Back with Seth, the merman was being escorted to his grotto with Haven and Breanna. "Oh, what's with all the secrets?" the merman badgered, the surprise slowly making him impatient.
"We're almost there," Breanna reassured as Haven lifted the boulder that blocked the entrance and swam inside. "And now here you are!" Haven exclaimed.
Seth gasped in shock at seeing what his friends had brought him: Caleb's statue ,still in tact. "Oh, you two are the best!" Seth said as he hugged the mermaid and dolphin before turning his attention to the statue. "It almost looks like him..." Seth said dreamily.
"Why Caleb! Run away with you?" Seth joked as if the statue was actually Caleb, "Why all of this, its so sudden... Of course!" Seth swam around as if he was dancing in his delightful attitude.
But that came to a stop when he saw his dad at the entrance of his grotto.
"Dad!"
Haven and Breanna hid in fear. Seth stood out in the open as Poseidon's eyes harden on his own son. Seth noticed an ashamed Josh cowering behind his father's tail fins and felt betrayed. The crab had told his dad where he was and found out about all the human stuff he had collected. Seth became more fearful as Poseidon motioned towards him, his grip on the trident tighter than he thought was possible.
"Dad..." Seth began, "I can ex-"
"I consider myself a reasonable merman," the sea king ignored his son. His tone was fulled with anger and so cold that could send shivers down a shark's scales. "I set certain rules and I expect those rules to be obeyed without question. I don't expect anyone, especially my own son to disobey them!"
Seth made an effort to defend himself, "But Dad, I-"
"Is it true you rescued a human from drowning?" Poseidon interrupted again, his voice still hard.
"I had to." Seth claimed.
"No, you chose to. And broke the most important law of our kingdom. Contact between humans and merpeople is forbidden! Seth, you know that! Everyone knows that!" Poseidon stressed.
"I couldn't just let him die!" Seth shouted.
"One less human to worry about!" Poseidon retorted.
"You don't even know him!" Seth shot back.
"Know him?! I don't have to know him! They are all the same! Spineless, savage, harpooning fish-eaters, incapable of any feeling..."
This made Seth boil. All from one human interaction and he assumes they are the same. At this point it was the same old argument Seth had over and over again.
"Dad, I love him!" Seth shouted before holding his hands over his mouth and hid behind his crush's statue. Josh bit his lip in fear, Breanna and Haven shared the same reaction, wishing Seth had not just said that. But the damage was already done.
"No..." the sea king was at lost for words, putting together what his son had just said. "Have you completely lost your senses?! He's a human, you're a merman!"
"I don't care," Seth stubbornly said, not even looking at his dad.
"So help me, Seth! I'm going to get through to you!" Poseidon roared, his trident glowing, "And if this is the only way- so be it."
Poseidon began to fire away at Seth's collection, fueled by anger and rage. Breanna, Haven, and Josh swam away to avoid being blasted by the legendary Atlantean weapon, but Seth watched in horror as everything he found was destroyed. Seth made a break to stop his father from destroying everything, but that left something wide open.
Caleb's statue.
Poseidon noticed the statue as the last thing and planned to obliterate it. Seth saw his dad's gaze towards the statue, and immediately cried out to stop. "Dad! Please!" The pleads fell deaf to the enraged sea king's ear and channeling all the power of the trident...
He fired.
The blast broke the statue into a million pieces. Seth looked at the remains of his crush's statue and his collection. They were all destroyed. The merman's heart was at the point of breaking. He began to bury himself onto the center rock and cry, his arms hiding his tears.
At first, Poseidon thought he was doing justice, but after seeing his son's pained emotion, he felt guilty. Not saying a word, the sea king left with a sad face.
Josh, Breanna, and Haven all saw the king leave and Seth's sobbing. "Seth... I-" Josh began.
"Just go away," was the reply.
Josh solemnly nodded and scurried away, Breanna and Haven following as they knew it would take some time before Seth would come around.
His friends left the grotto and Seth continued to cry. He knew his dad was never on board with the surface world, but to destroy everything he owned? This was too far. His dad had destroyed the one thing he wanted to treasure forever. All this misery began to slowly eat at the light-skin merman.
But as he cried, Seth was unaware that he was being watched.
"Poor child," a voice said, "poor sweet child."
