Chapter 10: Silent Bells
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone! I know I haven't been too active on this story as of late, but I fully plan to finish it and I know how to approach the rest of the chapters now. For those who rewrite a story of something but still have scenes and/or aspects from the original thing incorporated into it, here's a tip, always plan ahead. Anyways, I really hope you have an awesome day and you enjoy the new chapter.
Enjoy the chapter!
The entire kingdom was in a frenzy trying to prepare for the wedding partaking that afternoon. The feelings of the situation at hand ranged from shocked at the sudden announcement to irritated at the amount of work needed to be done in such short notice. But one common feeling was shared, each and every one of them was happy for Eric finding his true love and that he would have a queen to rule by his side.
Bakers hurriedly assembled a huge wedding cake whilst the cooks prepared the rest of the food. Servants hurried here and there to decorate for the ceremony and the clergyman quickly prepared himself for the marriage. Even the bride and groom were scrambling to prepare themselves for each other.
As the sun began to descend in the sky and bathe the entire world in gold and orange light, the wedding ship had departed with all the guests on board and everything else prepared for. As tradition had it, because the very kingdom depended upon the ocean, it would take place on a ship to symbolize the importance of the crystal, sparkling waters below.
The bride and groom were currently in their separate dressing room aboard the ship, dressing up and adding the final preparations to themselves before the ceremony. Both had politely dismissed their servants to finish up the job themselves.
Ariel looked up into her mirror and smiled. A pretty, redhead dressed in a stunning wedding dress with puffed sleeves looked back. In her hands was the final piece of her ensemble, a sparkling wedding veil attached to a gleaming gold crown. She took a deep breath in and exhaled before lifting the piece up, swinging the veil behind her head, and gently adjusting the crown in her hair. Her eyes fell onto her reflection in the mirror.
A wave of emotions came over her and her face fell into her hands. The last time she had seen a redhead with a crown was many years ago, back in a time when her mother was still alive. Here she was now, ready to marry her love of her life and soon become queen like she was. Not only would she be marrying her true love today, but she would be following her dream since she and Eric met.
"A dream without my family to share it with," she thought miserably. Her father, her six sisters, they wouldn't be here to see her achieve it all. The realization that she might never see them again flooded over her, forcing two small tears from the corner of her eyes. In her excitement over the past few days she hadn't realized how much she missed and would miss her family now that she would spending the rest of her life on land now. They would even know she was there, so long as no one she knew told them. She'd be leaving so much behind her just to do what her heart told her.
Her head rose out of her hands and she winced as she took notice that her makeup was running. Sniffing, she selected the handkerchief on the vanity and dabbed her face, cleaning off any messed up cosmetics. When she had completed the task, she set down the small cloth, placed both of her hands on the wood, and stared determinedly into the mirror.
"Okay Ariel. You got this. You can't let this hold you back now. You already made the choice to leave it all behind when she turned you human. You can do this. You can do this. You traded so much for this and now you're finally going to achieve what you've been after," she said.
"Oh yes, you have traded so much for this."
She gasped and quickly looked over her shoulder, scanning the room for any sign of the voice's owner. All she could see was her room with no mysterious figures anywhere in sight.
"Although I'm afraid dearie that it will never come to pass."
Her head swung back towards the mirror and another frightened gasp escaped her throat. The same redhead looked back, but beside her was a purple skinned, white haired, heavy makeup wearing, cackling woman. For a split second, she saw a glint in the woman's hand, like candlelight over the wet black rocks by the shore.
A second later her eyes shut tightly as something pricked her neck. She felt a scream die in her throat as whatever being injected into her bloodstream numbed her vocal cords. Arm still stinging and the pain quickly spreading throughout the rest of her body, she collapsed onto the floor, hand rushing to her neck. She grit her teeth as her entire body throbbed, especially her head. She felt like she had just swallowed fire and it was being pumped painfully through her.
The sound of cackling reached her ears and she forced the pain back enough to open her eyes or just a moment at the woman above her. Long sepia hair, warm tan skin, no makeup, and a... noticeably slimmer figure chuckled sadistically down at her. Despite the many differences, she knew who it was from her reflection in the mirror.
"Ur- Ursula," she gasped out, barely managing to call out her name. The woman chuckled before bending down and sliding a long, cold finger under her chin before forcing her to look directly at her.
"Hello my dear, sweet child. Did you miss me," she asked, smirking wider at the princess' gasps of air making her appear like a floundering fish out of water. Her hand moved up to her head and she began softly moving out the locks of hair out of her face.
"You really didn't think I would take to our little deal being broken well, did you? Afterall, it is rude to do something for someone and not get any payment for what they did." She turned her head down and scowled.
