The clean up was a group effort, the citizens of the kingdom burying the dead, repairs done by the fellow craftsmen.

While sadness was something that hung in the air, there was also a sense of relief and joy. Peace had been restored, along with the true queen and the sense of protection enveloping the kingdom with the presence of the host.

Or perhaps it was because a wedding was taking place.

"Morgan!" Atlantis said, grabbing his arm, being extra careful with Morgan's healing hands, "The wedding is about to start and we have yet to take out places in the royal's box!"

Morgan giggled and followed, the soft jingle of jewelry clanging against his skin. His eyes fell on Atlantis's bright red hair, a golden circlet resting above his brow, coupled by the golden hoops on his earlobes. Thick braids fell about his pale shoulders, showing off the black tattoo on his arm.

Morgan watched in awe as he and Atlantis entered the throne room that had been expanded. Columns rose from the floor it's sharp ridges decorated with sea flowers, giving it a less frightening appearance as it supported the rather high ceiling.

Crowds surrounded a particular pillar, the top never quite reaching the cieling. Geometric designs covered the amber stone, rising in a spiral towrads the top of the column.

"Will it be the same as the Emerald ritual?" Atlantis murmured, taking his place in the Royal's box, his golden eyes glowing against the dull lighting of the room.

Morgan shook his head, taking his place next to the Emerlad prince, their fingers intertwined with one another, "The Amber ritual is different than the Emerald. The Emerald focused on fertility, the possibilty of having a child multplied tenfold. A gift every mermaid desires because of the diffulty the mers have in bearing children. However, the Amber is different. With Aviv being the god of love and lust, the ritual provides the ability to find one's true love, a love so pure, nothing can break it. Perhaps the only catch is, if everyone is present during the ceremony and if the god deems them worthy."

Atlantis arched a brow, a smirk playing across his lips, "Do you think we would need to take part in the ritual?"

Morgan chuckled and pressed his lips against Atlantis's pale cheek, "I think we've already found it." The red haired prince grinned, turning his head just a bit to take Morgan's lips against his own, a hands tugging at Morgan's dark hair. He moaned aginst his lover's lips, grazing his teeth against the soft flesh. "Morgan," Atlantis murmured as they pulled away, "Marr-"

"Pardon me?"

Their heads whirled, thier eyes falling upon a male mer, his bright blue eyes showing his rather uncomfortable state at their public display of affection, "Sorry to inturrupt but is this the Royal's box?"

Morgans brows rose, his eyes scanning the young mer. Long black hair floated around the male, the bangs held back by a crown made of bright blue stone, the color matching the mer's eyes. Pale skin stetched over his slender form, the indentations of hand crafted tattoos bringing out the ridges of well formed muscles.

"It is," Morgan said, turing his body away from a rather silent Atlantis and towards the merman, "Who might you be?"

The merman placed a fist over his chest, tilting his head forward before looking at Morgan, "I am High Prince Zeref, son of Seraphine, Queen of the Sapphire Kingdom."

Morgan arched a brow at Zeref's rather formal greeting, "I am Morgan, Witch from the Emerald Kingdom."

"And I am Atlantis, Prince of the Emerald Kingdom," Atlantis interjected with a rather sharp tone.

"Atlantis!" Morgan hissed, "Don't be so harsh!"

Atlantis frowned, "I see," he murmured, "I will be right back." Morgan watched in dismay as Atlantis rose from his seat, brushing past Elric and Roni who were making their way towards their seats behind his own.

"Why does Lord Atlantis seem so upset?" Roni said, worry in his hazel eyes.

Morgan shrugged. He had no real answer as to Atlantis's odd behavior. He turned to Zeref, "So what brings you here?"

Zeref gave a shy smile, "Mother insisted I come so I could find my wife."

Morgan chuckled, "It doesn't have to be a mermaid."

Zeref shook his head, a frown on his slender features, "Mother wants an heir."

"The ceremony is starting," Elric intercepted in a low voice just as the lights from the grand room dimmed, the amber column becoming the only object that glowed with it's own light.

The creak of doors opening echoed through the room, the soft gasps of the crowd following the sound. Morgan watched as the Amber Queen entered with her head held high, long slender neck displaying the beautiful array of jewels that spread down her neck, just barely covering her bountiful chest, a single string of diamonds hovering over her belly button. A amber cape billowed behind her, along with her golden hair that had also been adored with amber stones.

Another set of doors opened, this time, the host himself passing through the doors to join Queen Ava. Jonas's hair had been pulled away from his face into seven braids that framed his large form. Golden armor adorned his muscular form, a cape clasped on his back, his signature blades resting on each side of his hips. Jonas slipped his golden cuffed arm into Ava's, a smile on his lips, love clearly evident in his green eyes.

