The sea-witch's lair was in a green fog, water that had become dirty from being stagnant for too long. Just swimming through it made me feel unclean, and I could only imagine how it was to actually live there. There were no signs of life, not even a sparse patch of seaweed. The small part of the ocean the sea-witch had been banished to appeared to be all green water and rocks. I wondered silently what she did for food.
Not far ahead of me, I saw and heard the sea-witch before she became aware of my presence. She was reclining on a pile of stones that had been arranged in the shape of a throne, and despite how uncomfortable it must have been, especially on her thin frame, her eyes were closed in contentment. Her skin looked green, though I wasn't sure if it was only because I was seeing her through the muck, or if it had become permanently colored that way. A voice that sounded like a swordfish's nose dragged against coral came from her throat, singing in some language I didn't understand.
"You can come closer, you know. I don't bite," she said, abruptly stopping in the middle of her song. She opened her eyes and smiled at me, revealing two rows of sharp teeth. "Ah, what a surprise. A princess is here to see me. How lovely to meet you, although I have seen you before."
"Seen me before?" I choked out, strangled by fear and disgust.
"Of course," she cooed. "I have always taken care to keep watch over such delicate specimens as the Sea-King's daughters. Make sure you do not come to harm, and all that nonsense."
"And what have you done to protect us?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.
"Reasons such as this. You have come to me for help, and I will undoubtedly be willing to give it. Things like that."
"Have you helped any of my sisters before?"
She pursed her lips, and I noticed how dry and cracked they were. It was a sharp contrast to the coat of slime that seemed to cover the rest of her. "No, you are the first. How did you know to find me here, if I may ask?" The sickly sweet smile was back on her face, and I knew not to trust her. But this was what it had come to. She was the only one who could help me.
"My sisters and I have all been warned not to come here. We are told that you would lure us in with promises to grant our every wish, and then that once you had us, you would eat us and regain your youth." I shrugged. "There must be some truth in it, and I thought I could at least try." I folded my arms defiantly. "However, I will not let you eat me."
The Sea-Witch licked her lips, but it did not to anything to moisten them. "That is such a shame," she pouted. "You are young, and your flesh would have been so succulent and delicious. And meat of royalty always seems to wear much longer."
Taken aback, I swam backwards, away from her. I filled to the brim with terror. "I—I hadn't truly thought that you would've eaten me," I stammered out.
"Do not be frightened, little one," she purred. Her hand slithered towards me with frightening speed and fingers as sticky as seaweed gripped my arm like a vice. I tried in vain to bury my tail into the sand, but she pulled me toward her anyway. She was strong, and it was even more alarming considering how weak and brittle she appeared. I could feel her slick skin against my own as she whispered in my ear, "I will grant your wish, though it will not come without a certain price. But do not be afraid," and here she stroked my hair with gentleness, "I won't even eat you. Now, my darling, what is it you desire?"
"Please, let me go," I pleaded. "I'll let you help me, I promise." I couldn't stand being in her twisted embrace any longer. It was revolting beyond words.
She let me go without a word, and I immediately felt freer, though she still looked at me expectantly.
I took a deep breath, but it did not help much. The murky water entered my lungs and veins; it was not in the least refreshing. "I want to be human," I announced, after I had mustered up my bravery.
The Sea-Witch stared at me for a few silent moments, then clapped her knotted hands together in pleasure. "How perfect!" she declared. "You have fallen in love with a human, haven't you?"
I blushed hotly, and I turned my head away from her in shame. "That is not important," I murmured. "What is your price?"
Her hands twisted in her hair as she considered, mulling it over aloud. "Transforming you into a human is no easy task, you know. It takes a complicated potion. I do have all the necessary ingredients, but making it is such a burden. So many things could go wrong…there is the blood….and the organs….and the being accustomed to air!" She looked at me with an amused gaze. "I'm sure you thought it all about the legs! My dear, the legs will be the easiest part! Naturally though, the new body I create for you will not be without flaws."
"What sort of flaws?" I questioned earnestly.
"Well, with the legs, you will be able to walk on your feet. Those are the appendages at the end of each leg," she explained, as if I was foolish enough not to know. "And that is where the trouble comes in. When you walk, your feet will hurt immensely and bleed quite a bit."
