Authoress Notes: Brand new chapter, this one was a pain to write because I couldn't exactly find the right words but when I did it all came together. Clary's going to see the sea witch cue Lilith's main apperance. Hope you enjoy and there will be a happy ending!
Disclaimer: I Don't Own Anything.
Chapter Six
"Mom I've been meaning to ask you do humans actually live eternally or do they die just like we do here in the sea?" Clary merely asked. Her arms rested on the polished surface of her mother's vanity table. Jocelyn's green eyes looked up at the youngest of her children through her long lashes, as they narrowed mostly out of suspicion, her delicate fingers weaving another pearl into her daughter's hair. It was practically almost sunset and the grand ball was about to start in a half-hour. Everyone who was anyone was going to be there, for it was the 1,000-year anniversary of peace for Atlantis and there was to be a huge celebration.
Tessa, Kaelie, Selene, Lydia and herself had been busy nearly almost the continuous day adequately preparing and getting ready decorating the various halls and windows, and also the ballroom itself with Magnus's help they'd transformed it into a beautiful atmosphere like never before.
Imogen the Queen's mother and Clary's grandmother was on the other side of the room finishing up her hair and accessories for the ball as well. She preferred to keep to herself and would never listen in on her family's private conversations.
"What makes you want to know something like that sweetie?" her mother asked, picking up another pin from the counter. Her dainty fingers working fast, twirling among the younger mermaids red long tresses, creating gorgeous looping curls on the right side of her lovely head. Clary attempted to search her mind for an answer, picking through the various conflicting thoughts from behind her forehead. There had to be some sort of reason that she could somehow come up with in order to persuade her mother to explain the burning question. A scowl formed on her face, while her brow creased together.
"I honestly was just wondering that's all. You and Grandma seem to understand and know more about the human world than I do. If they don't drown or something like that can they truly live forever?" she said.
Jocelyn knowingly gave her daughter a sincere smile, for it extended all the way to her glittering eyes. She wanted to answer Clary's questions truthfully and honestly, knowing the truth could probably cause her a great amount of pain and a headache. Indeed talking about it was a sensitive topic. But if she sincerely wanted to reasonably know the evident truth there wasn't a sufficient reason that she shouldn't.
"Well to be honest with you Clary, you are undoubtedly aware that met-people only live about three hundred years. Depending on various factors. A human beings lifespan, however, is actually very much shorter than ours."
Clary nodded in direct response to her mother's specific words, "Yes I know what you're justly saying. We do as a matter of fact."
Jocelyn continued to carefully comb through her daughters hair making sure every single strand was perfect while also paying attention to what she was asking and adequately explaining it all as well as she could.
"Absolutely and as sea creatures of our kind we may indeed enjoy long joyous lives during those years. But as you are aware we cease to exist as actual humans typically do. When we die, we become nothing more than the foam on the ocean waves. A merperson doesn't even have a grave down here for our loved ones to visit or remember us by. We don't possess an immortal soul," she said.
The young mermaids eyes widened at her mother's words for that pivotal moment when she said that sparked an unprecedented interest in the subject matter. She thought she knew almost everything about human beings, but she'd never heard of anything such as a soul. From the various books, research and learning from Jace she was even more intrigued.
"An immortal soul? What exactly are you talking about Mom?"she asked.
Jocelyn set down the brush she was holding back onto the proportional counter before picking up a sky blue headband which she carefully placed on the top of Clary's head. It carefully added just the exact right touch to the unique look she was eagerly trying to achieve.
"Humans possess what is known as an immortal soul that is given to each of them from birth. This soul is inside them and is very precious. It lives eternally even after a person dies. Even though the humans body turns to dust their soul rises up through the clear, pure crystal air. It travels and goes beyond the midnight sky and stars, as we rise from the water and see the whole earth but cannot experience it they go to a place called heaven."
"Heaven. What exactly is that? I've never heard of it before. Is it a faraway place or the name of another kingdom?"she said.
Her mother shook her head sadly. The queens soft dark pale eyes were typically focused on her daughter as she didn't particularly like merely discussing these sort of unpleasant matters, but in all she was more than happy to answer her questions.
"I'm afraid not my love. It's a place far beyond this civilized world. A glorious beautiful paradise where the mortal soul goes to live eternally, reunited with their family, friends and loved ones. We on the other hand as you're well aware we cease to ever exist. Because once we typically die, a mermaid or a merman promptly becomes foam on the ocean waves."
"I'm aware of that Mom. Consequently as a sea creature, we'll never be known at all in this world even after we die?"
"Yes Clary. It's our fate from the moment we're born into this world. Nothing can alter that. Even if the eternal fates graciously allowed it especially for you my darling, it could never happen."
"Mom why can't we receive an immortal soul just like a human being? It's honestly not fair at all. I gladly would give anything including all of the stupid dumb hundred years that I have left as a mermaid to become a real human being even if it's just for one day. To retain the genuine sincere hope of experiencing everlasting happiness of that gorgeous world beyond the stars in the sky."
"Clarissa, you mustn't say or think that way," her grandmothers voice wisely said from behind them. Imogen hadn't been listening to their private conversation but those specific words that her maternal granddaughter spoke about suddenly captured her considerable interest.
"We see ourselves to be so much better off and happier than those absurd people who live above the sea," her grandmother properly said.
"The boundless ocean realistically is your true home Clary. It's where you were naturally born and where you must willingly return when you die. The abundant waters have genuinely loved, cared and sheltered you from imminent danger or any conceivable sort of potential harm. It's where you rightfully belong and a essential part of who you realistically are," Jocelyn promptly added.
"So what you're both saying correctly is that I'll eventually die and become foam on the gentle waves. Never even to be known or remembered for my life and time here on earth. As foam on the waves I'll never behold the enchanted land or shores, smell the lovely flowers, hear the music of the waves crashing against the beach or even feel the sun? Isn't there anything I could do to gain an immortal soul?"
Jocelyn carefully shook her head. "No honey. Unless a mortal human man or woman were to truly and genuinely love you so much that you were more important to them than his parents or anyone else in their eyes and heart. All of their conscious thoughts would be naturally focused on you, making a vow of everlasting love and then a prominent part of their generous soul would float into your choosen body; and only then would you finally at last typically retain a dear soul of your own, ensuring your prominent place in the eternal happiness of the civilized world and of mankind."
Imogen nodded, "The sole problem is Clary that your mermaid tail which is considered to be exquisitely beautiful amongst your family and friends here in the sea, on land however, it's thought to be absolutely hideous and ugly. They think it more attractive to possess two human legs in order to be beautiful."
The redhaired mermaid eyes lowered to the ground at her tail, her heart was suddenly full of sadness just like on the beach earlier that day when she and Jace had finally told each other their true genuine feelings. She knew that he loved her, and he knew that she loved him back.
"Be happy Clary, for you and your beloved sisters and longtime friends is graciously allowed to typically visit the human world whenever your heart desires. We are promptly to naturally have a lovely court ball this lovely evening. Promptly let us dance merrily and sing joyously, contentedly eat drink and be merry, for all of us we thankful for our countless interminable years of living."
The three of them were currently getting ready for the grand ball that was being held that memorable night. Jocelyn had efficiently been at work styling her own hair and generously helping her beloved daughter as well. Gentle pleasant light radiated from a couple of glowing lanterns which hung prominently on the upper walls of the queen's private room. Before long it was time for the grand party. She followed her mother and grandmother out the door, before Jocelyn secured it behind her.
Clary's mind wasn't at all focused on the party that was currently being held for the unified kingdom. Her private thoughts were elsewhere as she swam along behind her family through the long winding corridor. At the double doors entrance Luke and her beloved sisters and dear brother along with Simon and Magnus were all waiting for them.
Luke gave his wife and daughter an affectionate smile, as he clasped her hand into his before turning to his children. All of her sisters looked exceptionally beautiful and elegant for the evening. Tessa wore precisely an array of blue violets woven into her brunette hair, with a silver crown on her head, while Kaelie and Lydia each had pink matching rose crowns with lilies decorating the middle and glittering pink diamond necklaces and earrings, and Selene wore dark blue ribbons each tied together into her braids. Jonathan's dark hair was sliced back.
Simon and Magnus looked very handsome as always and they each gave Clary a welcoming smile to greet her. Magnus's hair was styled in its usual spiky do, except this time he used a little scarlet dye to enhance the black. And he was covered in glitter as grand celebration soon began after the glorious sunset.
The ballroom itself was a large, spacious room with an open hall and an adequate dance floor. Its walls were made of the most beautiful clear thick transparent crystal, decorated with iron torches in which red crimson fire arranged neatly in colossal shells of distinctive shapes and sizes hung overhead. Each of them brilliantly handcrafted with adequate care and luminous efficiency, brilliantly lighting up the entire room. The mellow lights illuminated the pristine place even the dark crystal waters.
Wonderfully sounding music floated out from the large palace windows, for the atmosphere was happy and festive that night. It was one of those lovely nights that not a single human would see on earth. The very walls of the ballroom gleamed brightly as Luke and Jocelyn entered with their children. Many of their frequent guests including many dear friends and family had already arrived to cordially greet them.