"So tragic, so misunderstood," another voice said, "He has a very serous problem, doesn't he?"
Seth heard the voices and diverted his attention towards the source of the voices: two green eels.
"If only there was something we could do..." Jonathan mused.
"Oh, but there is something," Terry empathized with a glint in his eyes.
Seth wiped some remain tears from his upset mood, getting a better look at the two eels, "W-wh-who are you two? Why're you here?"
"Don't be scared," Jonathan 'reassured' the young merman, while swimming a bit too close for comfort. "I am Jonathan and this is my brother, Terry."
"We represent someone that can help. Someone who can make all your dreams come true," Terry informed.
"I don't understand," Seth said.
"Addison," the two ray-finned fish said in unison.
"A-a-Addison?" Seth repeated. His mind remembered hearing stories of the dark magic his uncle had. The power drove him mad and resulted in banishment. Seth even overheard a few merpeople going to seek his help. But even if Addison did help him, what could he have possibly do for him?
"He has great power," Terry commented. "Just imagine..." Jonathan added before the two eels spoke in unison again "You and your prince together... forever..."
Seth continued to think about the eels offer. Part of him wanted to say no, refuse the offer and just go back to mopping. But what go would that do? And part of him was slightly intrigued by the offer.
"I could- no. No! Get out of here leave me alone!" Seth shouted before going back to burying himself in his arms. The two eels shared a look and agreed to leave.
"Suit yourself," Terry said.
"It was only a suggestion," Jonathan finished as they left. Jonathan flicked a piece of Caleb's statue towards the crying merman. It chattered against the ground, causing Seth to turn his attention towards it. Seth picked up the statue, revealing it to be Caleb's face, which was still in tact. He conjured a small water silhouette of him and Caleb together.
Seth's gaze towards the face turned to one of longing, acceptance among humans. Who was he kidding? He always felt like a disappointment in his dad's eyes due to his scatterbrain and obsession towards the human world. And this was the last straw for Seth. His father would never understand his fascination. But perhaps Addison would...
"Wait!" Seth alerted the eels, just as they reached the exit.
"Yes...?" they said in unison. In their minds, they mentally smirked. The merman was now in their grasp. And Addison would be pleased.
"Poor, Seth..." Breanna clicked and received a calming rub from Haven. "I know. But first," Haven began before glaring at the accused invertebrate, "What in the name of Neptune were you thinking?!"
Josh made placating gestures with his claws, trying to diffuse and hostility before getting hurt. "I didn't mean to tell him! It was an accident! It just slipped out!"
"Yeah," Breanna dryly commented, "You just so happened to crack other pressure and spill every single detail about Seth and his crush."
"In my defense, I was nervous!" Josh tried to defend himself.
"Josh, Seth might be in depression for months now!" Haven exclaimed. "This destruction is definitely not going to help!"
"I promise I can make it up to him!" Josh promised, "I can start looking for those hu- what is that?"
The trio were covered with shadows and looked to see Seth swimming with two eels. It unnerved Josh too much and he swam to the prince to get answers. "Seth, what are you doing?"
"I'm going to see Addison."
That sentence nearly drained all the color of Josh's body. "Are you insane? You can't!" The crustacean yanked the prince's tail fins, hoping to slow him down. "You don't know what Addison's like! He's a demon, a monster, a-"
"Why don't you go tell my dad?" Seth's tone was cold and unforgiving. He turned his eyes to the strangler, showing the pain and betrayal he just endured. "You're good at that," he spat with venom and continued to be escorted by the two eels.
"But I-ah!" Josh groaned. "Come on!" He gestured for Haven and Breanna to follow. Hopefully, they could see what Addison is planning.
Seth and the two eels soon came across underwater vents, signaling they were close to Addison's lair. Soon they reached a dead carcass of a leviathan, one of the few creatures that were endangered in the ocean. Seth drifted back, startled by the monster as the lair.
"This way," the eels insisted.
Seth mustered up his courage and began to head into the mouth of the sea monster. Upon entering the mouth, Seth's nerves began to crawl as he saw the "garden" of polyps all along the floor. One clang to his arm but Seth got himself free.
"Come in, come in, my nephew," Addison said from his chambers before revealing himself, tentacles and all. "We mustn't lurk in doorways. It is quite rude. One might question your upbringing."
