Ursula

Chapter 8 A Broken Deal

Ursula

It has been weeks now and no progress has been made on planning the wedding. None whatsoever. I'm lucky to even find the prince, let alone get a moment to speak with him. I suspect he may be avoiding me.
My mother has been forcing Morgana to help her plan a wedding in a few weeks' time. I'm asked every now and then about an opinion on a theme, or a color, or food choices. Ultimately my opinion is mute as my mother decides any choice, I make is the incorrect one and proceeds to choose the opposite of what I offered. I've since stopped caring, letting her choose the dinnerware and place settings. Morgana is sent swimming around the sea to find whatever new idea my mother has concocted.
"The wedding must be perfect," she says, "for a perfect daughter, like Ursula."
Morgana seems to be thankful for the opportunity to please her. Eager to run off and find whatever it is she's demanding we must have for the wedding.
At this point it doesn't feel much like my wedding any longer. No, it feels like my mother is the one to be wed, but not to the prince; to the kingdom. To the power that marriage brings.
She likes to remind me frequently how much power our family will have. The changes we can make. We can turn this sea into a chasm of chaotic force. The ships that pass by will never harm another Atlantean. Never fish in our waters.
"Poseidon doesn't do enough to stop the humans," she'll rant, "something must be done to stop them from taking everything we've worked so hard to achieve."
I've heard it a million times before. How evil humans are, that they only wish to capture and destroy us.
A part of me believes it. A part of me doesn't care. I have bigger fish to fry than dealing with a human who can't even breathe underwater.
Nonetheless, she continues to rant and rave about all these changes now more than ever. You'd think Poseidon were on his deathbed, Prince Triton a breath away from taking over the kingdom, only to suffer the same fate and leave Atlantica in the hands of me and my family. More so, in the hands of my mother.
She's never been so eager for power before. It's quite interesting to see the change. You'd think this whole time on Poseidon's council was just a means to weasel her way into his good graces. I suppose my mother is a genius at that.
Unfortunately for me, I do not like to play the long game. I've run out of patience.
Nothing boils my blood more than to be left waiting.
My only solace is being a little preoccupied by my new familiars. Flotsam and Jetsam have taken a liking to me. Always in my shadow, waiting to hear another command. I must say, the moray eels have proven to be very valuable. They've become my eyes that watch unfortunate merfolk.
I was able to restore their full sight. In return I get to take advantage of seeing through their eyes as well. Now they can travel across the kingdom for me and I can conjure up the images they see and communicate with them. It was quite advantageous for me but it is already paying off.
It seems the twins have been rather... convincing in getting merfolk to follow them to my cave. Where I prey upon their unattainable desires. I suppose a set of eels are far less intimidating than myself.
I can feel my magic is growing stronger. I feel the pulse now, the thrum of magic flowing inside me itching for a release. It's tantalizing.
I've been so distracted I hadn't realized it had been days since I caught sight of my fiancé. It's made me grow concerned. I love Triton and despite my growing thirst for the power I now hold, I care what happens to him. Even if his recent disappearances have made my body heat with anger.
"Flotsam! Jetsam!" I shouted, calling for my boys. They slither out from under a bench nestled against one of the walls in my lair. Even if they now have my protection, and their sight restored, they still have a habit of hiding just out of sight. "I have a job for you two."
They both look at me eagerly. I can tell they've enjoyed my tasks; I think I've given them purpose. All they have to do is work for me the rest of their lives.
"I need you boys to keep an..." I look between them both, "eye on Prince Triton for me. See what it is he's been doing."
"Yes, Ursula," they reply together and sneak away.
"Finally, someone who listens to me around here," I mutter to myself.
I glance quickly around my cavern for something to do. As much as I enjoy not having to search for deals anymore, it does leave me with an immense amount of free time.