A group of musicians sat upon a platform with their various different instruments from which beautiful sounds came were spread out all over the room, with benches for everyone to sit on along with comfortable cushions and small pillows if their guests wanted to recline. A grand feast had been arranged as satisfactorily.
Large platters of various numerous dishes and foods were being served. As soon as everyone sat down, a dedicated server would set a plate of shimmering small roasted songbirds arranged quite nicely and beautifully with roasted potatoes, spotted quail eggs and asparagus tips. In addition, included their choices of a cold potato leek soup, fried calamari served with a side of oysters or green kelp. Mountains of red and green grapes were piled high in the key center, along with figs and other fruits including watermelon, brilliant oranges, delicious apples and nuts.
Tessa spotted two of her longtime friends and swam over to talk candidly to them. Kaelie and Lydia sat comfortably at one of the decorated tables with several youthful mermen genuinely admiring them from afar. One of them summoned up the courage to ask them to dance, and the girls accepted. Magnus was engaged in a pleasant conversation talking with Simon and Catrina, while Jonathan participated in a chess match with one of his friends from the city.
Various merpeople were dancing and enjoying a tremendous time, enjoy themselves. Music played from the orchestra, upbeat certain songs, some slow and some faster than the others. Tessa flung her lovely head back in infectious laughter as a youthful merman named Will spun her around, while Kaelie and Lydia were beside her as well dancing. Jocelyn and Luke sat in deep conversation with two of their lifelong friends. Selene was invariably at the same table eating.
Clary's vivid eyes watched the whole party get under way, as she had pinpointed a quiet spot to sit contentedly and genuinely think. She'd stolen away to her garden in the large courtyard, sitting by the marble fountain in its precise center. Her private thoughts and feelings were on the contrary elsewhere in that moment as she replayed what her mother and grandmother had advised her about that particular afternoon. The sole way for her to be with Jace was to become a human being.
Her vigilant eyes looked sadly at her green mermaid tail which rested underneath her. There realistically was one possible way for that one dream of hers to finally at last come true. She would have to travel to the exceedingly treacherous outskirts of the kingdom and seek out Lilith the sea witch and somehow convince her to aid her. Clary was consciously aware that the journey would be dangerous but what other choice invariably did she have?
Seeing Lilith was the only solution she had and come hell or high water, she would seek her out. Even if Simon and Magnus tried to stop her she wouldn't listen.
"By the Angel, what I can do do about this?" she whispered confidentially, her pale eyes staring off into the distance, not really paying attention to anyone or anything around her.
"What are you talking about Clary? Do about what?"
A familiar voice suddenly caused the mermaid to snap out of her private thoughts. She looked up to see Simon and Magnus swimming towards her. Even though they were a bit of a distance away, she could still see their faces clearly. The mermaids best friends faces alight each with a beaming smile to perceive her.
"Hey Clare, Magnus and I were naturally wondering where you were," Simon said, as he lowered himself to the ground beside her. His arm rested on the cold marble fountains polished surfaces.
"There you are biscuit; we've been looking all for you," Magnus said sitting down beside them.
"I'm terribly sorry you guys. I didn't realize you were over here. I sincerely wasn't in the mood really for celebrating tonight," she admitted.
"That's all right you don't need to be sorry. We all undergo our days when we don't feel like undertaking anything. So why the long face?" Simon asked.
Clary typically looked at him genuinely puzzled for a pivotal moment. Her eyebrows scrunched together. She had no idea what they were even talking about or referring too. Well in essential fact she promptly did but she unanimously decided to flat out deny it altogether.
"What are you talking about? What face? This is my face."
The likely two of them merely looked at one another for a pivotal moment turned back to her, their prominent eyebrows elevated and their protecting arms remained crossed.
Simon looked at her up and down, his brown eyes scrutinized her with scrutiny.
"No offense Clary but you are a very bad liar."
"Yeah we've both known you for years. What's up?"
She allowed a profound sigh miraculously escape her gentle lips undoubtedly knowing she couldn't hide anything from her two best friends. Clary twisted her fingers together for a moment before glancing them both in the eye and at length spoke.
"To be honest with you both I've been feeling very upset and down lately because of one exact reason. Jace told me that he loved me today and I told him that I loved him too."
Simon's and Magnus's each suddenly brightened as they both smiled with happiness for her. The grin on her best friends faces warmed her heart so much, and she always knew they would understand.
"It's about time, and so good to hear. I told Izzy that couple weeks ago, and she genuinely felt the same way. She's the girl for me," Simon said with a thoughtful look on his face.
