"I long for home..."

Shadow looked around the underground city, Vrael beside her like a body guard. It amazed her to see whole buildings built out of coral and such.

Posydon saw the look on Shadow's face and smiled. He too felt the amazing difference between the splendour of Aquaria and the Ground World above.

"I've been in dimensions on the otherend of the universe, but this is something else." Shadow said to Posydon with a smile.

"I thank you," he replied, returning the smile.

Shadow smiled slightly before concentrating on the task ahead.

Posydon followed the guards through the city's front gaits and along its streets. As the group aproached, people became scarce. As soon as they caught sight of him, they grabbed their children and fled into houses neerby. But Shadow and Vrael had the biggest effect on them. A few people spat at them, most of the older people looked horrifeid at the sight of the young Aquatian prince walking with Synari. Children stared with wide blue eyes at the new commers, before being whisked away by their frightened parents.

Shadow didn't seem bothered by this. Rulers seldom seem to be. Vrael looked at her, wondering if the demon crown also carried a personality transplant charm.

((lol))

Posydon looked around. he had spotted the Citadel's spires from outside the city and longed to see it again. As they aproached, he recognised the blue veins in the white marble of the walls and the silver coral designes that covered it, like it's inhabitants tattoos that their hands had flown to in a sign of protection from the new arrivals.

Shadow looked to Posydon for guidence as they approached the citadel. She was purposefully ignoring the inhabitants, glad of the head band. No Synari would ever wear it, but she didn't think they would know that.

Posydon put on a brave and determined face as a group of guards aproached. They drew their swords, throwing questioning lookes at the escorts of the Aquarian heir to the throne. The female leading Posydon, Shadow and Vrael stepped forwards and adressed the guard infront of her. Once again, she spoke in Aquarian. But this time, her words sounded like the crashinf of waves on rocks, instead of the soft lappinf of sea water on a sandy beach. She was angry alright.
Posydon turned to the half demons behind him.
"She is ordering him to let us pass. She's told him we want to see the King."

Vrael looked slightly confused as he tried to make head or tail of what the guards were saying. Shadow nodded, understanding a few words here and their of the Aquarians strange language.

After a few short and bristly retorts, the two Aquarian guards parted and the one barring the way stepped aside. the group walked past and Posydon whispered to Shadow;
"She threatened to cut his wages..."
With a smile, he followed the female into Aquaria's Citadel.

Shadow chuckles quietly.
"That's a good one." She said before the serious I-am-in-charge look reappeared on her face. Vrael walked a half pace behind the demoness, acknowledging that she was the ruler.

The trio were led into a huge hall, with colums frol the floor to the ceiling. The light seemed to come from floating globes, hanging aimlessly in the water surrouding them.

Shadow looked around, appreciating her surroundings. War never left much time to do things like that.

Posydon knew exactly where to go, but followed the guards into the throne room.

Shadow bowed to the King, as did Vrael.
"In honour of your nation, we come in peace. I am Shadow Roth."

Posydon did not bow. It was the last thing he wanted to do infront of his tyranical uncle.
The king sat on a throne of silver coral decorated with shells of different shades of blue. He too, like the inhabitants of the city, was covered in blue ink tattoos. One caught Posydons eye. It was in the shape of a trident, only it had only two spikes. He had seen it only once before. It had been the night his father the old king had died. It had been the moment when his uncle had stolen the throne from him. It was the symbol of treachery.
Posydon stepped forwards.
"King Odeon, I hope we are not disturbing you," he said with a hint of sarcasm.

Shadow and Vrael exchanged glances. They admired the young Aquarian's nerve.

The king's eye brows shot up in alarm and disbelief. He raised himself from his throne and stood tall, his light blue trousers covering his bear feet, and his night-blue wide-collared jacket, open at the front to reveal his tattooed chest, reached down to his ankles.
"How dare you return here?!" he spat at Posydon with as much venom imagiable. "How dare you return after being banished from the waters. How dare you bring Synari into our peaceful midst?!"

"Hey, less of the Synari here! I'm a demon, and so's my brother." Shadow said with a slightly growl of authority. Her normally violet eyes flickered red for a few moments. "And leave him alone. We're here for a diplomatic audience. No killing."

The King glared at the demons infront of him. Then his gaze whipped back to his nefiew. After a few awkward seconds, he shouted.
"Guards! Arrest them for trespassing and insolence towards the King of Aquaria!"
Posydon's eyes widened with horror and shock. He watched as guards advanced towards them, and saw the group of guards who had escorted them fall back, unable to help them. He had known his uncle to be mad, but he had not known to what extent.
"Do not fight," he told the siblings beside him, "We will work this out one way or an other."

Shadow was on the verge of fighting against the guards, but Vrael was calm, and spoke quietly to his sister in demonic, soothing her. She calmed down slightly, taking deep breaths. She said something back, sounding slightly hopeful, but Vrael nearly burst out laughing.

The Aquarian guards forced them through a door and down a flight of stairs. The trio emerged into a corridor lit only by one of the strange spheres. They were then pushed into a cell. Posydon looked around at his simple surroundings as he listened to the keys turning in the lock.

Shadow started to pace the cell, and Vrael started to meditate. Both were at opposite ends of the emotion scope. Shadow was muttering to herself in Demonic, trying to think of a way out.