"You see dear, the entire deal, what with the deadline and the payment and the signed contract, all of it was never played in your favor. You really think I was genuinely trying to help you. Ha! It was all just a ruse to get back at your dear old daddy for exiling me, for stripping me of my power. You were supposed to fail, miss the mark, trip right before the end. Lose your side of the deal and belong to me permanently. Be the little pawn in my master plan to regain all that was stolen from me."
It felt like a million needles were stabbing her skin from all over. Her chest felt compressed and her heart was beginning to ache painfully. Worse her throat felt like it was swelling shut, making breathing an obstacle and speaking all but impossible. Even where Ursula's feather-like touch pressed against her skin it felt like hot knives digging into her skin.
"So with you no longer in the game, I had to move on. I had to get you under my grasp again somehow." She paused and her grin seemed to grow wider if it was possible. "And so here we are." She lifted a skull-shaped bottle up into view. With a good dose of it gone, the top of the liquid could now be seen. It glistened in the sunlight like obsidian glass, though something felt off about it. Like how roses look and smell so sweet, but underneath those bright petals are sharp thorns.
"Ever hear of 'Black Tears'?" At just more gasping, she continued. "Oh of course you haven't. They're so rare, they've even become legends in legends." She held up the bottle to her face. "You see dearie, say someone dies and the one closest to them, any mermaid or merman, feels so distraught and determined to avenge their death by it that they shed black tears of pure overwhelming rage and hate. Violent madness really. An incredible feat, though not so much as the fact that you merfolk can't even shed tears in the first place."
"My point is, dearie, these are so powerful that they fill the, mm, unfortunate person with these powerful emotions, making them lose sight of all else and bend to the savage, darker part of themselves. Even a loving, tender heart such as yours can be overcome with such negativity." She leaned in close to whisper into her ear. "So much that it can even undo and kill off true love, as well as the victim in most cases."
Ariel's eyes widened with realization. The words of the deal echoed through her mind.
'The kiss of true love... ...before the sun sets of the third day'.
True love was a force shared by two people. The bond between them that could overcome all, including the magic which had given her legs in the first place. If the love she had inside her died off, would the spell die off as well? Without a heart filled with love before the sun set, would the magic fail and the contract still be binding?
A fresh wave of pain and her mouth opened to scream, only to release a pitiful squeak. Her mind was already cloudy, erasing any thoughts and darkening her vision. The pain she felt both physically and emotionally worsened still, numbing her from all else. Red swirled around in her mind and the imaginings of pain, suffering, screaming, and tortures were all that appeared. And worse, she was beginning to like it.
"Ariel, are you okay in there?"
He had just completed his preparations and had came over to Ariel's door to see how she was doing. A loud thud came from behind the door, followed by unintelligible muttering. When it continued on for more than half a minute he began to grow concerned.
When he heard a tiny squeak, like a dying scream, he knew he had to get in there. Forgetting his manners for a moment, he turned the doorknob and swung the door opened. The second his eyes landed on the maid hovering over his fallen bride he charged into the room.
"What happened," he fearfully cried as he picked Ariel up and held her close.
"I just came in and found her like this, you're highness. She probably just became overwhelmed with emotion that she couldn't stand anymore," the maid replied. "How about I take care of her while you finish preparing."
"Ariel," he called out, completely ignoring the maid. Scared blue eyes looked up at him and her mouth opened and closed like a fish, yet no sound came out. She began squirming more, as if in terrible pain. He put a hand to her forehead and gasped as an inferno met his touch.
"Really your highness. I can take over if you'll just-"
The maid went reeling back in shock when the prince, in a most undignified manner, slapped her outreaching hand. He gave her a scolding look before turning back to Ariel in concern. Her eyes were shut tightly and her head was throwing back and forth. His eyes scanned across her face, searching for anything that could show what was plaguing her.
He turned towards the side of her neck and his eyes grew wide with horror. A black dot marred her clear, tan skin. Surrounding the mark was a mass of black, spider-like veins, extending at least two inches from the original spot. Her fingers dug into her arms and grew tighter and he winced as her fingernails dig into his skin.
"Ariel. Ariel! Can you hear me," he pleaded. He held on tighter as she squirmed and writhed even more, as if trying to shake off the pain. Her head was beginning to hit against his arm and she kept acting like she was trying to escape his grasp.
"Your highness. I really suggest you leave and let me handle this."
His hand slammed against the floor and he rose up, facing the maid with a furious expression.
"And I suggest you leave immediately to get the ship's doctor and leave me with her."