A quiet moment was shared between the two before they made their way towards the column. Ava's royal advisor stood to the side, a single blade resting on a plush pillow.

"By the power invested in me by the oath I have made," Fro said, the acoustics of the room echoing his voice, "I present Jonas, host of our Guardian God, Aviv and Ava, Queen of the Amber Kingdom." Fro picked up the blade, "Extend your hands."

The pair extended their hands, palms faced upwards. It was quick, the sharp edge of the blade piercing their skin, a silky ribbon of blood coming from their palms. Neither one said a word as they passed by Fro, placing their palms against the column, blood quickly traveling throughout the geometric indentations. They pulled their hands away and faced the crowd.

"From this day on," Fro said, "I pronounce them mated!"

A loud cheer echoed, just as the blood began glow a deep shade of red, shifting into orange and then a hot shade of yellow. It accumulated at the tip of the column, the small ball of blood growing and expanding, pulsing as it grew. It glowed brightly, erasing the darkness from the room.

"By gods," Zeref gasped.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" Elric whispered behind him.

"So pretty," Roni murmured.

Morgan felt tears prick the corner of his eyes, his heart swelling inside his chest, "It is," he whispered. Instinctively he reached out for Atlantis's hand but the seat next to him was cold and empty. His heart fell, his eyes searching for his beloved prince, but he was gone.

A gasp went through the crowd as the ball burst into tiny fragments of light, each one falling towards the audience.

Morgan could only watch. Watch as the mers' eyes widened, finding the gazes of their soulmates, arms reaching out for the ones they would love forever. He waited for his own but he didn't appear. Isolated, Morgan rose from his chair, ignoring the shy kiss Roni planted on Elric's cheek or the crestfallen look the Sapphire prince had on on his pretty features. A tell tale sign that Aviv had not taken mercy on the young man.

"Are you okay?" A familiar voice said. Morgan glanced upwards, the eerie glow of Atlantis's golden eyes snagging Morgan's attention. His lips opened but nothing came out. Was Atlantis angry with him?

"You missed the ceremony," Morgan noted, his fingers nervously twirling the ring on his thumb.

"I did," the prince stated, the small glint in his eyes betraying his serious posture.

He was teasing him.

Morgan laughed, slipping his arms around Atlantis's neck, pressing his lips against his.

"Gods I love you," Atlantis murmured against his lips, "And I don't need magic to tell me that you're my true love."

Morgan felt blood rush towards his cheeks, "Oh Atlantis," he whispered. Neither of them said a word, and perhaps it was by a mutual agreement that they headed towards their private quarters where they proceeded to make love.

Over and over again.

*********

Jonas smiled.

Never had he felt more whole. He had spent his younger years serving the CIA and he always managed to feel as if he were missing something. He always thought it was a mission that he needed to fulfill, or a kill that he forgot to count. Yet, this morning he woke up to most beautiful view he had ever seen in his short life.

Blonde tendrils floated about her pretty features, blonde lashes brushing against her cheek. Silky bed sheets covering her voluptuous figure, a perfect form in which he had the pleasure to explore all over again, every dip and curve committed to memory. And it wasn't just her beautiful appearance that captured his attention but her true self that she had exposed so vulnerably as they made love.

Ava stirred in his arms, her nose nuzzling against his neck, "Good morning my queen," Jonas murmured, kissing her forehead.

A smile stretched over her lips, "Good morning my king," she whispered, a glint shining in her hazel gaze. Jonas grinned, pressing his lips against her delectable ones just as Ava's leg draped over his lower half, her arousal evident.

A low groan left his throat, "Jesus, you're insatiable."

Ava's brows furrowed in confusion, "Who is Jesus?"

Jonas chuckled, "No on-"

"King Jonas, Queen Ava?" A timid voice said from the other side of the amber doors.

Ava quickly turned, reaching for a robe that clung to the hook beside her bed, "Come in Mara."

Mara entered, her childlike features peeking through a crack in the door, "A merman named Elric requests your Majesty's presence along with Lord Morgan and Prince Atlantis."

Jonas frowned. What was so important that Elric needed to talk to him so early in the morning?

"We'll be right there," Ava said, rising from the bed as she made her way towards what Jonas could guess as a closet. The little mermaid left, closing the door behind her, a cue for Jonas to leave the bed without scaring the young girl.

"Do you think Roni found someone from last nights ritual?" Jonas said when he entered Ava's closet as he adjusted a pair of gold armbands on his biceps and a collar over his neck that look strangely like an Egyptian necklace.

Ava huffed, "I hope he didn't. I don't think I'm ready to give him up yet, even more to a stranger I don't know." Jonas laughed and shook his head as he clasped hire fabric over Ava's slender shoulders before leaving and heading towards the throne room. "But if he did," she murmured, "I'm going to bash their skull in."

