Chapter 5: The Ghost in the Shell

When Louis peered out from behind the column, all he saw was chaos. The guests were fleeing the pavilion as fast as they could, pushing and shoving in a panicked stampede up the stairs. Those that could not jumped into the sea or scrambled about like frightened mice. The sea folk followed suit, retreating for the safety of the open water. Those with some modicum of courage had joined the mermen soldiers in rescuing the humans from the waters. The human guards could barely hold their ground against the flood of bodies much less approach the pavilion, keeping them trapped on the stairs. Melody knelt cradling the now dead prince, frozen with shock and horror. A maid was advancing on her, throwing people aside like they were trash. There was an anger to her gait and a palpable hatred in her eyes as she approached, as though Melody were some long-despised foe.

"Get away from her!" shouted Ariel as she rushed the maid. She grabbed hold of the maid's shoulders and shoved her back, shoes skidding over the slick marble.

"Out of my way, fish!" snarled the maid. She seized Ariel by her neck, lifting her off the ground with one arm. Her brief scream was cut off when the maid's hand clamped down. Ariel grasped the maid's arm, eyes wide with alarm as her feet kicked at empty air.

"Ariel!" shouted Eric as he struggled to push his way through the people. He was making as much progress as the guards.

With a shout the maid tossed Ariel aside, bowling people back into Eric and knocking him down. Free of impediments the maid pounced on Melody, knocking her down before wrapping her fingers around her neck. Louis could see the muscles in her forearms strain with her grip.

Triton saw what was happening and elevated himself with water for a better shot. He aimed the trident for Melody's assailant, but people kept running into his water column. He shifted about, the trident's forks brightening and dimming as it built magic only to have the shot disrupted by a bystander.

"Now die!" yelled the maid as she pressed down on Melody's throat, face split by a mad and ferocious smile. "Die! Die! Die!"

The princess grabbed her attacker's arms, but her resistance was weak from shock and the maid was unnaturally strong. There was barely any fight in her, and soon there would not be any life either. Already Melody's face was starting to turn red, the maid's deadly grip trapping the blood in her head.

Louis wrung his hat. What was he to do? Melody was being killed right before his eyes. The panicking crowd was preventing the guards and her parents from reaching her, not to mention hindering any aid from Triton. If something were not done Melody would be following after William.

Louis did not watch where the tip of one of his knives was pointing. It jabbed him in the leg, causing him to jump. A pinprick of red appeared on his pants. He was about to toss the knife away when he noticed the base of the column he was sheltering behind. The column was no different than all the others in the structure. It was white marble chiseled to a mirror finish, the sculptors leaving not the faintest blemish or handhold.

They also left a narrow lip at knee level where the body of the column met its base.

Louis was in motion before he knew what he was doing. He felt like someone else was controlling his body, leaving him a bystander. He drew his knives back as he stepped onto the lip and leapt as high as he could.

Everything moved slower for Louis. He felt like he was levitating. The crowd now stampeded at a walking pace instead of a run. He felt every detail of his knives, from the balance of the metal to the worn wood grain of the handles. Melody and the maid were clearly visible from up here, victim and attacker alone in a small ring of floor space. The maid opened her mouth inhumanly wide, exposing sharp triangular teeth as she slowly leaned in for the princess' face.

For twenty years Louis had been throwing knives at Sebastian. For twenty years he missed every time. There was no crab tonight, but never had there been a more important time to end his no-hit streak. Summoning every ounce of skill and focus he could muster, Louis threw his knives at the maid, swearing he would never chase Sebastian again if, for just this once, his aim was true.


The maid pressed down on Melody's neck with terrible force. She smiled with villainous glee, exposing her mouth of shark-like teeth. Melody grabbed her arms, trying her best to pull her off before she was strangled to death. The maid's arms were like iron rods. Her lungs were screaming for air, panic depleting them faster. Already her head was starting to spin.

Another part of her did not want to fight back. What was the point of resisting? This was all just a dream. Nothing this terrible could happen in reality. She would wake up any moment now, safe in her bed. Better to get it over with so she could end this nightmare. It would not be long now. Her vision was blurred as it began to tunnel into darkness.

Thwack! Crack!

The maid suddenly rolled out of sight, releasing Melody's throat. She gasped for air, coughing and hacking as sweet oxygen flooded her lungs. Now Melody was sure this was a dream. How else could the maid disappear like that?

The answer to her question came when she sat upright. The maid lay on her side staring back with dying eyes, the handles of a pair of kitchen knives protruding from her ribcage and the side of her head. She gasped as she reached for Melody, face twisted in an angered grimace. Then she exhaled with finality, her arm falling limp to the floor.

Melody coughed as she looked around the pavilion. The world was hushed as though she were underwater. People were running without direction while the guards fought their way in. The orchestra was jumping into the sea save for a violinist crouched down behind a chair as he fussed with something. Triton was shouting orders to his mermen from a column of seawater as merfolk and other sea life worked to rescue humans from the ocean. She heard familiar footsteps approaching and her parents distantly calling her name.

Something warm ran down the back of Melody's neck. She touched behind her head and immediately jerked away at the stabbing pain that tore through her skull. When she brought her hand back there was blood on her fingertips. The same color as the blood on the floor. The same color as the blood that flowed out of William.

This was no dream. This was real.

Melody felt faint. She lost her balance and fell onto her side. The faces of her mother and father filled her vision. Tears were streaming down her mother's cheeks as she grasped her shoulders, a red ring around her neck where the maid grabbed her. Her father skidded to her side, taking her head in his lap. Their lips moved as they spoke, but their voices were so far away Melody could not make out what they were saying. Shadows crept into her failing vision until her world went black, the trauma to her head and heart dragging her out of one nightmare and into another as her eyes slowly closed.


The violinist cursed his luck as he tried to unjam the pistol's second hammer. Of all the rotten luck his weapon had jammed after the first shot. The jam cost him a clear line of sight and another chance at the princess' life. His partner was dead, a pair of blades buried in her heart and brain.

"Come on! Come on!" he growled as he fussed with the pistol. He cranked back on the hammer one more time and the piece moved into position with a satisfying click. He raised the weapon and turned back to the princess. She was completely obscured by the king and queen now. He would not get the shot he needed.

But he did not need a shot. He needed to escape.

