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Ariel shyly peeked out from the open window, catching another glimpse of Prince Eric appearing rather deep in thought as he conversed with his trusted advisor, Grimsby. The dark-haired man was then left alone, momentarily gazing out at the seaside view before turning back. She ducked again, feeling her face flush with naive adrenaline. Eric seemed not to notice her curiosity as he made his way back inside the royal palace.
The princess sighed longingly, though no noise emitted as a result of her lost voice. Somehow things were still progressing fine without even being able to fully communicate with her newfound suitor. He’d been so close to kissing her today while they rowboated in the lagoon, she was sure of it. The duration of this human body ended exactly tomorrow at sunset, however Ariel’s confidence remained that true romance would bloom between them before time ran out.
They would be together. They were supposed to be.
Soft blue eyes remained on the spot he’d been standing, following out to the billowing waves. The foam formed and crashed in mesmerising symphony, a reminder of the life she’d completely left behind. Still underneath the sea remained her father, sisters, but most importantly; Ursula.
Or so she thought.
A melody drifted into earshot, as if coming from far distance. Pure, delicate; bliss beyond human capability. Her own. Ariel immediately propped herself up to see better, squinting out in disbelief at the faintly illuminated figure currently walking down the shoreline. The silhouette of a beautiful gown and bodice came into view, its wearer blessed with volumed brunette hair that swayed behind in the ocean wind. Around her neck, a singular shell necklace.
Ariel couldn’t comprehend what was happening, not until the glowing nautilus pulsated against the dark night oppressing it. She gasped, immediately recognizing the same object Ursula had harnessed the young mermaid’s voice with. No wonder the tune seemed so familiar, it’d been stolen from her very essence. For some reason, she couldn’t look away from the mysterious woman, mind growing incredibly fuzzier. Memories blurred into internal neverending spirals, accommodating nothing but one fabricated purpose.
Vanessa.
Any thoughts about Prince Eric disappeared. All Ariel knew was that they needed to meet each other down by the water, regardless of the kingdom’s strict curfew restraining her to the provided bedroom.
The girl worried she’d already missed her chance, taking too long getting ready to venture outside. But upon her arrival to the shore, the gorgeous woman stood further from the sea tide, waiting patiently. Ariel eagerly pressed forward, presence announced by her pace shifting loose sand. She wanted to call out, not quite able to remember why she remained mute in the first place.
“Well, finally…” Vanessa slowly turned, voice silky and sending a hot thrill through the opposing younger female. The coy expression on her own quickly changed into surprise, expecting an enamoured human man and not Triton’s ditzy daughter gawping with spell-bound adoration. There’d never been such obvious affection beaming from Ariel’s eyes, the disguised witch had to take it in for a few seconds before the laughter started.
“Oh, sweet thing, don’t tell me it were you who heard my song instead of that prince…”
Vanessa approached with intrigue, a slim feminine hand reaching out to cup over Ariel’s cheek. When the lovely redhead did not pull away, instead tilting her face more into the attractive woman’s palm, she comprehended the full extent of the situation. Practiced hypnosis had made the girl completely bendable to her will, entirely obliging to every whim so long as the necklace stayed intact.
“How utterly pathetic. The princess has fallen in love with her own voice.”
The same cruel giggling restarted, going practically unnoticed by a doting Ariel. She only perked up at the mention of 'falling in love', nodding her head feverishly to display what words could not. There was a deep part inside her not quite willing to succumb; screaming for a respite where magic did not prey on her unprotected mind. The other part could not stop thinking about how the dark-haired woman’s laugh resonated with grace.
Vanessa possessed unnatural violet irises much alike the colour of her gown, with long eyelashes to contrast against too perfect skin. The hand that had been holding Ariel’s jaw trailed back, sending a shiver down the redhead’s spine from both the cool contact and how calculating she stared. This clearly hadn’t been the initial grand plan, however it still granted the disguised sea witch immeasurable power over Triton’s daughter.
And of course, the soon-to-be queen of Eric’s.
“Hm, not quite the target I had in mind. But it’ll do, definitely.”
The woman subsided, reaching up to hold her nautilus between her fingers. Vanessa stroked over the magical artifact, feeling it vibrate with Ariel’s former voice and strong witchcraft stored within. Her happy ending, encased inside a charm so small.
Ariel and Eric were supposed to be together. But they would not be; and she could only watch it play out through rose coloured lenses. Her heart no longer belonged to the man.
It belonged to Vanessa.