the little mermaid | jellal fernandes [discontinued]

Chapter 17- No Way Out

"Now, it's happened once or twice

Someone couldn't pay the price

Yes, I've had the odd complaint

To those poor unfortunate souls!"

Her voice went back to her original, and the violet mermaids twisted and turned into one of the sea creatures that populated the entrance. They looked at me sadly, eyeballs almost falling out of their droop eye sockets. I gagged. 

With a flash of her a pale arm, she grabbed me forward, worming an arm around my waist. 

"Now, sweet (y/n), here comes the deal part. I will make you a potion that will turn you into a human for five days- and only five, understand?" 

Aquarius slurred me towards her cauldron, and I nodded. This was actually happening. 

"Listen carefully, this is important," she warns, and the cauldron's tentacles open yet again. A crown appears, encrusted with blue diamonds, along with the F-printed heirloom. "when the sun sets on the fifth day, you have to make your prince fall in love with you. To seal that deal, he has to kiss you." 

Butterflies bloom in my stomach at the thought. The crown spins, before a red heart lands in the center. 

"But not just any kiss," the Sea Witch tuts. "the kiss of true love." 

Unknown to me, Kelton and Amica appear on the corner of the tunnel. Amica's form was shaking- pink flippers barely keeping her afloat, while Kelton was watching our interaction thoughtfully. 

"If he does kiss you on the sunset of the fifth day..." my breath caught in my throat, waiting in anticipation. "you will remain a human. Permanently. But... if he doesn't, you will turn back into a mermaid." 

The crown turns black and cripples, the heart dying as they sink to the bottom of the purple smoke. 

The cauldron closes, Aquarius' face leaning into mine. 

"And you will be mine." 

There was a sound behind me- before I could look, her fingers, adorning navy-colored fingernails that resembled claws, were on my chin. 

"Do we have a deal?"  

If I turned into a mermaid, I would never see Gramps again. I would never see Levy's joy as she discovers a new book, Erza's pride as she teaches the mer children in combat. But everything had a price. 

I nod. 

As if reading my mind, Aquarius turned away from me. "Wait, we haven't discussed payment yet, have we? You can't get something for nothing, you know. Especially such a complicated request like this- the fee shall be heavy." 

"I don't have anything of worth-" 

She put a stop to my reply with her tail to my mouth. "I'm not asking much," she grins. "Just a token- a trifle. And a reminder, of course, that you are not truly human, my dear little princess. Your legs will... hurt when each sunset hits. So you will not forget the price of your love." 

The way she said it made me shudder. Despite that, it didn't seem so bad. I could live with such a burden... but sunrise can last long, longer then an hour. 

"But what I truly want from you is... your voice." 

Silence. 

"My... voice?" 

"That's right, sweet cakes," she shrugged, leaning over her cauldron. "no more talking, no more singing, zip." 

"But if I can't speak... how will I talk to him? How will I-" 

"You have your looks!" she shrieked, almost sounding like an accusation. "your pretty face! And don't forget the importance of body language! Ha!" a loud laugh escapes her crimson-tinted lips. 

It was all a game to her, it seemed. 

"The men up there don't like a lot of blabber...

They think a girl who gossips is a bore,

Yet on land it's much preferred for ladies not to say a word,

And after all dear, what is idle babble for?"

I inwardly grin. Someone hasn't met Jellal before. But... what if he's changed? 

At the time, she had opened her cupboard again, and the tentacles of her cauldron meticulously folded open like a blooming flower. Ingredients and flasks dropped into the vent. 

"Come on, they're not all that impressed with conversation,

True gentlemen avoid it when they can.

But they dote and swoon and fawn,

On a lady who's withdrawn,

It's she who holds her tongue who gets a man!"

I become more on edge by the second. What if Jellal is like that? I dismiss the thought. Don't let a Sea Witches words get to you, (y/n). 

She holds a brown pot in her hand, pulling out something red and throws it in the now pink, steaming mixture. I sicken as I realize it was a tongue, a tongue from a mermaid. 

"Come on you poor unfortunate soul..."  

Go ahead!

Make your choice.

I'm a very busy woman and I haven't got all day,

It won't cost much!

Just your voice!

I nod. I had made my decision. At my approval, her grin becomes wider. 

"You poor unfortunate soul,

It's sad, but true!

If you want to cross a bridge, my sweet,

You've got to pay the toll.

Take a gulp and take a breath,

And go ahead and sign the scroll!"

A golden scroll unrolled itself from the pink steam, a feather pen appearing next to me. The writing voiced her payment and the deal- at the end, saying '...for all eternity, signed,'. My hands didn't shake as I wrote down my name. 

I only thought of Jellal. I knew that if I thought of anyone else, I would become hesitant. 

"This poor unfortunate soul!" 

The scroll flew into her hands where they disappeared. I knew what was next- no turning back, my voice was second as payment. 

She spoke words that I didn't recognize- in a language I did not speak. Spells, evoking blue streams of neon liquid in the water, surrounding me. 

"Now sing." 

this took way too long

sorry for the lack of detail, but i need to get the song parts over with...