Aisha Urooj - The Stone Mermaid

The Stone Mermaid

Dedicated to the Hopeless Romantics. For those who give everything for love.

Copyright Aisha Urooj, 2021

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review.

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https://aishauroojbooks.wordpress.com/

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PART ONE

Chapter One

For she was light,

He was darkness.

For she was the sun,

He was nothing.

V ictor was thinking about her again.

The sea witchs son had a fascination, an obsession even, with Ariana. Victors obsession was even more unusual, seeing it was everyone else that fell for him. He could charm anyone with his smile. He could even captivate them further with his magic.

All he desired in the oceans was his to take, all except for her. And that made him want her more.

Ariana was the sea kings daughter. The most beautiful mermaid in the seven seas.

Sure, her siren cousins were more alluring... even more agreeable, but there was something about her he couldnt get off his mind. Was it her voice? Was it her physical beauty? Or was it something else?

Victors brand of magic had no effect on the mermaid, nor did Ariana fall for his charms.

If only she had a weakness? Victor thought. Something he could mould or bend towards his will... but Ariana had no desires, except to be free.

Hers was an odd desire... Her freedom.. but Victor thought he knew why.

Arianas mother was a human, kidnapped by the sea king, and brought against her will to his watery kingdom. Mad in love and lust, he made a bargain with the sea witch, Ursula, Victors mother.

If the sea kings love had been greater than his lust, he would have sought Helenas heart first.

But he didnt.

Ursula told Brutus it could be done... that he could have his human bride, and she could live with him under water, if he gave away some of his kingdom to her. Now, the sea king ruled the seven seas, but the darkest and deepest corners of his kingdom belonged to the sea witch.

For as long as she lived, Helena, Arianas mother, never loved the sea king. She was bound to him against her will, a bird in a gilded cage, or in her case, trapped in a floating crystal palace under the sea. Helena never forgot... but for all her sorrow, she dearly loved her daughter. Ariana was the reason she didnt fade away sooner.

As she grew up, Helena told Ariana stories about the human world, the wonders, and magic of the land above the oceans. Though she never uttered a word of complaint to her daughter, she made Ariana promise to prize her freedom above everything, and guard it with her life. Helena died when Ariana was sixteen. Ariana remembered the promise she made to her mother.

Victor had cared for Arianas mother because of her gentle nature. Queen Helenas kindness was a stark contrast to his own mother, Ursula. He had watched the queen fade with each passing year.

So Victor understood Arianas reason...

Ariana is a creature of the sea, and I am not forcibly taking her away from her realm, Victor mused. I am not as brutal as the old king.

Victor knew Ariana, unlike her human mother, was born an immortal being.

Her magic might be delayed, but she was still immortal.

I have an eternity to change Arianas mind, Victor said to himself. She will be mine.

F or her seventeenth birthday, Helena requested to her father she wanted to see the ocean.

Seventeen years she had lived in this world without seeing a glimpse of an ocean wave. Her father thought it was an odd birthday present to ask for, but since it didnt cost him anything except a few days journey, he agreed. They had a good harvest that year, and he could afford to spend a few days away.

Helenas siblings were five and six, too young to be fascinated by anything other than toys. They were also too young for the journey, so they stayed behind with their mother.

Helenas step-mother thought her husband spoiled her oldest daughter, but didnt say a word. She knew Helena hardly asked for anything. It was impossible that he would deny his favorite daughters only request, she thought, so she didnt bother to stop them.

Helena and her father, the farmer, went on the journey to see the ocean.

Helena loved her birthday present! She had seen nothing so big as the ocean. Her world instantly stretched bigger than the farm she was used to seeing.

Helena played with the seashells and sang songs to the waves. She liked looking at the waves crashing onto the shore, but she didnt like being in the water. She found the water too cold for her liking. Helena had been playing near the rocks when she first saw him.

He was a strange-looking boy. His eyes were the same color as the ocean, as if they had captured the waves in them. He looked seventeen, the same age as Helena, but seemed much older.

Can I know your name? he asked.

My name is Helena, Helena replied.

So you like singing, Helena? You have a beautiful voice, he said.

Helena blushed at his compliment.

She saw the strange boy every day while she was near the ocean. Every time, he seemed to appear out of nowhere. Every time, he disappeared when her father was around.