Disclaimer: I own nothing exceppt 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 9
Things were put in motion rather quickly after Queen Atlanna's untimely death. While it had never truly been in Orm's plans to kill his mother, to begin with, it nonetheless worked out better to his benefit. Orm had wasted no time in asserting his authority and his rule over Atlantis. He and Manta had notified the people that their Queen had been assassinated by surface dwellers who had come to meet with her. The same exact ones Queen Atlanna had arranged a meeting with to broker peace. Atlantis now assumed it had been a ruse all along to get close to their monarch and kill her.
Only Audrina knew otherwise. Out of all the people who were present only she was aware of the truth. Her mother's handmaidens had left before the injustice had occurred so none of them could back her up against Orm. Basically, right now it was Audrina's word against his. The entire city was deserted as Atlantis's furious citizens prepared for the inevitable war to come.
Audrina was all alone.
Which is why Audrina now found herself inside her mother's tomb laid to rest.
Wearing the black mourning garb she'd briefly worn after her father's death Audrina stood dutifully by her mother's side. If Audrina hadn't already been in the water and surrounded by it then tears would've easily been seen dripping from heartbroken devastated eyes.
"Mother," she sobbed, a palm over Atlanna's face, "what am I going to do without you?"
But unlike in the past Audrina wasn't going to receive an answer this time around. It was fully hitting her now that she'd no longer her mother's sweet voice nor the soothing loving touch from Atlanna's hands and embrace. Audrina's tears renewed and she stood there by herself for what felt like hours. Her secluded meditation was interrupted when she heard the heavy doors of the temple open and the currents shift as someone entered this sacred plan uninvited.
Assuming it was Orm coming to torment her more than he'd already had, tearfully, Audrina scowled "Haven't you done enough? Leave me in peace!"
"Princess," said a familiar voice.
At once any discourse Audrina felt faded when she recognized the voice. Mera was back.
"Mera, thank the gods," said Audrina, relieved. "Have you brought-?"
Audrina turned around to meet Mera, but as the princess did so she froze in place. There beside Mera was her elder brother Arthur and he was staring at her with the same astonished and stupefied expression on his face. Time had passed with the years changing them both, but they knew each other immediately.
Without any need for introductions brother and sister swam towards each other meeting in the middle. Audrina reached a tentative hand to his face and cupped his cheek. She searched his eyes and found them to be exactly as she saw them all those years ago when they were simply innocent children with no care in the world.
"Arthur," she breathed, shakily. "It's you."
Rendered speechless Arthur held out a hand and uncurled his fingers palm up. There in the center was the exact bracelet Audrina had gifted him during that fated encounter.
Touching the tips of her fingers to her lips in sheer amazement, Audrina breathed "You kept it. After all these years you kept it."
"I had to," said Arthur, finally finding the strength to speak. "My father told me I had hallucinated that it was all a dream. Keeping this close told me it wasn't a dream. It was real."
"I'm glad you did," she said, grateful.
It was then Audrina realized Mera and Arthur weren't the only ones to arrive. Three men and a woman stood behind them, but she only recognized one.
Locking eyes with Cyborg, Audrina gasped "It's you."
Nodding, just as shell-shocked by this experience, Cyborg said "Yeah, I can say the same to you. You pulled me out of the water. You pulled me to shore, saving my life."
Not knowing what else to say in this unexpected face-to-face, Audrina said "Yes, I did."
Leaning closer to Superman, Green Lantern said "Awkward."
"Our mother," asked Arthur, placing a hand on Audrina's shoulder, bringing the attention back to him.
Audrina's eyes glistened and she ducked her head. Shakily she pointed behind her and Arthur finally saw the source of her distress.
"Mother," muttered Arthur, swimming over to her coffin and placing his hands there while shutting his eyes in pain.
Mera swam over to press her hands on the glass that encased Queen Atlanna's floating corpse pressing her forehead onto it.
Mournfully, Mera said "I've failed you, My Queen." She then looked at Audrina. "I am sorry, my Princess. I've come too late."
"No, Mera," argued Audrina. "You did exactly what my mother told you. You did not fail us."
