He places his hands on the arms of his throne. “Good. Now that this meeting is over, we can have a family dinner and play a shell game before going to bed.” Getting up from his seat, he summons his trident and grabs it with his right hand. His wavy, dark hair dances with the current as he propels forward and places his hand under my chin. “You’ve grown into a beautiful young woman. You don’t need to fear your sisters’ beauty. The one suited for you won’t look at anyone else.”
“Father, why does everybody fear the Sea Witch?”
His eyes narrow before he answers. “Because not everybody is willing to offer what she asks in return.”
“What did she ask you in return for what she told you about our fate?”
My father smiles, showing his pearly teeth. Brushing my cheek with his fingers, he replies, “It’s a secret, child. But it isn’t anything that isn’t beneficial for both of us. We have a deal, and you don’t need to worry about the Sea Witch.”
***
EVERYBODY IN MY KINGDOM knows that we shouldn’t go to where the Sea Witch lives. It’s a dark and lifeless place with whirlwinds and dangerous sea monsters.
I grew up listening to the scariest tales of how she ate little mermaids and used their colorful scales to make clothes that she would wear. I hope none of those tales are true because I was swimming to her domains, ready to offer her a deal. Love gives me the courage I need to face her. Plus, she had told my father that my sisters and I would find our fated mates. I’m sure I’ve found mine. Now, I need the language barrier to be removed. There’s just something gnawing at my heart. What if Father doesn’t believe that my human is suited to be my husband?
I slow down to catch my breath and pull the improvised bag with the gold and precious jewels that I’ve gathered to offer to the witch. Maybe this is enough but if not, I have more where these came from.
Looking at the vastness of the ocean before me, I gather the strength to keep going. I pierce the water and follow the currents that will take me to the Sea Witch’s island. Sharks surround it, and I have to manipulate water to force them to back off. The underwater cave is dark and murky. As I swim up, my eyes catch the glimpse of light on the surface. My head pops out first, and I circle around, analyzing where I am.
It seems that I need to continue on foot. Torches in the wall illuminate the corridors, but everything is eerily quiet. Once I have feet, I walk carefully as the rocks hurt my soles and the cold bites my flesh.
Terrifying sounds pierce my ears. I hope it’s just the wind howling. I use the wall to help me stand and walk in the direction of the light at the end of the corridor.
A few minutes later, I’m greeted by a generous fire and a sumptuously furnished room that looked like it could belong in a palace. Not what I was expecting to find. There was a cauldron on the fire, a bed in the corner with many fur covers, several shelves lined with leather-bound books, and vials filled with plants and animal remains.
“Hello. Is anyone here?” I gasp when my voice echoes in the cave. “I mean you no harm.”
A swirl of purple and black smoke materializes a figure before me. “What harm could you do to me, little princess?”
“Hi. Are you the Sea Witch?” I blink several times, taking in the image of the young woman with brown hair and copper eyes that stare back at me. She’s wearing a long, ruby dress fit for a queen.
“Were you expecting someone else?”
“No. It’s just... you look so young and...”
“Harmless?” Her lips stretch into a smile. She steps forward. “I’m not harmless, but I don’t eat little mermaids either. What can I do for you?” Waving her hand, she summons two chairs and sits in one of them. Then she motions with her hand for me to sit down.
Shivering, I sit with the bag of jewels on my lap as I focus on what brings me here. “I come here because I need a favor from you, and I’m willing to pay.”
Her expression is placid. “Does your father know you are here?”
“No. He would never allow me.”
She folds her hands and leans forward. “What do you want? A potion to make someone fall for you? A glimpse into your future? To find out more about your mother, maybe...”
I frown. “No. I just want to be able to talk the human tongue.”
Her brows knit together, and she tilts her head to the left. “Any human tongue?”
“Is there a difference?”
“Yes.”
“I just want to be able to talk to my mate. If I tell you where he lives, do you know what language he speaks?” Then, it hit me. “You look human. How can you understand me?”
“I’m a siren. I speak all the languages in the world.”
Sirens are related to mermaids, but they don’t have a fishtail and can’t live forever in the sea like mermaids do. They aren’t human, either, which explains why she lives on an island.
“Do you know anything about my mother?”
The Sea Witch gets up and strides to the fire. Grabbing a stick, she stirs the flames. “What did your father tell you about her?”
“That she died when I was a baby, and she couldn’t live with us in the sea because she was human.”
“Did he tell you how much he loved her?”
“Yes.”
The Sea Witch turns around to face me. “Your mate, is it worth any sacrifice to be with him?”
I endure her burning gaze and take a moment to reply. “Yes. We are in love, but we can’t talk to each other. I can’t tell him who I am, and I have no idea who he is.”
“You seem to know how to use your legs. Have you used them on dry land to be with him?”
I nod. “I didn’t know I had them until I had to save him and bring him to the shore.”
The witch walks to her bed, grabs a blanket, and heads towards me. “Here, you look cold.” She places the blanket around my shoulders.
“Thank you.”
Sitting back in her chair, she pierces me with her eyes. “Your father won’t be pleased if I help you.”
I bit my lip. “You’ll be only helping your prophecy coming true. You told Father that my sisters and I will find our mates soon. I’ve found mine, but I need to speak his language to tell him who I am and how I feel.”
She smirks. “Are you willing to pay the price I’ll ask you?”
“Yes. Of course.” I showed her the bag.
“I don’t want jewels.”
I hugged the bag tighter. “What else can I give you?”
“Something you won’t need if you declare your love to your human lover and stay living with him on dry land.”
“What is that?”
“Your fishtail.”
I gulped.
“But you need to know that if he rejects and doesn’t love you as much as you love him, you’ll eventually die of a broken heart. Your kind only loves once and it’s forever. Do you still want to do this?” the witch questions.
Chapter 8—First Conversation
MY DECISION WASN’T hard to make. I have no idea why she wants my tail, but I’m willing to trade it for my happiness. A mermaid with a broken heart eventually turns into seafoam and ceases to exist. If I can’t live with my mate, I’ll die. I know I will. My tail belongs to the witch if my mate accepts me. Still, I can go back to the sea and give up on my voice if my mate doesn’t feel the same way. The price to pay is high. Am I na?ve to believe in love?
Once the deal is done, I dive in the water and swim as fast as I can to reach my lover's island. The potion is safely stored inside a small vial hanging from my neck, and I'm not going to wait any longer to talk to my lover.
The sun peeks from behind the green hills covered with vines when I rise to the surface and arrive at the beach. It's too early, so I lie on a sandbank in the calm sea, watching the last stars fading away and thinking about how I was going to get the last ingredient for the spell to work. I must have fallen asleep because when I wake up, the bells are ringing from the other side of the island where there's a church with towers and spires.
Stretching my arms, I stare at the castle on the cliff and wonder who lives there. What treasures hide behind those walls? It looks gloomy and scary, the opposite from my coral palace deep in the sea. If I go forward with my plan, I can never return to my world.