A Big Mermaid #Wattys2014

Chapter 7 Trouble brewing

She shrank back as her father boomed at her again. So loud this time, that the force shoved her back. His thunderous, tumultuous voice penetrated the rocky walls. His eyes were wide and raged, his thick, silver eyebrows knotted together in piercing anger. His entire face was twisted in bitter fury, and was it- Was it fear?

"HOW COULD YOU BE SO- SO- IDIOTIC!?" He pointed his golden, royal staff at her. His gaze caused her to shiver, the severity of it scared her.

"Daddy, I..." Her excuse faltered at her lips, lies wouldn't get her out of this.

"WHY CAN'T YOU EVER THINK OF THE CONSEQUENCES FOR YOUR ACTIONS?" He yelled, rushing towards her, infuriated.

Harshly, he yanked her by the shoulders and dug his fingers deep into her porcelain skin. His nails carved holes into her skin, pain flaring up her body.

"I'm sorry..." she whispered, tears forming in her eyes. "You're hurting me,"

His gaze softened and he let her go. "Which is what you keep doing to this family... Ariel have I not told you enough to times what faith has set out for you? You're blindly walking into a trap!"

A gulp formed in her throat and she dared herself to say what she was going to say. "Well, if it's faith daddy, I don't think there's... I don't think there's hope for me."

Silence settled in the room. All you could hear were the gentle rushes of water.

"L-LEAVE!" His voice shook with anger and disappointment.

"Daddy I'm sorry,"

He turned towards her, a look of rich disgust plastered on his face, "I SAID LEAVE! A DAUGHTER OF MINE WOULD NEVER GIVE UP SO EASILY- BE SO WEAK!"

Her lip trembled and her tail twitched, with a swift kick, she left the room.

"You were too 'arsh on 'er Yo' Highness," Sebastian mumbled, watching with pity as Ariel fled the room.

"Sebastian don't make me regret freeing you from prison," the king hissed, but he too feared he had hurt her too much.

***

"Ariel are you alright?" Attina rushed up to Ariel, wrapping her arms protectively around her sister. Ariel pushed her aside, covering her face with shame and surrow.

Sobs racked her body as she flung herself onto her bed of seaweed.

Alana attempted to comfort her like her elder sister, but Ariel pushed her away again.

Her cries were muffled by the pillow as she poured her heart into it.

"He shouldn't have said that Ariel," Andrina sighed.

Silence filled the room as all of Ariel's sister silently wept along with her.

"Do you know what?" she finally managed to choke, her tear-streaked face crumpled with emotion. "I went out to the human world. Do you know what else? It was the best time of my life! I wasn't trapped or forced to be who I wasn't- I was free!"

Attina's pitiful gaze hardened. "You did what? Ariel! It's dangerous for you to go there! It's dangerous for all of us- especially you!"

Foolishly, Ariel shook her head. "I don't care! I wasn't spotted anyway!"

This time, a deeper, more awkward silence settled.

I'm going back to the surface! She thought to herself, contently.