He surveyed the pavilion for a possible route. He could try to run for the palace, but the guards were blocking his path to the stairs and the crowd was still running strong. The bells were clanging vigorously, calling all soldiers to arms. The palace would be on full alert within minutes. Even if he got by these guards there were countless more on the other side. Merguards encircled the pavilion, swords at the ready as they watched the crowd. He would never be able to slip out past them now that they knew his face.

"There he is!" shouted Triton, pointing the trident straight at him. "Don't let him escape!"

The violinist snarled like a beast in a trap, for trapped he was. He would not be escaping this place. His options were capture or death. He looked to Eric and Ariel kneeling over their unconscious daughter. The queen's back was turned to him, her attention fixed on her daughter.

He trained his pistol on Ariel. If he could not kill the princess, then he would at least take her mother with him!


Triton saw where the violinist was aiming. He had no idea what the weapon was or how it worked, but he knew it could kill at range and it was pointing at Ariel. That was reason enough to act. He leveled the trident at the violinist, his aim trained by decades of experience. The violinist froze when he saw the legendary weapon pointed directly at him.

"Trident, shoot!" ordered Triton, his voice carrying above the din. The trident glowed yellow and shot a bolt of white lightning straight at the violinist. He covered his head with his arms, waiting for the bolt to strike.

CRACK! ZRRCK!

The bolt exploded just before it struck. A shimmering transparent sphere was visible around the violinist as the trident's electricity raced over the barrier, looking for a way to its target. Finding no entry, the bolt died out with a loud snap. The barrier quickly faded till it was invisible once more.

Everyone stared in dumbfounded amazement. The split second of confusion was all the time the violinist needed. He pointed his weapon at Ariel again.

"Shoot!" shouted Triton, willing the trident to fire again. Another bolt went off. It hit the invisible barrier, danced around it for a moment, and then faded out. The violinist wrapped his finger around the trigger.

"Shoot!" roared Triton. The trident fired an even larger bolt, but the king's panic affected his aim. The shot went high, glancing off the barrier and striking the edge of a column. There was a deafening crash as the stone exploded, sending glass, rock and dust tumbling flying out, missing the stage by mere inches. The violinist shielded himself from the dust and debris as bits of stone pelted him, but he quickly recovered and aimed at Ariel again. He started to apply pressure to the trigger.

BANG!

"Aaaauugh!"

Luckily for Triton and Ariel, Urchin's aim had been as flawless as his hunch. The barrier may have protected against the trident's blasts, but it did nothing against the stone debris or his spear. His throw took the violinist in his right shoulder just as he squeezed the trigger. The spear sent the shot high, smashing through the pavilion roof and out over the ocean.

The violinist howled in agony, clutching the spear as he fell off the stage. His strange weapon fell to the ground and broke with a clatter, the wooden handle coming free of the metal tubes. Before the violinist could wrench the spear free the guards were on him, pinning him to the floor by his limbs. The last of the guests had fled, leaving the pavilion comparatively empty. The guards now moved to encircle it, ensuring their prisoner could not escape and no new attackers could make a third attempt.

"Bring him here!" bellowed Triton, pointing at the violinist.

The guards hauled the violinist to his feet with all the tenderness of a grizzly bear. One grabbed the spear and wrenched it out, drawing a pained grunt from the man. Another grabbed the pieces of his weapon as the others dragged their captive unceremoniously over to Triton as he kicked and flailed.

"As ordered, your majesty!" said one of the guards as he and his partners threw the violinist before Triton. The man sprawled on the floor before getting to his knees, clutching his bleeding shoulder.

Eric saw what was happening and left to join Triton, knuckles white as he drew his sword. The guards around them kept their spears and swords ready lest the violinist try to make a run for it.

"Who are you?" demanded Eric, thrusting the tip of his sword under the man's chin.

The man glared at Eric with pure hatred in his pitch-black eyes and spat. "Filthy human! Fish-eating monkey! May the currents drag you to the deep and the hagfish feast on your corpse!"

"Silence!" Triton yelled as he jabbed the butt of the trident into the man's chest, laying him out flat. He brought the butt of the trident down on the man's wound. The violinist grunted in pain but gave no cry.

Triton held the violinist's glare, examining his dark eyes. He knew those eyes, but not from any human. He glanced over at the dead maid, noticing the shark-like teeth inside her unusually large mouth.

"You two are not from the land!" he said. "You're sea folk, aren't you?"

The violinist said nothing, only glaring back at Triton.

"Answer me, assassin!" Triton demanded. "Tell me who you are or I'll force it out of you!"

The violinist remained silent. Triton pointed the trident at the man's chest. "So be it."

The trident's forks glowed a brilliant yellow. A bolt of light leapt from it and struck the barrier surrounding the violinist, sending sparks across the ground. The magic of the trident and barrier seemed equal as the forces pushed against one another. Then the barrier suddenly gave way like a balloon stuck with a needle. The bolt struck the violinist in the chest, coating him with a golden aura.

Instantly the violinist began to change. His nose elongated and widened. His skin became dark gray as the whites of his eyes turned a bloodshot pink. His legs fused together into a tail as his feet twisted into a vertical fin. A triangular dorsal fin grew from his back, piercing the jacket he wore. He grew larger, his clothes ripping as his body expanded. His lips disappeared as his teeth turned into razor sharp points.

Seconds later the transformation was over. A creature reminiscent of a cross between a merman and a shark lay on the ground for all to see, surrounded by the remnants of his stolen clothes.

Ariel's eyes widened as she recognized the creature. "You're a…a sharkanian!"

"You would dare to attack my family!? Here!?" yelled Triton, veins bulging on his forearms as he gripped the trident. "This more than a violation of our treaty, sharkanian! It's a declaration of war!"

The sharkanian snarled, gnashing his teeth at Triton. "Curse your treaty, and your kingdom with it! We won't obey the decrees of an ape-loving fish man!"

"Shut up!" shouted Eric, jabbing his sword dangerously close to the sharkanian's throat. "You snuck into my home! You attacked our friends! You killed a man in cold blood! And you tried to kill my daughter, and then my wife!" The tip of Eric's blade shook with anger, scratching against the sharkanian's rough skin. "You'll pay dearly for this, but not before I get answers! Now tell us who sent you!"

The sharkanian laughed, swatting Eric's sword aside. "Stupid human! I'll never tell! I don't fear humans and their oversized knives!"

