After surviving a bank robbery, with much thanks to Aquaman, Camille decides to complete her training to join the police force; to help people like he did and to redeem herself from a gruesome death that she was too petrified to stop. After being as...
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Camille always knew that she'd die at sea. Even before she met Arthur she would develop a sharp foreboding whenever she came close to the rolling waves of the ocean; as if every tide threatened to swallow her whole. The idea wasn't as terrifying as it once was. Since her long stay in the city of Atlantis, Camille hated to admit that she had become more connected to the ocean than she could have ever imagined. In fact, even as she was being dragged into the vast abyss, she found a sense of comfort that she never knew was missing.
The city of Eirinikos had none of the charm that Atlantis possessed. It was small, with dodgy magic protecting its border and sharks swimming around it like a loot of buried treasure. The structures were soundly built, but had no personality to them. As if every building was there to serve a purpose, and they gave no mind to its exterior appearance. Some of the homes that Camille saw were simply made from the rotting carcasses of animals; perhaps because they thought it wasteful to not use these bodies.
Finally, they tugged her towards a giant temple resting on the highest point of the city. It was decorated with coral and seaweed, but more so with the bones of giant creatures that Camille couldn't even begin to name. As she approached, the king appeared from inside of the temple; his expression unreadable even in the midst of his own victory.
Rage boiled within Camille at the sight of him. Blindly, she fought against the guards that were holding her - knowing well that attacking the king in his own kingdom was a terrible idea. She couldn't help it. He was to blame, partly, for her entire world falling into disarray. Unfortunately, the men holding her had grips that couldn't be broken by even the deadliest hurricane.
"Calm down, surface-dweller." King Kotorlyn ordered rather smoothly. There was no fright or anger in his voice. It was cold and calculating, void of any real emotion.
"What the hell do you want with me?" Camille spat, holding none of Kotorlyn's reserve.
"I want what I was promised." He replied without hesitation. "A missing queen and a claim to Atlantis."
Camille hissed. "I promised you no such thing."
"You didn't, but Manta did." He explained as she was pushed closer to the temple.
"I've suffered enough for your botched deal with that maniac." The queen snapped back, teeth baring into a growl. "It's your mistake for trusting him."
"In all fairness, he kept his word." The king watched Camille as she, at last, came to a halt in front of their sacred building overlooking a vast, empty sea bottom. "He said that he'd destroy you both, and he did. I should have paid more attention to his wording. I hope you know that I don't approve of his actions. A baby is defenceless. There's no honour in killing one. If it were my decision, I would have kept the kid alive...let him reach eighteen before killing him."
Camille's expression suddenly turned deadpan. She was numb to his words, and yet, somewhere deep down she knew that it was because she was still hurting; and the mind can only take so much sorrow before it completely flicks off. She didn't reply. There was nothing to say to the person that caused her heartache.
