A Big Mermaid #Wattys2014

Chapter 19 Ariels twin barged in

"It's not fair!" Stone (nickname for stone Lilly, a type of starfish) furthermore, Ariels look-a-like shallowly screeched. Her tone resentful, acidic hatred coated amongst each word spat out. "I'm tired of being her look-a-like! Second best, least pretty!" She shrieked, feeling her throat tear with the pure force of her anger, like nails shredding the skin from the inside. She hated everything about that stupid, naive wench. Her nicer eyes. Porcelain skin. Majestic emerald tail. Vivacious body. Heck! Even her personality was nicer.

"I want to take her place!" She roared, erupting the serene, tranquil depths around her into ripples.

"Then I shall help you with that." Camouflaged by the disgusting, repulsive vomit green colour of the brittle coral, an eel snaked towards her.

***

He overlooked the entire kingdom from his golden, tiled balcony. The feeble blues and cotton-candy pink of the sky helped drift him to sleep. Birds twittered and chirped in the distance, indicating dawn. He watched the large, glowing sphere rise slowly into the dull, morning sky. It casted sunbeams in every direction like a disco ball, illuminating the small kingdom. He stood there, drinking in the liquid gold droplets that slowly warmed his pale skin. Refreshed and sleepy, the princes eyes began to flutter shut. Ariel. He failed to sleep because of her. Everything about her entered his dreams, occupied his mind. He was addicted to her-In love with her! Heck, this wild, adventurous lad even wished to have her children!

Suddenly, "la la la la la la..." That voice! It sent shivers down his spine with the sweet, harmonic notes soothing his ears from the raw sounds of the earth. It was heavenly, the angelic and ethereal voice caressing his ear drums. It sounded so unique yet familiar...

A red haired beauty with bold, cherry red waves shimmering in the sun stood under his balcony, basking in the streams of light heading towards her like a spotlight. That voice... Red hair

... HIS SAVIOUR AT SEA! For weeks he had scoured the kingdom, love-struck. Spent night and day secretly searching the seas in a wooden boat, almost drowned by a fierce current threatening his ship once! When did he stop? Ariel- No he would not think about her.

Afraid of losing her, the prince hastily bounded down the cobbled stairs circling around the palace in a swirling spiral. His footsteps echoed loudly across the thick walls, intruding the silence of the sleeping royals. Even the maids were asleep at this hour! Finally, he skidded into view of the entrance doors- Guards. Instructed by the king, he knew they would never let him escape.

Frustrated, he paced speedily up the never ending path of winding stairs towards his room. By this time, he was panting, buckling onto the floor as sweat mixed with ache drowned his entire body in dampness. The rush and thrill of getting to her made him forget to sneak down through his balcony, an escape route he had often taken.

Exhausted, he firmly planted his feet on the roasting, scorching hot stone railing of his balcony. The sun pummelled his muscular back with heat waves. Like an expert, he gripped the firm, prickled ivy directly below the balcony and swung. His body smashed against the wall as the ivy thrashed threateningly from the impact. Crunch!

Wincing and slightly wounded, the prince slipped down the sharp ivy scraping his skin and pricking it with specks of blood, feet finally stroking the sand.

***

"Wake up, you lazy git!" A boisterous nose ordered, ringing like an alarm in her head. Drowsy, Ariel prised open her eyes to find Margaret and Lucy looming over her. She had been dressed into her nightgown. Again. Ariel scuttled back so her back collided with the timber bed stand behind her. "It's a special occasion-" Ariel hungrily searched for a breakfast tray, longing for that new, delicious taste of human food to tickle her taste buds senseless. "-So you will be having breakfast with the king."

Confused yet content, Ariel mustered over why there was a special occasion before coming to a conclusion that the prince had announced they would be married.

Impatient, she allowed them to tut and fuss over her before racing out the room like a bullet. She barged past workers and tumbled into objects and skidded towards more workers before finally she reached the grand hall. She gripped the handles and burst the two doors open. The sound boomed!