"Quite the lovely necklace," Addison complimented, Seth's aquamarine necklace getting his attention. "Didn't know you were into jewelry that much." Seth just nodded along, afraid to speak up.
"Now, now," Addison said, "No need to be quiet. We are family after all." Seth bit his lip at that statement. "Oh dear," the sea warlock said, "has my brother given you that much of a shock? Of course, you can't except him to understand. That's what he does best after all. Drive all the oddballs away. Like me for my tentacles and gifts of magic. And now, he drove you away all because of a single fascination..." Addison mentally smirked at his words. Seth was slowly beginning to warm up and side with him.
"He never did understand you, did he?"
"No," Seth admitted and hung his head down low at all the arguments over the surface he had with his dad and the recent destruction. His dad failed to accept his interest and resulted in everything he held dear to be destroyed.
"There, there. It's not so bad. You'll find that I can be what your dad isn't," Addison said, "Now, onto business. You're here because you've fallen in love with this prince. Not that I blame you, he's quite the catch." Seth meekly nodded along with the warlock's statement.
Addison made his way over to a mirror and began to pamper himself before continuing, "Well, the solution to your problem is simple. The only way to get what you want... Is to become a human yourself."
Seth sharply inhaled at the idea. Him? Human? Like two legs, breathing air, walking? "Can you do that?" the merman questioned, he wasn't one to question Atlantean magic but a transformation to human? This would give him a chance!
Addison had a scheming grin. Seth had just taken the bait. "My dear, sweet boy, that's what I do. It's what I live for, to help unfortunate merfolk like yourself. Poor souls with no one else to turn to."
I admit that in the past I've been a nasty
They weren't kidding when they called me, well, a witch
But you'll find that nowadays
I've mended all my ways
Repented, seen the light, and made a switch
To this
True? Yes.
And I fortunately know a little magic
It's a talent that I always have possessed
And dear lady, please don't laugh
I use it on behalf
Of the miserable, the lonely, and depressed (pathetic)
Addison went to his cauldron and created two illusions of merfolk with issues.
Poor unfortunate souls
In pain, in need
This one longing to be thinner
That one wants to get the girl
And do I help them?
Yes, indeed
Those poor unfortunate souls
So sad, so true
They come flocking to my cauldron
Crying, "Spells, Addison, please!"
And I help them!
Yes I do
Addison snapped his fingers and the two merfolk with their issues became cured and embraced each other.
Now it's happened once or twice
Someone couldn't pay the price
And I'm afraid I had to rake 'em 'cross the coals
Yes I've had the odd complaint
But on the whole I've been a saint
To those poor unfortunate souls
Addison clenched his fist at the two merfolk and they began to transform into the polyps like in his garden. Seth cringed at the idea of becoming one of those creatures.
"Here's the deal," Addison started, explaining what he would do to his nephew, "I'll cast a spell that'll turn you into a human for a period of three days. Got that? Three days. Now, here's the thing," the sea warlock raised an image of a heart, "Before the sun sets on the third dat, you've got to get dear ol' princey to fall in love with you. That is, he's got to kiss you. Not just any kiss, the True Love's Kiss."
Seth slightly smiled at that. Being kissed by Caleb would be an amazing experience. Addison casted a projection of Seth's silhouette with legs, "If you receive that kiss, you will remain human for the rest of your life." Seth stared at the silhouette, running. It made Seth glad that he could potential be human forever, but he knew magic came with a price. "But if I don't?"
"If he doesn't," Addison cupped his chin almost in a thinking position but he had already thought of the perfect failsafe, "You turn back into a merman and you belong to me." And to add to that point, Seth's silhouette turned back into a merman and began to shrivel down into the cauldron.
Josh, Haven, and Breanna had been watching the whole time and were horrified of the idea of Seth becoming a polyp. "Seth, are you crazy?!" Josh shouted from his position, "Don't do it!"
Terry and Jonathan snaked around the three interlopers from speaking and interfering with the merman's choice, the former wrapping around Breanna's mouth and Josh's body and latter constricted around Haven's mouth and waist.
