The little Murderer- A Twist in the Tale

The Deal

Ariel slowly swam towards the large cave that was sitting at the bottom of the ocean. Her red hair dancing in the water as her tail swiveled her body across the narrow opening. She peered inside and caught sight of the woman. She was causally sharing a conversation with one of her minions. The red head cleared her throat causing all eyes to turn to her.

"Well. Well. Well. If it isn't the kings youngest," the wicked woman grinned.

She frightenedly stared at the large woman. Her dark tentacles floated around her like the eels that accompanied her. Suddenly, she didn't feel all so brave about her request anymore.

"I don't have all day. Speak at once, child," Ursula snapped.

"I have a request."

"What sort of request?"

"I-I want l-legs," she stuttered.

Ursula raised an eyebrow at the little girl. Legs? A sinister plan formed inside the evil woman's head. The girl looked foolish enough to fall for her plans, so why not take advantage.

"And why would a princess such as you desire legs?"

Ariel fiddled with her fingers, pondering on whether she should tell the woman her intentions. She had heard the horrifying stories about her and how she took advantage of people. Would she do the same to her?

"I will like to walk among the humans." It wasn't exactly a lie. She did want to live and get to know the humans, especially that handsome young man she had saved a few days back. Just thinking about him made her feel delighted.

"And what would you give me in return?"

The woman's wide grin made the girl feel uncomfortable. Maybe coming here wasn't such a good idea. But she couldn't return. At least not without getting what she came here for.

"I'll give you anything you desire."

"Anything?"

"Anything," Ariel assured. She was foolish and she knew it, but she was desperate.

Ursula tapped her chin thinking of what she should ask from the young girl.

"I'll make a deal with you," she spoke. Her voice was menacingly calm. The speck of deception that glinted in her eyes was not seen by Ariel. The red head was completely oblivious to the ominous thoughts that strode around inside the twisted woman's head.

"What type of deal?"

"I'll grant you legs on one condition. If you give me the head of your father on a silver plater, then I shall give you what your heart desires."

Ariel's heart dropped into her stomach. Her breathing had completely died down and whatever plan of happiness she had formed had been shattered into a million pieces. She could never do such a thing. He was her father.

"Never. I will not harm my father," she sternly replied.

"Then you won't have legs," the tentacled woman shrugged.

Ariel bit her lips trying to find another way to bargain for her legs. She wanted them so badly, surely she could demand something else.

"What if I gave you my voice in return," she asked.

"What use is your voice to me? My offer remains the same. Either your fathers head or never come back again," she snapped. "Now leave. If you decide to do as I say, then serve me his head tomorrow."

Flotsam and Jetsam swam towards the girl, urging her to leave at once.

Not knowing what to do, she sadly swam back to the caves opening completely disheartened by the situation. What was she supposed to do. She couldn't kill her father, but she also wanted to be with the handsome man.

"I'd do as she says," Jetsam sang as he swirled around her.

"All your father ever does is discourage you. He thinks your collection of dinglehoppers are a waste of time. He always dismissed your wishes to join the land people," Flotsam added.

"But I can't," she replied.

"Why not? It's not like he ever listens to you. He's always gave his attention to your sisters more than you. He could have given you legs, but no. He told you to stop with your ridiculous dreams."

"It's just his head. Do it and you can be happy with the human from the shipwreck," Flotsam said before the two eels swam away.

Their words sent Ariel into a dilemma she didn't know how to escape from. Maybe they were right. Had her father truly loved her, he wouldn't have dismissed her dreams as anything but a work of her imagination.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breathe in. Making her way to the castle, she went to her room and grabbed the sharpest object she could find. With determination, she set forth to her fathers room.

It was either him or her happiness and she already knew what she'd pick.