"Eric, stand aside," said Triton. The king stepped back as Triton approached the sharkanian, pointing the trident at his face. Electrical arcs jumped between the golden prongs as the weapon buzzed with power. "And what about mermen and their oversized forks? Do you fear them?"

Torture was not something Triton advocated or allowed. It was a deplorable practice employed only by the lowest of low. Atlantican law expressly forbade it under all circumstances. Fortunately, Triton was also familiar with the nature of sharkanians. They were much less brave when their own hides were at stake. And true to that nature, the sharkanian suddenly looked much less uncooperative with something capable of shooting lightning bolts pointed at his head.

"You have no magic to protect you now!" said Triton, the tip of the trident menacingly close to the sharkanian's nose. Lightning bristled at its tips. "Speak, or you will find out how mercifully I treat assassins!"

"No, wait!" the sharkanian pleaded. "Wait! I'll talk! I'll talk! Just don't hurt me!"

Triton lowered the trident, if only just. "What's the reason for this attack? How did you turn human? And where did you get that weapon?"

The sharkanian's face paled. "I…I can't!"

Triton raised the trident again. "You will!"

"No, I can't! I swear by a thousand teeth I can't! If I say one word about her then–!"

The sharkanian's voice suddenly caught in his throat. He moved his mouth to speak, but no words came forth. He clutched his neck, as though something was choking him.

"Answer him, shark!" threatened Eric.

"No, wait!" said Triton. "Something's wrong!"

Suddenly the sharkanian gagged loudly, his eyes widening with fright. His skin began to steam and then abruptly began to freeze, ice crawling over his body. Nearby, Ariel gave a startled cry and backed away from the maid's corpse as her body turned to ice as well. Eric rushed to them, pulling Ariel and Melody away lest the ice somehow leap to them.

"Back! Everyone get back!" shouted Triton as he retreated.

The sharkanian thrashed wildly on the floor, mouth open in a silent scream of pain. The ice continued to spread, now working its way over his stomach and up his face. He clawed at his skin, desperately trying to remove the ice. It was a useless effort. Within moments half his body was frozen solid, heading towards the same solid state as his dead partner.

"Ah!"

The guard holding the broken pistol yelped as electricity consumed the pieces. He dropped them to the floor as the wood burst into flames, becoming a pile of ash within seconds. The barrels glowed orange and began to lose shape. Moments later the weapon was little more than a pile of black ash and a puddle of scorching liquid metal.

The doomed sharkanian continued to writhe like a fish on a hook. The ice spread through his body, stilling his movements as it went. Within moments he was frozen up to his neck, and then his head flash froze in an instant, face forever captured in an expression of agony and fear.

Nobody moved for several tense seconds. Then Triton hesitantly approached, trident pointed at the frozen shark. He was about to prod the ice when the sharkanian fractured into a hundred shards of ice. He lurched backwards, as did the entire guard. The dead maid followed suit, breaking apart into a pile of shards. The ice continued to fracture into smaller and smaller pieces until they were little more than frozen dust. Then those evaporated into steam, carried off on the sea breeze. The only traces of them were the bloody knives on the stones.

Triton was the first to recover. "Urchin!"

Urchin flinched at hearing his name, then saluted smartly. "Sir!"

"Search these waters immediately!" commanded Triton. "If there are any more sharkanians nearby here I want them found! And get my daughters back to Atlantica!"

"At once!" replied Urchin. "Spread out! Find those sharks! I'll escort the princesses home! You three, stay here!"

All but three of the merguards saluted and dove into the water, eager to carry out their king's orders. Urchin ushered the princesses away as Triton went to Melody, who was still lying unconscious on the ground. Ariel was beside herself, holding her daughter's face in her hands as tears poured from her eyes like a rainstorm. Eric knelt beside her, clutching Melody's hand in his.

"Melody! Wake up, honey! Please wake up!" pleaded Ariel as she kissed around her daughter's face. Melody remained unresponsive. "She won't wake up! Eric, why won't she wake up!?"

Eric put his ear to her mouth and pressed a finger to her neck. Then he began looking her over from head to toe, noticing the bruises where the maid tried to strangle her and the blood mark on the floor. He touched the back of her head, feeling the spot where she hit. "She's alive, but she hit her head. You!"

A nearby guard stepped forward and saluted.

"Go get the physician!" said Eric. "And rouse the garrison! I want every available soldier on full alert!"

The guard nodded before breaking into a full run for the castle.

"Come back, Melody," pleaded Ariel, resting her forehead against Melody's. "Please wake up!"

Triton wrung the trident in his hands. As concerned as he was for the health of his granddaughter, he had other things to worry about right now. Namely, assuring they were all safe.

He turned his attention to their surroundings. The pavilion was a wreck. Shoes, platters, broken glass, jewelry, and other belongings were scattered across the floor or floating in the pool. The orchestra's platform was in disarray, chairs and sheet stands tossed all over the place. Instruments were strewn across the ground, many of which would never play again. The dining tables looked as though a school of tuna had charged through them. The guests were completely gone, human and sea folk alike. Human guards were searching around the pavilion for any more assassins or hidden weapons, but in such an open space Triton did not anticipate anything. Nearby lay Prince William's body. The boy's skin had adopted the unmistakable pallor of death. His face was pale and his lips were an unhealthy bluish hue. His chest was stained dark with blood. His face was surprisingly calm considering how he died.

Triton felt a familiar urge. It happened every time he heard of someone's death or had to watch a loved one pass on. He still felt it every time he saw his wife's image, whether in the statue in their garden or in his daughters' eyes and laughter.

If he used the trident, he could bring them back. If he just tried hard enough, he could change their fate.

But Triton was not a fool. Had they been able to recover Athena's body he likely would have tried that, but the record spoke for itself. Almost every Atlantican ruler had tried to resurrect someone at one point or another, and every one of them had utterly failed. A handful even lost their lives trying. It was a hopeless endeavor, even with the trident's awesome power. Life was allotted its time and then it was over, no matter how tragically that end came about. And Death would not be denied her duties once they passed into her care. That was the way of this world, both on land and under the sea.

Triton looked to Melody. Ariel was humming her favorite tune to her, hoping the music would guide her back to the waking world. Eric knelt beside her, his arm around Ariel. Melody's eyes darted about underneath her eyelids as she dreamt.

