“Yes, Sea Witch,” I said and bowed.
“Hurry up! Get out of my sight and get me that soul,” she bellowed.
I swam out of her cave and headed towards land.
Flip swam beside me and a few other fish followed us as well.
Likely they were the creatures she would use as part of the crowd to get the prince’s attention.
As the sun grew brighter, I stopped, slipped the dress on, and then envisioned human legs.
With a painful snap, my fin split into two fleshy human legs.
I cried out and vowed to find some way to hurt that cruel sea witch.
Flip continued on his way, as did the other fish, all changing shapes as they drew nearer the surface.
With a deep breath, I finished the swim to the surface, and hurried onto the beach. No humans noticed and I began to stroll along the edge, looking for Flip.
The humans were always so busy and noisy. People ran around on the beach, hitting round objects to each other, eating lots of food, and laughing loudly.
I stumbled a bit as I walked on my new legs, but it didn’t take me long to get used to them.
It was all about balance and coordination.
“Oh, no! A child is in danger!” someone yelled nearby.
I spun and without waiting, leapt into the water in a perfect dive. With long strokes, I made it to Flip, wrapped an arm around his waist, and pulled him to the shore.
People surrounded us, talking loudly and in shocked tones.
As soon as I lay Flip in his human child form down, a man pushed through the crowd and checked him.
Flip, who looked like a wet cat in human form, spit up some water and then threw his arms around me. “Oh, thank you, Miss! You’ve saved me!”
I patted him awkwardly. “You’re welcome.”
The man who had been helping Flip looked at me and smiled. He was handsome, had a kind smile, and glowed with goodness. “You saved this boy. That was very courageous.”
“It was nothing,” I said, Flip finally released me from his hug, and I stood.
There was sand stuck to my new dress and no matter how much I brushed at it, there always seemed to be more. It didn’t hope that I was soaked.
“Charles!” a woman screeched and ran forward, clutching Flip to her massive bosoms.
My eyes widened when I realized this boy wasn’t Flip, but a human child. In the chaos, I hadn’t smelled him.
I really had saved someone.
The woman turned to me; her eyes filled with tears. “How can I ever repay you?”
I shook my head. “Not necessary, ma’am.”
“I’ll handle it, Margaret,” the handsome man said.
She curtsied. “Thank you, Prince Bronson. Come on, Charles. We need to get you out of these wet clothes. I warned you not to play near the edge of the pier.”
“Miss, what’s your name?” Prince Bronson asked.
“Morgane, Your Highness,” I said and curtsied. The curtsy was clumsy, but I managed.
“Morgane, please accompany me so that I might repay you for your courageous deed,” Prince Bronson said and held out his hand.
Unsure of human protocols, I just set my hand atop his.
He set my hand on the inside of his arm, moved closer to my side, and pulled me towards the city.
I glanced back at the ocean, the depths calling to me, and then turned and focused on the prince.
Phase one was complete. Now it was time to move onto phase two.
My dress kept getting in the way of my feet, so I bundled it up on one side and held it in my free hand while I walked, like some of the other ladies were doing.
“You aren’t from around here, are you?” Prince Bronson asked.
I shook my head. “No.” Hastily, I added, “Your Highness.”
“No need to add that each time you respond when we are already in a conversation. So, where are you from?”
I tensed. The sea witch hadn’t told me how to answer these questions.
“Um…a place far to the Southwest,” I finally answered. It was true, just not by landmass as he would think.
He stopped before a beautiful carriage and a guard opened the door for us. Prince Bronson’s face contorted in rage. “Rascalia? You escaped?”
I nodded. “I did escape. It wasn’t easy. Cost me my soul.”
His eyes softened and he patted my hand. “You are safe here, Morgane. Come.”
Clumsily, I scrambled up into the carriage and sat on one side. The seats were wrapped in a bright purple satin and filled with something incredibly soft. I grimaced as my wet dress squelched on the seat.
Prince Bronson sat opposite me and rapped his knuckles against the wall.
The next moment, we took off, the horses pulling us away from the water.
I gripped the seat to keep my balance.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
He smiled. “A hero deserves compensation, especially when she saves a royal family member. I assume you have no home or employment here?”
I blushed and nodded.
“You will stay at the palace and first we will clean you up and give you a new dress,” he said.
Before long we pulled up to the palace—a large stone building with servants running to and fro.
A man wearing a pressed suit opened the door for us and immediately bowed. “Welcome back, Your Highness.”
“Preston,” Prince Bronson greeted. “I’ve brought a guest back.”
The bowing man, Preston, lifted his eyes just enough to see me. “I see.” His eyes were a piercing teal that reminded me of the sea, and held no warmth as he looked at me.
“She saved little Charles from drowning,” Prince Bronson said. “I’ll need the maids to bathe her and provide her with a new dress.”
“Oh, I just need this one washed,” I interjected quickly.
“Nonsense, that one is torn,” Prince Bronson said.
