Mermaid 9





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Pearl

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I never looked back after that night. I had broken a thousand merfolk laws, but I didn't really see it that way. After all, at the same time, I had crossed the boundaries of all the unwritten tales about human cruelty. I still lived at my father's palace, and as the days drew closer, my family became more distant. The rest of the country knew nothing--none except for my father's informants and themselves. But even if the rest of the Atlantic still saw me as the pristine 'jewel', it made no difference. Two traits run strong in merfolk blood: love and honor. In my case, the honor overpowered love.

It worked the opposite way with me, and I continued to go see Erik every night. It came to be that I lived for those meetings. Conversation flowed like the tide, and I could blissfully be myself. The first few days he had waded in, but then eventually had taken to rowing out. I was deathly afraid someone would notice me if I came any closer. During the time I spent with Erik, I talked and laughed and forgot the problems that used to haunt me. However, on the night before the Baltic delegation arrived with Kalius, I could ignore it no longer.

We were both sitting on the rocks, and waves of sorrow washed over me every time he smiled. Erik still marveled at me, as I marveled at him. We were both a fantasy to each other, I suppose.

" Pearl? You're awfully quiet tonight. What's on your mind? Pearl?"

My mind snapped back to focus to meet Erik's searching blue eyes. I shifted on the humongous rock, debating my answer. I certainly didn't want to lie----- I had lied to my father, my sisters, my grandmother, everyone else I had loved, and never wanted to do it again. But I couldn't bring myself to tell him that he would never see me after tonight.

I opened my mouth, then shut it and sighed. " Too many things."

He smiled at that, and pushed back a strand of my hair that flew in the wind.

" What sort of things you do under there is such a mystery, I'm not going to even ask. I wouldn't understand half of it."

He picked up a rock, and hurled it outward into the sea. It skipped twice, and I laughed with delight; out in the deep sea, there were always waves. Oddly enough, it was calm night, and no waves at all. Erik grinned again at my smile, and laid back down next to me.

" I am the luckiest man alive," he breathed, still smiling and looking out at the sea.

I raised my eyebrows quizzically. " Why?"

" The rest of my life is hell, but you're the heaven part. This apart you're of a different religion."

I laughed and sat up, still keeping my gaze on him. " You're people and your heaven are lucky. We have nothing like that."

Now Erik raised his eyebrows. " What do you mean? I don't trouble myself over hell and all that damn nonsense, if that's what you're worrying about. If there is anyone worthy in the world for heaven, she's right in front of me."

I shook my head. " We don't have immortal souls. A human dies, and he travels upward to your heaven. If a merman dies, his body disintegrate into sea foam and becomes part of the ocean that made us. We can't bury our loved ones, such as your people do"

This explanation didn't sit well with Erik, and he pushed himself upwards.

" That's impossible," he said incredulously. " You're just like us, only with a tail! You're not animals or demons or a tree!"

" Yes, but we came differently. You come from this 'God' man who provides for you after you've died. My ancestors were born from the churning of the waves and the sea foam, and that is what we become," I told him, wishing for perhaps the hundredth time that I was human.

Erik shook his head, his face resuming it's normal air of tranquility before he spoke. " Look, this sounds like something a love sick poet would say--and I suppose I've turned into one since I met you--but I can't imagine living in a world without you Pearl."

He paused for a moment, then dug in his pocket. I seized the opening in the conversation.

" Erik, look, after tonight, I'm-,"

He held up a finger and as he opened his hand to reveal what he held, I forgot what I was going to say in the first place. A beautiful golden ring lay in his palm, with a glittering amethyst set in the center, framed by sapphires. It was exquisite, and nothing like I had ever seen in my world.

" It's beautiful," I told him truthfully as he slid it on my finger.

" As is it's wearer. Look, I have to go back now." Erik waved a casual hand in the direction of the palace. " I have to be awake at dawn, I'm journeying to my village. I won't see you for a week....seven moons."

Tell him now, Pearl! Say something! Say you can't come back, this is forever, he'll think you were just a dream a few days from now....that some fevered allusion had him having in depth conversations with a crab. Say something, Tell him!

" Ah," I managed to croak.

Brilliant--didn't I have a way with words.