Triton prayed Melody's dream was something better than the world she would wake up to.


Melody felt no fear as she plummeted towards the storming ocean and the waiting tentacles and ice. She only felt an unbearable grief wracking her heart.

The storm raged with newfound intensity. Giant waterspouts whipped at the frenzied ocean as the torrential rain beat her skin like needles. Lightning flashed with blinding frequency all about, charging the freezing air. Towering needles of ice rose from the ocean, ready to impale her when the fall ended. Already the black tentacles were crawling up them to ensnare her. She could hear that familiar evil laugh.

Her body was weightless and numb as she plummeted towards the ocean. She no longer cared what happened, whether in her dreams or the real world. She just wanted the pain to stop. It hurt worse than anything she had ever known. Was this the sort of pain that would await her if she woke up? If that was the case, then she did not want to wake. She did not want to return to a world where William was dead, and she would have to live with that fact day after day. She wanted to strike the ice and end it. If it would give her an escape from the misery her breaking heart would surely bring, then she would accept it.

She closed her eyes and waited.


The sounds of breaking glass and shrieking filled the darkness of the chamber, joined by a storm of curses that would make even the hardest sailors blush.

The plan failed. Foiled at the last possible second by that blasted prince and then that meddling merman. The sharkanians were lucky they both died at the palace. A much slower and torturous fate would have awaited them upon their return. Especially for that violinist. All it took was Triton pointing the trident at his face and he was ready to spill like an overturned cup. Good thing he made that little slip up when he blabbered. Did he really think there would not be traps interwoven with the spell in case he was captured?

The angry destruction and cursing stopped, replaced by heavy breathing. The mission had failed. But despite losing the main objective, the night had not been an absolute loss.

Prince William of Strihaven was dead. If King Willard needed a legitimate reason to hate Atlantica and Seahaven he had it now. This would undoubtedly end any relations between the kingdoms. If he was distraught enough it could even lead to war, something Seahaven was neither experienced in nor ready for. This would fracture the Alliance and deprive them of an ally.

Then there was Melody. The physical trauma the princess suffered would pale in comparison to the emotional and mental traumas waiting for her when she awoke, assuming she escaped the sorcery-induced nightmare she was now trapped in. If she thought they were bad before, they would be nothing compared to the terror she would experience with her distraught emotions feeding them. She would be broken like driftwood on the rocks. Still, it would have been better if it were her lying dead on the ground instead of William. Even Ariel would have made a better corpse. The family would suffer just as much heartbreak at her demise.

The image in the magic bubble shifted, moving around the pavilion. Ariel was stroking her daughter's face as she slept, her face streaked with tears and worry. Eric was by her side looking no less distraught. Chef Louis was being led back to the castle by guards, his hands wringing his hat as he tried to come to terms with the life he had just taken. Prince William's body remained where it was, cooling in the night air.

The party was not over just yet. There was one more card to play, and it would be rubbed right in their faces.

Shadows shifted in the dark, accompanied by the clinking of glass containers. A long black tentacle reached out over the bubble and upended a vial of purple liquid over it. The fluid smothered the bubble like heated tar, replacing the image with a swirling inky purple canvas. The tentacle thrust into the bubble and then two more jointed it, plunging inside as though it was the gateway to a void.


Ariel followed Eric as he carried Melody towards the stairs, never letting go of her daughter's hands. She could not shake the terrible feeling of helplessness that gripped her. When she saw the sharkanian-turned-Vanessa-duplicate pin Melody to the floor and clutch her throat, she would have traded places with her daughter without a thought. She fought to keep her safe with all her strength, but it had been in vain. The transformed sharkanian overpowered her with ease. For a moment she thought she was going to watch her daughter be murdered in front of her. It was the most horrible thing she ever experienced. But now it was over. Melody was alive and safe again. Her daughter was safe.

They were walking past the empty maid's clothes when Ariel noticed a glimmer of gold. She stopped, her natural curiosity alive even now.

Eric stopped walking. "What is it?"

"I'm…not sure," said Ariel. She cautiously approached the dress. The glimmer came from a thin gold chain attached to something under the bodice. Carefully Ariel grasped the chain and gently lifted it. A small round object could be seen moving under clothes as she extracted it.

The moment the object came into view Ariel dropped it and jumped back. Eric gasped in disbelief. "Ariel…is that what I think it is?"

Lying on the ground was a familiar golden nautilus shell. The spiraling shell glinted in the light of the lanterns. A ghostly green glow emanated from it, no less sinister than on the day it took Ariel's voice.

Without hesitation Ariel bolted for the shell and raised her foot. She stomped with the force of a hammer, wanting to pulverize it until even the dust was crushed out of existence.

The glow of the shell suddenly intensified. It shot sideways just before Ariel's foot could make contact, causing her shoe to strike the floor hard enough to snap the heel off. The shell darted around the floor in a mad zigzag before it took to the air. It zipped around the room like a sparrow free of its cage, leaving contrails of green light in its path.

"Daddy, shoot it!" yelled Ariel as the shell zipped towards him.

Triton was forced to duck as the shell passed within inches of his head. "What in the blue seas is that!?"

"It's Ursula's necklace! You have to destroy it! Hurry!"

Triton only needed to hear the first two words. He aimed the trident and fired, but the shell zipped out of the way. The lightning bolt hit the roof and exploded, scattering stone fragments everywhere. The shell gave a final swoop in midair and dove straight for Prince William's body.

"No!" shouted Ariel. She lunged desperately for the shell despite it being well out of her range. Her fingertips just grazed the chain before she fell hard to the floor, knocking the wind out of her.

The shell flew onto William's chest like a bird to its perch. The chain broke and reattached itself around the prince's neck. The glow from the shell increased from a bright glow to a brilliant radiance, causing everyone to shield his or her eyes. Then the light vanished as quickly as it appeared. Silence ruled the air. Everyone watched the prince's body with absolute focus, looking for even the smallest change.

So you can imagine everyone jumped halfway out of his or her skin when William suddenly inhaled, his chest swelling as his back arched upwards. Ariel immediately rushed to Eric's side as Triton put himself in front of them. The guards quickly formed a wall between the apparently reanimated William and the royals. They shifted nervously, as bewildered and frightened as the ones they served.

