The god smirked, his lips curled upward in an irritated smile as he eyed her in silence.

Frantically, she wrapped her skirts around her waist.

“You do not know much about the human world above, do you?” His weight shifted and he rested his head on his other hand, now amused.

Pulling herself up again, Ariel got her feet under her and wobbled back and forth while she tried to stand.

Rising from his throne, his sandals crossed the distance to her and as he did, a thick, humid breeze swirled throughout the cavern. The sands swirled and were blown away into nothing, revealing dark, violet stone below. The walls rose up high and lifted away around them, expanding more and more until they could no longer be seen.

Ariel stepped once and fell forward, his chest catching her again. Hades did not let her go this time. His large hands held her firm against his torso, and the underwater cavern faded away, revealing the large throne room of the underworld, a floating platform with pillars that came down from the ceiling and no end to the bottomless pit below.

Her eyes were large as she looked up and all around. Hades turned her chin to look at him, “Welcome to the underworld, my little mermaid.”

Pushing away from him, she stumbled again, then stood, looking out at the open space and glowing green light that rippled against the cavern walls from the void below. “What is this place?”

“Where human souls come after death, to spend all of eternity.”

Her legs teetered back for a moment, then she pushed forward and rushed to the edge, her arms wrapping around a pillar as she leaned over to look down at the swirling abyss below.

It fascinated him, the way her curiosity drove her into the unknown. Sirens really did live without fear.

“Those are people. Humans. Why are they wailing?”

“Those are human souls. Some rest peacefully, others, those, do not.”

“Am I… Am I dead?” She whipped her head back to look at him, a glint of worry in her eyes.

Hades lips spread into a wide grin, “My dear little mermaid, you don’t have a soul.”

Ariel turned her face away from him, her hands holding onto the pillar. With her shoulders tense, it was easy to tell she did not like the name.

Moving closer, his hand pulled hers from her grip on the pillar, and held onto it. “Unlike them, when you die, you will turn back into sea foam-”

“From whence I came, yes, I know,” Ariel spoke sharply.

His other hand twirled a lock of her crimson hair around his finger, “Sirens may live longer lives, but in the end, they become nothing, compared to the eternity of a soul.”

“… how do I get a soul?”

The yearning in her voice was riveting. He could see the desires in her eyes, all over again, as she reached out of the water for land, the first night he saw her.

Hades could not grant a soul. No, all he did was manage them after their body had reposed.

However, Ariel never needed to know that small detail.

Leaning down, he smoothed her hair behind her ear and spoke into it, “Nothing is ever free.”

As she turned her head to look at him, stone steps appeared off the platform, spiraling up toward the ceiling.

“But… I have no money.”

“Ariel, I am a god. I have no use for money.”

“Then… what do you want?”

He smiled again, then he finally stepped back, giving her the room to move away from the ledge. Hades motioned toward the stairs, then watched her, without saying a word.

Slowly, she stepped forward, tripping and stumbling. She had to hold onto Hades as they ascended the stairs. He let her struggle with her legs as she walked, staying behind her and only keeping her from falling to the abyss below.

She needed him to perform even the simplest of tasks, like standing. This was the way he wanted it. He wanted her to need him for everything.

Ariel fell a few times, landing on the steps, but each time she picked herself back up and pushed on. Finally, they reached the room at the top. The moans and groans of the dead were muffled in his office. 

Hades’ desk and chair were carved from a black stone, and all around were tall bookcases, stuffed with books and scrolls. There were no decorations. He brought her right up to the edge and the smoke swirled around her, forming a chair for him to let her fall in.

Hades did not sit. Instead, he stood next to her, looking down at her. “I want your voice, Ariel.”

Her hand moved up to her throat, “My voice… What are you going to do with it?”

“Do with it? Why, nothing. I want YOU to sing for me. Whenever I desire to hear it. In return, I will grant you your legs.”

Her features brightened. “That’s it? You just want me to sing?”

“Just? Oh, no. You don’t seem to understand.” His fingers gripped the chair she rested in as he leaned down. “I want YOU. If you want legs, if you want to walk on land, you will remain in the underworld with me and sing, whenever I want you to.”

Her eyes slowly became wide, “You… want to keep me here? In the underworld? No,” she shook her head, “No, I want to go to the human world, I want to see my family!” She raised up in her seat, not able to fully stand, but came right up to him. “I will not be your slave.”

“You would rather remain a mermaid?”

“Than be your slave? Of course!”

His mouth turned upward into that slow grin, and the chair Ariel held onto for balance, dissipated into a puff of smoke.

