Always Read the Fine Print
âAs Iâve told you before⊠Magic always comes with price. For this favor, it will be even bigger,â said the voice slowly dripping out from the shadows of the cave like an oil spill.
Ursula looked down, feeling unsure of the favor she so desperately asked for. Ariel wanted to get away from her father and Ursula knew if she stayed home, she would continue to be underestimated, underappreciated, and unloved. It didnât help she had pissed off some scary, sketchy people. She needed a fresh start. Her life depended on it. Â She wished there was someone there to talk her out of it. Deep down, this felt almost too good to be true. The only person who could have changed her mind was the person she was doing this for in the first place.
âHow big of a price?â Ursula asked reluctantly. âItâs not that Iâm not interested⊠I just want to know what Iâm up against here.â
An amused chuckle floated from the dark shadows. âIt wonât cost much⊠Just your choice.â
If she was being honest with herself, Ursula had no idea what that could have meant. To her, it might have meant having to answer to a mysterious, old asshat for a while, but it wasnât anything she couldnât handle. Or so she thought.
One of her biggest mistakes will be the moment she underestimated how big a price she would be paying.
âYou need to make up your mind, dear. I havenât got all day. I am busy with my own things to worry about,â urged the voice. âAre you willing to pay it? Is this really what you want?â
âIf it means I can be somewhere and someone else, and make my best friend happy, then yes.â Ursula gave a nod as she sighed.
âWonderfulâŠâ A manta ray slowly emerged from the darkness with a scroll. âIf youâre willing to leave your parents, your friends, your siblings and your life here in Atlantica behind, sign the scroll,â the voice instructed. A fishbone pen was offered by the manta ray.
Urusla bit her lip, wondering if it was too late to back out but she couldnât handle living down here anymore. She let out a breath, took the pen, and signed on the line. The second she did, it disappeared with a flash.
âYou made a wonderful decision, Urusla.â The voice grew closer, as if whoever belonged to it was coming towards her. Her heart was racing, and the mermaidâs instinct was to swim back the closer it got.
Slowly, from the shadowy cave emerged a man with an octopus-type face, a torso of a man, and his bottom half was crab-like.  âWorking for me is going to be the best decision youâve ever made, my dear. I know your potential, Iâve seen it firsthandâŠâ
âHow? I just met youâŠâ
âOr have you?â With a swirl, the man transformed before her eyes, resembling the blonde-haired merman she met a year or so ago. It was the merman she trusted. The one she loved. âThere is that better? Figured my original form would be alarmingâŠâ he said, clearly pleased with himself.
Ursula gasped, her heart sinking when she realized she had been lied to and manipulated this whole time. She couldnât hold back the tears that rolled down her cheeks. She shook her head,â How could you!? So this whole time you were⊠manipulating me?â
âManipulating you?â He swam over to her, a hand resting on both of her arms even though she turned away and reared her body away from him as he tried to comfort her. âI brought out the real you. Your mom has withdrawn into herself since your brotherâs passing, only having enough energy to tend to your sister while your father outright ignores your existence. Running with the small crowd you were with---aside from the friend youâre doing this all for---was only going to get you thrown into Tritonâs jail, which is not good for anyone. I gave you an option and all I did was solidify it.â
Ursula shook loose from him, swimming away from him, shaking her head. âI canât believe you. Davy, I trusted you. And now⊠well⊠now what? You give me the magic and I work for you now? Why not just ask? Why all of this?â
âOh you donât just work for me. I own part of your soul.â
Ursula felt like she was going to faint. Shock and appall was all over her face as the merman swam back to her to comfort her.
âSomething youâll learn in this business is no one ever reads the fine print,â he stated casually. âItâs really just collateral, my dear. All you have to do is what I ask of you. â
Ursula was crying despite herself, wishing she could be tougher in this moment. âAnd what does that mean? What do I have to do?â
âFor now⊠all you have to do is enjoy yourself. Make friends. Refine your gift of magic. Then, soon, Iâll send you a message on what to do next. Iâm not here to hurt you Ursula, Iâm giving you a future. Together, we have potential. When Iâm done with you, we will be able to rule the oceans together. Youâll seeâŠâ he reassured her. And just like that, Davyâs whole body bubbled and instantly disappeared.
In his place, two yellow glowing viles sank into the sand with a piece of paper wrapped around them. She leaned down and picked them up, unraveling the paper and reading: âFor now, my end of the bargain. Two potions to help you get out of Atlantica. Read below for the incantation. See you around, Ursula.â
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