Ariel could not tear her eyes away as she watched William breathe, his chest rising and falling with gasping wet breaths. A part of her wanted to believe it really was the young prince miraculously brought back to life. That this was one of those once in a lifetime miracle told of in myths and legends. But whenever sea witch magic was involved with something astounding, it was more likely to be a curse than a miracle.

"William?" Ariel asked hesitantly, secretly hoping she would get no answer.

William sat upright, causing everyone to flinch away as he turned to face them. His skin was still deathly pale, and the wound in his chest was hideously visible. Blood had dried around his mouth. His eyes, however, were different. They glowed with the same sinister green color the shell displayed moments earlier. His face bore an uncharacteristically wicked grin, as though it was being pulled into an unnatural contortion.

"Guess again!" he snapped. Slowly he got to his feet, taking a few staggered steps before regaining his balance. "Looks like you had quite a party going on! I didn't miss the cake and presents, did I? How was the dancing? I hear it was a real spectacle!"

He threw his head back, laughing a full-blown cackle that was not his own.

"What sorcery is this!?" demanded Triton, the trident glowing as he aimed it at William.

"So!" William clapped his hands together. "Where is the birthday girl, anyway? I should at least say hello! Ah, there she is!"

"Stop!" shouted Triton. A blast of orange light leapt from the trident, striking William in the stomach before he could take another step. Ice instantly built around his legs and worked its way up to his hips, anchoring him to the floor.

"Really, Triton?" mocked the half-frozen prince, arching an amused eyebrow. "Such cold treatment to an old friend! No 'how have you been?' or 'what kept you?' It's like you didn't even miss me!"

"You're not William!" said Triton. "You may have his body but you're definitely not him! Who are you?"

William shook his head sadly. "You really don't recognize me? Ouch. That stings, Triton. I know we only had two dates before tonight, but to forget about me completely? That's just rude." The undead prince turned to Ariel, causing her to shrink back. "I expected at least some recognition from you and your husband, Ariel. Especially after our first meeting."

Ariel could only stare in horror. This was worse than any nightmare she ever had. "Who are you?"

"Still haven't figured it out?" William tapped his chin in thought. "Hmm…maybe a more familiar voice will jog your memory." William gently touched the shell around his neck. It gave a brief green glow before going dim once more. "How's that, fish cakes? These pipes ringing any bells?"

Ariel, Eric, and Triton felt their blood run cold and their hair stand on end. They knew that voice. It had been years since they last heard it, but that baleful, mocking female tenor was unmistakable.

"Morgana!" whispered Ariel, the word rolling off her tongue like a peal of thunder.

"William" laughed in that way only Morgana could as he clapped. "And the redhead guesses correctly! Back from the dead by popular demand, new and improved, it's the one and only Moooooor-gana!"

He took a deep bow, as though the astonished horror on their faces was the standing ovation of a packed theater. The trident glowed bright in Triton's hands. Ariel took Melody from Eric and lowered her to the floor, cradling her daughter close as her husband took a sword from a nearby guard. The guards quickly encircled William, their spears raised in preparation to stab.

"Oh please!" said William, rolling his eyes as he waved a dismissive hand. "Is that supposed to have my tentacles quivering in fright? Your metal toothpicks are useless! I can't hurt you like this–unfortunately–but there's nothing you can do to me either! Besides, I just came here to talk. No need to be so jumpy."

"You! Are! Dead!" shouted Triton, as though the statement would negate what was happening before their eyes. "I sealed you in ice! I watched you fall when your lair collapsed! It's impossible that you survived that!"

"Ah yes! It's all a bit fuzzy, but I do remember getting turned into a fishsicle after your meddling granddaughter ruined my day…which I promise to pay you both back for in full," hissed William, picking something out of his fingernails. "But as you can see, I'm not dead anymore. Actually, you can't see since I'm not physically there, but let's gloss over that little technicality, shall we? Hmm?"

Ariel felt sick to her stomach. It was nauseating to hear Morgana's voice coming from William's mouth. Mere minutes ago, those lips gave Melody her first kiss. Now they were announcing the return of the witch who almost succeeded in throwing the oceans into a dark age of ice and evil. It made her skin crawl.

"Y-you can't be alive," Ariel stammered. "You can't!"

William turned his gaze on Ariel and Eric. They could feel Morgana's hatred pouring out of his eyes. Yet the mad grin on his face showed delight in witnessing their fear. "Delightful to see you too, Ariel! And your human crush! Still so lovely after all this time…" His grin faltered slightly. "And so pathetically naïve!"

Eric swallowed hard. "But, how–?"

"Oh, and to answer that question I know must be rolling around that simple head of yours," interrupted William. "The boy is very dead. Lights out, turned up his fins, bit the big hook, riding the white seahorse, sleeping with the fishes. Yada, yada, yada! Dead, dead, dead!" He laughed again, relishing the refreshed disbelief and fear on their faces. "Perhaps you need more convincing. How about a magic trick?"

William grasped the ice encasing his lower half with both hands. With a violent jerk and a sickening crack, he twisted himself around so his back was to the group, and then grabbed his head and twisted it so he faced them once more.

"Tada!" said William, throwing his arms wide. "If he wasn't dead before, he sure is now!"

"Stop!" screamed Ariel, averting her eyes the macabre sight. She was glad Melody was not awake to witness this.

"Aw, you don't like magic tricks?" William cackled evilly as he twisted himself back around with a crunching noise that made everyone cringe. "Oh, how I missed this! It feels so good to be bad again!"

"Enough of this!" declared Triton. He pushed the guards aside as he glided over to William, the water supporting him churning with his anger. He thrust the trident underneath the prince's chin. "Morgana or not, you will not defile that boy any further! Release him this instant!"

"Again with the useless threats and demands!" sighed William, unfazed as he swatted the end of the trident away with his hand, only for Triton to point it at him again. "You goody two-fin types really don't listen. Whatever you do to this body won't affect me in the least. You'll have it back once I'm done. Of course…"

He gave Triton an inviting smirk and spread his arms wide. "You're welcome to try and force me out. I'm sure the princess would love to hear how her grandfather fried the body of her dead boyfriend to a crisp after she wakes up."

Triton was shaking with rage. He wanted to blast William into a pile of ash, even if all it did to Morgana was singe a hair on her head. It seemed he would, but then he lowered the trident and backed away.

William grinned even wider. "Well! Since we're having our little reunion on your granddaughter's birthday and I'm in such a good mood, I'll give you all a gift!"