Erik paused for a moment as he eased himself down in the boat. Then, almost to himself, he shook his head and saluted me. " You'll be here, won't you?," he asked, seeking confirmation.

I forced a smile I didn't feel. " Aren't I always?"

He frowned at that, and opened his mouth to elaborate when someone called out his name. I turned and flung myself into the water almost immediately.

Cool water engulfed me immediately, and I let myself sink down for a moment. At the impact, my ring shifted slightly and slid off my finger. I instinctively snatched out and grabbed it before it could fall to the depths below.

Well this was a nice ending to my love story. I sighed and looked up to the watery moon that was beyond the surface. What it would be to be human.

Hundreds of thoughts flew through my head as I swam home. The most constant, most unwanted thought was of Erik's reaction when he came back that night. He'd think nothing of it at first, and maybe even the second day would fly past him. The third day he would start to wonder. The fourth day he'd become worried-I had promised I would be there, hadn't I? By the 7th day he'd just stand on the balcony, like he used to before I came. By the 15th day, he'd stop searching for me, and bring that Catherine girl out with him. By the 30th day, he'd begin to doubt himself--had he seen a mermaid, or was it just his wistful imagination? In a year, I'd return to what he used to think I was: a fanciful, wishful dream.

At that last thought, I stopped swimming and swam up for air. I was growing more accustomed to breathing it instead of water; it was more soothing somehow. Not necessary, but comforting none the less. I stared at the palace far off in the distance, and tried to commit it to my memory. It looked perfect and like something out of a tale. I already had the picture I wanted of Erik for my memory--there were two actually. The first one when he played the violin. The second when he smiled.

Something changed in me at that moment. It had nothing to do with my surroundings, but just the simple dawn of realization. My thoughts were of humans and their world, my dreams were of it, and now even my habits had started to change--who ever heard of a mermaid who breathed air out of habit? I didn't want to be a mermaid. I didn't care about my mortal soul, but I wanted to breathe air and pick those flowers that Erik brought me and run around on my own two legs; I wanted to dance and participate in human customs and laugh again, but above all to be where Erik was. Not in some foreign, remote castle that didn't see me anything other then the physical evidence of a trade agreement. I wanted to be a human girl.

And as I stared out at the palace, a wild, half crazed idea began to form in my mind. It was insanity, but there was no human or merman I knew who could give me my heart's desire save for one. And she lived deep beneath the surface in a kelp forest full of legendary monsters.

The Sea Witch.



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Talking about venturing into the Kelp Forest and actually going there were two completely different things. Mermen were always constantly boasting of swimming in there to rob the Sea Witch's treasure to find a bauble for their sweetheart, and were constantly being secretly relieved when their sweetheart refused. I myself had secretly wished Kalius would boast to me about the forest--I'd have no qualms about sending him in there on his merry way. Unfortunately, Kalius suspected the same, and took care to never broach that subject. Much to my annoyance, the only lover's claims he ever made were of feats he was perfectly capable of doing. None of my other endearing suggestions seemed to take up well with him either, such as " If you love me, go throw yourself in a fishing net" or " Swim to the other side of the Atlantic--and stay there."

I peered into the dark, swirling forest of kelp. This was the place of nightmares and dreams. As I've said before, all mermaids have magic-but it's magic that runs in our veins, mixed in with our blood. Our abilities it gives us are limited, and their more like a bird's gift of flight-it's just there. But the Sea Witch's powers were something different. While her magic was in her veins as well (a greater amount, obviously), it was something she had to learn and gather over the years. She was there when my grandmother's grandmother was very young, and no one knows how old she is. For all we merfolk know, there may be different ones over the years; no one truly knows, for those who go in don't come back out alive. But that's hardly something to be scared of, for perhaps twice a life time you'll hear of someone who wanders in. For the most part, the Sea Witch left us alone as long as we respected the boundaries of her forest--even my father did. No one wants to trifle with the witch who can control the sea, who can cause the storms and can wreck ships if she wishes it.

