They call me Sea Witch. Succubitch, Scourge of the Depths, Cuntlefish. They call me everything but my name, Ursula. My name reminds them of what I once was, and who they now follow. Find yourself a nice comfy spot in the sand, girly, while I whip up this spell you've begged me for.  I'll tell you my story, though you haven't asked.  Knowledge of the truth will not be the only price you pay for true love, but it will the first.

***

"Ursula, why must you defy me?" Mother moaned. "It is not proper for a Princess to read books like that," she threw up her hands in exasperation.

A conch sounded from far away.

"King Triton approaches and you're not even dressed. What will they think of us?" She screeched and scuttled off down the hall, calling for Father to take me in hand.

Mother and I don't get along. As she puts it, I was "cursed" with magic at birth. Mother hates magic and is convinced whatever I'm doing is about to bring destruction down upon us.

I picked the book up off the floor.  A gift from a neighboring Sea Witch for my name-day, apparently she was "called by the gods" to give me this book of power. My mother did everything she could to keep it from me, but one doesn't deny a Witch's gift. Plus, my father is more reasonable and it's been useful.

"My dear, this can only bring us fortune. You know the other ruling families all have witches in their employ. This gives us an even greater edge over them than we already had," he said, gesturing to his Trident. An ancient gift from Poseidon himself supposedly, it has made us the envy of the other ruling families of the Seven Seas.

Despite Father's support, I've kept this book hidden; my mother has a tendency to remove things she disapproves of from our home. My brother Sebastian "lost" his favorite nail lacquer and fancy combs he bought because they weren't "mermanly" enough. Mother is always complaining about him too.

A conch sounded again, closer.  From somewhere in the palace my mother answered with an anxious squeal. My brother's betrothed was nearing, the daughter of King Triton. They are neighbors in the sense that we have bordering kingdoms, but our borders flow with the currents. Our territory, the warm waters of the equator, have been expanding. It has made our family wealthier and more desirable for marriage. My brothers have had their choice of mates, with my father's blessing of course, and the wise guidance of the whales.

The whales and dolphins know no borders and act as diplomats between our kingdoms. They keep track of the flows of the oceans, the migrations of the fish, and the world above us. In return we act as the ocean's managers and protectors. We keep the ecosystems intact, make sure that clean-up crews are sent to places where too much sediment or refuse has built up, remove endangered populations from unexpected dangers, and cultivate the coral reefs to help filter the waters and provide homes. And occasionally, we call on the Kraken to remove humans from above when they threaten our seas.

"Ursula, Mother sent me to see if you're ready," my brother Sebastian stuck his head into my room.

"Yes, yes, I'll be right there. Ugh! These darn urchin combs just won't stick in my hair right. Help please? You always know how to make them look good."

My brother is a miracle worker when it comes to my hair. My black, bushy locks tangle together worse than kelp. It's only thanks to Sebastian that I ever look like the Princess I'm supposed to be.

My parents, brothers and I lined up to await King Triton and his daughters as is our custom. They road up in their carriage pulled by giant albino seahorses.

"My dear King Neptune," a startlingly young, male voice called out from the shadows of the carriage, "This is quite an expansive sea you have under your domain here." A young, handsome merman emerged gracefully.

We were confused. Where was the King? Then an older merman stiff with age reached out for the young man's help. This must be King Triton. I had never met him, but my father's look of relief told me who he must be. Whom the young man was I couldn't guess, I had always heard Triton only had daughters.

My father swiftly swam over to take the old King's arm and welcome him to our home. Triton wheezed a bit and said, "Thank you for your welcome. It's been a little cramped in the carriage. Please excuse my son, Prince Triton."

My parents exchanged a look. Clearly they had not heard the man had a son. The object of conversation quickly appeared at his name, leaving his sisters unceremoniously to make their own way out of the carriage.

"Here I am Father, did you mention me? Yes, of course you did. He may be old, but he's not senile yet eh old man?" He said, elbowing his father and displaying a crassness which was shocking for someone of his station.

His voice slivered over my scales like an eel. His blond beard and hair were slicked and styled with some sort of hardened jelly to make them stay rigid in the water. He seemed more like a used shell salesmen than a Prince. The King murmured something to him.

"What was that about me, Father?" Then he blushed, realizing the comment wasn't about him, "Why yes, of course, the bride to be, how silly of me." He swirled about fancily flipping his fins as he went to grab one of the three young mermaids who had been politely waiting.

He pulled her forward rather roughly and presented her in front of my parents. She kept her eyes to the sand and extended a limp hand toward my father. He raised an eyebrow as he bowed over it. I stole a glance at my eldest brother. He was trying hard to look normal, but I could tell he was less than enthusiastic that his bride-to-be seemed little better than a limp sea cucumber.

