THE WRATH OF THE SEVEN SEAS

C6 A VISITOR FROM THE SEA

Anthony held on to Logan as they both struggled in the water clasping their tails together in heavy thud. Anthony didn't mind if killing his best friend will prevent Ezra from knowing his hide out.

When the war broke out between the seven seas, Logan had willingly surrendered to Ezra despite the fact that Leo begged him to leave the kingdom with him to the surface. Now, it seems Ezra is trying to get his flesh back by using his friend against him.

King Asher was one of the seven kings of the sea and his only heir is Asher Logan who happened to be Anthony's best friend. King Asher and king Mateo who is Leo's father were the most powerful king of the seven seas and best of friends. Right before the war broke out, Ezra had visited the two kings to form an alliance with him to fight against the other four kingdoms. King Asher and Mateo had laughed him off because they believe Ezra is the least of all the seven kings in the seven kingdoms.

Ezra was very angry to realised that the two powerful kings stood up against him. Meanwhile, to accomplish his mission, he decided to give out the hand of his only daughter, Amelia to King Asher's son Logan when he knew fully well that Amelia was in love with Leo instead. He wanted the fight to break up between the princes and then affect their fathers, only then can he strike. This justified the disagreement that later erupted between the two friends. Seeing the weaknesses of the two kings, Ezra striked them down and Amelia returned to the surface with Anthony.

Though, Anthony had begged Logan to forget their differences and follow them to escape Ezra, he had solely refused the offer. Nothing was heard eversince their departure to the surface until yesterday when Gwendolyn claimed to see them up the surface.

Earlier today, Anthony was sitting in the house trying to focus and think of the possibility that Ezra might be the one on their tail. He had made sure he get Bouler to safety. The disagreement that usually erupt between the girls is also of a major concern to him. But how is he to stop it when too many things are all at stake at the same time?

He had watched the tumbling of the sea from where he sat and he knew they were coming whatever they were. He stood up and tried to imagine if that was a massive wave or just a little crawling mermaid that has come to survey the world on the surface. Sooner did he realised who it was as from afar, he watched the mermaid dived up and down in the deep sea.

"Logan." He murmured.

Without thinking twice, he headed for the sea in preparedness for whatever is about to bestow the human world. He didn't wait to be summoned as he jumped into the sea, first time since Amelia's death. He swim deep down to meet his long awaited friend not with honor but with whatsoever the encounter is about to bring with it.

Seeing Anthony from afar, Logan charged. He had always believed that Leo betrayed him as a friend and the whole sea as a king. He believed he shouldn't have ran away from the war. He should have stayed and fight it out like he had did. He believed only coward run away from war. Now, he deemed his friend weak and such king with a sign of indignity dangling on his neck. He had spent years visiting each seas' surface maybe he will see any of his tracks but he had realised soon enough that his friend had left with no trace until yesterday when Gwendolyn traced Colton, Axel and Silas down to the river. Somehow he knew Leo will be there somewhere. So, he had come for him after shutting the boys up never to tell anyone of their encounter with any mermaid on the surface because he knew if they did and it got to Ezra's hearings, he will not hesitate to send his army of men to the surface just to find him, Leo whom he had been looking for eversince he escaped with Amelia to the surface.

They charged forward at each other on high pace and the fight broke out and Logan found his once strong and powerful friend was nothing but a shadow of what he used to be. They fought tirelessly for minutes. When Leo realised he is no match for Logan, he tried to trick him out of the sea. No mermaid with tail will ever stay ten minutes alive on the surface. His trick worked. Unexpectedly, Leo retreated back to the surface and Logan charged after him in hot pursuit. By the time Logan tried to realise what he was doing, he had already been caught by the net. So, Anthony dragged him inside his house.

"What are you doing here Logan?" He asked after making sure that he is nowhere near water in the house to which he can seek refuge.

"And what do you think you're doing Leo? Trying out another act of cowardice like you did some years back. You should have killed me in the water if you dare. At least, it will save me from this shameful death." Logan bawled.

"It doesn't take me anything to make you dry out here Logan. You won't last five minutes." Leo said.

Logan tried to move, but his tail keep on slipping him off.

"Let's fight man to man you coward!" Logan challenged.

"As you can see that I'm weak. Too weak to fight you Logan. So don't let us wait too long for unnecessary discussion that wouldn't fetch us anything. Did Ezra send you here?" He asked.

"You've been hiding for the past half of your life Leo. I have no answer to whatsoever question you might still be willing to ask me." Logan said panting heavily.

"Don't be so obdurate dear friend. Your minutes is counting."

"I will rather die Leo than fall to your feet."

"I am not asking you to fall to my feet Logan. You know what I'm asking and it will be of good benefit for both of us if you talk now."

"I am not giving you any benefit Leo. Not for once."

