PART 3

The following morning arrived, and as Eric had foreseen, his mother launched a barrage of inquiries during breakfast concerning his decision to send Ariel back to the depths of the sea.

"Son, where is your judgment? Don't you believe your action was impulsive, instructing Ariel to revert to her mermaid form?" the queen questioned.

"Mother, I did it to safeguard her. The perpetrator might be aware of her mermaid identity as well. If they target her, I won't be capable of defending her, especially in my current condition," Eric defended his choice.

"How can you assert that the assailant is after your wife? The merman's death might have been coincidental. The malefactor might not possess knowledge of Ariel's true nature. And even if they do, doesn't that make her even more vulnerable in the sea?" the queen reasoned. "Consider, Eric. Another sailor, equipped with a harpoon, could easily endanger her if she emerges to the surface before the designated time."

"I know your concern is genuine, Mother, but let's focus our energy on resolving this crime," Eric retorted, his emotions on edge. He couldn't bear the thought that he might have just condemned his wife to an inevitable fate.

_/_

Submerged beneath the waves, Ariel resolved to contribute to the investigation with the limited resources available to her. She had promised Eric her safety, but simultaneously, she wasn't inclined to remain idle. A few hours later, she found herself adapting to the underwater environment once again. Swimming to Senor Alejandro's den, she sought a conversation with him. It struck her as amusing – a mere week earlier, she had been accustomed to sleeping on a comfortable mattress, almost forgetting the days when she had nestled in burrows alongside her fellow mermaid sisters.

Upon reaching the designated den, Ariel encountered the aged merman seated on a rock, facing the wall. As she approached, he turned, masking his sorrow with a courteous bow. "Princess, what brings you here? Shouldn't you be above the waves?" he inquired. Yet, in response, he received a heartfelt embrace from Ariel, conveying her condolences for the loss of his friend, even though they both understood that no tears would be shed.

After a few minutes of shared silence, the young mermaid opened up to the elder Spanish merman. She expressed her desire to aid in bringing justice to Diego's memory. Although she acknowledged that the killer likely resided beyond the sea, she inquired about Diego's activities during his final days.

"Well," Senor Alejandro reminisced. "On the morning of that incident... well, he had come to the surface and accidentally overturned a boat filled with human provisions. I instructed him to gather everything and place it on the pier before your prince grew angry. I had heard Eric arguing with another human earlier that day, so I presumed Diego wished to avoid any trouble."

"Eric was preoccupied with the preparations for the exploration voyage," Ariel recollected. "So Diego went to the pier below, correct?" A glimmer of realization began to form in her mind.

"Yes," confirmed the elderly merman. "And to think that I was so stern with him that morning," he sighed, a hint of regret lacing his words. Ariel responded with a genuine smile.

"Fear not, Senor Alejandro. We will uncover the truth behind this," she assured him, then swiftly swam away, propelled by a newfound determination.

_/_

Back at the castle, Eric found himself seated in his favored armchair, his hands resting atop his cane, his forehead furrowed in deep thought. He retraced the events of the past few weeks, endeavoring to discern a motive for the merman's murder, yet his efforts proved futile. Adding to his frustration, none of the testimonies, save for the doctor's, appeared to yield valuable insights.

"Sir? Are you feeling alright?" Eric jumped slightly, startled by Grimsby's approach.

"Grims, please, you mustn't startle me like that!" Eric's response was tinged with apprehension, fearing another unforeseen seizure.

"I apologize, Eric. I didn't mean to alarm you," the elderly man offered a gentle smile. "I haven't seen you since breakfast, and I grew concerned."

"I've been here all along, Grims. And don't worry, Rosa and the other servants, I must admit, have been checking up on me every half hour," the prince admitted with a sheepish grin. "Grims, what transpired after I... on that day? What happened after we discovered the body?"

"Well, Your Highness, the queen ordered everyone to disperse, granting permission for the sea folk to take the body with them," Grimsby recounted.

"You didn't catch a glimpse of the body?" Eric queried.

"Yes, regrettably I did. Why do you inquire?" Grimsby responded, his tone puzzled.

"Tell me, how did Diego appear, other than having the harpoon embedded in his back? Were there any other noticeable injuries?" Eric's tone grew serious.

"Ah... well, aside from the obvious harpoon wound, his arms seemed slightly bruised, and there was a wound on his head – as though he had struck it against a rock. Why do you ask, Eric? And please, cease these questions. They make me quite uneasy. Where are you headed with all of this?" Grimsby's concern was evident.

