Chapter 12
ERIC stared straight ahead of him, unable to take his eyes off Helena, though the woman across the room convulsing and fighting madly against some hidden unforeseen force that seemed to be hurting her. Her angry terrified wails pierced the air and filled the vast room and tore Eric's heart to pieces. He did not even need to glance to the side to see that his best friend was just as affected if not more.
Helena's head snapped back with such force that Eric feared she would injure herself. Another piercing scream escaped her lips, reverberating through the air. But it wasn't just her scream that unsettled Eric; it was the sight of her eyes, now a striking shade of green reminiscent of a cat's gaze, rather than their usual dark chocolate hue.
A sinister smile crept across the edges of her lips, sending shivers down Eric's spine.
When Darius's wife spoke, her voice was distorted, as if someone or something else was trying to take control.
"Well, hello there, handsome," she grinned, her words dripping with a wicked charm. "How kind of you to grace us with your presence. And you've brought my niece with you. Hello, poppet, I was hoping you would show yourself to Aunt Ursula again, how I've missed you, darling, you can't even imagine how much. Your sisters miss you too, as does dear old Daddy, though I'm afraid my brother is about to be disappointed, Red." The voice carried a wicked flourish, yet it was evident that she was battling against an unseen force, though Eric couldn't even fathom what it might be. "I hope your stay as the Prince's guest here on land, with the legs I granted you, has been..." Helena paused, her gaze filled with condescension as she looked at Ariel, her expression completely uncharacteristic. "...satisfactory," she sneered, and Eric could only watch in bewilderment as Ariel's face turned pale with a mixture of shock and anger.
"Ariel, what's happening?" Eric demanded, his voice trembling with fear.
As Ariel moved forward, her robes swirling around her, Helena's hand rose abruptly, halting her in her tracks. The intensity of Helena's presence was so overwhelming that Ariel found herself frozen, afraid to even take a breath, let alone attempt to intervene and stop whatever was unfolding.
"Let's proceed, shall we?" the entity that had possessed Ariel declared to the room, its words more of a rhetorical statement. Those unsettling, piercing green eyes once again locked onto Eric's bewildered gaze, and the smirk on Helena's lips grew wider. "Didn't your man here inform you, my handsome? Your man made a deal here with me to save this pretty girl's life, though I was not expecting his woman to put up much of a fight. Her soul resists my...presence. Fight all you want, pet, it will make no difference," she purred, speaking to Helena, if there was any essence of Darius's wife left still within her. The witch seemed to be enjoying watching as the Prince's face bore the beginning signs of understanding, yet the Prince was not allowing himself to believe it as he slowly turned towards Darius just then. Eric's face contorted with confused rage as he looked toward Darius for clarification.
"You... You made a pact with this... this witch, Darius?! How could you?" Eric exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief, yet the anguish, self-reproach, and revulsion on his best friend's face were too evident to ignore. "You sought the aid of this... this sorceress and you couldn't bring yourself to confide in me?" he demanded, feeling deeply wounded. As the words sank in, Eric witnessed the color drain from Darius's face, a clear sign of his guilt.
"I-I didn't know what else to do, Eric! I know it seemed reckless, but it was Helena's only chance to survive! No doctor or physician in this whole bloody castle or even the hamlet has been able to help her, what on earth could your help have done? It would take even the fastest ship a month to reach Ipswich, and my wife does not have that much time left!" Darius exploded, his body trembling with a mixture of anger and frustration as his fists clenched and unclenched at his sides.
It was evident that Darius longed to strangle the witch for what she was subjecting his wife to, but the fear of inadvertently harming Helena kept him rooted in place, paralyzed by terror. He couldn't take any chances when it came to his wife's safety.
"Her only chance?" Eric spluttered, hardly daring to believe what he was hearing from his friend. "Darius, you could have talked to me before making such a dangerous move."
Darius shook his head, the edges of his mouth turning down into a frown as he sent away the Prince's words.
"There was no time, Eric. I had to act swiftly, or Helena would have been dead in a fortnight," he spat bitterly.
Eric parted his lips to protest, though before he could, the witch interrupted, sounding on the brink of annoyance.
"Oh, perhaps we could settle your little dispute, boys, once I take my niece and be on our way back home?" The witch interrupted, the smug grin on Helena's face stirring even more of the revulsion Eric held for whatever creature had taken control of Helena's body and soul. Eric's heart pounded in his chest, torn between anger at Darius for keeping such a desperate secret and concern for Helena, who was now a vessel for this malevolent force. The room seemed to close in on him as the weight of the situation pressed upon him, threatening to suffocate his thoughts.