At this introduction, Prince Triton apparently decided it was time to address the rest of our family without so much as a by-your-leave. Despite this flagrant breach of custom, he won over my mother and brothers with a few well-chosen words and an overly toothy smile. What kind of sorcery this was I didn't know, but I didn't like it one bit.

Upon reaching me, he immediately made a grand display of kissing my hand, drawling, "Princess Ursula! What a lovely woman you are. I had no idea my heart would be instant putty in your hands."

As his lips caressed my hand, his eyes caressed my body. Noticing my displeasure his expression changed only for a brief moment but it was enough. Clearly not the effect he'd intended. I impolitely whipped my hand out of his fingers.

I'm not some shiny trinket for you to calculate my sales price, I thought, glaring at him.

He scuttled back startled, as if he could hear what I was thinking. My mother saw this reaction and in the flip of a fin was between us.

"I'm very sorry if Ursula startled you," she said smoothly, "May I show you to the drawing room?" She effortlessly guided him inside. As he followed he glanced back at me again, eyes cold and calculating.

Unseen by anyone in the family, another guest slipped quietly into the palace.

Dinner was a boringly grandiose affair. My mother smiled fairly at King Triton's stories. My father and brothers tried unsuccessfully, to engage his daughters in conversation, and I had the impossible task of controlling myself while Prince Triton threw every line in his playbook at me. Perturbed that his advances kept failing, he kept looking worryingly over his shoulder as if someone was there whom he was disappointing. I was about to lose it when my mother signaled dinner was finished.

Upon entering the sitting room where my father's Trident hung on the wall the Prince exclaimed, "Ahhh, the famed Trident of King Neptune! I've heard so many stories. Tell me Sire, are any of them true?"

My father is an intelligent man, but even he has his weaknesses. King Neptune loved nothing more than to enthrall a willing listener in the stories about his youth and the Trident's power. As he launched into his tale of subduing the last sea dragon to threaten our waters, Prince Triton again looked to the doorway. I followed his gaze, but there was nothing there.

As he reached the climax of his story, my father reached up and pulled his Trident from the wall, disabling the protective spells that kept it safe. As he swept it across the room, stabbing at the invisible Sea dragon, he flipped around and froze mid-move. His face drained of color looking at something behind us.

There, out of the shadows of the coral appeared a mermaid. Her hair was grey and her low laugh filled the room with dread. She waved her hand and the we were immobilized. Clearly this was who the Prince was looking for.

"Moria? What have you done? Why are you here?" The old King rasped.

"My mother is here for revenge old man," his son responded with a grin as evil as his mother's. "The witch who you left: alone, penniless, and with child. She is here to ensure that you finally get what you deserve, and I reap the rewards; Poseidon's Trident and my rightful place as the most powerful King in the Seven Seas."

He walked over to my father and reached out to grab the Trident from his hands. With a binding flash of light he was thrown across the room.

"Idiot boy! How many times must I tell you? All heirs to the Trident must be eliminated."

I felt cold. They were going to kill my family despite it being taboo.

The old King protested again and the woman glared at him. "For all the years you spurned us Triton..." she threw a spell at him. He turned from King to an oddly-formed barnacle instantly. This witch was powerful, and I was no match for her alone.

One was never supposed to call the Kraken unless the situation was dire, and even then there was always a price to be paid. If this didn't count as dire though, I didn't know what did so I sent out the magical call.

The Witch whirled toward me, feeling my power at last, "And what do you think you're doing girly?" She whispered, coming to inspect me.

Her look became thoughtful. "She will be powerful," she said to her son who had slunk up behind her. He looked at me with even more greed than before.

"Yes I felt it before. She spoke to my mind. Could we use her mother? Seems like a waste to destroy such a beauty."

"If she will sign a marriage contract then yes. It will remove her from claiming the Trident. What a perfect queen; her lineage would give you more legitimacy than taking the throne by force alone." she said. Perhaps they wouldn't stoop to murder after all. It was the unforgivable sin.

"I'll never marry him," I spat.

"Oh really? Which of your family shall you say good bye to first?" She pointed at my eldest brother and instantly a spell turned him into a tiny wailing barnacle beside the old King. His bride-to-be shrieked, the first sign of life she'd really shown, and she too was instantly transformed to match my brother. Her two remaining sisters whimpered in terror.

"Yes!" Triton clapped gleefully, "Could you do the other two?"

His mother whirled on him, "Do you think my magic is endless boy?" She seethed, "I need your other sisters' lives to boost my powers. But I can take care of him." With that she sent a spell at my father and he was left to huddle on the floor next to the others.

I filled with fury, how dare she touch my father! I struck out with my power and she blocked my attacks one after the other. I couldn't get past her, she was too strong and experienced.

Laughing gleefully at my feeble attempts to stop her, she pointed toward my mother.

