Chapter VIII

I was rolling a joint as I crossed into Orphelin Bay. I suddenly feel a pain in my chest. It was sharp, raw, and unforgiving. I felt like the Gods had heated their knives in their forage the proceeded to carve into my soul.

Bijou, I thought. Only one connection in this mortal world causes this much pain. Smashing on the gas, I sped down the streets to L'Attente. I had no idea exactly where she was, but there was this innate locator within me emerge to guide me in my distress.

On my way, I call Thea and Violca, but neither answered. I called Calliope and Augie, and neither of them answered either.

Arriving a L'Attente, I drove through the gate and stopped when I reached the common area to find the place in chaos, bodies scattered about the front of the Adrielles' manor. Navigating my way through the chaos, I began to attract attention as I approached the porch of the Manor. I was forbidden from ever stepping foot in L'Attente again.

However, based on how the people looked at me, conflicted and lost, I figured a million things, but I was hoping Adrielle had died. At the same time, Thea and Violca walked out of the manor carrying Dylan's body. The man was dead with a beautiful knife sticking from his chest. Though he was a grown man, I always thought of him as a little boy. In the end, the woman who coddled him was the one to kill him.

"Where's Bijou?" I ask.

Thea and Violca look surprised to see me. They then look around as they had no idea where Bijuo was.

"What happened?" I ask.

"The Stolin's men came and double-crossed us. Adrielle killed Dylan, and now she's in the wind. " Thea replied.

"She has all the pieces to the--"

I put up a finger as I felt a massive disturbance. "He's dead. Leave the body and follow me. We're going to kill this bitch."

I make my way to the beach with Thea and Violca in tow. As a result, all of the Tidlanders followed behind me. I felt familiar energy originate from the beach. I figured Adrielle was summoning sirens again.

Near the treeline that overlooked the beach, Adrielle held a silver briefcase and stood motionlessly staring towards the ocean.

Adrielle soon turned around and frowned once she saw the people she used to rule. Before she could even attempt to fight or flee, I held out my hand, and the blood in her body stopped flowing. Adrielle tried to fight it, but I sped to her side. I was a lot stronger than the first time I met her. This time, there wasn't the slightest chance she'd leave this fight alive.

"It's over, little bitch." I whisper as I push the blood into her lounges. Adrielle coughed globs of thick crimson fluid until steady streams spewed from her lips.

Thud! Adrielle collapses as the last ounce of her blood ran down her chin. I pick up the briefcase and continue to the beach. I hear the gasps behind me as we all take in the sight of tens of sirens standing in the water. To the right, Calliope is kneeling over Bijou, and I rush to her side.

The moment I see Bijou, I notice the necklace I gave to her was nowhere to be seen. Tearing open her small blood-soaked blouse, I see that Calliope had already healed her. I took her into my arms and held her tight. I cared not for the sirens. That is until Calliope tapped me and motioned to a siren approaching a half-dead Augie.

Twisting my hand, a wave rushed forth and pushed Augie further inland. I hurried to his side and reversed the flow of blood spilling from his body. I then push the bullet from his body and healed his gunshot wound.

I look up at the siren, and she stared back at me.

"Hello, Auntie," I speak out.

The siren smiles and approaches me. The sun reflected from her silvery slender body. Her hair shined like celestial silk, and all of the Tidelanders were drawn to her.

"Sweet boy," she spoke in a dazzling voice causing the Tidelanders to look at me.

"Where is my mother?" I ask.

My Aunt stepped on the shore, and water was pulled from the ocean, acting as stepping stones for her. "Poseidon is dead. Your eldest Aunt, Amphitrite, and your father killed him in the Divine Sea Realm. Triton is imprisoned, and Nerus has fled. It is time for our family to take back the ocean." My Aunt spoke with honeyed words before reaching out toward Calliope.

"Go to them," Bijou told her.

Calliope walked over, and my aunt cupped her face before plant a soft kiss on her lips. "My sweet girl. I've missed you so much. We can be together now. We rebelled just to be with you."

The Tidlelanders were at a loss forwards.

"You left me. You left me to die in an unforgiving ocean." Calliope spoke words that all Tidelanders resonated with.

"I was forced to. But I left you with your Cousin, King, Husband. Together you will split the seas and rule for thousands of years of prosperity."

"I don't want to be queen," said Calliope.

"It is destiny, my love." My Aunt replied.

She then looked at the Tidlelanders and shouted, "Kneel!"

A great force reached out, and all of the Tidlanders fell to their knees. My Aunt then looked over her shoulder and glared. The Sirens then kneel as well.

"Bijou, come over here, sweet girl." My aunt reached, and Bijou approached with a smile.

"Hear me! I am Princess Pavlina, Daughter of Oceanus and Tethys. Mother of the Tidelander Queen to be, Calliope."

Little did I know at the time, Pavlina's voice carried through the world to be heard by every Tidlander alive.

"My elder sister, Ocearos, Queen of the Sirens, and our father, the Titan Oceanus, have conceived your King, Aiden, and the Princess Bijou. Their word will be law, and from this day forth, they shall be considered holy for they are undiluted with the blood of Humans."