"Is this how it is for all humans?"
"No." There was that smile again. "Just for a mermaid turned human."
"I can handle it," I said decisively, though admittedly, I did not consider it too much.
"And then there is the little matter of your fee."
I wondered what she would ask of me. Perhaps my arms: they were long and elegant, and would make for a meal for her. Automatically, I crossed them in self-defense. "What will you take from me?"
"Your ability to speak. It is a very pretty voice, and I should like to possess it for myself." Her request reminded me of the quality of her own voice; it was screechy and painful to listen to. No wonder she wanted mine.
"You can have it," I said. Surely my voice was such a little trade compared to the body of a human she would create for me? Again, it took little consideration on my part.
"Delightful! I had no idea negotiations with you would be this easy." Satisfaction was certainly the most prominent emotion in her eyes, along with an odd quality of hunger. She was still looking at me as though she was a shark, and I was a rather slow guppy. "If you will be patient enough to wait, I will whip up this potion in a matter of time, and then the trade will be sealed."
A feeling of unease crept over me. "Can I leave and come back when it is finished?" I tried. "I wish to say good-bye to my father and sisters and grandmother."
The Sea-Witch scowled, which was somehow less scary than her smile. "Of course not, my pet. We can't have them trying to stop you or changing your mind, can we? No, no. You are much better of staying here with me."
"But I'll never see them again!" I cried out, the weight of what I had promised to washing over me.
Her eyes narrowed into slits, gleaming red. "Do you not want to become human? You realize you must give them up, sooner or later, yes?"
I bowed my head. "Yes, but I still want to see them for the last time."
"It is not possible."
"Why not?" I shouted.
"Because I forbid it!" she shrieked, and I echoed amongst the rocks that surrounded us. There was a pause as we listened to it, and she seemed to calm suddenly. "We do not want them to manipulate you into changing your mind," she said gently. "And then you would never have a chance of meeting your human boy, would you?"
I sighed in defeat. It was not that I believed her to be right, but because I knew that I had already sealed my fate into her hands. Disobedience was not an option. "I will stay."
"That's a good mermaid," she said. "But still, I do not want you to be tempted to naughtiness while I am busy in your service making the potion."
The seaweed grew on its own accord from between cracks in the throne that she had lain in. It wrapped around my arms and tail, binding me to it. I wanted to scream, but before I could, the plant had claimed my mouth as well.
Looking back, going to the Sea-Witch for help had been a terrible idea. However, she set to work on the magic, just as she had promised. At least she had honor in that regard.
I soon realized that struggling against the weeds was useless, for it only caused them to hold me tighter. Lying there limply, all I could do was watch her as she made the potion. At the moment, she was rummaging through a pile of ingredients that had been previously covered by an algae-green rock.
"Eel marrow…fish spine…dolphin tail…jellyfish leg…whale eye…You know you're very lucky I have these ingredients already," she said to me. "They are difficult to come by, and the last time I made this potion the mermaid in question was extremely thorough in acquiring them." She smirked at me then. "You should be happy she never got around to using them."
I grimaced as I considered the possibilities. Likely, the mermaid had changed her mind and the Sea-Witch ate her. The thought caused me to shiver.
The Sea-Witch tilted her head up and squinted at the miles of water above us, and nodded. "The potion must be brewed by night, by darkness," she explained, obviously thinking I would benefit somehow by her narration. I may have been better off without it, but I was curious. "We must hurry. The sun will rise soon," she commented, and I wondered how she could tell. All I could see above us was the disgusting water she lived in. If the seaweed did not hinder my speech, I would have asked.
It occurred to me then: I would never speak again. How would I ask questions? Tell humans my name, anything else about me?
My mind was boggled, but I knew this was what I had to do. Closing my eyes, I pictured the strange man that I was going through this for, and I was reassured. When I found him, all would be well.
Time passed, and all was silent except for the scraping of stones the Sea-Witch used to mix the vile ingredients. Occasionally, she would sing a few lines of unintelligible song, and then abruptly stop. Undoubtedly she was thinking of my voice in the process. I may have even been able to fall asleep, if it was not for the feelings of anticipation and fear gripping me all at once. Her throne was uncomfortable at best, but I was tired. Still, I could not rest.
