It was a little unfair bewitching him like that, but Ursula didn’t want to leave anything to chance. She could have simply lured him by employing Ariel’s voice alone, without witchery, and he would have thought it was Vanessa who had saved his life, but time was running thin and she needed to be sure Eric wouldn’t fall in love with Ariel. She needed Ariel’s soul.
Had she any empathy left in her, she would have felt sorry for the poor prince, dizzy-eyed and befogged as he was. He seemed like a decent fellow: quiet, sweet, humble. Rather moral…and far too handsome. When he approached Ursula in the fog, his eyes dazed by her magic, she sighed.
He finds this human shell beautiful. Not Ursula—he finds Vanessa beautiful.
She had never been loved for herself by anyone but the human who had adopted her. Her father. He had loved her even when she had transformed into something monstrous, ugly, and foul, as her brother had called her.
Never mind the past! she thought. None of that will matter. Not when both the land and sea are mine.
Dearest Princess Tulip Morningstar,
It is with deepest regret to you and your family that I write you this missive. That I should behave so dastardly is an utter mystery to me and leaves me feeling quite ashamed. My only defense—a poor one—is that I was quite unlike myself when performing those actions. Indeed it felt as if I was possessed by another and unable to enforce my own will. I must assure you, madam, that actions such as those are entirely out of my nature, all except for my proclamations of love for you. (Though I might have chosen a more suitable fashion to declare them.)
I must confess that I have loved you for some time. Ever since I saw you on the shores of your father’s lands, coming forth from the sea like a silent mourning goddess, I have loved you, and I have watched you since as you’ve flourished into a strong, intelligent young woman. I had intended to present myself to your father’s court in the proper manner, to be introduced officially, so you may consider a courtship, but I fear recent events have sullied your view of me. If that is the case, dear princess, I will not repudiate your feelings. I only want to bestow my deepest regrets and sincerest feelings of love and devotion to the most intriguing young woman I have ever had the pleasure of laying eyes upon.
Always at your service,
Prince Popinjay
Tulip sat gobsmacked, with the letter from Prince Popinjay in her hands.
She hadn’t the words to tell Nanny what he had written—she hadn’t fully processed what it meant—so she simply handed the letter over so Nanny might read it herself.
“Well, he is rather gifted at expressing himself! Better, I daresay, than he is at ramming down castle gates!”
Tulip was still in a daze. “Nanny, do you think what he says is true? Were those men under some sort of enchantment?”
Nanny knew very well they had been.
“Yes, my dear, they were.”
Tulip looked at her skeptically. “Why didn’t you say so before?”
Nanny sighed. “Because, my dear, you would have given me the look you’re giving me now, like poor Nanny has lost her mind. And honestly, I had more pressing matters at hand, trying to summon Circe and contending with Ursula when she showed up in Circe’s place. But trust me, my darling girl, those men were enchanted and your prince can hardly be held accountable for his actions.”
Tulip’s face squished up with displeasure.
“He’s not my prince!”
Nanny laughed.
“If you say so, dear. But he sounds very much like your prince to me!”
Tulip hated this feeling. The last time she had felt this way, she had been utterly humiliated and deeply hurt. She couldn’t imagine allowing herself to be charmed by another handsome man only to be heartbroken again. But she was different now, wasn’t she? Stronger, bolder, and indeed more worldly. And it seemed those were the very qualities the prince admired in her.
“I wish Circe were here, Nanny. She’d know what I should do.”
Nanny sighed. “I believe Circe would tell you to write this gentleman back, thank him for his kind words, and extend an invitation to tea.”
Tulip smiled.
“Do you really think so?”
“I do, my dear.”
“Then I think I will!” said Tulip with a quick kiss for Nanny on her soft powdery cheek. Then she dashed out of the room so she might write the letter. Nanny laughed. How she had longed to see Tulip so happy again, and she felt Popinjay’s intentions were honorable. But she’d better take a closer look at him just in case. He’s a fine fellow for a human, said Pflanze in Nanny’s head. And I am sure Tulip will be quite happy with him, but we have to focus on Circe. I’m afraid she’s in grave danger. I fear we all are.
