Chapter 10
SILENTLY, and unnoticed as she breached the ocean's surface, Ursula hovered, observing her niece's blossoming romance with a deep sense of resentment towards Triton's youngest daughter and all that she had taken from her. As a mute onlooker, she watched Ariel grow closer to the mortal boy, a handsome Prince, whether the girl herself was conscious of it or not. With weariness consuming her, Ursula wearily shut her eyes, all the while striving to calm her simmering anger.
"The rain is coming, Ariel. We should get back. I'm certain the others are wondering where we've gone," Ariel's Prince remarked in a breathless tone, his gaze fixated on the darkening sky, seemingly anticipating confirmation from the impending downpour.
Ariel directed her attention toward the Prince's apprehensive stare, both of them noticing the ominous amalgamation of dark purple and black storm clouds amassing over the sea and their realm. While her young niece remained voiceless, Ursula could perceive Ariel's words crystal clear, transmitted through the enchanted nautilus shell adorning her neck.
"I suppose you're right, Eric," Ariel's gentle and composed voice echoed in Ursula's ears, eliciting a repulsive sensation that sent shivers down her spine, and her blood curdled to watch as the young redhead shrugged her shoulders. "I'm glad it held off long enough that you could show me the town," Ursula heard her voice say and watched as the mermaid gestured towards the humans' pathetic hamlet with a wave of her hand.
Ursula sneered as she watched the Prince's expression brighten as he took Ariel's arm.
"I couldn't agree more," he replied with a sheepish little grin. Unbeknownst to them, Ariel and Eric strolled along their path, engrossed in their conversation, blissfully ignorant of Ursula's lingering presence as she trailed them from the water.
Oblivious to the fact that each step they took drew them closer together, forging an eternal bond, they remained oblivious to the seething wrath brewing within the sea witch, hotter than molten lava coursing through her veins.
As Ariel and Eric ventured through the hamlet, their progress eerily coinciding with Ursula's growing discontent, sizable raindrops abruptly cascaded from above. Without a doubt, Triton's doing, Ursula believed, convinced that her wretched half-brother would unleash chaos upon the realm of mortals until he located his beloved youngest daughter.
Yet, Triton lacked the audacity to undertake what was necessary—to bestow upon himself the magic of legs, as she had done to Ariel, and personally seek out the wayward mermaid.
In a matter of moments, the torrential downpour engulfed both the Prince and the mermaid, saturating them completely before they could even move another step. A brilliant bolt of lightning illuminated their surroundings, while the resonating roar of thunder echoed through the celestial expanse above their heads.
With chivalry in his heart, Eric swiftly grasped Ariel's elbow and hurriedly guided her beneath the shelter of a shop's awning. Side by side, they stood in stillness, a mixture of fear and exhilaration coursing through their beings.
Ursula's eyes widened as she observed the boy's intense infatuation with her niece, noting with surprise that his chest remained still, devoid of any discernible breath. Oblivious to his actions, he continued to grip Ariel's arm tightly, seemingly unaware of the gesture. Nervously, Ariel kept her gaze fixed on his chin, unable to meet his eyes.
Suddenly, a thunderous clap reverberated above them, startling Ariel into a reflexive jump.
The Prince instinctively moved closer to her, assuming a protective stance. In an instant, they found themselves instinctively clinging to one another, caught off guard by the unexpected turn of events.
Now enveloped in the Prince's embrace, Ursula's niece found her face mere inches away from his, their noses brushing accidentally. The Prince's vivid azure eyes were tenderly locked with Ariel's blue orbs. Tremors coursed through her body, her hands pressing flatly against his chest, as her entire being began to quiver with anticipation of what was to come.
The Prince appeared bewitched, although not by any curse Ursula would dare cast upon a mortal. The intensity of his gaze upon her niece fueled Ursula's simmering rage, boiling her blood within.
Speechless, Ursula could only bear witness as a flicker of uncertainty briefly crossed the Prince's piercing blue eyes. However, in that very instant, determination seemed to solidify within him. He leaned in and, without uttering a word, pressed his lips against Ariel's, initiating a passionate kiss.
To Ursula's astonishment, Ariel did not resist but instead surrendered herself to the embrace.
