It took Ursula a moment to remember that the prince even existed. She pulled away from Ariel's lips, though her human arms remained firmly around the other woman's waist. Ariel was still, her legs wrapped around Ursula's waist.
She doesn't even know, Ursula thought.
Being close to Ariel had made her forget what body she was in. It was too thin and gangly for her, and she only wore it out of necessity. Her tentacles could do little on land, and she did not need the sea princess recognizing her.
Ariel's eyes were wide with shock. She looked away from Ursula.
Every part of this was wrong. To Ariel it was because she still thought of Eric.
A spike of anger ran through Ursula, and for a moment her grip on the mermaid turned human tightened. Ariel gave her an odd look, bits of fear hanging in her eyes, and Ursula loosened her grip.
Both bodies were all wrong. Ursula could not deny the truth; Ariel was a mermaid. That was just the way that it was.
To Ursula, it was wrong because she knew she was no human either. This Vanessa charade was tiring, a costume that she was ready to tear off.
It didn't take magic to read Ariel's mind. Anyone could see that the rush between them had vanished, the lust dissolving. Now, all Ariel thought of was the prince. She had forgotten him for a moment, and her mind was forcing her back to him.
Ursula had to swallow the bile rising in her throat.
She shook her head and stood up. Ariel stood up as well and looked across the room. Though they no longer touched, Ursula could still feel the electrical like connection between them. Ariel had stiffened, and surely she could feel the same.
For the first time since breaking apart from the princess, she smiled. Whatever they shared surely outshadowed what Ariel had with Eric. After all, she had already forgotten him and embraced Ursula, even while the sea witch was in a new body.
Already, Ursula could see the mermaid's true form again. Her red hair would be free, and she would wear no dress. A green tail would cover her, binding her legs together once more forever.
She had the whole sea right in front of her. Ariel had promised her father's throne in return for her legs, signing away her rights as heir. Her father really should have thought before destroying her collection of human items.
Soon enough, Ursula would have everything, even her own body.
She smiled and walked out of the room, leaving a frowning Ariel behind. By the time that she reached the beach, she was all but running.
The moment she hit the water, Ursula's transformation began. Her body stretched out, breaking free from its bony, pale prison, her skin turned purple, and her tentacles returned.
She took one last look at the castle in the distance. Though she could not see Ariel, she knew that she was there.
Time was passing, and barely a day did Ariel have left. Even then, Ursula knew that the prince could do nothing to save Ariel.
In a short time, all the puzzle pieces would click together and things would be just the way that they were supposed to. Already, Ursula could feel the mermaid wrapped in her arms.