Necrus, The Lost Kingdom - 2022

"This place is immense - it could be anywhere," said Mera's father as the army entered a dark, cavernous space beneath the ice caps.

"The Throne of Necrus is in the heart of the city," Orm informed.

"Whoa," Claudia breathed. "This place kinda gives me the creeps, but I also wish I brought my camera..." As was with every place they had visited so far.

"What happened to you?" Arthur asked, for the first time noticing her riding on the back of Orm's sea horse.

"My horse tossed me off so Orm picked me up. Thanks again for not leaving me behind."

"I considered it."

"Hey!"

"Only because I saw how dangerous Necrus could be. This is no place for a human - this is no place for anyone..."

"Shh, I sense something in the water," cried Mera.

"Everyone, light it up!"

Everyone who had blasters fired them up into the darkness around them, but there was nothing.

"Didn't you say Kordax turned his people into an army of monsters?" the Brine King asked Orm.

"Yes, I did."

"Keep your eyes open," Arthur ordered.

"Well that'll be easy, mine don't close."

Claudia would have snorted with laughter at this, but a terrible, blood-curdling shriek filled the cavern.

"Holy shi-"

She was cut off when the creatures gave a paralyzing wail.

"Fire at will!"

They were instantly swarmed by Kordax's monster army, and they sure were monstrous. The result of dark magic indeed.

Instead of red blood, the creatures dissolved into a toxic green goo when blasted or stabbed. Gross.

The Brine King really took one for the team and stayed behind with his own army to fight the monsters, allowing the others safe passage into the city.

They emerged from the water and began climbing the vaulting trellises up to the bridge that led into the heart of the city, as Orm had called it.

As she was climbing up, far behind the others once again, Claudia felt something grasp her ankle from below. With a cry, away she went.

She scrambled for purchase along the wall, but it was no use. She didn't want to look down, but she did, and found a giant, tentacled creature trying to pull her under.

"Claudia!" Orm was leaning down off the bridge, arm extended. "Grab my hand!"

She strained. "I can't! We're too far!"

Without any hesitation, he swung down, hanging off the side of the trellis, and lowered himself. Finally, their gloved fingers brushed, and then their hands grasped each other. "Hang on!" He gave her arm a tug, and at last pulled her up over the edge and onto the bridge. Both crashed onto the icy ground, she on top of him, both breathing heavily.

"Thanks." she croaked. "That was close!"

"It was. Are you all right?"

"Yeah, more shaken up than anything. You?"

"I'm fine."

They were still holding hands. Both scrambled apart and to their feet.

And good thing too, for more of the monster army was there to greet them on the bridge.

"Get behind the portcullis!" Orm ordered over all the screaming and blasting.

"The what?!" she hollered back.

"The gate!"

Everyone rushed to the other side of it. Once they were all safely across, Orm fired at the latch and the metal bars slammed shut. Hopefully that would keep the monsters at bay for a while.

But not all of the monsters had been on the other side of the gate - some had crossed over with them. Suddenly, with a great yell, Arthur took off. All they could do was follow him - after dealing with the monsters who had joined them.

When they caught up they found him inside the fortress fighting Manta in hand-to-hand combat.

A figure was lying in the snow - it was the guy Arthur almost knocked out back at the evil volcano base. Claudia helped him to his feet.

"T-The baby-" he choked out.

Junior was okay, thank God. Mera grabbed her son and snuggled him close.

"Go," Arthur ordered them.

Mera started running, the guy following, and Claudia covering them with her blaster.

Manta gave a great yell of his own and launched the Black Trident their way.

But it was caught mid-air and stopped - by Orm. "Run!"

Claudia lingered - she'd seen what had happened to him last time he'd held the Trident, and it wasn't good. This was not good.

"CLAUDIA!" Mera's yell echoed and she turned and followed, despite what her gut was telling her.

They ran, back out of the fortress and out onto the bridge. They weren't going to get very far when they passed the gate where the monster army awaited them.

One of the Ancient Atlantean vessels Manta's team had commandeered jumped in front of them, sealing off their path of escape. Everyone stopped, ready for another fight.

But it was Mera's dad in the driver's seat. Looked like he had been up to a little commandeering himself. "Get in!"

"We can't just leave them!" Claudia argued. "Not with Kordax and Manta!" This time she followed her gut - and heart - and turned and fled back the way they had just come.

"Claudia!" Mera screamed, but she was already gone.

She saw Orm first, illuminated in the dull green glow. "Orm! Come on, we have to go! Where's Arthur?"

But suddenly, he turned and had his hand clamped around her throat, lifting her off the ground. She kicked and flailed, but it was no use.

"Weak, disgusting Surface Dweller. I have no idea what this one sees in you."

"Huh?" The hand tightened around her neck. "Orm?"

"Claudie, it's Kordax-" There was Arthur.

Well, that explained it.

"Enough from you-" Orm turned and struck Arthur. Blood sprayed onto the dais and started working it's magic - no pun intended - immediately.

The throne at the front of the hall was illuminated, the ice beginning to crack.

Orm - Kordax - tossed her, seemingly with no effort and she went crashing back hard. Thank goodness for the suit - Atlantean steel really was a wonder.

Arthur confronted his brother, grabbing hold of the Trident as well, fighting back against Kordax's power, all the while the throne continued to thaw. She figured it was best to stay back - all that swirling dark green energy did not look appealing, and if it was affecting them this much, it would only do the same to her and then she couldn't help them.

Finally, Arthur managed to pry the Trident from Orm's grip. As for Orm, he collapsed, stumbling back. Claudia caught him, supporting his weight.

CRACK!

"Oh my God-"

There stood Kordax, in the flesh - well, not really. He was skeletal, but he was alive.

"I live again! I have waited countless centuries in the dark for this moment!"

"Dramatic much?" she said.

Without wasting any more time, Arthur launched the Trident at him.

He caught it, right before it could strike him.

"Shit-"

"Hey-" Claudia picked up Arthur's own trident, which sat nearby.

Orm took it. "Arthur!" and passed it to his brother with one swift toss.

This was really fun to write! ;)

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :)