Chapter Twenty Six
The resemblance the prince had to her friend was unmistakable. The character had the same blonde hair, streaked with darker highlights, and the same pointed chin. But there were differences as well. This version of Alex was older and taller. The shoulders were broader, the cheekbones higher, and there was a well-trimmed beard on his face. The voice was deeper and rougher as he questioned Atiana of where she had come from.
"Did you say something?" Mr. Andersen asked. The author had been on his way to talk with his characters.
"That's Alex." Melody repeated, pointing towards the prince.
"So that's why he looked familiar," Mr. Andersen said quietly. He then peered over at the princess and gave her a contemplative look. "By any chance, did the seawitch remind you of anyone?"
"Yes. Morgana."
"I see. And does Atiana remind you of anyone?"
"No. Why?" Melody asked at Mr. Andersen's smirk.
"Melody, I think my little story means more to you than you may realize."
"How? I already told you; I hate it. No offense."
"In my experience, an emotion as strong as hate only appears if something does matter. And that is the question you must answer if you wish to get free."
As the princess and author talked, not-Alex helped Atiana to her new feet. The deal made with the seawitch caused the new human pain. She rested all her weight against the prince's chest, supported by his strong arm. There was no doubt of the lovestruck gaze Atiana gave to the prince. But Melody now shifted her gaze to solely look at her friend's appearance.
When Melody had first been entrapped, her focus had been on escaping and worrying about her family. And as they had traveled through the story, Atiana had quickly surpassed Melody in age. But now, Melody stared at Atiana and dissected her appearance. The maiden was beautiful with a delicate and feminine air about her Melody fantasized of having when she was older. The seawitch had been kind, giving Atiana long, smooth legs with shapely feet. The rest of her body was slender, graceful, strong, and firm from her lifetime of swimming. Her long black hair was currently snarled and full of sand, but still managed to glisten in the sun's light. The lips were red; the cheeks were rosy. And the eyes. The light blue eyes Melody only saw in the mirror.
"Atiana is me. She looks like me, doesn't she?" Melody couldn't believe she had dared to say that out loud. When she looked in the mirror, she didn't see the beauty she saw in Atiana now. She saw herself; a girl just turned fourteen. True, Melody had the same eyes and hair, but that was all the two girls had in common.
"Atiana is older, to be sure. But I couldn't help but notice a resemblance."
"But what does this mean?"
"Only you can answer that, princess."
But Melody had no answer. As she had planned before being distracted by the prince, Melody quietly turned away and entered the sea.
She swam and she swam as far as she could until the white void blocked her path. Then Melody sank. She sank down, and down, and down until she was seated at the sandy bottom among the crawling crustaceans and swimming fish. Due to Morgana's enchantment, Melody found she was able to hold her breath underwater indefinitely, even without her tail.
The layout is even familiar, Melody mused as she gazed up. There were some differences, but the distance from the shore to the castle, even the location of the rocks, were similar to her own backyard.
What's the connection? Melody closed her eyes and allowed herself to float as she thought.
The worst place I can imagine.
The story of my parents.
The worst place I can imagine.
Alex. Morgana. Me.
The worst place I can imagine.
What's the connection?
The worst place I can imagine.
My parents.
Worst place I can imagine.
Alex. Me.
Worst place I can imagine.
My parents. Alex. Me.
The worst place…
Melody swam up and emerged from the ocean completely dry. Another side effect of being inside a book no doubt.
"I know how I can get out of here." Melody proclaimed.
"How?"
"Simple." Melody began to put her dress back on. "All I need to do is give Atiana a happy ending."