~Chapter 12~

Joel

Noella disappeared down into the murky depths and the last I saw of her was her red tail making a splash as she left me alone. I kicked the sand in frustration with my boot. Something was wrong, but I didn't know what and I hated the unknown. I slung Noella's pack on my back and ascended the stairs up to Eric's palace and found Eric waiting for me in the dining hall.

"So you made it!" Eric greeted cheerfully, "I finally got you off the beach." He winked.

"Y-Yeah." I replied.

"I'm all about the ocean too, but surely a man's gotta eat." Eric continued.

I was distracted staring out at the waves wondering what had Noella so preoccupied. She certainly wasn't acting like herself.

"You okay, Joel?" Eric asked curiously.

"Yeah, fine." I nodded, "Say, what's on the menu?" I asked curiously.

Soon, a dark haired petite woman wearing a red dress and white apron came into the room adding a third dish setting to the table.

"Hey Carlotta, what's being served tonight?" Eric asked the woman.

"Oh, one of chefs favorite dishes...stuffed crab." Carlotta replied. "Oh and your guest will be out shortly." She winked at Eric.

"Great." Eric nodded.

A few minutes later, Ariel came out wearing a nice blush ball gown and she really was beaming brightly. Eric stood to his feet and I followed his lead standing politely as my mom taught me when a woman entered the room it was polite to do so. Eric pulled her chair out for her and she gracefully sat down. She looked down at the plate and silverware in front of her and she immediately grabbed the fork and starting brushing her hair with it. Eric and I exchanged curious glances and I held back a laugh biting my lip. When Ariel noticed our expressions, her cheeks flushed pink and she put down the fork looking embarrassed. I tried changing the subject drawing the attention from Ariel, but soon servants came around the table with the food. We all began eating and Ariel didn't touch the food at first watching Eric and I carefully wanting to do things right. I was hungrier than I realized and scarfed down my plate and it definitely didn't take long for me to feel full. Soon, I heard a noise coming from the pack.

"Pst, Noella! Are you there?" The voice said.

It was faint and muffled, but I heard it. The voice was coming from Noella's pack, which I put on the floor. I grabbed the pack quickly before the voice came back and promptly excused myself from the table. There were people walking all throughout the halls here, so I went outside and down the palace steps to the beach to get some privacy. I found a spot sitting down in the sand resting my back against a large rock. Quickly, I dug through Noella's bag until I pulled out the black box. The voice kept repeating itself.

"Hey Noella. Are you there? It's been a week and I haven't heard from you. Are you okay?"

I contemplated whether or not I should attempt to answer, but in the end I pushed several buttons until my voice went through the device and I received an answer.

"H-Hello." I answered. "I'm sorry Noella isn't here at the moment, but she'll be back." I answered timidly trying to understand this strange magic contraption.

"Oh hi...Thanks for answering. Are you that guy traveling with my sister?" The voice asked.

"Yes, I'm Joel. It's nice to meet you though it's not face to face."

"I'm Riley." She replied, "Have you guys found our mother." She asked.

"Not yet…" I muttered. A twinge of guilt permeated inside my heart. This was stupid I shouldn't talk to her sister. Eventually blood would be on my hands and Noella will be taken away from her.

"Aw darn it! How many mirrors are left?" She asked.

"I'm not entirely sure." I answered, "Hey can I ask you a question?" I asked suddenly.

"What is it?" Riley replied.

"Is your sister forgetful?" I asked.

Riley immediately started laughing.

"Yeah right." She answered once she composed herself. "Noella has an incredible memory. She can remember things from when she was four years old. I'd call that impressive. Why do you ask?"

"She just doesn't seem like herself is all. I feel like she's forgetting things. Earlier today, I told her to check in with you and she couldn't remember why she needed this thing to speak."

"Are you serious?"

I probably shared too much. Great now I could add upsetting a ten year old to my list of horrible things I've done.

"Where are you guys now?" Riley asked.

"I'm at Prince Eric's palace. Noella is going to meet me here later."

"I hope she is able to find that place again." Riley replied sounding glum.

She had an alarming point. Noella seemed spacey and forgetful a little earlier, but maybe it would progressively get worse.

"Has she seen Ursula?" Riley asked.

"Who's that?" I replied curiously.

"She's a sea witch and a very bad person." She replied.

Noella never mentioned a name, but I don't know somehow I figured that maybe she had to see her about the mirror. It made sense that an evil witch would be in possession of a magic mirror. This was bad, but I didn't want to alarm Noella's sister again.

"Oh I see Noella." I lied suddenly.

"Really? Please put her on?" Riley begged.

"She's in the middle of something right now, but I promise she'll talk soon."

"Joel…" She whined.

I must say until this moment I forgot she was ten years old.

"Don't you like my sister?" Riley asked still in a whiny tone.

The question caught me off guard and I hesitated before I replied.

"Sure I do." I said abruptly.

"Well if that's true...you'd let us talk." She replied.

I exhaled a sigh of relief thinking she was going to pressure me further bringing the conversation to a whole other topic.

"Goodbye, Riley. Noella will talk soon."

"Okay Joel, tell my sister I miss her."

"Will do. Bye." I replied and pressed the button shutting off the green light on the device. I had to think. How could I help Noella from on land? I never wished so hard to grow a tail so I could help her face this Ursula person. Suddenly, I heard a splashing sound and I looked out on the water and I saw a yellow fish with blue stripes on his side. He was jumping in and out of the water trying to get my attention. Beside the fish was a crab and they both quickly swam toward me.

"Hi human sir…" The fish said timidly.

Hearing animals talk didn't really surprise me anymore by now.

"You're friends with Noella, yes?" The crab asked.

I nodded.

"Have you seen her?" I asked.

"Yes, mon." The crab replied, "She was headed toward Ursula's home when the sun began to touch the water."

I was right she had gone to see that Ursula woman.

"At sundown, huh?" I answered. "Look, I know you don't owe me anything, but can you help Noella? I can't breathe underwater and I don't know where Ursula lives."

"Sure ting, mon." The crab replied.

"We like Noella. Any friend of Ariel's is a friend of ours." The fish replied.

"Well, great. Just get her back here safely. Please." I pressed.

The two creatures nodded and promptly disappeared into the depths.