There was a time, long ago, where Rose didn’t have a voice.<b><i>“Don’t talk back, be a lady”</i></b>Was something that she would hear all the time.<b><i>“You’d be perfect if you didn’t talk”</i></b>Was another line she would hear twenty times a day, maybe more if she got the answer right in class. The boys often said this to her because she was consistently outsmarting them. Even her parents asked her to speak less; they wanted her to marry the son of the wealthy family that they worked for, and they couldn’t do that if she kept outwitting him.<br/><br/>These were voices that echoed through the darkness as Rose felt herself spiral down, down, down.<b><i>“You’ll never find a husband if you keep talking like that”</i></b><br/><br/>When Rose finally felt herself land on something solid, she couldn’t bring herself to open her eyes. What if becoming a vampire had just all been a dream? What if she woke up back in that awful house? The one place that had always made her feel so small for being so smart and good at school. A trait that nowadays was celebrated for females, and was starting to become more rare among children. But the salty breeze hit her face, and when she heard seagulls, she breathed a small sigh of relief.<br/><br/><i>‘Thank God’</i><br/><br/>Her mouth formed the words, but no sound came out. The blonde’s eyes suddenly snapped open and she pressed a hand to her throat. Her body trembled as her mouth opened and closed wordlessly, trying so hard to make a sound, any sound, but still nothing came out. She brought her knees to her chest as she processed the fact that she couldn’t speak. Not only that, but she was naked, except for a pair of purple shells on her breasts, red hair draping around her shoulders. Was this supposed to be funny?<br/><br/>Anger welled inside of her, angry at the fact that someone had taken from her the one thing that she had fought to take back from everyone else.<br/><br/>“Ariel?!”<br/><br/>The voice was like ice cold water running down her spine. She turned slowly, almost refusing to believe the man that had tried to stifle her for most of her early life was now running toward her with a worried look on her face.<br/><br/>“Ariel, there you are!”<br/><br/>Another voice was heard from behind the man, this one belonging to the teacher that had turned her. She felt like her heart was being ripped from her chest. What was happening? Why were these two here, calling her by a name that didn’t resemble hers at all. Not that she could correct them, having no voice. Rose might be smart, but this was beyond comprehension.<br/><br/>That was when the memory of the demon flashed before her eyes. Was this all some kind of trap? She frowned as the men came to her, each expressing how happy they were that she was okay. Thomas, who took the part as Prince Eric, and the man that had tried to silence her, only seemed to watch as their teacher Johnathan took off his shirt and offered it to her so that she may cover up. Rose took it gratefully and slid it on with ease, happy to have the chance to wear something other than seashells. She looked at them both curiously, still not sure what the hell was going on. Thomas helped her up from the sand, and wrapped an arm around her carefully. He had always been so gentle with her. Johnathan glared at him and tugged her away from him. "She's mine, prince Eric"<br/><br/>Wait, what?!<br/><br/>Rose looked between the two in confusion. As if this wasn't weird enough, Johnathan was actually Eric? Wasn't Ariel supposed to marry the prince? Yes... But, her prince was also supposed to be her freedom. Rose looked at Johnathan curiously. He had given her the gift of vampirism, and because of that, she'd been able to find her voice, and live as freely as she wanted. She'd never been able to thank him or apologize because well, she'd killed him. Burned him to a crisp with the fire power she'd attained when she'd turned. Rose looked back at Thomas, and noticed the shell necklace he was wearing. Fitting. She huffed and tried to grab it, but he stopped her hand before she could. "Come. A princess should never be seen in another mans clothing"<br/><i><br/>
'And it starts'</i>She thought with a roll of her eyes. She tried to pull away from him, but he had her in a firm grip. Rose was starting to feel back where she started all those years ago. Thomas was her sea witch, the one stealing her voice and trying to keep her silent. And Johnathan was her way out... but how?