Getting darker now. Aqualad is in this chapter.
Rating: I'd say T, but I'm not sure just how sensitive people are.
About three days after Artemis had been dispatched from the team, the rest of the kids were still having a hard time swallowing the news.
To believe that one of them was, no matter the reasons she had, a traitor, was just difficult to believe.
Not unexpectedly, Wally had tried to defend her to some level.
"But she must have had a legit reason, right? And it's not like this harmed us in any way, since we didn't even notice or anything."
Truth be told, he did have a point. As it turned out, since they'd all pressed the League members for answers, her father had some sort of hold over her mother, who was crippled and easy to get to. Artemis, normally logically thinking and cool-headed, was so terrified of the power her father possessed she didn't dare to disobey. Years of him being superior, a master to her, had rendered her almost defenseless.
Although her teammates didn't know this, J'onn had also ventured into her mind to see just how far she'd gone with being his underling, and it was obvious she'd hated every second of being in close proximity with him. Although most of the League members understood this, they still couldn't let her back on the team just so soon. She'd be away for a while, and it all depended on her behaviour how soon she'd come back.
"None the less, she did not trust us enough to share this information with us, or to even ask for help. It is clear she does not see us as intimate teammates." Kaldur retorted, hating the way he had to play the bad guy, as always when it came to thinking for the team. He himself wanted nothing more than to help the girl, but as a leader, he had to set an example. Had they not found out things could have gotten worse, even ended as a casualty of someone in the team. That was all he needed to assure himself this wasn't something so easily forgivable.
Wally slumped, accepting his leader's words. Deep down, he was a little offended that Artemis hadn't even asked h-them for help, or at least Ollie. She had the goddamn Batman on her side, how card could nailing her father be?
Robin was leaning on the doorway, lost in his own thoughts. Kaldur had the leadership decked, Wally was moping, and M'gann was spending time with Connor in his room, Artemis's betrayal had touched her the worst. Therefore, Robin was wondering about that strange letter.
He'd been with Batman when he investigated it. No fingerprints, no special kind of paper, not even a smudge of the ink to at least see if the writer was right-handed or not. Nothing. It was as if a ghost had written it and magically slipped it in their slot; the security cameras hadn't detected anyone suspicious.
Robin frowned. This was worrisome.
Kaldur went to get some air. Having to be the one rational-thinking adult in this situation was strenuous on the mind, and Robin, the other logical mind, sure didn't seem like he was going to say anything.
However, he froze as he saw another envelope lying right by the door to the living room, where they had been talking.
All senses went to alert, and he quickly scanned his surroundings, checking for any traces of the sender.
It hadn't been there two hours ago.
M'gann, come in. M'gann.
Kaldur tried to focus his thoughts to the telepath, something they'd been practicing for a long time now. So far, he was the only one able to concentrate enough for it to work.
He let some of his anxiety leak through his mind; M'gann was very sensitive to emotions and more likely to receive his messages that way.
Aqualad? Is everything okay? Her response finally found its way to his mind, making him feel like his thoughts were exposed. He swallowed his own fretting, there was no time for that now.
M'gann, did you or Connor by any chance leave mail in front of the living room door?
No, we've just been up here. Why? It's not…? Another one?
Kaldur immediately felt her worry seep into his mind and mix with his own, a milkshake of concern and wariness.
I fear so. Maybe you should come down here.
He didn't mention it to her directly, but he felt better if they were all together on one place.
No one on his team was going to be caught unaware by this mysterious postman.
He finally picked the letter up, carefully, and flipper it over.
If his stomach had twisted when he first glimpsed it, it was nothing compared to how he felt when he saw his own name on the front of the envelope.
M'gann and Connor had wasted no time in hurrying downstairs, surprising Wally and Robin with their sudden arrival. Connor's face looked maybe a bit angrier tan usual, but M'gann let her own anxiety shine through every gesture she made.
"Where is it? Where did it come from? I mean, did you hear anything or see anyone or-"
Kaldur stopped her rambling with a shake of his head. "Nothing. It just appeared."
Wally and Robin looked at each other before looking at Kaldur. "What? What appeared?" The ginger asked, his raven-haired friend content with just sending a questioning glare through his sunglasses.
Kaldur sighed. I complained about others keeping information from us; there is no way I can not tell them.
Instead of directly telling, he simply placed the envelope on the table in front of them.
Wally gasped and picked it up, Robin making his way over right away. Both of them peered at it as if they could see through it with their naked (well, not naked in Robin's case) eyes alone.
Connor, growing anxiously impatient, shuffled on his feet. "Are you going to open it?" he growl-muttered in his usual tone.
Kaldur nodded once, though not seeming very determined. "I have no secrets to hide. I do not see the difference it makes."
He tore it open with no tenderness; this kind of letter caused Artemis to be exposed, he was not going to show any respect.
Inside was a piece of paper, just like in Artemis's own letter. No photograph was inside, however. Only the small envelope-sized white slate.
Aqua eyes, aqua eyes
will you not go back?
I think you should hurry
Into the sea, so black
sit on some seaweed
breathe with your gills
and watch very helpless
the red water spills.