Ariel pulled Melody closer, shielding her with her body. Eric moved back towards his wife and daughter, sword never wavering for a moment. The trident glowed brighter in Triton's hands as the guards tensed.

"Relax, dearies," said William. "It's just a trifle, really. A little knick-knack. Nothing to get worked up over."

"What is it?" asked Eric cautiously.

"An answer."

Eric blinked at him. "A…what?"

William grinned. "You heard me. An answer. I'll answer one question of yours, and just one. No strings attached, no contracts, no price. You ask and I tell. But you better make it quick. I'm a busy little minion with places to go and plans to make, so–."

"Who brought you back?"

Everyone turned to Ariel. She was still kneeling on the floor with Melody and looked terrified, but at least her voice found some courage in the situation.

The dead prince arched an eyebrow in surprise. "What?"

"Who brought you back?" repeated Ariel, willing herself to hold William's unnatural stare. "If that's really you, Morgana, then you didn't return on your own. Someone had to bring you back to life, so who did it? And how?"

"You're serious?" asked William, a look of genuine shock on his face.

Ariel's resolve faltered. "W-what?"

"That is your question? Who brought me back? Not 'how did you get out of the ice,' 'how did you get the sharkanians to serve you,' or 'are you the one giving Melody nightmares?' Which I am, by the way."

Ariel stared at William in disbelief. "It was you? How are you–!?"

William burst into a fit of laughter. Ariel felt a strong malaise in the pit of her stomach. The laugh of a sea witch was an omen of misfortune, foretelling of terrible things to come.

Triton grabbed William's collar in one hand, the other pointing the trident at his stomach. "What's so funny, witch!?"

"You are!" wheezed William as he wiped a tear from his eye. "You really don't know anything, do you?" He doubled over laughing again. "I can't…I can't believe I was ever intimidated by you, Triton! All these years we've been looking over our shoulders and speaking in whispers in case you merfolk or humans were listening! And the reality is you didn't have the slightest clue we existed! You don't know a single thing about us!"

Ariel felt her stomach turn in a knot. "Us?"


The raven circled high above the pavilion, the faintest glimmer of light coming from the tracings of his body. He watched from the dark starlit sky as the scene unfolded, his vision not blocked by the stone roof and hearing not diminished by distance. He may as well have been down there with everyone else.

His eyes flickered as Morgana laughed. Angry sparks popped off his feathers, the air around him growing hot. This show Morgana was putting on was as much to announce her return as it was to break their spirits. It was meant to rattle the sturdiest of souls and purest of hearts. Going by their silence and faces, it was working.

But of greater interest to the raven was Melody and William. As Morgana had been wickedly teasing the frightened royals, the princess was falling further into despair. The spell upon her was feeding off her misery. He could see it hanging over her like a dark poisonous cloud, dragging her in deeper. It stank of dark cecaelian witchcraft–the kind made in cauldrons with all manner of ingredients and incantations. The pain she felt was giving it dangerous strength, turning her nightmare into a mental prison.

He could also see his own spell, burning like a point of light in Melody's chest. Clearly Morgana had not noticed it. Not that she could with her magical capabilities. He could count the number of individuals able to detect his level of magic on his two feet.

As for William, he had seen this sort of necromancy before. Morgana had hold of William's soul like a marionette on strings, using it to control his body from the Otherworld. It was a dark and twisted form of puppetry, if functional. The boy's soul was probably in indescribable agony from it.

The raven ruffled his feathers and folded his wings, diving for the pavilion. It would drain a significant part of his available power for what he planned next, but it was a necessary cost. He could not leave the boy or the princess to Morgana's whims.

It was time for him to enter their world.


"Yes, us!" sneered William, completely unfazed by Triton's roughness. "I'm not the only one who'd love to take your heads off! There's plenty out there who want you all dead! It's just a group effort now!"

Triton lifted William clear of the ice with one heave, leaving the prince dangling in the air by his shirt. "I've had enough of your games, Morgana!"

"Really?" William smiled at him. "Is it because I'm having fun? Or because you suck and playing?"

"Who are your accomplices!?" demanded Triton. "Where are they?!"

"Ah-ah-ah!" taunted William, wagging his finger at Triton. "One question. One answer. That was the deal. And your daughter already asked the question."

The merking's temper was cracking. He dropped William to the ground, causing the prince to fall back on his behind. Triton shoved the trident in the possessed boy's face, the fork glowing deep red. "Then tell us! Who brought you back to life?!"

William smirked wickedly. "The Master did. There, I've answered another question. Rather generous of me, don't you think?"

"That's not fair! Who is your Master?'" demanded Eric.

"Did I ever strike you as the sort of cilophyte that plays fair?" replied William smugly. "I said I'd give you an answer. I never said it would be a full answer."

"Insolent witch!" shouted Triton. The trident was giving off a dangerous humming noise like an angry wasp. Several of the guards backed away, more afraid of the merking's wrath than the undead prince. Even Ariel felt some fright at her father's building anger. She knew how explosive it could be when riled.

"This has to be familiar to you, eh Triton?" sneered William, clearly enjoying his position of control as he stood up. "All the power of the seven seas at your disposal and you can't even save one boy. But you knew that already, didn't you? Otherwise you'd have brought back your dead fishwife after those pirates crushed her."

"Silence!" Triton stuck the tip of the trident dangerously close to William's eye as he towered over him, his face turning red. "You will not get away with this, Morgana! I will find you! I'll scour this entire ocean until I do! And when I do, I swear I'll end you once and for all!"

"You'll end me? You'll end me?" The grin vanished from William's face as he snatched the forks of the trident. Ice began to grow across the metal, hissing and steaming as the trident melted it off just as fast. "I'm not like I was seven years ago, Triton! I've spent the years getting stronger! We all have! You've gotten soft! Gullible! Fragile! You all have! You've got no idea what's coming for you! You don't stand a chance against us!"

William shoved Triton away with surprising strength. Ice spread out from under his feet, the air turning cold. "I'm not afraid of you anymore, Triton! You're just an old fish now! You've gotten weaker, whereas I'm stronger than ever! I'll be able to match your power soon, and then I'll surpass it! And even if you kill me, you're nowhere near a match for the others!"

"What others?" said Triton.

