Part III

The sea witch

resides in

a cold and

dark part of

the ocean in

a cave, keeping

only to herself.

She goes to

the witch, tying

up her hair

along the

way for fear

of it getting

caught in the

grasses of the

witch’s strange plants.

The seventh begs

and pleads until

the witch gives

in.

“Be warned, for

the potion requires

your tongue.

After this, you will

never be able

to speak again.

You will have

to endure pain

so terrible that

it will feel

as if you

are treading on knives.”

The seventh

eagerly agrees to this.

The cutting of her tongue

was so unimaginable

that she couldn’t

even scream.

The potion was

made and

she swims to

the human world.

When she drinks

it, the potion

is a scorching

fire in her

throat, burning it

until finally

she fainted.

 

“My dear, are

you all right?”

she hears a

kind voice whisper.

She awakens, opening

her eyes the very

slightest to find

her beloved standing

over her, smiling

warmly.

She attempts a small

yelp of surprise

when she sees

a pair of

legs on her

body.

Her wish was

granted.

She tries to

utter words but

remembered she is

mute.

She taps a

hand to

her throat.

The prince understands

fully.

The seventh quickly

covers herself

in her long,

golden hair.

He helps her

up and she

wobbles a little.

The prince is

amazed at

how she dances

on the floor.

Her grace astounds

every person in

the castle

The seventh is

soon fed the

most expensive

seafood and

clothed in the

softest of silks.

Her life at

the prince’s castle

was heaven.

 

Months passed

and the prince

announces that he

is to be married

to a princess.

“Alas, I refuse,

my dear, but

my father grows

old and he

just may die

very soon.

I wish I could

marry you,

my girl with

the speaking eyes,

for you remind

me so much

of a girl

who had rescued

me from drowning.”

He looks into

her eyes and

kisses her deeply

on the lips.

This kiss was

that of an adult’s

love for a child.

Though it was

so, the seventh

cherished every

second of it.