The Deal (No Deal)
When Nixie hit the surface, it still felt as if her lungs were about to explode, but at the same time, she could fill the air rushing through her lungs, a sense of relief tempering her earlier panic. She could finally breathe again. Seeing the shore in her reach, she sawm towards it. Or rather, she tried to, kicking her new legs back and forth, trying to find the right way to move them as they echoed with pain. She sunk in the ocean for a minute, her vision clouding, her nose and mouth burning as it filled with salt water, but she managed to get her head above water, raise her head up and start swimming.
By the time she got to the shore she was exhausted, falling onto the sand on the beach, more water burning as she spit it out of her mouth, wet slabs of steely blue hair blocking her vision. Brushing her hair out of her face, she raised her head up, and saw the glistening white marble walls of a grand city. And that city, she knew, was where her love would be.
“I’ll send you to his shore.” The sea witch had told her, “Call it my sense of fair play…”
Right. Because if he didn’t love her back, she would turn into sea foam. No pressure there.
Of course, if she wanted to win him, she first had to get to the city. Getting to the city when her muscles were throbbing and every move, she made with her new legs made them erupt in stabbing pain. She tried to move again, only for another wave of pain to run through her legs. She cried, but no sound came out of her mouth.
That had been the price of her legs. Her voice. She was starting to think she wasn’t good at bargaining.
Closing her eyes, Nixie took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. She wasn’t going to get anywhere going in mental circles like this. Once she had calmed down, she pushed down, though her muscles protested with more bursts of pain, and rose to her new feet, wobbling a little on her new legs. She took the first step, her legs still feeling like they were being stabbed.
“My Lady!”
Nixie turned around to see a figure heading her way towards her in the water. As it closer, he could make out of a human torso and head. Had one of her sisters followed her and seen what she had done?
However, as the figure got closer, she could make out that it appeared to be a man with short, clipped russet brown hair. She had never met a mermaid or merman with brown hair before. However, before she could make out much more, the figure went down under the still water. Nixie started to go to him when he rose up again. “I’m alright!”
That voice. She knew that voice!
Nicolas! Her mouth formed the name, but no sound came out. That was going to take a moment to get used to.
He went down a few more times, but just as Nixie was about to go to him, he would always rise up. Somehow, he was having trouble swimming in the completely still water. When he finally made it to shore, he plopped down on the sand ungracefully, revealing a human half covered with welts and bruises and a brown merman’s tail where his legs used to be.
What?! Nixie gapped. No, that didn’t make sense. It was the same muscular build, same hair, same patrician features as her true love, but Nicolas was human! And since when did merfolk have brown tails?
“It’s you!” Nicolas exclaimed, flopping around like a dying fish and crawling towards her, seemingly unable to control his tail, “I’ve been looking for you everywhere. When I finally figured out what you were—” He looked down and realized, “Um, where did you get legs?”
#
It a took a minute, but the pair was able to piece together what had happened. Apparently while Nixie had been trading her voice to the sea witch for legs, Nicolas, had figured out his rescuer was a mermaid and traded his coordination to land witch in exchange for a tail and the ability to breathe under water.
“I already didn’t know how to use the tail, but with no coordination, I just kept—hitting everything.” Nicolas finished, “I even slammed into a whale at one point.” After a beat, he murmured, “Probably lucky to be alive after that one.”
Nicolas, we’re right back where we started, in reverse! Nixie wrote out in frustration.
“Yeah, um, that is a problem.” Nicolas admitted, looking away, his cheeks turning red.
That was when Nixie got an idea, writing in the sand again. Go find my sisters, explain what happened, maybe they’ll know what do to!
“Where do I find them?” Nicolas asked.
Nixie quickly wrote out directions to their undersea kingdom.
“Alright, take my ring,” Nicolas instructed, struggling to pull the golden signet ring off his hand, “And go to my palace. They’ll take care of you until I get back.”
Nixie nodded, before writing in the sand. Just one more thing.
“What?” Nicolas asked.
Nixie leaned in, kissing him awkwardly and causing him to collapse in the shallow water due to his poor balance.
Just in case. She quickly scribbled in the sand before getting up.
As Nixie walked away in pain, she turned and saw Nicolas swerving back and forth, somehow being pushed back and forth and still water.
Maybe we deserve each other.
#
It was not an easy trip for Nicolas.
He went off course at least three times, crashing into coral reefs, getting lost in a school of fish, and even crashing into a sea turtle. By the time he made it to the boundaries of the undersea kingdom Nixie called home, he was battered, bruised, bleeding a little, and almost too exhausted to appreciate the wonderous sight in front of him.
