379 Sea witch exposed

Ariel paced in front of the window of the room she'd been escorted to after the party had been brought to an unexpected end. She clasped the dressing gown she now wore. Relief and worry battled for prevalence among her growing emotions. She jumped in surprise as the bedroom door opened. She pushed down all her concerns and forced a smile as she turned, but standing in the doorway was not the face she'd expected to see. Her hands fell away from her dressing gown as she involuntarily ran toward them, flinging her arms around a set of thin shoulders. "Ursula!" She pulled away from her aunt sightly taking her in fully. "What are you doing here? I... I thought I'd never see you again." Tears began to burn her eyes.

"Ariel..." Ursula hugged her niece tightly not wanting to let go as tears flowed freely down her cheeks.

Prince Johnathan guided the girls farther into the room as his eyes scanned the hallway outside the room. "We must hurry, ladies. If we're caught it may well be our heads." He sent her a reassuring smile as Ursula nodded in understanding. "Then let's go."

Ariel gasped as she noticed the tall, handsome man standing behind Ursula for the first time. "Who is that?" She dug her heels in as both Ursula and the man tried leading her toward the balcony.

Ursula continued tugging as she turned worried eyes to Ariel. "He is here to help me rescue you. You must return home. Your mother and father are worried sick... and not to mention what nearly happened here tonight. It could have been devastating for our people if his plan had played out." She nodded toward Johnathan as she continued to pull her niece toward the balcony. "We should be most grateful toward him indeed!"

Ariel locked her legs, refusing to budge. "No!" She shook her head rapidly. "I cannot leave! I must not leave!"

Ursula's brows furrowed. "What are you talking about? You have to leave. Prince Eric is a bad person. It is obvious he is mistreating you! You must come home at once!"

She shook her head faster as she pulled her hand away. "NO! I can't... I love him..."

Ursula's mouth dropped. "You can't mean that... you...you..."

Ariel nodded. "But I do... I love Eric... and he love's me."

"I doubt that very seriously. Prince Eric loves nothing except himself." Johnathan interrupted. His gaze darted toward the other end of the room where footsteps and voices echoed from afar. He moved quickly turning the lock. He caught Ursula's hand as he began moving through the room. "Our time is up for now. We must retreat with or without your niece."

Ursula's pleading eyes held Ariel's gaze as she allowed Johnathan to escort her toward the large French doors. "Please come with us. It's not too late."

Ariel shook her head as she backed away from them. "No... I love you, Auntie..." She took several steps backward. "But will not leave him."

Johnathan's eyes moved to the main bedroom door as it began to rattle. He hooked Ursula around the waist and darted through the doors and onto the balcony as the bedroom door opened. His eyes moved frantically around the balcony until they landed on the thick curtains drawn back against one of the walls. He stepped behind the billowing curtains, hiding their bodies as they listened intently to the voices inside. He and Ursula both cringed at the false words of love uttered from Eric's poisonous lips. "I hope you have a secondary plan, my dear…" He whispered against her ear.

His soft voice sent a shiver running down Ursula's spine. She met his eyes from over her shoulder, resting her hand against the arm still wrapped around her waist. "I thank you for all your help… but I should continue alone. It may become too dangerous for you." She began to step away, but his grip tightened. Her brows furrowed as she turned back to face him. Her confusion morphed into shock when she saw the longing in his eyes. Before she knew what was happening his lips were lowering to hers, swallowing her gasp of surprise. No one had ever actively pursued her… Had ever kissed her…

His lips curved into a smile as he pulled away. "What kind of gentleman would I be if I left a lady, nay two ladies, alone to battle such evils." He caressed her cheek. "Your niece must mean a lot to you. Such love and devotion are quite admirable."

She swallowed hard, forcing her gaping mouth to close as she nodded. {Perhaps a more human approach would be best after all…} Her eyes studied him in the moonlight. He was the first man she'd taken the time to study so intensely since meeting Areion all those years ago.

"It seems to have gone quiet inside." He released his grip around her waist and caught her hand as he pulled the corner of the curtains back to peek around them. When he was sure there was no one there, he pulled the curtain the rest of the way back and stepped cautiously around it. He peeked through the glass of the balcony doors, then stopped Ursula from looking as well. With a slight blush, he looked away as he ran his free hand through his hair. "We may have just a bit more waiting until they are asleep for the night…"

Ursula frowned. "Then what shall we go in the meantime?"

He glanced back toward the room before clearing his throat. His eyes moved over her. Her hair was still damp, and she had goosebumps along her arms. He worked loose his uniform jacket and set it over her shoulders. The way the garment seemed to swallow her whole brought a low chuckle from him. He led her back toward the curtains He settled on the floor and rested his back against the wall before tugging her down onto his lap. He studied her for several long moments before finally speaking again. "We could spend this time better getting to know one another..." A charming grin curved his lips. "Seeing as we shall be partners in crime and all."

Ursula fumbled with her hands, her focus locked on her lap. "There isn't much I could tell."

He hooked his finger under her chin and returned her gaze to his. "I'm sure that's not true. You are vastly more interesting than any woman I've ever met, and believe me, there have been many."

She smiled weakly back at him. "Perhaps once this is all over and done with…"

His smile widened. "I shall hold you to it." He rubbed his chin. "Then perhaps, I could tell you a bit about myself… and my plans here… You see I've been looking for an opportunity to expose Eric for the danger he truly is. Unfortunately, most only look toward him with pity." He gripped her hands. "Hopefully after tonight, he will be exposed for the monster he truly is."

