Chapter 12: The New King Of Oceanatic

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"My apologies for you’re lost, my beauty. But it was the way it was meant to be. Xana must have gone easy on you," Oberon pointed out, "Don't you know that Xana knows the identity of the descendants?"

Many questions flashed through her mind. How did Xana know that she was looking for the descendants? How does he know the identity of the descendants faster than Tiadora. "You must be thinking. How? Why? Ask him that yourself," Oberon whispered something to one of his guards, making him swim off hurriedly. Oberon moved gracefully towards her and kept on staring at the pendant which now glowed faintly. He them raised his hand to his next guard who immediately took out a weapon and fired it at David's shoulder. Tiadora went to his aid, pulling out the arrow fast from his shoulder. David's screams filled the hollow hut. Ticked off, Tiadora made vicious red sparks from her hand. She wanted to attack Oberon.

"Don't waste your energy. Using the FIRE element against my pet, must have already worn you down since it's not your element to begin with." he smiled. Tiadora relaxed her hand. It was tiresome, especially on her right hand which got bitten. She clenched her right hand into a fist, accidentally allowing blood from the two holds to flow out. Red patches could soon be seen floating around her hand.

"I believe Azric has said you a visit. Smart bastard!" Oberon cursed. David clutched his left shoulder. The weapon had fired and arrow that pierced through his right shoulder. Tiadora stared square into Oberon glare, frowning.

"What happened to Selis?!" Tiadora demanded to know.

"Left behind of course. Or should I say, DEAD! Haha!" Oberon laughed hysterically aloud. He then stopped and became serious, "Pitiful human. Poison will soon strike your heart till death."

"How would I know if it's poisoned?" Tiadora voiced out. ”Take a close look at the arrow."

True to be told, the arrow was filled with a black substance that flowed in the thin space of the arrow. Oberon snatched it from her hands and said, "Civs can be a rather deadly liquid, don't you agree?" He smirked and continued, "And right now, as of this moment, all of your companions have been infected and by just spilling a drop of my blood from my wrist, they'll experience half the pain of death. I only ask of you just one favour."

"This can't be good" David spoke out.

"Marry me by the three stages of marriage of Oceanatic's rituals!"

Tiadora agreed silently. David was very puzzled by the way she just gave in like that.

"Then we shall be wed tomorrow night, my bride. See the disappearing Sun?" Oberon moved away from the door to show the Sun's rays that shone dimly, "...It’s almost nightfall. I trust that you will enjoy your stay in Oceanatic." Oberon signalled to the guard as it swam towards Tiadora and unlocked her chains that hung around her wrists. Swiftly, the guard wrapped a bronze band on her right wrist. The guard did the same thing to David.

"You're letting us go…" David was shocked as he pointed to his bronze band, "...with a souvenir?"

"Inferior two-legs!" Oberon insulted, giving orders to his faithful guard, "Release them into my humble kingdom. They will not be of any threat."

"Tiadora, why is he letting us go?" David shake Tiadora's shoulder. "He's not," Tiadora replied, still frowning at Oberon.

Suddenly, Oberon shut his eyes, resulting in a strange orange glow that radiated from his body. He made a weird hand gesture and whispered softly. Tiadora didn't realize what it was at first but his chanting grew louder and firmer. She knew the spell Oberon was casting. "Enchalus Meteroq Zegato Alis!" A strong dark blue energy strike Tiadora's pendant from his fingertips, making the pendant flicker wildly for a few moments as it ended leaving the pendant glowing as black as coal.

"You should know what was that for, my beautiful queen-to-be. And explain to this animal that the sevil is not a souvenir," Oberon said before he strolled out, leaving the door wide open.

"David?" a familiar voice came from outside the door. "Kiara, is that you?" Tiadora said happily as Kiara appeared from the door side and swam to David as she gave him a bear hug.

"Suffocating him can kill him, Kiry," Jason came out from nowhere. Beside him was Cornelia who had let down her small ponytail which formed the rest of her short blond hair. Kiara immediately let go of David and smiled at him. But David replied by giving her his normal expressionless look. Angry, she punched him at the shoulder where the arrow hit him. "Ouch!" David pushed Kiara away and swam in between Jason and Cornelia.

"Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! It hit me there too."

"Yeah me too. Could you explain this, Tia?" Jason touched his bronze band. Tiadora had a lot of explaining to do, "I'll explain as we walk through the city."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The city of Oceanatic was a magnificent sight to see. Merlons lived in the same kind of houses as they did but it was more curved than sharp edges and it was all blue. Different shades of blue. Like what they've seen on land, there were sea-looking buildings, fled markets, etc. Tiadora and the rest wall through a sea-made garden full of corals and dishes. They sat together on to of the blue benches.

"Not that I don't like blue, but this," Jason spread out his arms to the buildings behind them, "…is too much!"

"We can't even get out of this kingdom because of this sevil-thingy," Kiara tried pulling her's out.

"And what's worst is that Tiadora can't use her powers till after tomorrow night because of that spell Oberon cast upon her," Cornelia complained.

"Xana sounds really..." David finally spoke after a walk of silence, "…evil."

"He's the leader of all badies..what do you expect?" Jason joked.

Tiadora's tummy started to rumble and so did Kiara's. They've not eaten since morning. So they decided to stroll around the brightly lit market as the sea turned dark, night time. Twenty-four more hours more till tomorrow's big event. Together, they walked through many shops and stalls but with no money, they couldn't even get the cheapest snack which was seaweeds. Until they heard a small voice from behind them.

"Your majesty, King Oberon wants you in his chambers," a dressed servant girl spoke. Reluctantly, Tiadora followed the servant girl with Jason and the rest tailing her. David then asked aloud, "What are the laws and rituals of Oceanatic marriage?"

"It consists of three stages.." Tiadora started explaining as they slowly swam through the gates of the castle. "First stage, the groom will hold the bride's hands while this liquid called Lvy is poured over the hold-hands. At that time, the groom will be able to see every memory of the bride. The bride will also see the groom's memories...”

The castle didn't seem dark and mysterious as what Jason thought it would be for someone like Oberon. The pain from his shoulder was long gone and he didn't feel any poison anymore. They walked past numerous rooms. Jason often wonder how the king managed to find his way throughout the castle without any labels on the doors. Finally, they came to a grand blue (again?) door which the servant girl called the King's chambers.

"Your companions are not permitted to enter. Instead, they will be taken to the dining room to feast on their long-awaited dinner and will sleep in their own common chambers," the servant girl promised.

"Go." Tiadora said sadly but quickly swam to Jason and whispered to his ear, "Escape while you still can. That servant Merlon has the key to unlock your sevils," Tiadora pushed him back and smiled as Tiadora slowly entered Oberon's chambers.

"Let's proceed," the servant girl ushered the rest. Jason couldn't tear his gaze from the door but he had to move. Key? She mentioned that earlier. Where is it? True enough, clinging to the servant's bracelet was a small key that was a shape of a fish! Predictable sea creatures. Jason whispered about it to Cornelia who told Kiara. David too heard Jason's plan, eat first pounce servant get key. After a really long walk, they finally reached to a magnificent room with a yellow chandelier. The long white rectangle table was littered with what the Merlons called food. They served raw dishes and live corals! Is this what they call fresh?

"Suddenly, I don't feel so hungry," Kiara groaned.

"Me too," David answered back.

"Me three," Cornelia jumped, winking to her brother.

"Me two square!" Jason shouted, "NOW!"

Together, they pounced at the servant girl. Both Jason and David tried to hold her back while Cornelia and Kiara try and grab the key that moved wherever her wrists moved. It was rather a difficult task as the servant's slimy green tail flapped wildly, beating Cornelia and Kiara away. Finally, David caught her hand and twisted it to the back, breaking the bracelet of the Merlons wrist. A shocking scream pierced through the silence.

David realized that he had twisted her arm too hard as he dropped her. He tossed the key to Cornelia after unlocking his band. Once everyone's band was unlocked, the screams of the servant girl turned into a wail of sirens that echoed through the halls and corridors. In less than five seconds, the Merlon guards had them surrounded.