Ariel's lips parted as if she meant to speak, however, given that the witch had stolen her voice, she could not. Her gesture to attempt it, however, did not go unnoticed by the witch, who threw back Helena's head and laughed.
"What's that, darling niece? You aren't...trying to say something, are you? Speak up, poppet, so the men in the room can hear you, love, don't be shy now, it's never becoming of you, dear," The sea witch snapped her fingers.
Ariel immediately inhaled to cough, tracing a hand on her throat the sudden gush of air to her lungs and the slight color that returned to her face told Eric and Darius without her needing to say that her voice had been restored, if only for a moment as the witch was deriving intense and sick pleasure in tormenting her niece. Ariel, still frozen in place by her aunt's unseen power, managed to gather herself and speak for the first time, her voice trembling but filled with the determination Eric knew immediately was befitting that of a future Princess or even a Queen.
"You will not take her, Aunt Ursula! Release her from your grip this instant!" she demanded, attempting to shout, though Ariel's voice was barely audible from days of not being used. Her throat was so dry that it sounded as if it was a chore just to force out the words.
Eric had no time to feel his heart soar at the sound of Ariel's voice for the first time and how he knew then, without a shadow of a doubt in his mind, that Ariel had been the one who had saved his life from the shipwreck moons ago.
The witch possessing Helena chuckled, a low deep throaty sound, a haunting sound that sent shivers down Eric's spine.
"Oh, my dear, dear sweet Ariel, you have always been too stubborn and headstrong. Just like my bastard brother. It's bound to be the one thing that gets you killed one day. You've no idea of the power I hold. Your feeble attempts to thwart me are nothing more than futile gestures."
Helena's body violently convulsed again, her head snapping back so far that Eric flinched, and bile rose in his throat as he swore he heard her neck crack.
He could see the struggle within his dear friend, the battle between his beloved best friend's wife and the dark witch of the sea who fought for dominance over Helena's body to use as a vessel that she could walk on land.
His fists clenched at his side as he flicked his gaze towards Darius, who had eyes only for his wife but was too terrified to act, afraid that the slightest wrong move would have the direst of consequences.
Eric's mind raced for a way to save Helena from this wicked torment.
Come on, Darius, come on, work with me, my friend, we're after an idea, anything, he silently pleaded with his best friend in next-to-near impossible telepathy as he locked eyes with the older man, heartbroken to see tears swimming in his friend's blue eyes that were so startlingly like his sworn brother's own.
Suddenly, a surge of determination coursed through Eric's veins. He refused to let his friend suffer alone, even if it meant facing a supernatural entity that seemed unbeatable. With gritted teeth, he stepped forward, his voice laced with resolve. "I won't let you harm Helena any further. If it's a deal you want, then make it with me."
The possessed Helena turned her gaze towards Eric, amusement glinting in her unnatural green eyes. "Oh, how delightfully brave of you, my handsome mortal. What could you possibly offer me?"
Eric locked eyes with the entity, drawing on a newfound strength fueled by his love for Helena. "My life. Take it instead. Release her and let her be free."
The room fell into a heavy silence, the air thick with tension. The entity seemed to consider Eric's offer, a sinister smile playing on its lips.
"Very well, mortal. Your life in exchange for her freedom. But beware, your fate will be sealed the moment our pact is made."
Without hesitation, Eric nodded, his gaze never wavering. "Do it."
As the words left his lips, a surge of dark energy enveloped the room.
"ERIC, NO!" Ariel screamed, though the scream that Helena let out drowned out Ariel's desperate plea.
The entity released its hold on Helena, and she collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath, her eyes returning to their usual dark chocolate color. Eric rushed to her side, cradling her in his arms, relief flooding through him.
Meanwhile, Darius stood frozen, his eyes wide with shock and regret. He had witnessed the lengths his best friend was willing to go to save Helena, and the weight of his guilt pressed heavily upon him.
"ERIC, ARIEL, RUN!" Darius roared.
The witch bellowed as Darius jolted himself out of his stunned stupor the moment Helena began to violently cough, her fingers clawing at her throat as her lungs begged her to fill in. It was enough to fill him with a vent of adrenaline that propelled him towards Ariel's aunt, whose form was now distorting before their very eyes. Darius revealed a small dagger at the side of his belt and plunged it without hesitation into Ursula's ribs, a blood yell leaving his lips.