Magnus grinned delightedly, "How wonderful for you both my dear friends. My sincerest best wishes. Alec said that to me last week. He's my soulmate."
Clary smiled,"That's wonderful.I'm thrilled for you guys. The thing is though Jace and I talked about something important. We want to be with each other always. You both would do anything for the one you loved right?"
Simon and Magnus each arched an elevated eyebrow at her specific words in apparent confusion. The younger merman's familiar face had confusion written all over his face, while Magnus was more fascinated in the concept of the question before he responded to what she had just said.
"Of course I would. If it undoubtedly meant I could be with Izzy forever then absolutely."
"I definietly would as well too for Alec without a reasonable doubt. No questions asked. But where exactly are you going with this Clary?" Simon wondered.
She bit her lip mostly out of nervousness, knowing that what she was about to tell them would make them both extremely angry and hostile. Every merchild had grown up knowing and hearing the stories of the horrible and terrible sea witch Liilth. But Clary knew somehow she couldn't be as bad as they said.
"I found a very clear solution for my troubles. I'm going to see Lilith," she finally said.
Simon and Magnus's eyes each suddenly went wide at her words. The wheels in her best friends head slowly began to turn as he processed exactly what she had just said. All twitches of exictement and happiness in Simon's form halted almost immediately. His expression froze so hard and it gazed so hard at her that she thought for certain that her heart would burst.
Magnus stayed calm for the most part but Simon did not. She knew that he sometimes had a habit of overreacting at times, especially when it came to her or Magnus's safety.
On the contrary Simon's eyes softened for a moment. Her best friends eyes bulged wide in some sort of strange mix of confusion and horror, and Clary swallowed, forcing the anxiety back into her throat and made herself hold Simon's gaze. After several moments of torturous silence he finally spoke.
"Clary are you out of your mind? Haven't you ever listened to the countless warnings and stuff about how awful she is?" he said.
She rolled her eyes mostly out of annoyance at Simons choice of words he used to scold her with. Clary knew exactly what she was getting herself into and this was what she wanted.
"Actually I am and to be honest I'm quite well aware of the risks. She's the only person who may know a spell that could turn me human."
"Yeah but we don't actually know if it may work or not."
"Well that's a risk I'm willing to take. I'm leaving now," she said even before they could stop her.
Without even bothering to even look back, Clary right away left the safe and happy atmosphere of the brightly lit palace that rested on the stable ground, setting off into the unknown. Her small hands gripped the sides of her body, while she swam through the familiar palace and village in which she'd learned to call home over the last several years of her life. The modern town itself was usually ridiculously cheery and tranquil at night, when normally it was dark and silent as glass.
Small shops including the marketplace, a local bookstore, and other small businesses sat in perfectly straight cordial rows. Many of their doorways lit by small lanterns which glowed softly. Sea plants growing naturally in decorative pots undoubtedly added a pleasant touch and gentle splashes of complementary color to the local establishments. Her green eyes properly focused on the long journey ahead, for she couldn't be hindered or bothered by any potential distractions. The dark crystal waters of her home were silent as she slipped past the pearly gates to the city's entrance and with one last glance over her shoulder, she set off into the boundless ocean.
The direct path to Lilith's lair was undoubtedly a long and scary one that no mermaid or merman had ever dared valiantly attempted to travel to. Clary promptly let a huff, mostly out of mutual frustration, which fortunately escaped her lips. She'd been traveling for what genuinely seemed and almost felt like hours. Nothing around her had subtly changed until that exact moment. But soon that all changed. She soon found herself in a very dark and rather scary looking place. She'd diligently watched as the oceanside scenery around her suddenly changed. Instead of the normal plants, animals and glistening sand covered ground which was usually there it all vanished.
Everything adjacent to her all had morphed into much deeper, darker, shaded things that she couldn't see. The once vibrant plants nearly almost had no glossy leaves covering their, thin scraggly branches. Each of them, upon further inspection, discovered looked like twisted and grotesque fingers.
The once bright blue dark crystal waters above her had suddenly turned dark, and quite dusky, the ocean air around her was strangely quiet. It hung with a very unnerving and uneasy silence. The impenetrable darkness had instantly formed into a thick mist, that genuinely seemed to wash over and dissipate everything in its direct path. Active volcanoes that spewed hot boiling lava waves sent tremors throughout the restless earth.
Whirlpools churned like the horrible storm of the memorable night she fondly remembered rescuing Jace. These threatened to suck her into a prominent place where potential nightmares were born. She naturally came upon a dark tall forest of seaweed that seemed invariably to be growing naturally from the fertile ground itself. Upon further inspection she invariably found that they were a deep dark brown color and appeared to be in the worst case of gradual decay.
She quickly swam through the tall brown plants intentionally keeping her eyes forward. Everything around her had been as silent and quiet before she finally emerged from the forest. In front of her how was a long disgusting wasteland that genuinely seemed to drag on forever. Intact skeletons of drowned sailors stood out in the profound darkness, half buried in the dark yellow sand. No flowers, sea plants, nothing grew out there. No flowers, sea plants, nothing grew out there.
She nearly almost got dragged down into a large lake of boiling mud when one of the whirlpools instantly caught her in its gusty tunnel, but she was able to free herself from the winds strong grasp.
Right in the center of a strange forest, where all the trees and flowers were polypi, half animals, and half plants; they looked like little snakes with a hundred visible heads growing right out of the dirt. The branches were long, slimy arms with flexing tips. They moved fast and were deadly.
"Those things are absolutely disgusting," she said to herself as she swam above them.
The oceans water temperature almost immediately dropped in pressure as she finally came to a large black mountain, where a large circular structure stood, carved out of the very mountain was made entirely of black pearl, and jagged walls bent into the complex structure acted like a birdcage waiting for its prey to be ensnared. The entranceway realistically was a tall door made out of preserved bones from the many victims that the mighty sea claimed. Lilith's private house was also part of a vicious sea monster. She had never seen anything like it, and she nearly almost didn't go near it because of how scary it naturally looked.
Clary swam up to the ornate door, as she cautiously approached the sinister looking place. She knew for a fact that this for certain had to correctly be the sea witches lair. Her deft fingers instantly grasped the cold stone handle on the decorated door before carefully opening up it up just a little bit. Inside it was dark freezing and cold again. A gleaming row of demon statues carefully lined each side of the long dark hallway, their gleaming fangs glistening with a strange crimson red glow.
The princess swam faster to another door which typically made of a plain wood, the small stone antechamber inside was not as large but quickly opened to a larger, but open cavernous room, perfectly round like a castle turret. The decorated walls were naturally made of a dark stone color as she voluntarily entered. Various candid portraits of strange creatures were neatly arranged along the huge walls; they looked so legitimately and nearly almost life like it almost scared her.
In the middle of the room, was a large raised platform with some visible symbols carefully carved into the very dark stone. Orange flames burned inside two lit torches, on a large upper shelf nearby sat various different bottles and unique items while an open black cauldron sat in the center of the room.
"This place is so..." Clary promptly began gently rubbing her gentle hands over her arms and shoulders.
"Beautiful isn't it my dear?" a distinctive voice that invariably came from the luminous shadows immediately snapping Clary out of her conscious thoughts and nearly causing the mermaid to instantly jump.
A large burst of crimson flame suddenly filled the private room with a blinding light before it dissipated and dimmed. It promptly formed into a woman who appeared to be in her late twenties or early thirties with a oval shaped face and wavy blonde hair which curled into ringlets at the ends.
The mythological tales of the sea witch being as hideous and gruesome which were whispered among the mer-kingdom as she realistically was were completely false. Instead, she was the complete opposite. Lilith was beautiful.
Her fierce eyes were naturally a dark violet color hidden behind long dark lashes which glittered with an apparent coldness and unbridled greed that Clary had never seen or felt before. Her lips were full and plump, filled in with a bright red lipstick that had begun to fade.
Her body was slender and curvy, but instead of a fishes tail anatomy was completely different, it promptly ended with long dark black tentacles like that of an octopus with slimy silver suction cups which wiggled and writhed around her form. Around her graceful neck was a silver seashell pendant. She wore a dark black corset with a sweetheart neckline, while various gold and silver bracelets and rings adorned her wrists and fingers.
"Hello Lilith, I'm terribly sorry to just barge in on you like this," Clary said gently in a calm but nervous tone, intentionally trying her best not to cringe when she cautiously approached the woman.
The witch smiled, her full lips pulled back to sufficiently reveal her gleaming teeth, sharp and deadly. They instantly reminded Clary of a hungry shark or a piranha about to sink it's teeth into a delicious meal.
"It's quite all. To be truthful with you I don't normally have nor typically receive many frequent visitors these days. I know exactly why you're here and what brings you to my home."
Clary nodded, "I'm sure you're well aware of my complex situation. I really need your help."
Lilith raised an eyebrow quizzically at her specific words, as another infectious smile formed on her eager face, as she laughed softly. Her violet eyes were full of noiseless laughter and a little boredom.