"You'll find out soon enough! We're not some ragtag group of robbers and hat-trick magicians hiding in a dark cave! We have some real monsters on our side! And we've been planning this for a long, long time! We're everywhere! We've been among you for years now! There's nowhere you can go we aren't already! No plan you can make we haven't listened in on!"

"You're lying!" exclaimed Ariel.

"Am I? Ha! Then just sit back and wait!" shouted William. "We'll come for you all soon enough! Our monsters will destroy your ships and homes! Our soldiers will slaughter your people! Our magic will overwhelm you completely! We'll raze Atlantica to the sea floor before your eyes, and then drag you out of the water by your hair to watch us do it again up here!"

The undead prince threw his head back and laughed maniacally. Ariel stared in stunned silence, barely able to believe what she had just heard. There was absolutely no doubt in her mind that this was Morgana speaking to them.

From the corner of her eye Ariel saw an orange light coming from above the pavilion, flickering through the glass. She looked up, seeing it grow brighter as it descended.

"And just when you think you've lost everything," continued William, radiating an unstable evil. "I'll put your precious family in front of you so you can choose who gets to–!" He stopped when he saw Ariel looking up. That, and the orange light coming down through the pavilion. "What's that?"

Overhead the orange glow grew even brighter, bathing the pavilion in orange light. Everyone's attention was turned up as the intensity increased, bathing the sea in the fiery glow. Suddenly every flame in the pavilion burst into a bonfire. Lantern glass shattered and torches were reduced to ash as the fires consumed all their fuel at once. The flames blasted outward, surrounding the pavilion in a wall of fire. The guards backed away, alarmed by the blazing cage they now found themselves in.

"Triton! What did you do?" shouted Eric as the flames blocked off the stairs. The heat was intense, forcing him to shield his eyes.

"This isn't my doing!" replied Triton as he backed away from William. "Morgana!"

"Don't look at me!" spat William. "Fire's not my thing!"

"No…it's mine!" said a voice as loud and powerful as thunder.

Tendrils of fire branched off and grabbed William. He shrieked as it dove into his nose and mouth. Triton immediately backed away, as alarmed by whatever was attacking William as the raging inferno now surrounding them. Orange fiery threads appeared over William's body. The shell necklace began to glow and vibrate as it responded to whatever strange magic was invading him.

"The show ends here, Morgana!" yelled the disembodied voice.

Triton leveled the trident at the flaming walls and fired. The lightning bolt passed through without any effect. More fire left the walls and entered William. His eyes turned a glowing orange as the lines covered his entire body. The nautilus shell started to crack, orange light appearing through the fractures. Then at once the flames converged on him, seeping into his body through the fiery markings.

William writhed on the floor, clawing madly at his glowing skin. "It burns! It burns! Get it out! Get out of me!"

"You will not have this soul!" said the voice.

William flung a hand towards Melody and Ariel, as though the limb was no longer under his control. The markings flashed as a jet of fire leapt from his palm for them.

"No!" Triton swung the trident towards them, creating a wall of water. The flames struck and boiled their way straight through. The spout of flame split in two, one pushing Ariel aside as the other struck Melody in her heart.

"And you will not break hers either!" declared the voice.

The fire sunk into Melody's chest, leaving a glowing red circle as she floated inches off the ground. Fiery markings raced out from her chest. They spread over her entire body as an orange aura encased her. Then she slowly lowered to the floor before it dissipated.

Smoke rose from William's skin. He screamed as fires erupted from his hands, quickly encasing him. The shadow of his form disappeared as the flames devoured him, reducing him to ash. Then they collapsed into a single point of light and vanished. Not a trace of William was left.

It was quiet again save for the clinking of armor and the lapping of the waves against the edge of the pavilion. Ariel immediately scrambled back to Melody, wrapping her up in her arms. She felt warm to the touch, and the bruising was gone from her neck. Otherwise she appeared–.

CRANG!

The sound of Triton driving the trident straight through the pavilion floor drew everyone's attention. His muscles were visibly strained as he clutched the trident in anger, breathing slow and ragged.

"Y-your orders, sir?" asked a nervous merman.

Triton pulled the trident out of the pavilion floor. He took several deep breaths before he finally spoke. "Return to Atlantica. Once my daughters are safe, have Urchin take three hundred soldiers and go to Morgana's lair as fast as they can. I'll take another three hundred and head for Ursula's cave immediately."

Ariel looked to her father at hearing the dead sea witch's name. His eyes reflected the same fear she felt, and a terrible shared thought.

If Morgana was back, then Ursula could be as well.


Melody was still waiting for her fall to end. The tentacles were squirming vigorously below her, eager to wrap themselves around her body once more. She could feel a gentle pull enticing her to fall faster, like invisible hands guiding her towards doom. As fast as she was falling the ocean seemed to be no closer. Why was it taking this long? She did not care if she was strangled by tentacles or impaled on ice. As long as it ended the unbearable pain growing in her heart, she would be fine with whatever end befell her. As long as she could be with William, that would be enough.

"Are you sure of that?" asked a distant and deep voice.

Melody opened her eyes. The demon was falling alongside her. His arms were folded over his chest as nonchalantly as if he were standing on solid ground. His wings were still forming behind him, fire and smoke taking shape. Once he would have terrified Melody to no end. With the grief in her heart it was hard to feel anything else.

"Go away," she said, turning away from him.

"I can't do that," the demon said, circling around to face her again.

Before Melody could respond the demon reached out and pressed a palm over her heart. A pulse of heat shot through her, making her gasp as it warmed her from head to toe.

"You may not care what happens to your life right now," said the demon. "But others do. Myself included."

The demon crumbled away as a wave of darkness erupted from the center of the ocean. It quickly spread out over everything, devouring the stormy sea like a black hole. The waves, clouds, tentacles, and ice all vanished within the growing shadow, and then it lifted up and swallowed the sky.

Suddenly Melody felt smooth cool stone under her feet as though she had been sitting the entire time. She looked down, seeing only black. The floor was not like the pavilion stones. It was smoother and more flawless than glass. It almost felt pleasant, as though she was standing on a still lake.

She looked around. Everything was pitch black as far as she could see. Then a single pinprick of light appeared in the distance. The light quickly began to grow, racing towards Melody. She backed away, unsure whether to flee or not. She heard the phrase "light at the end of the tunnel" enough times to be wary.