The Sea Witch frightened many people, but what frightened them even more was not the witch herself. Even as I stared at the waving mass of plants, I shivered at the thought of them

The Keahi, the two monsters that guarded the Sea Witch's forest. It had been a long time since anyone had seen one--but every couple years, when someone would peer into the forest, they would see one of the two's yellow glowing eyes, or it's massive body whipping by. As long as you stayed on the border, you were fine--they didn't dare leave her domain--but the moment one glided across that distinct border, they wouldn't think twice about snapping you in two. Supposedly, they're much akin to an eel; sleek, long and flat, only twenty feet long and humongous. Few things lived in the Kelp forest, and certainly not anything large enough to sustain an animal slightly larger then a great white shark, so it was thought that the Sea Witch fed them. Several merfolk believed that she had created them herself, but I dismissed that idea. She wasn't a god.

There was one other thing that made me reluctant to swim across this border, and perhaps this was the factor that mattered the most. Shortly after my birth, this was the place my mother, Queen Alia Monntora Kineta Delisa of Norkindas Kingdom had been found dead. Several of my father's scouts had found her moment before she dissolved into sea foam, with a gash across her stomach that nearly cut her body in two.

It was when I thought of her that I wished that merfolk were like humans, to have an immortal soul. If only I could know that as I sat here, that she watched over me and loved me even if no one else did. Instead, she was just part of the sea foam that washed up on Erik's boots when he came out to talk to me at night. Just what I would become one day.

That last thought set my mind. Besides, fish food or sea foam, it was only a difference of time. If I didn't go through with this now, my time wouldn't even be worthwhile.

Seized with determination, I swam over the border. Instantly the cool, slightly slimy kelp brushed my cheek and I suppressed a scream. Really Pearl, I chided myself, then sighed. How would I deal with the Keahi if I couldn't manage kelp plants? To ensure that my long, flowing hair wouldn't get caught on anything, I tied it back and knotted it. Giving a half hearted swish of my tail, I quietly swam my way through the forest. Hopefully I'd run into her house before I ran into a more unfavorable prospect.

The Kelp forest was pretty, in a different sort of way. The dark, elegant plants were at least a hundred feet tall, and I could see neither the bottom nor the surface. They swayed slightly from the current, and I gradually began to see more marine life-though I wasn't sure if this was good or bad. The further I went, the more spaced out the kelp became to my relief. Every small fish that darted my way I instantly registered as a monster. The light was darker then it was at my home, and I had the uneasy feeling of being watched. I swam as quietly as possible, trying not to elevate my fear.

After some time, all of my determination was whittled down and turned into fear. I was ready to exchange my role as heroine for coward, and stopped swimming quietly. Kalius wasn't looking so bad in comparison; waking up to his eyes every morning seemed very preferable to seeing the great yellow eyes of one of the Sea Witch's pets. In fact, what was I doing here in the first place?

With my bravado carried swiftly away by the current, I turned around to head back.

But had that way been 'back'? Or was it the west? Maybe north? How big was the Kelp forest, anyway?

Charming. I was lost in a forest that was home to rampaging monsters.

I started laughing loudly; out of hysteria, not amusement. My situation was too pitiful to be upset about. Which would get me first? One of the Keahi, or starvation?

Gripping on to a kelp plant, my laughter slowly became more brittle and sorrowful. If mermaids could cry, I would of been sobbing by then. But all I could do was laugh my harsh laugh and marvel at my unlucky fate.

Then I heard it. The deep, scratching call of one of the Keahi, formerly heard only faintly at the edge of the forest. It was far off, but the sound turned my blood cold. I didn't know how well it's hearing was, but a terrified, possibly paranoid feeling raced over me. Had it heard me?

That mere thought alone drove me forward in the opposite direction I had heard it. But more unsettling thoughts came with me, and one burned like a human's fire. My mother had been killed by one of these--which meant that it could out swim our kind

My tail whipped faster than I it could; I flew through the water like a bird in the air. I didn't hear it again, but that didn't mean it wasn't pursuing me. Besides, it was better to believe in paranoia then to chance at being mistaken.

The kelp plants began to thicken again. Letting out a mild curse, I tried not to flinch as the leaves touched my skin and scales. A more profound terror seized my heart as I was literally pushing the plants aside to make way for myself. If this didn't lead somewhere, I was more lost then I had been before-there was nothing but kelp around me. As for one the Keahi-I almost wished it would cry out again. As terrifying as the sound was, it let me know where it was.

