Chapter 6.

As Esperanza crossed her arms and sat on a nearby chair, she cried her tears. Danny had finally walked back on the deck with a large telescope in his hands. He noticed the sad Esperanza and rushed to her side. As the large telescope dangled in his arms, he rushed to Esperanza’s side.

Danny asked, “What is wrong, Esperanza?”

“I am seasick,” Esperanza replied.

“Oh no. I can get you some cough syrup. It may help.”

“I don't know what that is, but I'm actually homesick.”

“I'm sure next time your family will be able to board the ship with you, and you all could dance, sing, and play games all day.”

“Yeah, that does sound very nice. I didn't think I would miss being in the water.”

Danny giggled and asked, “What do you miss about it?”

“I miss getting into trouble with Simon. I miss dancing with my friends at the sea creature ball. I miss seaweed picking with my sisters. And I even miss my mother kissing me on the forward, no matter how much I would aggrivate her.”

“Wow! All of that does sound like fun!”

“I didn't really think I would permanently become a human. I just wanted to try something new that I thought would be exciting and fun!”

“Do you like being a human?”

“Yes, it's divine… But I also deeply love being a mermaid.”

Danny put his arm around Esperanza as they gazed up at the stars. The fainted captain, behind them on the deck, woke up. He stumbled away, trembling in fear. Esperanza and Danny admired the beauty of the night, until they fell asleep in each other's arms.

“Awake, yet?” Ahlecco shouted in Esperanza's left ear and magically popped up behind her. Esperanza was startled, and quickly jumped out of the seat. Danny was still deep asleep and snoozing.

Esperanza said, “Ahlecco! What brings you here?”

“You do.”

“What?”

“Did you forget our deal?”

“No, I didn't forget your kindness… You told me to live my better life.”

“I did! Sweetheart Esperanza, don't I say the darndest things.” Ahlecco spoke in a condescending tone of voice, as she stroked Esperanza's coily hair and caressed her cheeks with the tips of her sharp claws.

“What do you mean?”

“Well nothing in life is for free. You didn't really think I would just give you all these nice things for free - a new family, new friends, and even a cute boyfriend. They're better than your folks under the sea.”

“I never wanted my family and friends to be replaced.”

“That's not what you said. You kept complaining on and on about your irritating mother and those stupid fish, so I just gave you something better.”

Ahlecco scooted closer to Esperanza. She whispered in Esperanza's face as her creepy purple eyes bulged out of her face. “I'm so generous, that I even awakened the dead from their slumber to pleasure your fantasies. From dust to dawn they rein, and from sun down to night they fall.”

“What does that mean?”

“You signed our contract 12 hours ago, you have the next 12 hours to live your beautiful and wonderful life. Then, your new family and friends will ceast to exist... And your mesmerizing beauty, captivating spirit, and sovereign rulership over the sea will belong to me!!”

“No, please. Is there anything else that I can give you instead,” Esperanza begged and pleaded.

“By the end of tomorrow, your beautiful Goldenheart kingdom, mother, sisters, that annoying seahorse, all of your other overly jolly friends won't remember you. They will obey under my dictatorship.”

Esperanza cried a pool of tears as she spoke, “No, please. No, please. I will do anything to have my mermaid tail back. I will do anything to see Simon again. I will do anything to sit beside my mother and sisters, once again.”

“A deal is a deal, precious!!” Ahlecco's snakes hissed in Esperanza's face, right before Ahlecco magically poofed away.”

Esperanza had hope left inside of her. She ran to the railing of the ship’s deck, looked down, and shouted for Simon, but there was no response. She tried multiple times, but there was still no response. Simon and the other sea creatures were further under the sea, trying to think up an action plan. Thus, none of them could hear her.