Deep In The Ocean | Stiles Stilinski

Invasion

  I swam through the palace, towards the throne room where my mother, the Queen of Atlantis, had requested too see me. I didn't know what she wanted, but the guards told me it sounded urgent.

  I was almost there when I heard a BOOM come from outside. By the sounds of it, it wasn't that far away. I decided to keep swimming to the throne room, but picked up the pace a little bit.

  Once I reached the room, my mother was there talking to some guards. When she saw me, she nodded at them, and they swam away.

  "Katherine." My mother smiled, but I could see the worry lines that had appeared on her face.

  "Mom? What's wrong? What was that noise outside the castle." I asked her, panicked.

  My mother sighed sadly. "I don't have much time to explain, but we are under attack."

  My eyes widened. The last time somebody, or something, had attacked us, was about five years ago, but after that, nobody had ever dared insult Atlantis, much less attack it. Of course, I had been trained in case this happened, but I never thought it would. Then again, who would?

  "What do you want me to do?" I asked her, wanting too help.

  "Swim away, find land and become human. That way Seraphina will never find you." She told me. Seraphina was my Aunt. She was always jealous that it was my mother that got the throne and not her, but she went missing years ago. However, we had always assumed she would be back, and would attack when we least expected it. Then I realized what my mother wanted me to do.

  "What about you?" I asked, my voice shaking.

  My mother's eyes broke contact with mine, and she looked at the floor.

  "No! No, no, no, no!" I murmured. "I can't leave you! You'll die. I already lost Dad! I— I can't lose you too!"

  Moms eyes teared up at the mention of my father, but she managed to hold herself together. "You are the future Queen. One day you will return and defeat Seraphina if she has not already been defeated."

  "What about James?" I asked, referring to my six year old little brother. The Queens blond hair seemed to turn grey in the water, at the mention of her youngest child, and only son. "Mom..."

  "He must come with you. I have already sent Benjamin up to bring him down. He has also packed a bag of necessary things while you're on land."

  "I'm seventeen Mom! I can't raise a child." I tried to reason with her.

  My mother ignored this. "You will attend to whatever school is close to you. You must try and act normal. As shall James."

  Another BOOM came from outside, and I heard pained screams of the merfolk that had either just died, or about to.

  The doors flew open, and one of our guards named Benjamin, came in with a tired looking James. "Your majesty," he greeted my mother, then turned to me. "Your highness."

  I couldn't seem to make any sound come out of my mouth. Luckily, I didn't have to as Benjamin kept talking.

  "Her army's are nearly inside the castle. I don't know where Seraphina is, she's most likely trying to stay away from the battle in case her army is defeated."

  "Then she is a coward." I said.

  My mother glared at me, before turning to James and Benjamin.

  "Mommy, what's happening?" James asked, and I tried hard not to cry.

  "Some bad people are trying to take over Atlantis. You and sissy are going to go on a little trip while mommy deals with them, understand?" Mom told the young merman.

  James nodded, and I had a feeling he knew much more than a six year old mind should.

  "Good," Mother said, taking James up in her arms, and giving him what would most likely be their last hug. "Remember, Mommy loves you."

  Before James could respond, an arrow shot into the throne room. I took my little brother from our mothers grasp, and ran to a painting that was also an emergency exit, in case this ever happened. Opening the painting I swam into it, along with James, and closed the door. I quietly swam over to an area so I could see what was happening. I had to make sure Mom would be okay.

  Then, about 20 mermen swam into the room, and without hesitating, killed Benjamin, the most loyal guard of the royals family. I cover James eyes, so he wouldn't see what was happening. He didn't need to see what I knew was about to happen.

  Mother called out to the ocean using her powers and started to fight against the small army, though I assume they have more out in the city. I was proud of Mom. She was actually doing good for a while. But in war, one mistake can end your life. Mom made one of those mistakes. She had been so busy fighting the mermen, she didn't notice a siren had creeped up behind her. I knew better then to warn my mother.

  I knew if I did that, my mother would still get killed, and then the army would know where James and I were. The siren pulled out a sword, and Mom stopped, probably hearing the weapon behind her.

  I tried to tear my eyes away from the scene that would give me nightmares until I died, but I couldn't. My eyes stayed glued on Mom the entire time.

  The Siren plunged the sword into her body. I took a hand of James eyes and covered my mouth, tears coming out of my eyes. James could probably tell what was happening as he could still hear the tiny noise come out of my mouth.

  Mother's tail slowly stopped moving, and she fell to the floor of the room she had spent many of her life's years in.

  The fraction of the army left, and as did the siren. I could've gone and tried to help Mom, but I knew there would be merfolk watching, and if I got caught nobody would take care of James. Still, I couldn't seem to make myself leave. But something caught my eyes. Mother's lips were moving, and she was looking straight at the painting. 'Go.' I read from her lips.

  That was all I needed. I picked James up and started the journey to land. As I swam, I could hear James sniffling in my arms.

  We reached some underwater mountains, and I took one last glance at Atlantis. It was still beautiful, for nobody could take that away from it. My people would fight, and one day, I would also join the fight.

  After swimming for a few days, we came across a beautiful reef. I remembered the area we were at immediately. Not far away was a town called Beacon Hills. We could stay there.

  I gripped the necklace each mermaid had had from birth. It was how we turned human and used our powers. However, one drop of water was all I needed to turn back to my original form. I looked at James tear streaked face and blue tail curled up as he had fallen asleep.

  I will protect him. He will not die, not on my watch. Seraphina will always be looking for us, but we will always be hiding, fighting for our lives. Nobody will find us. At least, not in Beacon Hills.