Abruptly, the kelp stopped. I blinked for a moment, the change was so sudden. Then almost wished I hadn't. The open space was far from empty; it was akin to a swamp of some sorts. Marine plants sparsely covered the floor, more abundant at the end of the clearing where I assumed the witch lived. But from here to there, the ground was covered--save for a small path--with two things: polypi, and bones.

Polypi are loathsome things, and thankfully sparse in my father's kingdom. They're half animal, half plant scavengers that grew out of the ground and resembled a sea snake. Their branches were long, slimy flexible arms, and they could move every joint from root to tip. They held fast onto whatever they could snatch from the sea, and nothing short of death could persuade them to release their prize.

The bones. I had never seen so many. The polypi had their arm like branches fastened onto anything they could grab, and they clutched rudders, chests, and hundreds of other objects. There were skeletons of animals that belonged to earth, and human bones themselves. Shivering, I hugged myself and tried to think of other things. Suddenly, a face swam in front of mine, and at that moment I screamed. The polypi had managed to catch a mermaid. I stared in shock for a moment, as her pretty, vacant face floated about with the current; she had been dead for a long time. Shivers of terror shot up my back as I realized the possibility of my fate. All the same, I studied the dead mermaid's face for a moment-I had never seen one of our kind dead before. My brow furrowed for a moment; why hadn't she turned into sea foam? Perhaps the Sea Witch's domain was more powerful then I had realized.

Well, I had come this far. Slowly edging my way along, one of the polypi shot their arms out at me. I let out a yelp and whipped my tail away in the nick of time. The hundreds of others swished their branches toward me, and reached with an unearthly yearning. Frightened, I darted about, swimming as fast as I could. I didn't need to be warned twice from the mermaid' skeleton. Still, it had brought a curious question to my mind, one that had been there before. What had my mother been doing in the Sea Witch's forest?

At last, the polypi ended, and I approached the marine plants that would lead me to what I assumed was the sea witch. The plants parted by themselves, and in the midst of the horrifying spot stood a house that was built out of bones. Calmly staring at me, the Sea Witch sat, stroking a sea snake's head.

For all the stories I had heard, I had expected someone who looked like one of the Keahi herself. The Sea Witch was ugly and beautiful at the same time, and terrifying in her own way. Her midnight black hair hung to her waist, and her pale skin glowed like the white bones that surrounded her. Her golden tail had an aged look, and her skin wrinkled slightly. But her pitch black eyes met mine, I had no doubt that she was everything the legends had spoke of and more. They were black, deep pools of wisdom, and I shivered involuntarily.

" You are perhaps the most unintelligent mermaid who has ever come down to see me. Don't look at me like that--I know why you're here, 'jewel of the sea'," the Sea Witch drawled, saying my nickname mockingly.

Her black eyes glittered with something that wasn't malice, but never the less unpleasant. I drew myself up and tried to think of a way to respond that wasn't insulting nor groveling. None came to mind, but fortunately the witch continued.

" Well then it is true what they say, I'll credit you for that. You are indeed beautiful," she remarked, peering closely at me.

I stiffened, and straightened myself. Her black eyes were unsettling, and the bones she sat on weren't helping either. I found my voice, and cleared my throat.

" I came here seeking your help, if you will let me tell you what my problem is" I said meekly.

She laughed at my comment, and I flinched. Her laugh was a dry, cracking sound-the ugliest nosie I had ever heard. All my plans to sound mighty and talk to the Sea Witch as if we were equals had gone down the drain. I had no doubt that this was the Sea Witch who had dwelt here when my grandmother's grandmother was young.

" You mock me, fair princess. As if I don't know what you're problem is already, if we can call it such? It's a foolhardy wish, and I should of let one of my darlings get you when you first stepped foot in this forest. Even her wish wasn't so foolish," the Sea Witch said slowly, nodding her head at the dead mermaid.

I had no doubt who her 'darlings' were. I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to sort my thoughts and push away my fear. I had to be brave. I couldn't let her push me around--the consequences would be too drastic.

" Well it affects you naught! My wish is to become human, and I've come seeking your help, not your counsel," I said strongly, desperately hoping I wouldn't be thrown to the polypi.

The witch laughed again, but this time I didn't flinch. " Ah, she has spirit. Good, we can get down to business now. I had been wondering if you turned out like your mother."

Before I could even process that last remark, the Sea Witch's cracked lips curved upwards into a smile.