“Ah!” She let off a small gasp of surprise and clung onto his robe instinctively.

The smoke wrapped around her legs, up her torso and to her neck. Letting go, her hands grasped her throat as she began to choke.

Hades watched, a deep chuckle in his throat. The smoke faded and she had been returned to her original form.  The mermaid turned and fought as she suffocated.

“When you are ready to make a deal, Ariel, just say the word.”

Bringing her arms to her chest, her gills flicked and flexed once, then closed. She was holding her breath, when there was no water in her lungs to hold onto.

Hades’ grin slowly faded into a look of contempt. Sirens could hold their breath for up to ten minutes. But without water, she should have been begging for her life.

A thought crossed his mind. Ariel could be stubborn enough to die before she gave in. He had no intention of letting that happen, not when she was so close to his grasp. Of course, Hades would not give in. He always got what he wanted, in the end.

But, the seconds ticked by, one by one.

Thirty eight, thirty nine.

Fog rolled over Ariel as Hades reached his arm down. It lifted her up to him and he gripped her chin, pulling her to him. She looked into his eyes and her gills flexed once more. She had mere seconds. Her gaze has a glossy sheen to it, unable to focus properly.

Pressing his lips against her, his fingers moved through her hair as he kissed her roughly. Her fishlike fangs sunk into his tongue as he pushed it passed her lips. They quickly dulled as they were replaced with human teeth. Feeling the change, she bit his lip one last time, then tore away, still pressing her arms against his chest as her legs wabbled, gasping for air.

“Do we have a deal?”

She took a deep breath, “I never really had a choice, did I?”

“I always get what I want, in the end.”

Her hands moved from his chest to his arms and she held onto them, raising herself up to meet his gaze. There was loathing in her eyes. But, Ariel said nothing. A tear rested on her eyelash. “You promised you would teach me to walk.”

“Did I?” He paused, “So, I did. You didn’t take my hand.”

“I didn’t know you, then.”

“And now?”

“Now…” her eyes searched his.

“Now, you still desire what I can offer. Yes?” He tilted her chin to examine her features, but she pulled away again. Her hands almost lost their grasp on his body, an arm pulled her back against his chest tightly. His nose grazed her cheek. They were so close, Ariel could still feel his breath, no matter which direction she turned her head. “Your curiosity betrays you,” he leaned into her ear, “No matter how badly you want to fight, you yearn for the unknown, more.”

His other hand traced down between her shelled top, to the navel she now had and even lower, to her stomach. “Don’t try and lie. It is my job to see through lies,” he pressed his hand against her tightly, “You can feel it, here, deep within you. That fluttering feeling. And no matter how much you try and fight it, it will never go away, not until you feed it.”

He loosened his grip. Then, she turned and looked him in the eyes, “I want to walk on the shores and feel the sun on my skin,” she was searching for a give in the glint of his orbs, pleading.

“Sing for me, siren. And I will think about it.”

Ariel pushed on his chest again and he let go of her waist and grasp her hand instead. Struggling between her balance and his grip, she shook her head, “I can hear you but I won’t.” She pulled again.

Some look for trouble while others don’t.

There’s a thousand reasons I should go back to my cave

And ignore your whispers which I wish would go away.”

“But you wont.”

“You’re not a voice,” she yanked on her hand once more and he released her hand, “You’re just a ringing in my ear.

And if I believed you, which I don’t, You will just chain me here.”

Stumbling back, wisps of smoke pressed against her back and lifted her arms, to keep her from falling as she fought to stand. “Everything I’ve ever loved is-”

“Here within these walls.” Hades leaned back, watching, learning.

“I’m not your secret siren, and I’m blocking out your calls,” she fought back, balling her fists.

“You crave this adventure.”

“I don’t need something new.

I’m afraid of what I’m risking if I follow you

Into the unknown!

Into the unknown!

Into the unknown!”

“What do you want? ‘Cause its been keeping you awake

Am I here to distract you, is this all a big mistake?”

Her change in tone was surprising, she was twisting this around on him. “There is no one out there who is the least bit like you. You know, deep down, this is what you’re meant to be.”

“Every day’s a little harder as I feel your power grow

Don’t you know there’s part of me that longs to go

Into the unknown?

Into the unknown.

Into the unknown!”

Steadying herself, she flung her arms out to push the smoke away.

“Whoa

You are right here!

Do you know me?

Can you feel me?

Can you show me?

Ooh!” She turned her body away.