"Who's skull are you going to bash?" Morgan said, his hands clasped with Atlantis.

Jonas grinned, "Who ever had the unfortunate fate in becoming Roni's true love."

Morgan giggled and smirked, "Oh I do pity the poor merman."

"Your Royal Majesties!" Elric said, quickly standing from his chair in the throne room.

Jonas smiled, "You know Elric, Jonas will do just find. The title of royalty seems too much for me right now."

Elric nodded, his dark eyes growing serious, "There is something I must tell you but I request we go to a more private room." They frowned, but obliged to the odd statement, with Ava guiding the group to a room that seemed to be reinforced with stronger walls, a single window providing a breath taking view of the kingdom below.

"Speak your mind," Ava stated when she took her seat in the corner of the small room with Jonas standing behind her while Morgan and Atlantis took a love seat, their own eyes showing their worry.

Elric took a deep breath, nervously twiddling his fingers, "I want to tell you about my betrayal to the Onyx King."

Jonas frowned but he said nothing. He remembered Aviv briefly mentioning about Elric's dark past but Jonas preferred to hear it straight from the horse's mouth.

"Go on," Morgan urged.

Elric swallowed, "Many centuries ago, my brother Merlin and eye left the palace walls to collect herbs for our potions. The day was calm and the waters were warm, I didn't think danger lurked around. Normally, I rarely let Merlin leave my side but after being cooped up in the palace all day I thought my brother needed a little bit more freedom. I warned him to stay close but he became enchanted with a young seal pup. Next thing I knew, I heard my brother's screams," Elric paused, taking in a shaky breath before continuing, "When I got there, he was gone and the shredded remains of the seal pup tainted the blue water."

Morgan gasped, his hand covering his mouth, "I'm so sorry." Elric said nothing, scattering away a tear that escaped his eye with his hand.

"I looked for him," Elric began, "And Caspian sent scouts and trackers but even they found nothing. So I left and searched far and wide for my brother," he paused as he paced back and fourth, "I became desperate. I found nothing. I was about to give up and head back home but then I came upon a deserted realm. The corals were dead, no fish were in sight, even the currents seemed heavy. I grew curious and explored further until I came across a cave. The water was thick and it became difficult to breathe. "

Jonas felt a shiver go down his spine, goosebumps rising on his skin, the memory of drowning flashing across his mind.

"But I heard someone calling my name from within the cave," Elric murmured, "I couldn't see his face. But he promised me to find my brother if I helped him."

Atlantis snorted, "And you believed him? How do you know he would even fulfill his promise?"

Morgan nudged Atlantis' side, pining the prince with a glare, "Atlantis," he hissed before turning to Elric, "Did he give you a name?"

Elric ran his hands through his dark hair, taloned fingers trembling, "Posideon."

A soft gasp passed through the group, causing Jonas's brows to furrow in confusion, "The Greek god from ancient myths?"

Morgan shook his head, prying his hand from Atlantis's grasp and stood, "While the humans believe him to be a Greek god of the oceans, the similarities stop there," he said, his green irises glittering, "Poseidon is a cruel god who's sole purpose is to conquer the oceans and convert the rest of the earth in a watery landscape."

"He nearly did it before," Elric murmured.

Morgan nodded in agreement, "The Great Flood," he murmured.

Noah's Ark, Jonas thought.

"Many humans drowned," Morgan spoke, "Lands became covered in water and the animals went extinct. Poseidon thought he won but that's when Ursula formulated a plan to chain the god into the desolate parts of our realm, where no life thrived. With the help of the seven guardian gods they were able to chain the powerful god."

Jonas arched a brow, "Well he's chained to a cave so what's all the fuss about?"

Elric's cheeks colored, "Poseidon never did tell me his plan but when I arrived, someone had already broken his chains. It seems he is gaining strength and waiting for the right moment to strike."

Morgan cursed under his breath in a language Jonas didn't understand, "Do you know who broke them?"

Elric shook his head, "Someone much stronger than me."

Jonas frowned, "Lilith?"

Ava shoulders tensed, "We killed her."

Jonas shook his head, "Lilith is different. According to Aviv each host must kill her at least once for her to truly die. The Onyx host took one and I took another. We need the rest to kill her as well."

Atlantis nodded, "I would say the Diamond and the Emerald but last time I heard, their hosts were pregnant," he glanced at Morgan who had moved towards the window, his gaze wandering over a group of blue tailed mers.

Jonas watched the strange expression pass over the witch's sharp features, "What will you do Morgan?" he spoke.

A sinister smile appeared over Morgan's lips, "Awaken the gods."

Morgan and Atlantis's Adventures will continue in:
Sapphire