I looked down at my dress and realized he was right, there was a tear on one side. It was a small imperfection and definitely didn’t render the dress unwearable, though.
“I shall ensure your orders are followed,” Preston said. “Follow me, Lady…”
Preston looked at me expectantly.
“Oh! I’m Morgane,” I replied, my cheeks warming.
He nodded. “This way, Lady Morgane.”
“Bring her to me when you’re finished,” Prince Bronson said, waved, and jogged off.
“You can leave off the ‘Lady’ part,” I whispered to Preston as we headed towards the side door of the palace.
“His Highness would be very upset if he heard me address you informally,” Preston replied without looking at me. His entire body was stiff as we walked. Something was troubling him.
Inside, the palace was even more opulent than outside. Crystals, jewels, velvet, satin, and items I couldn’t even name covered the walls, ceilings, and floors. So much so that everything shined.
Keeping my mouth from dropping open was hard, but I managed as I followed Preston down several hallways and into a small room.
Before I could react, he slammed the door closed.
“Who are you and why are you here?” Preston demanded. His eyes flared brighter as he glared at me.
I took a step back and held up my hands. “I d-don’t understand. There was a boy drowning and I grabbed him and brought him to shore. I d-didn’t know who he was. I didn’t even know what your prince looked like. No one sent me.”
His eyes narrowed. “You smell like magic and the sea. You don’t have a normal walk. You are not from here and you do not look like any Rascalian I have ever seen. I’ve got my eye on you. If you try to harm the prince or any of the royal family, I will not hesitate to take you out.”
I should have been terrified, but I was turned on by his loyalty.
“I swear, I am not here to hurt anyone,” I told him, meeting his bright, beautiful eyes.
“You’ve been warned. Now, follow me and speak to no
one of this conversation. I can make you disappear faster than the prince will have time to interrogate me.”
Smiling, I stepped up next to him and said, “You sure do know how to make a lady feel welcomed. I wonder if you’re that passionate in bed, too.”
I threw open the door into his shocked face, and waited in the hallway.
He stepped out, cheeks red, and walked down the many confusing corridors until we came to a bathing room. He refused to meet my eyes, just pointed. “Bathe.”
“Clothes?” I asked.
“I’ll get you a replacement dress,” he said.
There were three pale women in the room in grey dresses. All sat with their feet swinging in the blue water.
“Bathe her and braid her hair. She will be dining with the prince,” Preston called out to them.
They leapt up, nodding profusely.
One grabbed me and pulled me deeper inside and another pulled a cord, causing a heavy curtain to fall and cover the opening.
Chapter 3
The insufferable women refused to let me wash myself or even braid my own hair.
It took them an hour just to brush the tangles out of my tresses.
They tried to put makeup on me, but I flat out refused, running circles around the room until they tired and gave up.
An old woman hobbled into the room carrying a pile of fabric. Before I knew it, she had strapped me into a dress and pulled the binds so tight I could barely breathe. I had to sit ramrod straight, which she said was proper any way.
The old woman left and a moment later, Preston returned.
He stopped when he saw me, his eyes widening and his mouth slightly parted.
I scowled and patted at my braided hair. “Does it look awful?”
In a breath, he was back to the scowling, untrusting guard I knew. “No, you just look very…”
“Beautiful,” one of the women suggested.
“Lady like,” Preston finished. “Come, the prince is waiting.”
The women waved and as soon as I stepped away, began whispering to each other.
Preston didn’t wait for me, just strode down the hall like he was late for dinner.
My stomach growled, and I shushed it. It had only been two days since I had eaten last. I could go another day or two.
“The prince will have food for you, but if it isn’t to your tastes, tell me after and I will have a maid fetch you something else,” Preston said.
“I’ll be fine. I’ll eat anything,” I whispered, shocked by his kind gesture.
Hadn’t he just threatened me?
“Wait here,” he said, pausing outside a door with a guard on either side of it.
The two guards eyed me, but did not move.
Preston entered the room without knocking, leaving me in the hallway with the guards.
I pet the soft fabric of the dress, admiring how it shimmered, so similar to my scales.
I missed my scales. It was warmer up here, but walking was tiring.
Being away from the sea witch was nice, but I missed the sea.
Turning around, I looked out the window nearest me, but it only showed a stone courtyard.
“Come,” Preston called.
With a deep breath, I followed him past the guards and into the most lavish room I had ever seen. Bright greens turned the room into a forest of plushness.
We stepped through another door and to a room with couches and a table filled with covered platters.
Prince Bronson stood from the nearest couch, smiling, and walked to me. “Greens and blues are definitely your colors,” he said. “You look breathtaking.”
Heat roared across my cheeks and ears. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
“Come! Sit and eat with me. I’d like to get to know you better,” he said and waved at the couches.
I sat on the one opposite his and tucked my dress beneath my legs as I sat.
Unable to relax due to the dress bindings, I perched on the edge.
A man with soft grey eyes stepped forward, removed the lids from the dishes, and backed away.
Strange dishes I had never seen before greeted me.