Thea and Violca smiled to themselves. Some Tidelanders were terrified of the future. Others were open to embracing the change. In contrast, those who embraced their divine lineage bore no love for humans and rejoiced at the arrival of pure-blooded royalty.

"Lord King, we are here to serve," The sirens spoke out in unison.

"Sure you are." I reply, "Where is my mother?!"

The sea rippled.

"She is with your father in Divine Sea Realm. She is helping to secure the borders. Protecting them from the Underworld and Olympus." Pavlina replied.

"Olympus is a mountain," I replied.

"The mountain was the gateway to Olympus. Lost in translation, it became Mount Olympus." Pavlina explained. "The Moutain was created to subvert my sister, Styx. The Underworld also has its gates in the mortal world. But now that they are sealed, the River Styx is the only means of travel between the three realms."

"Then have Styx shut them out," I say.

"Styx is dead," Pavlina replied with sadness. "Hades killed her the moment he learned of Posideon's murder. The moment we rebelled, he no longer had to fear reprisal and killed Styx outright."

"This is another Titanomachy."

"It is. However, this time, The Gods will have no Titans on their side. "

Thinking of the Greek pantheon, I tested Pavlina by asking about Leto, Titaness of Motherhood, Mother of Apollo, and Artemis.

"Artemis died during her escape from Olympus. Apollo is with Leto in Selene's Moon Realm, where Titans have fled. And Aphrodite was spirited away by Hecate. Moon, Sun, and Sea Realms are ours. Olympus and the Undwerold belong to the Gods. Earth is shared by Humans, Monsters, and Divine seeds."

"Divine Seed?" I ask.

"Anything with human blood that wasn't born in a divine Realm and has not ascended to divinity," Pavlina explained. "Prepare yourself, little King, Zeus and Hades will send a lot after you once they learn of your existence."

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Sometime later, the Tidelanders each paid homage to Bijou and me. Each of them was claimed by their mothers, and it was a pretty intense reunion. Unfortunately, Thea's mother was killed two years ago near Apeni Island off the coast of Gold Coast down south.

As Violca consoled her, Pavlina, Bijou, Calliope, and I sat in the manor as Pavlina had a lot to say.

"It's straightforward, children. Our father, Cal's grandfather, has started a war. For now, the Gods can not come to the mortal world. And the Minor Gods in this world are too weak and no longer dabble in godly affairs. They can not only sustain their immortality without the faith and offerings of man. However, The children of Titans and Gods still exist. The mermaids, descendent of Nereids. Witches, children of Hecate. The gorgons, nymphs, fawns, centaurs. Monsters of all kinds. This world is still dangerous for us. And every being in this realm owes us no loyalty. Besides the witches, everyone else is lawless without divine guidance. Aiden, your mother told me that she has given you tasks. "

" She did," I replied.

"I have more for you. Posideon's trident is in the mortal world. Amphitrite says it's on Apeni Island. Your mother wants Bijou to have it if you can take it. The mermaids rule the mortal seas. That must change. And Father wants to see if you've taken to your lineage. He wants the bay to be under your rule in three moons. The humans must be killed off or enslaved, your choice." Said Pavlina.

I couldn't help by sigh to myself. The adventure and challenges made my blood boil with excitement. But the laundry list of tasks made the adventures seem more like chores. My world has expanded, and I was given a chance to explore my new abilities, but alas, people need killing, ruling, and subjugation because old people love starting wars.

However, I had decided to take over L'Attente when I killed Adrielle. This position comes with control over the bay, but I will take it to the next level to satisfy the demanding Old Titan. As for the Apeni Island Business, it could wait.

Pavlina seemed to be finished speaking, so I left the table to get myself a much-needed nap. When I awoke the next morning, I walked through the day very meticulously. I started by gathering the Tidelanders and delivering a new leader speech as many leaders do.

I informed them that the drug business was still running, and I planned to expand. I also introduced them to the trophy fish business and filmmaking. Finally, I told them of the increase in the allowances and my plan to take over the bay. That meant the coast and the nearby islands.

Calliope was opposed to enslaving her brother, but what other option did we have. We were dealing with Gods and Titans. Granted, I am I titan. But I'm a baby compared to them. So for now, we bide our time.

Orphelin Bay became peaceful in the days to follow as I spent my energy taking of Stolin's businesses in Sydney and Melbourne. After consuming his identity, I learned the business and began moving pieces from L'Attente as if Stolin was still alive. I then integrated the Orphelin business into it.

I became so engrossed with Kingship that Calliope and I were at odds. She wanted my time, something that no longer belonged to me, at least not while I had a long list of things that needed doing. Finally, we had a long talk, and she took on half of my workload.

The first moon, or month, had quickly passed, and I told the surrounding humans that they had a week to leave or be enslaved. Some naturally fled while others tide to fight. So I reacted by bringing a great wave and half the population of the bay. In the wake of the great disaster, the humans fell in line, and we received a lot of charity from the world.

I now live wonderfully as the king of Orphelin Bay. Money rolls in without much work, and my people are happy. But worry not, when I started this story. I told you that I would tell a story about how I became King. I didn't mean Orphelian Bay. I meant the King of the Mortal Realm.