Hades walked closer, commanding the tendrils of mist to return to his side and move away from her form. Her legs trembled, but Ariel remained planted where she stood. And indeed, she did stand. Her arms at her side, her hands formed tight fists as she stood still. “Where are you going?”

“Just leave me alone!” She turned and faced him.

“How can I follow you

Into the unknown?”*

As her last notes rang out, he reached a finger up, inches away from her neck, and raised his hand up to her lips, then toward him. As he did, a golden, glowing ball followed, carrying her last note with it.

Ariel clutched her throat, in shock, but unable to utter a single cry.

Hades sneered. holding the orb of light, he brought it to his lips, then held it out and leaned down close to her lips. “I told you, I wanted your voice-“

Whether he was caught off guard, or she still retained her quick reflexes, Ariel slapped him as hard as she could. Then, she grabbed his robe to keep her balance and snatched the orb from his grasp.

Yes, he had silenced her, but the siren spoke wonders through those dancing eyes.

XXX

“Talking”

“Singing”

Song*: “Into the Unknown” from Frozen II.

I love how in the last actual chapter, I’m like, “Yeah! I’m back in the groove of things, you guys won’t have to wait as long for the next chapter!” Yeah…

Thank you so much for all the reviews, guys. They are really inspiring and they help to push me to keep writing. I had to force myself through this chapter, but in less than a week, I was able to finish it. I was not planning on adding a song at the end, but “Into the unknown” just popped into my head and it fit so well.

I don’t want to promise that I will have another chapter up, soon, but I have started on it. I’m diving into so much Greek mythology, I’m so excited.

My Little Mermaid Chapter 5 – Desires

Ariel sunk back under the surface for a moment and took a deep breath. Was it time? Could it not wait? Could he not wait?

Looking into those eyes of darkness, Ariel assumed the god never had to.

His broad shoulders relaxed, his gaze tracing her form in the water, he looked calm, for now. His figure, a dark, wispy outline against the flickering light, felt bold, defined. A clear tone atop a hazy picture.

She had never met a man before, not really, nor a god, for that matter, so she could not describe his stature as such. But, he was commanding.

With nowhere else to go, and unable to stay still, she emerged from the water and came back to the surface’s edge. “Nothing is ever free.”

“Still not trusting me?” Hades countered. He smiled, then raised his hand, creating a path on the wall next to them, both of land and sea. “Come with me, Ariel. Or, is the surface world not worth the risk?”

“But, I…”

“But, you could never fully trust me,” the god repeated her words with a coy smile. He stepped toward the tunnel, and paused, his back toward her. “I won’t offer again.”

Her heart pounded, and she took one final glance behind her, where her escape used to exist.

This dream to walk on land, to explore the world above, was it now or never? She would never forgive herself if she never took this chance, but at what cost? What of her friends and family? Flounder, and Daddy, would she get her chance to say goodbye? Would this even be the last she ever saw of them? And this god of the dead, what would he want in return?

Ariel released the grip of the cloth tablet and let it slip from her arms to the sea floor below. Then, she ducked under water and darted forward, into the path, before that was lost forever, as well.

Ariel would not wait beside him, she continued her swimming along the tunnel, staying underwater while keeping next to the path he mostly likely walked upon.

The further she swam, the darker the tunnel became, until Ariel had to slow down, putting her hands in front of her to find her way.

The liquid felt thick, like wet sand, and swimming became more difficult. She kicked harder and harder, not afraid of hitting anything, just determined to get out. No matter how much she kicked, her body still sludged forward like a snail.

The thickness made it harder to breath, as well. Her hand moved from the front of her to her neck, as she clawed at her gills to get them to open up. Nothing seemed to be blocking them, yet, she could not breath.

Her hands reaching forward again, she grabbed at whatever she could as she began to suffocate under the water. Her fingers touched thick sand, and she clawed at it, pulling herself to it.

Ariel slowly crawled out of the dark water, gasping for air as she coughed up sea water from her lungs. She pulled her body up onto the shore, sliding her knees forward slowly to escape the black river.

She took deep breaths of air, then started to cough and shiver from the sudden cold. She reached up to her gills again, to find the skin on her neck was bare. Her breathing quickened in a panic.

“Do I have to teach you to breathe as well?”  She heard the god ask from above her. Looking up, her eyes squinted through the droplets of water as she continued to cough. Breathe? As in air.

She pulled her legs up to her torso from the cold, thick river, when her heart stopped. Glancing down, her hands reach out and brushed off wet sand from her smooth, creamy legs. Legs, she had legs now.

