Eric cried out and fell back as the potion hit him, his mind awash in panic. What could be done? He sought out a sensation – a burning perhaps, but something to signal to him that the Death Draught was beginning it's fateful, cruel work.

"Eric!" Ariel, still holding the sword, forewent her defensive stance in favor of dropping to his side. "Oh no, oh no! Where does it hurt? How can I help?"

Bethany too came sprinting over, grabbing his head in her hands. "My sweet prince!" she exclaimed.

Eric sat there in shock, waiting for something to seize upon his body. But it didn't. He pushed Bethany's hands off his face and sat up, turning over to look at Marcus.

"It's…it's not working." Eric said, barely confident in his own words.

Marcus could've played it off. He could've assured the sorcerer he'd be dead within the hour. But, to the best of Marcus' knowledge, it should've worked. The sorcerer should've been lying there, dead as a doornail. His red-haired princess in his arms. Both of them, returning to the sea. He would complete the Sea Witch's instructions, and all would finally be golden and shining, as he knew it should be.

"It reeks." Eric picked up his shirt collar and sniffed it. "But I don't think it'll kill me."

"I…I mixed every poison in the castle…every putrid thing I could find…" Marcus said, his mouth agape.

Eric laughed at this, half out of humor, half out of relief. "If I had drank it maybe I'd be in trouble. But not, only you are." Eric ran at him and tackled Marcus, flipping him over and pinning his hands.

"I'll get the guards." Ariel picked up her skirts and ran off, calling out for help and growing frustrated when her cries were not instantly answered. Wasn't this what they were for?

Eventually, a young man ran out, armed, and looking both panicked and ashamed. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"There's been an intruder!" Ariel ran just ahead of him, leading the way and revealing the scene almost just how she had left it.

The guard was quickly followed in by another who had also heard the late-morning clamor, and the two men were able to easily drag away a defeated Marcus. Ariel watched as he was dragged…she wasn't even fully sure where. She had gotten so caught up she forgot to ask. It didn't matter.

She spun around to see Eric; she was ready to explain everything and right it all before this evening, because there could be nothing on the table when her father was to come. She and Eric had to be as solid as possible, or else who knows what would happen? But, to her surprise, Eric was not just behind her, but rather being cornered by the same maid who had referred to him as her 'sweet prince'. She grabbed his hands and though he dropped them, he looked sheepish and did not look Ariel in the eye.

"Eric, what's going on?" Ariel asked, stepping closely to him and pushing her bangs out of her face.

"He loves me!" the maid exclaimed, before Eric could get a word out.

Confused and in total disbelief, Ariel turned to Eric. "What?"

In a monotone voice, Eric said. "I love Bethany." He grimaced and looked away from Ariel, guilt overwhelming him.

"Oh, say it again, say it again!" the maid bounced, blonde hair flopping.

In a quiet, monotone voice, almost a hoarse whisper, Eric said. "I love Bethany."

"Oh, isn't it lovely? I've been working here for years, hoping he'd notice me like this. A prince – my family will be in hysterics! Oh, my sister will just die!" Bethany gushed to Ariel, either unaware of uncaring of how the red-haired princess' heart was breaking.

"Why didn't you ever tell me about her?"

"Maybe he was just trying to be nice. You did just arrive, after all." Bethany interjected.

"No," Eric said feebly, still unable to look right at Ariel.

"I've been working here for years – since I was fourteen, actually," Bethany prattled off. "Of course he's handsome and of course he's royalty – what girl wouldn't be interested? I may have flirted where I could, but there are risks that come with doing so and I always intended to be careful. I wasn't going to lose my job over an unrequited love! But now that I know he loves me, now that he's said it…"

"You don't love me then, do you?" Ariel said softly.

"I-I" Eric screwed up his face and seemed to catch himself. "I love Bethany."

Ariel felt her face drop. "So I see." She flicked her eyes back up at him again. "Do you promise?"

A crab, one of Ariel's protectors, scruttled up and pinched Eric on the back of the leg.

"OW!" Eric exclaimed, hopping.

"Ariel, no!" he said with sudden fervor, grabbing her hands, holding them a little more tightly than he needed to.

Ariel threw down his hands and turned away, to hide the tears in her eyes. How could everything have fallen apart so quickly? She ran from the room and to the sea. She needed to think.

