimed many titles. My father was skilled in combat and even trained the king when his father was away. My mother, Irys, was somewhat the opposite of my father. She hated violence and is soft spoken, but she spoke nonetheless. And that's what drew my father to her. The two fell in love and had me. Our family are the only ones to sport black scaled skinsuits, our hair a silver blue. When we aged, strips of white painted our hair.

Most of Atlantis was alive with daily tasks. My mother had tasked me with nothing for the day and so I took this time to look for my purpose. I had finished my lessons and so I was eager for adventure.

"Your head is always in the bubbles." Mother has said before.

"She shouldn't be worried about bubbles, instead planning on who she will be marrying." my father would respond. But I didn't care for marriage or babies. I wanted to go above the water, like I had done just now. I had left the boarders of Atlantis. The water was calm today. The sun is finally hitting the sky. I could see it now as I swam to the top at heightened speed. I smiled with excitement as I reached the air above. I inhaled hard and looked around as I just floated. I was close to the land, and in the distance was a light house. A half breed, known as Arthur Curry, lived at this light house with his father. His mother, our queen long forgotten. Queen Atlanna was executed for having Arthur. My mother advised her for many years when I was younger.

He's strong and has power stronger than most Atlanteans. But he has never been to our world. I met him when I was a younger girl and I had snuck up to the land to explore the humans and their ways. He is my best friend and also trained by Nuidis Vulko. I have often watched behind large boulders in the water as he would train.

I was swimming towards the large boulders and climbed on the rocks and just sat down now taking in the hot sun. My hair seemed to glow a bit as the rays hit me. I looked around at the water and noticed a small can floating against one of the rocks.

Trash. Every day this land pollutes our waters and kills the creatures below.

"Tarya? Are you crazy what do you doing out here? Someone could see you?" Arthur asks, and I turn to him smiling as he runs barefoot to me. He's young with choppy brown hair and soft tan skin, much lighter than my darker complexion.

"I'm sorry, Arthur, I had to see you and this land again." I replied and he moved over some of the large boulders and sat beside me, looking me over.

"If you're so intrigued by it so much, why don't you just stay here?" he asked. He's only nineteen, as I am seventeen but he doesn't understand. I shook my head.

"My family would never allow it. I am to marry into another high-born family and have children and what not." I replied and he cringed.

"Children?" he asked. I nodded. "Marriage, what if you don't love the guy?" I shook my head.

"Love is for those who are given the choice of marriage." I said. He looked down almost disheartened and he nodded.

"Like my mother who had to leave." he said. I winced and looked at him.

"My mother was her royal advisor." I replied and he looked at me now with shock.

"Really?" he asked and I nodded.

"Yes. She told me that all she thought about was you and your father." I replied. He gave half a smile before nodding.

"Thanks for that." he said. I envied his will to move on. If my mother was executed for loving another man having his child, I would be destroyed.

"You're welcome." I said lightly. He grinned before getting up and removing his shirt.

"Want to go for a swim?" he asked. I smiled and nodded, standing up, but before we could prepare our dive, the water suddenly burst apart. I wasn't shocked at the fact it happened, but more so it meant someone I knew was here. I watched my mother's form walk on small platforms of water that she formed at her feet. She walked strong, in her black suit, her wrists covered with steel to block attacks. Her locks were pulled back and braided as a silver tiara with a blue gem rested in the middle. She looked very upset. She was in her black armor.

"Who is that?" Arthur asked in utter amazement while I looked down in embarrassment.

"My mom." I replied.

"Taryana, what are you doing up here!" she snapped. Arthur glanced at me with shock.

"That's your real name?" he asked, and I just groaned some as my mother's blue eyes hardened on me.

"I have been looking everywhere for you. Come!" she merely commanded before giving Arthu a glance then diving back into the water. My chest was tight and my face was flushed. I looked at Arthur who just looked at me with a smile.

"How do you say… rain check?" I asked and he nodded. Humans had such weird sayings.