He frowned, read over it again, and frowned more. There was nothing discriminating here, no secrets spilled, no revealing information. Just a strange poem again.
He passed it over to M'gann, who read it and turned just as confused as he felt himself.
"I don't get it. What's this mean?" she squeaked, and Conner moved a bit closer, feeling the distress radiating from her.
Wally zipped over and took the letter, reading it in super speed. He scratched the back of his head, holding it for Robin who had been trying to read over his shoulder. "No idea. I say this is just some loony who's freaking us out." Wally said with fake cheeriness, obviously a bit disturbed. Robin didn't seem to get it either, as he only shook his head when Kaldur looked at him.
The merboy couldn't help but feel even more anxious. He wanted to believe this was just meant to fool with his mind, he really did. But Artemis's letter had lead to something far more serious than confusion, so who was to say his wouldn't? Just because they had yet to figure it out.
Robin finally spoke after a long silence.
"I think we should contact Batman."
More research lead to nothing. The letter was clean of any evidence save from their own fingerprints.
Flash was standing next to Batman, having tagged along 'just cause I'm bored'. It didn't take a detective to realize he was worried for his nephew.
In fact, J'onn had been more present in Mt. Justice as well, and even Batman seemed to be keeping a watchful eye on his protégé. Well, to those who knew him well enough, that was no surprise.
Kaldur wondered where his own mentor was. He was no child and certainly didn't need to be looked after, but that hadn't stopped his King thus far.
"Martian Manhunter." Kaldur said to the green man in a hushed voice. To Kaldur, he was the most approachable of their mentors besides his own, calm and collected. The Flash was a bit too hyped up for his taste, Superman struck him as a bit -not that he'd ever say so out loud- clueless. Black Canary was very understanding and motherly, but not there at the moment. Batman was, of course, plain intimidating.
The Martian turned to Aqualad. "Yes?"
"I was wondering if you could call the King for me. My ways of reaching him aren't as fast as your communicators." J'onn nodded understandingly and took up his communicator. "Aquaman? Come in, Aquaman. Your apprentice wishes to speak to you."
Kaldur stood patiently by. After all, reaching to a city under the sea wasn't easy, was it?
J'onn, however, didn't seem to be as confident."Aquaman? Aquaman, are you there? Answer please."
Nothing. J'onn frowned, and shook his head at the boy waiting. "He does not answer. Odd, he rarely takes his communicator off his person.." Kaldur's eyes narrowed.
Aqua eyes, aqua eyes
What if something had happened? But, no, the guards were very loyal to their king.
And it was possible that there was just bad connection, or maybe he really had left his communicator somewhere.
It wasn't like Kaldur to be paranoid, but he still filled with dread as he thought back to the letter.
What if it wasn't just a prank or a discrimination;
What if it was a threat?
Will you not go back?
"I have to go see him, sir. Sorry, but I really must speak to him." Kaldur met the eyes of J'onn, who merely nodded. "But you shall not go alone. I will send for Red Tornado to accompany you."
Kaldur nodded and walked hastily to get his weapons.
Better safe than sorry.
Once into the depths of the sea, Aqualad calmed considerably. Here, he was at his best. This was where he had advantage to others. And if it came to it, he would gladly let his life for his king.
Strangely enough, he didn't see many fish swimming nearby; in fact, things were strangely…dead.
Red Tornado touched his shoulder, and pointed upwards where the sun barely shone through the ocean's surface.
Upon looking, Kaldur felt his stomach churn. Floating above them were multiple fishes, every single one of them dead. A flock of seagulls hungrily dove in here and there, eager to take advantage of the deaths.
Kaldur paid no heed to his follower and swam as fast as he could back to the palace.
I think you should hurry, into the sea, so black
If he could, he would have stopped dead in his tracks upon reaching the outskirts of the city, but doing so was difficult when your feet were floating.
Instead, he slowed his swimming to a stop and took in the horrific sight before him.
Dozens of merpeople were floating, marring just above the crumbled remains of their homes. A sickening red cloud had formed beneath them, smothering the marble city in a fog of blood, mixing with the dirty, groggy sea where the dust of broken houses remained.
A corpse nearby them showed them a better view of just what had happened; a young woman's legs were torn off, the shinbone of the left one sticking out like a broken tooth from abused skin, and blistering red scorch marks covered her torso. Her eyes were wide open and unseeing, staring up into the shimmering surface. Her face frozen in everlasting terror.
"MY KING!" Kaldur called and tried to swim for the palace, but was stopped by red Tornado's steely hand.
"I will go in first, the assailant may still be in the city." Upon Kaldur's struggling, he added "your king would not have wanted you to come to harm." Kaldur stopped trying to get away, but could not tear his eyes way from what used to be his home.
Sit on some seaweed, breathe with your gills
He let himself sink to the bottom, almost wishing he could cry underwater.
And watch very helpless
The red water spills.
Rhyme used: Curly locks, curly locks.
Thanks to Freakingscarykid and Dark Goddess Of Shadows for encouraging me to continue.