Loving Atlantis

C H A P T E R 5 — Dae.

I didn’t care about the noise that it made when I slammed the doors to my chambers shut, causing them to rattle against the hinges. Cire sat upright in bed in an instant, taking in the furious state of my appearance. She didn’t immediately start speaking, instead, allowing her eyes to run over our surroundings before she settled back against the headboard. 

     “Do I take it that dinner with King Kal didn’t go as well as it was supposed to?” 

I could do nothing more than to let out a humourless laugh, feeling like saying that was so much of an understatement. I could tell that she was getting frustrated by the fact that I wasn’t making an attempt to communicate with her by the way that her lips were thinning. I decided to do the adult thing and voice my frustrations to her, fully prepared to have her react in the very same way that I had, which was with anger. 

     “You have absolutely no idea. We didn’t even get the change to get to dinner. Your beloved sister made sure of that.” 

Just as I had been expecting, her face paled, and I could do nothing other than to watch as it forced its way into her fish-like features. 

     “And what do you mean by that? My loving sister? Are you trying to make a joke of some sorts?” 

I knew that I was going to have to spell it out for her—that much was clear to me already. The closest thing that she had to a sister was Anoa. What more could she possible want me to say, want me to describe her? 

     “Anoa is back. I’m not sure how long she’s been back but it does not change the fact that she’s back. Along with a claim to the throne that you want.” 

And just like that, within the time frame of a split second, she was out of the bed, walking towards me with fury that I was sure replicated mine. Something was starting to throb in my temples, warning me against the inevitable headache that was bound to come, that would come to rest behind my temples. 

I wasn’t sure whether it was to blame on the approaching headache, or on the dim light that was being projected by the candles that had been positions in various different places around the room, but her features suddenly seemed a lot more prominent than it had been before. 

If I had to go ahead an point out the differences between the two sisters, it would definitely be that Anoa was the lovely sister. She had always been so different in comparison to any other Atlantian that I had come across. Her hair was a shade of dark—something that was uncommon amongst the females of our species, and to top it off, it was short. 

No female had short hair. Not in Atlantis. There was a part of me that couldn't deny the fact that the years away had done her good. 

She was no longer the bony teenager of sixteen when she left. From what I can remember, she seemed a lot taller and had picked up a good amount of weight. Cire on the other hand had remained as she had always been, with her paper thin lips and round eyes. 

I suddenly realised that she was talking and I did my best to focus on her words, as I knew she would start an argument if she realised I wasn't paying attention. 

     "...mother tell me? She hates her as much as I do!"

I realised that she probably wanted to know why she hadn't been told about the return of the runaway princess. Something that all Atlantians had a right to know. I didn't bother to correct her and remind her that her mother hated her and just let out a careless shrug.

     "King Kak made the announcement this evening. The news is bound to spread like wildfire. I suggest you go to bed so that you're well rested for your trip to Northern Atlantis tomorrow." 

She frowned for a moment before she realised that I meant we were to travel back there tomorrow in order to discuss what was to happen.