…

Ariel ran with a speed that fresh legs seldom had. She reached the beach, where the water touched the shoreline and ran down, down, down the side of it in hopes that she could reach that sweet spot of reality where she was cognizant enough to thing, to find solutions, but where the rest of the world could be shunned, if only for a few moments.

When she found herself coming short of breath, she sat down on the beach and pulled off her shoes. She stuck her feet the water, closed her eyes, and laid back. None of this made sense, and it made her doubt the whole scene. Eric had promised her that he loved her and, more importantly, he had shown her how much he meant it over the past few days. She had no reason to doubt him – up until that last interaction. Could it all really just have been a lie?

But, despite it all, despite the heaviness in her chest or the doubt in her mind, she wasn't willing to retreat from her humanity. Her feet in the ocean felt right; not the contact of her body with the water, but the fact that she had feet to dip.

She loved Eric, and she was sure of that. She was confident she would love him forever, even if he only had feelings for that other woman. But as much as she loved Eric, more than she loved Eric, she loved herself. As she was, in this moment. Ariel knew that it was most important that she stayed human.

Yes, she had run through potential speeches to give to her father, and all of them had involved how happy she was with Eric, and how he would be a vital part of keeping her happy in this new human life. She had meant every rehearsal. But if Eric didn't love her the way she loved him, she could still be safe, happy, and human, right?

Maybe she wasn't fully sure. But she still felt dedicated to trying. A chance at humanity was better than throwing it away in order to return to the safety of her home. If she had to, and it seemed that she would, she would meet her father by herself, and convince him on her own.

Broken hearts could be fixed or, at worst, ignored. Lost chances were not so easily recovered.

…

Eric pulled away from Bethany instantly, moving to chase after Ariel.

"My prince!" Bethany grabbed his sleeve and tugged him back with all her force. "Why are you going after her? You just said you love me."

"I-" Eric coughed, choosing the once more leave himself in neutrality than say he loved Bethany. He couldn't say that he loved Ariel, this hex or whatever it was wouldn't let him. But he had control of his body. He seemed to now be able to stop himself from saying the cursed sentence 'I love Bethany'. He just couldn't say the truth.

"Please," Eric said, his voice more pleading than he wanted it to be. Just let me go. I don't want to hurt you either, but I can't hurt Ariel. I have to find her. Before this all somehow gets worse. Before I ruin everything. Before this curse does.

"We have so much to discuss, besides." Bethany looked away from him again, getting swept up in her own grandeur. "I'll go home tonight to tell my family-"

"No!" Eric said firmly.

"Why not?" Bethany challenged. "You do love me, don't you? Say it again." She put her free hand on her hip and stared up at him.

Eric had a small realization – that he did have full control over his body. He vigorously shook his head no, broke from her grip, and ran outside, hoping to catch up to Ariel before she could get too far away. Or worse, before he would lose her forever.

…

"Ariel!"

She sat up at the sound of her voice, rising to her feet. She would run again if she had to. If he tried to lie to her, or convince her to stay as some sort of…she didn't finish that thought. She didn't have the malice to think falsely ill of him.

"Ariel, please wait." Eric skidded to a stop in front of her, relieved that, if nothing else, at least she wasn't actively running from him. That had to be a good sign. He so hoped that it was.

"Why?" she said bitterly. "Wanted to waste the rest of my time here?" She didn't mean that, but he had hurt her, and she wanted him to be hurt as well. She only regretted saying it a little.

Eric froze a little, unsure of whether to approach her or not. "I'm so sorry. For…everything."

"For what?"

"For saying…I love Bethany." He hated how easily the last three words came out, like he was throwing them up.

"You should say it if it's true." Ariel spat.

"It's…" Eric shook his head vigorously again.

Ariel just huffed and crossed her arms, looking away.

Eric shook his head and grabbed at his temples, exhaling deeply. "I'm so foggy, Ariel, I'm so

sorry. I don't know what's going on. But you can't leave like this."

"Like what?"

"Thinking I don't love you!"

"You said so yourself – you love Bethany!"

"I don't know why I said that!"

"Tell me you don't love her. Just say it."

"I can't!" Eric pled.

Ariel scoffed and looked away.