And what a wonderous sight it was. Small huts and towers spiraling towards the sky, all made of a rainbow of coral. Merfolk riding or pulling domesticated sea turtles, sting rays, even sharks. And the merfolk! They were magnificent creatures, hair the same color as their tails, purples, blues, green, even oranges.
And then there was him, standing out like a sore thumb with his plain brown tail.
Just then a garrison of orange-armored soldiers rushed past him, and suddenly the world around him began to a whirl of cool toned colors. When he finally stopped spinning his eyes transfixed on the spiraling towers of blue and green coral.
The royal palace. That was where he needed to go.
He weakly swam ahead, citizens whirling past them, as more groups of soldiers swam past him. Then it hit him. From their point of view, a royal princess had gone missing. Of course they were tearing up the kingdom looking for her!
Suddenly his vision began to blur.
No. He desperately tried to stay awake. I must get to the palace. I have to explain what happened.
That was hit last thought before everything went black.
#
He didn’t know how long he had been out when felt the sensation of being shaken awake. His eyes fluttered opened to see three girls, two with blue hair, one with purple, all of them bearing small similarities to Nixie—two had her noise, one her eyes–surrounding him.
“Are you…alright?” The youngest of them, the one with the purple hair and pale blue eyes, asked.
“Ah, I think so.” Nicolas said, struggling to get up, “You wouldn’t happen to be Nixie’s sisters by any chance?”
“You’ve actually seen her?” The middle one with the skinny nose and aqua blue hair explained, “The whole kingdom’s been looking for her everywhere? Is she hurt? Is she….”
“She’s alright,” Nicolas assured them, “But we, um, we have a bit of situation.”
#
And so, Nicolas explained the situation.
“So let me see if I understand this correctly.” The middle sister, Indra began once he was finished, clearly exasperated and in disbelief, “You and Nixie fell madly in love after she saved you from a shipwreck, even though you two didn’t exchange so much as five words to each other, because well, shipwreck and you both deiced it’s a good idea to ask witches to switch out your body parts?”
“Well, I supposed when you say it like that…” Nicolas admitted.
“How else is there to say it?!” Indra snapped.
“Look, none of this is helping.” The oldest siter, aqua-haired Arielle, spoke up spoke up, “Did she give you the name of the sea witch?”
“The only name she gave was Morag.” Nicolas answered, “Is that going to be enough?
Judging by the Arielle exchanged a worried glance with Indra, and the youngest sister Thesis looking like she was about to burst into tears, he got the feeling it would be enough.
#
That was how the quartet—the three sisters plus Nicolas—wound up at the dark foreboding mouth of a sea cave. Indra and Thesis were already holding Nicolas’ arm in a desperate attempt to keep him from crashing into things, but they gripped his arms tighter as the green light from the mouth shined over them.
“Och!” Nicolas hissed.
“Sssh!” Arielle, who was leading the way, whispered, “Everyone, just let me do the talking.” Then she called out, “Ah, excuse me. We’re looking for Morag, the sea witch.”
“Oh, yeah, that sounds confident.” Indra snarked.
That was when the voice called out, “Who dares call upon Morag?!”
Just as suddenly as it happened, a beautiful mermaid with long green hair appeared at the mouth of the cave. Except instead of a fishtail, she had dark green tentacles. When saw the youths she raised an eyebrow. “Say? You wouldn’t be related to that princess from the mermaid kingdom that was here yesterday, ago, would you?”
“Actually, ma’am, we’re Nixie’s sisters.” Arielle said, “And her betrothed.”
“Wait,” Indara said, “He hasn’t—”
“She gave up her voice to be with this boy.” Arielle snapped, “He’s putting a ring on it!”
“Wait, wait, wait.” Morag spoke up, “I’m confused. I thought her love was human. That was why she wanted legs in the first place. Also, she wanted to go Heaven when she died, but I think this was the more immediate goal.”
#
With that opening, Nicolas and the sisters explained what happened. Morag thought the whole thing was hilarious.
Really, she wouldn’t stop laughing.
“I’m sorry.” The sea witch apologized between laughs, “It’s just too ironic!” She had to take between breaths.
“Can you help us fix it?” Thesis spoke up hopefully.
“This is a bit beyond my capacity.” Morag admitted, “But there is a bog witch I know that can help you.” She went to the stone cabinet on the wall, pulling up a folded-up map, handing it to Arielle.” Find Ilsa the Bog Witch. Tell her Morag the Sea Witch sent you, and she’ll help.” She then took a bottle from her cabinet and threw it at the group, Thesis barely catching it. “And, for the good laugh, here’s your sister’s voice back.”
