Page 40 of Devastation
Marcina would be safe and grow into her own in time, but the loss of her parents would deeply mark her.
Hate swirled in Poseidon as he regarded Siera. She was truly disturbed and demented. He wondered when it occurred.
Poseidon hadn’t visited for a while, and his visits were always brief, but how could he have missed this? It had not changed overnight. And when had she decided she was his mate, his equal? Poseidon wanted answers. This would not be allowed to happen again.
Chapter Nine.
Willow.
She was sitting on a throne made of gold, silver, and coral. Her, Willow King, sat on a throne in Atlantis. She was ready to pass judgement on those who, a day ago, had faced her across a seabed and were prepared to kill her.
Sea Dragons guarded the Atlanteans carefully. Holy crap, Sea Dragons, mermen, and Atlanteans. Willow was facing mystical creatures who, by rights, should only exist in stories and books.
But there they were, and Poseidon the wretch had determined she deal with this mess. His anger, affront, and burning desire for revenge filtered through the water, keeping the Atlanteans subdued.
Those who protected the city were disarmed. They were under the watchful eye of the Sea Dragons—and other creatures Poseidon had called on to patrol Atlantis. Willow’s own court was at the palace with her. Segory and Luna were outside, peering in through two balconies that led to where Willow was presently sitting.
Everything about the Great Hall was elegance. The walls were built of a crystalised substance which gleamed softly. The chairs were delicate, and tapestries hung on the walls. There were side tables with priceless artefacts, and the main floor held a lot of space.
The throne sat on a three-step dais, requiring everybody to look up at her. Siera’s contempt for Willow’s people made her uncomfortable. She clearly thought of herself above everyone.
In front of Willow ranged the first lot of foot soldiers. Over two thousand of them waited for her judgement. Willow wished to hide but couldn’t; duty called. She’d demanded the guilty and only the guilty be punished. If she baulked now, Poseidon may send even the innocents to the surface, which was not deserved.
The first person to be judged was General Rychill.
He floated before her in his merman shape, his face impassive, and Willow found she didn’t like that. She wasn’t skilled at reading the merpeople’s expressions.
“Shift to your other form, please,” Willow asked.
“This one disturbs you?” General Rychill inquired.
“No. Rychill, I am not familiar with your race. I can’t read your faces or body language. Whereas I understand them on a human-looking face,” Willow explained.
“You offered an explanation and a request. Not an order or demand. I shall acquiesce,” Rychill said, his voice carrying to his kind.
There was a restless movement as Rychill changed shape. Willow gently reached out, unsure of what she was doing but trusting the surrounding water.
“What were your feelings on enslaving the Sea Dragons? Don’t answer, just feel,” Willow asked. Immediately, disgust, despair, shame, and dishonour returned to her from the sea.
“And Siera?”
The feeling of insanity floated towards her, followed by disagreement, a sense of abandonment and worry. Fear followed right after.
“Your city?”
Rychill’s desire to protect Atlantis and its people nearly overwhelmed her. She swapped glances with Poseidon, who said nothing as he stood by the throne. They’d argued over who’d sit in it until he’d picked her up and dumped her in it, ending the argument quickly.
“Rychill is innocent. Come here, please, Rychill, and bring a chair,” Willow asked.
Poseidon cocked his head. She sensed him wondering what she was up to.
“Your people will accept the judgement and my position with you by my side. And when I leave, you’ll rule. I do not wish any part of this,” Willow said, and both male’s jaws dropped open.
“What?” Poseidon exclaimed.
“I beg your pardon?” Rychill gasped.
“I don’t want to rule Atlantis. Hell, I hate doing this, but it’ll save lives. Siera was batshit crazy. I believe we can all agree. Let’s finish this and appoint Rychill as the new ruler. He really does care about the people,” Willow explained as both men shook their heads.