Chapter 1
So, I’m sure you’re all familiar with that ridiculous story about a little mermaid that fell in love with a human, blah, blah, blah . . . you get it, am I right?
Side note who knew that sharing my story with some down-and-out Danish guy one day would spur on such a craze—can I just say my dad was so not happy.
Oopsies . . .
Poseidon only knows how many times that rodent-eared company has capitalized on my life’s story—so no need for me to elaborate.
The point is, aside from my bright crimson hair and my beautiful voice—a family trait held by all of my six other sisters by the way, that story is a bunch of lies.
I suppose I should probably introduce myself, in case you haven’t figured it out by now, my name is Ariel . . . and I am that little mermaid whose life was nowhere near as wonderful as it was made out to be in all those happily ever after stories you may have been told.
Oh, I’ll admit, I did get my Prince Charming—if that’s what you want to call him. But trust me when I say he was far from what he pretended to be my friends.
Apologies, I am probably jumping ahead of myself . . . don’t want to lose you when I only just got you here.
As with all great stories, I will start from the beginning—well at least beginning from the parts that no one ever talked about.
As you may know, Prince Eric and I did get engaged but we did not get married—that, my friends, was a lie.
Can I just say thank you Great Poseidon for small favors.
After the announcement of our engagement, delegates from both the Mer Kingdom of Atlantica and the Surface Kingdom of Tirulia met and came to a peaceful and amicable partnership based on the union of Prince Eric and well, me, Princess Ariel.
It seemed like a great deal. The kingdom of Tirulia was welcoming my people with open arms and extending an open invitation for learning and growth—once they came of age my Mer-peeps were allowed to attend Tirulia’s High School, should they desire and enjoy life on the surface—yeah, the Sea Witch Ursula not only got a reprieve for her being a meddlesome bittlesnatch, but she also capitalized on her magic mojo.
If she didn’t double-cross her clients not only would her head stay securely fastened on her neck, but she’d be one rich witch. From what I had heard there were a half dozen or so teens that had already come up to the mainland since the treaty was signed, however, I haven’t had the chance to visit with them at the dormitories in the small village since I have been cooped up in the castle as of late. That should have been a warning sign that my naïve brain completely missed.
Ursula managed to remain true to her word when it came to her magic gifts.
She turned over a new leaf and made a LOT of shell—opened her own five-starfish restaurant down in the central metropolis of Atlantica.
Who knew she could cook—if you do ever get a chance might I suggest the kelp potstickers with the spicy red algae reduction.
To die for!
But I digress . . .
Anyway, back to my twisted little tale--ha ha ha . . . see what I did there?
In the beginning, life was wonderful.
Eric and I were as happy as two pearls in a cozy oyster shell—or at least that’s what I thought . . . used set of rose-colored glasses anyone?
However, because my daddy, King Triton, had instilled in me that I needed to wait until marriage before I allowed my eggs to be fertilized by my mate—our relationship was pure.
And I won’t lie I wasn’t even sure of how things would even work with Eric and me since I had no idea where my egg sack was anymore . . .
Although I had a funny feeling where it may exist when we went for a boat ride one night along the cove.
Eric’s hand seemed to venture to a place that I shall not mention, during my first night there—when I panicked and made him stop, he apologized immediately and said it was a custom that his people enjoyed but looking back now I am sure it was a lie.
Eric was also a little upset that I refused to share a room with him after that incident but then a week or so later he didn’t seem to mind at all. He was always going on and on about how great it was that I had my room way at the other end of the castle so that he wouldn’t be tempted to visit me late at night.
Goodness, he even stopped trying to pressure me into doing anything beyond holding hands.
I was so naïve as to think he was being a perfect, respectful gentleman and giving me my space.
This too was a lie.
Why he didn’t mind our lack of intimacy would be the first arrow of many that would end up piercing my heart before the summer came to an end.