“I see by the confusion on your face that you have yet to try our delicious food,” Prince Bronson said with a chuckle.
“I have not had the pleasure,” I replied. Despite the terrible smells coming from the plates, my mouth watered with the knowledge that I could soon fill my stomach.
“Allow me to serve you,” Prince Bronson said.
“Your Highness,” Preston snapped, stepping forward.
Prince Bronson held up his hand. “Stand down, Preston.”
“Your Highness, this is—” Preston started again.
“Preston!” Prince Bronson yelled. “Not another word or I will relieve you of your station for the night.”
Preston’s mouth shut, and he took two steps back, his jaw clenched so tightly that the muscle in the corner was white.
The tension was almost unbearable, and I felt incredibly awkward as Prince Bronson took the plate in front of me and spooned some of each of the dishes onto it.
“Feel free to eat as much as you like,” he said as he set the dish piled high with food back down.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
Prince Bronson served himself and I waited until he started eating before I took my first bite.
It tasted like dirt and smelled awful, but I ate every bit of food on my plate. My stomach was extremely compressed by the dress, but I didn’t let it stop me. Though, if I didn’t get out of the dress soon, I might either pass out or throw up.
“Was it to your liking?” Prince Bronson asked.
“It was definitely unlike anything I have ever eaten before,” I said and wiped my lips with the napkin on the table.
“Morgane, would you tell me a bit about what you escaped from?” Prince Bronson asked. “Preston said he could smell magic on you. Are you a magic user?”
I flinched. “I am not a magic user. I was held hostage by a magic user before I escaped and came here.”
That was true, no lies there.
“Hostage?” Prince Bronson asked, scowling.
I nodded while looking down at my lap.
“How did you escape?” Preston asked.
“I bartered,” I whispered so softly I wasn’t sure if they even heard me. “Sold her my soul.”
“Your soul?” Prince Bronson asked.
I nodded. “She owns my soul. When I die, it will go to her and she will torment and use it as she wants.”
“Is there no way to trade her something else?” Prince Bronson asked.
Your soul.
“No,” I said and shook my head. “I have nothing she could want.”
“What sum of money would you need to buy your soul back?” Prince Bronson asked.
I shook my head again. “She does not care for money or jewels. She only wants power and souls grant her the most power.”
“So, she would take a soul for a soul?” he asked.
“Your Highness,” Preston whispered.
Prince Bronson smiled. “Calm thyself, Preston. I’m not talking about my soul. I’m just asking questions to see if there might be something I can do for Morgane.”
“Why would you want to do anything for me?” I asked. “You don’t know me. I’m a stranger. All I did was help a child who couldn’t swim get to shore. It was something anyone would do.”
“Not anyone would do it. You were the only one who did. Others saw him and did nothing. Others saw him and yelled for someone else to save him. You saved him,” Prince Bronson said. “You’re special. You’re a good person. I can tell. If I can help you, then I will.”
“Aren’t kings supposed to be cruel and selfish?” I asked, fighting tears and trying to distract with humor.
“Many are,” Prince Bronson said, kneeling before me with a handkerchief in his hand. He wiped my cheeks. “Those kings are the ones who have forgotten what their station is for. It is to keep their people
safe and happy. It is to do all they can to provide for their people to ensure their kingdom prospers and the world flourishes.”
“More kings should be like you,” I whispered and sniffled.
A guard opened the door. “Your Highness, your father has summoned you.”
Prince Bronson stood. “I’m sorry; it seems I must cut our evening short. Preston will escort you to your room. Thank you for dining with me.”
I stood and curtsied. “Thank you for everything.”
“Good evening, Morgane,” he whispered and strode from the room.
Preston cleared his throat. “Follow me, Lady Morgane.”
Silently, I shuffled behind Preston, not paying attention to where we were going or our surroundings.
“Morgane!” Preston yelled.
My head jerked up and I met his concerned eyes. “I’m sorry. Yes?”
“This is your room,” he said and waved his hand at an open door.
“Oh,” I looked inside and cringed at the plushness.
I wanted to sleep in a bed of kelp.
“Would you like some food brought to you?” he asked. “I know you ate everything that the prince gave you, but if you want more I can—”
“No, I’m fine. Thank you,” I whispered and stepped inside.
“He’s serious, you know? He would find a soul to trade for yours if you let him,” Preston whispered.
“Your prince is either a gullible idiot or a great manipulator. I don’t trust people that nice. Whatever his scheme, I’ll not be part of it,” I whispered and shut my door before he could respond.
Sliding down against the back of the door, I let the tears come. How could one person be so generous? How could one person be so nice?
I couldn’t let Sacha have his soul. A soul so pure and nice would make her nearly invincible.
I would have to give up my own soul. I would have to let her consume me instead.
“The prince will see you for breakfast,” Preston said through the door. “A maid will come by to help you dress in the morning.”
No matter how much I tried, I did not sleep well and I was incredibly grouchy when the maid came to prepare me for eating breakfast with the prince.
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