Wild Witch : Prequel short story to the Mermaids of Cornwall Series
Amaya Hart
eBook
(British Ives Publishing, May 25, 2020)
So many stories have been told about mermaids, the fantastical natives of the deep ocean, who have abilities to maintain contact with both worlds of ocean and land.This story, however, deviates from your typical mermaid narrative.You see, the mermaid folk were free roamers, shackled only to the will of their hearts, and the never ending reaches of the ocean. They had lived peacefully, and free for a long time, until the arrival of Quintess, the Wild Witch.And this is where our story starts.Quintess, a descendant of the departed sea gods, very different from the merpeople, and seemingly the strongest being in the ocean, is tired of being alone. Driven by this feeling, she seeks to conquer and lord her power over subjects.To survive, the merpeople, agree to a compromise, which comprises in all its parts a sacrifice of their freedom, and will.Quintess' evil nature, and thirst for authority however, doesnât make her above affectionate feelings. She develops strong feelings for Eryon, a beautiful handsome merman who becomes king of the pseudo-alliance Quintess creates.Quintess now has all she wants. Or does she?Quintess stood at one of the balconies in the palace, looking out, with fierce red eyes, at the city spread before her.âMy my, look what weâve done, Coila.â She said.Her voice was like a purr. A loud purr.Her shoulders rose slightly, as the hint of a smile shone on her face.âHalf a millennia, and look what Iâve accomplished.âHer eyes roved, following the busy populace down below.She flicked her eyes beyond the area at the edge of the city.âHow long would it take Lox to get me what I desire, eh? A day? Two perhaps?â she said, her lips curling slightly in derision.If any of the servants in the palace were closer, they would scurry away in fear. Quintess stood alone at the balcony.There was a low growl from behind her. Quintess appeared not to have heard it. She cast her sights to the edge of the city again, and ah-ed.âWhat do you think is taking him so long?â she asked.There was a growl again, from behind her.âCome out, Coila. Iâm tired of you whispering things, I can barely hear. Come here.âFrom behind her, a reddish-orange coloured small sea dragon came into view. Quintess stretched her hand a bit, and the sea dragon rose on its belly. It moved, settling itself around her arm. Then it placed its head on her shoulder, and softly growled.âNo. I disagree, Coila. No one flees from me. I know the lines and curves that border the ends of the sea. I am intimate with them. If he flees, he dies.âShe looked at the edge of the city. Her lips spread into a smile, revealing canines, slightly longer than the rest of her teeth.âItâs hereâ, she said, stroking the sea dragon.âLetâs go in.âShe turned and walked back into the palace.The throne room was completely round and transparent. Like a bubble. The smoothness of its curves, its awe-inspiring beauty was magical. Quintess walked in, and disgust wrote itself on her face in squiggles and lines. The king sat on the throne, kissing a mermaid on his lap. His scepter lay carelessly on the floor. Quintess suddenly had the mental image of the mermaid flinging the scepter away as she settled onto the kingâs lap.âNo respect for the throneâ, Quintess screamed inside her head.Her eyes glowed bright red. Coila growled. And they died down, back to a dull red.âThat insolent fish!â she cussed in her mind. Coila growled again.