111 - Vengeful

Sorry about the late updates, my data ended. 

_____

The deep sea whispered in the dark, cold, endless water.

A submarine swam with the stream, carrying David Hyde and Arthur Curry, with the mission to deliver him to Atlantis.

Arthur gazed out of the vessel's reinforced Window, watching the swirling, shadowed abyss stretched out before him, vast and oppressive. The quiet and haunting beauty of the ocean's depth barely registered to him, his thoughts returning again and again to his father 's lifeless face, the shattered remains of their home, and the strange man—David Hyde—who had seized him and brought him here.

"We're approaching Atlantis," David's voice interrupted Arthur's thoughts, his tone as cold as the ocean around them. He sat at the cockpit, his eyes gazing into the deep darkness. His other hand resting naturally on his holster naturally.

Arthur eyed him warily, his fist clenching as he remembered the blood on David's hands. "Who are you, exactly? And Why am I supposed to trust anything you say?"

Daivid turned to him, his eyes hard and cold. "Trust?" He let out a low humorless chuckle. "I'm not here for your trust, Curry. I am here to finish a job, nothing more. My orders were to bring you to Atlantis... so that's what I'm doing. If I were you. I'd save the question for your Family down there."

Arthur's jaw tightened as David's words struck a raw nerve. He wanted answers, but it seemed he wouldn't get them from this man. Silence fell between them, heavy with unspoken resentment and questions that had no easy answers.

The vessel continued its descent, weaving through dense underwater canyons and ancient coral reefs until they reached the outer boundary of Atlantis. Massive columns and statues loomed from the ocean floor, each carved with symbols of the old Atlantean pantheon, their expression frozen in stern vigilance.

The vessel soon docked near one the statues. "This is your stop, Curry. And my last duty as a... guest of Atlantis," His fingers tapping on the communication device

Outside the submarine, another vessel, larger, slowly revealed itself from the depth. The vessel an atlantean marvel, slowly opened its mouth and swallowed the smaller ship. Arthur looked out the window in hurry and panic, watching as the water drained, granting him to see the armored Atlantean.

The hatch opened with a soft hiss, allowing Arthur to step onto the splendor of Atlantis. The ship, designed like a whale, the glowing crystal arranged like scale illuminated the metallic platform.

But before he could fully take in the sight, Orm appeared, flanked by guards of elite Atlantean soldiers. His gaze fixed on Arthur, assessing him with a curious gaze. This was the first time he had came to contact with the other. Yet he walked forward with joy, giving Arthur a brief hug.

"Arthur, My brother," He addressed with warmth, "Welcome to Atlantis... your true home."

Arthur stiffened at the word 'Home', a flash of resentment flickering across his face. "I already had a home... on the surface, with my father."

"..." Orm stayed silent at the answer, understanding. He had expected this reaction, after all his brother had been denied of his heritage.

He turned to David and then to the guard, signaling him to deactivate the leash. The Atlantean guards kept a wary eye on David, fully aware of the volatility he represented. But his indifference and pride as an Atlantean made it insignificant.

"Your brother is delivered, as requested," David announced, his voice edge with a mocking tone. "But there's something you should know, Prince Orm."

Orm narrowed his eyes, "Speak."

David's expression turned serious. "The military attacked your brothers home. They killed his father." He paused, letting his words sink in. "They found out he was an Atlantean and attacked his home in fear."

Orm's face tightened, anger flashing in his storm-gray eyes. "How did they know of him?"

David shrugged uncareingly, "Don't know, don't care. You asked to bring your brother and I brought him. My works done."

Orm turned to Arthur, a new understanding taking root, and his voice held a barely restrained fury. "They attacked you, a prince of atlantis, out of ignorance and fear?"

Arthur's hands balled into fists, his gaze hardening as he met Orm's intense stare. "My father died because of me. Because people believed I was some… some threat. They thought they were stopping an invasion. But that doesn't mean we have to stoop to their level."

Orm's expression grew cold, his voice sharp with indignation. "And what would you have us do? Sit by while they kill our people? You think they'll stop with one life? Atlantis has hidden long enough. Perhaps it's time they learn to fear the oceans."

Arthur opened his mouth to protest, "Taking an eye for an eye will leave everyone blind."

"I... Fine," Orm relented, for now. "Let us home, there is someone you need to meet. Perhaps she can make you understand the gravity of the world we live in. Come now."

With a tense nod, Arthur followed, leaving David to his devices. The massive ship spat the small submarine and swam towards the depth of the Atlantean kingdom. Arthur stood on the deck as he watched Atlantis reveal itself, like the hidden gem of the ocean.

Crystalline structures rose like mountains from the ocean bed, each one glowing faintly with bioluminescent algae that blanketed the buildings in a soft, otherworldly glow. Fish darted among the towers, and larger marine life floated serenely past, their bodies glinting like polished gemstones under the soft lights of Atlantis.

Arthur couldn't help but feel a strange pull in his chest as he looked at the city around him, its beauty laced with an unfamiliar sense of longing.

The ship docked itself next to the Castle and Orm led Arthur through the gleaming corridor. The walls were lined with murals depicting ancient battles and the rise and fall of Atlantis, each stroke a testament to the power and legacy of his ancestors.

Finally, they reached an ornate door guarded by two formidable warriors who stepped aside with a slight bow as Orm pushed the doors open.

The room was bathed in soft, shimmering light, and at the far end, standing with an air of quiet grace, was a woman with silvery-white hair flowing like water, her ocean-blue robes clinging to her elegant form.