She felt his hand touch her arm and her body was pulled forward abruptly. There was no time to admire her new limbs, no time to learn to stand. Ariel stumbled forward, gripping his clothes as she leaned against his chest.

Managing short, quick breaths, she could hardly control her heart rate. Before she knew it, she had been granted what she always wanted, and yet, standing in front of this god, she felt an emotion mermaids did not know how to comprehend.

Shame, embarrassment. Ariel was not just cold, she was naked, exposed and unsure how to cover herself to feel secure again.

Carved, jeweled shells that were normally worn as a sign of royalty, and fashion, were reduced to the only piece of clothing that covered her skin from his eyes.

She could not breath, could not think. And as the god held her upright, without holding her for comfort, she felt hot, burning water drip from the corner of her eyes and slide down her cheeks. It was salty and her throat held a tight knot, keeping her from speaking.

Surely, she was dying, her body melting away, unable to make the change.

“Apparently, I do.” Hades slid his hand from her arm, up her shoulder to her neck. Then, he tilted her chin and pressed his lips against hers.

Her whole body warmed from his touch, and she felt the knot melt away. It was like he breathed life into her again.

Ariel pushed on his chest, needing to exhale, until their lips broke away. She turned, then stumbled and fell back down to the sand, coughing up water from her lungs. She took long, deep breaths, now that she knew how, and looked up at Hades, wiping those hot streaks from her cheeks. “I… I have legs… I have legs! You gave me legs!”

Finally, the realization set in, and joy began to fill her whole body. Pushing her hands into the sand, Ariel struggled to get back on her feet.

“I-oh!” Finally putting weight on her new limbs, she felt them give way and collapsed to the ground once more.

“I shall have to teach you to stand, as well,” the God of the underworld spoke from above her.

“Thank you… I don’t know how to thank you.” She turned and reached for his garment, to help herself stand again.

“Nothing is ever free,” Hades replied with a smirk.

Looking up, her eyes met with his and she felt that shame again, that feeling she could not describe as his gaze peered over her form.

“So many new emotions a mermaid is not used to feeling,” He knelt down, holding a folded cloth over his arm, “Your heart beats wildly, your body frozen, not responding to that natural flee response you are so used to relying upon.”

She kept her eyes turned away, her arms covering her chest protectively.

“Relax, Ariel,” his palm touched her cheek and he raised her chin to meet his eyes again, “I will teach you what those emotions mean, in due time.” Pulling the cloth from his arm, Hades draped the blue silk over her shoulders.

Despite her covering her chest, Ariel took the garment and wrapped it around her waist twice, tying it off on one side. He understood her shame, and how to make it go away, but he offered neither knowledge nor comfort in her distress.

Arial slid her legs out in the sand and pushed herself up to sit on her knees. “What is it that you want from me?”

“I want you to sing, Ariel. I want you to sing for me.” The god stood. “When I first saw you, your voice let off the most enchanting melody to ever reach my ears. Want and desire poured through every word,” his steps in the sand circled around her. “Beauty is dull and so vulgar these days. Skin deep and only as thick as the ink that makes it so.”

Ariel felt him touch a lock of her hair and she turned to look up into his eyes.

“But, the sounds of your chords are something even angels are envious of,” he gave a slight smirk at the irony of his little joke, but Ariel only stared up into his eyes, not knowing what an angel was.

“Your voice is something I cannot possess on my own,” he paused as he looked down at her. Then, Hades knelt down again. “I want you, Ariel.”

His fingers touched a lock of her hair again, then moved to brush her lips, before he stood and walked back toward his throne. Hades sat down and stared at her. “Now, sing for me.”

Her hands slid through the sand, and she took a deep breath, testing her new lungs.

“… Nerves, don’t fail me now,

Courage, don’t deceive me,

Wont turn back, now that I’m here.

Merfolk always say, life is full of wonders,

No one ever imagined this.”

Sliding her hands through the sand, Ariel slowly found her balance, placing her weight back on her knees.

“In a world that seems so vast,

I’ll take this journey, don’t let it pass.”

The dry sand felt so different as it slid through her fingers.

“Somewhere down this path,

I know there’s so much waiting,

Years of dreams just can’t be wrong!”

Shifting her legs back and forth, she slowly crawled, putting weight on the balls of her feet.

“Valleys old and wide,

Mountains tall and frosted,

Finally now where I belong.”

With her weight on her new feet, Ariel pushed herself off the ground, holding her arms out to try and balance herself.

“Well, starting now, I’m learning fast,

I’ll take this journey, won’t let it pass.”

