Part of Your World (Disney Twisted Tales) - Liz Braswell Page 0,75
sea, if not under it.
Only...not quite.
This is what actually happened.
The Grey Lagoon was an artificial folly on the north side of the castle, fed by the tides. Originally it was protected by a cavern wall decorated with shells and fake stalactites in the fashion of Etrulian bathing grottos. Over the years it had fallen out of use and now slowly decayed mto that shabby grandeur Bretlandian tourists so liked to sketch. Locals avoided the place because it had become more or less a swamp, overgrown with tall grass, clinging vines, and sharp, scrubby trees. It fairly screamed cholera and malaria. Also haunted.
So it was deserted, this weird landscape feature shielded from the castle by drippy, unhealthy trees, and most importantly: it was fed salt water by the sea.
Ursula arrived at ten to make preparations, and it was a bit of a pain because taking Flotsam and Jetsam along would have rendered the whole undertaking too obvious. That was the worst thing about the Dry World: how hard it was to lug thmgs around. Thmgs fell. Heavy things fell harder. Feet hurt. Sometimes after a day m the stacked-heel booties she wore it felt like knives were impaling her through her soles, like obscene torture out of some fairy tale.
She had to manhandle a smaller-than-she-liked cauldron out to the middle of the shallow water all by herself, along with all the other things necessary for the spell: ingredients and mordants that she managed to keep away from prying eyes.
Getting a little sweaty and trying to keep her tentacles under control—they burst free of their own volition upon touching the salt water—Ursula was ankle-deep m muck and agitated when Julia showed up. The girl was like a picture: her hooded, innocent-yet-arrogant face lit by the small lantern she held before her. She stepped carefully around the bracken, not wanting to snag her precious clothes on the sharp twigs.
"You came," Ursula said, accidentally m her own voice.
The girl, already nervous, jumped at that.
"I don't understand what we are domg. My Princess," she admitted, trying to remain calm.
"My dear, we need to just alter a few thmgs about you," Vanessa said with a smile. "Not just your clothes and mtroductions. Fortunately, I know a little magic...."
"Magic? Like the devil?" Julia stepped back, pulling her cloak tighter.
"Not at all," Vanessa said with a smile. "Like the kmd you use to make love philters and predict who you will marry with the blow of a dandelion."
It probably would ha\'e sounded a lot more carefree and girlish in the dumb mermaid s voice....
Julia looked uncertain.
"Just step forward mto the water," Vanessa urged. "Not all the way, just your feet."
"Into the water?"
"Yes, dear, like for...a baptism. Nothing more. A blessing of magic."
Julia looked skeptical.
"And this will turn me into a princess, like you?"
"It will not turn you immediately into a princess, but remember, dear, I didn't 'become' a princess until I married Eric. Everyone just went along with my insistence that I was a princess, to keep up appearances and the family line. I'm going to help you get to that point, too. Now, into the water, dear."
"And you ask nothing in return?" Julia asked.
Ursula sighed. Clever girl. For a moment she regretted that she had neither time nor inclination to take on an apprentice, or daughter, or whatever you called a young version of what you were. Julia had flexible morals and a quick wit that was lacking in so many of the young mer the witch had often dealt with. It was a shame she had to simply eat her up and use her, rather than take her time....
"Yes, child, there is always a price. But it is not for me, it is for., .the universe. You can't get something without giving something. That would be unnatural, and against the good order of things."
She almost couldn't believe how easily this garbage came out of her mouth. Once she had a decent voice again, Vanessa would be unstoppable.
"What do you...I mean, the universe...want?"
"Nothing much, really..."
"My immortal soul?"
"No, no, child!" Ursula didn't have to pretend too hard to be shocked. She was continually surprised by humans' single-mindedness when it came to religion. "Nothing so precious. Just your voice."
"My voice?" Julia touched her throat. Such an obvious gesture, so predictable. Once again Ursula had to work not to roll her eyes.
"Yes. But you get it back once you achieve your wishes, in three days."
"Is three days how long I have to seduce and marry one of the lords?"