A Big Mermaid #Wattys2014

Chapter 10 trading myself for you sweet Prince

Horrified, she backed away as an eerie looking eel ascended towards her.

Hysterical, she turned around to see if there were any guards around. Sensing her actions, the eel pounced at her, causing her to scramble even further back.

Staying loyal to her stubbornness, instead of calling for help, Ariel grabbed a nearby chair and aimed it at the dangerous looking, HUNGRY looking monster creeping closer. A mocking, despising chuckle erupted from the creature.

"Oh dear, you're an expert on nice welcomes, aren't you Princess?"

Shivering, Ariel forced herself to swallow her fear and anxiety. "I-I guess, you're an expert o-of-" she shivered, backing behind a table to separate them. "-N-nice grr-re-eetings too," Her mind seemed, scrambled, fried. At the entirely wrong time. Irony kicks!

Get on with it, you mongrel, I'm aching to rip out these stitched eyes!!

The eel winced as an ear-shattering screech filled his ears.

Ariel, deaf to the deafening sounds of the sea-witch controlling the eel, sank her fingers into a warm rug from the floor, and threw it at the beast intruding her privacy.

"You're kindness goes on and on, what a nice way to treat someone who's offering to help you."

"Help me?" She hissed, laughing sarcastically at his suggestion. "If that's how you put it!"

"Do you want to see your prince or not?"

Silence hung in the air, laced with the gentle sound of Ariel's rapid breathing. "Wh-what?"

Cocking his head, the eel grinned smugly. He knew her soft spot all too well.

"Shall I rephrase, want to become a human?"

Blinded by strong hope, she immediately pushed aside all the other questions in her head. How did he know about this? Why was he willing to help her? Who was he? Should she trust him? With a flick of her head, she not only pushed them aside, but completely distinguished them.

"How? Please, tell me how?" She pleaded, crawling closer in curiosity and awe.

"The sea witch will help you, she is a nice women,"

The sea witch.

Uneasy, she reeled back. The sea witch, the women she'd been warned to stay away from for so long.

"I don't know," She was stubborn, but not completely.

Sensing her uncertaincy, the eel continued, "You know, I never thought you'd be the type to judge by rumors."

Rumors? Yes, that must be what they were!

Whistle, whistle...

They both turned to stare at the bars. A guard was coming closer.

"Come! Quick!"

Eager, Ariel followed the eel, followed him into the shadows.

***

There it was, the entrance of the rumoured sea witch itself. Looming above her, she dared to enter the seeping darkness of the cavern in front of her. Just it's mere presence taunted her, soaking her with the terrors laying behind it.

"Is it meant to be this cold?" She gasped as a bone-chilling, freezing feeling numbed her entire body. Her teeth clattered together as she jerked and twitched from the cold.

The eel, still heading towards the cavern, gave a casual toss of his head. "You'll get used to it."

Cautiously, she followed him into engulfing pitch black.