She turned as they entered, her gaze falling upon Arthur, and for a moment, her composure faltered.

"Arthur…" she breathed, her voice a fragile whisper, filled with awe and a sadness that seemed to stretch across years. Her eyes softened, brimming with unspoken emotion as she took a tentative step toward him. Even if years had pass, a mother always recognized her child.

Arthur's gaze was guarded, confusion and bitterness mixing with a deep, instinctual pull toward the woman before him. He felt a painful pang in his chest, as if the threads of his life had suddenly woven themselves into an unexpected tapestry he couldn't yet comprehend.

"Queen Atlana. Mother, I have brought brother home," Orm's voice broke the silence, his tone respectful yet laced with joy. "Your son has returned to you."

Arthur's heart pounded in his chest as he realized who she was. "You… you're my mother?"

Atlanna's face softened, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Yes, Arthur. I am. I… I have waited so long to see you, to hold you. I never wanted to leave you, but…"

Arthur cut her off, his voice rough with grief and anger. "But you did leave. My father raised me alone. He waited every day by the shore, looking for you. And he… he died because of what I am."

Atlanna's face fell, and she covered her mouth, her voice breaking. "No… not Thomas. This... can't be. What happened?"

Arthur gritted his teeth as the face of his father, his smile fading into lifelessness. "They kill him because of what I am. I was the reason he died, because of a woman who gave him a child and abandoned him"

Atlana's voice shook with sorrow. "I...loved him, Arthur. I loved you both. But Atlantis would not let me return. I was bound to this place, forced into a life I never chose."

Her voice trembled, each word weighed down by sorrow and regret. "But not a single day went by when I didn't long to come back to you. I know I failed you… but please, Arthur, believe that I never forgot you."

Arthur's anger wavered, his gaze softening as he saw the pain etched into her face. He wanted to stay angry, to let his resentment burn away the ache in his heart, but seeing her now, he felt a mixture of emotions too complex to untangle.

"I waited for you too," he said quietly, his voice filled with the lingering echoes of childhood hurt. "Every night. I thought maybe one day you'd come home."

Atlanna stepped forward, her hand reaching up to cup his face, her touch warm and gentle. "I am here now, Arthur. And I will never leave you again."

They stood there, a fragile reunion mending years of separation and sorrow, while Orm watched, his jaw tight with simmering anger about the injustice done to his brother and Atlantis.

Finally, Arthur stepped back, his gaze shifting to Orm. "And what happens now?"

Orm's eyes blazed with fury as he looked at Arthur, his voice low and seething. "Now, we make the humans pay for what they've done. They attacked you—our prince—and murdered our family. We cannot ignore this."

Atlana's eyes widened in alarm, her voice pleading as she spoke. "Orm, no. We must not bring war to the surface. Violence will only bring more suffering, more loss."

Orm's gaze remained unwavering, his voice icy. "They declared war the moment they spilled Atlantean blood. We cannot allow their barbarism to go unpunished. They poisoned our land and threw their excretion into our homes. How many of our people, children have suffered because of them. This can go no longer, mother."

Arthur, his voice weary yet resolute, spoke up. "There has to be another way. We don't have to turn this into a bloodbath. I know what they did was wrong, but retaliation will only prove their fears right."

But Orm's resolve was set, his voice steely with conviction. "Mother, you may rule in peace, but if you do not act, Atlantis will fall. Our enemies will continue to hunt us, driving us further into hiding until there is nothing left. I will not let that happen."

Without waiting for permission, he turned and stormed out of the chamber, his mind racing with plans. The whispers of vengeance echoed in his ears, a poisonous mantra feeding his rage.

"Orm," Atlana called, but it fell on deaf ears. "That child, his angered by injustice done to our people, but we can't walk the path of destruction."

She turned to Arthur, "Don't worry about your brother. He will calm down, eventually. But we have much to catch up. Tell me all what happened."

.

.

.

Orm entered his private quarters, slamming the door shut behind him. He clenched his fists, his mind awash with visions of retribution against the humans who had dared to harm his family. He knew his mother's reluctance would be a hindrance, but he would not let her inaction stand in his way.

He picked up a sleek, golden communicator and activated it, his tone sharp as he contacted David Hyde.

"Hyde," he said coldly. "I require your assistance once more."

David's voice crackled through the device, a hint of amusement in his tone. "Back for more, are we? What do you need, Prince Orm?"

Orm's expression was steely, his voice unwavering. "I need intelligence on the surface, every weakness, every vulnerability. I want to make them pay for what they've done."

David's laughter was low and dangerous. "Consider it done, for a price of course. But remember, once you open this door, there's no going back. The surface world won't just take this lying down. Not that I care."

Orm's jaw tightened, a sinister glint in his eyes. "Let them try to retaliate. We are the oceans, and we have power they cannot fathom."

He ended the call and turned his attention to his most loyal advisors, whispering orders that would set into motion a plan both daring and ruthless. He would have Atlantis's best warriors strike the surface where it hurt most, dismantling their defenses and forcing them to their knees.

But he needed more than just an assault; he needed to show the surface dwellers that they had provoked the wrath of the sea itself. In secret, Orm began to coordinate with his most trusted soldiers, preparing for an all-out offensive that would strike fear into the hearts of those who dared to challenge Atlantis.

"It is time they understand," he murmured, his voice like the rolling thunder of a coming storm. "That the ocean does not forgive."

----

You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. (Mathew 5: 38-39)