"Definitely." he said, and I smiled and we shared a hug before I departed from him and into the water. I swam with my mother back into the deep water world, arguing about how it wasn't fair that I couldn't visit my friend.

"You have friends here, Taryana. You know your father does not like you to be up there! What if something happened to you, what if someone caught you with him?" she asked while I pouted some.

"My name is Tarya and he just doesn't want me to see Arthur." I said. She stopped immediately in front of me and looked at me. Her eyes were stern and hard.

"You will NOT mention seeing that boy when we meet with the king." she said and I just shook my head completely confused.

"Why are we seeing the king?" I asked, and she just lifted her head some, her hair cascaded above her now.

"Your father has led the king's armies into many victories and has earned many titles. After a meeting with the high counsel and with their approval, King Orvax has found our family worthy to be combined into the royal family." I blinked rapidly not knowing what any of this meant.

"I don't get what you're saying. Are we no longer nobles?" I asked and she nodded once.

"We are, but because we are also high-born and have a strong history to our names, our family will be absorbed into the kings through an arranged marriage." she said, and I just thought of her words for a moment. I gawked some.

"So, what one of our cousins or something will marry the king now?" I asked still confused. My mother rolled her eyes now and nodded.

"Yes, but not our cousins, and not to King Orvax." she said now taking a deep, calm breath, meaning she was going to continue speaking. "You are betrothed to King Orvax's son, Prince Orm and when the King passes and Orm takes the throne, you will be queen of Atlantis."

Now it felt like I was being devoured by a waterspout. How could this happen? What did it all mean? I knew exactly what it meant, but why me?

"We are to meet with King Orvax and the prince now. Your father will be there to discuss arrangements. You will be respectful to the prince and show happiness to the arrangement." she said and turned and continued to swim back towards one of the gates that lead into Atlantis. It was heavily guarded if you did not use a ship to leave. My mind was still a blur as I followed my mother aimlessly through the beautiful colors of coral and fish. As we entered the city, our home was connected to the king's palace. We moved down the hall quietly.

"Does this mean I can never go to the land?" I asked but my mother did not answer. This worried me as I swam closer to her. "This means I can't see Arthur?"

But she quickly shushed me and immediately, my father was turning the hall across from us. He was a large man, in black armor as well, his helmet at his side. My parents gave each other a light embrace, by merely holding each other.

"My love." Mother said and my father gave her a quick kiss to the cheek before floating up to me with a light frown.

"Taryana-" but my frown made him sigh heavily. "Tarya, where have you been?"

"Nowhere important." I said and he just arched a brow as if knowing I was lying but nodded.

"Good. I am sure your mother told you of your betrothal?" he asked. I winced.

"Do I really have to?" I whispered, and his eyes popped with an even heavier frown on his face.

"You will do this for your kingdom. Your king has chosen you. He could have picked any of your cousins, but he chose you. You will do as is expected of you." he said and I hated that he spoke to me like I was one of his soldiers.

"I am NOT one of your lieutenants." I said with clenched fists, my face looking away though, hiding my anger. I didn't have the courage to look my dad in the face as he spoke. There were a few seconds of silence, before I felt his large fingers under my chin, slowly turning me to meet him. His grey eyes were soft and kind as he looked at me sympathetically.

"I am sorry that this task has fallen on you." he said sincerely, "Many of the other royal families of the other kingdoms understand that it is their duty to do what you're doing. But you've never had to be in that position, raised since birth to marry off. But my promise to you as a father will never break, even when you are queen. I will protect you with my life until the day I can't."

I believed his words because he has shown on many occasions that he was willing to fight any creature or Atlantean to keep my mother and I safe. Soft tears streamed down my face as I leaned in and hugged him tight. He seemed caught off guard by the motion, since he was in soldier mode, but he leaned forward and wrapped his large arms around me. I feel my mother come up behind me placing her hands on my shoulders and her cheek over her left hand.

"We will both be with you." she promised and my dad opened his arms more and pulled her in as well. I melted into their embrace wondering what this would mean for me entirely…