" I fear that you are not entirely truthful with me. You want to be a human, yes? Only because you're in love with that young lord, and wish to marry him and get yourself an immortal soul in the bargain? Oh my, how sweet. The prettiest daughter of King Oceanius the great, who has devoted so much of his reign to destroying humans, has raised a human lover. Who believes deeply that a human man will give all of his love to one of your folk. 'Jewel of the Sea', I advise you now: this will plunge you into misfortune, but it is naught to me."

I opened my mouth to vehemently deny it, but realized that her words were nothing but the harsh truth. I bit my lip but met her unwavering gaze. I had come this far; an old witch's opinion wasn't going to deter me. Grazing her hand along one of her snakes, the Sea Witch picked up a sharpened shell.

" I will prepare a potion for you," she said slowly, turning the shell around. " At sunrise, you must swim ashore, then sit down and drink it. Your tail will disappear and shrivel up into a human tail-legs."

My face must of shown relief at such an easy sounding task, because the witch slowly shook her head again. Still smiling, she continued.

" Don't look so relieved, daughter of the sea. This is no gift, it will hurt like a sword was slicing you open. Now you are beautiful, for our kind. But for the humans, you are like an angel-everyone will say that you are the most beautiful mortal ever seen, especially with the floating elegance of your movement. No dancer will ever move so lightly as you, but it isn't the gift it seems. Every ste you take will be like walking on knives so sharp that you will think that your blood must flow. If you want to put up with these sufferings, I can help you."

I paused for a moment; not out of doubt, but out of memory. The faces of my beloved family and friends flew past me. I loved Erik like I knew I would never love another, but it was my world I was talking of sacrifice. The Sea Witch saw my hesitation and I realization came in a flash that I would live in regret if I didn't seize this bargain now.

" Yes," I said steadily just as she opened her mouth to speak.

The Sea Witch raised her eyebrows at me, not entirely convinced.

" If you obtain a human form, you can never be a mermaid again. You'll never return to your father's palace or swim in the water with your sisters. They are mad at you, but your sisters love you more then you realize, little mermaid. In time, they will forgive you, but what good will it do if you are on land? And besides, if you fail to gain this young lord's love to the degree of forgetting any other's wishes for your sake, and loves you with all his soul and bids the priest to join your hands in marriage, then you will never obtain an immortal soul."

The witch sighed at that comment, as if it were a trifle of a thing. " After that, I suppose there is no more point in you existing; you'd only brood away in pain and longing. So for your sake, the very day after he married one that wasn't you, your heart would break and you will dissolve into the foam on the billows like the rest of your kind. Are you still certain?"

Her tone was spiteful, and annoyed me. I loved Erik, but it wasn't the sole reason I wished to live above land. I wanted to ride on a horse and walk on the streets of the beautiful Paris and dance and become educated. I suppose I had become a human lover, but I didn't see why it was so shameful. To have a written language! The idea of all of it made my head dizzy, and I wanted nothing more then to tell the Sea Witch that I was more then an infatuated girl. Let her think she had read my soul--if she had, she would of known that I may of loved a human, but in essence I wanted to be one with all of my heart.

" I'm resolved," I replied, though I knew my face was pale as death.

For all of the human ways I loved, it couldn't change the sea. I was caught between two worlds. The Sea Witch smiled, and this time it was a smile of victory. The snakes at arms slithered around her, and she rose from her throne made of bones. Touching my throat lightly, her black eyes glittered.

" You have the loveliest voice of all the people on this earth, land and sea. Mine is cracked and ugly, though you've been sweet not to comment. I give you your heart's desire, but I ask in return for the most coveted thing in the sea: the last princesses' voice."

My heart skipped a beat. " No," I replied automatically, anger unwillingly creeping into my tone.

I would of given up anything else at that moment, save for Erik. My voice was like a friend to me, and would be my lat reminder of my people's world. Human voices can't compare-I suppose that's why they have instruments--and letting go of my voice would cut off the connection forever. The Sea Witch's eyes flared at that, and I inched back in fear. I heard the waves churning above us, and I was suddenly terrified. But all the same, I didn't back down. All the same, I detected surprise in her dark eyes, and a small part of me felt victory. Who knew how long it had been since someone had surprised the Sea Witch?