As she leaned back, her head falling in a graceful arc, time itself appeared to grind to a halt. The rain poured relentlessly around them, and thunder continued its resounding roar, yet Ariel and the Prince felt an isolated sanctuary within the tempestuous chaos enveloping the land. Their hearts pounded fiercely in their chests, synchronized in rhythm.
At that moment, it seemed as if the Prince and Ariel were the sole inhabitants of the entire world. Eventually, they reluctantly broke apart, both wearing expressions of dazed wonder, captivated by their first shared kiss.
"Well," the Prince murmured in a husky voice, heavy with desire. "Perhaps I should... accompany you back to the castle. I'm certain Helena and Darius will understand if we see them tomorrow," he proposed, his hopeful, longing gaze meeting Ariel's.
Ursula could hardly contain her exasperation as her youngest niece displayed a look of near shock upon realizing the significance of her and her Prince's first kiss.
Ariel gazed tenderly at her dashing sailor companion, comprehending the intentions behind his invitation.
It was clear to her that this man envisioned a shared future, and she had no intention of rejecting him. Her lips remained parted, filled with longing, while her sapphire eyes searched his, finding no reason to fear him.
As Ariel nodded once more, Eric wrapped his arm around her slender waist and swiftly whisked her away from their sanctuary, venturing into the raging storm at an urgent pace.
Ariel willingly followed the Prince, unable to deny the burgeoning attraction that had grown between them any longer. Ursula was left to stare at her niece, who had taken away the most precious thing to her, as they swiftly departed.
Ursula clenched her teeth, her initial intent to swim away fading as she caught sight of movement in her peripheral vision and heard a hoarse voice cutting through the air. The angry outburst came from the very man she had struck a deal with.
"WITCH!" the mortal man's voice rang out, his shouts battling against the roaring thunder. He had to raise his voice to be heard above the tumultuous storm.
With a slow turn, Ursula's lips twitched, a sick delight dancing in her eyes as she observed the man's distress.
"I had a feeling it was you, boy. It's... Darius, wasn't it?" Ursula murmured, barely masking her frustration at the interruption. "What do you want?" Darius's drenched hair clung to his forehead, weighed down by the rain that continued to pelt around them. He was soaked through and through, on the verge of shivering from the cold, yet he paid it no mind as he stepped forward and waded into the water. He halted when the water reached his knees.
"My wife is still dying, witch. How's that for 'what do I want'?" he snarled, his voice laced with desperation despite his attempts at savage growling and posturing. Ursula, however, saw through his facade and remained unaffected.
Ursula's gaze hardened as she met Darius's smoldering blue eyes. The rain cascaded around them, obscuring the boundary between the land and air.
"I do not have the time for your talks, Darius," Ursula heard herself retort in a voice laced with bitterness. "The terms of our deal are clear. You spy on my niece and report to me. In return, I heal your pretty little wife from her ailment. Yet, she only worsens. What good is our agreement if you cannot fulfill your end? I know you have not done as I asked and kept tabs on your friend and my niece or else you would have followed them, boy," she hissed, her lips curling into a feral snarl.
Darius frowned, a mixture of guilt and anguish crossing his features.
"Ariel…she is not what my wife and I thought she was. I first thought her to be another heartless girl who would abandon her own family for a love affair. But she genuinely cares for Eric, and he for her. I cannot betray Eric, he's a brother to me."
"Then your wife's fate is no longer my concern, boy," she spat angrily, her voice dripping with disdain and anger. "Our deal was clear, and it is not my fault if her condition worsens. You pin nothing on me."
Darius's shoulders slumped, the bravado draining from the man's stance.
He waded through the water a step closer, his voice now tinged with pleading.
"What in Odin's name do you want back from your niece so badly?" he demanded, doing his best not to sound angry or hurt. "What has she taken?"
A mirthless laugh escaped Ursula's lips, the sound emanating from the sea witch lost amidst the crashing waves.
"Your loyalty to your friend and your wife is touching, Darius. But it means nothing to me. But perhaps there is one last chance for your precious Helena. If you're willing to pay the price. It is…not without its risks, know this."