"Whoever did this will pay," vowed Arthur.
Swimming up to Arthur and placing a delicate hand on his arm, Audrina said "That is easier said than done, Arthur."
Brow furrowed slightly at her hopeless tone of voice, Arthur asked "Why? What do you mean?"
The answer came walking in through the door.
"Welcome, Bastard," taunted Orm, wearing full royal garb in Atlantean armor, Black Manta shadowing him. Orm was holding the Trident in one hand and his helmet in the other. He then placed the helmet over his head with part of it covering his eyes and nose. "Is Atlantis everything you dreamed of, Brother? Or in your dream, were you on the throne?"
Fists clenched, lunging angrily at Orm, Mera exclaimed "You killed her!"
Arthur and Audrina held her back before she could do anything.
"I did," declared Orm, smirking proudly, not denying it. "I ran the sword through her myself as she and my twin mewled for peace. You can count yourself fortunate, Bastard. At least our mother won't be the impediment to your life that she was to mine."
With every word spoken the rage was building to the boiling point inside of Arthur, but he restrained himself aware there was a higher purpose her. That is until it came to what Orm dared to speak next.
Glancing momentarily towards Audrina, quite courteously, Orm said "You actually came at a fortuitous time, Bastard. Not only does it save me the trouble of hunting you down myself, but you've come just before a marvelous occasion for our family."
"What are you talking about," demanded Arthur.
Feigning surprise, sarcastically, Orm said "Oh my, didn't Audrina tell you? Our dear little sister is getting married today."
Arthur, Mera, Superman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, and Cyborg all turned to look at Audrina who hung her head dejectedly subdued. Cyborg in particular looked at her with wide saddened eyes, but Audrina absolutely refused to meet his eyes. She didn't think she could bear the longing and pity she would most likely find there.
"Yes. You see our father, well mine and Audrina's, arranged a match for our sister between my trusted right-hand Black Manta before his death," said Orm, extremely satisfied as he gestured at Black Manta. "Mother had been postponing it for as long as possible, since she's dead there's nothing to stop it now. A suitable send-off before all of Atlantis is launched into war with the surface world to destroy them forever."
A surge of brotherly protectiveness instinctively overcame Arthur as he reached his breaking point.
"I'll tear you apart," he shouted, charging Orm.
Arthur never got the chance to land a hit for Orm was prepared to deflect after his strategically set provocations and shot at him. The power of the Trident sent Arthur into the wall. Mera tried to defend, but Orm swiped at her with the Trident, and that put her out of commission too.
"Attack," shouted Wonder Woman, drawing her sword.
Wonder Woman, Cyborg, and Green Lantern went to attack Orm but were dealt the same blow as he did to Arthur. They were knocked unconscious instantly as they screamed the surge of power overwhelming their bodies. As they hit the floor they were immediately encased in impenetrable cocoons. Orm turned to inflict further harm to Arthur's prone form as he was wrapped in the shell and that's when Audrina snapped. She couldn't take standing on the sidelines anymore.
"No," screamed Audrina, pushing Orm's arm away from Arthur and trying to take the Trident out of his possession.
Orm wasn't having it, delivering a fierce backhand that sent her reeling aside, he yelled "Silence!"
Black Manta deftly caught Audrina as she was spinning in the water and held her firmly so she was unable to retaliate or get away.
Boy Scout he is Superman didn't take too kindly to the rough treatment of his friends.
"Stop," said Superman, grabbing the Trident only to have huge electrical shockwaves ripple violently through his body.
"Feel my power, surface dweller," said Orm, increasing the level of the Trident magic. Superman was sent flying and slammed into a wall. Just like all the others he was out of commission. Orm went over to Superman and kicked him onto his back. "Only royalty can wield the magic of the trident."
Black Manta approached with his hand holding Audrina's arm in a bruising grip.
"Offer them to the horrors of the dark trench," commanded Orm, "and afterward return swiftly to the palace. We still have a wedding to conduct on this most joyous day."
Authors Note:
Oh boy. Talk about those such terrible family reunions.