Stumbling, Ariel slipped and fell again, her heart beating wildly with wonder.

“Home, sea, family,

Was there once a time they were enough for me?

Home, friends, family

I’m not turning back,

Now that I am free.”

With a new breath from her lungs, she steadied herself again and stood up, resting her weight in her heels.

“One step at a time,

One foot, then another,

Who knows where this path may lead.

Back to who I was,

No, that’s not in my future.

Much my heart still yearns to know.”

Her breath quickened with each successful step, excitement overtaking her.

“Yes, let this choice be mine

Let me control each time

My feelings burst with joy.”

Ariel stood tall, finally able to stable herself. Then, she held her breath and took her first step.

“And set me free

At last!* Oh-!”

She slipped in the sand and fell back on her butt, her legs sliding out from under her. Her cloth skirt was pulled apart from her fall, exposing herself to the god again. Her cheeks heated, feeling embarrassment for the first time for her performance.

Though, meeting his gaze, she could see how pleased he was. Please, yet very unsatiated, as he looked down at her with those black eyes.

XXX

“Talking”

“Singing”

Song*: Journey to the Past from Anastasia

Took me forever to figure out the song, but I finally got another chapter up. I think I am getting back into the groove of the plot, so you may not have to wait as long for the next one. I hope you enjoy it.

My Little Mermaid Chapter 4 – The Lure

My Little Mermaid Chapter 6 – Stumbling

In another world, a newer time, and better storyline, Ariel would have saved the dinglehopper. Shined it, cared for it, and put on display, just left to the thingamabobs and below the galore of whatsits.

She tossed it to the side, instead, and torpedoed deeper into the sunken ship. That voice and those eyes of the strange, smoky blue figure. He felt… Familiar, like she had heard of him before. And like all things land, she swam down to the largest collection of whose-its to skim through layers of thin tablets to find him, before the delicate etchings faded away.

As she flowed and swayed, to and frow, to the waters current, she hummed its tune, to make numb the pain in her chest. Last time she had been down here, flounder almost lost his tail…

And daddy had to listen to a dozen schools of fish complain about how much of a bad influence the youngest princess was on their many children.

Ariel, of course, still protested and blamed it on the shark, to which Flounder had joined in to agree and protest as well.

In the day’s current, though, she swam alone. There was no reason to danger another creature with her wildest passions. And, Flounder had been… Well, to put it bluntly, Flounder was growing up. And growing tired of the olden days of Chase and Explore, like her young guppy games were merely that. Games. And Flounder had his future to think of, of course.

Well, Ariel had hers to. And when they discovered her plans, well…

She swayed this way and that, gliding over the leather-bound wonders as she pretended to read each foreign symbol etched into their bindings. And as she swayed, she hummed, then parted her lips and let out a soft melody that traveled through the waters around her:

“I need another story,
Something to get off my chest.
My life is kind of boring,
Need somewhere that I’m not oppressed.

My sisters made their bed
They won’t listen to see past, instead
The mask they think I don’t wear.
Thought you saw me blink, so,
I can hardly breath, so

Tell me what you want to hear,
Your voice has been so unclear,
So sick of being insecure,
I just wanna let go and fly away.

This time, I pray that you’re not a lie,
Don’t care if I cross the line,
I’m gonna let go and fly away.

But, if only my family knew,
What would they say?
So sick of all the insincere
Why won’t they just let me go and fly away?

I’ve tried, hidden messages in lullabies
Won’t let my feelings stand by
Why won’t they just let me go and fly away?

They won’t miss me if I’m not here,
They won’t come no matter how much I let them in,
They can’t see that I’m so insecure
Why can’t they just let me go and fly away?

These ties, broken so easily when family dies,
Won’t care about me either way,
If they just let me go, I would fly away.”*

Her fingers paused against one of the bindings, and she knocked the fragile tablets to the side and picked up the largest one on the bottom, as easily as a leaf of seaweed. Spiraling to the top of the boat, Ariel opened it up to the fading pages and let the book fall to the shipwreck floor as she followed it down. It made no sound as it touched the sand below and she settled down in front of it, her tail swaying back while she studied the strange language, like a young girl swings her feet back and forth as she is reading a good book.

Slowly, she turned each page, caught between amazement and wonder and the beautiful creature and how those humans understood a single character that was written on these thin, clothlike pressings. Her heart picked up when she turned a page, and caught sight of the blue male figure, the one she had spoken with up on shore.