"Of course I'm well aware of your problem my love. Let me guess you have hopelessly fallen in love with a human being and you're here to ask me a favor no? It honestly would be rude for you to insult or steadfastly refuse me an answer otherwise."
"Yes ma'am that's right. Could you please help me?" Clary politely asked, undoubtedly knowing her possible answer.
The witch nodded understandingly in enthusiastic response at the mermaids words, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I must ask you this one question. Why would you want to go up there when so many people on the surface are particularly dying to know what's going on down here?"
Clary's fierce eyes narrowed at her chosen words, "Because the one I love is up there and we're tired of not being able to be together."
She smiled once again. "Generously help you? Why my dearest child, I'd be more than happy to help a beautiful girl such as yourself. It's very foolish of you, but you will have your way. Well angelfish the solution to your problem is quite honestly very simple. You want me to get rid of that fishes tail and adequately replace it with two lovely human legs so that oh what's his name..." she paused thoughtfully for a second carefully placing her fingers under her prominent chin before justly saying, "Jace, to love you."
"Yes that's correct. How did you know?" Clary politely asked, maneuvering herself so that she didn't touch a single thing in the witches lair.
"I have my ways darling. But don't you worry your pretty little head about that now."
Clary swallowed hard. Was she really about to naturally ask this woman anything? Could she really bring herself to even do so? Lilith no moral doubt was extremely unsettling and creepy, aside from the endless rumors and familiar stories she heard about her.
She honestly couldn't exactly put her finger on nor carefully pinpoint the exact reason. The mermaid loved all sorts of creatures of the boundless sea or land. Not that she minded what someone looked like but Lilith realistically was a completely different story.
The woman's violet eyes genuinely seemed to literally look straight through her in a very dark, unsettling and disconcerting manner. But she undoubtedly knew she invariably had to be on her guard and brave no matter what happened.
"So you'll help me?" she politely asked, eagerly pushing through her doubts and fears.
"Of course my dear I can. I just so happen to know a spell that can naturally turn you human. You, after all, want your prince. A human being, a very odd and strange choice of a mermaid. Though I will candidly admit he is quite the impressive catch, very handsome," she justly said turning away from Clary.
Clary shivered at Lilith's choice of words. Was she really interested in her longtime boyfriend? The blonde haired woman floated over towards her vanity, sat down in front of the polished mirror, carefully tucking her tentacles underneath her body. She instantly reached for a small tube of red lipstick and applied a fresh coat to her lips.
Lilith instantly saw Clary's instinctive reaction and laughed melodically. "Don't worry yourself about that. He's definitely handsome. I'm not interested in ever stealing him from you. Now let's talk candidly about the more important matter. So you're genuinely interested in a making a deal with me."
"Yes, but what kind of deal?" Clary politely asked.
The witch smiled triumphantly turning back to her, instantly revealing those sharp gleaming teeth.
"Making you a human being."
Clary's visible breath nearly almost escaped her throat. She knew Lilith had that ability to make her dream come true, and here she was officially offering it to her. She would really be one for real. She could be human just like Jace.
"Yes I want this. How will you do it?"
"With my magic of course. I can't just go snapping my fingers, and you're human. I'll tell you what I'll do for you my dear," Lilith said beckoning Clary over towards the center of the room, where her cauldron stood. The visible top was adequately covered with sharp carvings.
With the mere wave of her hand, it instantly opened glowing with an eerie light. Promptly moving Clary closer, she used her magic to intentionally create a visual representation of her offer.
"I'll make you a potion that will turn you into a human being. You'll be able to walk on the land just like any other person. The transformation itself will be a little painful but once done you'll undoubtedly have the prettiest pair of lovely legs any human will certainly be envious of."
Clary nodded, as the visible images promptly began to miraculously appear before her. Her very own silhouette instead of her splendid tail in place there was a magnificent pair of shapely legs. They were absolutely beautiful just like the witch said.
"They're beautiful," she said, her green eyes fixated on the images of her and Jace together. Her green eyes glowed in happiness, transfixed by it. To be human and to be with Jace that was all she really wanted out of her life.
"Absolutely they are. But be warned, once you become human you can under no circumstances become a mermaid again."
Clary extended her fingers through her red hair, "If I became human I'll never see my family or friends ever again," she invariably said, with a profound sigh.
Lilith nodded, "Unfortunately yes you're right. But you'll have your man. Life is full of such tough choices, isn't it?"she said gleefully, with a large grin.
She knew this decision would change her life in a very big way and it would never be the same after. Inside Clary felt that she never really truly belonged and then she encountered Jace and everything fell into place.