"You don't understand – I literally can't. I want to, I swear it! But my voice gets all clogged up and whatever words I mean to say come out differently. My throat has been less…less dry since that crab pinched me – but my ankle has hurt more-"

"Well then let's get more crabs!" Ariel said, bitterly. Why was he mocking her? "Crabs!" she cried out, cupping her hands around her mouth. "Come pinch Eric!"

At the sound of one hundred scuttles, Eric found himself speaking quickly. "I don't know what happened. Everything was fine this morning! But I went to go get cleaned up and from some point on I was hexed, or cursed, or something – I don't know how, or why – and now I keep swearing that I love Bethany but I-" his voice choked again and he started coughing violently.

The crabs swarmed around Ariel and Eric. Ariel waved her hand a little, signaling that she didn't actually want them to hurt Eric.

"Please don't go back to the sea." Eric said, pleading. He reached out to grab her hand and while she didn't grip it back, she didn't reject the affection, and that was a start. "I don't know how to explain, I don't know how to make it up to you. But please let me try."

"I'm not going back to the sea, Eric." She said softly. "I can't be anything but human. I know that now. But I won't stay here. You won't see me again."

The sharp pain of her words cut through Eric. He would never see her again.

"Don't go." He said firmly.

"I said I wasn't. I'm staying human."

"I want you to be human, Ariel. I want you to have everything you want. But, I don't think-OW!" a rogue crab pinched Eric. "I don't think I can live without you." He rubbed his thigh, but still smiled. His throat wasn't dry. It didn't catch him. He wasn't sure he'd get away with that sentence.

Ariel looked at him, then down at the sand.

"Just say it."

"I promise," Eric said, with as much meaning as when he had first promised that he loved her. You won't see me again, you won't see me again, you won't see me again. Each time it flashed through his mind, it hurt just as much as before. He coughed, and said "I love you, Ariel. I promise."

…

She was moved by his sincerity, but still doubted his story. She hadn't agreed to stay, but she was convinced to come back to the castle.

Eric swore up and down, left and right, inside and out, that he was cursed and that it had somehow been broken. Maybe when he took her hand. Maybe just because he loved her so much. Maybe it wore off in time. He didn't know, and he wasn't sure he'd ever know, but he didn't doubt that he had, in fact, been cursed in the first place.

And, despite her reciprocation, he ventured to assure Ariel of his love.

"I love you. I promise. I do not love Bethany. I love you, Ariel. Only you, Ariel."

Ariel rolled her eyes at times, but she always had a hint of a smile on her face. Halfway through their walk back, she took Eric's hand.

When they had almost stepped through the castle, Ariel froze and jerked Eric back with her.

"What is it?" Eric asked.

"Marcus." She snarled.

"Don't worry," Eric said. "he was taken away by guards – I'm sure they're seeing that he's causing no more trouble. His potion didn't work on me. Everything's fine. Every plan of his failed."

"No," Ariel said, turning to look at Eric. "his death draught didn't work. What if he had another potion that he somehow fed you? The one that made you act strangely towards the maid?"

Eric was hit with conflicting emotions – on one hand, the idea that someone had been able to poison him with some potion was terrifying. The fact that he drank some strange concoction without any idea of what it was equally scary. But Ariel believed what he swore to her – she sincerely thought that he had fallen under some sort of curse – and he had!

"You might be right." He nodded.

"Where is he being kept?" Ariel demanded, pushing open the doors. "I want to see him. Now. He better tell me everything."

They were not three steps into the building, when Bethany came bouncing out. "There you are!" she beamed, but as soon as she saw that Eric had brought Ariel back with him, her smile fell.

"Bethany, I'm sorry." Eric said, his voice as serious as he could make it. "This has been a confusing day for you, I'm sure."

"Oh, Eric. I don't need to understand anything other than that you love me, and that we'll be married. Soon." She gave Ariel a once-over. "You can explain why you darted away later, once she's gone home."

Eric sighed, not sure of how to put this kindly, but determined to try his best. "Something went wrong this morning, Bethany. I don't know exactly how, or why, but I know it happened. There was some sort of curse, hex, or potion, and it messed with my voice. They're easily trifled with, you know."

"What are you saying?" Bethany furrowed her brow.

"I don't love you, Bethany. I'm sorry that I said that I did. I never meant it, and my only joy from this situation is that an end could be put to it quickly."

Bethany's breathing sped up, and none of the three were sure if she was about to yell or cry. "I resign." She spat, tearing off her apron and throwing it at Eric's head. She picked up her skirts and ran from the hall, a sob tearing from her throat before the door slammed behind her.