Her eyes darted to below the portrait, and her fingers ran back and forth along the foreign languages, recognizing the repeat of many characters, but not quite able to understand them. But the pictures of the man, Ariel could understand those. Pictures were like ballads of shapes and figures. His especially were a whirlpool of color, striking every mental nerve with a sharp pluck. He was like a song, was the only way she could describe it, a song she learned to sing and scream and bellow, but could not for her own life, form the words to.

Red locks floated and hovered for a moment, as her head dipped down and she brushed her lips against the blue figure’s with a chaste passion. She giggled at her own silliness, then sighed as she stared at the portrait, longing to kiss it again.

“A-Ariel!” Her head jerked up with sudden fear and shame, and she quickly closed the book.

“Flounder?” she called out, looking all around. He would not understand her at all. But, her heart beat fast with excitement. Perhaps, he had changed his mind? Yes! Perhaps now, he would try, really try to understand her feelings.

“Flounder! I’m down here!” Pressing the large leather-bound tablet to her chest, she lifted herself up off the ocean floor, and circled around to scan the broken openings in the ships hole. Where was he?

“Ariel!” there was his voice again! Above her? No, it had been fading.

“Flounder, wait!” She giggled again, and swam through the hatch to the top deck. “I was down looking at pictures again. I found what I was looking for!” Her tail turned in twirls again, expecting to see the yellow sea creature floating just behind her, but there was no glimpse of his blue stripes, nor his tiny fin. “Flounder, I told you I was going to the shipwreck.” She called out, swimming further on to where she believed she had heard his voice.

“Ariel!” She heard his voice again, this time around one of the coral reef’s tunnels.

Her best friend, she had to catch him! They would play one last game of Chase, before she told him her plans. Ariel needed Flounder to support her on this. She could not do it alone. “My, Flounder, you’ve gotten rather fast!”

Slowing down to the entrance of the tunnel, her gills pulled in fresh saltwater, then she torpedoed forward, and around the bend. “Ahah- Flounder?” She paused again. He was not… there.

“Ariel!” Again, his voice called out, and she swam after it. This part of the reef did not look familiar to her. Perhaps he had found a new hideout for them? Yes, one last game of Explore before she moved on.

“You can hide, Flounder, but you can’t swim very fast!” She laughed again, chasing after his voice as she held the book to her chest. Yes, she would catch him, then show him what she had found! Just like they used to do!

Around more corners, and through deeper tunnels, she followed his voice again and again as he called out to her, never quite able to catch a glimpse of him. He must have been at the end, and had planned this, for his voice traveled very well through the tunnels. Obviously, that must have been the case, because there was no way Flounder was that fast.

Suddenly, Ariel turned around a corner and reached a dead end. But, there was no Flounder. Above her, though, the water stopped, and opened up into an air pocket. Her and Flounder had come across a few of these before, but he had never willingly gone through one.

“Oh, Flounder, you can’t hide, either!” She chimed out, then broke through the surface with alarming speed, and halted quickly before she dolphined through the air. The cavern was brightly light, the burning, flickering heats that she had seen so many countless times on land, rested on either side, before the short shore. Her hand reached out to it in longing.

That burning, flickering heat, she had longed to lace her fingers through and grasp, not matter how badly it scorched her flesh. But, then… “Flounder…?”

“Oh, is that what you call the Cheesy Filet?” Her heart caught in her throat, and she held the binding to her chest protectively, though she knew it was meaningless compared to whom that voice belonged to. He stepped out from the shadows and into the glowing light, the wispy smoke following behind him as he reached the water’s edge.

She moved back instinctively, and every bone in her tail urged her to run. But… “Where is Flounder?”

“Not here,” he grinned, “I used his voice to lure you here.”

Shame swept her features as she had so stupidly followed his lure, and had kissed his portrait so carelessly. “W-why…?”

“Don’t you think it’s time we talked,” his hand raised up and she felt the waters shift behind her. Spinning around, she watched the entrance she had swam through close up with thick fog, the kind of fog that was warned could swallow a mermaid whole, if they got too close. She moved back away from the smoke, then turned to face him, now at his feet, on the shores edge. “Without interruptions this time, Ariel,” he added with a smile.

XXX

“Talking”

“Singing”

Song*: Secrets by OneRepublic

Ahah! See, you did not have to wait a whole year (or three) before I updated again! For some reason, this story line has eluded me, but I think I finally got back on track on where I was going with it. I’m already working on chapter five as you read this.

My Little Mermaid Chapter 3 – A Promise

My Little Mermaid Chapter 5 – Desires