Chapter Seventeen

I released Arlo, who recovered on his back huffing. I looked to Aquis. My anger started to fade.

"I was told all my life that you and my mother loved me. Neither of you came back and you had another child." I shook my head. "Your love created a person who is creating war." I pointed to Arlo. He just watched me.

"Where are Jason, my aunt, and my uncle?" I demanded.

"Bring him." Aquis nodded to a guard. "Your aunt and uncle are safe on land."

"If any of them are hurt...." I growled, stopping before I finished the sentence.

"Blake!" Jason rushed to me, wrapping his arms around me. "Was the rumbling you?"

"Of course. Did they hurt you?" I checked him. He wasn't wearing a shirt and I could see a few bruises.

"Only when I broke down the door." He kept his arms around me.

"You associate with half-breeds, too?" Arlo croaked. I looked to him as he stood.

"Don't worry. I'll finish you. What's it called? A challenge for the throne?" I stretched my arms and Jason let me go.

"You're challenging me?" Arlo laughed loudly.

"I'm not afraid of you." I frowned as he walked up to me. I was definitely shorter and looked weaker than him. "You're like that guy at school. Needs a good whooping."

"Then I accept." He looked down on me. "Get her ready!" Guards grabbed Jason and I, pulling us away.

*~~*~~*~~*

"Why did you challenge him?" Jason paced around our holding room. I didn't answer him and kicked old rusted weapons piled on the ground. The door opened, Aquis walking in. He held a very nice looking trident. It was almost a pearl gray with smooth arches that made the trident top.

"Princess Blake. Prince Jason." He acknowledged.

"What do you want?" I looked back to the old weapons.

"I came to give you this." I looked up to see him pull a familiar blue box from his cloak. "It was taken off you when you were brought here." I took it from him, opening it. I had been too distracted before to actually look at the contents inside. It was a silver necklace with an anchor pendent. Written on the ribbon around the anchor said 'Refuse to sink'.

"I got it... for your birthday." Jason moved to my side. I pulled it from the box and fastened it around my neck.

"And this was your mother's." Aquis handed me the trident as I put the box in my back pocket. It was heavy, but a good weight. There were no flaws except for a small silver button on the round shaft of the trident. I pressed it, the trident shrinking into a small cylinder that fit in the palm of my hand. I put it in the front pocket of my shorts.

"Thank you."

"It's time." Aquis nodded. We followed him down a hall where Jason was taken away. Aquis followed Jason and I went into a small rock room where a ring of lava bubbled in the center of the floor.

"No armor?" Arlo entered the room, fixing his breastplate.

"It restricts your movement." I watched him.

"It will just make it easier to end you, Land Bastard." He smirked. The ceiling opened up in a small circle, the sound of grinding rock making me cringe. When he swam through it, the crowd roared with cheers. I changed my legs into a tail, taking a deep breath. I swam up, the crowd quickly booing. "This, my Atlantean people, is my bastard sister who was born on land. She has come to challenge me for the throne, little does she know this is my home court." Arlo faced me. There was a loud horn that blew through the water. I could see Jason with Aquis on a ledge, which gave me courage. Arlo lunged at me and I extended my hand, blasting him backwards. I had the pearl gray cylinder in my other hand. I pressed the button, making it extend to full length. He came at me again and I quickly blocked.

"Extra abilities won't help you." He huffed in my face. His breath smelled like fish.

"And what do you have? Blunt force?" I shoved him back. I could feel the ocean in my head, the life speaking to me. When he tried to strike, I flung a current at him, causing him to spin. He raced at me again and I dodged. This seemed easy.

"Stop playing with me!" He yelled, infuriated.

"Fine." I changed my tail into legs. The sounds of gasps came from the crowd. I called on my anger from past events and extended my arms towards him. He swam at me as tingling started in my shoulders and blaster through my hands. Blue and red electricity shot from my palms, hitting him directly in the chest. His armor lite up like a Christmas tree making him howl in pain. In a quick moment, he struck me, sending me flying into a wall. The crowd was silent. Before I knew it, he slammed into me. Pain splintered throughout my body and I began falling to the lava below me. Something grabbed me before I got close to the sizzling, red, death trap. Furry paws touched my skin. I blinked quickly, floating and looking around. Marine animals surrounded me. I smiled, feeling hopeful. I blocked out the pain, looking to Arlo who was shocked.

"How can we help, Princess?" A sea otter questioned.

"Rush at him, but don't touch him." I replied, quiet enough so Arlo didn't hear. The otter nodded, swimming towards Arlo with all the other marine life. I followed, seeing him curl up in fear. They circled closely around him and made a hole for me to go through. I slammed my fist into his jaw, shoving him into another wall. I still held my trident firmly. He fell with no sign of movement. I waited for a moment then went after him. Before he touched the lava, I grabbed him and pulled him up. The crowd was still silent as I placed him where we came out. The circle had closed up so it was really just a platform. He opened his eyes, laying on his back. He swung at me so I put my foot on his chest. "I won't kill you, but this war needs to stop. Got it?" He struggled for a moment, anger in his eyes. I shoved him back down.

"I'm stronger, faster, and I know right from wrong. Admit it. You can't beat me, little brother." After a moment, the anger in his eyes faded and he stopped struggling. The crowd roared all around us for a long time. I took my foot from his chest, looking around.