Chapter Twenty-Five

I said my goodbyes to my aunt and uncle before Jason and I started on our trip. I carried my trident in the waterproof bag that Jason found and bought online. It held my clothes, hairbrush, and any other necessities that Jason said we needed.

"How's your throat and stomach?" He asked as we went down the hill.

"Sore." I laughed. "I'm glad you knew what to do, even though it hurt."

"I acted on instinct." He shrugged, adjusting his bag.

"Well, your instinct saved my life." I smiled. "So, what are the King and Queen like?"

"Judgmental, but they should like you." He looked out at the waves as we got closer. I felt bad knowing that his mother went with the King instead of going back to Jason's father. Was it really too dangerous for them to live on land?

"Just because I am a Princess and the Ocean Master, it doesn't mean they'll like me." I rolled my eyes. "How did I become Ocean Master, anyway?"

"When you fought your brother, everyone saw the sea life do as you said. No one else can do that. Usually, Ocean Master is a title given to a King who can band together the seven seas." He looked over to me. I just nodded in acknowledgement. "My mother and the King wanted me to fall in love with an Atlantean, but since there were no royal-blood daughters, they tried arranging a marriage with a daughter of another sea. No one knew about you. I told them I wanted to choose who I married and then I left to live with my father." His father lived in a lighthouse miles off shore from where I lived.

"What is he like?"

"He is a very laid back kind of guy. He will definitely like you." He bumped my shoulder then smiled. We stepped into the water and began to walk in. I could feel my excitement towards meeting him.

*~~*~~*~~*

When we reached the Mediterranean Kingdom, we were stopped by guards. They wore deep blue clothing with clay red stripes.

"Identify yourselves." One said in a gruff voice.

"Prince Jason of the Mediterranean Kingdom and Princess Blake of Atlantis." Jason stated with a straight face. They quickly moved out of our way and we entered the underwater castle.

"Jason?" A woman with tanned skin and dark hair gaped. I could see where Jason got some of his looks.

"Mother."

"How nice it is to see you! It's been years! And this is...?" She looked me up and down. "The Princess of Atlantis and the Ocean Master." She seemed repulsed.

"She's my girlfriend." Jason enlightened her. When he said 'girlfriend', my heart leapt.

"Girlfriend? Land language. Uck." She rolled her eyes. She gave off the vibe that she was a spoiled woman. "Do you mean betrothed?"

"Oh! No, not yet." I blushed as Jason rubbed his head.

"Well, good! I have the perfect match for both of you." She lead us down a hall. "I wouldn't want my only son, heir to the thrown, to marry some ugly land born."

"Mother." Jason growled. I looked to him to see his angry expression.

"Oh, stop your foolishness." She waved her hand, dismissing him. "Here we are." We came to a wide room where the King, a woman, and a man were. The woman was pretty with white hair and brown eyes with a maroon tail. The man was large with a fat, short, beige, tail and sparse blonde.

"Meet Agris and Amis." The Queen pointed to the fat man, Agris, then to the woman, Amis. They seemed to be siblings, but Amis was way more attractive than Agris.

"Oh, my darling!" Agris swam to me, wrapping me in his short, fat, arms. He was sticky and even in water, he was sweaty. "My beautiful! Nice and plump!" He grabbed my breast and the Queen stifled a laugh. Angered, I clenched my hands into fists and sent out a force wave. It shoved Agris away from me along with everyone else. Everyone besides Jason gasped in shock. I turned to the Queen.

"I'm sorry that you take everything as a joke. I'm not here to find someone to marry. I came to meet the King and Queen of this sea." I tried to keep myself together. "I've seen enough. Thank you." I swam out of the room, hearing Jason's furious voice behind me before he followed me. He took me to his old room where we sat for a long time, not saying a word. It hadn't been more than an hour before the door open and King Metis came in.

"Princess, I apologize for what has conspired. I was trying to get them to leave when you arrived. The Queen has always been this way." King Metis bowed. "I do hope you can forgive me."

"I don't have a problem with anyone. I just don't like creeps." I stood, changing my tail into my legs.

"You really are what the prophecy says." He stared in disbelief. "I never thought... I'm sorry. Help yourself to anything in this Kingdom." He swam out quickly and I looked to Jason, slightly confused. He was standing by his ocean window, gazing out. I went to him quietly.

"We shouldn't have come here." He watched the fish outside.

"Don't worry. We are leaving tomorrow." I touched his back. He turned to me slowly, wrapping me in his arms.

"Don't let her words hurt you. She's been this way ever since she had to come back." He kissed my forehead then looked into my eyes.

"Why don't we go explore?"