" You tread on ground you should not, young princess; you should reconsider. My potion is no trifle that you can buy at a market. I must mix my own blood with it, and that rarely comes cheap. I ask again, your voice."

Never had I been more torn in my life. The closest thing merfolk have to a soul is our prized voices. To sell my voice to be a human was a desperate temptation, but was at the same time an unspeakable horror. Sadness filled me, but I remained resolute.

" My lady, I have considered it, but I cannot sell my voice. To never hear myself as one of my people again would be too much to bear with the combination of knives."

The Sea Witch nodded, her eyes still filled with anger. All the same, they were thoughtful and calculating. The Keahi jumped back in my mind, and suddenly I had an uneasy feeling that she might be inclined to have them snap me in half. Perhaps she could still get my mind that way.

" You drive a hard bargain, I can see that came from Oceanius's side. I will make you one last deal, 'jewel of the sea', and if you reject this one, understand it will be the last. I will give you some time to scurry out of here, but I'm bored. It would amuse me to see who can swim faster: you or my darlings," the witch said silkily, gazing beyond me.

I refused to look back, and also refused to let her threat get to me.

" On the night of the full moon your lovely voice will come to you when your feet touch the water. That is one time in a human month, and a lucky bargain I have given you indeed. Do you take it," the witch asked, her voice hard now.

I knew my luck, and answered before I could feel the loss. " Yes, I do."

The Sea Witch's face resumed it's cracked smile. " Good. Now that we are done with the pleasantries, we can move on to business."

Turning her back from me, she glided over to her cauldron and began throwing various items in it. I turned my head, and couldn't bare to watch. One night. It was better then I could of hoped for, and would have to do.

" What do I have left if you take away my voice," I asked impudently, my voice shaking somewhat.

The witch chuckled over my grief. " My, vain aren't we? But I suppose I would be too if I had a voice like yours. Still, you surprise me. You have your lovely form, your buoyant carriage, and those expressive violet eyes. Since when does a man count on personality or wit in a woman?"

" But that's what this is about! If I loved a man for his looks and wanted that in return, I'd have gone ahead with my betrothal," I told her, frustrated.

It seemed as if all the world assumed that beauty was all that mattered. While I knew Erik thought highly of my beauty, he also enjoyed our conversations and our common pursuit of knowledge. The witch raised her eyebrow, but said nothing.

At last, the potion was finished, and she handed it to me in a small vial. It glowed brightly, and I realized that I held my destiny in my hands.

Closing my eyes, I extended my throat. " Will this hurt," I asked in a tight voice.

I could feel her repulsive smile, and at that moment hated her. Even in Kalius had I detected that an occasional, extremely rare kindness. But the Sea Witch seemed to care for nothing, and I could see no love in her whatsoever.

" You won't feel a thing," she told me as she placed her hands on my throat.

She was both right and wrong. Physically, I felt nothing. But the moment she took it, it was if someone had ripped out my heart. I felt naked and ugly, and immediately tried to tell her so. A rasping noise came from my mouth, and a wave of sorrow overcame me. It was gone.

" Don't look so sad. It'll come back by the full moon, which is in a few human days. And if you have trouble with any of the polypi, just sprinkle some of my potion on them," a luminous, beautiful voice told me, the voice that had come out of my mouth for the last sixteen years of my life.

The Sea Witch smiled smugly, pleased at the sound. Anger and want churned up in me, and if it hadn't been for the reminder of the Keahi that lurked in the kelp, I would of leaped on her that moment.

" You can leave now; the polypi won't bother you," she drawled again, glowing at the tone.

If I had a voice, I would of snidely remarked that silence was better then having her voice, but thankfully I had no words. But underneath it all, I did not regret it. Erik and the human world were worth a voice.

Just before I turned around to go, a flash of interest caused the witch to raise her hand. " Wait. Princess, I said before that I was bored and tired. A game of wits and strength would cheer me up, and since I have so kindly agreed to give you your voice on the night of the full moon, you will indulge me in my game. I will give you a head start, of course; but for a game, I'll call upon my darlings. They'll be interested to know that another mermaid lurks within their territory. If you can make it to the edge before they catch you, you've earned that night. If not.....well, it's a pity."