"But that doesn't exactly mean the magic will last," Lilith said, as another figure appeared by the duplicate one of Clary who was Jace standing in front of her. Both of the figures began floating towards each other with their arms open. "In order for you to remain human permantely you must win the heart of a certain person. In your case that's the handsome prince who captured your own very heart."The figures hands touched, and they shared a passionate kiss.
"In retrospect suppose he willingly gives his heart completely and wholly to another woman," the witch continued grimly. In that pivotal moment a third figure appeared, a human woman whose face was cunningly hidden in dark shadows. Much to Clary's profound shock and profound dismay, the visible image of Jace floated towards the lovely woman, tenderly embracing her and he passionately kissed her. Clary's eyes looked at the projection of herself, it inevitably appeared to have great sadness in her grave eyes, for she could feel dreadfully the very heartbreak enemanting from its suffering soul. Lilith's next words nearly horrified her.
"If that were ever to happen, for it would inevitably become the herald to your own funeral. The morning after his marriage to another at the very first rays of the next sunrise your wounded heart will forcibly break. The ocean will call to you, beckoning you to come down into its depths. You can try to resist it but because you were born of the sea and came from it, you will give in."
The images in the cauldron changed to a figure standing on the edge of the rocky cliffs near the palace. Tears flowed from its eyes, as it stood watching the waves crash against the rocks before leaping off the cliff and into the ocean waters. The image then shifted to the figure which was now underwater.
"Once you've thrown yourself into the ocean, you will start to sink almost immediately and the cold water as soon as you hit it will feel like a thousand tiny knives stabbing themselves into the very heart of your body and soul. The freezing water will fill your lungs, and this is when you will transform once last time. This will by force be the most painful transformation yet.
"Clary could only watch as the tragic figure merely began to turn into bubble up. The excessive pressure from the raging water inevitably caused a mass of bubbles to detach from the unconscious body as it began to float upward. She then realized the figure itself was disintegrating.
"In fact this transformation quicks your tragic demise, for as you continue to allegedly drown your battered body inevitably becomes foam on the ocean waves. Your very soul will still linger in that body before you are finally forced out of it at the very last minute to become one of the immortal spirits of the forgotten dead."The desolate figure howled once last final time before it disappeared forever. The cauldron closed after.
"Jace does love me. He in fact told me today for the first time," Clary said.
Lilith smiled, "Then you have nothing to worry about my dear."
"Oh I nearly almost forgot. There is one more thing. We haven't exactly discussed the subject of payment. You can't get just anything for free or nothing these days you know."
Lilith's silken voice snapped her out of her conscious thoughts. She turned around listening to very word. Clary could feel her gaze piercing holes into her very being.
"I genuinely don't possess anything that you would really want or anything to else offer you," she said. It was true she hadn't exactly brought any coins or jewelry from the palace.
"To tell the truth you possess something that interests me greatly. I'm not really asking for anything much. Just a little token, a trifle. You won't even miss it. I promise" she said.
Clary glanced at her evident confusion instantly written all over her lovely face, she didn't even comprehend what the sea witch was talking about or referring too.
"I don't have.." she said before one of Lilith's tentacles silenced her for a moment.
"What I desire from you my dear is your voice."
Clary blinked to make sure she perceived her correctly. She honestly she probably misheard what she had stated.
"My voice?" she asked tentatively, gently placing a hand against her throat.
Another chilling smile. "You possess such a lovely singing voice. I would rather enjoy having it as a collectible."
Lilith turned to face her. "I want your voice Clary. It realistically is your most prized possession and it's what I require as payment for your wish, " she said.
"My voice. But..." Clary suddenly felt her whole world suddenly shrink into the deep crystal waters of her home."But how will I be able speak to anyone?"
Lilith chuckled gleefully and invariably said, "You can speak thoughtfully to them with those expressive eyes and the way you'll move gracefully. You'll still keep your mermaid-like grace. Inexorably a gorgeous thing like you already bewitched a human heart. Just no more talking, singing, zip!"
Clary sighed gently, "Fine Lilith, if it means I can finally at last be with Jace."
"Then we have a deal."
Lilith floated over to her cauldron promptly using her hand, she used her magic to unlatch it before snapping a clawed finger a small blue object appeared in her palm before she tossed it into the bowl making sure it was clean first. She unlocked the cabinet where she typically kept the various various ingredients she frequently used to prepare a potion or spell. It swung open with a loud creak.