“Um, thank you?” Thesis responded, unsure.
Morag shrugged, “You’re welcome.”
#
And so, the group soon found themselves in a mirey, fog-ladened bog, their vision obscured by the mist, surrounding them, the thick water making it harder for them to swim.
“Why do witches live in such creepy places?” Indra wondered aloud before asking Nicolas, “Did the land witch you went to live in such a creepy place?”
“A shack.” Nicolas answered, “Pretty sure it was haunted.” After a beat he added, “I really love your sister.”
As if one cue, they saw a ramshackle sack colored in lighter shades of gray and darker shades of gray on the shore of the bog.
“Um, so do we just do what we did before?” Thesis wondered.
However, before they could do that, an old woman in a kerchief appeared, obscured by the fog. “Who’s out there at this time of night?!”
“Um, I guess it’s us,” Arielle spoke up anxiously, “We just traveled all the way from the Undersea Kingdom, Miss, um, Bog Witch—”
“Then what are you doing all the way out here?!” Isla exclaimed.
“Morag the sea witch sent us.” Arielle explained, “We have a problem she told us you can help us with.”
#
And so, Arielle explained the whole story again. She was starting to get disturbingly good at it.
Ilsa was rather unimpressed with Nixie and Nicolas’ plan.
“Idiot young lovers always making idiotic deals with other witches always wanting me to fix their problems for them,” She muttered, as she turning around.
“How many times does this happen?” Indra asked, exchanged confused looks with Thesis.
“Wait here,” Ilsa told them, walking back into her shack, “I’ll get what you need.”
A few minutes later, she came back, holding two potion bottles. “Here.”
Nicolas reached out to catch it. However, sensing that wouldn’t end well, Indra and Thesis caught them instead.
“Have each of them take the potion, then kiss immediately afterwards” Ilsa instructed, “It should give them the ability to shapeshift between human and merfolk as their lovesick hearts’ desire. Now, I don’t want to see any of you here again. And tell Morag I haven’t forgotten about the ten gold coins she owes me!”
“Um we will.” Arielle answered awkwardly, “Thank you.”
“Thank me by making better life choices.” Isla told them, “Now, go on, git!”
The quartet turned around, starting their long journey back to the beach.
#
“So how exactly are we going to find Nixie to give her, her half of the potion?”
The question was asked by Thesis, who in turned found all three sets of eyes on her. “Excuse me?” Arielle responded.
“Well, Nick sent her to his castle, and we don’t have anyway to get there.” Thesis pointed out, “We don’t even have a way out of the water.”
Everybody froze for a moment. This could be a problem.
“She could be onto something there.” Indra admitted, “And even then, how are we supposed to find her?”
“I sent her to the castle.” Nicolaus reminded them, “My valet knew what and I was going to do and…this isn’t the craziest thing I’ve ever done.”
For a minute, not one said anything until Idara exclaimed, “HOW IN THE HECK IS TRADING YOUR LEGS FOR A TAIL NOT THE CRAZIEST THING YOU’VE EVER ONE?!”
All Nicolas did was look away bashfully.
“Everybody clam down.” Arielle spoke up gaining control of the situation. “I think I know where we need to go.”
#
“You want me to do what ?” Morag questioned, leaning against her potions cabinet with a raised green eyebrow.
“Give us all legs.” Arielle repeated, “At least temporarily. We want our tails back after we find Nixie and get her the potion.” After a beat she added, “And we’re not trading our voices for it. That’s a deal braker”
“Do you realize the magical nightmare it was to give your sister legs?!” Morag demanded, “ That potion takes over two hours to brew, I had to send my familiar all the way to the Dead Sea because I was out of a certain kind of salt, and then if you get on conjunction wrong on the spell…”
“But can you do it?” Arielle cut her off.
“Yes, I can do it.” Morag huffed, “But only for you girls. If I do it for you it stands the chance of messing up, Ilsa’s potion. And it’s going to cost you.”
“I already told you…” Arielle began.
“Yes, yes, you’re not giving me your voices, I heard you the first time. “Morag cut her off, “Find. How about a lock of hair from each of you.” Picking up a dagger with a handle craved from black pearl, she tossed it to Arielle.”
Arielle just stared at it a minute, then put the sliver blade to her hair.
#
They all had a new respect for Nixie’s pain tolerance. As their bones and skin split and reshaped, it felt like they were being cut in half, the pain burning, searing, pulling cries of anguish from their throats.
