Upon stepping bare toes onto the hot, dry sand, the dark form quietly crept out onto the shore. The slow, few weeks that his minions watched the sea creature from a distance were antagonizing, to say the least.

Want finally overcame him, and the god escaped from his duties, just for one afternoon. Inching closer toward the sea, he spotted the creature, resting on a rock just before the horizon. Allowing all doubt to leave his mind, Hades walked closer. A small smile began to creep on his features as the girl simply stared, into the sky and unaware.

Dreams of flying probably danced within her mind, entertaining her wants. However, she had to learn to walk first…

“Would you like to hold it?” He asked, repeating what he said to her the first time they met.

Jumping, the mermaid quickly dived in the water, concealing herself.

Hades chuckled and knelt down to place his hand below the water’s edge. “Don’t go,” He said smoothly. “I would like to meet you, if you’d let me.”

Slowly, red locks emerged from the depths, and two blue orbs stuck out of the water.

Another smile graced his features, “Hello, Arial. Is your name Arial? I’d like to talk to you, if that’s alright.”

Pulling her head a little more out of the water, she stared at him, “State your business.”

A slight chuckle, and the man said, “Business?”

“W-what do you want?”

Another chuckle and the man sat down upon the sand. “I want to teach you of the world on land, of the wonders beyond the sand, and the ocean in the sky.” He looked upward, to get Arial to glance at the sun again, mesmerized.

“Do you want to hold it?”

“I want to smother it, dip it into the sea and play with it.

I want I want to- cling to, need to.

Leave me with a feel of desire,

All I’ve want to,

All I’ve failed to.

In it is a hope of promise,

To lift me from my broken bondage.

If for just one day,

I reach out to all my failures,

And take a destiny with new strangers.”*

The beautiful vibrations of her talent rung through his ears like angels in the sky. Most pure, oh benevolent child, take my hand and into my arms, and reach for that which you most desire.

“What a beautiful voice,” He spoke, another smile growing. The creature sunk beneath the waves once more. Hades chuckled and, reaching farther into the water, trying to let her test his essence from her fishlike senses. “Come now, let me teach you of the world you most desire. Can you come here?”

Swimming closer, she listened to him speak.

“I saw you a while ago, on the very depths of the edge of the horizon. Your dreams are ambitious.”

“I saw you, too, on that shore.” She pointed toward at the land. “I thought I’d seen a ghost…”

The man laughed. “Did you, really?”

“Maybe… perhaps something more real…”

“Well, I assure you, I am as real as they come.”

“Who are they?”

Hades laughed again. “Why, gods, my dear. Do you not recognize me?”

“No,” Turning her head to the side, he felt her uneasiness.

“Well, I suppose, all the better.” Standing, he took a step into the ocean, scanning her every move, “I am fascinated by you, by your every move, and by your voice. You are… how would they put it… a creature with the fascination of the unattainable.”

“Unattainable? How so?”

“You need to be free, to walk this earth, and scour every corner. Learn to live, to experience that which you cannot. You do want to walk, do you not?”

“I… How did you know?”

Then, Hades sneered, “Come closer, my child.”

The creature moved closer. “Y-yes?” Although she was afraid, Hades could see her curiosity.

His arm fully submerged, the god held out his other hand. “Come with me, child, leave your home and come with me, and I will teach you to walk.”

The girl dared to move closer. “Will you?” She was scared, and unsure. “Will you really?”

“Beautiful siren of the deep,” he bowed, “You’re wish is my command.” The mermaid moved back.

“W-What do I have to do?”

“My dear. You need only to enjoy yourself.” He looked up at her and smiled.

“How… How will you do it?” She asked, pushing forward toward him, and turned her head to the side so her red hair dipped into the sea water.

Dark blue and black smoke circled around the girl, and she lifted from the water, her fin forming into legs for a moment as she was spun around. “I can do many things, Ariel.” The delight within the creature’s eyes lit up to amazement, and she spun herself around as she floated within the sky.

“Yes!” She cried, glancing down at her legs. “Yes. Please, yes!”

“Sea, meet land.

This is my dream, my plan.

Bring me delight,

I will only accept the truest kind.

So, now I may decide,

Which path I will follow along,

Though, I do know it’s true,

I cannot fully trust you.”**

Her words faded into a soft rhyme, like the tide beating against the shore, and she looked down. “I could never fully trust you…” she repeated.

The smoke faded, and her fish-like form sunk beneath the waves once more. “Please understand…” she whispered.

Hades smile faded slightly, and he pulled his hand out completely. “You deny yourself your greatest desire? I must ask why.”

She turned her back to him, and looked up at the sun once more. “People were not meant to be given their greatest desire. We cannot all have what we want.”

“You will never be happy.” He spoke in a grave tone.

“People say I’m just going through a phase, that I will grow out of it when I mature.” She looked down at the water and lifted her hands up.

The god stood and took a step into the water. “Take it from someone who knows, you never grow out of your phase.”

She looked up at him. “What do you mean?”

Hades smiled once more. “I have a habit of giving desires,” My sweet little siren, “And I can see how happy I could make you, by giving you yours.”

The brilliant blue orbs of the sea creature swirled from his hand, up to his eyes like a soft current. “Again, I ask. What it is that you desire?”

XXX

“Talking”

“Singing”

Hades thoughts

First song*: The tune (and part of dialogue) is from “Chase the Morning” in the movie Repo! The Genetic Opera.

Second song**: I believe I made up this toon, so whatever you think of in your head works, as long as it actually sounds good. XD

I finally updated! I know, right? Its been like five years? Six? I don’t even remember… But I did update! …I would hate to tell all of the fans of this story that this chapter has actually been mostly completely since my last update, and has  merely been collecting itty bitty pixelated particles of dust on my computer… So, I won’t tell you guys that. XD

I make no promises on when the next update will be, but I’ve got fans in the real world that patronize me about updating now, too, so you may not have to wait another six years… I said may.

My Little Mermaid Chapter 2 – Meeting

My Little Mermaid Chapter 4 – The Lure