"She'll be next girl. Sign the contract."

One appeared magically before me and my hand was freed to sign.

My mother pleaded, "Please, Ursula, sign the contract! Don't let her turn me into one of those...things." She stared in horror at the tiny wailing forms of our family on the ground. How could she be so cavalier about my father and brother that way? I gave my mother a withering glance, "Why? I've disappointed you my whole life. Why stop now?"

The witch shrugged and my mother screamed as she was turned into another tiny form next to my brother and father. Now it was down to Sebastian and myself. Suddenly an idea came, as she advanced upon Sebastian I sent out some feeble attempts to stop her as a distraction and then slammed a spell toward the two other sisters from whom she drew her power. They were instantly transformed.

She screeched,"You little BITCH!"

She came at me teeth bared, but I was now free. I ducked her spell and her hands, spinning to get in front of Sebastian, who was also free.

"HIDE!" I yelled. As the Witch turned we both sent spells toward each other. They collided and we battled, mind against mind, will against will. I prayed for the Kraken to hear my call. Then I heard my brother yell and saw the Prince holding my brother, a jagged shell pressed to his throat.

"You wouldn't," I gasped, still mentally fighting his mother.

"Wouldn't I?"

"You would have blood on your hands. It's taboo. Our people would never follow you."

"With the Trident in my possession, they'll do whatever I say, taboo or not." He pressed the blade to Sebastian's neck as terror filled my brother's eyes.

Triton growled, "Sign the bloody contract!"

I wavered. What if he was right? Was my freedom worth the price of my brother's life? Could I allow this monster to rule the Seven Seas and use my father's Trident to bend others to his will? What kind of King threatened a boy with the ultimate death? No, my brother's life was more important. I reached out for the contract when a low rumbling began.

"What have you done, girl?" The old witch whispered in fear. "The Kraken! Triton, leave the boy, we must be away from here!"

A noise like none I had ever heard erupted around us. It was like the call of a thousand whales, the scream which comes before an underwater volcano erupts.

A voice boomed in our minds as we covered our ears,

WHO WAKES ME FROM MY SLUMBER? WHO DARES CALL?

"I called," I managed through the immense pain. "Please help me."

Slowly a form swam into view. An enormous white squid, its head was as tall as our palace and its vast tentacles disappeared into the depths of sea.

HELP YOU? It laughed, WHY WOULD I HELP YOU LITTLE FISH?

"They seek to destroy my family. They are monsters! You are supposed to help us who call you."

I AM BOUND TO SERVE THE CALL, BUT YOU MUST MAKE THE SACRIFICE.

"What sacrifice?"

POWER COMES AT A COST. WHAT THAT COST WILL BE I CANNOT SAY, IT IS FOR THE GODS TO DECIDE. NOW CHOOSE, WILL YOU PAY THE PRICE?

"YES! Now HELP ME!"

The Kraken began to glow with a white magic which reached a tendril out toward me. My magic responded and as it touched the shimmering white of the Kraken's power it became black. The two powers intertwined moving up and up until a twisted rope of black and white magic towered above us. Triton and his mother moved back slowly, releasing Sebastian.

Suddenly, the magic streams plummeted and engulfed me. I was swallowed whole, broken apart, created anew. When I could see again the Kraken was gone and I floated there in a new body. Eight shiny black tentacles had replaced my fin. My skin was pearly and iridescent, and my power was incredible.

I looked at Triton and his mother, who stared at me in terror, and smiled. They dove to miss my first spell. I sent another and another, cackling with glee at how they fled from me. They would never rule the sea as long as I was around to protect my family.

I didn't see Sebastian, who had swum up behind me, but Triton's mother did. She jumped up, exposing herself to draw my attention, and sent one last spell at me. As I transfigured her I leapt aside and heard a gasp. I turned just in time to see Sebastian's eyes look at me in despair as he was swallowed up by the spell.

"NOOOOO!" I screamed, and I unloaded my fury on Triton just as his hand clasped around the hilt of my father's trident, now free for the taking.

Back and forth we warred until my palace had crumbled and he scuttled off into the depths. I could have followed him but my family were all stuck where they had been transformed and I couldn't leave them unprotected. Despite my newfound power, I could not undo the witch's spell without that Trident.

***

So there you have it my dear; they call me "monster," but it is not I who deserve that name.  "King" Triton is the monster.  He who destroyed my family, destroyed my home.

My family is still there on the floor. I've added to them with those who couldn't pay the price. I have paid a terrible price in the name of love, and those who don't have what it takes to achieve their desires will pay as well.

They are the cowards who once bowed to my father out of respect. They bow to Triton out of fear, and come whining to me about his tyranny.  One day I will destroy him, but one spell at a time don't you think? Now sign that contract like a good girl.

Who did you say your father was?