Disclaimer: I own nothing except my OC Audrina and any alterations to the original storyline plot her presence creates to various readers amusement everywhere across the globe.

Heart of Atlantis Chapter 4

"Dad, watch, I can get to the top," called Arthur, giggling as he skillfully climbed the rocks on the shoreline of their own lighthouse in Merry Reef, Maine. His goal was to get to the biggest, tallest rock at the edge of the group.

"Not too far, Arthur," cautioned Thomas Curry, mending some fishnets. "Don't fall in."

Arthur Curry didn't pay his father any mind. He was too eager to make it on his own and that he'd be all right even if he did fall into the water.

"I can do it," said Arthur. "I'm a better swimmer than you." That was a fact. Since he first began swimming he'd always been a natural.

Then out of the corner of his eye, something managed to catch Arthur's attention. Underneath the surface of the water, an object sparkled in the light of the sun. Two shadowed figures were with it one clearly in the shape of an adult while the 2nd was much smaller than its neighbor.

Wanting to see what it was Arthur disregarded what his father said diving straight in.

"Arthur, no," shouted Thomas, alarmed.

Beneath the waves, Arthur swam into deeper water. Turning his left and right he searched for what had originally caught his eyes disappointed when he was unable to locate it immediately on the spot. A school of fish bolted around him causing Arthur to instinctively stop blocking them with his arms eyes shut. As soon as he opened them again Arthur found what had been observing him while he'd been playing above ground on land.

Floating there not too far off was a woman he'd recognize anywhere. It was his mother. She looked exactly as she did in the pictures his father kept in the lighthouse, but more beautiful in person than in a photograph. The necklace hanging around her neck was the thing that sparkled from the sunlight. In her hand, she held an object resembling a pitchfork too.

It was impossible for Arthur to avert his gaze from hers the shining love glowing on her face keeping him there. Movement behind her made Arthur focus on it his eyes becoming huge at the realization they weren't alone.

Clinging to his mother's opposite hand was a little girl (Audrina) appearing to be a few years younger than him. Shy she was using his mother as a barrier. She was forced to reveal herself when his mother tugged her forward pushing her gently with encouragement.

This tiny girl had long black hair and violet eyes. Nothing was spoken or done between them. All they did was stare at each other in wonder, awestruck, drinking in their appearance.

His mother swam over to him taking the girl with her. Cupping his cheek in the palm of her hand Atlanna bent gently placing a loving kiss on Arthur's forehead. Arthur smiled at the gesture warmth lighting inside his heart. The girl smiled removing a bracelet from her wrist and offering it to him. Arthur accepted the gift scrutinizing the piece of jewelry. The bracelet was smooth coral the ornaments being a pink sea shell between a duo of tiny pearls.

Their window of time together came to an end. Waving an arm Atlanna used the power contained inside the ornament on her necklace separating them. The little girl and his mother disappeared from view into the shadows vanishing until he no longer saw them. Arthur had the breath literally knocked out of his lungs when he impacted the rocks pressed against the side of the concrete docks.

A pair of arms appeared above pulling him gasping for air out of the ocean. Setting his son on his feet Thomas wrapped his vest jacket around him to dry him off.

"I told you to be careful," reprimanded Thomas, distressed.

"I saw her, Dad," said Arthur, excited. "I saw my mother. She was watching me in the water. She kissed me."

Saddened at the mention of his ex-wife, Thomas said "It was just the sea playing tricks on you, Son."

Shaking his head, empathetically, Arthur exclaimed "No, it was her. I saw her and she wasn't alone. There was a little girl with her. Dad, I think she's my sister. She had black hair and violet eyes." He then showed the bracelet as proof. "Here she gave me this."

Glancing at the bracelet Thomas appeared shaken for a moment, but his unease quickly dissipated. Placing both hands on Arthur's shoulders, Thomas said "Your mother and I never had any other children, Arthur. You are our only child. You simply must've found the bracelet on the sand."

"B-But I," shuttered Arthur, distressed his father wasn't listening to him, tears building in his eyes.

"She left, Arthur, and she's not coming back," said Thomas, firm, gently hugging Arthur tight. "It's just you and me now, Son. And I'm not going anywhere."

Over his father's shoulder, Arthur unfurled his fisted hand unveiling the bracelet.

End Flashback:

Arthur gasped his eyes snapping open as the dream ended awakening. Rubbing the sleep out of his eyes Arthur groaned as he rolled out of bed the effects of the hangover from the alcohol and beating he experienced from the night before lingered painfully. He was living in the same lighthouse at Mercy Reef off the coast of Maine, having never moved away permanently, with his father until his recent death.

Checking his appearance in the mirror of the bathroom Arthur shaved until none one hair of stubble remained. The whole time Arthur was doing this he kept reminiscing about the memory that came to him in the dream.

Arthur hadn't gone back to that day for years. For a while, Arthur had fiercely stuck by what he'd told his father. He definitely didn't believe the sea had been playing tricks on him that his mother visited him with a girl along for the ride.

But as Arthur began to steadily grow older becoming a man he came to the difficult conclusion his active childhood imagination did get the better of him. Maybe his heart wanted his aching heart wanted his mother so terribly that his subconscious created a figment of her to comfort him.

Going to his room he pulled open a drawer in his desk. Concealed at the bottom from everything else inside was the same bracelet from that faithful day. Despite what his father told him Arthur didn't get rid of it. Arthur was oblivious as to why. Maybe, just maybe some part of him secretly wished for all of it to be true.

Convenient this particular memory was raised after his dad died without any sort of explanation. After all, it wasn't like the knowledge had any importance especially with his life rapidly going down the toilet.

Authors Note:

Hmm…I don't know you guys. Think his life is about to change? Ha! Ha! ;)

Do you guys think Audrina should be married to Black Manta after Queen Atlanna's death or not at all?

I hope you all like this one! I certainly did while writing it for your vast enjoyment! ;D

For those of you just starting out with my stuff there are other works on my profile that may catch your interest. I highly recommend you take a look as soon as the opportunity presents itself to you. Who knows, you may be pleasantly surprised by what you discover.

Stay safe everyone. Especially with all of these crazy natural disasters occurring a lot lately due to global warming and climate change everywhere for sure. I swear it's like they're getting worse and worse all the time and it's like officials are simply just ignoring it or pretending it doesn't exist entirely just to go on with their daily lives. Especially those in multi-million dollar companies that rely on certain elements of our planet that we rely on to naturally keep us safe instead of adapting and finding new safer ways to keep in business. There are so many options out there where they can adapt, but they just refuse to see it because all they care about is money. Climate change is altering so much faster than anyone can really keep track of.

So, in light of all this, it is important to live life to the fullest as much as anyone can.

I know I am. ;) See you guys next time.