Darius's gaze locked with Ursula's, his desperation shining in the blue gems that were the man's eyes.
"Answer me first, witch. What did Ariel steal from you? What is it that drives you to seek vengeance against her?"
Ursula hesitated, a mixture of bitterness and vulnerability crossing her features. She contemplated the depth of his question, aware that revealing the truth would expose her pain. Finally, she spoke, her voice filled with a melancholic tone.
"Ariel stole my beauty," she admitted, her words carrying the weight of past wounds. "Once, long ago, I was beautiful, like her. In my youth, I possessed the same enchanting allure. But my magic abilities were discovered by King Triton."
Darius listened intently, his gaze locked with Ursula's. He sensed the sorrow within her words, and his empathy grew.
"I used a form of Dark magic to cure my love, a merman who lost his fin to a Great White Shark," Ursula continued, her voice tinged with bitterness. "But Triton, not wanting the presence of Dark magic in his realm, punished me. He stole my beauty and transformed me, making me the creature you see before you."
Darius's eyes widened with realization. The pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place as he connected Ursula's past to Ariel's radiant beauty.
"And Ariel..." Darius trailed off, confused, the question hanging in the air.
"Upon Ariel's birth, Triton bestowed my stolen beauty upon her," Ursula confirmed, her voice filled with a mix of resentment and sorrow. "She became the epitome of grace and charm, while I was left disfigured and shunned."
A pained silence settled between them, punctuated only by the relentless rain.
Darius's heart ached for the suffering Ursula had endured, and he understood the depth of her vengeance.
He reached out his hand, his voice softening.
"I'm sorry, Ursula," he murmured, his voice filled with compassion. "I had no idea. But perhaps there's still a way to find healing, for both Helena and yourself."
Ursula regarded Darius with a mixture of surprise and skepticism, her anger momentarily tempered by his unexpected empathy.
"Your wife's fate rests in my hands," Ursula replied, her voice holding a glimmer of hope. "But as for me... I've lived with this curse for so long. Is there truly a chance for redemption?"
Darius met Ursula's gaze with determination. "There must be a way, Ursula. We can find it together. Let us forge a new path, one that leads to healing and the breaking of these ancient chains."
As their eyes locked, a fragile alliance began to form.
"Please, save my wife," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the raging storm's fury.
Ursula's lips twitched as she fought back a smile, knowing she had the lad right where she wanted him, and she almost pinned him the look of angry approval as she revealed her proposition to the desperate man whose only wish was to save his wife.
"Very well, Darius. There is a spell. A dangerous one. It could save your wife, but I would need her to be brought to me. Even my magic has limitations, and I would need to touch her to heal your precious love. The cost of it to you will be great. But are you prepared to pay it?"
Darius nodded, resolve etched onto his face. "Save my wife, please."
Ursula's smile widened, her satisfaction evident. She extended a long, sinister tentacle towards Darius, the offer of salvation and damnation intertwined.
"Then bring your pretty little wife to me at midnight tonight when the moon hides behind the clouds. You would do well to brace yourself, for the consequences will be dire." She withdrew her tentacle back into herself once Darius let go, a brief look of revulsion flashed across the man's features, but Ursula paid it no mind. As the tempest raged on, the fates of both Darius and Helena hung in the balance, entwined with Ursula's twisted machinations.
AS they made their way back to the castle, the curious eyes of the inhabitants seemed to follow Eric and Ariel. The hours spent together in the castle's library had left them with damp clothes and hair, but their minds were filled with the knowledge they had eagerly absorbed from countless books. Eric couldn't help but notice the subtle glances and hidden spying, especially from his nephew, Lucas, whose disapproving gaze spoke volumes.
Perhaps it was the rosy flush on their cheeks or the sight of Ariel wrapped in Eric's cloak, a feeble attempt to shield her from the cold. Ariel clutched the cloak tightly to her chest, her eyes shyly focused on the ground as they reached her bedchamber. The sound of her boots clicking against the brick floor echoed in Eric's ears, a painful reminder of the impending separation. He longed to follow her inside, but he knew it was not appropriate until he had a chance to speak with Grimsby in the morning. Eric needed to convince the Court to reconsider the archaic marriage law that had constrained him for far too long. With a heavy heart, Eric contemplated the weight of his feelings for Ariel. She was everything he desired, and the thought of asking for her hand in marriage filled him with both anticipation and trepidation.