To begin with she brought the cauldron water to a perfect boil, making sure it was just the appropriate temperature. She carefully added a generous pinch of black sand, ossa root, snakes skin, witch hazel, wormwood and a reasonable amount of a beetle eye. Clary watched as Lilith included many ingredients to the mix. She undoubtedly knew a possible storm must've been brewing somewhere on the oceans surface. Lilith stirred gently the potion with one capable hand while demonic shadows danced merrily across the decorated walls while the cauldron glowed brilliantly an eerie red crimson color.
Lilith added one last ingredient before she flicked her fingers yet again, and a golden scroll appeared floating just above the cauldron. Intentionally written upon the parchment realistically was an elegant looking script, and a pen appeared beside it. The scroll read: "I Clarissa Adele Fairchild agree to willingly pay the sea witch Lilith with one voice in exchange for becoming human. This voice will undoubtedly remain hers for all of eternity."
Clary grasped the pen with her fingers before gathering a deep breath and inscribed her name onto the signature line before she altered her mind. Once it was completed, the scroll rolled up on its own before disappearing into Lilith's hand, vanishing into a golden ball of light. Clearly the witch wasn't wasting any of her precious time.
The cauldron instantly started to glow brilliantly a deep cerulean blue, while she stirred easily and magically with one finger, as she chanted the incantation to her spell. Clary genuinely felt her luminous skin slowly run practically instantly ice cold. Her ample stomach instantly began to feel uneasy. Suddenly she wasn't exactly certain if she was prepared for this to happen.
A deep blue whirlpool began to materialize in the precise center of the cauldron, for a mere moment it stayed very small before slowly picking up speed and becoming bigger and bigger until at last it rose out of the bowl. Lilith's voice echoed off of the decorated walls. It promptly sent a shiver down Clary's prominent spine, as she intentionally tried to promptly move her body but couldn't. Something was keeping her locked in place as Lilith completed the last of her spell.
Lifting her hands into the air, she produced a pair of pale green skeletal hands emitting from the shadows of the cauldron, these merely mimicked her own. She turned her chilling cold gaze onto Clary, who was trying not to positively tremble as she properly focused on what was happening precisely.
"Now sing!" she typically commanded the princess.
Clary opened her much as an enchanting melody poured from her lips. She was never one for any sort of improvisation, so she exactly performed the first thing that entered her mind. Her eyes closed as she focused on the image of Jace, her friends and family. Her voice was a little shaky in the beginning but as it rose higher and climbed the scale, it became more distinct and more confident. As the well-founded fear instantly sank into her body, her familiar voice somehow grew more high-pitched and louder in volume. She ultimately opened he eyes a second later.
A small golden ball brightly pulsed inside of her throat, as the ghost hands drew closer and closer. Clary flinched very much visibly as they paused impressively for a pivotal moment before encircling her petite waist. She instantly felt the frozen skeletal hands at her lips, before it lunged down her throat, titling her head back, reaching deep inside. Her vision blurred for a moment, her back arched painfully.
Before long the sensation was over, and the ghost hands withdrew almost abruptly after they came. Clary stared longingly at the small glowing orb of dazzling light that the skeleton hands had promptly taken from her. The mermaids hands flew instantly to her throat, realizing her voice was gone. Her voice still echoed from it, just as if she was singing joyously the song herself. But her familiar voice no longer belonged to her. It wasn't hers to naturally use or control anymore. It no longer felt like she possessed it and was no longer hers at all. It instantly flew into the small shell around Lilith's graceful neck remaining there for all eternity.
Clary cautiously opened her mouth to typically say something, but to her horror, not a single distinct sound came out. Her gentle hands clutched eagerly at her throat, while Lilith merely smiled and merely shrugged. Her violet eyes narrowed as she carefully rolled them in visible annoyance.
"Oh are we having trouble talking my dear? It's problematic to talk when you don't have a voice. Don't even bother trying because you'll never utter a single word again. But as I told you a deal is a deal."
She floated back over to her cauldron, not before retrieving a small glass vial and poured some of the potion into it which promptly was a bright crimson red. Using her magic, she carefully sealed the bottle and then handed it to Clary who placed it safely in her bag.
"Here you go my dear. I suggest drinking it once you get to shore before the sun rises or it'll lose its effect. I recommend not to observe yourself during the transformation it would be quite painful."
Clary nodded before she swam out of there as fast as she could, not looking back. Her splendid tail pounding against the water as she swam through the dark hallway and made it out of the witches 's evil maniacal laughter echoed throughout the chamber once again before she burst into another source of crimson flames and vanished into the shadows, never to be seen or heard from again.
Once outside, she breathed a sigh of relief, knowing she was finally out of harms way, and began the long journey home to begin her new life.