A Big Mermaid #Wattys2014

Chapter 6- THE BIG SURPRISE!!

Marcel leaned under the shade of a blossoming oak tree, his back meeting with the soft, musty bark. His eyes were brimming with un-shed tears and his whole body was tense with mollton, volcanic anger. Ariel was to love someone else more than him! He took a deep steadying breath, forcing to console his pain and anger. It wasn't her fault, that's what destiny had set out for the youngest sister. She was going to fall in love with someone else! A surge of sharp, uncontrollable outrage shot through his veins, causing the tree bark he was leaning on to sizzle and burn into crisp flakes.

Suddenly, a ripple formed in the lake in front of him. A faint smile twitched on his lips as his friend  Loraye popped her head out of the water. She was another mermaid, but a different species from Ariel. Her icy, frosty blue eyes met his and her snow-blonde curls tumbled down up to the tip of her scaly, shimmering carolina-blue tail. Her thick yet wispy hair covered her front half, covering up the fact that she was topless.  That was her kind's tradition, and Marcel tried to ignore that particular fact with a blush. In fact, it was surprising he hadn't fell in love with her at first sight. She was so beautiful it seemed unreal, or unnerving. Ariel, on the other hand, was beautiful and welcoming, her face was warm and sweet and well, unique. Why was he even thinking about her!?

"She's missing you," she whispered softly, her voice melodic.

"I don't want to talk about her," He clenched his fist and grinded his teeth together.

Loraye, being a helpless romantic, sighed sweetly. "Don't you want to know what happened?"

Curiosity set his pupils alight. "What do you mean what happened?"

She smiled fondly, "I knew you'd want to know."

"Hurry up!" He prompted.

"Ariel missed out on her fathers gala event, her friends attempted to cover it up with a look-a-like, but it didn't work."

Realisation sank in. "She ignored the gala for me." he whispered softly. "And I, I just blew her off."

Guilt wrapped around his body.

A warm hand stroked his shoulder. "Marcel... I'm so sorry,"

His wings hardened and an unforgettable ache plucked at his heart strings. He clutched his chest in anguish.

"I wish I never met her!"

Loraye shook her head, stroking his mop of fair hair gently. "You know you don't mean that. All those memories."

"I want to forget about her!" He cried, voice shaking with grief. An idea formed in his head.

"You're so beautiful Loraye."

Her eyes widened in realisation. "I love you Marcel, but I'm not foolish enough to date you. You know you love Ariel more," A torn, encouraging smile reached her dainty face.

Wistfully, she stroked his cheek. "You can't forget her by replacing her place with me."

Admitting defeat, he dropped his head into the cup of his hand, wings drooping like a withered flower.

That's when a voice from behind interrupted.

"You can't have Ariel, but you can have second-best."

Confused, he turned around to see someone vaguely similar to Ariel grinning coyly at him. She'd have to do, he had to find something to take his mind off Ariel.

"Marcel!" Loraye cried, shocked. "Not with her!"

"She's the closest I'll get," He muttered guiltily, before trudging off with her.

***

Ariel lurked under the cloudy leaden water, watching as her lover and her look-a-like embraced enthusiasticly. Betrayal slapped her harshly across the face, and anger made her shiver and quiver. Shiver like a fish out of water. Someone was trying to take her place, and Marcel was letting her.

Absentmindedly, she clutched her chest, as if to protect her heart. A fragile thing, that was so easily broken. A sob erupted out of her gaping lips. The sound echoed, and Marcel's good hearing picked it up easily. His eyes met hers under the water, right as she drifted away.

Too numb to even swim, the princess felt herself float across the ocean, not caring what happened. Lifeless. Limp. She couldn't deal with it anymore. Gentle waves carried her along with the current, to a location she never knew. Not that she cared anymore.

If Marcel was finding someone to replace her, she was finding someone to replace him! Her mind drifted to the human she was meant to fall in love with. A love stronger than what she had with Marcel- Right now, she yearned for it. It seemed like a possible pill to settle the torment happening.

Stubbornly, blinded by her tears, she swam towards the surface of the sea.

Soon, all that separated her from the surface was a simple, fragile sheet of water. The water around her had darkened to a rich velvet colour, which meant it was night. Night in the human world... It must be so beautiful. She had heard tales about it.

Excitedly, she tilted her head so it peeked out of the surface. A new, ticklish sensation brushed her cheeks- That must be the breeze! Bright, bright light blinded her, causing her eyes to sting unimaginably. Of course, night in the human world was much lighter. Slightly nervous, she ducked back down into the reassuring depth of the water. Imagine morning in the human world!

Her hand flew to her cheeks, willing that soothing tingle to brush them again. Her head felt so heavy out there, but... That sensation! Was it air? Was it wind? What had just happened was addicting, dangerous yet intoxicating. The curiosity for more made her giddy and irrational.

Getting ready this time, she propelled herself right out of the water, so her entire body was in the air. A sense of freedom overcame her, sensations erupted inside her body and she relished every single stroke. That bright light, it was back! Her eyes settled and within the few seconds she had leaped in the air, she had seen thousands of orb-like scatters above her like glittery confetti. What was that? Above her seemed nothing but a sheet of endless darkness, lit up with those unique shapes, and what was that? A huge, oval shape beamed at her, gleaming a pearly white. It seemed to be wedged into a deep, on going darkness. Everything was so vivid, vibrant, sharp, exotic! Unlike the misty blur underwater.

Too soon, she came crashing back into the water. Giddy with what she had seen, she leaped up again, laughing and crashing back. Leaping, falling, leaping falling, it was just her and the human world! Her laugh echoed around the horizon, she felt so free and alone!

She couldn't have been more wrong.

Mesmerised, he watched as something leaped up out of the water again. A sing-song, enchanting laugh filled the air, satisfying his ears. Was it a dolphin? No, it couldn't be! He'd never seen such a slim dolphin. Through the dim light produced by the stars and the moon, he glimpsed a cascade of crimson hair and a... Was it a tail!? He blinked at his discovery. Too soon, what ever it was was gone. His ears felt raw without that giggle. Was that- Was that a mermaid he had seen?

"ARIEL!" A roar boomed across the ocean, snapping her back to reality. The waves carried to her the concerned, infuriated voice of her father. She was in deep, deep trouble.