"I'm sorry," Eric said, to Bethany, to Ariel.

"I don't think you had other options." Ariel said sincerely.

"I really didn't." Eric mumbled. "Still doesn't make me feel good about hurting her."

"I guess I'd be more concerned if it did." Ariel took his hand again and squeezed it. "Now," she said, all determination returning. "let's go see Marcus."

…

He was kept in one of three jail cells beneath the castle. They were used more in earlier regimes, when unrest and political upheaval were more common. Should anyone impose on the castle or make an attempt on the crown, they were brought here where they could be more heavily supervised. Eric wasn't sure if he was comfortable with keeping Marcus there long term but, for the next bit of time, it would do.

"Your highness!" a guard saluted, standing at attention.

"Very strange to see you down here, sire, but welcome." Another said, saluting as well.

Eric gave them both curt nods, and asked for privacy. The two guards were a bit confused, but if there was anyone they couldn't ignore an order from, it was Eric. They left, assuring the prince that they'd be right outside if anything should go wrong.

"Leave the keys, please." Eric said instinctually, not fully sure why he asked for them.

The head guard pulled them from his pocket and placed them in Eric's palm, exiting promptly after.

"My red-haired princess." Marcus beamed, pulling himself up to a full standing position and pushing his dark hair back. "You look enchanting as ever. I'm so glad you've come to find me. Let us-"

"Neither of you will be doing anything together." Eric snapped.

"That's not why we're here." Ariel said curtly, staring at him with narrowed eyes. "We need to know what you've done."

"I've come to rescue you, my sweet." Marcus reached a hand out through the bars of the jail cell and though Ariel was not close enough to be touched by him, she still instinctually took a step back.

"You most certainly didn't-" Eric began, his voice raising.

Ariel squeezed his hand and let go. At her pressure, he stopped talking and Ariel stepped forward. "And," she cooed, smiling a little and looking Marcus in the eye. "I'd like to know exactly what your plan was."

"Oh, my dear, dear red-haired princess. You already do."

Ariel furrowed her brow. "What do you mean?"

"The book, the book! I gave it to you – you read it, yes?"

Ariel nodded, still confused. "Yes I did."

"You must read it again when we return to Atlantica. You're supposed to understand, I just feel like you don't understand!"

"Understand what!?"

"That I am your golden prince, my red-haired princess." Marcus said excitedly. "I did it all! Just as instructed! I turned myself human. I tried to put you under a sleeping spell to protect you, I threw Eric from the carriage, I brewed the death draught and the love potion. I put it in your glass, red-haired princess. I did it to protect you. Come, come closer, look me in the eyes. I know you have to understand." Marcus said, rambling.

"When did you give me a love potion?" Ariel said slowly, separating each word.

"I put it in your breakfast goblet. I waited, I waited, I waited in the closet for the sorcerer to leave and I just knew that the forces of nobility would allow me to complete my mission."

Eric went white and gave Ariel's hand a little tug. "I drank from your goblet." He murmured, quietly enough that only Ariel could here.

Ariel nodded slowly, horrified. He had been on land as long as she had. He had followed her around, watching her. While she was eating breakfast, he was hiding somewhere nearby. She hadn't seen him until today. She didn't know how many events of the past couple of days had involved him watching her, manipulating the situation. He had wrecked Eric's carriage – he was the reason why she and Eric were thrown from the bridge and into the river. He was the reason they each had almost died.

He was not the harmless, lovestruck boy her family had tried to convince her of. Ariel knew she didn't like him beforehand, and now she knew she despised him.

"Here's what you're going to do-" Ariel said firmly, angrily.

"Anything, anything for you." Marcus interrupted her, pressing himself up against the bars.

Ariel was still so unsettled by his unwavering commitment to what he thought she wanted. "You're going to come with Eric and I-" she became unsettled when she saw how Marcus immediately glared at Eric. "And you're going to tell my father everything you just told us."

"You're ready for me to meet your father formally." Marcus beamed, smiling. "I love you, my red-haired princess. You know that, right?"

Ariel couldn't bring herself to answer, but she felt as though he wasn't even referring to her. She took Eric's hand and, with a few convincing tugs, dragged him out of the jail cells and back upstairs, where the sun was beginning its descent in the sky.

Review, please!