Paradise. Paradise!

Ariel's fingers grappled the jagged rocks and she frantically pulled herself up onto dry land. The rigid waters ebbed and smashed mercilessly on her back, almost putting her into hyperthermia. Spasms wrecked by muscles and she limped sub-consciously into a large cave.

As Ariel crawled more into the cavern, she realized that the vicinity up the cave with both her palms "magnetized" onto the cavern's even walls, She heard absolutely nothing but her breaths and footsteps. It was torturous to invade an alien land and not have sight. Suddenly, a flock of winged creatures - most probably bats - swept across the apex of the cave, producing screeching shrieks that rang through the whole cavern.

She knelt with both her hands covering her head and kept still. The raging horde finally subsided, and everything was unruffled again. Ariel continued to venture even deeper into the tunneling grotto and unknowingly realized that it was getting much warmer. Weird thoughts revolved around her mind - Trolls, witches, minotaurs, devils, vampires?!

"How absurd," Ariel whispered to herself.

Then, a crackling sound of fire became apparent as she hobbled across the pebbly ground. The sound of dripping water was also heard. Ariel tip-toed in consternation towards the sounds and saw a thin crevice that allowed her to peer into a large hall. She gleamed into the crevice and saw something mind-blowing. Her eyes widened.

"Paradise. Paradise!" Ariel exclaimed.

Out of the blue, She heard a snarling groan. Chills shattered down her spine instantaneously and every strand of hair on her body rose. The groan reminded Ariel of monsters, or maybe just humans but cannibals? Ariel was lost. To her horror, footsteps, echoed from not afar. She peered into the crevice once again. A man-made waterfall flowing.

Once again Ariel woke up from her dream but this time she didn't scream aloud while waking up but beads of sweat gathered on her forehead.

"It wasn't a bad dream." She thought.

She used the back of her palm to wipe off the sweat on her forehead. While she positioned herself to sit upright on the bed, she heard a knock on her door and ordered the person to come in. To her surprise it was her mother; the Queen.

"Ariel, you woke up pretty late, is that the appropriate time for a princess to get up from bed?" The queen said scolding her.

"I'm sorry mother, I was a bit tired last night so that might be the reason for me waking up late." Ariel lied trying to defend herself.

Last night she slept before the night came. She was thinking about her mysterious dreams and how she'll meet with the Prophetess. Not wanting to tell her mother about her dreams, she lied to cover up for it.

"Oh... I came you check on you. You know it's been long since we had a mother and daughter chitchat." The queen smiled at Ariel; her daughter while she sat close to her on her bed.

Ariel couldn't blame her mother for not having quality time with her as a mother. She knew too well about the current situation of the Kingdom and so she decided not to bother her parents most especially her mother about her problems, including her dreams.

"I was about preparing to go see dad. I have some somethings to discuss with him." Ariel said getting out of bed.

"So I'll have to postpone our chitchat." Her mother stood up about to leave, she paused when she felt a pair of soft hands hugging her waist.

"Mother I missed our little chitchat, I can postpone my meeting with father just to be with you," Ariel spoke from behind.

Her mother turned to face her. Although she could use the little chitchat they'd have as an opportunity to ask her questions relating to her arranged marriage. Even at that maybe she could just tell her about the whole truth.

Letting out a deep sigh, Queen Rebecca smiled at Ariel and hugged her. "You can go meet your father and when you're done with the meeting just let me know." The Queen firmly said and turned to use the door. Ariel could only watch her mother till she disappeared from her sight.

"I'll just go to see father first then." Ariel turned to leave for the bathroom still remembering her dream. It was more like reality. The question was why was she in a cave this time? First, it was a haunted house and now a gave. Could it get any worst?

Thana came by a few minutes after her mother left. Again, to interrupt her peace. Ariel usually doesn't like being in the company of people. She was an introvert and preferred staying alone that's why she doesn't have a lot of maids, unlike some other princesses.

She only chose Thana to serve her. Now, this chosen maid of hers has come to interrupt her peace and thought.

Before Thana came in, Ariel was already drowning in her thoughts, hallucinating about the so-called creature that taunted her in her dreams. The creature didn't show his face to her but the fangs and claws scared her to the core.

"Good morning, My Lady." Thana bowed to her. Seeing that her mistress has already wrapped herself in a towel she quickly went to prepare a bath for her.

"Good morning, Thana," Ariel responded to her greetings while gazing at Thana, and seeing the dress Thana was putting on.

Thana was dressed in a navy blue gown. Her hair was tied in a ponytail, she was wearing light make-up that enhanced her beauty. Unlike Ariel that didn't care about her looks.

"Are you going on a date or something?" Ariel spoke from behind after examining her.

"It's more like a date, my Lady," Thana said not sparing Ariel a glance as she focused on the bathtub.

"Oh... So who are you going out with? One of the palace guards or who might the man be?" Ariel asked curiously. She wasn't mad that Thana didn't inform her.

"You think too lowly of me, my Lady." Thana was done with what she was doing and turned to face her mistress with a smile.

"..."

Seeing that her mistress was dumbfounded she immediately tried to cover up for herself since Princess Ariel might be offended by her words.

"I'm not going out with a man," Thana replied without hesitation.

"What! Who are you going out with?" Ariel asked looking more confused.

"A woman, my Lady. I'm more of a Bisexual." Thana confessed.

Ariel was speechless. Only she knew how she wanted to yell at Thana. This maid of hers thinks too highly of herself. Who does she think she is?