PALACE
King Orion appeared right in the throne room again. The water around him was still swirling from the force of his teleportation. Everyone was restless as to how everything was going. The Elders and guards paced the marble floors until the King materialized with the Princess in his arms.
Cleo finally woke up, her wet hair clung to her face and her fins flicked slower than usual. She looked pale, her vibrant scales dimmed by the ordeal.
"Cleo !" Queen Haisly rushed forward, her glowing gown trailing behind her like a ribbon of stardust. She didn't wait for a royal greeting, she was a mother first. "Are you hurt ?"
Cleo shook her head quickly, her voice cracking as she tried to find her strength. "No, Mother I'm okay. My body hurts but I'll be fine."
Without waiting another second, her mother pulled her into a tight hug. It was a hug meant to anchor her back to the safety of the palace. "Thank the ocean stars. You scared us to death. Please… take care of yourself Cleo," she said wiping her tears, her hands trembling as she brushed a stray strand of hair from her daughter's forehead.
Cleo's eyes welled up too. The weight of what she had done and what had almost happened finally hit her. She nodded into her mother's shoulder, seeking comfort. Behind them, King Orion stood tall at the top of the steps, arms crossed, eyes cold as ice. The warmth of the reunion didn't reach him, his posture was rigid, radiating a fury that made the nearby guards look away.
Cleo pulled away from her mother and swam slowly up the stairs. Every flick of her tail felt heavy under her father's gaze. When she reached him, she bowed her head low, unable to meet his eyes. "I'm sorry, Father," she whispered.
The King's voice was deep and sharp, cutting through the silence of the hall like a jagged reef. "You disobeyed my direct order. Your sister just gave you permission to observe, is this what you call observing ?"
"I only wanted to help..." Cleo started, her voice small.
"You acted recklessly, Cleo !" he snapped, "You could've been killed ! Five guards did die because of that mission. Do you understand what's at stake ? You didn't just risk yourself, you risked the peace of this entire kingdom !"
Cleo's lips trembled. The mention of the fallen guards stung more than any wound. "I....I saw them pulling our fish. They were choking. I just… I couldn't let it happen. I couldn't just watch them die, Father."
"You are a princess, not a soldier !" King Orion boomed. He stepped closer, his shadow falling over her. His anger was a shield, born from the terrifying thought of losing her. "You don't run into danger just because you feel like it. You don't disobey simple orders even when they come from your young sister ! If you cannot respect the chain of command, you are a liability to us all !"
"I'm sorry," she whispered again, staring at the marble floor, her tears mixing with the seawater.
"You are grounded, stay in your room and repent young lady. Now dismiss yourself." His words were final, leaving no room for argument.
Cleo turned and swam down the steps, her heart filled with shame. She felt smaller than she ever had before. Queen Haisly watched her daughter go, her heart aching for both her child and her husband. She waited until Cleo was out of sight, then turned sharply to her husband. "Orion, that's enough."
He glared at her, his jaw tight. "She disobeyed orders, Haisly. She endangered herself and our people. I had to pull her from a cage ! Do you know what they would have done to her ?"
"She's just young and she has a heart too," Queen Haisly said softly, stepping closer to soften his hard edges.
"She just wanted to help those poor fish. You saw how they were suffering too. And besides, after we made Clara the crown princess, Cleo feels like she's not doing enough for us and she only wanted to make you proud. She made a mistake because she cares too much, not too little. Talk to her and this time around, like a dad not a King." With that, she turned and left, leaving her words to hang in the water between them.
King Orion exhaled slowly, the tension in his shoulders dropping just an inch. His wife has spoken and he knew that tone very well. She wasn't kidding and he had to talk to Cleo when he finds time. He knew she was right, but the fear still made his chest feel heavy.
Suddenly, the room erupted into anxious chatter as the elders realized the King was no longer occupied with his daughter.
"What if the humans come back with more ships ?" an old elder asked, his fins twitching nervously.
"Are they planning an invasion ?" someone else added, looking toward the darkened windows of the palace.
"Should we prepare for war ?" cried a mermaid in golden armor, her hand resting on the hilt of her blade.
"Do they know where the palace is now ?" another council member asked, wide-eyed with the thought of humans at their doorstep.
"Enough," the King said, raising a hand. The room went silent instantly. "We'll discuss everything in the morning. For now, you're all dismissed."
The elders bowed, though their faces remained clouded with worry. They all floated away, whispering in hushed, frantic tones about the "land walkers."
"You...." the King turned to a maid nearby, his voice losing its sharp edge. "Take Kai to the Healing Chambers. Make sure he's looked after properly. Use the best pearls and seaweed wraps. Also send a doctor to check up on Cleo. Ensure she rests."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The maid bowed and hurried off.
As the throne room emptied, King Orion rubbed his forehead, the weight of the crown feeling heavier than ever. For a second he was scared too, he feared for the worst. The memory of the metal ship and the cold glass tank flashed in his mind. He lost his parents to the humans, watched them die in sacrifice and he couldn't bear to lose a daughter too. That's why he was harsh, his anger was just a mask for a terror that ran deep.
He just wants his children to understand how dangerous humans are. How cruel they're and merciless they are, so they would never have to see the world above the waves.