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She swam over to the crystal ball and pounded on the outside. The glass was too strong. She couldn’t crack it open, nor did she want to. The crystal ball was filled with air, not water.
“Enrique, wake up!” She pounded on the glass harder. “Don’t die on me!”
He lay there, not breathing.
But then his chest moved slightly.
He was starting to breathe again.
But he was trapped—a prisoner.
“Ursula, I’m here!” Shelly yelled. She whipped around, trying to locate the sea witch. “I did what you wanted. I got the trident for you! Now come and get it—and keep your promise.”
She held up the ancient weapon, feeling a bolt of electricity run down it. The trident was infused with great power, ancient power, dangerous power. But Shelly had to save her friend.
This was the only way.
Slowly, a huge form rose out of the shadows and slunk into the lair, illuminated by the light from the crystal ball. The sea witch finally revealed herself in her full glory. Her head and torso were human, but her lower body was the tentacles of a black octopus. They undulated around her, giving her a menacing appearance. She grinned, displaying all her glittering teeth. Her lips were glossy with bloodred lipstick, and she had spiky white hair. “My dear, you succeeded,” she said with a cackle. “I had a feeling you had it in you.”
Shelly plunged the trident into the sand in front of the sea witch. “There, it’s all yours! Just like you wanted. Now take it—and keep your promise to me. Change me back, and let my friend go! He doesn’t have anything to do with this. He’s innocent!”
Ursula grinned, snatching the trident. As soon as her clawed hand touched the weapon, a bolt of electricity shot down her arm and through her body. Her eyes glowed with yellow light while electrical zaps fizzled through her.
She cackled with glee. “The protection spell is broken! Now it’s mine—all mine!”
The ocean current grew stronger, churning through the lair. Shelly had to brace herself against it. Bolts of electricity flickered, running down the length of the golden trident.
“Hurry!” Shelly yelled. “Reverse the curse! And let my friend go!”
Ursula aimed the trident at her. “As you wish, my dear!”
A blast of electricity shot out of the forked end and hit Shelly square in the chest. She felt pain surge through her entire body, then recede. A great feeling of relief swept through her.
The sea witch had kept her promise.
Shelly looked down at her hands, waiting for the spell to take effect. But they remained fins. Her gills were still there. She could feel them flaring and sucking in the water. Then something horrible happened. She felt her legs seal together, fully becoming a tail.
Ursula peered at her with a fierce grin, an eel wrapped around each arm. “You belong to me now!” she cackled at Shelly, waving the trident in her hand.
“But we had a deal,” Shelly managed to say. Her voice came out shrill.
Ursula laughed heartily, looking down on her with pity. The whites of her eyes shone in the darkness. “Oh, my dear, it’s not a deal unless you sign a contract. Otherwise, it’s up for negotiation.”
“What do you mean?” Shelly sputtered. Her voice sounded like Mr. Bubbles’s.
“No contract—no deal.”
“You’re a liar! You tricked me!”
“Oh, my dear, it’s not a lie—it’s just sea business,” Ursula said with a wink. She unfurled the contract. Shelly’s signature glinted in gold. “You’re the fastest swimmer now . . . forever.”
Shelly opened her mouth to reply, but nothing came out.
The last thing she remembered was Ursula holding up the trident and grinning down at her. “Oh, don’t worry, my dear,” Ursula said in a smug voice. “You did prove your usefulness.”
Shelly wanted to scream, but only bubbles came out.
“I’ve got something very special in mind for you,” Ursula said.
