Part of Your World (Disney Twisted Tales) - Liz Braswell Page 0,32
was nothing like the warrior merfolk some of her ancestors and relatives were. She never cared enough to train for the Mer-games and win the golden crown of sea heather. Cousin Lara, with her mighty spear, was better made for this sort of thing.
Ariel was here to fmd her father. And so far, she had failed. She had been utterly distracted.
She should go back and thoroughly search Vanessa's room while she had a chance. If ancient plays, poems, and songs taught nothing else, it was always one of these two repeating themes: one, don't ever fool around with a god's wife or husband, and two, revenge always leads to sorrow And while she had never been the most diligent student as a princess, she loved a good story.
She dipped her hand and the dagger turned into a comb once more. She set it carefully back m her hair.
How much more time did she have to search the bedroom? Had that interruption lengthened or shortened Vanessa's bath ritual? Ariel risked another peep to see if she could tell.
Ursula appeared to be lounging carelessly in her bath again, full-on Vanessa, no tentacles in sight.
The mermaid could now see that standing close to the tub was a little maid waitmg in attendance, maybe eight years old. Though her body faced the bath and Vanessa, she kept her eyes directed out at the sea, through the windows. She hugged a giant fluffy' towel tight, ready for the moment Ursula decided it was time to get out.
She was biting her lip.
It was obvious she knew something about Ursula's true nature—how could she not, as bath attendant? She must have seen things even more terrible than tentacles.... Ariel said a silent prayer for the poor girl and prepared to tiptoe back.
But just as she reached the door, something glittery caught her eye from the frumpy pile of Vanessa's hastily cast-off clothes. She gulped, for once glad she didn't have a voice to vocalize whatever it was that came up from her heart. The >iautilus.
Ursula's totem of power, the necklace she wore everywhere. The token that held Ariel's voice. Barely able to believe it was true, Ariel ducked down and crawled over to the chair.
With a gesture that was less "regally acquiring what was rightfully hers'' and more like the crazed swipe for a sea bean by a starving mer, she snatched up the nautilus and held it to her chest. Dazed and in shock from her fmd, of having it in her hand, she rose and stumbled back to the door.
The little maid spotted her.
Ariel's mouth went dry and her heart sank.
She stared at the girl, and the girl watched Ariel with large, hollow eyes. Realizing how strangely ironic it was, Ariel put a finger to her lips. Please.
The little girl glanced over at Vanessa m her bath.
"My dark and villainous plans, how they• unfurl—no, wait. Was that how it went? I can't remember..." Ursula sang and muttered to herself, heedless of her maid. Please!
Ariel threw the word through her eyes, across the space between her and the little girl, praying for her sympathy. The little girl gave the faintest nod.
Ariel put her hands together as best she could, clutching the nautilus, and bowed her head. Thank you. If ever Ifind a way to repay you, I swear I shall.
Not that the little girl would ever know; but the gods would. Ariel crept to the door. ..and then bolted out of the castle.
She pounded through the castle as fast as she could, new heels hitting the stony floors with surprising force. Faces were a blur as she sprinted to the exit.
"Woof? " came from somewhere near the ground at one point.
Max! Your dinner is ready! she thought, and mentally promised to pet him later, if there was a later. She risked looking up to see if Eric was there with him—but he wasn't.
As soon as her feet touched sand she redoubled her pace, making for the hidden lagoon. Several guards looked after her curiously, but not too curiously; she was behaving like a scorned lover or someone who had been m a fight with a friend. In a castle full of enemies and noble spies, a scampering maid drew little mterest from people with better things to do.
The hot sun hit her back like a reproving shove. At that moment she hated everything about being human. The long skirts of her dress tangled in her new legs and chafed her skin. Her stupid boots were clumsy