“See?” Morag declared, “This is why I asked for your sister’s voice. “
“Can’t you do anything to help them?!” Nicolas demanded, horrified.
“I’m about to!” Morag answered, “Un mor, dau for, mor coch, mor marw! “
Suddenly it felt as if every monocle was being taken apart, their vision blinded by a bright white-yellow light. Fortunately, the sensation only lasted for a few moments before they felt themselves placed on solid, if rough, grown.
When the quartet’s vision finally cleared, they could see they were on the beach, this time completely out of the water. They could also see, a few feet away from them, the tent of deep teal linen someone had set up just out of reach of the waves.
“Has that always been there?” Indra asked.
“No.” Nicolas confirmed, “No it hasn’t.”
That was when a grandly dressed older man with graying hair, a round mustache, and features similar to Nicolas stepped out, his face contorted in anger when he saw them. “There you are!” With that, he started marching towards them.
Nicolas swallowed thickly.
“Ah, who is that?” Indra asked.
“My father.” Nicolas answered, actually sounding a little scared, “We’re in for it now.”
“Nicolas Ambrose Gregory MacKenize!” The king shouted, “You sneak off to sneak out a witch to trade your legs for a mermaid’s tail, all for a girl you hadn’t even had a full conversation with and lave poor Charles to tell me?!”
“Well, when you say it like that…” Nicolas began.
“What other way is there to say it?!” The King bellowed.
“Ah, if I may interrupt Your Majesty,” Arielle spoke up, “We’re Nixie’s sisters, I’m Arielle and this is Indra and Thesis.”
“Lovely to meet you in spite of the circumstances.” The King began, his eye’s widening as he noticed their legs and state of undress, turning his head away, “I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize…you don’t want to marry my son too, do you? This isn’t the Ottoman Empire; we don’t do that kind of thing!”
“No, Your Majesty,” Arielle assured him, “But we have a solution to the problem. But, um, do you think we could get some closed first, please?”
#
Fifteen minutes later, Nixie and her sisters, all dress in slim silk frocks, were hugging. Once they finally broke the embrace, Arielle demanded, “What were you thinking?! We’re all been scared to death!”
Nixie contorted her face in apology, wishing she could speak.
Arielle pulled out an amethyst purple bottle, handing it to her sister. “Here. Morag gave use back your voice.”
Nixie took the bottle, removing the stopper and put the brim to her mouth, air filling it and going down her throat. Somehow, she knew she would be able to say what she needed to. “I’m so sorry! I know what I did was foolish, it was crazy. I-I—”
“Look, I won’t say that it’s okay, because it’s not, “But what’s done is done. Now, come on. Lover Boy’s waiting outside.
They opened the flap of the tent to find Nicolas waiting with his father and a very tired looking liveried valet. Nicolas had the potion bottle in his hand, holding it up for her to see. Nixie held up hers.
“Oh three?” Nicolas asked.
“Alright.” Nixie responded breathlessly.
“One…” Nicolas began slowly.
“Two…” Nixie breath.
“THREE!” The crowd of frustrated onlookers all shouted at once.
“Just get it over with already!” Indra shouted.
Uncorking the bottles, they both chugged the noxious tasting contents down their throats. Suddenly, both their bodies became encased in light and their bodies began to tingle. When the sensation ceased and the lights faded, they were back in their original bodies, Nixie on the ground. “Did it…did it work?” Nixie asked.
Nicolas grinned from ear to ear. “Only one way to find out.”
Nixie closed her eyes, picturing her human body. Suddenly she felt the tingling sensation again. She looked down, and saw she was still on the ground, but had her legs again. Nicolas had his brown tail again.
“Hey, how come they get the nice, easy painless transformation?” Indra complained.
“Well, to be fair, they’re going to be doing it a lot more than we are…” Thesis.
“Focus everyone.” Arielle spoke up, “We’re not done yet.”
#
Four months later, Nixie was standing on the glistening marble balcony of her rooms at the palace, looking out at the ocean.
Tomorrow, all the nobles of the sea’s court would come to the surface to see her wed Nicolas. It had taken some negotiating, but their union would now form the first ever alliance of its kind: One between the land and the sea.
“Are you nervous about tomorrow?”
Nixie turned around to see Nicolas standing in the parlor.
Nixie smiled at him. “Maybe a little.” She admitted walking towards him, giving him a chase kiss on the lips.
“Having second thoughts?” Nicolas asked, looking nervous himself.
“About you?” Nixie asked, with the shake of her, “Never. About how we got here? Well, let’s just say I would’ve handled a few things differently.”