Leo looked on for some minutes. With the pace they are going with the scenario, Logan will probably not talk. And worst still,Ezra's army might already be on their way to him. He stood up and extracted a bowl of water. He poured it all on him. Before he could let go of the bowl, Logan charged fiercely. A huge fight erupted afterwards and the house was scattered and some things, destroyed.

"Stop fighting it Logan. You won't survive it." Leo barked angrily.

Of course, Logan knew he wouldn't survive it if he continue, but he is bent on fighting till his last breath. When he couldn't fight very well anymore, he relented. Quickly, Leo made for the bath tub and carried Logan there. He dived him inside and opened the shower on him. Gradually, Logan began to regain consciousness enough to hear Leo speak.

"I know why you are angry Logan. But I don't think it all worth it now. Amelia is gone and I am no longer the Leo you knew and I will never be."

"You are never for once a hero." Logan speaks weekly

"Probably."

"And you don't understand how I feel about you."

"Trust me I understand Logan. My reaction might just be against my intention. This is not what we are made of." Leo explained.

"You shouldn't have ran away Leo."

"I can't stand to walk in Ezra's stead. Not after watching him killed my father."

"He killed my father too Leo. Ezra killed my father and you ran away with his child." Logan bawled regaining his strength.

"Some things are meant to be done Logan. And some were meant to leave unanswered to. I have to do what I did."

"Of course you have. I'm sure your people won't hesitate to lynch you to death upon seeing you now. Do you know the havoc Ezra had caused those people in your absence? Do you know how many years they have travelled round the seven seas surface just to have a bit of you? You neglected those people Leo. And you let Ezra vent his anger on them. You let them get punished for what you did. They will never forgive you." Logan bellowed angrily.

"What did you think my presence would have caused them? I wouldn't have accepted Ezra's allegiance as you have done. I would have been better off dead."

"And you think I swear allegiance to Ezra? I have my own way of protecting my people away from Ezra's wrath and they really appreciate it. At least, I didn't desert them as you have done."

"So, you think you can go on like that Logan? Protecting your people from Ezra's menace ruling? That is going to end one day. One of your people is going to betray you."

"And how do you suggest they betray me?"

"By probably telling you you are not good enough. They might even accused you of conspiring with Ezra for no good reason."

"My people will never do that."

"They will Logan. That's how it worked in the sea and you know it. The people are never satisfied. Never. You can't run away from reality for so long Logan." Leo explained bitterly as he watched his old friend unsettled manner in the bath tub.

"Ezra searched everywhere for you." Logan said ignoring what he said last.

"I bet he will."

"He still have his men on your tail."

"Aren't you working for him?"

"If I am, you'll probably be dead by now."

"Of course I know. How is the sea?"

"What do you expect from a reign such as that of Ezra?"

"I presumed worst. Aren't you interested in what had happened to Amelia?"

"No." Logan snapped.

"She had two kids for me." Leo confirmed.

"They told me. Those kids saw one."

"I never allow them into the sea."

"You can't keep the sea away from them for so long Leo."

"Of course I know. But at least not now."

"I had a daughter too. Shortly after the war, Luna gave birth to a girl and Ezra made me marry the girl." Logan explained.

"Where is she?"

"She is gone. After giving birth to our child Emmett. She is too young for the marriage. Ezra brought the baby out of the womb with help of the sea trident."

"How is the baby now?"

"Ezra never let me get close to her. She always sit beside him on the throne."

"May her soul rest in peace." Leo prayed.

For minutes, they didn't talk. Just then, Logan broke the silence.

"I need to get going Leo before Ezra sent his men out to start looking for me."

"Of course you need to get going."

"My regards to your daughters. I will come visiting some other day."

Logan swim through the earth down to the sea with Leo closely following behind. They both swim down to the sea. So, when they were deep enough, Logan faced him.

"I will keep an eye on everything and will inform you of every step." Logan promised.

"I will really appreciate that dear friend."

"Of course."

"My regards to the Ancient Guard."

"He is looking forward to seeing you again Leo."

"I will surely fulfil my promise to him." Leo said as he remembered his promise to visit again to the Ancient Guard when he was escaping to the earth with Amelia.

"He really tried to hold onto his stand that he never see you cross out of the sea when Ezra came asking. But I knew instantly that he was lying."

"Why don't you tell Ezra then?"

"Judging by what you did, I really wanted to but the old man is a friend of ours. I can't bear to lose him too. So, I had to keep mute." Logan highlighted.

"I owe the old man quite much." Leo affirmed.

Then, he watched his friend leave before leaving for the surface. As he came out of the sea, he came face to face to his two daughters who had been waiting by the sea for the past twenty minutes in school uniform.

"Don't tell me you broke your own rule Leo." Jocelyn accused remembering their father's note of warning to them that nobody must go into the sea no matter the circumstances.

"Nobody is breaking any rules Jocelyn." Anthony said walking out of the sea.

"So, are you telling us indirectly that you're not coming from the sea now?"