I've spent this time moving furniture or creating things in my new hideaway. Dressing the place up to feel more comfortable not only for myself, but for the fish folk that swim in here. It's made my deals go by a lot smoother. I still have the nervous ones who take a little more delicate persuasion. I've gotten them every time.
I've yet to have a deal call through. It's been smooth currents since I began working out of here.
I do, however, need to find out what Triton has been up to. For someone who I once called my best friend, he's been quite absent from my life lately. It's been too long since I've gone to the surface with him. I'm tempted to go without him but that would feel like a betrayal. Going to the surface was something we always did together.
I move towards my vanity and view myself in the mirror. My lipstick is fading so I reach for the same red lip color to reapply. Instantly my lips brighten and I blow a kiss to the mirror.
I've recently been adorning more makeup to my face since I haven't been around the Palace as much. No one to judge me for the colors I choose to wear or the amount I enjoy putting on. I typically wipe it off before I return there each night for dinner with my mother and sister. Mother would have a field day if she saw it. She always hated bright colors. She's much more subdued.
Something she's applied to the wedding decor as well. Much to my disappointment. I would have preferred bright colors. The same bright colors you would see on reefs and the scales of exotic fish. No matter, she will make sure the wedding goes perfectly and all will be well in the end.
I will be crowned a Princess of Atlantica and I will finally have Prince Triton at my side.
Something I, for so long, wanted. Lately it only makes me sad. I thought getting engaged to him would make him finally see me. I'm afraid it's done the opposite for now I hardly see him at all.
I continue to inspect my reflection in the mirror and I notice my hair has grown in length. I mutter curses as I try to brush out the unruly mess. I loathe this long hair. One of these days, I'm going to chop it all off. Until that day, I will keep it for Triton. Triton adores long hair and I could use all the assets I have at my disposal to get his affections.
A knock on the door alerts me and I shout, "come in!"
"Ursula, long time no see," Vanessa's voice rings.
"Oh Vanessa," I turn, "what a pleasant surprise." She looks just like she did last I saw her. The changes I've made to her are strikingly beautiful. Such a plain little thing she used to be, now her features are fierce as they demand attention. The look on her face tells a different tale. "Vanessa, what brings you here today?"
"I need a favor," she says while swimming over to one of the lounges in my room and huffs down on it.
"You know my favors come at a cost."
"I am well aware of that Ursula," she bites.
"My dear, why all the hostility? Last I saw you; you were beaming ear to ear with what I did for you."
"I need you to change me back," she crosses her arms.
"Change you back? Why in the seas would you wish that?"
"I can't stand it!" She throws up her arms, "all the attention!"
"Isn't that what you wanted?" I ask slyly, folding my arms.
"I—I didn't know it was going to be like this. Constantly having mermen begging for my affections. It's too much, I—how am I supposed to handle it?" She looks at me, her eyes pleading.
"Vanessa... we made a deal."
"Screw the deal!" She yells and moves off the lounge to get closer to me. "I want to be changed back," she says, her tone somber.
"I can't."
"You can't or you won't?"
"I will not," I shout, moving off the seat to my vanity. "We made a deal Vanessa, a contract, legally binding. You remember signing it, don't you?"
"Yes—but—"
"I cannot change you back, that would be a breach of the contract and do you know what will happen?"
She shakes her head.
"You really should have read the fine print, Vanessa."
"I didn't think I would ever have a reason to break it, Ursula!"
"Do you still wish to break it?"
"I—I don't know—I—I—I'm not sure."
"I haven't got all day Vanessa."
"Yes! —No" 
Before she can finish my magic begins to flow without being prompted. A yes, even one she tried to take back, still broke the contract. Warranting Vanessa unable to pay the price.
Vanessa's body is consumed by a swirling gold light. Our eyes lock and widen at the same time.
I've never had anyone back out of a deal before. Everyone was able to pay.
Vanessa's face begins to brown, her skin leached of all color. Her body begins to shrink in size.
It is happening so fast but I catch every detail as her body morphs into a weed; a polyp. Her limbs are gone and her face ashen into this thing.
"Vanessa..." I whisper, "I'm so sorry."