the little mermaid | jellal fernandes [discontinued]

Chapter 17- No Way Out

"It's what I live for... to help unfortunate merfolk like you..." she sighs in fake concern.

All my senses buzzed at me to leave. The signs that she had animosity in her heart was obvious; the secluded home, her hissing henchmen, the way her voice was filled with patronization.

Not only she was on my mind, but Jellal was as well.

A thought flashed through my mind.

To be able to see Jellal again- without boundaries, nothing holding me back. To be able to walk down the coast with him, to be able to stand by him as he lives out his dreams. That proposal was too hard to say no too.

"Please turn me into a human..." I whisper.

Aquarius grins, undoubtedly enjoying a princess bowing her head to her. "What a polite girl. Just like her childhood taught her to be..."

She trailed her hand over the back of my shoulder, her touch blazing against my skin. I could feel her tail beating the water to stay afloat, her eyes on my face. Eyes ablaze in blue fire, of experience and loss and corruption.

"I admit that in the past I've been a nasty...

They weren't kidding when they called me, well, 'a witch'.

I jumped as a cupboard swings open with a flick of Aquarius' fingers. The two eels- Malus and Malum- grin at my uneasiness. But not fear. Never fear. Not after I saw my own grandfather turn against me for something as simple as being in love. I concluded there was nothing more terrifying then your own family turning against you. 

But you'll find that nowadays I've mended all my ways,

Repented, seen the light, and made a switch!

True? Yes..."

She looks back at me, deviousness written all over her face. The witch throws out pots and jars speckled with barnacles and wrapped shut with shark-strong seaweed. I looked away from them as soon as I saw a floating eyeball.

"And I fortunately know a little magic

It's a talent that I always have possessed

And here lately, please don't laugh!

I use it on behalf of the miserable, lonely, and depressed... Pathetic." 

Aquarius flicks her fingers yet again and a contraption opens, serving her as a cauldron. More violet steam erupts from it- another hydrothermal vent to do her bidding. 

Silhouettes appeared in her cauldron, with droopy shoulders and down-turned faces. 

"Poor unfortunate souls in pain, in need, 

This one longing to be thinner.

That one wants to get the girl!

And do I help them? Yes, indeed!" 

With a twirl of her fingers, the figures bloomed with happiness. Malus and Malum loom behind her like shadows, or henchman. 

"Those poor unfortunate souls,

So sad, so true,

They come flocking to my cauldron

Crying, "Spells, Ursula, please!"

And I help them!

Yes, I do!"

Her voice drips with evil, and I can't help but push myself away from the burning heat of the vent. As she starts to speak again, her voice goes from raven wicked to puppy sweet.