Nearly an hour later they stepped back into the bedroom. Johnathan pushed Ursula behind him protectively as he nodded toward the bed. "As expected, Eric has returned to his room." He nodded toward a door adjacent to the one they'd used to enter the room earlier. "Gather your niece quietly, and I shall deal with Eric."

Ursula frowned as she nodded in agreement. She'd hoped Ariel would go willingly, but she was not above forcing her if she had to. Johnathan's hand tightened on hers as she began to step toward the bed. Ursula turned questioning eyes back to him.

He pressed a small dagger into her hand. "Take this in case you come across any troubles."

She looked from it back to him and nodded, sending him a thankful smile as she closed her fingers around the handle. She hurried to Ariel's side and set to work gathering as much clothing as she could find for the girl. She glanced over her shoulder in time to see Johnathan disappear into the next room. She sent up a silent prayer for his safety before gently shaking Ariel awake. When the girl's eyes widened and she was about to call out, Ursula clasped a hand over her mouth. She shook her head. "I know you think you know this man, and that you are in love with him. But you have no clue what kind of man he is… what vial thing he could do with the information you have provided him… nearly provided an entire room of people. You must return with me at once and pray your father and grandfather will be strong enough to undo what has already been done."

Ariel shook her head against her aunt's hand as tears streamed down her face.

Ursula frowned, a tentacle sliding out from under the corner of the heavy jacket. "I'm sorry, the choice is no longer yours to make… Sabastian has been ordered to tell your father if we are not back within three nights." The tears streaming down her niece's cheeks broke her heart, but she knew what she was doing was for the best. She held Ariel's trembling gaze with a stern look. "Now, if I remove my hand, will you cooperate?"

Ariel nodded against Ursula's hand, but the emotion reflecting from behind the heavy tears hinted at further reluctance. Against her better judgment, Ursula released her hold on the girl's mouth. "Here, put some clothes on. The night has grown cool."

The second Ursula's hands were gone, her teary eyes locked on Ursula with a heavy sadness. "I'm sorry… but I can't leave… and I can't allow Eric to be harmed… If you don't want to be caught you should leave now…"

Ursula's brows furrowed but before she could understand what Ariel had planned the girl cried out loudly as she shoved Ursula toward the open balcony doors. "GUARDS!!!"

Ursula's eyes widened as she heard the door of the connected room burst open. "What have you done?!" She clamped her hand around Ariel's arm. "We must go now!"

Ariel pulled away and darted for the connected room. "Guards!"

Ursula chased after her, tentacles emerging once more; but it was too late. The door burst open, and Eric plowed through it, a sword in hand. She watched helplessly as Ariel ran into his free arm and all but collapsed against him.

"Seize him!" Eric ordered, drawing Ursula's gaze to a bloodied Johnathan.

She bit back a shocked whimper as the whip of one of the guards bit into the thin fabric of the other prince's fine blouse. His warning of beheading rushed back to her as she launched herself forward, pushing past Eric and Ariel. One tentacle caught the whip mid-air as another encircled the bleeding prince's waist and pulled him to her.

Eric's lips curved in glee. "What a fascinating family you have, my love." He raised his hand stopping a guard who'd taken aim with a musket. "Do not kill her. She could become quite the specimen."

The guard nodded and redirected his aim, shooting her in the shoulder instead. When anger flared and the tentacled woman turned fully on the guard, he took aim at her other shoulder.

Ursula braced herself for more pain as she clamped her eyes shut, but when no pain was forthcoming she peeked out from one eye. Johnathan stood between her and the gunman. He held her tight, smiling down at her. The warmth in his eyes seemed to fade rapidly as she stared in stunned disbelief up at him, and his smile began to fade.

"You're an amazing creature. Be free of this place." Blood spurted from his mouth as he turned toward the guards in the room, drawing his own weapon as he did. He managed to take out three of the five guards before his strength waned, and he crumpled to the ground.

Ursula backed away slowly but quickly realized she had nowhere to go. Her eyes shot around the room as her vision began to blur from her own blood loss.

Eric's wicked smile spread into manic glee as he pulled Ariel away from him and pushed her toward Ursula. "Lock them both in the cellars. Keep a guard on them at all times." His eyes burned into Ariel's shocked ones. "Can't have my most prized possessions escaping me now, can I."

The guard nodded before turning his gaze to Johnathan's collapsed body. "What of him, Sire?"

Eric's gleeful smile widened. "Hang him out for all the village to see. Let them all see where treason will lead."

The guard grunted reluctantly. "And what of his parents? They will not be pleased, Sire. It will lead to war."

He nodded approvingly. "As it should."

Ursula watched carefully for an opportunity. Just when she was beginning to believe all hope was lost, Eric turned his back to them to leave the room. She shot from the floor in one forced movement and lunged for the prince, dagger in hand. She was mere inches from sinking the blade into his back when he shot around and plunged his own sword into her heart. He watched as her body went limp on his blade like a skewer. "And here I had high hopes for you… Oh well…" He pulled his blade free causing her body to collapse on the floor. "Have this one sent for autopsy." He said over the loud cries coming from Ariel as she crumpled over in the floor.