I entered Morgana’s cave with Kai, Archie, and Alex in tow. The three of them had used the invisibility potion and had begun their search for Captain Avery. “Well, look at who came to visit little old me. My estranged cousin Jenna.” Morganna cackled as she rose out of the ocean and onto the ice capes. “I almost didn’t recognize you. Come in and have a seat.” She dove underwater, and I followed the pursuit. Her underwater lair was far fancier than what she had above. It was also a lot nicer than the cave I called home. It was quite spacious and large. It all seemed to give off a green color, most likely because it was imbued with her very magic. “You know rumor had it that you were dead.”

           “Well, I’m sure most of them wanted to believe that to be the case.”

           “Oh, I know, it’s not easy to be unloved by your mother. To think she threw away such an amazing talent like yourself. Please take a seat. Can I offer you anything? I have hush guppies.” Morgana held out a tray full of hush guppies.

“No, I’m fine,” I said shaking my head.    

“Oh, well then. More for me.” She popped one into her mouth. “Mm, So ... mm... Where have you been all this time?”

           “I’ve been living above the sea . . . amongst the humans.”

           “Amongst humans!” she exclaimed, “why would you go and associate yourself with such low filthy creatures?”

           “Well, I didn’t have anywhere else to go after all.”

           “Yes, I see it’s quite a shame what happened to you. Surely, you don’t still hold on to the notion that all creatures of the sea could live together in peace now, do you?”

           “Yes, I fully understand that my way of thinking is nothing more than that of a fullish pipe dream now.” I replied. “Now I just want to live my days in peace, but the humans I met have been so needy and overbearing. I needed to get away from them for a while.”  

           “Morgana then smiled is that so?” There was then an explosion from above. The explosion was not part of the plan.

She got up, “Oh, I’m sure it was nothing.” I said, but my words failed, and she began to swim back up. I chased after her. Her sting rays had destroyed the bout they came in on. They were trapped. The invisibility potion effects wore off due to the explosion they caused.

“What is going on here?” She looked over at the captain still held in the ice cell and completely visible. “Did you pathetic humans truly believe you could rescue your captain?” she questioned jokingly. “You boys won’t be getting away so easily.” She was about to throw some potion at them when I interrupted.

“NO!” I soon found myself with my arms spread wide in front of them. The potion hit the ground at my tentacles incasing them in ice.

“I thought it strange that you would suddenly show your face again. To think you allied yourself with these humans.”

“Jenna!” Kai yelled with his sword unsheathed. “You let her, and my father go, witch.”

“Father?” She smiled and turned to Avery, “This young fool is your son.” She swiped his sword away and flung him against the wall along with his men. They hit the ground so hard, that all three of them passed out. “Now what to do with the four of you?” She smiled.

           “Please don’t hurt them,” pleaded Captain Avery, “I’m the only one you want. Let the rest of them go. They’re just young and foolish children.”

           “Silence!” Morgana volumized and then turned to me, “Did you think you could have fooled me? I have years of experience.” She clasped my chin, “Why betray your kind, huh? Did you make some sort of deal?”

           I broke free of the ice with brute force then talked her down. “So, what if I did?” I said back angrily. “I don’t see the rest of the octopods as my kind. In fact, I’m obviously in a whole league of my own.” I said confidently, but we then rolled into the water, and I found myself at the mercy of her sting rays.

           “You don’t stand a chance against me, cousin. I have far more experience for these things than you.” She was right, she had me cornered. It didn’t matter how much magical power I had, there was no way I was going to win this fight head-to-head.

           “Let them go,” I realized there was only one way for all of us to get out of this fight. I had to make a deal with Morgana. “Let Captain Avery and his men go.”

           “Oh, and what makes you think you’re in any position to make such demands? You’re surrounded. You’ve lost” It was at that moment that I remembered the spell I came across before the trip.

           “I can bottle some of Ursula’s magic to give you in exchange for freeing them,” I stated.

           “Her magic?” Morgana cocked her head; she swam circles around me and pondered. “Alright, then we have a deal. If you’re able to bring me a bottle of Ursula’s magic in three days I will set them free, but if you fail. Your magic will be mine.”

“My magic?” I wondered, “Why would . . .?”

“Why would I want yours if you fail? It’s quite simple.” Morgana said, turning around and leading us back above, “Ursla tried to track you down after you left. Something about having the potential of a powerful apprentice: now being cast out makes it all the easier to real you in. The only problem was finding you of course. I assume you used some sort of spell to keep someone from tracking you down and finding you, yes?”

           I nodded, “that is correct?”

“Ha ha HA, you managed to block my sister’s magic from finding you, which means your power is equal if not stronger than my dear older sister, Ursula.” She said in an excited yet sinister tone.

“Understood.” The sting rays let me go. Just below the surface.

“Good Luck, Cousin.”

“Just one second Morgana,” She stopped before heading back above to deal with her prisoners. Please allow me a few minutes with them to explain what’s going on.”

She cocked one eyebrow up, “Very well, but I don’t see why’d you want to, considering they’re out cold.”

She had them placed in the cell with Captain Avery. “You’ve got 5 minutes” I walked over to the captain. “Jenna why did they think trying to blow up a magic cage with explosives.”

“I don’t know. They were supposed to pass along an invisibility potion to you. Explosives were never a part of the plan.” I assured them, “Now because of their stupidity My job to save you has been made just that much harder.”

“What do you mean?” Captain Avery asked.

I glanced over at Kai who lay unconscious. “I had to make a deal with Morgana.” I took a breath as I stood up, “I’m going to take some of Ursula’s magic in exchange for your freedom.”

“YOUR WHAT?! Are you insane? Ursula is ten times more dangerous than Morgana.”

“Two Minutes left!” Morgana declared from the cell entrance.

“Even if you somehow get Ursula's magic you’ll only make her more powerful. She will betray you the second she gets what she wants.

“It will be fine,” I smiled, “She will let you all go. Once a deal is made between our kind it cannot be broken.” I turned to walk away.

“Jenna,” Avery said cautiously.

“It will all work out Captain,” I smiled confidently at him, “make sure to fill in those sleeping numskulls once they awaken. I stopped just short of the entrance, “And tell your son. . .” I paused. “. . . tell him that once this is all over, I have something important I need to tell him.” Morgana closed the cell, and I headed out to tell the crew that stayed behind of all that transpired.

***  

           “I can’t believe it?” Divine said, “I knew those twin fools would ruin this one way or another, I just never thought they were dumb enough to pack explosives of all things!” She flew into a rage, “We heard the explosion from all the way back here, for crying out loud.”

           “I want you and the crew to stay here and keep an eye out till I get back.”

           “What you can’t be serious about going there alone. I’m coming with you.”

           “If You come with me who will look after the ship and crew? No, you’re staying here. Besides I won’t be alone.” I smiled, “I’ll have a mirror with me.”

           “But-“

           “It’s going to be fine,” I reassured her.

           “I guess there is no stopping you then,”

           I shook my head.

           “Fine but be careful. Make sure you come back in one piece.”

           “I will.” Then I jumped back into the sea with my bag and Mirror inside it. I rubbed a potion I concocted to increase my speed on my tentacles and then swam off to find the grotto Ursula was banished to.