"It's finished," the Sea-Witch breathed with triumph. A small amount of red-black liquid sat in the bottom of a green-tinged bottle. "Except for the last bit, of course."
I was unable to shrink away as she took the knife she had been using—silver and incredibly sharp—and approached me with it. "This pain will be minimal," she assured me, before sliding it easily across my wrist. It stung, but little more. The slice was just shallow enough to draw blood, and I sighed in relief.
Drops of my silvery blood sat on the edge of the knife, and their brilliance made the knife appear to be a dull gray. She held the knife vertically above the bottle, and they slowly rolled into the potion. "Three drops—one—two—three," she counted. She licked the rest of my blood off of the knife, making me shudder. However, I did notice that the potion had now turned a deep midnight blue. At least now it somehow appeared to be less wicked.
"There is the matter of your voice," she said.
The seaweeds untangled themselves from around my mouth, though I noted that I was still tied tightly everywhere else.
"Do you obtain it by a spell of some sort? Or is that another potion?" I gasped in question. It felt nice to move my lips again.
"No." The knife was still in her hands, and she twirled it between her fingers.
"What will you do?" I asked hesitantly, my voice rising in fear.
"There are magical properties in the tongue of a mermaid, that also include the vocal capabilities," she informed me, an evil glint in her eye.
Had I had the full use of arms, I would have clapped my hands across my mouth. As it was, all I could do let out a small scream and resume struggling futilely against my bonds. "Isn't there another way?"
"No. My price is your voice; therefore I must cut your tongue out. It is a trade. Consider all that you will. Pain is only temporary…consider the eternity of true love." Her tone was serious, but she was taunting me. "Will you truly be a coward?"
"I'm not a coward!" I shouted.
My anger didn't faze her. "Then open your mouth," she said patiently.
I took a deep breath, but could not make myself do it.
"Open your mouth, if you are so brave," she said again. "It won't be but a few moments."
I closed my eyes and braced myself for it. I had to force my jaw muscles to move apart. My mouth was open; then the pain came. She was right: it was quick. Quick and merciless, and it showed her skill with the blade. All I could feel was the sharpness where my tongue used to be. My eyes opened in shock, and I saw her with my tongue in her hand, a grin of pure joy on her face.
"What a prize," she murmured tenderly to it. I could hardly believe what she did next, in swallowing my tongue whole.
I cringed, and suddenly this whole thing was much more terrifying than just the pain filling my mouth. My mouth opened again, this time in a scream, but nothing came out. My own silvery blood was pooling in my throat, and I was forced to spit it out.
"Are you ready for the potion, dearie?" she asked, leering over me. I recognized the new voice coming from her throat, for it was mine.
I realized that the ropes of seaweed had finally seen fit to release me, and I swam upwards to face the Sea-Witch. Her red eyes glittered maliciously. Before she could have the chance to betray our agreement and decide to eat me along with my tongue, I ripped the bottle out of her hand and drank it in a few gulps. It tasted of sand something mildly foul.
Nothing happened, and I glared at the Sea-Witch, ready to kill her with my own hands.
"Not so fast," she warned me. A single finger wiped the corner of my lips, and I resisted the urge to bite at it. She held it in front of me; there was blood on it, and it was red.
The potion was working.
There was a transformation inside of me, and I felt as though it was tearing me in half. It was absolutely unbearable compared to that of my tongue, whose pain seemed to now be nonexistent. I writhed in agony. My organs must have been changing, twisting to fit those of a human. That was what the Sea-Witch had said, wasn't it? Suddenly, I was suffocating, I couldn't breathe.
"The finale is up next. The legs," I heard her say, though it seemed as if it was from a distance. "Though I would have much preferred to take you to the surface, but you are much too defiant. Your new human body can no longer inhale the water." I knew she wanted me to die. That way she would have upheld her end of the deal, and still be able to eat me.
The pain on my insides was gone, and everything felt better. I was already striving for the surface, but that was when the legs made their appearance. My tail was melting away, reshaping itself into a weak pair of legs.
I heard the echoes of the Sea-Witch's laughter behind me.
The speed of my swimming slowed, and I was left to drown.
Luckily, I did not.
I survived, and was barely able to make it to shore. That is the prelude to the story of my life on land.
