In the Golden Light - A Justice League AU

Chapter 30 - The Coup, Part 2

! Before You Read Act 3 !

{Act 3 has been branded with a content warning for containing the following topics: depression (moments of emptiness and hopelessness), alcohol abuse, verbal abuse, physical abuse, manipulation, gore, death and trauma. Please protect yourself first if these topics will upset you/cause a trigger.}
{This particular chapter deals with: Fear, gore, death, trauma, guilt, minor mention of self harm, thoughts of death}

"Wh-Why are you doing this!?"

"Oh, can't you see?" Oraca circled around the princess. "Your family's time of ruling Atlantis and controlling magic is over." She stared at her plump belly. "A real shame the little ones won't get to live to adulthood; their time should have never come."

A shockwave shivered through Lazuli's body. What had gotten into Oraca? Is this what she had been doing ever since she stopped seeing her? Getting herself caught up in conspiracies and plots? She lowered herself and pulled back her lips, revealing sharp teeth to her young companion. "I thought we were friends!!" Lazuli snarled. "How could you!?"

"You actually thought we were friends?" Oraca chuckled. "Oh that is so pathetically sad~! We were only friends because I was forced into being your friend by our parents. I didn't have a choice, and I wish I did; I never forgave you after my dad was executed for crimes he didn't commit."

"There was sufficient evidence that linked your parents to the charges presented to them! They were dealing with surface dwellers illegally, a serious crime! They could have been conspiring to take down the King and Queen!" Lazuli retaliated. Despite never liking the trials she had to attend, she always knew the little details. She remembered that day clearly; she was 11, Oraca was 6. "Your mother just happened to defend herself well that she was found innocent while your father couldn't defend himself and was found guilty! He was conspiring, the evidence and his behavior in court said so!" She met Oraca's deep blue eyes. "Believe me, Oraca, if I could have done something, I would, but I didn't have a choice other than obey my Father. Obey my King."

"So what if he was conspiring?! The evidence was weak against him, and you know that! He was only trying to provide for me just as equally as my mother! Your loyalty to the King is what killed him, it's YOUR FAULT HE'S DEAD AND MY LIFE WAS RUINED!!" Oraca yelled, hints of tears welling in her eyes. She paused to sigh, turning her head away and closing her eyes. She pried them open just to stare at Lazuli. "I never wanted to do anything more with you ever since that day, but my mom insisted on giving you another chance. I didn't want to. And when I gave you that chance, I lost sight of what my motives really were. But thanks to Aunt Star, everything came back crystal clear to me. I was lied to. Lied to my whole life."

"Oraca---"

Oraca jerked her head forward. "Royalty does nothing but control their people and cause them suffering. They never do anything good for the people; they just use their lineage and privilege to abuse us and magic. For thousands of years, your lineage just used us like pawns in situations we had no part in. But no longer. I said my dad didn't commit any crimes, and I stand by that; he knew something and was planning to stage a coup just like this one, and your family silenced him before he could get to the bottom of the secret he was chasing and planning on revealing to all of Atlantis. You will never know, because that secret's staying only wish us citizens. Your lineage, the Royal lineage, is over."

Lazuli could not believe her ears. This had to be some kind of joke, right? Oraca's stone cold expression and bloodied face and claws didn't indicate any sort of joking. She raised her head up. "HOW COULD YOU!?" Lazuli shouted. "HOW COULD YOU LIE TO ME ABOUT BEING MY FRIEND!? Didn't our friendship mean anything?? I entrusted you with all my problems! All my secrets! You listened, you gave advice, you cared! Instead, you were......using me this entire time? Why? Why would you do that to your friend?"