The Twins from the Sea

Chapter XIV

"What... What do you mean?" Ophelia said shakily.

"The war. It's... it's bad," Aikaterine said, then grew angry. "No, not just bad. This is horrible. The entire island is gone, and most of the Siren families with it. Poseidon destroyed everything we had. Everything our society has ever worked for. Just because he wants more power. He didn't even hesitate. With a wave of that blasted trident he put our whole world in ruins. But that was long ago. Almost ten years now.

"Things were quiet for a while, and we managed to build this makeshift palace. Every Siren still alive lives in it. Still to this day. But recently, Poseidon's forces have rebuilt. Just last month he sent a warning shockwave all throughout our realm. King Marinus' army has prepared themselves as much as they can, but we are prepared for the worst. We feared that this is the end of our kind. But now we have hope," Aikaterine said, beaming. "Our saviors are here!"

Ophelia furrowed her brow and Moana looked around.

"Us?" they said in unison.

"Yes! You're everything the prophecy has described! It's got to be you!"

Everyone was silent for a while, and then Moana did something that typical, immature Moana would do.

She started to laugh.

It started out as a small, masked titter, slowly growing to a loud guffaw. Moana could hardly contain herself.

"Saviors? Oh, that's rich," she said, gasping for air between screeches of laughter.

"Moanaaa," Ophelia warned through gritted teeth. But there was no stopping her now. Aikaterine started to grow confused, then just flat out embarrassed. Finally, after a long, awkward minute, Moana stopped, and then realized what was happening. She wiped the tears from her eyes.

"I mean, are you sure?" Moana said. "It's not like we're two superheroes. It's just... us," Moana said, and then cringed when she realized that she sounded like some corny character from a movie.

"Ah..." Aikaterine said. She was speechless. Ophelia had never been more embarrassed in her life. Moana had done some wild and awfully humiliating things in her time, but none such as this.

"Aikaterine, I'm sorry, but my sister and I are very tired. Would you mind if we could get some sleep and reconvene in the morning?" Ophelia said, hoping that Moana would get the hint. She was in for it.

Aikaterine looked surprised. "Oh. Yes, I see. We will... Discuss things in the morning. I'll show you to your room and have some food delivered," she said. Aikaterine sounded cross now. She quickly turned and sped off. It took Ophelia a second to process what was happening, and then she shot off behind her.

-

As Aikaterine silently and slowly swam through the castle archway, Ophelia desperately wished that she wasn't so agitated. If she wasn't, Ophelia imagined, she would be guiding them on a long and detailed tour of this beautiful place. She wanted to know who the stern looking Sirens were in the portraits on the walls were, and what the art decorating the ceilings symbolized. More than anything, Ophelia just wished she didn't have such an idiot for a sister.

Up the elegant marble staircase, Aikaterine led them down a long hallway, still silently. Eventually they stopped in front of a door. Aikaterine looked down, unable to meet either of the girls' eyes.

"Stay here," she commanded and slammed the door.

Ophelia looked around the room, and it was pretty nice. A large window overlooked a courtyard, with Sirens swimming along, doing their business. The oddest thing of all was when the occasional fish swam by.

The room itself was like your basic hotel room. Two queen beds were separated by a nightstand made of coral. The beds were like giant sea sponges. On the nightstand there was a lamp, and Ophelia was interested to see how it glowed, since there obviously wasn't electricity underwater. In the far corner sat a table and three chairs made of wood, glossed over by a water protectant. Ophelia guessed since there weren't trees underwater, this was recycled from a shipwreck. Some assorted paintings and mirrors dotted the walls. Other than that, the room was pretty basic.

Once Ophelia took in her surroundings, her thoughts turned back to the matter at hand.

Moana.

Ophelia currently stood with her back to her sister. Moana still stood by the door. Ophelia slowly turned around, and saw Moana, with a very sheepish look on her face. They stood there for a while, and Moana was unable to meet her sister's eyes. She finally gathered up her courage and broke the silence.

"Look, before you say anything you should understand-" Moana started, but Ophelia cut her off angrily.

"Understand? What is there to understand? You just made a fool out of not only yourself, but me, too, Moana. I cannot even begin to believe that you have the nerve to do something so immature and childish. So many people have lost their homes, and some have even died. It sure as hell isn't something to be laughing about!"

Moana was absolutely dumbfounded. In her life, she had never seen her sister so angry and upset. I think Ophelia thought of this too, and her eyes widened.

And it was at that exact moment that both sisters realized that this is was going to be harder than they thought.