My eyes stared at her hard; this wasn't part of the bargain. She tricked me, she couldn't change the rules after we were finished. Catching my eyes, the Sea Witch read my mind.

" Not fair, you think it? Well, I'll admit that perhaps my methods are a bit unfair. Merfolk have came and gone from this forest before, but it's all under my leave. If it's up to the Keahi to decide, then I'm sorry to say no merman or maid ever seems to swim quite fast enough, no matter how much of a start I give them."

The witch shrugged her shoulders at this last comment, but her eyes were more expressive. She raised a single, bony finger.

" One, however, came very close. It was right at the edge one of my darlings caught her, sadly enough. Another moment and she would of been safe, but alas, that's our life. Don't look so worried! Surely if your mother could get that close, you could too, don't you think?"

I gaped at that, shaking with horror and anger. Essentially, she had killed my mother. I had made a deal with the monster that killed my mother. My eyes narrowed, and I moved toward her swiftly, my mouth spouting out words that no fair princess should know-though it didn't matter, for my voice was gone.

The Sea Witch began to look bored. " Perhaps one day you'll learn what Alia came down here for. You should ask your grandmother. Now you should start swimming, your beginning to bore me."

Lifting one of the polished shells on her throne, she tapped it three times. The noise magnified itself hundreds of times, and I clapped my hands over my ears.

" Swim fast, little mermaid. They know your hear," the witch drawled, her lovely voice floating through the water.

I gaped at her for another moment; my purple eyes and black eyes met, and an understanding passed for a moment. We both knew what it was like to be an outcast. As she began to laugh, I whipped around and swam for my life.

I didn't let myself stop when I reached the polypi, just hurled myself along. The gruesome plants backed away from me, terrified of the glowing potion I held in my hand. I swirled past the dead mermaid, her tail colliding with my hand. I screamed, but no sound came out. The mermaid's haunted eyes bore into me, as if to say, ' Go. It's too late for me, but you can still make it.'

I swam over the polypi and flew into the kelp. The slimy plants slithered across my body as I parted through them, and it was all I could do to not scream in horror at my surroundings. Gradually, the plants started to thin again, and the water became more clear. I was half way through.

A grating, terrifying scream ripped through the water, and I clapped my hands over my ears once more, my heart freezing. It was within fifty feet of me.

Instead of racing on like anyone else would of done, I halted and closed my eyes. Pearl, you've fought a great white shark; you've defied your country, you've haggled with the Sea Witch, and you've loved a human. The Keahi are monsters at the Sea Witch's will, but that doesn't mean they're intelligent. You can't out swim them, but can you...out wit them?

My eyes flew open, and I realized that I was too late.

Only one had found me, but it was enough. The stories were true; it resembled an eel the size of a great white shark. It's dark body was tinted dark green, making it blend in with the kelp. Silently, it slithered gracefully through the water towards me. I stood still, not daring to breathe. It's humongous yellow eyes studied me carefully, and I couldn't help but stare at it's mouth. Razor sharp teeth lined the insides, and decaying flesh hung off from a few of them. I resisted the urge to vomit.

It regarded me for a few moments, circling slowly. The end of it's massive body touched my stomach briefly, and I was surprised that it was smooth and silky. I shivered, as the beast continued to watch me. It called out briefly once, and my eardrums screamed. What was it doing? Why wasn't it eating me?

Realization suddenly dawned on me. It was waiting for it's mate.

Then came the other shriek. It was close as well, perhaps no more then thirty feet away. I had no time left, and without a second thought, I dove straight down. Straightening myself, as I plummeted through the cold water. I heard one of the monsters shriek again, and heard both of them diving down after me. The Sea Witch had built her house on an elevated patch of sand; the kelp surrounding her house was hundreds of feet high, and if I could just get to the bottom.......

Something snapped at my leg, and the piercing shriek came again, directly behind me. I suppressed a gasp; they swam faster then I had imagined.

I veered sharply to the left, abruptly ceasing my free fall. The beasts would try to do the same, but it would take longer with their massive bulk. Rocketing forty feet forward, I abruptly dove back down.

I continued to repeat the process several times, but soon it wasn't good enough. They were tireless, and catching on to my schemes. Even now, I panted and practically clawed at the water like a human to make my way through. I couldn't go on for much longer. I was jolted from my thoughts slightly when I realized the kelp was thickening. I was almost out! I veered left, knowing that I had a few moments before they would be breathing on my neck. I had no weapons.

