Under The Sea

Chapter Twenty-Three - All In

Content Warning: Mature Content

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"Have you lost your mind!" King Elias's voice boomed throughout the hall, and Samuel could swear the stone columns shook with the forces of his words.

"We didn't-"

"You didn't what?" The King's voice seemed to get louder as he spoke, "you didn't think the rules applied to you? You didn't expect the siren's you knew were in the grotto? You didn't think the sea witch would kill the prince?"

"We didn't mean to get caught in the siren attack." Axel returns, his voice a shadow of what it had been the last time Samuel had witnessed him speak to his father.

There had been a wave of chaos when they had arrived, as we took Axel to the medics, who examined and patched his wound, advising that it was a minor flesh wound that would heal on its own. That was followed by the King and Clara storming into the infirmary, where they stood, flanked by servants who didn't dare breathe as they witnessed the exchange. Samuel found his own nerves bubbling as he watched the King reprimand Axel, his every urge longing to get between them and defend Axel, but knowing he would worsen the situation.

"Not only did you endanger your own insignificant life, but you dragged a royal guest right into the hands of those monsters with you," the King spat, "you have crossed me for the last time, Axel."

"Father-"

"I am not your father anymore," King Elias stared down at the merman, his eyes shooting daggers through him, "you are dead to me."

The room fell silent at his words, the echo of his voice lingering in the current as the world seemed to come to a full stop. Samuel caught Clara, held in Bast's arms, tense up at the exclamation, glancing up at her father in horror. Then his eyes fell to Axel, whose entire body seemed to shake as his head dropped.

Then, as if in a final act of defiance, Axel's body fell still, his head lifting to lock eyes with his father, before his voice emerged, laced with anger, "I would rather be dead, if it meant not having to see you anymore."

Clara released a gasp at her brother's unexpected comment, and the room once again fell silent as Axel and the King stared at each other, each daring the other to move. Finally, Axel released a scoff, averting his gaze, before speeding out of the room.

"If I may, your majesty," Samuel spoke, drawing every pair of eyes in his direction, "the idea of venturing out into the grotto was not Axel's solely. I also ventured of my own accord with him."

The King's gaze seemed to bore into Samuel as their eyes met, before the King spoke, his voice deep but defeated, "then you are as foolish as he."

Without another word, the King turned on his fin, not bothering to stop beside Clara as he swam out of the room. As if on cue, the servants shuffled with his exit, clearing out of the room. Through the chaos, Samuel spots Bast leading Clara out of the room, his arms cradled around her as they disappeared into the hall outside. His thoughts returned to Axel, and he lunged toward the door, knowing without a doubt where he would go.

As Samuel closed the doors to the Queen's reef, he could hear the silent sobs coming from inside, as he made his way to the center, where he found Axel curled on the slab. He approached beside him, sinking down to take a seat beside him, and hesitating before reaching out to wrap his arm around Axel's shoulders. The merman seemed not to react for a second before leaning into the embrace, turning to bury his face in Samuel's chest.

"Why are you here?" Axel asks, calming himself enough to speak.

"There is nowhere else I want to be right now."