“I agree with you, Pflanze, and I think we both know who is behind it.”
The kingdom was in a tizzy over the announcement of Prince Eric’s wedding. The entire seaside was buzzing with excitement and a bit of confusion. Everyone was wondering who the young woman was—the dark-haired siren Prince Eric had fallen in love with.
Everyone, that is, except the little mermaid. When she heard the news of a wedding, the poor dear thought she would be marrying the prince. You couldn’t blame her, really. They had almost kissed the day before, and something in his eyes when they were in that little boat together made her feel like…well, like he loved her. Maybe he finally remembered! Maybe he remembered it was she who had saved his life. She was so happy as she hastily tidied up before rushing to the landing to find Eric.
She had been fretting over how she was going to get him to kiss her before sundown, and now they would be kissing at their wedding! As she raced to the landing to find her fiancé, she saw something wholly unexpected, and it shattered her world and broke her heart.
The prince was standing with a beautiful young woman in the main hall, talking with his valet and great confidant, Sir Grimsby. Until that very moment, Grimsby had doubted the mysterious woman with the angelic voice Eric had been speaking of even existed. Grimsby had been haranguing Eric about his foolishness in pining for and swooning over a phantom siren when he had a lovely young woman beneath his very roof. But he had to admit Eric was right when he brought the young woman before him on that bright sunny morning.
“Well, now, Eric, it appears I was mistaken. This mystery maiden of yours does in fact exist. She is lovely.
“Congratulations, my dear.” Grimsby kissed Vanessa on the hand, welcoming her to the family.
“We wish to be married as soon as possible,” said Eric in a hollow, enchanted voice.
“Yes, of course, Eric, but, ah, you see, these things do take time.”
“This afternoon, Grimsby. The wedding ship departs at sunset.”
Sunset.
Sunset!
The word sent terror through Ariel’s broken heart. She saw the ruin of her entire life in that moment. Ursula’s words echoed in her ears: If he does kiss you before the sun sets on the third day, you’ll remain human, permanently—but if he doesn’t, you turn back into a mermaid and you belong to me!
Ariel hadn’t even thought about what that would mean.
Belonging to Ursula.
“Oh, very well, Eric, as you wish,” said Grimsby before hurrying off to make the preparations for the wedding.
Ariel was shattered.
She had lost her dearest love, and at sunset she would lose her soul to the sea witch. She would end up a shriveled little creature in Ursula’s garden and her father would never know what happened to her. She had made a ruin of her life with no thought for her family or her friends.
What would they think happened to her? Where did they think she was now? This wouldn’t be happening if her father hadn’t said all those awful things to her, condemning her for saving Eric.
His voice boomed like thunder in her mind as she remembered their horrible conversation. Is it true you rescued a human from drowning? Contact between the human world and merworld is strictly forbidden! She heard his voice as
clearly as when he had said those terrible things. She had tried to make him understand, tried to make him see reason, but he didn’t care. It didn’t matter to him that Eric had almost died.
One less human to worry about!
It meant nothing to him that she loved him.
They’re all the same! Spineless, savage, harpooning fish eaters incapable of any feeling!
It had only fueled his fury, causing a cyclone of violence that had sent her seeking Ursula’s help—help escaping her father and the life he wanted her to live—and it had all been for nothing. She would never know what it was to live in the human world. Her life was over before it had really begun.
She had been so foolish. Foolish to think Eric had fallen in love with her. Foolish to have made a deal with the sea witch. Foolish for throwing her life away for the love of someone who didn’t love her in return.
She had been so sure Eric had fallen in love with her when she saved him from drowning. And he had taken her into his home when he found her on the shores of his kingdom. Why had she given her voice to the sea witch? If only he could hear her sing, he would know it was she who had saved him! She had thought for sure they were going to kiss in the boat the day before. She had thought he was starting to remember. She had thought he was falling in love. If only he had kissed her that day.
