Under The Sea

Chapter Eight - Humans

Axel caught up to Finn as they swam away from the cave. His thoughts lingered on Paxton, and the way he had grabbed his hand.

His fingers were so warm and inviting and sent a sensation he couldn't quite place through his body. It was as if goosebumps had sprouted across his entire body without the physical bumps.

"Fi, wait up?" Axel called as he sped up to catch up to her.

"What you're doing is dangerous, Ax," she scolds, not bothering to stop for him. "Not to mention illegal."

"I know!" Axel exclaims, startling her into halting. "I know. But what was I supposed to do? Let him die?"

Finn was silent as she bit her bottom lip, not daring to meet his gaze. "Fi, don't tell me you actually think I should have left him to drown?"

"No," she huffed, not bothering to meet his expression.

"We're taught humans are dangerous from a young age, but Paxton has been nothing but honest and courteous. I'm starting to think we may be wrong about them."

"Ax, just promise me you'll be careful," she sighed.

"I pro-"

"Well, we'll, well," a deep voice came from behind them and Axel's body tensed at the realization. "What do we have here?"

He turned to find Bast, head of the royal guard and his sister's fiancé, standing behind them with two guards flanking him on either side.

"Hey, Bast," Axel forced out, watching the man cautiously.

"Don't 'hey, Bast' me, Axel," Bast sighed, "you realize I must bring you in, and your father will not be happy when I do."

"Then don't," Axel pleaded with the man, who shot him a sympathetic look, "I'll head straight back to the palace."

"I'm sorry," Bast sighed, shooting him a solemn smile, "you know I can't do that."

"Right." Axel clicked his tongue as he accepted his fate. He swam over to meet them, when Bast turned around again.

"You, too," he gestured to Finn, who seemed shocked that the King had summoned her, but obliged.

As they arrived at the palace, Clara was speaking to their father in a hushed tone when they entered.

"Sire," Bast bowed, "Prince Axel, as requested."

"Thank you Bast," the King spoke, "you're dismissed."

"Yes, your majesty."

Without another word, Bast spared a quick glance at Clara, who smiled down at him before departing with his guards. The room was quiet as Axel and Finn waited for the King to speak.

"What part of 'confined to the palace grounds' was not clear to you?" His father's voice was deeper and heavier than usual.

"Dad, I-"

"Save your excuses, Axel," King Elias roared, his eyes boring into Axel. "It seems you are having trouble accepting the privilege you've been given."

He glanced at his sister, who nodded at him, and he could tell he was fighting a losing battle.

"With everything going on right now, Ax," she sighed, "you can't be running off into the outskirts of the Kingdom like that."

"If I may," Finn spoke for the first time since their arrival, swimming up beside Axel and placing a hand on his shoulder. "It's not Axel's fault. I asked him to accompany me so that I wouldn't need to go out there by myself."