Each gripping the others hand tightly, they warily followed the seawizard into a softly lit room in the middle of which stood a black cauldron, simmering away mysterious potions. The seawizard, with a snap of his fingers, cleaned the contents within and solemnly turned to face the sisters. When he spoke, it was to Antoinette. "My dear," said he, "I regretfully must tell you that my magic cannot be performed without something from you in return." The sisters looked at each other, and Antoinette spoke quietly, "We have nothing of value." Her sister placed her hand protectively on the little mermaid's arm before, from her neck, pulling a beautifully simple necklace. "Take this as payment for my sister." she said. "It was our mother's." And held out the necklace. Alzisorin sadly shook his head, "Alas I wish it were that simple, yet that is not payment enough. I need something from Antoinette herself. Not a mere object. Something, for example, such as her voice."
"My voice?" said Antoinette, clutching her throat in horror.
"Yes, my child. I asked earlier if you were willing to pay the price. My child, you may still walk free if you wish." And Alzisorin was silent. Antoinette was quiet for a moment. Just a moment, no more, no less. In that moment, everything was said yet at the same time left unsaid. Many a thing was questioned and many a thing was answered. And finally, with a voice that betrayed both fear and certainty, she said, "I am prepared to pay the price. As payment, I shall give you my voice. But alas, while I still have it, I ask of you, how will I be able to speak?"
Alzisorin looked at her and asked, "Do you spoke the language of the silent?"
"Yes, yes we all do. Our sister, Sariana, is without hearing." said she.
"Then that shall be your way of speaking," said he.
"Wait!" cried Antoinette. "Can nothing be done to change my father's mind?" The seawizard turned sadly to face her, "My child, my magic can change appearances, but no magic is ever strong enough to defeat the mind." answered he, and abruptly Alzisorin began chanting words of great power, words that were both grotesque and lyrical, words that cannot be written as they are neither human nor unhuman. And these words caused the cauldron to boil and froth, filling the quaint room with indescribable smells, and pouring out smoke of every color imaginable. Maridessa gasped as a small orb, flaming orange, filled Antoinette's throat, flickering and burning for a second, before dying. Antoinette clutched her throat, mouthing words soundlessly. And as the cauldron to pop and hiss, Antoinette was encased in a ball of golden light that gently floated back to the cauldron. It gently spun, slowly and surely, neither liquid or solid. Maridessa swam forward, her hand outstretched but Alzisorin held her back, chanting his words. And as Alzisorin's deep voice rose to an earsplitting roar, the ball of light suddenly exploded, rays of gold shooting out in every direction. From within the golden orb, the limp form of Antoinette drifted quietly to the ground.
YOU ARE READING
Once A Merman, Always A Mermaid
FantasyLong ago, lived a young mermaid whom was of most peculiar origins. For she was not originally born that way, having been a merman at birth. Yet, since childhood, she knew herself to be a woman. But she could not reveal her true identity, for many di...