If only the boat hadn’t turned over before…Never mind.
Her thoughts spiraled through the past few days, going over every detail, again and again. When her head stopped spinning, she felt nothing but regret. I’ve lost everything—everything! she thought. In three short days.
She saw her dreams slipping away and turning into a nightmare. She had been so intrigued that night when she saw Eric on his ship playing the snarfblatt. She had never seen a human that close before, and she thought he was probably the most handsome being she had ever laid eyes on.
She had imagined what his life must be like, traversing the sea, seeing the world, dancing beneath the stars. She imagined where he must live, surrounded by beautiful things, human things, like those she had been collecting in her cave.
He could have shown her so many more human treasures, things she’d never even imagined. She had fancied her life with him as an endless adventure of discovery, and now it was all over.
She had thought the sea gods had brought this wonderful prince into her life for a reason, casting down his ship in that terrible storm. Plunging him into her ocean, giving her the means and strength to save him. Making her fall in love with him.
Why would the gods do that and not give them a chance at love?
She wouldn’t have taken the risk if she hadn’t thought they were meant for each other. If she had her voice, she could tell Eric everything! She was heartbroken and alone, wishing for the days when she first arrived in Eric’s kingdom, when she thought he loved her. She couldn’t believe he was about to marry someone else. She was helpless. She was desperate. And she was angry. She wanted to scream, but the sea witch had her voice.
“Ariel! Ariel!”
It was her friend Scuttle, the seagull. He flew onto the pier, rambling and in a panic. “I was flying—of course I was flying…” he sputtered, not making much sense.
Ariel could communicate with sea creatures, being one herself, and with the likes of Scuttle, but that didn’t help her make out what he was saying as he sputtered and flubbed. Ariel desperately wanted to tell him to calm down and talk slowly as he continued, getting to his point at last.
“I saw the watch! The witch. The witch was watching the mirror and she was singing with a stolen set of pipes! Do you hear what I’m telling you? The prince is marrying the sea witch in disguise!”
The odd sisters’ mansion sat against a brilliant pink, gold, and silvery blue sky. The witches were within, peeking out their windows nervously, searching for crows, or any other sign from the Fairylands, fearful they would receive another odious warning from the Dark Fairy.
Ruby shrieked when she saw a dark gray owl flying toward the house.
“Stop, Ruby! It’s just an owl!” But the sisters’ stomachs started to twist in knots when they saw it was flying directly toward them.
“You don’t think…?”
“No, I don’t!” Lucinda snapped. “Maleficent doesn’t employ owls!”
Martha tentatively walked to the door, shaking with every step, glancing nervously at the stained glass window above their doorway, which was adorned with a deadly dragon destroying the Fairylands.
“Martha, please! Just open the door! The owl isn’t going to breathe fire!”
When Martha opened the door, the owl swooped in, landed on the kitchen table, and stuck out its little foot.
“Ruby, give her a biscuit!” Lucinda ordered as she took the message from the owl’s foot. Ruby and Martha searched through their various tins, trying to find the owl a biscuit, while Lucinda read the message.
“Stop all that clatter! It’s from Pflanze! She wants us to come directly to Morningstar Castle. She says it’s urgent!”
“What’s the matter? Is she in danger?” Ruby and Martha were frazzled, and Lucinda was doing her best to be patient with them.
“She doesn’t say, just that she needs us, and we will be welcome at court.”
“I doubt that, Lucinda! Not after our role in Tulip’s undoing!”
“Our what in Tulip’s what? Since when do you speak like that?” Lucinda narrowed her eyes at her sisters, wondering what had become of them since they had driven away their little sister with their lunacy.
“We’ve all been speaking strangely since Circe left.” “Yes, Lucinda, we agreed we’d try to speak more plainly for her sake.”
The owl nipped Ruby on the hand to remind the sisters it was waiting for their reply.
