Under The Sea

Chapter Twelve - A Royal Guest

Axel knew his father would be furious, but it did not prepare him for what he found as Bast escorted them into the throne room, flanked by guards on all sides. Axel longed to glance back at Samuel to ensure that he was doing alright, but he didn't want to seem suspicious, so he kept his eyes glued forward.

"Your majesty," Bast spoke as they came up to the throne, his father's towering figure looking down at them as the line of guards bowed, "your son, as requested."

"Leave us," King Elias's voice boomed through the call, despite minimal effort on his part.

In a flash, the hall emptied in a flurry of bodies, leaving the small group in dead silence, as the King looked down at them. His eyes held his rage as he locked his glance on Axel, the grimace on his face communicating his anger on its own.

"Fath-"

"Silence!" The King's voice thundered from his lips, resonating around the room, and shaking the columns that flanked his throne. Behind Axel, Samuel and Finn flinched, grasping onto each other.

Axel's eyes shifted to his sister, who sat beside their father, her head slumped into her shoulders and her gaze cast down to the sand. Axel wondered what could leave her in such a state, but deep down he knew what their father had threatened, no doubt as she once again attempted to defend Axel.

"I can ex-"

"I said silence!" his father once again roared, causing Axel's body to tense as he rose from his throne, his towering figure looming above them as he held his scepter in one hand. "My patience has worn thin with you, Axel."

"It's not what you think!" Axel exclaims, catching the entire room off guard, even Clara looking up to find him locked in a stare with their father in defiance.

"You dare disobey me!" The King barked, his eyes unable to contain his anger, as his skin tinted a fiery red.

"I do because you never listen!"

The King's composure fractured in a fit of rage as he lunged the scepter at Axel, catching them all of guard as Clara's eyes widened, "No!"

The scepter flew through the water, blurring in its speed as it aimed for Axel's chest. Axel stood frozen in place, unable to move as he stared at the scepter heading straight for him. Out of instinct, Samuel lunged from Finn's grasp, his body moving of its own accord as he lunged at Axel. Knocking into him, the force sends them flying against the adjacent column just as the scepter flew past where Axel had stood frozen, impaling into the sand below them.

"How could you?!" Clara sprang from her seat, her anger matching that of her father's as her body shook with rage. Axel watched the scene unfold from the sand where they had landed, as Samuel's arms curled around him, pulling him to his chest. "Do you realize what you've done!"

"He has stepped out of line for the last time!" King Elias roared in response, not bothering to spare Axel a glance as he stared off against Clara, "And you-"

"Mother would be so ashamed of you right now." Clara spat at him, her body shaking as she attempted to maintain her control over her actions.

The King's entire body seemed to give at the claim, an expression Axel couldn't place overtaking his entire body, before returning to his rage. "You have no rig-"

"I have every right!" Clara burst, swimming closer to her father, her composure firm in the shadow of his towering stature, "After what you just did?! I have very right!"

They locked their eyes as both refused to give in under pressure of the other. The room encased in a tense silence with the implications of this scene hanging over their heads. No one dared to move, as Clara and their father fought a silent war with their eyes.