Ariel swiftly rushed to Helena's side, offering her support as she helped Darius's wife to her feet. With one arm wrapped securely around the brunette's waist, she extended her free hand towards Eric, urging him to join them. However, Eric's gaze remained fixated on his best friend, his eyes wide with a mixture of shock and concern.
As Darius continued to twist the hilt of his knife deeper into the witch's ribs, a bone-chilling shriek pierced the air, sending shivers down Eric's spine. It was a sound more agonizing than that of a banshee's scream, echoing with the sheer malevolence of the witch's torment.
Eric questioned his perception, unsure if what unfolded before his eyes was a twisted illusion or a figment of his imagination. The witch's form continued to contort and shift, revealing her true nature as a shapeshifter—a creature well-versed in the dark arts of black magic. Her transformation unleashed a horrifying spectacle, her once alluring appearance turning into that of a grotesquely malformed creature. With a multitude of writhing tentacles sprouting from her distorted body, she let out a series of screeches that seemed to echo from the depths of the nightmare.
In her murderous rage, she clawed at herself and at Darius, fueled by vile malice that knew no bounds.
Eric's mind raced, grappling with the surreal and nightmarish scene unfolding before him. He knew they were facing a powerful and twisted adversary, one whose intentions were far from benign.
With a mixture of fear and determination, he finally tore his gaze away from the horrifying spectacle and reached out to Ariel's outstretched hand. Together, they would stand against the monstrous witch and protect those they held dear, their resolve unyielding in the face of this dark and otherworldly threat.
Darius's transformation was palpable, his once-relaxed posture replaced by a rigid, militaristic stance that concealed his profile from Eric's view, leaving his friend's intentions veiled. There was a newfound darkness emanating from Darius, an unsettling aura that made Eric uneasy. This was not the side of his mild-mannered and reserved friend that he had come to know and trust. Darius had been pushed to his limits, and the repercussions of that were now apparent. A sense of danger radiated from Darius, a stark departure from his usual demeanor. It unsettled Eric to witness the transformation in his sworn brother, for Darius had always been a steadfast and dependable presence, a pillar of strength. Now, he appeared as a force that should never be provoked, his anger simmering beneath the surface, threatening to erupt like a raging inferno. Eric realized that Darius's fierce protectiveness had been awakened, a guardian spirit willing to do whatever it took to safeguard the lives of the women he loved.
"Eric, my friend, take my wife and Ariel and get them out of here. Flee the castle. Evacuate the entire bloody castle if you have to, wake who you can as you flee," Darius growled, his voice rough and laced with fire. It seemed as though his friend was barely holding back an overwhelming surge of emotions, a dam on the verge of bursting.
It took a moment for Eric to regain his voice, but when he did, it quivered with a mix of fear and determination. He shook his head, refusing to accept the course of action Darius was proposing.
"Darius, no! I won't leave you. You can't face this alone!" Eric's protest erupted forcefully from his lips, the crack and dip in his voice revealing the raw emotions churning within him. He had to shout to make himself heard over the chaos that surrounded them, his words laced with desperation. Darius grunted in response, his body being ensnared by the witch's insidious tentacles. They coiled around his legs and waist, constricting like a python's grip. The largest of the tentacles slithered its way around his throat, applying pressure, and slowly cutting off his oxygen supply. But even in the face of this dire situation, Darius refused to release his grip on the knife buried deep in the witch's ribs.
"Go! Get the girls out of here now!" Darius demanded, his voice strained, the burn in his lungs intensifying as the witch's tentacle tightened its hold around his throat. "Go now! Let me handle this witch. Even if she's crazy, I don't believe she can catch all of you. Go! Don't...make me say it...to you...a second time," he choked out hoarsely.
Eric's heart pounded in his chest, torn between loyalty to his friend and the urgent need to protect the lives entrusted to him. He locked eyes with Darius, seeing the determination and sacrifice etched on his friend's face.
Eric's heart ached, torn between his loyalty to Darius and his own need to protect those he cared for. The thought of leaving his best friend behind, sacrificing himself to face the relentless wrath of the witch, was unfathomable. Darius had been there for him through thick and thin, and now he expected Eric to abandon him in his moment of need. It was a demand Eric couldn't accept.