“Ouch! I should snap your neck for that!”
The owl simply blinked its large globe-like eyes at Ruby as if to dare the witch to make good on her promise.
“Yes, yes! Hold on,” said Lucinda, shoveling things from one end of her desk drawer to the other, looking for parchment and a pen with which to write her reply.
“Give her a biscuit!” she snapped while hastily composing her reply, letting Pflanze know they would be under way directly. “Tell her you’re sorry! I won’t have owls refusing to do our bidding, Ruby! We have far too many enemies already!
“Here, my dear,” Lucinda said to the owl, attaching the message to its little leg and feeding it a biscuit. “Take this to Pflanze as quickly as you can.” The owl gave a small hoot of thanks, finished the last of its biscuit, and flew out the round kitchen window past the old queen’s apple tree and into the mists, toward Morningstar Kingdom.
“How shall we go, my sisters? The usual way?” asked Martha, who looked a bit stricken.
“What is it now, Martha?” asked Lucinda impatiently.
“What of Ursula? We could fail to reach her in time to help with Triton. The wedding is tonight right before sunset. She will need our magic to complete the spell once she has Ariel’s soul!”
“And so she will! The Morningstar castle is very near Ursula’s realm.” Martha didn’t look relieved by Lucinda’s words. “What? Speak! I’m tired of your sullen looks, the both of you!” Lucinda had lost all patience with her sisters.
“We’re tired of choosing our words so carefully. Tired of sounding so…so…normal! Surely Circe should love us as we are!”
“Well, she doesn’t! We agreed this was the way! The longer we argue this topic, the less time we have to see to Pflanze and the sea witch! Now, please, let’s make our preparations.”
The sisters stood at the center of the room before the fireplace. The large onyx ravens seemed to be looking at them, reminding the sisters of the Dark Fairy’s warning. That terrible sense of foreboding crept into their hearts once more as they said the words that would take them to Pflanze.
“We call on the winds, the air, and the breeze! To Morningstar Castle as quick as you please!”
That spell, no matt
er how often they performed it, sent a dropping sensation through the odd sisters’ stomachs, as if the floor had fallen out from beneath them. Once recovered from the initial feeling of uneasiness, they rushed to the large round kitchen window to see the landscapes that lay between Ipswich and Morningstar’s realm. Traveling among the clouds, unseen by those below, never ceased to delight the witches, and to think Ursula fancied their traveling by chicken feet, like that Romanian witch with the lyrical name.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve seen her, Sister! I wonder how she fares?”
“We have far too many witches to keep track of, my dear. Right now it’s Ursula’s time. Once we settle this matter with Pflanze,” Lucinda said.
Morningstar Castle was abustle with servants preparing for the winter solstice. Tulip had decided quite at the last moment that they would go on with the festival as usual even with her mother and father away.
Nanny thought it was good to have something to occupy Tulip while she and Pflanze handled the Circe situation, though she was now having second thoughts about her decision to keep Tulip at court rather than insisting she accompany her mother on the visit to her sister’s kingdom, especially now that the odd sisters were swooping down, quite literally, at any moment upon Morningstar Castle.
Nanny was looking out the window, hoping to spy the odd sisters, when she remembered she had promised Tulip it would snow for the solstice. With a casual wave of Nanny’s hand, light, powdery snowflakes started to fall from the sky. Tulip would have her snow, and she would be occupied with receiving Prince Popinjay for tea that day. That was the real reason Nanny had decided to let Tulip stay. She wanted to give the two a chance to spend some time together. A chance to fall in love.
Prince Popinjay arrived at the castle for afternoon tea looking rather dashing. Fortunately, he seemed to have left his lute at home and had no mind to sing tunes of Tulip’s beauty during their tea. Mr. Hudson showed the young man in, directing him past the maids and footmen readying the castle for the winter solstice, to the morning room, where Tulip was waiting for him.
Poor Unfortunate Soul Page 7
