Ariel sighed happily. She sank down onto her bed of silky, threaded seaweed and rested. Her new human had proved to be interesting. She wondered if turning him into an octopus slave would be entertaining. Humans deserved to be used. They had swept up her sisters in nets and slaughtered them with no mercy. Not before they had their fun with them first that is.

She'd listened and watched from under the surface, the ship of death, the evil sailors. Once they had finished, the humans had thrown her sister's bodies back, like fishing bait, turning the waters red.

Her father, the King, had blamed the servants, killing them all. Ariel knew who was really to blame. Her mission was to finish off every last human who dared to cross her ocean.

It had been fun to watch Ursula contort in agony as her family died and her body reformed.
Oh, those were the days!
When she had the patience to torture humans. Now, she just wanted them dead. Well, apart from this new one.

Ariel closed her eyes and drifted off into a dream of blood and rage, unaware of the creature drawing closer.

*****
Ursula's suckers took hold of the strings of pearls. Her strong, flexible limbs curled and wrapped their unbreakable hold. The beads became hot against her grip, she took her breathing back under control, and silently slithered into the bedroom.

She'd left Eric, resting and preparing himself for the coming rush to the surface. They would have to be quick to not raise the King's suspicion, before the hour of breakfast.

A light current flicked Ariel's hair in waves around her sleeping face, Ursula slid close enough to touch, and prepared herself for battle.

Her tentacles rippled their muscles, feeding every ounce of strength she possessed into the limbs. Quickly, she smoothly shoved the necklaces over Ariel's head and wrenched them shut tight around her throat.

Ariel's eyes flew open in rage. Her tail whacked upon the bed, ripping the seaweed to shreds. Her hands shot up to her neck, clawing at the pearls. Her mouth opened and closed, a gargle of screams fighting to be free. She writhed her body, squirming with powerful thrusts.

Ursula did not let go. Her husband. Her children. The maids. The humans. Her body. Ariel would hurt no one anymore.

Eventually, the thrashing diminished, the arms floated free, the Mermaid died.

Ursula stuck Ariel's tail into the torn folds of the bed, the pearl necklaces brushed gently over the Mermaid's bruised skin. Her lifeless green eyes fixed up to the surface.

She would have to move fast.

Ursula sped back to the cavern, broke up into the air bubble and wrapped a tentacle around Eric's waist.

"Is it done?" he gasped at her, his face rigid in suspense.

Ursula made her grip tighter, making Eric wince.
"Yes. Now, take the deepest breath you can. Whatever happens, don't go to sleep. Stay awake, Eric, please."

Eric nodded and blew out hard, emptying his lungs.

Ursula waited until he had gulped in the air, then forced her way out of the cavern and into the ocean, dragging Eric behind her.

She raced to the surface, channeling every possible muscle and effort. She had to make it. They had to make it.

After an eternity of darkness, she saw a pale layer of light, moving closer with each push of her body. The water rushed past her, as she moved like lightning.

Bursting through the waves, Ursula hauled Eric's limp body out into the daylight.

She shook him roughly, and screamed.
"Wake up, Eric! We are free, we made it."

Eric spluttered out a mouthful of seawater and coughed continuously.

Ursula laughed and began swimming away, holding him beside her. The sun blinded her vision, the heat stirred a memory of life before the Mermaid.

A bulge of a rock formation loomed ahead of them, she swam to reach it. Pushing Eric up onto the rock, Ursula brought herself out of the water.

Tingling spread through her feet and legs, her stomach, her chest. The sunlight stung her flesh.

Eric sat up, his coughing subsided. His eyes wide in wonder.
"Ursula! You're, you're a woman."

Looking down, Ursula tentatively passed her hands over her body. Her human body.
"It must be the daylight! It breaks the spells of the sea. Oh, oh Eric, I'm me again."

Eric leaned over and touched her face, running his fingers over her skin, his eyes followed, down her shoulders, her chest, her stomach, her legs. When he returned to gaze in her eyes, he smiled.
"Ursula, you are a beautiful woman. The strongest, bravest, most amazing woman. Stay with me, forever. I promise to make it up to you. Life will only get better, let me make it better."

Ursula smiled and stretched her toes in the warmth of the sun.
"Yes, Eric. I know that you can."