Beckett

"Beckett, my boy, rumor has it that you've found your mate." My father called to me as I walked into the throne room.

"Rumor would be right," I replied, acknowledging my father before looking around to see if my mother was anywhere in sight, but of course, she wasn't; she was more than likely out shopping with the twins.

My mother couldn't stand being around my father and usually avoided him. My parents were not a love match but a match of convenience instead. When Lilith killed Parenthenope, Poseidon swore never to let something so frail as love get in his way again. According to legends, my father was never the same. The day Parenthenope died, my father brewed a storm in the ocean, one so strong that it caused an iceberg to appear out of nowhere in what the humans named the North Atlantic Ocean, causing the unsinkable ship, the Titanic to sink. It was chaos like no one had seen before. The sirens who mourned their beloved Parenthenope's death wouldn't help the sinking ship; they sat there and watched as over 1,500 humans died that day, sinking into the ocean's abyss. The remaining passengers only survived due to having a sliver of divine power in them.

While my father did nothing to save the remaining survivors who would have died if they stayed in the freezing waters much longer, my mother, Amphitrite, coxed the ocean waves to settle, using just a bit of magic to speed the rescue boats through the ocean. It was at that moment that the council decided my mother would be the only one able to soothe Poseidon's rage, so they made an ultimatum either Poseidon would marry my mother on the next full moon when the ocean tides were the highest, making their union

Of course, Poseidon chose to marry my mother, but he ignored her as his wife for just short of a century. Amphitrite had hoped in the beginning that Poseidon could learn to love her like he did Parenthope, but soon discovered that was impossible when instead of taking his wife to bed, my father slept with every female siren that resided in the ocean waters. It wasn't until my father needed a legitimate heir to the throne that he started paying attention to Amphitrite, but it was too late. She'd already shut her heart off to him. His heirs, myself, and my sisters, should something happen to me, were only conceived out of obligation to the kingdom. The house I grew up in was never what one would call home; it was void of love and full of hatred and loathing instead.

According to both my father and mother, the world was black and white; there was nothing else to see except for what was right in front of you. My mother raised my sisters and me to hate sirens, stating they were wicked women who lured men to their death, but just their song; their powers so strong they could enchant a God. My father taught us that every demon was filth and deserved to die and that any child of or descendant of Loki was beneath us; he commanded that we were never to mingle with a Loki type.

It wasn't until that first camping trip where I'd met the other heirs, my cousins, that I started to learn what love and devotion were. Every time I met with my cousins, which was once a year before school started, they'd make me feel safe and wanted. I'd finally felt where I belonged. 

That is until Katrina came into our lives, her presence changing everything. Katrina brought color to my life; she taught me that the world wasn't just black, white, or grey. There was so much more to it. Little by little, Katrina was beginning to break down the years of hatred instilled in me by my parents, but it was hard to let go of the cynicism I felt toward Demons and Loki's descendants. For years I'd strived to be the best heir my father could hope for to gain his love and approval. I followed his every move, felt every bit of hatred he felt, but still, that hadn't been enough. SHE IGNORED IT when I'd tried to force that same way of thinking onto Katrina. Her heart was pure, and I realized that if I continued down this path, I would lose my mate like my father lost his second chance at love. Hence, I've come here where I don't want to be.

"So, where is she? This mystical being, heritage unknown, the woman whose ensnared the heart of not one, but all four princes of the Heavenly kingdom?" My father asked, bitterness dropping with each word.

"Katrina, my fated mate, is at school currently. She has some studies she needs to catch up on. I, however, have questions that I need answering." I replied, letting my godly aura show through.

Poseidon was one of the original gods, born from Cronus, who Jehovah created, so his power should automatically be more substantial than mine, but my mother, was the daughter of Nereus and Doris, who were born from the Earth and the Sea; making my power automatically stronger than my fathers. I hadn't tried to force him from the throne yet because I hadn't felt ready to take over the kingdom, but I would force him to hand over the title for Katrina. Being King of the Sea Kingdom would allow me to join the council during Katrina's interrogation and vote on what would happen to her if the council saw her as unfit. The decision for her punishment needs to be unanimous.

"Oh?" Interest peaking in his eye, my father asked, "And what might that be, son?"

"What does the council want with my mate? Why have they called her forward for a meeting?" I ask, reigning my aura back a little when I notice the sweat on my father's face.

" A rumor that's been going around your school has piqued the interest of Zeus and my other brothers as well. Hades has already met your mate and sent word to the others, myself included, that he finds your mate oddly suspicious. He says she has an angel-given gift, but it's like he can see the depths of Hell in her eyes? You wouldn't know why that is, would you boy?"

I ground my teeth, trying to hold back any emotion I was feeling. I couldn't risk my father thinking they were actually onto something. "I have no idea why Hades would say such a thing; perhaps it's because he's annoyed that now that Samael's mate has been found, the kingdoms will be merged once again. I know how you older males are fond of having separate kingdoms." I reply, turning the attention back to Hades and off of Katrina for the time being.

"Tell me more about your mate, son," My father states, "It isn't fair that Hades has gotten to meet her and I haven't yet." He pouts.

Sometimes my father reminds me of an oversized toddler, had his life been so sheltered until he lost Parenthenope? "Katrina..." I start letting out a heavy sigh, thoughts of my mate causing my body to tingle like she was touching me, "She's incredible. She harnesses each of our powers plus more. She's the woman the prophecy speaks of, who'll save the earth from mass destruction."

"You seem so sure of yourself, son? How is it that after everything I've told you of my past, you can still rely on one woman for your entire future?"

"Because that woman," I growl out, "Is my future. She is my fated mate, and not only will I protect her with my life, but so will her other mates."

"So, did you want to challenge me for my seat on the throne?" My father asks while sauntering over to me. "I'd be happy to let you have it; know that if you suddenly decide to take over, that won't look good for your mate. The others will know that you're trying to hide something."

"What would you suggest I do? Is there any way information you can give me?" I reply, trying not to sound too eager.

"Bring the girl here; let me see her; then, I will help you." He replies, walking past me and out the door. His silent way of dismissing me.

There was no way in Hell that I would bring Katrina to meet my father. His eyes shifted to a dark, almost black blue when he mentioned Hades stating Katrina had a darkness in her; I knew he would stop at nothing to see what secrets she held. Katrina wouldn't be safe in the sea kingdom until I took over, and now that my father had indirectly threatened me, I couldn't do that either. I was determined not to leave the sea kingdom empty-handed; there had to be something here that would help Katrina; even if I couldn't provide her with information about the council meeting, maybe I could find something that would help her control or glamour her dark side.

As I was walking to my room, giving myself a headache as I raced through my mind, I stopped to look at a picture on the wall that I'd seen from my peripheral.

The picture was of a beautiful mermaid. She had long ruby red hair and an emerald green tail, her look making her appear royal. But I knew better; this enchantress was my mother's aunt Ursula. Ursula was determined by my father to be a sea witch, and he imprisoned her in the depths of the Bermuda Triangle. Her only hope for freedom was if my father or one of his heirs let her out. My mother was furious with my father for imprisoning her sister, so she magically attached the picture of her sister to the hall leading to the throne room, stating that whoever came to visit Poseidon would know that he betrayed those he cared about. I wasn't sure if Ursula was a sea witch or not, but I knew she was my last hope in helping Katrina, so I made up my mind. Instead of going to my room, I turned last minute instead, heading out of the castle and making my way to the Atlantic Ocean where the Bermuda Triangle resided.