The realization made his throat tighten, and he trembled with hesitation. Just as he turned to leave, Ariel surprised him by opening her door wider, stepping back to give him an unspoken invitation.
Time seemed to stand still as they locked eyes, the lingering memory of their earlier kiss immobilizing them.
Eric cleared his throat awkwardly, his voice betraying his shyness.
"G-Goodnight, Ariel," he mumbled, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. He took a step away, ready to retreat, but the widened door and Ariel's silent gesture spoke volumes, reassuring him without the need for words.
With a mixture of hope and uncertainty, Eric lingered in the doorway, a silent promise passing between them.
They knew that their journey was far from over, but their hearts remained steadfast, brimming with the potential of a future together. As Eric finally turned to make his way down the hall, a renewed determination sparked within him.
Tomorrow, he would face Grimsby and the Court, armed with the fervent desire to lift the marriage law that stood between him and his beloved Ariel.
And then...when all this was over, he would ask Ariel if she would marry him because it was not enough to have the girl stay in his castle anymore as his guest. No. He wanted her to stay but as his wife. He wanted Ariel to become his Princess.
MIDNIGHT descended upon the desolate shore, casting an eerie glow over the scene. Darius led his ailing wife, Helena, to the water's edge where Ursula, the cunning sea witch, awaited their arrival. The air was thick with anticipation as the waves crashed relentlessly against the shore. Ursula approached Helena with feigned concern, her voice dripping with false empathy.
"There, there, my dear. It will not hurt. Trust in Ursula," she whispered, her voice laced with a sinister undertone. Darius, his heart heavy with worry, attempted to intervene, but before he could utter a word, Ursula unleashed her dark magic.
A surge of energy pulsed through the air, and Ursula's eyes glowed with an otherworldly light. With a chilling smile, she reached out and extracted Helena's very soul, leaving her body limp and lifeless. Darius stood frozen, his mind reeling with shock and horror as he witnessed his beloved wife reduced to a mere vessel. As if possessed by a newfound power, Ursula's voice now emanated from Helena's body, her words laced with a venomous determination.
"Ariel shall be destroyed, just as my brother took everything from me, and when Ariel has had everything taken from her and has lost the will to live, she will be begging me as her aunt to end her suffering swiftly. And when that time comes, I want to look into my bastard brother's eyes and watch the light leave them as I'd feed his daughter to the Great White Sharks for a snack," she declared, her tone sending a shiver down Darius's spine. "I want my brother there for this."
Darius, torn between grief and fury, found his voice.
"What have you done? Release Helena at once!" he demanded, his voice trembling with a mix of anguish and anger.
Ursula, now wearing Helena's form, regarded Darius with an icy gaze.
"Foolish mortal, your pleas fall on deaf ears. Helena's essence is mine now, and her body serves as a vessel for my revenge. Together, we shall enchant the Prince, and Ariel will be stripped of all that she holds dear."
Darius took a step back, his heart heavy with the weight of betrayal.
"NO! I won't let you use Helena for your schemes!" he vowed, his voice filled with determination.
Ursula, now in possession of Helena's body, let out a wicked laugh that echoed through the night.
"You truly thought I, Ursula, sister to Triton and a witch of the sea, would deal with mere mortals?!" She looked at Darius as though he were such a disappointment to her as if she'd expected better. "You are powerless, mortal. I have what I need, and nothing can stand in my way. Prepare yourself, for the storm that approaches will consume all in its path."
With a flick of her wrist, Ursula, now inhabiting Helena's body, turned away from Darius and began making her way toward the tumultuous sea. The dark waters seemed to writhe in anticipation, ready to carry out the sea witch's malevolent plans.
Darius, his heart heavy with grief and a newfound resolve, watched in despair as the embodiment of Ursula and Helena faded into the darkness and well away from him. Determined to save his wife and stop the impending destruction, he vowed to find a way to break Ursula's hold and restore peace to the tumultuous waters that threatened to engulf them all.