"I didn't say that too neither." Anthony said putting his hands on the shoulder of both of them which led him to be at the middle while directing the girls towards home.

"Can you explain what just happened here father?" Gwendolyn asked as they stepped inside the house.

"I had a little fight with an old friend. " Anthony said.

"An old friend from the sea?" Jocelyn asked.

"Yes, from the sea."

"Was it......... Logan?" Jocelyn asked and Anthony seems shocked because he hadn't talked to them concerning anything about the sea.

"Who is Logan?" He asked instead of answering.

"I've heard mother murmured that name before." She said as they bent to arrange the scattered house after dropping their bags.

"What do you know about Logan?" Leo asked.

"Nothing much other than he is a good friend of yours." Jocelyn said.

"I have never heard Mum talked about it before." Gwendolyn said.

"But she did." Jocelyn defended.

"It's true. Logan is an old friend of mine." Anthony ascertained.

"Why did he visit? What did he want? And why did you scattered the whole house this much?" Gwendolyn queried.

"You really don't have an idea how old friends meet after a long time?" Anthony asked teasingly.

"We never had an old friend." Jocelyn pointed out.

"I have to keep the reason behind his visitation away from you for now."

"Did he want us back down there?" Gwendolyn asked.

"The only thing in the sea for you both is death. You can't make that sacrifice. Nothing is worth it." Anthony warned.

"Why will they want us dead?" Jocelyn asked.

"Who knows? It might be because you are not totally one of them." Anthony highlighted.

"We are actually not human too." Jocelyn puts in.

"Certainly not." Anthony answered.

For some minutes, none of them talk as they were busy arranging the house.

"Dad?!" Gwendolyn suddenly called.

"Yes? Don't ask me anything about the sea for now lady."

"I'm not asking you anything pertaining to that."

"So what?"

"You are aging and you are working yourself out." She said.

"I know. My responsibility is mainly to see to your affair."

"Don't you think that is taking too much away from you?"

"That is how it is meant to be Gwendolyn."

"You really don't have much time for yourself."

"What are you dragging at young lady?" Anthony asked suspiciously.

"What I'm saying is that we have concluded to....."

"You have, not we have." Jocelyn cuts in and Gwendolyn eyed her stupidly.

"I have concluded to start working just to help you out with some things."

"If I had wanted you to work for me, I wouldn't gave taken you to any school. You are both my top priority. The only way you can pay me back is to face your studies."

"I didn't mean to stop schooling. I will still be going to school. Just wanted to help."

Anthony dropped the broom and face Gwendolyn squarely.

"I don't need your help young lady."

"You don't need to be getting rid of us always Leo. If we proposed to you, it means we really value what you've been doing for us as a father. Gwendolyn wants to help." Jocelyn added.

"You don't give me any chance to let my trust hold firmly in either of you. I have been having my doubt lately that both of you were up to something."

"If we are ever up to something Leo, it is meant to help or to protect you. We can never do anything to hurt you."

"My words are final Jocelyn. You are not doing any job." Anthony remained adamant.

"So you really think you can just talk and we accept just like that? It's not done that way Prince Of The Sea. You have to at least sought our opinion for once. We are no longer kids to be showed which way to go, which food to eat, where to be and what not to do and the kind of friends to make. We are past that Leo. I was wondering when you're going to realise that." Jocelyn fired angrily.

"And what are you to decide for me if to sought your opinion out or not to? You are my children and I think I deserve better than respect from you." Anthony said angrily.

"Good." Jocelyn answered as she made for her room. She opened the door, entered and shut it angrily.

Gwendolyn didn't bother to say anything in furtherance as it might aggravate Anthony's anger. Besides, Jocelyn had used her angry nature to disrupt everything. What is there to say again? And what more to persuade?

So, she go on cleaning as silent as she can until the knock came. Both father and daughter stood rigid staring at each other as if to say

"You go first."

They had never for once had a visitor let alone having someone knocking at their door. Who could that have been?

Anthony moved to the door and gently opened it. A lady peeped through from the outside.

"Please, I just need a cup of water and a hot bath." She pleaded.

Before Anthony could declined, Gwendolyn walked to the door to take a glimpse at her.

"We can't let her in Gwendolyn." Anthony whispered.

"Why? She is just a child. Someone's child. Can't you see? What if I was the one out there? Judging by her appearance she is more of my age. Let's help her." Gwendolyn muttered.

"I have a bad feeling for this Gwendolyn."

"Nope. Nothing bad comes with helping. At least we are doing her a favour."

"What if she didn't see it that way?"

"Stop thinking negatively father. Let's always assume the best part of a situation."

"Nevertheless, we still have to be careful."

After much persuasion, Anthony allowed her in placing her under strong surveillance.

"What if she is a cop? What if they had found out about them from Logan and tried sending a girl to come and check?" These and many more were the questions ravaging in his mind.

"What is your name if I may ask?" Gwendolyn asked as the lady finished with the hot bath.

"Charleigh." She answered.