Author's Note

If you are reading this story on any other platform than Watt pad, you are at risk of a malware attack. Watt pad is the only site I have given permission to publish this story. To read it in it's original, safe form, please go to Watt pad. Thank you. @Mrsdeemo

"Ouch, for goodness sake, are you trying to cause me pain?"

Ariel threw back her thick red hair, tearing the comb out of her servant's grasp, leaving it lodged in the knotted mass.

Ursula, the princess's maid, swallowed rapidly, her teeth piercing her bottom lip. How am I going to get it back out without her spoilt bitchiness knowing?
The middle-aged octopus cursed her bulk as she eased her tentacles against the flowing tide, and attempted to stick onto the tip of the red, coral comb, swaying so tantalisingly close.

Ariel's sharp voice sliced through her concentration.
"Why don't you try pulling it all out in one go, you fat moron. That way you can make me bald quicker and so much less painfully!"
The beautiful young mermaid twisted on her seat of meshed seaweed to glare back at Ursula, her deep blue eyes swirling with rage.
"Remind me again why I should not have you dismembered?" Her sneering expression did nothing to diminish the porcelain perfection of her complexion. "You obviously have too many limbs to know what to do with, squid creature."

Taking a deep breath, Ursula flexed her tentacles, to relieve the tension and focused on teasing the delicate comb free from the tangles. Right there, that's it, pinch the bottom strands and take a quick, rapid, pull.

Ariel's slender hand shot up to check what had happened, luckily the comb had relinquished its hold and was now in Ursula's control. The large, octopus squirmed on her tentacle tips, praying for no more mistakes.

"There is a terrible twirl to your hair this evening, your majesty."

"And I suppose that's my doing is it, squid?" Ariel rose up, swaying along with the push of the tide. "It's not my fault that I need to rest in the afternoon, I must stay supple and youthful, if I am to ever be free of this place. You..." here the mermaid span round on her fins to face her maid. Her face lit with satisfaction. "You, of all people should understand about that!" Swinging in closer to Ursula, the water caressed Ariel's luxurious, auburn locks in waves of silk around her pale shoulders and creamy breasts. "Look what hard work has done to you, my dear."

Ursula avoided matching the princess's gaze, it wouldn't do to start anything now. The King always took his daughter's side, even if he shared a bed with the maid on the odd occasion. Had he ever loved me? Ursula certainly hoped he had at least in the beginning. After the Queen's passing, he had sought peace and companionship within her many arms. In return she had been granted the ultimate position of maid to the heir of the throne. No mean feat, the previous maids had been executed after the deaths of all but one of the King's children.

Ariel swiped the comb from Ursula's hand, waking her from her thoughts.
"I am going to the surface. I do not expect my father to be allowed to know, or see, so make sure that I am not disturbed. Do you understand?"

"Yes, your majesty." The maid slunk backwards, curling her limbs low across the ocean floor. She retreated to a hollow within the cavern rocks and set out her tentacles to drift along with the tide, testing for possible vibrations.

Ariel's spectacular mirror ball effect of a tail, flashed past the reluctant sentinel on her way up through the ocean, sending shock waves pulsating every blade of weed or sprat of fish out of her path. Ariel was a force to be reckoned with. A blaze of youthful passion, hell bent on getting her just rewards. But would they be what she imagined? Ursula doubted the results of the beautiful princess's night raids. Sailors being fickle creatures, were unlikely to drop to the ocean floor as the young girl hoped. Ursula understood their heart, she knew their minds, and loved their imagination. The little mermaid offered nothing.