"I..." Eric started, his voice quivering with a mix of determination and desperation, wanting to make Darius understand that he could be of help. But before he could utter another word, Darius let out a furious yell that reverberated through the air, cutting off any further protests.
"GO!"
The force and conviction in Darius's voice sent shivers down Eric's spine. He knew there was no changing his friend's mind, not at this moment. Reluctantly, he turned away, his heart heavy with the weight of their unspoken bond. Tears welled up in his eyes, but he refused to let them fall.
With a heavy sigh, Eric rushed toward Ariel and Helena, his mind racing with a plan to ensure their safety.
The image of Darius, fiercely battling against the witch's grasp, burned into his memory, fueling his determination to return and stand beside him once the immediate threat had passed.
But for now, he had to trust Darius's plea and fulfill his duty to protect the lives entrusted to him.
As he reached Ariel's side, Eric glanced back one last time, locking eyes with his best friend. The unspoken understanding between them lingered in the air, a silent promise that their bond would endure, even in the face of overwhelming adversity. With a heavy heart, Eric nodded, accepting the weight of Darius's command.
"We'll find a way, Darius," Eric whispered under his breath, a pledge made to the air, to the universe itself.
Then, without looking back again, he took Ariel and Helena's hands, guided them toward the exit, and stepped away from the scene, the echoes of Darius's yell still ringing in his ears.
After Eric had left, Darius mustered the courage to turn his head and confront Death directly. The sea witch's tentacle tightened around his neck, causing him immense pain.
At that moment, he found himself partially wishing for the witch to end his suffering quickly.
"I've grown weary of these trivial mortal concerns," the witch hissed, her lips parting to reveal jagged teeth that Darius feared would sink into his neck like a Great White Shark, draining him of his lifeblood. "You, boy, have been an irksome thorn in my side for far too long. And what does one do with a thorn, hmm? Remove it." Her cackling filled the air, delighting in the horror reflected in Darius's tear-filled, cracked blue eyes. "Did you not realize this was inevitable, Darius? We are bound together, you and I. You willingly traded your soul to me, and now, on this night, I embody your destiny, my handsome one."
To his horror and anger, the witch smirked and tilted her head. Her green eyes seemed to glow as she summoned a fraction of her suppressed monstrous strength, lifting Darius slightly off the ground.
Despite his dwindling breath, he snapped at the witch, taunting her and challenging her courage. His heart sank as he witnessed the sudden disappearance of her smile.
The tightening tentacle intensified his agony, yet Darius refused to avert his gaze from the witch's face.
Uncertain of his best course of action, he debated between provoking her further, hoping she would make a mistake in her fury, or attempting to backtrack and plead for mercy.
Regardless, he didn't want to worsen his situation unnecessarily. He desperately hoped that Eric had succeeded in securing his beloved wife's safety, finding solace in the distant sounds he strained to hear.
Almost managing a smile, he caught the startled shouts outside the hall. Faint, muffled voices of Eric, Ariel, and his dear Helena pleaded with the castle's inhabitants to flee immediately.
The tentacle squeezed, as another went to wrap itself around his hand that still held the hunting knife buried deep in her ribs, yet Darius refused to let go and twisted it deeper, the sound of the wretched witch's grating screams music to his ears. Tears left his eyes as he floundered in his horrible failure. He could hear his breaths deepening.
He could feel his chest tightening and his lungs beginning to burn, and he would have wanted to scream as he felt two of his ribs crack under the pressure of the witch's tentacles. He coughed, almost choking, desperate for oxygen.
He did not know how he was able to pull his dagger from her ribs or aim it straight at her heart. But before darkness engulfed him and his mind went to black, he felt his hand move as if it had a mind of its own. He never knew if he was successful in killing the witch, nor if he was still in one piece.
All he felt was the softness of Helena's dress brushing against his whenever they would walk together, all he tasted was the sweetness of her kiss, and all he saw was a vivid figure of the last and only person he wanted to see, dark chocolate eyes, and even darker curly hair, his wife, his only love, his sweet shy Helena. Darius only wished he knew what happened to his wife, to Eric, to Ariel. If they were OK. He wondered if he should have called for Brutus and a few of the other castle guards before daring to confront the witch. But what good could he have done? He'd needed to save his wife and he had failed Helena. And now, she and the Prince and his lady love were as good as dead.
The last thing before Ursula snapped his neck and his world went black was a wave of unending, unbearable shame.