"So have we got a deal," Addison questioned. Seth hesitated at the thought of becoming human only to lose it if Caleb didn't love him back. "If I become human, I'll never see my sisters or dad again..." the merman realized. While he did destroy his collection, Poseidon is still his dad and there was the chance Seth would never see him again and plus his sisters could cry out for their brother.
Addison mentally cursed before saying, "That's right, but you'll get to be with your prince. Life's full of tough choices, isn't it, nephew?" Seth bit his lip at the idea.
"Okay, but what is this cost me?" Seth asked. Even though he had heard only stories of Addison, he knew well enough this was going to cost him something.
"Oh, right," Addison grinned at this part, "We haven't discussed the subject of payment. You can't get something for nothing, you know."
"What is it going to cos-" Seth was interrupted before Addison placed a tentacle over his mouth as the sea warlock began to explain, "I'm not asking for much. Just a token, really, a trifle even. You'll never miss it. What I want from you is... Your voice."
Seth was taken aback by the trade. "Back up. My voice?!" He placed his hand to his throat, thinking about not being able to say a word to Caleb unless he kissed him.
"Yep," Addison reconfirmed, "No more talking, singing, zip!"
"But without my voice, how can I-" Seth started before Addison returned to song.
"You've got your looks! Your pretty face! And don't underestimate the importance of body language, hah!" Addison trailed up to his shelves of ingredients into his cauldron, that created a multitude of lights and began to swirl on its own.
"The men up there don't like a lot of blabber
They think male who gossips is a bore!
Yes, on land it's much preferred
for men not to say a word
And after all, dear, what is idle prattle for?"
Seth recoiled a bit as the cauldron generated mystical explosions. Addison continued to persuade the merman the chance of a lifetime.
"Come on, they're not all that impressed with conversation
True gentlemen avoid it when they can!
But they dote and swoon and fawn
on a man who's withdrawn
It's he who holds his tongue who gets a man!"
The cauldron generated a mirror image of Caleb's face that slowly enticed Seth before breaking apart as Addison appeared behind it with a smile.
"Come on, you poor unfortunate soul
Go ahead! Make your choice!
I'm a very busy man and I haven't got all day
It won't cost much. Just your voice!"
The sea warlock kept egging on the merman before conjuring a golden glowing contract that stated the terms of the agreement and a fish bone quill.
"You poor unfortunate soul
It's sad but true
If you want to cross the bridge, my sweet, you've got the pay the toll
Take a gulp and take a breath, and go ahead and sign the scroll
(Jonathan, Terry, now I've got him, boys)
The boss is on a roll!"
Seth skimmed through the agreements before taking the quill and signing his name in a quick manner. Turning his head away as he did, he knew the choice was a hard one but if it meant he got the chance to be with someone who could understand him: It was worth it.
"THIS POOR UNFORTUNATE SOUL!"
The contract flew into Addison's hand where he clenched it and dispersed. With a mad look on his face, Addison began to start the incantation over his cauldron.
"Beluga sevruga, come winds of the Caspian Sea
Larynxes, glossitis, ad max Laryngitis, la voce to me!"
Addison's mad look turned to one of joy before saying, "Now. Sing."
Seth took a deep breath and began to vocalize, "Aah... aah... aah... ahhh... ahhh..."
"Keep singing!" Addison shouted as he summoned ghostly green hands. The hands slowly approached Seth, who mustered up the courage to stand still as the process began. The hands entered Seth's mouth before pulling out a yellow sphere that was still continuing to sing the notes. The merman clutched his throat, realizing he couldn't talk anymore and his voice soon entered Addison's shell.
The sea warlock cackled, turning into a maniacal laugh as a yellow bubble encompassed Seth.
The transformation from tail to legs was a painful one. Seth felt his body yank and convulse as he lost his gills and his blue tail split into two legs. The transformation ended quickly...
Only for Seth to struggle. He was at the bottom of the ocean, no longer a merman now a human. It was dark as his eyes were no longer adapted to the abyssal zone of the ocean.
Breanna, Haven, and Josh swam in rush to get the newly transformed human to the surface to breathe. Breanna had Seth on her back, latched to her dorsal fin, and Haven swam alongside with Josh in her clutches.
Addison watched them leave and his sickly smile grew.
Seth broke the surface, thrusting his head back and took his first official breath of oxygen in his now human lungs as his friends helped paddle him to shore.