Red Waters
Though it rests deep beneath the ocean and beyond the full influence of the sun, Atlantis has its own cycles of day and night. The glorious city sleeps now, illuminated in a soothing, cerulean half-light.
Even the bustle of wedding preparation that has consumed the palace of Prince Namor, Atlantis' avenging son, has subsided for the evening. The halls are quiet and the plans put aside for one more evening. Namor and his bride have bidden each other good night and retreated to their separate chambers for, though the two lovers are not strangers to each other in any sense, the appearance of propriety must be maintained.
The only motion through the corridors of the palace is faint current meant to keep the water throughout refreshing and without hint of staleness. At the doorway to Lady Philippa's chambers, her two personal guards stand alert and at attention. Their lines have served the royalty of Atlantis since its inception, and it is a matter of personal and family honor that they guarantee the safety of Namor's bride-to-be. They will lay down their lives for the crown without hesitation.
The younger of the two clears his throat for the second time in a minute, shooting his a counterpart, a dour guard many years his senior, a sheepish look of apology in response to the glare that the noise earns. He grins a moment later as the older guard coughs discreetly against one fist, but the amusement fades quickly as the tickle in his throat becomes a tightness and then a complete inability to breathe within moments. There is no discussion -- as one they reach for the alarms built into the hafts of their spears, meaning to bring the rest of the guard at full speed, but their weapons remain dark and cold. The older of the pair sinks to his knees, but his companion struggles to stay conscious as he moves out into the corridor to find aid. The darkness takes him before he's traveled a yard. The dead of the sea float but these two, weighed down by their armor, lie flat upon the polished floor as a dark figure swims from the shadows and slips unimpeded into Philippa's room, a half-length spear tucked flat against his belly.
Even the bustle of wedding preparation that has consumed the palace of Prince Namor, Atlantis' avenging son, has subsided for the evening. The halls are quiet and the plans put aside for one more evening. Namor and his bride have bidden each other good night and retreated to their separate chambers for, though the two lovers are not strangers to each other in any sense, the appearance of propriety must be maintained.
The only motion through the corridors of the palace is faint current meant to keep the water throughout refreshing and without hint of staleness. At the doorway to Lady Philippa's chambers, her two personal guards stand alert and at attention. Their lines have served the royalty of Atlantis since its inception, and it is a matter of personal and family honor that they guarantee the safety of Namor's bride-to-be. They will lay down their lives for the crown without hesitation.
The younger of the two clears his throat for the second time in a minute, shooting his a counterpart, a dour guard many years his senior, a sheepish look of apology in response to the glare that the noise earns. He grins a moment later as the older guard coughs discreetly against one fist, but the amusement fades quickly as the tickle in his throat becomes a tightness and then a complete inability to breathe within moments. There is no discussion -- as one they reach for the alarms built into the hafts of their spears, meaning to bring the rest of the guard at full speed, but their weapons remain dark and cold. The older of the pair sinks to his knees, but his companion struggles to stay conscious as he moves out into the corridor to find aid. The darkness takes him before he's traveled a yard. The dead of the sea float but these two, weighed down by their armor, lie flat upon the polished floor as a dark figure swims from the shadows and slips unimpeded into Philippa's room, a half-length spear tucked flat against his belly.