Ursula's Beginning

32. So much for true love (continued)

"So you want me to ruin your life and damn your soul for eternity? Is that all you want for your birthday?"

Ursula could hardly focus on the Squid Witch over the groaning of her miserable garden. With her enhanced sense of hearing, the cries were almost unbearable. Ursula gritted her teeth. She would not be swayed.

"Call it what you want. Just be quick about it."

Siddikah's face darkened with anger. "And you don't care how I would feel harvesting you one day?"

"I'm sure you'll say 'hey squidlet, today's your lucky day!' Or something along those lines. Big deal."

Ursula waited while Siddikah glared at her and narrowly decided against wringing her lavender neck. "Well?"

"Listen to me. Since you are already linked to Triton, and the Transformation for his sake would link you further, you would join my garden upon his death. And once there, you will have no recollection of your time with him! Do you understand? No memory of your life as a cecaelia. Nothing. So your torment will seem meaningless. Your agony will be very real, but it will feel to you like it's for nothing. Like you've been forsaken for no reason."

"Very well, Siddikah. I'm not losing him. And I'm not bowing to Galataye, either."

"FOOL!" the Squid Witch screamed. Her mahogany eyes flashed blood red. "There are a thousand ways we could seek revenge against Galataye without hurting you!"

Ursula waded up to her elder, almost nose to nose. "Go round up your supplies."

"Ha!" Siddikah barked as she shoved Ursula backwards. "Do I look like a fairy godmother to you? You think I'll speed this up because there's a party tonight? Sorry, angelfish. It doesn't work that way around here. You need to go back and get some of Triton's hair, and he must consent to this change with full knowledge of the terms. If you want the spell to work, you better not gloss over a single thing."

"When I return with the hair, you'll do it?"

"If Planete has gathered the butterflies I need, then yes."

Ursula scoffed. "I'm sure you have plenty." She started off toward the casting room.

The Squid Witch intercepted her. "You're getting mighty comfortable around my home. Which reminds me..." A slow smile spread across her severe face.

"What?" Ursula snapped.

"I've explained the way natural law will dictate the course of your existence following a Transformation of this kind. But you never asked about my  terms."

"Which are?"

"If Triton doesn't agree, you must stay with me and apprentice for a year."

Ursula rolled her eyes. "Fine," she mumbled, throwing up her hands. "Whatever you say. I'll be back shortly. Tell Planete to hurry...if he's even going up there."

"Keep this up and I won't mind planting you in the garden!" Siddikah yelled after her retreating figure.

***

Ursula burst into the queen mother's sitting room. Ephram and Triton were seated around a table with Galataye, who was now calm. "Oh good, you're back," she purred.

Ursula ignored her. "Ephram, I'm so glad you're home! I need to talk to you as soon as I'm done speaking to Triton—" As the king slowly lifted his gaze, the sight of the his bloodshot eyes shocked her into silence.

Galataye smiled. "Why don't you take a seat?" she asked cloyingly.

"My love? Can we speak in private?" Ursula crouched beside Triton, searching his face anxiously. He couldn't meet her eyes.