He came back to sit on the floor as the maid scurried off not-too-quickly. The head-banging and fingernail digging aside, she was now beginning to pant. With one arm holding her tightly and securely around her waist, he used his free hand to pull her face close to his. Tears began to stream down his face as he pressed his forehead to hers.
"Ariel... please. I can't lose you. I can't lose you, so please... don't leave me," he begged. Her body was beginning to slacken against his and her grasp was growing limp. Her eyes opened and they looked foggy as they stared unfocused.
"I don't want to lose you." His tears were beginning to fall onto her face. Her mouth opened, trying to call out his name, but nothing came out. She could only hold onto the last remaining consciousness she had, keeping staying awake for him.
"Please... no. I-I love you," he croaked out. His lips puckered up and fell on his bride's, giving her the sweetest, most loving kiss he could give. A glistening tear dripped from his eye onto her face before descending down to her chin. It broke off and landed on the black, web-like mark on her neck.
He broke off the kiss and began sobbing against her limp form, holding her tightly to him. What was supposed to be the happiest of his life was now the most saddest.
He flinched as he felt something warm press against his cheek and his eyes opened, meeting with the clearest blue eyes he had ever scene. Another warm feeling pressed against him, this time on his lips. It took a few seconds to realize what was happening before his hand flew to the back of her head and pushed her closer, deepening the kiss. Relief swept through him, knowing that she was still there and would be okay.
"No," screamed a voice from behind them. Both broke away from this kiss and their eyes turned behind them. Ariel gasped in horror as the brunette maid stood in the middle of the doorway, looking positively livid.
"You think you can win, do you," the maid seethed, her voice becoming deeper and more frightening. "Do you!?"
Her arms suddenly reached upwards and lightning flashed from her fingertips. The two clung to one another as flashes of light and tendrils of purple and black darkness swirled around her. Limbs swelled and changed their color to a gray purple. Her body burst through the maid's uniform, ripping the fabric and revealing a larger form. Black tentacles sprouted out underneath and supported her base. Lastly, her face threw forward. It bulged up, changing from an elegant, smooth one to as bulging and grotesquely decorated one, complete with a maniacal expression of blazing fury. Even from all the stories of the terrors dwelling in the depths, he was not prepared for every encountering one.
A tentacle shot out, entangling around Ariel's waist and ripping her from Eric's hold. Ariel screamed as she was yanked close towards the sea witch's furious face.
"If I can't have you as a mermaid, then I'll simply take you as you are. A worthless, insignificant, foolish human drowning at the bottom of the ocean!"
Eric got up and charged for them as Ursula began taking her hostage towards the deck. "No! Let her go! Ariel!"
The reaction from the guest onboard of a tentacled, sea monster crawling across the floor with the bride screaming and kicking in her grasp was immediate. Guests and servants alike panicked and backed away from the hideous monster. Yet Ursula had no interest in any of them. All she cared about was claiming her prize and making sure it would not slip from her grasp again.
The groom emerged onto the deck, armed with a sword from the coat of arms lining the halls. His eyes scanned, then focused on the kidnapper with his kidnapped bride. Determination and righteous anger flowed through his veins, propelling his muscles forward as fast as he could. The people onboard backed away to give him the best chance at defeating the monster.
Ursula gave a screech of shock when she felt something graze her tentacles. She paused for a moment and turned back enraged to see who had inflicted pain on her. Her eyes narrowed more and her scowled deepened at the sight of one of her own tentacles oozing black blood onto the floor while the same stuff stuck to a sword poised offensively at her. With a war cry she swatted at the offender, sending him flying back before skidding onto the ground a couple feet away.
"Eric," Ariel screamed, watching as he shakily stood back up with the help of his servants. Another tentacle wrapped around herm this time her mouth, silencing anymore concerned and worried cries.
"Shut up," Ursula screamed. She made it over to the side of the ship and her tentacles flopped over and grasped the edge before propelling her forward.
A wave of shot through Ariel's head as it made hard contact with the water. Freezing fluid encircled her body, cutting off any oxygen to her lungs and letting some escape from her mouth. A chilling numbness surged up in her, dulling her senses and slowing her movements as she was dragged deeper down. Her arm desperately reached out to the figure surrounded by the setting sun's light as he watched her descend deeper and deeper into the darkness.
"Cliffhanger, hanging from a cliff. That's why they call him Cliff Hanger"-Between the Lions.
So what will Ursula d with Ariel now? She doesn't have any control over her due to both the contract and the poison's spell being broken, but she has a human in her grasp while several yards underwater. I promise I'll get the next chapter out much sooner so you won't have to wait. Once again, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, please review, and have a wonderful day. Sincerely, v.t.7
