Ocean Pearls

3. Ursula

The force of the unnatural current gave Ariel's approach away. Ursula's tentacle receptors picked up the rush of water pressure, way before the redhead emerged from the gloomy depths. She was dragging a prize.

Oh no, not another poor soul.

Gently, the large octopus crawled from her observation hole and slunk over the shifting sands of the seabed. She slithered her way up and over the rock formation which contained Ariel's private quarters. This is where the Princess kept her toys. Sure enough, from her hiding spot, amongst the similar forms of rounded rocks, a camouflaged Ursula watched the mermaid swim quickly under the rocks, dragging a man behind her.

With a flash of her silvery-blue tail, Ariel whisked past, to deposit the human into the cavern's air bubble.

Ursula slowly slid from the rocks and peeked around the roof of the entrance, her body hanging upside down. She had to be certain that she wouldn't be spotted, or the young mermaid may be likely to kill her prey right there and then, on point of discovery. No, Ursula would be more careful this time, there would be no margin for error. She watched on while Ariel threw the tall man upwards, so as to reach the air cavity under the ceiling of the rock formation. She chucked his body through the water with no more effort than throwing a ball. Her strength once more astounding the octopus.

Reaching the pocket of air, the dark man spluttered and gasped. His head tilted back on the surface of the water as he sucked in rattling breath after breath. The braids of his black hair floated around his face, spreading out in tranquility, almost in parody to his body, grasping onto life.

Underneath the man, her tail curved round in front of her, Ariel floated in silence. She waited, observed and then left. Her lithe body sending subtle ripples to the surface around the man's upturned face.

No doubt she would be off to see her father. Probably making sure that she wouldn't be disturbed for the remainder of the evening. She may even be persuaded to stay a while and eat something within the great King Triton's presence. Either way, Ursula knew that Ariel's prisoner had no hope of escape. Not without help.

Could she even consider going against the Princess in this? It wasn't as if she owed the spoilt little brat anything, but it was her duty to provide and support her with all her needs. Did that include the torture of yet another wretched human? How was this supposed to be comforting the teenager? She had lost so much, at such a young age, Ursula didn't find it hard to see how the Princess's heart had turned to stone. Yet, it didn't seem fair.

Humans held a fascination for Ursula. She had been captured by one, at a very young age, and brought up, breathless in a fishing net. She had hardly touched the slippery wood of the ship's deck, when the fisherman, a weathered old sailor, had cut her free of her binds and thrown her back to the ocean. The kindness and mercy of his eyes remained in her memory. She knew that she couldn't allow another human to suffer at the ruthless hands of the mermaid. She had to release him somehow.

*****
Eric took control of his breathing. He steadied the rhythm of his lungs along with his heartbeat. If he were to survive, he would have to take stock of his situation and be aware of his surroundings. He could only do that by being calm. Mind, body and soul.

The air had a stale, almost solid flavour. Salty, yes, but also heavy and clamy.

He glanced around in the gloom, trying to make out the size and shape of the cavern, calculating the possible depth beneath his long legs, as they trod the waters.

Maybe if he held his breath long enough, as he'd been able to do on the descent, he'd be capable of reaching the surface. That, however, would need a source of projection, a means of power, to propel him to the surface. On the way down, the stunning, young redhead had provided that, but on the escape back up, he'd need a similar propulsion.

Escape? Is it an escape? To be brought down here, to this wonderful, amazing world under the sea, by such a gorgeous, voluptuous young beauty.

Perhaps life in the cavern wouldn't prove to be so bad after all.