An impulsive idea suddenly occurred to me, and I recalled the Sea Witch's now beautiful words, " Sprinkle some of the potion on the polypi if you have any trouble with them."

They were creatures of the Sea Witch, and of the Keahi. I stared at the potion...I wondered.

I acted on it before I thought twice. Gritting my teeth, I ripped out a fist full of my maroon hair and tied it onto one of the kelp plants. Clutching my potion in my other hand, I pulled out the cork and hid myself in the kelp. Hopefully they would go after my hair before they smelled me out.

Sure enough, the first one raced out of the shadows, hissing. It lunged for the dark red-purple piece of my hair that it saw, and snapped the kelp plant in two without thinking.

The creature floated for a moment, confused. It's mate was nowhere in sight, and the creature slowly nudged the kelp plants, searching for me.

It's snout was directly next to me, and I didn't breathe. Slowly, it nudged the kelp plants that surrounded me to the side, and for the second time I found myself staring at the piercing yellow eyes. Before I could react to my fear, I hurled sadly half of the potion in the creatures eyes.

It shrieked a sound more hideous then I had heard, even worse then before. I gasped at the sheer harshness of it, and watched it's yellow eyes begin to bubble and disintegrate where the potion had touched them.

I came out of my reverie when I heard the swishing of the other monster, and shot out past the newly blind Keahi. It's mate nudged it for a moment, and I gained precious time. But soon behind m, it shrieked angrily, and began to swim after me. Then it all boiled down. There were no more tricks I could pull, not enough time to throw the potion even if I wanted to. It was nothing more then a sheer race at this point; who could get to the end first?

I saw the lighter color of the ocean outside the Kelp forest up ahead. I desperately swam for all I was worth, clawing at the water like a human to increase my speed. The end of the forest raced up before me, and the monster snapped at my tail. Teeth briefly tore into my tail, and I screamed mute agony. But the end was so close--I swam like a demon, but the monster was right behind me. I wasn't going to make it......

I never knew what it was that I had heard that day. But as the monster opened it's jaws, ready to snap my body in two, I heard a voice. It was clear and beautiful, and it's tone was worried.

" Hurry, Pearl! Swim faster, it can't get you, I've tried to distract as well as I can, but it's up to you to swim over the border! Just a few more feet!," the voice echoed.

It was worried and full of love, and it woke me up. My tail whipped with new found strength, and I hurled myself out into the blue sea of Norkindas just before the monster's jaws closed on my tail. The open sea was a relief, and I turned back to stare at the halted monster. The tales were true; it didn't dare go beyond the forest's border.

I stared at it smugly for a few moments as victory swam over me. The yellow eyes regarded me for a moment, then it disappeared into the dark forest. I laughed, but no sound came out. My life had changed, but I was alive and had beat the Keahi. As I swam towards the surface to drink my potion, I wondered what I had heard. It confused me, and I didn't know what to make of it.

For though I was told that I had been too young to remember her when she died, the loving voice I had heard at the edge of the forest had sounded like my mother's.

I broke into the surface after awhile, and stared at the palace in front of me. I had made it just in time; the sun would rise shortly. I carefully studied my vial that contained the pure, bubbling substance. I had to drink it before I lost my nerve.

Closing my eyes, I pulled myself up on the steps. Studying the vial for one last time, I ran my hand down my sleek purple tail. Never would I swim down to the deep again. But never would I have to deal with my family's ostracizing or my betrothal. And I would have Erik.

Tilting my throat back, I drank what remained of the potion in one sweep. As the last drop passed my lips, I heaved myself all the way on the marble steps and waited for the potion to take it's effect. For several moments, nothing happened. I suddenly wondered if I had to drink the entire potion for it to have an effect....perhaps I shouldn't have thrown so much at the sea monster?

Before I could contemplate that further, a faint pang began at the end of my tail. It throbbed slightly, and I smiled. The Sea Witch had exaggerated--obviously she had never been too badly hurt. My thoughts abruptly halted as a agonizing jolt of pain shot through my body. I gasped, and several more came. They spread into pain-wracked convulsions, and mercifully, I fainted.