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Then, feeling in a state that was half-awake and half-dream, I could have sworn I saw her whisper something to the shell in her hand.
When I opened my eyes, it was because my face felt hot. But as soon as my eyelids fluttered open, I was hurrying to close them again. I had been blinded by light. As I tried to process that, I realized I was lying on something odd. Something… rough. My fingers opened and closed around it—soft, warm, and yet gritty at the same time.
Forcing myself to sit up, I shielded my eyes with one hand while brushing off my cheek with the other. I peered at my hand, marveling at the glittering grains on my palm. And then I heard a noise overhead that forced me to tip my head and try to follow it.
A… flying fish? No… it’s called a bird, I remembered as I came out of my drowsy, child-like state.
That was when it hit me. I looked down and saw them. My mouth dropped open at the sight of my brand-new long, gorgeous legs. They were slender and so pale, with knobs at the top. My mouth dropped open, and I let out a whoop.
Or tried to. Except that I didn’t make a noise. Not a single sound escaped my open mouth.
It all came rushing back to me. My visit to the Sea Witch and the bargain we’d struck. And even knowing what I’d agreed to, I still tried again. And again.
It suddenly occurred to me that I probably looked like a fish, opening and closing my mouth with no sound coming out. Oh, the terrible irony!
Nothing you can do about that, Ari. Just try out those legs!
It was a good distraction and I leapt to my feet—or tried to. But unfamiliar as I was with having legs, I immediately fell, the only sound the swoosh of the sand as it went flying and the thumping sound my body made as the ground caught me.
Determined, I tried again. This time I succeeded—in standing, at least. My feet were warmed by the glittering granules beneath them, and I wiggled my toes, delighting in the feeling of the velvety sand. I took a step. It was a wobbly one, and I held my arm out so that I did not fall again. Then I took another.
The sudden sound of a wave crashing had me turning my head as some of the spray from the ocean rose up and hit me. It was only a bit, but as the water sprinkled my body, I realized something that up until then hadn’t occurred to me.
I was completely and utterly naked.
Before I could dwell on it for more than a second, however, in the distance my ears caught the sound of something loud and incessant. It came closer and closer until my heart was racing.
What is that? It sounds like something hell itself spat out! Or perhaps it is a creature of the Sea Witch, sent here to retrieve me?
And then I saw it, rushing toward me while panic bloomed in my chest. I immediately turned to the water, but then I remembered. Water killed humans. With a sickening sense of dread, I whipped my head around, searching. There was a large boulder a bit away, and I began to move toward it with urgency.
The creature I’d gotten a glimpse of—wild black fur interspersed with patches of white—was not deterred and followed me. As he continued his monstrous barking sound, I began to scurry toward the boulder, but it only made him chase me faster!
I broke out into a run and didn’t even have time to marvel at it. Then I threw myself atop the rock, feeling so ragged I would have cried if I could.
Wait. I’ve never felt this way, not even when I went to see the Sea Witch. What is happening to me?
But before I had any time to search for the answer, I heard a voice.
“Sebastian! Sebastian, where are you, you devil dog?”
The creature that was standing guard by the rocks barked and wagged his tail.
Hmm. Now he looks… well, not nice exactly, but not so ferocious!
“Sebastian! There you are!”
I froze with something more than horror. I knew that voice!
Then the prince was there, on his knees and patting the monster he’d called a dog.. “Why did you run off?”
The dog spun toward me and barked happily.
When the Prince followed his actions with his gaze, I was hugging my knees to my chest.
There was no hiding my nakedness, and as he took me in, his eyes roving from the top of my head down to my naked feet, I quivered and blushed to feel his gaze upon me.
“I… hello, there.” The prince stood, and without another word, he yanked off the white billowing shirt he wore and offered it to me.