The light slowed its rapid approach, becoming more discernible in the inky blackness as it grew closer. It was a small campfire, burning invitingly in the darkness. It grew closer until it was right in front of her. The wood logs hissed and cracked as the fire danced on them, the red and orange tongues swirling about. It let off gentle warmth that seeped into her. It felt like when she swam in the ocean, her worries and sorrows rolling off her shoulders like she was discarding a heavy jacket. The despair felt a bit less heavy, her future just a tad less bleak.

Her body began to feel heavy. A simple gray and red bedroll appeared next to the fire, the blanket pulled back for someone to get in. Melody wondered if this was a new nightmare, the bed and fire part of some elaborate hoax to terrorize her further.

"This place is safe."

Melody spun around, but the demon was not there. She looked around for it but found nothing. She was alone in this emptiness.

"Sleep," said the demon's voice. "As long as you stay near this fire your fears will not be able to touch you."

Melody was too tired and despairing to debate with the demon. She walked over to the bedroll and lay down, shimmying under the blankets. It was surprisingly soft and comfortable, as though the ground beneath it was made of sponges. She felt the aches and woes of her broken heart begin to weaken.

"Who are you?" she asked, sleep beginning to call to her.

"In time," said the demon from afar. "For now, you must rest."

Melody stared into the fire. Her eyes became heavy as she watched the flickering flames. She pulled the blanket over herself, felling it encompass her like an impenetrable shield. She felt someone watching over her, keeping the nightmares at bay and driving off her fears. All except for one.

"Will's dead, isn't he?" she asked.

There was a pregnant pause. "Yes."

Melody gripped the blanket tighter. "Is there anything you can do?"

Another pause. "I am sorry."

She knew it already, but she needed to hear it confirmed. She would drive herself into delusions if she did not. Melody closed her eyes as the first tears left them, knowing they would be the first of many. The warmth of the fire washed over her like a warm current, gently guiding her into deep peaceful sleep. She was drifting off when the demon silently materialized out of the fire, sparks flying off his body. He stared down at Melody for a moment, and then he stepped over her and spread his wings. With one flap he took off, shooting into the dark.

"Now to deal with you," he growled as he flew into the void, the light of his body dwindling to a starry point.


"EEEEYYYYAAAAAAHHHH!"

Morgana shrieked as she tried to yank her tentacles free of the magic bubble. It was coated with fire like a small sun, heating the water around it to a boil and spreading over her limb. Something had a hold of her from whatever phantasmal place she had reached into. It felt like a thousand red-hot knives were stabbing her limbs while being twisted to the point of tearing inside a furnace. Whatever had her wanted a literal piece of her.

She threw her remaining three tentacles around a nearby rock and pulled with all her might. The thing held fast, pulling her back towards it. Morgana pulled harder, reaching for the rock with her fingers.

Suddenly the thing let go of her. Morgana shot across the room, slamming into the icy wall so hard she shook potion bottles off their shelves. She grabbed her tentacles, expecting to see large bleeding stab wounds and bits of charred skin floating off grotesque burns. Instead it was completely unscathed. Not so much as a scrape marked the cold black skin.

The bubble was still burning. A mixture of blacks, oranges and reds swirled within it. The colors began to separate from each other, the black coalescing in the center. Suddenly the colors snapped into place, creating what was unmistakably an eye. The vertical black pupil and ring was set against a sclera of red, orange, and yellow, making it appear that fire radiated out from behind it.

"You!" seethed Morgana, clutching her surprisingly intact limb. "Who are you!?"

The eye glared at her without answer.

"Do you have any idea what you just did!?" she continued, marching towards the bubble. "Do you have any idea who you just did that to!? I don't care who or what you are, but you've just made the biggest mistake of your considerably shortened life!"

"Silence, witch!" roared the voice, the glow from the eye flaring up and causing the water to turn scathing hot. Morgana shielded her face as boiling bubbles went streaming outwards. They hissed against her cold skin.

"You are a child before me!" bellowed the voice, the heat growing as the glow intensified. "An insect! Not in a thousand millennia will you have the strength to threaten me! Listen well, you feeble specimen! Your time tormenting Princess Melody is over! She is under my protection now! Neither you nor your associates will lay so much as a whisper upon her mind ever again!"

Morgana snarled at the eye. "Don't you dare tell me what I–!"

The slit narrowed threateningly at her. Orange lines appeared over Morgana's throat, silencing her voice as crushing pressure constricted around it. Morgana fell to the floor, clutching her neck.

"Know this!" continued the voice. "You and your ilk are my enemy! And as my enemy I will strive for your destruction! I offer you once chance, and one only! If any of you wish to see old age, then disband! Return to the shadows and remain there! Never let the light of day fall upon you ever again! If not…"

The bubble began to vibrate violently. Cracks spread through its surface, radiating white light that illuminated the entire room. A loud hum filled the water, making the walls tremble.

"I swear by the stars and sun I will teach you of the flames that burn in the Pit!" roared the voice.

The bubble exploded in a brilliant flash that forced Morgana to cover her eyes. She was thrown back, pinned again the wall by a strong current. The entire room shook, knocking loose shelves, bottles, and books. When the noise stopped and the current faded Morgana finally looked. The bubble was gone. Her chamber was in disarray, as though an earthquake had shaken it apart.

A loud knock sounded from a steel plated door on the far wall, followed by a nervous sharkanian poking his head in. "Lady Mor–?"

He jerked his head back as a blast of green light struck the door, sealing it in ice.

"Get out!" Morgana snapped angrily. "Out!"

"I, uh…I have a message," the sharkanian said through the door.

"Then spit it out and get out of my presence!" she shouted, rubbing her tentacles.

"The Master has summoned you."

Morgana froze. "What?"

"He's summoned you. You're to come immediately or–."

"I'll heard you!" she yelled. "Now go away!"

The sharkanian quickly left, hearing Morgana let loose a long scream of anger and hate that could make a banshee's hair stand on end. He probably should have told her what would happen if she did not come. But staying any longer than necessary probably would have been hazardous to his health.

Though not as hazardous as what would happen to Morgana if the Master sent her to fetch her.


A/N: As always, your comments/thoughts are appreciated! If you like the story, then please favorite and/or follow it!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own "The Little Mermaid," Disney, or any of its associated characters and intellectual property. Everything else, however, is mine =)