"Yesterday, Dr. Plato spoke to me," Eric began, his voice carrying a tone of revelation. "He mentioned that he saw something peculiar on the beach – two figures lying in the sand. I'm pondering over who could have been the victim and the perpetrator in this scenario."

"I'm sorry, Eric, I'm struggling to comprehend," Grimsby admitted, his confusion palpable.

"Consider this, Grims. If Diego was killed by a human like us, he would have been taken off guard. There wouldn't have been additional injuries," Eric elaborated.

"I'm not following, Eric. Please clarify," Grimsby requested, seeking understanding.

"I suspect, Grims, that what Dr. Plato witnessed were two merpeople on the beach. What he perceived as two people in a compromising position might have been the victim and the assailant. It's conceivable that one merperson murdered the other with the harpoon – the very one I had taken from Mr. Miguel and tossed into the water," Eric concluded, his realization coming to light.

"Why would one merman kill another? And why stage the victim on the beach? What could the killer possibly aim to achieve by incriminating someone?" Grimsby's confusion persisted. "Eric, your deductions seem disjointed."

"Mother's concerns were valid. I've placed Ariel in jeopardy," Eric's voice barely more than a whisper. Without another word, he abruptly left the room, weighed down by his thoughts and the weight of responsibility he felt for his wife's safety.

_/_

Silently and cautiously, Ariel swam beneath the pier, her intent to search for any potential clues, but the underwater surroundings yielded nothing of significance. Then, unexpectedly, she spotted a necklace lodged between some ascending rocks, and she recognized it as Diego's shark tooth necklace. Perplexed, Ariel circled the rocks, meticulously inspecting them. Her gaze fell upon reddish stains almost washed away by the water.

"Blood?" she whispered, leaning in to sniff at the particular rock.

"Ariel? My goodness, Ariel, is that truly you?" a voice called out.

"Hello, Kassandra," Ariel greeted her politely, though her enthusiasm remained restrained.

"What are you doing here? And with a tail? Weren't you transformed into a human?" Kassandra inquired.

"It's a long story, and I can't explain it all now," the black mermaid responded, eager to resume her investigation.

"You knew what happened to poor Diego, didn't you?" Kassandra asked sympathetically. "The poor thing was killed by a harpoon from those humans."

"Yes, but..." Ariel contemplated whether it was worthwhile to converse with Kassandra, given the longstanding distrust between her and her sisters. "I believe I might be the next target."

"You? Why would someone want to harm you, Ariel? You wouldn't harm an anemone," Kassandra chuckled.

"It was suggested by the prince. He thought it would be safer for me to return to the water until the murderer is apprehended," Ariel explained.

"And would you truly be safe here… Look at what these wretched humans did to me," Kassandra growled, displaying her severed fingers.

"Oh my goodness!" Ariel gasped in horror.

"No human can be trusted, young lady, not even your prince," Kassandra warned.

"I see... Excuse me, Kassandra, I need to speak with my father about something... once again, I apologize," Ariel uttered and swiftly swam away from the unsettling encounter.

_/_

Eric descended the palace steps at a deliberate pace, making his way toward the beach with the intention of sharing his theory with Ariel. However, as he walked, a sense of unease crept over him. He was alone, devoid of any companions, and the thought that a seizure might occur at any moment filled him with dread. The magnitude of potential tragedy that could ensue weighed heavily on him. The confidence he had felt just moments earlier had dissipated, replaced by a deep-seated fear.

He clung tightly to the railing and his cane, yearning to retreat to the safety of the castle. Muttering to himself in frustration, he chided, "You cowardly lion."

Suddenly, an ominous melody began to resonate in his ears, causing his heart to race with trepidation.

''…I held you in my arms so tight and gave you kisses sweet then out I took my little knife and wounded you so deep…''

Eric felt a shiver course through his entire body. That melody was not Ariel's; it was something entirely different, a haunting, captivating tune tinged with a sense of terror that could ensnare even the strongest of men. His head felt empty, as if a seizure was imminent, and he turned toward the melody, drawn to it. He hardly noticed when two arms suddenly pulled him away, guiding him to a safer corner.

"Your Highness, you must get away from there," it was Mr. Miguel, who had fashioned a makeshift earplug from cloth.

"What was that? Miguel, what on earth are you doing?" Eric exclaimed.

"It was that deranged mermaid, sir. She was attempting to lure you to throw yourself off the cliff," Miguel explained once they had reached the safety of the palace courtyard.

"Explain yourself, man!" Eric demanded.

"Come, sir, we should sit down. I have something of interest to share with you," the sailor said with a smile, leading Eric to a spot where they could talk.