Ursula

Chapter 6 In the Weeds

Ursula

Mother was pacing back and forth in our day room, clutching her golden shell necklace at her chest. Tonight's feast did not go as planned, and I still felt my stomach was tied up in knots. I knew my mother was also disappointed with the reactions we saw in the dining hall. Mermen and merwomen seemed not to be delighted by the news. Most tried to hide their true thoughts and applauded the King for the decision. It was pathetic. Never in my life had I seen such a sorry display. Mother was now beside herself, trying to think of a way to show the people that this was the best choice. That I am the best choice for our Prince.
"Mother... I..."
"Ursula, I know. I saw their faces. We need them to see you for all that you are."
I thought better of that. If everyone saw me for...well, everything that I am... I'm sure the unease would only worsen.
"You are smart and talented. Ursula, you are practically the perfect candidate! I don't understand how any of those pathetic fish folk could see you as any less! Jealousy!" She shouts, turning to point a finger at me. "That's what it is! Jealousy! Of course, any merperson in their right mind would be jealous of my daughter."
I could feel the twist in my stomach once again. I was not too fond of it when she would get into these tangents. Nothing put pressure on me more than when my mother had to affirm my so-called perfection continuously. I was the golden child, the child who could do no wrong. Had she known the things I had done behind her back, oh, the disappointment and displeasure would be insurmountable. It's a curse to be this gifted, truly. I know I am powerful and, at most times, brilliant. The pressure to continue being this perfect daughter is suffocating at times. Always when she gets like this. I am not allowed to falter or fail.
"I'll speak with Poseidon again, don't you worry, dear," she rushes up to me and rests a hand on my cheek. "You will be queen one day." She drops her hand and turns to leave, presumably now heading for the king's office and leaving me alone to my thoughts.

After mistakenly dozing off, I woke up to darkness. The light that filters down from the surface during the day has retreated. Leaving the sea in a dark and quiet state. The lively fish and merfolk spend this time asleep. Those who lie awake wondering about the ocean are those with too much on their mind—a perfect time to peruse the kingdom looking for them. I find most of the victims of my deals this way.
I crept through the palace. I was maneuvering through passages and openings. It would be easy to swam out my window, but that's also the fastest way to be noticed. No, exiting as close to the sea's floor is the stealthiest way to leave.
I pass a guard here and there, but as I get near the last remaining corridors, I notice two guards quietly speaking with one another. I've seen most do this as a way to stay awake and entertain themselves through the long, tedious shifts that make up the night. As I approach the guards, I overhear their hushed conversation.
"I feel sorry for him is all I'm saying," one of the guards said.
"I've heard stories, though; she's pretty good in the bedroom," the other guard winks.
What pathetic mermen gossiping over a woman.
"With all those tentacles, I hope she would be," the other laughs.
I immediately feel my fists and those tentacles tighten around the archway columns I'm peaking over.
"You think the prince has ever?"
"Noooo, I can't imagine he has. Did you see the way he leaned away from her during that meal? He was practically crawling away from the witch."
I couldn't listen any longer for fear of breaking these columns down from gripping them so hard. I hurriedly moved around them, staying out of their sight. I was still processing their words and trying to ignore them simultaneously.
I knew the merfolk gossiped about me, and this wouldn't be the first time I heard something I did not intended to hear.
It didn't lessen the pain. It only made my heart harden. Each word is another layer of stone and ice.
I may live in the palace, and my mother Pandora is the chief of staff, but I still faced hatred—the fear of the unknown by other merchildren who liked to throw stones. I may have been just a child, but that didn't even stop adults who gave me wary looks and kept their children from playing with me. That didn't cease the harsh words they used to yell. I was not only a witch by birth, but having tentacles instead of a tail made me stand out among everyone—the biggest target among all the unique children.
I remembered all of it.
I was grateful for my magic when my knowledge of spells grew. It served as the perfect tool to get back at those who bullied me the worst. I'd make them dance for me. Sing for me. They stopped taunting after that.
Well, at least to my face.
The gossip and, rumors, and whispers only worsened with age. The blade sharpened and cut deeper to my core. The words from bratty children became more concise and sharper.
As soon as I made enough distance from the palace, I perused the sea floor, scenting for the reek of desperation. I hated doing my dirty work; the risks involved were high, but without a familiar or henchman to do my bidding, I was left to do it myself. 'If you want a job done right, do it yourself,' as they say.
The guards speaking ill of me so carelessly serves as a reminder. Things will be different when I am Queen. I don't have the means now, but I will. As Queen, I would have punished them for their words. As I am now, my power only lies within my magic. I may have gotten away with it by nothing more than a slap on the wrist and some words from my mother as a child, but now? As an adult, I could be tried and banished if the court saw fit—another reason my dealings must be kept hidden.
I am risking a lot by going out and searching on my own. Everything I've ever known and wanted could come crashing down on me. This is something I cannot allow.
Carefully, I go through the dwellings of the fish folk. I was searching for someone in need. Someone in pain. Someone desperate enough to make a deal with me.
As I pass by a field of seaweed, I hear a faint cry. It's not loud, but just enough to catch my attention.
Perfect.
There's always someone.
I sift through the thick weeds, searching for the source of the noise. As I move closer, I can differentiate not one but two sounds.
Two things.
Two deals.
My lips turn up into a smile. As I uncover the culprits of the cries, I see two young moray eels curled up into each other.
Poor little things.
My smile falls quickly as I take in their appearance when they catch me and look up at me. Their cries come to succession, and I see them.
They only have one eye. Each eel has one eye on the opposite side from the other. I don't know how they lost an eye, but my heart clenches at the sight. These eels are young. They were most likely abandoned by their mother and left to fend for themselves, which is most likely how they came only to have one remaining eye.
The eels are shaking with fear and staring at me as if I will strike them at any moment.
"My poor dears... what happened to you both?" I ask, leaning down to get closer.
The twin eels flinch and pull back.
I halt my descent and slowly reach for them. "It's alright, darlings; I won't hurt you."
They use their one eye to look at one another as if to check in with each other. To verify my honesty.
"It's okay," I coo. I slowly reach out a hand, and a few of my tentacles follow. "I'm going to help you, is that alright? Would you like my help?"
The pair look towards each other again in silent conversation. They look back at me and nod.
"I'm going to take you somewhere safe. Don't worry; it might look scary on the outside, but you'll be safe there," I tell them. My tentacles gently wrap around their bodies, and I pull them against my torso.
It doesn't take long to reach my leviathan's skeleton cave. During the journey there, the young eels eyed me warily, as well as their surroundings. Something about them made my heart hurt. These young creatures were left alone to fight their own battles. The sea can be a cruel place. I release them from my hold, and they stay close to each other, floating above the cave floor.
"Do you two speak?"
"We—"
"Do."
They speak, one finishing the other's sentence.
I eye them both.
"What are your names."
"Flotsam," the one on the left says.
"Jetsam," says the other.
"My name is Ursula; I am the daughter of Pandora, the sea witch." They pass a quick glance towards each other. "Have you heard of me?" I ask.
"We—"
"Have."
"What have you heard?" I ask.
"Every—"
"Thing."
"Is that so?" I fold my arms.
"Ursula, the sea witch—"
"The witch who makes deals."
"The witch with the power to help,"
"The power to heal."
"Those in pain,"
"And those in need."
"Would you like to make a deal with me?"
"Yes," they say in unison.